James E. Rieger

James Edward Rieger was an American lawyer and United States Army officer from the state of Missouri. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Americas secondhighest award for valor, and the Croix de Guerre from the government of France for his actions during the MeuseArgonne Offensive during World War I.

James E. Rieger was born September 20, 1870 in Peoria County, Illinois, to German immigrant parents Gottfried and Rose Rieger. He was the youngest of four children, the others being Philip Joseph Rieger , Sarah Rieger and Christian Christopher Rieger . In 1880 the Rieger family moved to Kirksville, Missouri where James father intended to continue his vocation as a coopersmith and farmer. However in July 1881 Gottfried Rieger died followed by his son Christopher in September, 1881. James Rieger received his primary and secondary education in Peoria and the rural schools of Adair County, Missouri before matriculating at the First District Normal School in Kirksville. THereafter he worked as a public school teacher for two years. Rieger then continued his higher education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri where he earned his law degree in 1897. After passing the Missouri Bar he returned to Kirksville and established a private law practice in 1898. James Rieger served

Source: Wikipedia