Our History

After the war, Mr. Riggs and his wife decided to go to California to raise their family. In 1871 they joined a large wagon train headed for California. They had been living at Fort Riggs, which they built while living on the Medina River. While living there the Indians stole their cattle. Their next home was in Chicosa Canyon, near Trinidad, Colorado. They had a lumber business here, which enabled them to continue on their journey. After living here for six years, the ox teams were yoked, the cattle herded together and in late 1877 entered Arizona.

In the meantime, Mr. Riggs' brother, Jim, and his family had gone ahead and were living in Dos Cabezas, Arizona. Continuing on their journey, they lived at the mouth of Big Immigrant Canyon, near Bowie, Arizona. At this place, there were large numbers of lobo wolves. They killed some of the cattle. The spring at this location, which furnished them with water, went dry and again they went looking for a place to find water and feed for their needs. They had heard of a beautiful valley beyond Fort Bowie, and after some exploring, they made what was to be their last move, to Sulphur Springs Valley, through the famous Apache Pass and into the area that later became known as "The Riggs Settlement". Here they build a home, known to all as "Home Ranch" and here Mr. Riggs lived with his wife and children until his death.

The Riggs Family had about eight head of cattle, along with the horses, when they settled at the ranch. Cattle and horses played a very important role in the life of Brannick Riggs. He traded steers for heifers with John Slaughter, and during the early years, he sold beef to Fort Bowie. In 1904, Mr. Riggs and his family formed the Riggs Cattle Company, and it prospered.

In the early years at the ranch, Mr. Riggs realized how important education was, and as there were no schools in the area, he built a schoolhouse at Home Ranch. He employed teachers to teach his children and the other children in the neighborhood. As the family grew up, most of them were sent to Valparaiso, Indiana to attend the University there. Some of the younger members of the family attended the University of Arizona. Mr. Riggs lived to see his children become ranchers, lawyers, bankers, political leaders, and teachers.

Some of the stories Mr. Riggs told his family through the years seem hard to believe today. At one time in his life, he worked for $700.00 a year. While living and working around San Antonio, Texas, the best lots in town sold for $5.00 and good land for .25 an acre.

In June of 1970, the descendants of Brannick and Mary Robbins Riggs held an all-day celebration at the Community Center in Willcox. This was a day to commemorate one hundred years of cattle ranching in this area. Many stories were told and a centennial book was put together by the historical committee and it was available to those at the reunion. All of this we owe to the man and woman, Brannick and his wife, for the years of devotion to their family and the many acts of kindness to all around and for his urgent need to see that the family had the best education given at the time.

Stark Riggs is the grandson of posthumous Cowboy Hall of Fame member, Brannick Riggs, and son of John Casey Riggs and Jeannette Mary Brauns. Stark comes from a hardworking, close-knit pioneer family that has been a part of Willcox for the past 118 years. And is in the Cowboy Hall of Fame himself.

For Stark, ridin' and ranchin' in the early days meant roundups with a chuck-wagon and horseback (not with a pickup and sand rail) and shipping cattle by rail from Willcox. Dragging calves to a branding fire and ground crew (not using a branding chute). Coal oil lamps at night (not light bulbs).

Stark saw it all, from the early days to modern times.

As every rancher does, Stark had a favorite horse, a small buckskin named Roycott. Roycott could do anything.

Stark roped a little with Bert Gardner. But they usually roped at home and they just roped for fun. Most of Stark's roping was not in the rodeo arena, but in dragging calves to the branding fire.

If you know a little about the Riggs' clan, you know that Stark's brother Paul can play the fiddle. Now according to Stark's kids, on one occasion Stark wanted to show that he could play the fiddle like Paul. He began playing a song called, "Go Tell Aunt Rhonda the Old Gray Mare is Dead." The kids said it sounded like an old gray mare was dying, and their laughter just about drowned out his fiddle. They never heard their dad play the fiddle again.

Stark Riggs is grateful to his parents for teaching him very early in his life to: be honest, live and let live, and do unto others as you want them to do unto you.

Stark says he has lived in one of the most exciting times when there have been so many changes. "I've seen life go from horse and buggy through Model T days to space age travel."

His friends and family say that rarely do you see Stark without a grin on his face, always ready to "pull someone's leg" just to get a rise out of them. Stark Riggs believes it is much more rewarding to give than to receive, and it is obvious to many around the community who have seen him at dances that he is quite a two-stepper, who can out-dance many of the younger generation.

Although Stark's life has been dedicated to ranching and all that it entails, he has given time to his community through three years of service on the Valley Telephone's Board of Directors.

Stark has lived through a world of changes. When asked if he would change anything if he could, he said, "I might change a few little things, but I'd never leave the ranch. I'll never sell out. I just want to make it better while I'm here and pass it down to my family for generations to come."

Stark represents his pioneer family, as well as what it means to be a rancher.