Category Archives: Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs

The Cunningham Clan Comes West

Posted on November 8, 2019 by lois

On April 17, 1848, the Williamson family, which had been on furlough in Ohio since fall of 1847, left Ripley, Ohio, and began their journey back to Kaposia village in Minnesota. With them were Sylvester Cook, who was coming out … Continue reading →

Ann “Nancy” Margery Rankin Adams – Living Life with Moses

Posted on September 2, 2019 by lois

One of the challenges of writing about the “soul sisters” is that several of them are completely silent. They left behind no written record, no letters, no diary, no journal, and no memoir of their years with the Dakota mission. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnes Johnson Hopkins Pond, Dakota Mission, Jane Smith Williamson, Kaposia Village, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lucy Spooner Drake, Margaret Poage Williamson, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Mary Spooner Worcester, Moses Newton Adams, Nancy Rankin Adams, Sarah Rankin Hancock, Traverse des Sioux, Underground Railroad, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Life of a Legend – The Story of Jane Smith Williamson – Part XIII

Posted on September 2, 2018 by lois

Jane’s concern and sympathy for the Dakota, both those imprisoned in Mankato and those who were encamped at Fort Snelling remained strong over the course of the next few months. She was extremely distressed that Robert Hopkins Chaska and Peter … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Hunter, Eliza Huggins Holtzclaw, Elizabeth Williamson Hunter, Jane Smith Williamson, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Nancy Jane Williamson, Ohio, Peter Tapaytatanka, Robert Hopkins Chaska, Sarah Hopkins Chaska, Wawiyohiyawin/Sarah Hopkins, William Crooks, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Life of a Legend – The Story of Jane Smith Williamson – Part XII

Posted on August 28, 2018 by lois

When the Williamson’s arrived in St. Peter, Minnesota, on August 25, 1862, the town was bursting at the seams with refugees pouring in from all over the surrounding area. Many had left everything behind and saw their houses and farm … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Hunter, Eli Huggins, Elizabeth Means [Voris] Burgess, Elizabeth Williamson Hunter, Jane Smith Williamson, Lydia Pettijohn Huggins, Margaret Poage Williamson, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Nancy Jane Williamson, Nancy Rankin Adams, Peter Tapaytatanka, Robert Hopkins Chaska, Rufus Huggins, Sarah Hopkins Chaska, Sophia Josephine Marsh Huggins Hanthorne, Wawiyohiyawin/Sarah Hopkins, Women in Minnesota | 2 Comments

Life of a Legend – Introduction to the Story of Jane Smith Williamson

Posted on March 25, 2014 by lois

All of the missionary women whose stories have been recorded in Dakota Soul Sisters to this point came to the Dakota mission when they were young. Most were new brides; others were single women who came to experience the adventure … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan Woolworth, Jane Smith Williamson, Jeff Williamson, John LaBatte, Kaposia Village, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society Photo Purge, Minnesota History, Ohio, Stephen Osman, U.S. Dakota War of 1862, Underground Railroad, Women in Minnesota | 1 Comment

Heartbroken Heroine – Agnes Carson Johnson [Hopkins] [Pond] – Part II

Posted on February 27, 2014 by lois

On April 4, 1844, Agnes, Robert and 6-month-old Mary Frances, left the mission at Lac qui Parle to join Stephen and Mary Riggs at the new mission at Traverse des Sioux, 110 miles to the east on the Minnesota River. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnes Johnson Hopkins Pond, Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Julia Kephart, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lydia Pettijohn Huggins, Margaret Poage Williamson, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Minnesota History, St. Peter, Traverse des Sioux, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Heartbroken Heroine – Agnes Carson Johnson [Hopkins] [Pond] – Part I

Posted on February 21, 2014 by lois

On July 19, 1838, Alexander Huggins and Dr. Thomas Williamson wrote a letter to their mutual cousin, Robert Hopkins. Alexander and Thomas were at the Dakota Mission at Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, where they had been working for three years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnes Johnson Hopkins Pond, Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Julia Kephart, Lac Qui Parle Mission, Lorenzo Lawrence, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Contrary Mary – The Story of Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs – Part VI

Posted on November 3, 2013 by lois

No matter how many times I read or write about the tragic events of August 18, 1862, I continue to be struck with the emotional toll that the attack at the Lower Sioux Agency that morning had on the families … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Fanny Huggins Pettijohn, Hazlewood Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Contrary Mary – The Story of Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs – Part V

Posted on September 14, 2013 by lois

Mary Riggs was 40 years old when the mission at Lac Qui Parle burned to the ground and the family relocated to a new mission site at Yellow Medicine. They arrived in September 1854 and moved into their new home … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Hazlewood Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, U.S. Dakota War of 1862, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment

Contrary Mary – The Story of Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs – Part IV

Posted on August 9, 2013 by lois

One of the things that I personally have trouble understanding about Mary and Stephen Riggs is their unwillingness to allow their children to learn the Dakota language and become friends with Dakota children. Even though they often had Dakota children … Continue reading →

Posted in Dakota Mission, Hazlewood Mission, Mary Ann Clark Longley Riggs, Women in Minnesota | Leave a comment