Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-13
OBITUARY..
H. A. REED, Auctioneer.

A few days ago there died in hacity OF
Los Angeles, at the advanced age of 80,
a remarkable man. John Riggin had
become we'll known here during resi-
dence of ten years, but he was far better
known in St. Louis, where he lived for
nearly fifty-four years. His whole life
was one of industry, beautifully blended
with integrity and generosity, grand
traits of character which were inherited
from noble Scotch-Irish ancestry.
Early in the eighteenth century, two
brothers, John and league Riggin, came
over to America from the north of Ire
lanG. From these brothers two lines of
the Riggin family descended, having
many representatives in all parts of the
union.
league Riggin had son named John
Riggin, who settled in the town of
Princess Ann, Somerset county, Mary
land. At this place there was born to
the latter on June l, 1910. John Rig.
gin, jr., of whom this article is written,
and who in turn himself became senior.
The elder John died soon after his sons
birth. The younger John was educated
at Washington academy, near his ma
tive town, and the ruins of the old brick
building still stands and were
visited by Mr.. Riggin three years ago
on trip to the scenes of his childhood.
Mr.. Riggin had marked impressions
early in life in regard to religion, and
became skeptical of the doctrines of the
| Christian religion, and as he grew older
became liberal of very pronounced
type, supporting its advocacy with
purse and presence, never interfering
however, with the religious views of
his family, his wife and children belong
ing to Protestant sects. Indeed his an
cestors were of the strictest Presbyterian
school.
When 16 years of age he became a
deputy clerk of the court of Worcester
county, Maryland, remaining there for
two years and removing to st. Louis in
1928, where he resided for more than
half century. He found it village of
about 5000 people, and left it metropo-
lis of more than 100000.
In st. Louis he entered the business
house of Collier & Powell, then the
largest mercantile house in Missouri.
learn the French language, which
| ilc QlQ tllOlOuSuAys 11C was dl6O q AAC
Latin scholar and was all expert in both
of the above languages and could trans
late readily from the one to the other
and into English.
After two years he became 80 we'll es-
tablished in the confidence of his en-
ployers that they furnished him with
the capital to 60 into the dry goods busi-
ness, the firm being Riggin &AMarshall,
who began business May 8, 1881, on the
southwest corner of Main and Locust
streets, st. Louis. The business was
very successful, but, finding the hard
ware trade more lucrative, he entered
that.
By 1856 his capital had so increased
that he left the mercantile business en-
tirely, and for twenty-seven years was
engaged in the real estate and loan busi-
ness. Many a business man remembers
that it was John Riggin who often made
short loans without note or interest, and
seldom lost anything by it. One would
have supposed that such business
would have hardened him. but the phi
lanthropic fbers of his heart were too
large to be shrivelled by the shadows of
life. His was life of sunshine and CIV
ing pain to no one. He lived with
clear conscience. He frequently quoted
Paine: ITO do good is my religion"
Returning to Snowhill. Maryland, on
January IL, 1882, he was married to
Miss Annie D. Johnson, of an old Mary
land family. There were born to them
five children, of whom two sons, the
eldest and the youngest, died in child
hood, leaving John jr., born March 13,
1885, noted general Of the late war
Isabella, the only daughter, who mar
ried Col. Charles H. Thornton, promi-
nent lawyer in st. Louis, and Eugene,
the only remaining son.
Mrs. Thornton and Mr.. Eugene Rig
gin reside in Los Angeles. the latter
being we'll known in real estate circles.
John Riggin, jr., the second son, went
into the real estate business with his
father in St. Louis. The firm of Riggin
& Son was located only one square from
the office of Boggs & U. S. Grant in the
same line of business, and the members
of the firms became quite intimate.
At the outbreak of the civil war U. s.
Grant was called to command the union
army at the mouth of the Ohio river.
General Grant called John Riggin, ir.,
to be his aide-de-camp with the rank Of
colonel. Resigning his position as major
on the staff of Governor Gamble of Mis-
souri,, he at once became member of
General Grants staff; being then only
% years old. He rose in rank with his
superior officer till he received briga-
dier-general's g commission, serving Grant
from Cairo to Vicksburg. Desiring to
Gee something of actual war Mr.. Riggin,
sr., obtained pass from General Grant
and went to Vicksburg, Miss, from st.
Louis in charge Of sanitary stores for the