Riggs family reunion held at Burns
The 75th annual reunion of the James D. and Lucinda Riggs family was held Aug. 17 at the Burns Community Center. The reunion was held in Burns this year, instead of Florence, to have a building large enough to accommodate the 150 family members who attended.
In 1865, the Riggs family migrated from Union County, Iowa, to Marion County. They owned land north of Florence including the land on which the city springs are located.
Riggs families settled in Marion and Chase counties over the years.
In 1871, Lucinda Barker Riggs was the first person buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Florence.
The first of the annual Riggs family reunions was held in 1929 on the J.D. Riggs farm north of Florence and they met yearly at the City Springs until 1934. There was too much rain at that time so they met at the large pavilion in Florence City Park.
In August 1982, the reunion was moved to the Florentine Building on Main Street, Florence. This year, due to the number attending, the reunion was held in Burns.
Family members at this year's reunion represented five of the 12 children of J.D. and Lucinda Riggs.
T-shirts were purchased this year and featured the family tree printed on the back. Tree roots represented each of J.D.'s children. Each root was represented with a specific color chosen for each family group. Photos were shown throughout the day from a collection of family pictures on compact disks. The CDs also were made available to family members.
A tablecloth, painted with the family tree, was placed on a table for family members to sign. It will be on display at future reunions. A song was written honoring the 75th reunion and on display was a large banner with pictures of J.D. and Lucinda Riggs.
A pre-reunion get-together was held Aug. 16 at the Burns center with approximately 50 in attendance. Sandwiches and salads were provided for lunch.
The CD photo presentation was shown throughout the day and photos were displayed on tables. Several were gathering information on family genealogy, as well as scanning pictures, etc.
A map had been prepared of the area from Burns to Wonsevu, to Florence, and back to Burns. The map showed where cemeteries are located, where the Riggs home place was north of Florence, as well as the location of the Florence City Springs. Several took tours in the afternoon and some visited the Burns Museum. Several of the younger generation met at Marion Reservoir for boating, skiing, and water sports.
Family members attending traveled from Missouri, Texas, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, California, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Germany, and Kansas.
