James Riker

James Riker (1822-1889) was a New York historian and genealogist. Born in New York City, Riker left school at the age of sixteen to work in his father's business. He later settled in Manhattan, where he studied informally for the Presbyterian ministry and began his lifelong pursuit of genealogical and historical research. Riker collected original documents from the colonial era, copied extracts from state and local archives, and corresponded extensively with historians, relatives, and old family friends. His work focused on preserving the history and genealogy of early Dutch settlers in New York. Riker's contributions to the field of history and genealogy remain highly regarded to this day.