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Leona Riggs devoted her life to music, first as a performer in musical shows, then as a music teacher, choir director, and patron of the arts in her adopted city of Belleville, Ontario. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 17th, 1903 to Leo Bates Riggs, an accomplished pianist and organist, and Mabel Kathleen (nee DeGurre) Riggs, a vocal teacher.
Leona Riggs spent her early years in Indianapolis before moving to New York City, where her father was appointed organist at the Astor Hotel. After graduating from Yonkers High School, she studied at the Institute of Musical Art (later named Julliard School of Music) in New York, followed by attendance at the American Conservatory at Fontainbleu, France, ca. 1924-25. Another period of post graduate study followed at the Julliard School of Music in 1928-39. Subsequent to her studies in France, but before she returned to the Julliard School of Music, Leona Riggs toured the United States as a singer in the musical shows "The Vagabond King" and "Golden Dawn," from 1926-28.
In 1929, due to effects of the Depression, Leona Riggs moved to Belleville to join her parents and family, who had moved to Belleville from New York in 1924 so that her father could assist her ailing grandfather in his automobile business. In Belleville, Leona Riggs taught piano and vocal lessons from her home for many years. In addition, she was the choral director at John Street United Church from September 1933 until the church was destroyed in October of 1936. A year later, in 1937, Leona Riggs became the choral director at Bridge Street United Church, a position she held until 1951.
Leona Riggs expended great effort over the years in support of the Arts in the Quinte region; many concert artists were brought to perform before local audiences through the Community Concerts Association. She established a continuing scholarship fund that provides awards for graduating high school students in the Belleville area who plan to continue their musical studies.
Leona Riggs remained single throughout her life, leaving no immediate family behind upon her death in Belleville, on August 11th, 1994.

Leo Bates Riggs was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1879 to William Bates Riggs and Mary Riggs (nee Nelson). He studied piano and organ in Toronto under a variety of prominent masters. He was then appointed organist and director of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Belleville, Ontario. In 1901, he accepted a position as organist and director of the First Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, he taught piano and organ at the Central College of Music in Indianapolis, Indiana. That same year, on August 28th, he married Mabel Kathleen Deguerre, a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music. She was director of the Vocal Department of Albert College in Belleville, Ontario, and after their marriage she joined her husband on the staff of the Central College of Music, in Indianapolis, Indiana, teaching voice. In 1903, their only child, Leona Riggs, was born.
In 1909, the family moved to New York City where Leo Bates Riggs became chief organist and director of music at the Astor Hotel. He performed in concerts throughout New York, and was among the first organ artists to be broadcast over the radio station WBC, New York.
In 1924, he and his wife returned to Belleville, Ontario so that he could assist his ailing father, William Bates Riggs, in his automobile business. For many years, Leo Bates Riggs successfully maintained the Riggs Garage until his retirement in 1954.
Continuing his musical career in Belleville, Leo Bates Riggs became the organist at John the Baptist Church until it burned down in 1936. Leo Bates Riggs also preformed for many Belleville clubs and organizations, as well as belonging to the Rotary Club, and the Kiwanis Club. He was also the president of the Chamber of Commerce, in Belleville, Ontario, for a brief period of time.
Leo Bates Riggs died at his summer residence in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 23rd, 1956, and was buried in the city of Belleville, Ontario.

William Bates Riggs was a bandleader, businessman, and in 1920, mayor of Belleville, Ontario. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 17th, 1853, he moved to Belleville in 1881 to become the Bandmaster of the Oddfellows Band, which later amalgamated with the 15th Battalion Band to become the Consolidated and Oddfellows Band. Under his direction for 20 years, it became one of the finest bands in eastern Canada.
He married Mary Priscilla Riggs (nee Nelson), and together they had four children: Leo Bates Riggs, Lester David Riggs, Wanda Elizabeth Riggs, and Vera Riggs (later Lewis).
In 1889, William Bates Riggs became a piano and organ retailer in Belleville, Ontario, also selling other musical instruments and sheet music. As the demand for automobiles rose, he realized their potential, and established Riggs Motor Sales in 1914. His garage and showrooms were successful from the start, and he held the first agency for Ford motor cars in Belleville.
William Bates Riggs was involved in the civic, social, and religious life of Belleville. He served as a member of the City Council for three years, and in 1920 was elected Mayor. He was a Life Deacon of Victoria Avenue Baptist Church, and was Sunday School superintendent for several years. He also served as a choir master for over 30 years. He took an active role in the organization YMCA, serving on its board and as president for 1 year.
William Bates Riggs was also a keen sportsman; he was an expert rifleman, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and lawn bowling. He died on July 3rd, 1937 in Belleville.

Rudolf Donninger lived in Belleville, Ontario, from 1969 to 1971, where he worked at Northern Electric.

The Capitol Theatre operated at 139-141 Front St, Belleville.

William Herbert Morton was born in Moira, Ontario, in 1869, the child of Alexander Morton and Mary (Sayers). He married Margaret Herity in 1893. William Morton worked in the cheese industry and in 1910 he and his brother-in-law, Owen Herity, bought the Daily Ontario and Weekly Chronicle newspapers from Thomas S. Carman. They took over the management of the newspaper on 15 April 1910. Herity sold his share to Morton in 1921 and in 1929 Morton bought The Intelligencer from the Bowell family. In April 1930 the two publications were combined into The Ontario Intelligencer. Morton died at the Belleville General Hospital on 16 May 1962.

Gerald Alexander Morton was born in Tweed, Ontario on 11 August 1898. He trained as a dentist but left the profession due to eye problems in 1929, when he joined his father's newspaper business. He became managing editor and, later, publisher of The Ontario Intelligener (called The Intelligencer from 1965). He died in Guelph on 13 May 1981.

Newspaper founded in Belleville, Ontario by George Benjamin.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville_Intelligencer

George Young was born in Ireland on 9 October 1834. He moved to Canada in 1850 and married Mary Louisa Ponus on 11 June 1863. By 1869 George Young was the publisher of The Courier newspaper in Trenton, Ontario. He died in Trenton on 11 November 1903.

Bernard Allan Wright was a schoolteacher who was married to Isabel Maud Clarke. He was president of the Hastings County Historical Society in the early 1990s. He died in Belleville, Ontario on 24 September 2014 at the age of 82.

Samuel S. Wilmot was an Ontario land surveyor. Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Street_Wilmot

Mary Gladys Lloyd Johnson was born in Ontario c. 1917 to John and Grace (née Shier) Lloyd. She grew up in Kaladar, Ontario within Lennox and Addington County with three siblings. Johnson was an avid photographer beginning in the 1930s, capturing her daily life and travels. In 1948, she formed the 1st North Addington Girl Guide Company. She also worked as a court stenographer. Additionally, she contributed to local organizations as a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary Branch 328 (Northbrook) of the Canada Legion of the British Empire Service League and the Secretary of the Belleville chapter of the Soroptimist Club (c. 1940s). In 1947, as reported in an Intelligencer newspaper clipping, Johnson was awarded with two personal gifts during the inaugural dinner meeting of the Belleville Soroptimist Club “in appreciation of her untiring efforts in assisting to organize the club, one from Soroptimist Bertha Hutchings, Peterboro, and one from the Belleville Club, by Miss Laura Johnston.” Johnson eventually moved to Northbrook, Ontario where she married John R. Johnson in 1957. She passed away in Northbrook, Ontario c. 2010.

Artist. Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Whitefield