Born in Dodd County, Kentucky, in 1806, and is a son of Daniel and Nancy Riggs. In 1817 the family settled in Missouri, remaining in that State twenty-five years. Samuel Riggs then lived in Davis County, Iowa, for thirteen years when in 1853, he settled in what is known as Riggs' Grove, in Douglas Township, where he entered and bought 400 acres of land, and remained a resident there till 1876. He was the third settler in the Western half of Union County, and experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He was married in Howard County, Missouri, in 1825, to Rhoda Belch. Since his residence in Iowa. Mr. Riggs has represented the people of Davis County in the State Legislature for one term. He was also sheriff four years, and held the office of deputy sheriff the same length of time. He has voted the Democratic ticket the past fifty years, missing but one election. He is classed among the influential citizens of Douglas Township, where he made his home so many years.