Background
Stephen Return Riggs was the son of Stephen and Anna (Baird) Riggs of Steubenville, Ohio, and a descendant of Edward Riggs of Roxbury, Massachussets, whose son Edward moved to Connecticut and later settled in Newark, New Jersey.
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book
The Dakota Language
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Language-Stephen-Return-Riggs/dp/1375895761?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1375895761
Hymns in the Dakota language
(Dakota odowan. Hymns in the Dakota language, with tunes. ...)
Dakota odowan. Hymns in the Dakota language, with tunes. This book, "Hymns in the Dakota language", by Stephen Return Riggs, is a replication of a book originally published before 1868. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible.
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In Memory of Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, M. D (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from In Memory of Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, M. D ...)
Excerpt from In Memory of Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, M. D Of the Life and Labors pressed into the next forty years, only the most meager outline could be given in this article. I prefer, rather, to make some groupings from which the life may be imagined. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
https://www.amazon.com/Memory-Thos-Williamson-Classic-Reprint/dp/0364080574?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0364080574
History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd's Manuscripts (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd's Manu...)
Excerpt from History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd's Manuscripts Again, he says, The influence of the Mission among the Dakotas has ever been of a direct and energetic char acter. The first efforts of the Mission were directed more to the christianizing than to the civilizing of the Sioux; but of late the missionaries, though their exertions in the former respect are not at all abated, have been more earnest in their endeavors to teach the Indians to plant and till. It is not strange that Mr. Lynd should make this mis take. Our previous efforts in that direction were bringing forth fruit in the latter years of the mission. The Bible carries with it the plough and the hoe. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
https://www.amazon.com/History-Dakotas-Manuscripts-Classic-Reprint/dp/0484512390?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0484512390
Dakota Grammar, Texts, and Ethnography
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Grammar-Ethnography-Stephen-Return/dp/1376493454?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1376493454
Memorial Notices of Rev. Gideon H. Pond (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Memorial Notices of Rev. Gideon H. Pond Jus...)
Excerpt from Memorial Notices of Rev. Gideon H. Pond Just forty-three years previous to the occurrence above alluded to, on the same beautiful site, was completed a humble edifice, built by the hands of two inexperienced New England boys, just setting out in life work. The foundation stones of that but were removed to make place for the present Pavilion, perchance compose a part of it. The old struc ture was of oak logs, carefully peeled. The peeling was a mistake. Twelve feet by sixteen and eight feet high were the dimensions of the edifice. Straight poles from the tamarack grove west of the lake, formed the timbers of the roof, and the roof itself was of the bark of trees which grew on the bank of what is now called Bassett's Creek, fastened with strin;s of the inner bark of the bass-wood. A partition of small logs divided the house into two rooms, and split logs furnished material for a floor. The ceiling was of slabs from the old government saw mill, through the kindness of Major bliss, who was in Command of Fort Snelling. The door was made of boards split from a log with an ax, havmg wooden hinges and fastenings, and was locked by pulling in the latch string. The single window was the gift of the kind-hearted Major lawrence taliaferro, United States Indian agent. The cash cost of the building was one shilling, New York currency, for nails used in and about the door. The formal opening exercises, consisted in read ing a section from the old book by the name of Bible, and prayer to Him who was its acknowledged author. The banquet consisted of mussels from the lake, flour and water. The ground was selected by the Indian chief of the Lake Calhoun band of Dakotas, man-oh-the-sky, by which he showed good taste. The reason he gave for the selection was, that from that point the loons would be visible on the lake. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux Sinc...)
Excerpt from Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux Since the historical close of Forty years with the Sioux, some important events have transpired, in connec tion with our missionary work, which are grouped together in an Appendix, in the form of Monographs. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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The Dakota Language (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from The Dakota Language Accent in Dakota is qui...)
Excerpt from The Dakota Language Accent in Dakota is quite important. The meaning of many words depends upon it as, for instance, ma-ga, a field, and ma-ga, a goose. The principle of accenting seems to be determined from the beginning of the word, not from the' end. In the case of two thirds, or perhaps three fourths, of all the words in the language, the accent is on the second syllable from the beginning. The greater part of the remainder are accented on the first syllable there are a few cases of polysyllables accented on the penultimate. In words of four or more syllables, a secondary accent follows on the second syllable after the primary. Hence it is not unfavorable to the composition of poetry; but, as almost all words end in a vowel or nasal n. Rhyme can have very little variety. The language is sometimes figurative from necessity and sometimes from choice. In the latter case, their figures are often far fetched. When they ask for an ox in soldier language, they call him a dog and when a chief begs for a horse, he often does it under the figure of moccasins. Their war songs and others seem to have but little of either the Spirit or form of true poetry. A few words make a long song and, in general, their meaning is just the opposite of that naturally conveyed by the words. For example: nam ing a young man who has acted very bravely, killed an en emy and taken his Scalp, they say, you are a fool; you let the Chippewas strike you. And this is understood to be the highest form of eulogy. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Language-Classic-Reprint/dp/0267902441?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0267902441
Stephen Return Riggs
Edit ProfileEducation
Stephen was educated at the Latin school of Ripley, Ohio, and at Jefferson College.
Career
After a year at Western Theological Seminary, he was licensed by the Chillicothe Presbytery in 1836, and then spent a year preaching in Hawley, Massachussets.
An acquaintance of Riggs's, Dr. Thomas S. Williamson, with others, had established a station for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions at Lac qui Parle on the upper Minnesota River in 1835. Riggs's aptitude for languages caused the physician to recommend to the Board that the young man be added to the mission with the special object of learning the native language and of preparing translations for school and devotional purposes.
As a result, in 1837 Riggs and his wife journeyed to Lac qui Parle and began their life work among the Sioux. In 1843 he opened a new station farther down the river at Traverse des Sioux, at which he remained until 1846. He then returned to Lac qui Parle to take the place of Dr. Williamson, who had begun a new mission at the mouth of the river, continuing there until the mission buildings burned in 1854. Thereafter, until 1862, he was at a new station nearby, which bore the name of Hazelwood. A striking feature of this establishment was its adoption of a constitution and the name of the Hazelwood Republic. As time went on, Riggs became the recognized authority on the Siouan languages.
By 1863 he had published either alone or in cooperation with others the following works in Dakota: The Dakota First Reading Book (1839), Wowapi Mitawa: Tamakoce Kaga (1842), a primer; the book of Genesis and a part of the Psalms (1842); the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of Paul, and the book of Revelation (1843); Dakota Tawoonspe (1850), comprising two books of Dakota lessons; Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota Language (1852), published for the Smithsonian Institution; Dakota Odowan (1853, 1855, 1863, 1869), a hymn book; The Pilgrim's Progress (1857); The Constitution of Minnesota (1858); and a primer prepared for the natives taken prisoners after the Sioux uprising of 1862.
In this uprising, which resulted in the massacre of hundreds of settlers, the missionaries, with one exception, were saved by the help of the Indians they had instructed. After his own narrow escape from death, Riggs returned at once to his flock, now captives, and for the devastating years of their detention in prison and their transfer to the banks of the Missouri he was either with them, teaching and counseling, or at Washington, lobbying in their behalf.
A larger part of his time than heretofore was now devoted to preparing books. Young men and women, who had been trained by the two veteran missionaries, now entered the active field, and the two older men superintended their work. Riggs's home for several years was Beloit, Wisconsin.
In 1864 he brought out a catechism, Dakota Wiwicawangapi Kin; in 1865 he published the entire New Testament in Dakota from the Greek; in 1866, 1867, and 1868 he issued primers.
He translated the book of Psalms from the Hebrew and published it in 1869.
In 1875 and 1876 respectively he brought out a model first reader and a Dakota version of Guyot's Elementary Geography; in 1877 a large part of the Bible, and in 1880, Dakota Wowapi Wakan: The Holy Bible in the Language of the Dakotas appeared, a great portion of the translation in each case being his work.
He died in Beloit.
Achievements
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He published: The Gospel among the Dakotas (1869); Mary and I: Forty Years with the Sioux (1880); "The Dakota Mission", "Protestant Missions in the Northwest"; and many articles in newspapers and religious periodicals. Some time after his death his "Dakota-English Dictionary" appeared in the Contributions to North American Ethnology, and his "Dakota Grammar Texts and Ethnography, " edited by James Owen Dorsey, in the same series.
Works
book
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Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux Sinc...)
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The Dakota Language
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
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Dakota Grammar, Texts, and Ethnography
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
-
The Dakota Language (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from The Dakota Language Accent in Dakota is qui...)
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History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd's Manuscripts (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd's Manu...)
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Memorial Notices of Rev. Gideon H. Pond (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Memorial Notices of Rev. Gideon H. Pond Jus...)
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In Memory of Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, M. D (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from In Memory of Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, M. D ...)
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Hymns in the Dakota language
(Dakota odowan. Hymns in the Dakota language, with tunes. ...)
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Mary and I: Forty Years With the Sioux (Classic Reprint)
Personality
Though of small stature Riggs was a man of uncommon powers of endurance and physical vigor, as his strenuous life on the frontier for almost half a century bears evidence.
Connections
There, on Feburary 16, 1837, he was married to Mary A. C. Longley, the daughter of Gen. Thomas and Martha A. Longley. His wife died in 1869 and thither three years later he brought his second wife, Mrs. Annie Baker Ackley, formerly of the Hazelwood mission. Of his nine children at least five entered the mission field, four of whom labored among the Dakota Indians.
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Born
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Died
August 24, 1883 (aged 71) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Protestant