Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/280

254 the committee that presented a petition to congress asking for an investigation into the conduct of the j board of pnblic works. The result of the investiga- tion was that the congressional committee reported in favor of abolishing the existing territorial gov- ernment, and a new system was inaugurated, which vested all authority in congress itself. Mr. Riggs possessed literary and artistic taste, and collected a librarv of valuable books and many works of art.

'''RIGGS. Stephen Return''', missionary, b. in Steubenville. Ohio. 23 March, 1812: d. in Beloit. Wis., 24 Aug.. 1883. He was graduated at Jeffer- son college. Pa., in 1834. and after spending a year in Western theological seminary at Allegheny. Pa., was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Chilli- cothe. Having been sent out as a missionary by the American board, he proceeded to Lake Harriet mission, near Fort Snelling in 1837. Here he spent several months in studying the Dakota language, and subsequently joined the mission at Lac-qui-parle. where, in 1839. he entertained John C. Fremont and Jean Nicollet (q. v.). In 1 - opened a new mission station at Traverse des Sioux. and was in charge of it until December. 1846. when ! he returned to Lac-qui-parle. and remained there ! until 1854. In that year he removed to Hazelwood ! station, near the mouth of Yellow Medicine river, and built a boarding-school for Dakota children. I Here, assisted after 1858 by his son. Alfred, he labored until the summer of 1862, when his work was interrupted by the Indian insurrection of that ' year. (See LITTLE CROW.) Mr. Riggs and his family left their home on 19 Aug., and, after travelling sev-. eral days and after many hair-breadth escapes, suc- ceeded in reaching a place of safety. Hastening < to St. Paul. Dr. Riggs offered his services to Gov. Ramsey, of Minnesota, who commissioned him chaplain of the military expedition that was sent out to protect the frontier and punish the hostile Indians. After the campaign closed, Dr. Riggs employed his summers in visiting mission sta- tions, and his winters in completing the transla- tion of the Bible into the Dakota language, which was published before his death. Nearly fifty books, consisting of translations and original writings in connection with Dakota history, customs and lan- guage, represent the literary work of his lifetime. He received the degree of D. D. from Beloit college in 1873 and that of LL. D. from Jefferson. He also wrote " The Dakota First Reading-Book." with Gideon H. Pond (Cincinnati, 1839): " Wowapi Mitawi, Tamakece Kagu: My Own Book" (Bos- ton, 1842) : " Dakota Tawoonspe. or Dakota Les- sons " (Louisville, 1850) : and " Dakota Vocabulary " (New York, 1852); and edited "A Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota Language, collected by the Members of the Dakota Mission" (Washing- ton. 1852, being vol. iv. of " Smithsonian Contri- butions : revised ed., 1883) : " Tahkoo Wakan, or the Gospel among the Dakotas " (1869) ; " The Bi- ble in Dakota." with Dr. J. S. Williamson " (1879) : and " Forty Years among the Sioux" (1880). He also edited, with Rev. J. P. Williamson. Hymns in the Dakota Language " (New York, 1869).

'''RIGHTER. Chester Newell''', missionary, b. in Parsippany. Morris co.. N. J.. 25 Sept.. 1824 : d. in Diarbekir,' Turkey, 16 Dec., 1856. He was gradu- ated at Yale in 1846. and subsequently studied the- ology at New Haven and Andover. After travel- ling in Europe for his health, he was ordained. 22 . 1854, and sailed for the Levant the same year, where, on his arrival, he acted as an agent of the American Bible society. Extracts from his letters and journals will be found in The Bible in the Levant ; or, The Life and Letters of the Rev. C. N. Righter, Agent of the American Bible Society in the Levant." by Rev. Samuel I. Prime, D. D. (New York, 1859).

'''RIKER. James''', historian, b. in New York city, 11 May. 1822 : d. in Waverly. N. Y., 15 July. 1889. He traced his lineage from Abraham Rycker. of Amsterdam, who came to this country with Vil- helrn Kieft in 1638. After receiving his education at Cornelius institute, he taught in 1850-'8, and served in the office of the American home mission- ary society in 1858-'63 and in the U. S. revenue service in 1864-'7. In 1869 he removed to Waver- ly, where he lived twenty years. He established a library there, which was opened in 1885, and of which he was made librarian. He was a member of the historical societies of New York and Massa- chusetts, and of other similar associations. In addition to addresses and brochures upon the his- tory of the Dutch settlers of New York, Mr. Riker is the author of "A Brief History of the Riker Family " (New York. 1851) : ' The Annals of New- town " (1852) ; Harlem ; its Origin and Early An- nals "(1881): and "The Indian History of tioga County," in a gazetteer of that county (Syracuse. 1888). At the time of his death he was preparing a " Dictionary of the First Settlers of New Nether- land Prior to the Year 1700." His brother. John Lafayette, a colonel in the National army, was killed" at the battle of Fair Oaks. 31 May, 1862.

RIKER, Richard, lawyer, b. in Newtown. Long Island, N. Y., 9 Sept., 1773: d. in New York city, Sept., 1842. He was educated under Dr. John Witherspoon, studied law. and was admitted to the bar in 1795. From 1802 till 1840 be was district attorney for New York. Westchester. and Queens counties, and he was recorder of the city in 1815-'19, 1821-'3. and 1824- : 38. Mr. Riker was an earnest Republican, and on 14 Nov., 1803, was wounded in a political duel with Robert Swartwout. He was known for his geniality and patience on the bench, and possessed a profound knowledge of criminal law. Fitz-Greene Halleck made Mr. Riker the subject of his poem " The Recorder."

'''RILEY. Bennett''', soldier, b. in Alexandria, Yn., Nov., 1787; d. in Buffalo. N. Y., 9 June, 1853. He entered the army from civil life at an early period, being appointed from Maryland an ensign of rifles, 19 Jan., 1813, and continued in the - until he died. He became lieutenant on 12 March, served in the war of 1812. and was promoted captain, 6 Aug.. 1818, major, 26 Sept.. 1837. and lieutenant- colonel, 1 Dec., 1839. He served with gallantry in I 1823 in an action with the Arickaree Indians, and j for his services at Chakotta. Fla.. 2 June. 1840, he I was brevetted colonel. In the Mexican war of 1846-'7 he was given important commands. He led the 2d infantry under Scott, and the 2d brigade of Twiggs's division in the valley of Mexico. II. received the brevet of brigadier-general. 18 April. 1847. for gallantry at Cerro Gordo, and that of major-general. 20 At, u'.. 1 X 47. for Contreras. After one of his successful engagements with the enemy Gen. Winfield Scott assured him that his bravery had secured a victory for the American army. At the conclusion of the war Gen. Riley was placed in command of the Pacific department, with head- quarters at Monterey. He was appointed military governor of California, and served as the first chief magistrate of the territory and until the admission of the state into the Union. He became a of the 1st infantry on 31 Jan.. l^ln.

'''RILEY. Charles Valentine''', entomologist, b. in London. IN Sept.. 1*43 : d. in Washington. D. C., 14 Sept.. 1895. He attended school at Chelsea until he was eleven, and was then sent to the College of