ELISHA T. RIGGIN
DIED WEDNESDAY May 13, 1936

Mr. Elisha T. Riggin, prominent retired
businessman, died at his home on Somerset
Avenue, Wednesday afternoon at 3:15
o'clock. He had been in failing health
for some months, and his death was not
unexpected.

Mr. Riggin was born in Crisfield
October 4th, 1851 at the old Riggin
homestead back from Maryland avenue, near
the McCready Memorial hospital. His father
was William W. Riggin and his mother was
Miss Jane Ward before her marriage. On May
16th, 1877 he was married to Miss Mary
Nicholas Somers, and he will be buried
this Saturday, May 16th, which is the 59th
anniversary of his marriage.

For about twenty years, until he was 32
years of age, Captain Lisha followed the
water, first with Captain William Somers
in the "Breeze," which ran from York river
to New York City. After being with Captain
Somers for several years he began sailing
his own vessels, and at various times
owned the following vessels, which were
engaged in freighting, dredging, etc., on
the Chesapeake bay and its tributaries:
The Philpot, the Two Brothers, The Kate
Johnson, the Wm. H. Bixler, the Jacob S.
Barnes. As a boy he sailed aboard the
bugeye Silas Tyler also.

In 1880 he entered the seafood business
here with his brother, the late Sidney
R. Riggin, who managed the business while
Captain Lisha continued to follow the
water for about two years longer. Then
he came ashore, and began to take an
active part in the buying and marketing
of all kinds of seafood by his firm. He
has been a director of the Bank of
Crisfield since its organization many
years ago, a lifelong member of Mt.
Pleasant M. P. Church, and came from a
Democratic family of the old school.

He was one of a family of six children,
two girls, Mrs. Nancy Riggin, Mrs. Martha
Landon, and four boys, Thomas, John Whit.,
Sidney R., and himself. All of the
brothers and sisters are now dead.
Beside his widow, he is survived by
seven children, namely, Mrs. Frank Jones,
Mrs. M B. Thawley and Miss Blanche Riggin,
all of Crisfield, and Horace and W. Edwin
Riggin, of Crisfield,and Gordon E. Riggin,
of Annapolis, and Nicholas S. Riggin, of
Philadelphia. One daughter, Madelaine, died
some years ago. Also surviving are fourteen
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at his home on
Somerset Avenue Saturday afternoon at 2:00
o'clock, with Rev. C. M. Elderdice, pastor
of his church, in charge. Interment will be
in the family burying ground.
The active pall bearers, all of whom are
nephews of the deceased, will be Oscar
Landon, Clarence Landon, Merley Riggin,
John W. Riggin, Ralph Riggin, Rex Riggin,
Lloyd Riggin, and Sherman Riggin.
The Honorary pall bearers will be A. R.
Crockett, Wm. E. Daugherty, Wm. E. Gibson,
Isaac H. Tawes, Dr. George C. Coulbourne,
John T. Handy, 0. C. Tawes, J. Coyne
Sterling, A. Wellington Tames, Clarence P.
Lankford, R. Brice Whittington, J. C. W.
Tawes, Warren C. Gunby, Edward R. Dize,
James Todd, John W. Coulbourne,
Wm. P. Horsey, John R. Corbin.

The Crisfield Times May 15, 1936, pgs. 1 & 10