Biography of John Melvin RIGG - Wayne County, West Virginia

    
The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 57

JOHN MELVIN RIGG is a substantial and honorable practitioner at the
Huntington bar, and for some years has been a prominent figure in public
life.  In the field of his profession he has established a wide reputation
for unflagging earnestness and effective work, and his official record has
always been one absolutely beyond reproach.  Mr. Rigg is a native of Wayne
County, West Virginia, and was born November 8, 1881, his parents being James
H. and Phoebe (Ballengee) Rigg.

The Rigg family is of Scotch-Irish origin and was founded in the United
States by an immigrant from Ireland who located in the colony of Virginia
prior to the war of the Revolution.  Zacharias Rigg, the grandfather of John
M. Rigg, was born in 1821, in Kentucky, and was a pioneer into Wayne County,
Virginia, whither he went as a young man.  While agriculture was his regular
vocation, he was known throughout his neighborhood as a noted hunter and a
man educated in all the lure of Forest, mountain and plain.  He died in Wayne
County in 1899, aged seventy-eight years.  Mr. Rigg married Elizabeth
Christian, who was born in Wayne (then Cabell) County, in 1821, and died in
the same county in 1901.

James H. Rigg was born April 19, 1844, in Wayne County, Virginia (now West
Virginia), and has resided in the same community all of his life.  Reared to
agricultural pursuits, he has applied himself to farming and stock-raising,
and has been successful in both departments of his work, being at present the
owner of a valuable modern property.  During a long and busy career he has
found the time and inclination to serve in a number of public offices in
which he has comported himself with becoming conscientiousness and
efficiency, having been constable for seven years and justice of the peace
for seven years.  Politically he supports the democratic party, and as
fraternalist he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Knights of the Golden Eagle.  With his family he belongs to the Baptist
Church, the movements of which always have his cooperation and material
assistance.  Mr. Rigg married Miss Phoebe Ballengee, who was born in 1843, in
Wayne County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and died in Wayne County in 1916.
 To this union there were born children as follows:  California, who married
Philip S. Hughes and resides at Ceredo, Wayne County, where Mr. Hughes is a
painter and paperhanger; William S., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits
in Wayne County; George W., a commission and feed merchant of Huntington;
Minnie, who married first James H. Odell a farmer of Wayne County, and after
his death married Mr. Bloss, a farmer of the same county, where they now
reside; Levi J., a farmer of this county; Albert, a railroad employee of
Kenova, Wayne County; Viola, who married Laban Workman, a farmer and dairyman
of Cabell County; Charles, who is engaged in agricultural operations in Wayne
County; John Melvin, of this notice; and James, a traveling salesman, with
headquarters at Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Reared in the atmosphere of the home farm, the early education of John M.
Rigg was obtained through attendance at the rural schools of Wayne County,
this being subsequently supplemented by a course at Oak View Academy at
Wayne.  Leaving this institution in 1898, he taught school in Wayne County
for seven years thereafter, and was then made deputy clerk of the Circuit
Court of Wayne County, acting in that capacity for four years.  During this
time, having decided upon a professional career, he applied himself to the
study of law, and eventually entered the West Virginia State University at
Morgantown, where he spent one year in the law department.  He was admitted
to the bar in August, 1913, and immediately began the practice of his calling
at Wayne, where he remained until January, 1920, since when he has carried on
a general civil and criminal practice at Huntington.  His offices are located
at Nos. 401-402 Holswade Building, and on his books are found the names of
some of the leading concerns of this section of the state.

Mr. Rigg is a democrat in his political affiliation and is accounted one of
the influential men of his party.  He served two terms as mayor of Wayne
while living at the place, was one year assistant prosecuting attorney of
Wayne County, and at the present time is acting as city attorney of Kenova,
Wayne County.  Mr. Rigg belongs to the Baptist Church.  He has shown an
interest in fraternal work and is a past grand of Fairmont Lodge No. 115, I.
O. O. F., of Wayne, and a member of the Encampment of that order.  He also
has several important civic connections, and his business interests include
the secretaryship of the East Lynn Oil and Gas Company, of East Lynn, Wayne
County.  His pleasant home is situated at Kenova.  During the World war he
took an active part in all local war activities, being fuel administrator for
Wayne County and a member of the Legal Advisory Board.  He devoted much time
to the cause and was a liberal contributor to the various movements.

In December, 1902, Mr. Rigg was united in marriage with Miss Bertie Frazier,
of Wayne County, daughter of George W. and Sarah (Enochs) Frazier, the latter
of whom resides at Kenova.  Mr. Frazier, who is now deceased, was an
agriculturalist and schoolteacher of Wayne County, and served as
superintendent of the county schools and as clerk of the Circuit Court of
Wayne County.  To Mr. and Mrs. Rigg there have come three children:  Sarah,
born May 29, 1904, a senior in the Ceredo High School; Homer, born October 8,
1913, who is attending the graded school; and Mamie, born June 29, 1916.


Submitted by Cheryl McCollum <CHERMC@aol.com>

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