Résumé

Draftsman, W. Scott Moore and Son, Architects, Indianapolis, IN, 1898. In 1898, W. Scott Moore and Son was located in Rooms #426-435 of the Stevenson Building in Indianapolis. (SeeIndianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1898, p. 662 and 760. This directory listed Archibald Rigg as "Frederick A.G. Rigg.")

Draftsman, The M.S. Huey Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1899. The M.S. Huey Company, dealt in wholesale and retail lumber, mantles and grates in 1899 and operated at 1137 Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1899, p. 503 and 783.)

Draftsman, Indianapolis, IN, 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0037; FHL microfilm: 1240387, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Architect, Indianapolis, IN, 1901. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1901, p. 871.) No architectural firm under his name appeared in theIndianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1901, pp. 1133-1134.)

Rigg's name disappeared from the Indianapolis city directories between 1901 and 1907. In a biographical essay done on the architect in 1912, this was his account of the period: “He began business at Danville, Illinois, as an architect under the firm name Lewis & Rigg and there did work for ‘Uncle’ Joe Cannon, long the distinguished speaker of the House of Representatives. He executed a vast amount of work in Danville but on account of the ill health of his wife came to the west. For two years he was head draughtsman with Cutter & Malmgren and for a similar period with Albert Held." (See Nelson Wayne Durham, History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 667.)

Draftsman, C.M. Lewis, Architect, Danville, IL, c. 1901-1902. The Danville, IL, architect mentioned above appears to have been C.M. Lewis, who obtained a B.S. in architecture from the University of Illinois (c. 12/1896) and was active in the city during the 1900s and 1910s.(See Nineteenth Report of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, for the Two Years Ending September 30, 1898, [Springfield, IL: Phillips Brothers, State Printers, 1898], p. 43.) The residence of Rep. Joe Cannon mentioned, must have been a remodeling job, as the original house was a Second Empire dwelling completed in the 1870s. The front porch of this house appears to have been added later, perhaps by this Lewis and Rigg. Very little information has been found on this Danville interlude of Rigg's life.

Draftsman, Albert Held, Architect, Spokane, WA, 1903-1904.(See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 806 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 546.) Rigg worked in the Held office at the time the San Marco Apartments were being designed. He would later live in the building during the 1910s.

Draftsman, Cutter and Malmgren, Architects, Spokane, WA, 1905-1906. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1905, p. 617 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1906, p. 625.)

Draftsman, [Herbert] Foltz and [Wilson] Parker, Architects, Indianapolis, IN, c. 1906-1907. His biographical essay said of this period of his career: "His father’s illness called him back to the east and he remained there for four years to straighten up affairs, after which he entered into partnership with Messrs. Foltz and Parker, under the firm name of Foltz, Parker & Rigg, at Indianapolis. There he conducted a large amount of state work, building libraries, school houses, etc. The firm erected the Madison insane asylum at a cost of one million five hundred thousand dollars, also the First Christian church of Indianapolis, a number of school houses and the home of Senator Beveridge.” (See Nelson Wayne Durham, History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 667.) Foltz and Parker terminated their partnership in 1910, and it seems unlikely if Rigg was ever actually their parnter. (See “Of Interest to Architects,” Western Architect, v. 15-16, 1910, p. V.)

Architect, Indianapolis, IN, 1907. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1907,p. 1051.) It is very possible that Rigg worked for Clarence Martindale, who operated his own firm in Room #18 of the Aetna Building in Indianapolis in 1907. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1907,p. 1370.)

Partner, [Clarence] Martindale and Rigg, Architects, Indianapolis, IN, 1908-1910. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1907,p. 1096.) This firm had its office in Room #18 of the Aetna Building at 23 North North Pennsylvania Street. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1908,p. 1463. and Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1909,p. 1100.)

The Martindale and Rigg partnership lasted a short time, but did managed to produce some notable work. According to a note in The Brickbuilder(1907): “Terra cotta will be supplied by the Indianapolis Terra Cotta Co. for the following new buildings:—Two school houses, Charleston, W. Va, Martindale & Rigg, architects.” (See “In General,” The Brickbuilder, vol. 16, no. 8, 08/1907, p. 152.)

Partner, Zittel and Rigg, Architects, Spokane, WA, 1912-1913. In 1912-1913, Zittel and Rigg had an office in Suite #511 of the Jamieson Building in Spokane. Zittel was also the Vice-President of the Citizens Savings and Loan Society in Spokane in 1913. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1912, p. 1277 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1913,p. 1176.)

Principal, Archibald G. Rigg, Architect and Engineer, Spokane, WA, 1918-1942. In 09/1918, he had his office in Room #525 of the Peyton Building in Spokane. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 170, accessed 11/03/2020.)

College

A 1912 biographical essay said of Rigg's education: “Archibald G. Rigg was educated at Trinity College of Toronto, Canada, and at Columbia College of New York. He was also a student under James Balfour of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and broad and liberal training fitted him for large responsibilities in later life.” (SeeNelson Wayne Durham, History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 667.)

Relocation

Descended from Scottish ancestry on his father's side and English on his mother's, Archibald Grant Rigg was born into a large Baptist family on 04/05/1878 in Stratford, ON, Canada. The 1881 Canadian Census listed Archibald living with his large family near Stratford, in District #172 of North Perth, ON, where his father worked as an engineer. He lived with his father, William Johnston Rigg, and mother, Arabella. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1881; Census Place: Stratford, Perth North, Ontario; Roll: C_13271; Page: 42; Family No: 198, accessed 11/03/2020.)

At some point after 1881, the Rigg Family moved to Hamilton, ON, where Archibald's mother died in 1888. According to his naturalization document, Rigg last resided in Hamilton, ON, Canada, before crossing into the US at Detroit, MI, in 1895. He entered the US via a Grand Trunk Railway train as per this document. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1890-1972; Microfilm Roll: 36; Microfilm Serial: M1541, accessed 11/03/2020.)

The architect resided in Indianapolis, IN, from about 1898 until 1901 and then again from about 1907 until 1910 or early 1911. He and his family lived at 2127 Bellefontaine Street in 1898. (SeeIndianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1898, p. 760.) During the period 1899 through 1901, his father and three siblings at 1925 Ashland Avenue in Indianapolis. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1899, p. 783 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0037; FHL microfilm: 1240387, accessed 11/03/2020.

His name did not appear in the Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1902,[p. 849], or the Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1903,[p. 908], Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1904,[p. 919], although those of his brother, Charles, and father, William, did, living at 1925 Ashland.) Charles and William moved to 1224 North Alabama Street by 1905. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1905,p. 993.)

During the period 1901-1906, Rigg apparently lived in IL and WA. In his the 1912 biographical essay by Nelson Durham, Rigg stated that he lived in Danville, IL, where he worked with architect C.M. Lewis, (c. 1901-1902), and then moved out to Spokane, WA, where he worked for the architect Albert Held (1903-1904) and firm, Cutter and Malmgren, Architects, (1905-1906). (See Nelson Wayne Durham, History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 667.)

In 1903, while working for Held, he dwelled at 1612 Pacific Street and 1605 Pacific, the following year. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 806 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1904, p. 546.) While living in Spokane in 1905-1906, Rigg and his family lived in the San Marco Apartments, designed a year or two before by Albert Held, his former employer.

Rigg indicated that he returned to Indianapolis to care for his ailing father in 1906. (His father passed away on 05/16/1906.) (See Nelson Wayne Durham, History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 666.) In 1907, Frederick A. Rigg's name reappeared in the directory, as an architect, living at 2502 Park Avenue in Indianapolis. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1907,p. 1051.) He continued to live on Park Avenue in 1908. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1908,p. 1096.) By 1909-1910, he and his wife had resettled at 510 North Meridian Street. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1909,p. 1100 and Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1910,p. 1164.)

The 1910 US Census documented Archibald and his wife, Mayme Beck Rigg, living in the house of her father, George C. Beck, in Spokane. George Beck's residence was located at 1230 Sprague Avenue West. Archibald's brother, Charles, who married Edith Beck, (born c. 1883 in IN), Mayme's sister, also resided in the same house at the time, with a daughter, Amelia Rigg, (born c. 1907 in IN). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T624_1670; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 1375683, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Rigg, his wife and daughter resided again at the San Marco Apartments, Apartment #14, on 09/10/1918. His father-in-law, George C. Beck, also lived in the same building. The US Census of 1920, showed Rigg and his family continuing to live at the San Marco, at 1229 Riverside West. The family included their daughter, Marion, and a lodger, Lillian Sather, (born c. 1902 in ID). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T625_1941; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 207, accessed 11/03/2020.)

The Riggs resided at South 1815 Upper Terrace Road, Spokane, WA, in 1930. This house had an estimated value of $10,000 in 1930, about double that of an average house in Spokane, but less than some neighboring residences that had values of as much as $25,000 in that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 2342252, accessed 11/03/2020.)

They continued to dwell at 1815 Upper Terrace Road on 04/25/1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 170, accessed 11/03/2020.)

He died at the age of 80 in Spokane, and was buried at the Riverside Memorial Park, (Riverside Mausoleum), there.

Parents

According to the 1861 Census of Canada, several members of the Rigg Family resided in Perth, ON, three of whom were carpenters and one, his grandfather Benjamin, (born c. 1799 in Scotland), a turner. (Of the adult Rigg men listed, all had some connection to the construction industry.) William Johnston Rigg, (born c. 1834 in Ayrshire, Scotland-d. 05/16/1906 in Indianapolis, IN), his father, was listed as a sawyer in that year. In short, the building trades were prominently represented in the clan to which Archibald was born. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1065, accessed 11/07/2020.)

William Rigg, migrated from Scotland to Ontario sometime between 1851 and 1861. The 1861 Canadian Census listed him as being part of the Free Church of Scotland Canadian Synod (formed in 1843), but that of 1871 indicated that he had become a Baptist, the faith in which Archibald was raised. A biographical essay on Archibald Rigg published in 1912, likely embellished the wealth and influence of his father, particularly. It stated: “William Rigg became a well known capitalist and with his brother owned large lumber mills and flour mills at Stratford, Ontario. He also served as mayor of the town and took an active part in guiding its destinies and promoting its development.” (SeeNelson Wayne Durham, History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 666.) There is no indication that he owned any large business enterprises, and was, by all accounts, a man of modest background and means.

The Canadian Census of 1871 recorded that William also worked as a carpenter, and, ten years later, the 1881 Canadian Census listed him as an engineer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1871; Census Place: Stratford, Perth North, Ontario; Roll: C-9940; Page: 28, accessed 11/07/2020.)

Archibald's mother has been identified in the Canadian Censuses of 1871 and 1881 as "Arabella Rigg." Archibald's State of Washington death records listed her as being "Amelia Harvey." WIlliam Johnston Rigg's mother was named "Arabella Harvey," according to his death certificate, further complicating his wife's identification. (William's father was Benjamin Rigg.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1906; Roll: 09, accessed 11/03/2020.) This Indiana death certificate looks to have had the name of William's mother wrong. Her name was listed in William's marriage records as Mary Rigg. This same marriage document, however, also recorded William's wife to have been named "Isabella." (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ontario, Canada, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869 [database on-line], accessed 11/03/2020.) In the final analysis, based on the Canadian Censuses and birth records for various children, it appears that William's wife and Archibald's mother was named Arabella Harvey Rigg (born c. 1840 in England-d. 08/17/1888 in Hamilton, ON). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS935; Reel: 52, Source Information: Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-1948 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Arabella Rigg, according to the 1881 Census, worked as a grocer.

They married on 05/09/1859 in Perth, ON. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; County Marriage Registers, 1858-June 1869; Reel: 9, accessed 11/03/2020.)

William and his wife had at least 12 children. They included: Stella Rigg, (born c. 1859), Isaac Rigg, (born c. 1862), Benjamin Rigg, (born c. 1864), Annie Rigg, (born c. 1865), Jeannie Rigg, (born c. 1866), Jessie Rigg, (born c. 1867), William J. Rigg, (presumably Jr., born c. 1868), Maggie Rigg, (born c. 1870), Thomas Rigg, (born c. 1873), Ida Rigg, (born c. 1875), Archibald, and Charles Rigg, (born c. 1880). The 1871 Canadian Census indicated that all children had been born in England. The 1881 Canadian Census also stated that they all had been born in England, which was not correct in Archibald's case, and probably that of Maggie, Thomas, Ida, and Charles.

In 1881, his brothers Isaac and Benjamin worked as moulders. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1881; Census Place: Stratford, Perth North, Ontario; Roll: C_13271; Page: 42; Family No: 198, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Children listed in 1891 Canadian Census included: Benjamin Rigg (born c. 1863), Sarah C. Rigg, (born c. 1865), Maggie W. Rigg, (born c. 1875), Thomas H. Rigg, (born c. 1877), Ida B. Rigg, (born c. 1879), Estella L. Rigg, (born c. 1881), Archie F.G. Rigg, (born c. 1883), Charles F. Rigg, (born c. 1886), and Gordon R. Rigg, (born c, 1888). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1891; Census Place: Ward 5, Hamilton City, Ontario, Canada; Roll: T-6341; Family No: 295, Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1891 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Operations Inc, 2008, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Charles Franklin Rigg, Archibald's younger brother, became a druggist living in Indianapolis, and married Edith Beck in Spokane, WA, on 11/02/1904. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington, Marriage Records, EA332-2-0-29, accessed 11/03/2020.) Edith was the sister of Archibald's wife, Mayme. Charles was listed in the US Census of 1910 for Spokane as being a physician. He and Edith resided until at least 1907 in Indianapolis, where their daughter was born, but they had moved to Spokane by 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T624_1670; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 1375683, accessed 11/03/2020.)

His brother William J. Rigg, was, according to the History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, (1912), "...a practicing attorney in St. Louis." (See Nelson Wayne Durham, History of the City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington, Volume II, [Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912], p. 666.)

Spouse

He wed Mayme E. Beck, (born 04/01/1880 in Indianapolis, IN-d. 07/26/1958 in Spokane, WA), on 10/23/1901 in Indianapolis, IN. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1890-1972; Microfilm Roll: 36; Microfilm Serial: M1541, accessed 11/03/2020.)

He met Mayme Beck, in Indianapolis. Her parents were George C. Beck, (born c. 05/20/1844 in PA), and Amelia Beck, (born c. 10/31/1844 in OH), and Mayme was one of their five children, four of whom were alive in 1900.

George C. Beck was a well-to-do commission merchant dealing in cattle in 1900, who would move to Spokane before 1910. He operated George C. Beck and Son in 1894 with his son, George A. Beck, (born c. 1870 in Cleveland, OH-d. 1900 in Indianapolis, IN ). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0055; FHL microfilm: 1240388, accessed 11/03/2020.)

Children

He and Mayme had a daughter, Marion Beck Rigg Foley, (born 07/20/1911 in Spokane, WA-d. 02/15/1963 in Spokane, WA).

Biographical Notes

City directories in Indianapolis, IN of 1898 and 1899 listed him as "Frederick A.G. Rigg" as did the Marion County, Indiana, Marriage Index, 1901-1905 and the R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane City Directory, 1903. (See Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1898, p. 760 and Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1899, p. 783 and See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Marion County, Indiana; Index to Marriage Record 1901 - 1905 Inclusive Vol, Original Record Located: County Clerk's Office Ind; Book: 33; Page: 304, accessed 11/03/2020, and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 806.) Frederick may have been his given first name, but this is not reflected in many other documents.

Archibald Rigg became a naturalized American citizen in Spokane, WA, on 07/28/1932.He had declared his intention to become an American citizen in Indianapolis, IN, in 1895, according to his 1932 naturalization paperwork. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1890-1972; Microfilm Roll: 36; Microfilm Serial: M1541, accessed 11/03/2020.)

On 04/25/1942, Rigg’s World War II draft registration card listed him as a Caucasian, standing 5-feet, 5-and-¾-inches tall, and weighing 185 pounds. He was described as being Caucasian with a ruddy complexion, with blue eyes and gray hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 170, accessed 11/03/2020.)