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Hart-Riggs Cemetery ~ Mary Ann Anderson ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Anderson, Mary Ann
LAST NAME: Anderson FIRST NAME: Mary MIDDLE NAME: Ann NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME: Riggs AKA 1: Lewis AKA 2: Shepard AKA 3: 
GENDER: F TITLE: 
BORN: 15 Dec 1829 DIED: 15 Apr 1904 BURIED:  (Hart-Riggs Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Missouri
DEATH PLACE: Bridgeport, Polk Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
1st MARRIAGE - James Lewis, 19 Mar 1846 in Ray Co, Missouri.
1860 OR CENSUS – Mary Lewis, age 30, b. Missouri, is enumerated with James Lewis, age 32, occupation farm laborer, b. Missouri.
DONATION LAND CAIM: DLC Roseburg #2026 - James H. Lewis, Linn County; born 1827, Jackson Co, MO; arrived Oregon fall of 1846; he was temporarily absent sometime in fall of 1848 to spring of 1853 being detained in California by sickness & laboring in the mines, but his family remained in Oregon during the whole time of his temporary absence; settled claim 23 June 1853; md Mary Ann __?, 19 Mar 1846, Ray Co, Missouri; affiants by Noah Shanks, David Lewis, Levi & Reuben Fields; note in red in patent book – “Suspended, lacks marriage proof – SEE: Com D June 21, 1881”
1870 OR CENSUS – Mary Lewis, age 40, b. Missouri, is enumerated with the family of Thomas Hart, age 85, b. North Carolina, and Rachel Hart, age 60, b. Missouri, along with Thomas Hart, age 26, b. Missouri (85ys, b NC), and John P. Hart, age 23, b. Missouri.
DIVORCE - Polk County Divorce Case #706 – Mary Ann vs James H. Lewis; filed April 1871; Mary Ann says she was 41 years old last Dec 15 [i.e.-b 15 Dec 1829]; md 19 Mar 1846 in Ray Co, Missouri, to James H. Lewis; they came to Oregon the same year; he left her about 4 years ago; she has lived in Polk Co. about 2 years; G. B. Riggs of Polk Co, age 36 years, says he is Mary’s brother, for past 3 years she has lived in his neighborhood except for 1 year in Linn Co. 
2nd MARRIAGE - Henry Shepard of Yamhill Co., & Mary Ann Lewis, md 17 Nov 1876 at house of & by Warren Truitt, Co., J. Wit: Isabella McCarter & Mary Truitt.
1880 OR CENSUS - Mary A. Shepard, age 50, b. Missouri, is enumerated with husband Henry, age 73, occupation farmer, b. New York, along with her nephew Riley R. Riggs, age 12, farm laborer, b. Oregon.
DIVORCE - Polk County Divorce Case #2119 - Henry vs Mary A. Shepherd; filed Nov 1889; they were md Nov 1877 in Polk Co, Oregon; they have no children; they separated about 1880; Henry has lived in Yamhill Co for more than 3 years and Mary has lived in Polk Co for more than 10 years; Henry has a homestead claim of 79 acres in Township 2 South, Range 3 West in Yamhill Co
3rd MARRIAGE - James W. Anderson, 6 Sep 1892 in Polk Co., Oregon. 
1900 OR CENSUS - Mary A. Anderson, widowed, age 69, b. Dec 1830 in Missouri, is enumerated as "aunt" in the home of Rannie Riggs, age 32, occupation farmer, b. Mar 1868 in Oregon.  Also enumerated in the home are Tallitha Riggs, identified as aunt [of Rannie], age 63, mother of 5, b. Mar 1837 in Kentucky, and Morris J. Riggs, identified as nephew [of Rannie], age 20, occupation farm laborer, b. Oregon.

BIOGRAPHICAL:
First husband James H. Lewis served in Cayuse War with First Oregon Riflemen, for which he received a pension.  He ended up at the soldier's home in Roseburg, Douglas Co, Oregon, where he died 24 May 1916.  He is buried in the Roseburg National Cemetery.
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OSBH DC (Polk County 1904) #442 - Mary Ann Anderson, female, widow, b. 1829 in Missouri, d. 15 Apr 1904 in Dallas, Oregon at the age of 75 years, name of father: not given, name of mother: Mary A. Riggs, informant R. R. Riggs, Dallas [bur Hart cem]
OBITUARY: 
Mrs. Mary Anderson died at the home of her nephew, R. R. Riggs, at Bridgeport, April 15, aged 75 years. She was born in Missouri in October 1829.  She married James Lewis in 1846, and crossed the plains to Oregon the same year.  She joined the Presbyterian church in 1853, and in 1870 became a member of the Baptist church.  She leaves a nephew, R. R. Riggs, of Bridgeport, and one brother, G. B. Riggs, of Proebstel, Washington.  The funeral sermon was preached by Rev J. L. Whirry of McMinnville.  Mrs. Anderson had a wide acquaintance among the pioneer people of Polk county, and lived a blameless, Christian life.
Polk County Observer (Fri) 22 Apr 1904, 3:4

Bridgeport.
Greenberry Riggs came up from Vancouver to attend the funeral of his sister, Mrs. Mary Anderson, last Sunday, she having died suddenly on Friday. She was a pioneer and many friends attended the funeral. They laid her to rest in the family grave yard nearby.
Polk County Itemizer (Fri) 22 Apr 1904, 2:1
INSCRIPTION: 
Mary A. Anderson
Died
April 15, 1904
Aged 75 yrs.
[on marker shared with George, William and Sophia Riggs]

Individual marker:
Aunt 

For more marker photographs and pictures showcasing the restoration work at Hart-Riggs Cemetery, please see: http://polkcemeterysavers.org/Home_Page.php
SOURCES: 
Saucy Survey of 2010
Branigar Survey of 1997
Gailey Survey of 1988
Sibley (DAR) 1931
OSBH DC (Polk County 1904) #442
Polk County Historical Museum Archives
GEN. MATERIAL in OR DONATION LAND CLAIMS, Vol. III, pg 146 1860 OR CENSUS (Linn Co., Brownsville, FA#446)
1870 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., FA#650)
Polk County Divorce Cases 706 & 2119, Oregon State Archives
Polk County Oregon Marriage Records, 1849-1879, pg 72
1880 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., Bridgeport, ED 106, pg 492A)
1900 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., Bridgeport, ED 174. pg 4B)
PCO 22 Apr 1904, 3:4 
PCI 22 Apr 1904, 2:1
CONTACTS: 
ROW:   

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