LAFAYETTE DEMARCUS RIGG

Lafayette Demarcus Rigg "Lafe" (Leslie, Robert, George, Clement, Robert Rigg) was born 4 December 1875 in Alaiedon Township, Ingham County, Michigan.  He died 1 February 1943 in Lakefield Township, Merrill, Michigan and was buried in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.

This is a tintype photo of Lafayette and his first wife Lula E. (Rowel) Rigg.

 

They were married 20 November 1893 in Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.  They were married by a Justice of the Peace. George W. Tolbert.  Their witnesses were George Rigg of Lakefield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan and Mary L. Torbert, of Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan.  Lafe was 19 years old from Emerson Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.  Lula E. Rowel was the daughter of Charley Rowel, she was 17 years old from Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.  The marriage ended in divorce.

Lafe was also married to Hattie M. McPherson, daughter of George McPherson and Melinda Kennedy, on 22 December 1897 in Sickles, Gratiot County, Michigan.  Hattie was born 29 December 1879 in Wheeling, West Virginia.  She died 9 May 1955 in Lakefield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan and was buried in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Breckenridge, Gratiot County, Michigan. 

 

Lafe and Hattie had the following children:

1.  Glen Delbert Rigg was born 12 July 1898 and died 10 March 1963.

2.  Ada Florence Rigg was born 6 September 1899 and died 5 April 1971.

3.  Wallace Erwen Rigg was born January 1902 and died 3 October 1904.

4.  Leslie DeWitt Rigg was born 19 October 1903 and died 13 September 1904.

5.  Byron Sidney Rigg was born 12 August 1905 and died 12 March 1986.

6.  Reva Mae Rigg was born 26 April 1909 and died 30 August 1997.

7.  Robert Lyle Rigg was born 13 April 1919 and died 13 March 1996.

Lafayette Demarcus Rigg was named after his mother's (Abbie Shaw) brother, Lafayette I. Shaw, who was born in 1844. Lafayette Rigg was born in Alaiedon Township, Ingham County, Michigan to Leslie and Sarah Ann (Abbie) Shaw Rigg.  He received his formal education at the German School in Alaiedon Township, Ingham County, Michigan and also the Hetzman School, Emerson Township, in Gratiot County, Michigan.   Lafayette was a farmer all of his life.  He purchased his first 40 acres in 1902 on Fenmore Road, in Section 10 of Lakefield Township, Saginaw County.  On March 27, 1920 Lafe bought an additional 60 acres in Section 10 of Lakefield Township on Swan Creek Road from William C. and Emma Connelly. He used this sixty acres as pasture land for his sheep. When his brother George W. Rigg died, he bought his adjoining 40 acres.  Lafayette also had several jobs; these included working for local grain elevators and the railroad.  When Lafayette passed away, his children inherited his land.  By the early 1950's, the descendants of Lafayette Rigg owned the land along the east side of Fenmore Road from the corner of Roosevelt to Swan Creek Road and down Swan Creek Road from the corner of Fenmore Road to Merrill Road, a total of 280 acres. In addition to farming, Lafe worked for the Railroad and the Merrill Elevator in Merrill, Michigan.

Lafayette "Lafe" was a warm, fun loving man who also loved to tease and give whisker rubs.  He was a member of the Merrill Congregational Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was also a past Director of the Byrnes School in Lakefield Township.  In the general election of April 6, 1926 - Lafe Rigg and Joseph Tolfree were voted in as Constables of Lakefield Township.  In the general election of April 5, 1927, Lafe, a Democrat, ran for the position of Member of the Board of Review for Lakefield Township.  He lost to Jay Schoonmaker; Jay receiving 114 votes and Lafe collecting 99 votes.  In the book, "Lest We Forget" by Myron F. Gulick; Book No. 1 - 1982, Lafe Rigg is mentioned with other prominent men as making Merrill grow and prosper.  Mr. Gulick writes,  "These persons have passed on, but Merrill is better off for their being here.  We are all better to have known them."  

 

 

 

This is a photo of Lafe (left) with his brother-in-law, Obe Murgittroyd.  The two men were obviously horsing around one day and decided to get their photo taken.

 

 

 

This is a photo of Lafe, daughter Reva and wife, Hattie with their son Lyle; who is in the tree.  It was popular for the day (1920's) for young girls to dress up in men's clothing.  Reva is dressed up in such an outfit.  Lafe's family was known to have a great sense of humor!

 

 

 

The photo is of the following people:  sitting - left to right: Lafayette Rigg's daughter - Ada Rigg, Albert Hammond, Persus (Burwash) Rigg - Glen Rigg's wife, and Lafayette Rigg's son - Byron Rigg.  standing - left to right: Florence (Hammond) Rigg - Byron's Rigg's wife and Lafayette Rigg's daughter - Reva Rigg.

A few Rigg Families Camping Upnorth:  standing - left to right: Millie hold Ray Junior Rigg, Millie's parents Amelia and Fred Wenzel, Ray Rigg, Persus holding Ralph  Rigg, Lafayette Rigg and Glen Rigg; sitting Willard Rigg, Lila Rigg and Valaria Rigg.   Photo taken around 1927.

 

 

 

 

The photo is of Lafayette Rigg's wife - Hattie McPherson Rigg with her Great-Granddaughter, Sharon Rigg.  Photo taken around 1945.   Given by Sharon Rigg Davis.

A family photo (Lafayette Rigg's daughter-in-laws and grandchildren) of left to right - front row: little boy - Gary Rigg, second row: Pat Rigg and Nancy Rigg (Bob Rigg's daughters; back row: Florence Rigg (Byron Rigg's wife), Wilma Rigg (Byron Rigg's daughter), Annabelle Rigg (Bob Rigg's Wife) holding Butch Rigg, Marjorie Rigg and Donna Rigg (Byron Rigg's daughters and ?.  Photo taken around 1948.

 

The Lafayette Rigg family information by Jackie Rohde.