I am researching William Van Buren Riggins. This is his story and it's all I have: William was born February 1839 at Salem, Stokes County, NC. His father is said to have been a doctor. His father was born in Ireland and mother born in Scotland. He was the youngest of a very large family. His father died when he was six and I am assuming that his mother was already dead. He was bonded out to a man named Reddick who was probably his older brother-in-law and had a tan yard where East St Louis IL now stands. William was to work for Reddick until he was 21. At that time he would be given a horse, a saddle and $100.00. Reddick was so cruel to him that he ran away to work on the John Fine farm in Bond County. At the age of 21 he joined the Union Army and spent about 3 months in the cival war, until he was taken ill. He married Mary Jane Hudson in Bond County in1870. Looking for connections. Ruth Dunham