Background
Riggs, Stephen Return was born on March 23, 1812 in Steubenville, Ohio, United States. Son of Stephen and Anna (Baird) Riggs.
Riggs, Stephen Return was born on March 23, 1812 in Steubenville, Ohio, United States. Son of Stephen and Anna (Baird) Riggs.
Graduate Jefferson College, 1834, honorary Doctor of Laws, 1873. Attended Western Theological Seminary. Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Beloit (Wisconsin) College, 1873.
Began missionary work among Sioux Indians, Lacqui Parle (Upper Minnesota River), 1837, stationed at Traverse Des Sioux, 1843-1846. Stationed at Hazelwood, 1854-1862, founder school for Indian children. Published (or helped to publish) The Dakota First Reading Book, 1839.
Published Wowapi Mitawa: Tamakoce Kaga (a primer), 1842.
The Book of Genesis, part of Psalms, 1842. Book of Revelation, 1843.
Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota Language, 1852. Pilgrim’s Progress, 1857.
Dakota Wiwicawangapi Kin (catechism), 1864.
Published entire New Testament in Dakota, 1865. The Gospel Among the Dakotas, 1869. Dakota Wowapi Wakon: The Holy Bible in the Language of the Dakotas, 1880.
Mary and I: Forty Years with the Sioux, 1880.
Protestant Missions in the Northwest. Dakota-English Dictionary appeared after his death In Contributions to North American Ethnology.
Married Mary Longley, February 16, 1837. Married second, Mistress.