Place of Birth: New York
Age at Death: 82 years, 6 months, 6 days
Date of Death: August 7, 1903
Interment source:
Bay View Cemetery Association, Corpus Christi, Texas. Record of Interments
NO HEADSTONE
1. Photograph
Source: Ezell, Camp. The Historical Story of Bee County, Texas.
Beeville, Texas: Camp Ezell and Beeville Publishing Company, 1973.
2. Biographical information from Pathfinders of Texas, 1836 - 1846
3. News item, 1900
THE OLDEST RESIDENT
Mrs. M. E. Riggs enjoys the distinction of being the oldest resident in Corpus Christi, having come here in 1844 by boat from Brazos. For 56 years she has been a resident of this place - living here longer than any other resident in the town. Mrs. Riggs says when she came here the place was not called Corpus Christi. It was known in those days as Kinney's Ranch, only one farm house was here then, the others were jacals, a good number of Mexicans were living here. There was only one store, kept in a jacal, by the late Capt. John P. Kelsey. When Mrs. Riggs landed here the first brick building (mentioned elsewhere) was just being erected by Contractors Gravis and Berry. The building is still standing on the beach; brick burned near residence of Dr. Blum. The country was full of Indians in those days and life was very unsafe. Mr. Riggs was murdered by bandits in Bee county in 1836
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, December 21, 1900, p. 1, col. 6
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
4. Biographical information from A History of Bee County, Texas
5. Obituary
Died, in Corpus Christi, Texas August 6, 1903, at 4:40 p.m., Mrs. Mary E. Riggs, a native of New York, aged 82 years, 6 months, and 6 days. In the death of "Grandma" Riggs Corpus Christi loses its oldest inhabitant, i.e., in number of years as a resident of this place. Mrs. Riggs was a Miss Heffernan and came to Texas in 1835, when a child, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Herffernan, who settled in San Patricio in 1836 with an Irish colony.
The country was full of Indians and Mexican marauders in those days, and fights with the whites were not uncommon, Mr. Heffernan and other relatives losing their lives in a fight with a Mexican band in a mott about a mile from where Beeville now stands. Miss Heffernan had many narrow escapes; in a fight with the Mexicans near Goliad she molded bullets in the old Catholic church at La Bahai.
Some time later she married Mr. Hiram Riggs and moved to Brazoria county, from which county she came to Corpus Christi in 1844, making her home there ever since, her husband dying here in 1855. Mrs. Riggs was the mother of nine children, all of whom she survived except one son—Mr. Lee Riggs, with whom she made her home in her last days. Deceased was a member of the Methodist church and a devoted Christian lady. For several years this old Texas pioneer has been in feeble health, suffering from paralysis. The funeral takes place this evening at 5 o'clock from the residence.
Source: Corpus Christi Caller Weekly, August 7 1903, p. 5, col. 4
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
