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James C. Riggin letters

 Collection — Folder: S1742
Identifier: S1742

Scope and Contents

This collection includes typewritten transcriptions of letters written by James C. Riggin and sent to his wife, Rebecca Jane, when he went to the California gold fields. Riggin's original letters were in the possession of Mrs. Henry C. Gray of Allendale, Indiana when they were transcribed. His letters range from June 12, 1850 to April 7, 1851 and were written from different locations, including Fort Laramie, Sacramento, California, and Oregon House, Yuba County, California. He wrote about his experiences traveling to California, his health, acquaintances, the weather, and the price of goods. The collection also contains photocopies of typewritten transcriptions of entries from Zimri L. Garwood's diary and copied by Edgar C. Smith. The diary entries are from September and October, 1851 and mention that Riggin was ill and that Garwood was taking care of him and arranging his business and money for him.

Dates

  • 1850-1851

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

James C. (J.C.) Riggin was born in Virginia on April 2, 1820. He married Rebecca J. Pettyjohn in Andrews County, Missouri on March 6, 1849 and they had five children. Rebecca was born in Indiana in June, 1830 and was the daughter of Nide and Elizabeth Pettyjohn. In 1850, J.C. traveled overland to the California gold fields. He returned to Missouri sometime after the fall of 1851 and died at the age of 38 on December 27, 1858. Rebecca never remarried and passed away at the age of 90 on December 1, 1920.

Sources:

Information within collection.

Ancestry.com. "James C. Riggin." 1850 United State Federal Census. Accessed February 6, 20188. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.

Ancestry.com. "James C. Riggin." Missouri Compiled Marriages, 1754-1850. Accessed February 6, 20188. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.

Ancestry.com. "Rebecca Riggin." 1900 United State Federal Census. Accessed February 6, 20188. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.

FindaGrave.com. "James Calloway Riggin." Find a Grave Memorial 67470075. Accessed February 6, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67470075/james-calloway-riggin.

FindaGrave.com. "Rebecca Jane Pettyjohn Riggin." Find a Grave Memorial 67470234. Accessed February 6, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67470234/rig.

Extent

0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library on 1932/08/29.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2018/02/06 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2018/02/06 by Laura Eliason.

Subjects

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
James C. Riggin letters
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

http://www.in.gov/library/manuscripts.htm
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