A beautiful life has gone out from our work, taking from it one who was
loved and admired by the Indian people as well as by her fellow-workers.
Mrs. Riggs was born in 1867 in Dorset, Vt., graduating in 1887 from the
Western Reserve Seminary, and after spending two years in Bradford
Academy, Mass., she came as a teacher to the Santee School, Nebraska,
where she made herself exceedingly useful and was afterward employed by
Dr. Riggs as his secretary. In 1893 she was married to Mr. Frederick B.
Riggs and took a trip with him upon the Rosebud and Pine Ridge
Reservations, camping out and sharing the hardship of such travel. Failing
health led to the employment of the best medical advice, and in November,
1894, she went to New Mexico to escape the rigors of the climate of
Nebraska, where it seemed impossible that she could live through the
winter. But in spite of all that could be done, Mrs. Riggs passed away
March 12, 1895. She was admirably fitted for her work and full of
enthusiasm for it. It seemed as if her usefulness had just begun, but God
had prepared her for another and more glorious field.
The funeral service of Mrs. Riggs was held on Sunday afternoon, March 24,
at Santee, Neb. The simple exercises were conducted by Rev. Mr. Dwin,
Superintendent of the Government School, and Pastor Ehnamani. The latter
is the venerable Indian pastor of the church at Santee. He referred
feelingly to Mrs. Riggs giving her life to the work among his people and
of her desire to be buried among those whom she loved.