West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-12-20
COL. JOHN ID. RIGG.
Biography or One or Preston County.
Prominent Citizens.

Col. John ID. Rigg. notice OF whose death
appeared in The ARGUS December 6. was
born In Philadelphia on September Q. Iss3;
died at Terra Alta on December I. 1910
lie was the son OF John W. and Mary
(Dswson) Rigg. the former having emiSrat.
ed from England In 1891.
When Colonel Rigg was Q years Of age his
father. after having lived al PittsburK and
near st. Louis. Mo, came to Preston coun.
". where he remained until his death In
1886. Colonel Rigg was educated in the
common schools near his home.
Under the able and experienced tnstruc.
ton oil his father he learned the art OF man.
ufacturing wooden goods. On reaching a
suitable age he became his fathers bust.
ness associate. and upon the ~latter's retire
ment assumed complete control OF the bust.
ness which he conducted at the old stand
near Lenox until 1888. when he built a fac.
tory m Terra Alta. introducing new and
improved machinery. This mill was burned
IN June. 1899. bot was rebuilt In the fall OF
the same year. The loss by FIRE was tS7..
600; insurance. $4,000.
The new mill was equipped with the lat.
est improved machinery and It's capacity
enlarged. Owing to the excellent quality
OF goods manufactured Colonel Rigg built
up an annual business OF from $50 900 to
10000.
In 1861 Colonel Rigg cast aside personal
considerations to take up arms In defense
OF the union. becoming . member OF Com
piny A. Seventh West Virginia Infantry,
and was a faithful and brave officer. He
received his discharge for disability June
70. 1861.
After his return home he was elected col.
onel OF the One Hundred and Fourth Vir-
ginia Militia and served as such for several
years, during which time he was twice
called out IN defense OF the union
Colonel Rigg was elected to represent
Preston county In the legislature IN 1876,
and again In 1882. filling the position with
honorable distinction. The Republican
state Convention. which met In Fairmont.
May 9. 1900. elected him by reclamation as
delegate from the Second congressional
district OF West Virginia TO the National
Republican Convention, which met at Phil.
adelphia June 10. 1900. The national con-
vention appointed him a member OF the no.
tlhcation committee TO notify Governor
Roosevelt OF his nomination as Vice PresI.
dent.
Colonel Rigg was converted at the age of
40 and became a loyal and devoted member
oil the Methodist Episcopal church. giving
freely OF his time and means to It's advance.
ment. lie was one OF the principal movers
IN the erection OF the beautiful new Meth.
odist church In Terra Alta. At the time Of
his death he was one OF Its trustees.
Colonel Rigg was married IN GAINESVILLE.
ONO, January -, 1850. to Miss Catherine
a; Stewart; a native Of Pennsylvania. but
who was educated In West Virginia. To
this union were born six children. only one
OF whom Mrs. I. ]. Picking. OF Terra Alta,
survives.
Colonel Rigg was one Of the best known
and most highly honored citizens In Preston
county.
On December 3 the body was taken to
centenary church. near Lenox. where. after
services conducted by Rev. James w. Engle,
IL was laid 10 rest to await the resurrection
OF the just.