Individual Details
Joseph Clay RIGG
(19 December 1853 - 15 August 1933)
By Eva Zinn Rigg:
Since Joseph was the oldest boy, many responsibilities fell on him while his father fought in the Civil War on the side of the South. Their many negro slaves were freed and keeping his father's farm going was hard for a boy no older than he. He finished his schooling around Edgerton and Lathrop, Missouri and when his father was appointed head of the school board, he would teach until a proper teacher was found, although he didn't hold a teaching certificate for those times.
After the civil war, a new West was opening up with the discovery of gold in many places. When he reached 18 he left Edgerton and hit every boom town between Missouri and California. His travels at one time took him to Chihuahua, Mexico, lake Tahoe, Ely, Nevada, San Francisco, and many towns that were booming. For the most part he made his way as a very proficient gambler.
His brother, John, and he were very close and they went to Cripple Creek, Colorado when it was a booming mining town. There he worked in the mines at Anaconda and Cripple Creek.
He met and married Lesley E. Williams. One of the bitterest strikes in history took place and having a part in the strike, he was arrested, placed in what the Militia called, the Bull Pen, and shipped secretly out of the country.
Through the sympathy and secrecy of the Union men and the Masonic Lodge, he was taken off the train and was hidden out for many months.
John Paul Rigg and Ruth Williams Rigg were quite small, and it was during these terrible times that mother gave birth to Esther Morris Rigg, after the Militia came to their house, man handled her, threatened her and searched the house for huns, ammunition and daddy. Uncle John and Aunt Jessie had gone on ahead to Palisade, and they asked daddy to come there. He did and procured employment with Dr. Devine as a farm hand with a log cabin furnished him by the Doctor. He sent for mother who was still in Cripple Creek and ill. Joseph Clay Rigg Jr., Gabriel Taylor Rigg and Eva Elizabeth Rigg were all born in Palisade. Daddy farmed for many years until he got a job with the U.S. Government at the Government Dam. His boss was John C. Page who was here as head of the Bureau of Reclamation and was building the Grand Valley Irrigation System. During his work one night he was caught in a flash flood near Rapid Creek and almost died of pneumonia. Due to his age, this illness weakened him to the point he was never able to work again at manual labor. He was night watchman for the United Fruit Growers in Clifton in August of 1933 and his funeral was held from the Voorhees funeral home in Palisade. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery at Palisade.
Since Joseph was the oldest boy, many responsibilities fell on him while his father fought in the Civil War on the side of the South. Their many negro slaves were freed and keeping his father's farm going was hard for a boy no older than he. He finished his schooling around Edgerton and Lathrop, Missouri and when his father was appointed head of the school board, he would teach until a proper teacher was found, although he didn't hold a teaching certificate for those times.
After the civil war, a new West was opening up with the discovery of gold in many places. When he reached 18 he left Edgerton and hit every boom town between Missouri and California. His travels at one time took him to Chihuahua, Mexico, lake Tahoe, Ely, Nevada, San Francisco, and many towns that were booming. For the most part he made his way as a very proficient gambler.
His brother, John, and he were very close and they went to Cripple Creek, Colorado when it was a booming mining town. There he worked in the mines at Anaconda and Cripple Creek.
He met and married Lesley E. Williams. One of the bitterest strikes in history took place and having a part in the strike, he was arrested, placed in what the Militia called, the Bull Pen, and shipped secretly out of the country.
Through the sympathy and secrecy of the Union men and the Masonic Lodge, he was taken off the train and was hidden out for many months.
John Paul Rigg and Ruth Williams Rigg were quite small, and it was during these terrible times that mother gave birth to Esther Morris Rigg, after the Militia came to their house, man handled her, threatened her and searched the house for huns, ammunition and daddy. Uncle John and Aunt Jessie had gone on ahead to Palisade, and they asked daddy to come there. He did and procured employment with Dr. Devine as a farm hand with a log cabin furnished him by the Doctor. He sent for mother who was still in Cripple Creek and ill. Joseph Clay Rigg Jr., Gabriel Taylor Rigg and Eva Elizabeth Rigg were all born in Palisade. Daddy farmed for many years until he got a job with the U.S. Government at the Government Dam. His boss was John C. Page who was here as head of the Bureau of Reclamation and was building the Grand Valley Irrigation System. During his work one night he was caught in a flash flood near Rapid Creek and almost died of pneumonia. Due to his age, this illness weakened him to the point he was never able to work again at manual labor. He was night watchman for the United Fruit Growers in Clifton in August of 1933 and his funeral was held from the Voorhees funeral home in Palisade. He is buried in the IOOF Cemetery at Palisade.
Events
| Birth | 19 December 1853 | Platte Township, Buchanan, Missouri |  | ||
| Census | 1 June 1860 | Platte Township, Buchanan, Missouri |  | | |
| Census | 1 June 1870 | Lafayette Township, Clinton, Missouri | | | |
| Census | 1 June 1880 | Lake Valley, El Dorado, California | | | |
| Marriage | 28 April 1899 | Victor, Teller, Colorado - Lesley Elizabeth WILLIAMS | | ||
| Census | 1900 | ||||
| Census | 1910 | Palisade, Mesa, Colorado | | | |
| Census | 1 April 1930 | Clifton, Mesa, Colorado | | | |
| Death | 15 August 1933 | Clifton, Mesa, Colorado | | ||
| Burial | Palisade Cemetery, Mesa, Colorado | |
Families
| Spouse | Lesley Elizabeth WILLIAMS ( - 1943) |
| Child | Captain John Paul RIGG (1901 - 1988) |
| Child | Ruth Wilma RIGG (1903 - 1968) |
| Child | Esther RIGG (1904 - 1994) |
| Child | Joseph Clay RIGG (1906 - 1982) |
| Child | Gabriel RIGG (1908 - 1962) |
| Child | Vincent RIGG ( - ) |
| Child | Eva Elizabeth RIGG (1911 - 1984) |
| Father | Richard Collins RIGG (1829 - 1912) |
| Mother | Nancy Jane TAYLOR (1833 - 1909) |
| Sibling | Amanda Jane RIGG (1851 - 1922) |
| Sibling | Mary Elizabeth RIGG (1856 - 1883) |
| Sibling | John Creath RIGG (1859 - 1929) |
| Sibling | Robert Edward Lee RIGG (1866 - 1943) |
| Sibling | Lydia Anna RIGG (1868 - 1922) |
| Sibling | William Albert RIGG (1871 - 1953) |
| Sibling | Lucy Etta RIGG (1874 - 1970) |
Notes
Census
age 6Census
age 16, schoolCensus
p. 20 369Joseph Rigg, 25, wood chopping, MO, f. KY, m. KY
(several woodchoppers and lumberman on same page)
Census
316Joseph C. Rigg, 56, MO, f. VA, m. KY
Elizabeth, 42, IL, f. IL, m. IL
John P. 8, CO
Ruth, 6, CO
Esther, 5, CO
Joseph Jr., 3, CO
Gabriel, 2, CO
Census
age 75Endnotes
1. .
2. Census, 1860, MO, Buchanan Co., Platte Township, page 200, dwelling 1343, family 1343, Richard C. Rigg.
3. Census, 1870, MO, Clinton Co., Lafayette Township, page 71, dwelling 272, family 272, Richard C. Riggs.
4. Census, 1930, CO, Mesa Co., Clifton Township, ED# 34-25, sheet 17B, dwelling 301, family 303, Joseph C. Rigg.
5. Census, 1860, MO, Buchanan Co., Platte Township, page 200, dwelling 1343, family 1343, Richard C. Rigg.
6. Census, 1870, MO, Clinton Co., Lafayette Township, page 71, dwelling 272, family 272, Richard C. Riggs.
7. Census, 1880, CA, El Dorado Co., Lake Valley, page 41A, Philo Flansbarg.
8. Fenner, Connie Rigg letter Feb. 7, 1975.
9. .
10. .
11. .
12. Census, 1930, CO, Mesa Co., Clifton Township, ED# 34-25, sheet 17B, dwelling 301, family 303, Joseph C. Rigg.
13. .
14. Palisade Cemetery, Mesa County, Colorado (Palisade Cemetery [Block E], Mesa County, Colorado http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/co/mesa/cemeteries/palisade-e.txt).