Edwin's handsome face was genetically reflected in that of his grandson, John Charles RIGGS, born November 26, 1945 in Lakeside, Berrien Co., MI. John died September 28, 1980 in Michigan City, IN.

Unfortunately we never had the opportunity to meet our grandfather, but due to the kindness of a helpful researcher in Randolph County, IL, Lola CROWDER, we were able to obtain documentation of his Marriage License which provided important details of his life, including the names of his parents.

We can determine from census records that his parents frequently moved the family within the central states. This may have been due to the nature of his father, Charles W. WELLS', trade, that of carriage maker.

Edwin's mother, Sarah Ann GREGG, was born and raised in IN. She was 17 in 1850, living in Hancock Co., IN with her mother and step-father, Joseph R. NIXON, who was a saddler. We can speculate that Edwin's father met Sarah as a result of similarities between his own and Sarah's step-father's trades and that a marriage took place between 1850-56. As the couple traveled about, Edwin's sister, Dema, was born in MN, in 1856, Edwin in IL, in 1858 and Martha in MO, 1860.

According to the 1860 census the family was living in Union District, West Praire Post Office in Dunklin Co., MO. After June 15, 1860, the enumeration date of this census we lose track of the family for many years. Charles and baby Martha seem to disappear. It is possible that both perished due to illness or it could be that Charles participated in the Civil War. To date there is no definitive documentation found on these possibilities. We do know that Sarah, Dema and Edwin continued with their lives.

According to their marriage license, at age 28, Edwin married Minnie Mae GOUGE, age 17, on May 31, 1886, in Chester, Randolph Co., IL. Edwin was a farmer, and this was a first marriage for both. It is interesting to note that on the 1880 Chester, Randolph Co., IL census, Precinct 7-7, Minnie and her family live next door to Edwin's mother, Sarah, who by then had remarried. Although Edwin is not shown on this census, it is safe to assume that Minnie would have met him since his mother lived next door. Edwin, who often used the name, Edward, may actually be shown on the 1880 Chester census in nearby Precinct 6-7 working as a laboror on a farm.

The newlyweds settled in Randolph Co., IL where their first three children were born. By the year, 1892, they had moved on to MO where their remaining children were born. Daisy Evelyn, their tenth surviving child was born in the Bootheel of MO in New Madrid Co.

The level of Edwin's education is unknown, but the 1900 St. Louis, MO census indicates that both he and Minnie could read and write. His own name as well as Minnie's is written in unusually beautiful script on their marriage license. Since this penmanship, which is shown under Edwin's picture, differs from any other on this document it would seem likely that it was either Edwin's or Minnie's. On the 1900 census the name Edward is used. He and Minnie have 8 children and his occupation is that of house painter.

We have yet to discover a death date for Edwin. He traveled from Sikeston, MO to Chester, IL to attend his mother, Sarah's, funeral in 1911 according to her obituary. Our mother, Daisy Evelyn WELLS, said that she was a very young girl when Edwin died, most likely around 1917-18. Her recollection of him was very dim. She recalled a family legend that Edwin taught English at a school for Indians, but to date we have uncovered no documentation of this activity. Perhaps he taught school before his marriage to Minnie.

     Edwin was born in 1858, in Cass County, Illinois.
     I have written to the Cass County Clerk for a 
     record of birth, but none is available since 
     they began recording births in 1860.  The year
     and place of birth was obtained from his marriage 
     license.  

     This map illustrates the geographical area of 
     activities which our research has uncovered for
     Edwin and his family.