— by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Sources include Yesteryears and the Valley Falls New Era.
“Our school life in Leavenworth (1859-60) was not marked by any event worthy of note,” reported Miss Lydia Maria Ring in her 1878 “Kansas Recollections” column for the Valley Falls New Era.
“Time sped on until march 1860 when the Great Excitement and Gold Fever spread all over the country east and west as well as north and south . . . for the new ElDorado or Pike’s Peak as it was termed.
“It turned the heads of some wise men as well as some foolish women . . . We, too, caught the fever, but not badly. Our object in going was to open a school, hoping that by so doing to secure a few nuggets, so determined to join the Great Rush, and have never regretted doing so . . .
“Our friends opposed us in many ways, but we prepared our outfit, and the 23rd of April 1860 left Leavenworth under the protection, as passenger, with Mr. Orville Stoddard and wife, also a Mr. and Mrs. George.
“Our carriage, a prairie schooner of the largest kind, with an addition to it in the form of juts extending over the wheels some two or more feet, thus giving us sitting room, parlor and kitchen and a pleasant porch on the front.
“There were five other passengers, young men going to try their fortune in the Golden West. They were only bread and butter passengers, their only place for sleeping was on the ground under the wagon or on stoves and commissary stores inside of it when compelled to seek shelter from the rain. They walked the entire distance (700 miles).
“The first night camped only six miles from Leavenworth, leaving there on Monday at 4 p.m.”
The final column of “Kansas Recollections” was printed in the New Era in the May 4, 1878, issue. In three additional columns, May 25, June 28, and June 29 issues, Miss Ring told of the trip across western Kansas and into Colorado.
The columns contained many stories of the country, food, people they met, first sight of Indians, and incidents that occurred as they traveled.
The June 29 column ended, “Tuesday, May 30, 1860. Bright and clear and a morning to be remembered for we saw the Rocky Mountains for the first time and at a distance of more than 100 miles, Pike’s Peak, and its twin brother, rise in majestic grandeur.”
Having left Leavenworth on 23rd of April, 1860, on May 30 they still had several days travel time before they reached their destination. Although Miss Ring’s column of June 29 did not seem to have reached an ending, there were no more of them through the end of 1878.
Details of life in Denver are scarce except for reports from reliable historic resources such as Rock Mountain News and the New Era following her return to Valley Falls and subsequent death in this city.
She was the first school teacher in Denver. Her school was a private one and the first in Denver. It was a one-room wooden shanty with one window and raised on stilts. As business increased, Miss Ring’s schoolhouse became a more popular educational center and she was known as the town tutor.
Miss Ring continued her vocation for 10 years then retired to private life.
Next: Farewell and accolades to Miss Ring and her sister and “that relative.”
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 31, with closing time dependent on temperatures inside and outside the building.
July 29, 2010
July 22, 2010
Miss Ring: part 5
– by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Sources include Yesteryears and the Valley Falls New Era.
“It is said ‘Truth is Stranger Than Fiction’ ” commented Miss Lydia Maria Ring in one of her 1878 columns for the Valley Falls New Era “and we are inclined to believe it true, for in the year (1858), many events showed the truth of this. People now speak of it as ‘the year of the great flood’ and ‘ague and fever’ when referring to the incidents of early pioneer life. This year was also remarkable for its severe storms with the most terrific thunder and vivid lightnings and for their long duration often continuing many hours. . . Never shall we forget the experience of one week, every night of which there was a severe thunderstorm and during each day of the entire week the sun did not show his face. There were many other incidents and events which might be mentioned, but will pass them by and come to the one event in our Kansas experience.
“On the first of December we were solicited to open a select school for the accommodation of the children of the village (there being no public school established at that time). But there had been a number of good schools previous to this. We consented to accept the trust and honor bestowed, provided a suitable room or rooms could be obtained.
“A small house owned by Dr. Northrup was thought to be ‘just the place.’ Very primitive it was, but it had one redeeming quality, a ‘tight roof.’ We took possession, fitted it with primitive benches and desks endeavoring to give it the appearance of a schoolroom as much as possible but with all we could command of fancy taste or art, it was still unlovely and could not be made to look home like. But, we adapted ourself to the situation and entered upon our task with energy and zeal, and with an earnest desire for the success and advancement of the pupils’ committee to our charge.
“Grading classes was out of the question, not having proper tools. Discipline could be maintained even with such imperfect surroundings, but with greater labor and less good results.”
Miss Ring spent nine months in her school, profitable, she hoped to some of her pupils. She was satisfied that some of those who received their first principles in her school occupied prominent positions in life. She wrote about this time (1859), that Miss Parker came from Maine, erected a schoolhouse and opened another school.
“Soon after, we resigned in her favor. We had a prior claim upon the pupils, but she had the schoolhouse, so the ‘Yankee School-Marms’ compromised and both well pleased.
“The first of September 1859, left Grasshopper Falls for Leavenworth and opened a school in pleasant rooms at Seventh and Ottawa streets, was successful in securing pupils, and made an effort to be happy in our new house.”
Next, Miss Ring succumbs to the excitement of Pikes Peak Colorado Gold Fever.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open Saturday, July 24, with closing time dependent on indoor and outdoor temperatures.
Sources include Yesteryears and the Valley Falls New Era.
“It is said ‘Truth is Stranger Than Fiction’ ” commented Miss Lydia Maria Ring in one of her 1878 columns for the Valley Falls New Era “and we are inclined to believe it true, for in the year (1858), many events showed the truth of this. People now speak of it as ‘the year of the great flood’ and ‘ague and fever’ when referring to the incidents of early pioneer life. This year was also remarkable for its severe storms with the most terrific thunder and vivid lightnings and for their long duration often continuing many hours. . . Never shall we forget the experience of one week, every night of which there was a severe thunderstorm and during each day of the entire week the sun did not show his face. There were many other incidents and events which might be mentioned, but will pass them by and come to the one event in our Kansas experience.
“On the first of December we were solicited to open a select school for the accommodation of the children of the village (there being no public school established at that time). But there had been a number of good schools previous to this. We consented to accept the trust and honor bestowed, provided a suitable room or rooms could be obtained.
“A small house owned by Dr. Northrup was thought to be ‘just the place.’ Very primitive it was, but it had one redeeming quality, a ‘tight roof.’ We took possession, fitted it with primitive benches and desks endeavoring to give it the appearance of a schoolroom as much as possible but with all we could command of fancy taste or art, it was still unlovely and could not be made to look home like. But, we adapted ourself to the situation and entered upon our task with energy and zeal, and with an earnest desire for the success and advancement of the pupils’ committee to our charge.
“Grading classes was out of the question, not having proper tools. Discipline could be maintained even with such imperfect surroundings, but with greater labor and less good results.”
Miss Ring spent nine months in her school, profitable, she hoped to some of her pupils. She was satisfied that some of those who received their first principles in her school occupied prominent positions in life. She wrote about this time (1859), that Miss Parker came from Maine, erected a schoolhouse and opened another school.
“Soon after, we resigned in her favor. We had a prior claim upon the pupils, but she had the schoolhouse, so the ‘Yankee School-Marms’ compromised and both well pleased.
“The first of September 1859, left Grasshopper Falls for Leavenworth and opened a school in pleasant rooms at Seventh and Ottawa streets, was successful in securing pupils, and made an effort to be happy in our new house.”
Next, Miss Ring succumbs to the excitement of Pikes Peak Colorado Gold Fever.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open Saturday, July 24, with closing time dependent on indoor and outdoor temperatures.
July 16, 2010
Miss Ring: part 4
by Betty Jane Wilson, Valley Falls Historical Society President
Information source: Yesteryears and the Valley Falls New Era
“It came upon us ‘like a thing in the night,’ and ‘twas then we enjoyed our first shake! Though we were getting more than our share of the agreeables of Kansas life,” Miss Ring continued to write in her column her 1858 Kansas recollections for the 1878 Valley Falls New Era.
“We would shake for at least three hours, and the remainder of the day, lay unconscious with a burning fever. And this thing continued, with but short intervals, until sometime in November, when the plague disease, the ague, was forced to ‘vacate the premises’ by King Quinine. It was not a pleasant sovereign, for he erected in our brain his wonderful machinery, setting in motion all manner of disagreeable roaring, buzzing, and rasping sounds (and to this day we have not been able to expel from our ears some kind of a humming machine).
“Nearly every family in town were (sic) shaking or had been shaken, and it was incomprehensible to me how people could speak of it with so much levity and indifference. They would exclaim with all the sang-froid imaginable — ‘Oh, it is nothing but the ague, you will be better when you stop shaking, or be quite ‘shut’ of it tomorrow!’ These, or similar remarks would often cause much merriment, but we could not see where the fun came in. We were truly thankful when we could have an interval of rest. One, having had a good lively old-fashioned shake, can appreciate all that can be said of it.
“Well do we recollect at one time in the month of September, when there could not be found enough well persons to care for the sick. All our own family were down with it. Our help succumbed and was taken home, leaving us dependent on our neighbor, a kind good woman, . . . who became a victim and we were left alone for a day, with no one to give us a glass of water.
“Our sympathy was with the children. Little Willie would come up to our lounge, lay his little golden curly head and pale face by us, saying as plainly as his little chattering teeth would permit, ‘Oh, auntie, I’se sho shick.’ His dear little sister, Ida, was laying beside her mother, both suffering intensely, while the good man of the house, in his room above, was shaking fearfully. His audible breathing was dreadful to hear, yet we thought perhaps is was right and just for him to suffer a little, for his many jokes and teasing propensities at our expense. We are sure he could not make sport of us for that day at least.
But, as we have said before, all things must have an end, so did the ague.
“We have given very minutely the facts in detail, as they occurred to us and for the reason that we would like to have people coming to this country at the present time, 1878, to just realize and understand the great change twenty years has produced. The hardships and privations then endured, 1858, by energetic and unflinching pioneers, can never be known or experienced by the emigrants now coming to Kansas for homes.”
Next, Miss Ring reviews outstanding events of 1858 and her solicitation to open a select school for the children of the village.
Dodie Bolz and Dee Bayless will be museum hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 17.
Information source: Yesteryears and the Valley Falls New Era
“It came upon us ‘like a thing in the night,’ and ‘twas then we enjoyed our first shake! Though we were getting more than our share of the agreeables of Kansas life,” Miss Ring continued to write in her column her 1858 Kansas recollections for the 1878 Valley Falls New Era.
“We would shake for at least three hours, and the remainder of the day, lay unconscious with a burning fever. And this thing continued, with but short intervals, until sometime in November, when the plague disease, the ague, was forced to ‘vacate the premises’ by King Quinine. It was not a pleasant sovereign, for he erected in our brain his wonderful machinery, setting in motion all manner of disagreeable roaring, buzzing, and rasping sounds (and to this day we have not been able to expel from our ears some kind of a humming machine).
“Nearly every family in town were (sic) shaking or had been shaken, and it was incomprehensible to me how people could speak of it with so much levity and indifference. They would exclaim with all the sang-froid imaginable — ‘Oh, it is nothing but the ague, you will be better when you stop shaking, or be quite ‘shut’ of it tomorrow!’ These, or similar remarks would often cause much merriment, but we could not see where the fun came in. We were truly thankful when we could have an interval of rest. One, having had a good lively old-fashioned shake, can appreciate all that can be said of it.
“Well do we recollect at one time in the month of September, when there could not be found enough well persons to care for the sick. All our own family were down with it. Our help succumbed and was taken home, leaving us dependent on our neighbor, a kind good woman, . . . who became a victim and we were left alone for a day, with no one to give us a glass of water.
“Our sympathy was with the children. Little Willie would come up to our lounge, lay his little golden curly head and pale face by us, saying as plainly as his little chattering teeth would permit, ‘Oh, auntie, I’se sho shick.’ His dear little sister, Ida, was laying beside her mother, both suffering intensely, while the good man of the house, in his room above, was shaking fearfully. His audible breathing was dreadful to hear, yet we thought perhaps is was right and just for him to suffer a little, for his many jokes and teasing propensities at our expense. We are sure he could not make sport of us for that day at least.
But, as we have said before, all things must have an end, so did the ague.
“We have given very minutely the facts in detail, as they occurred to us and for the reason that we would like to have people coming to this country at the present time, 1878, to just realize and understand the great change twenty years has produced. The hardships and privations then endured, 1858, by energetic and unflinching pioneers, can never be known or experienced by the emigrants now coming to Kansas for homes.”
Next, Miss Ring reviews outstanding events of 1858 and her solicitation to open a select school for the children of the village.
Dodie Bolz and Dee Bayless will be museum hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 17.
July 08, 2010
Miss Ring: part 3
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president. Source: Yesteryears and Valley Falls New Era.
"It is still a mystery or puzzle which we cannot solve, how people coming to a new country endure trials, hardships, sickness and privation, leaving behind them pleasant homes, comforts and sometimes luxuries, can even come to be so seemingly happy and contented in almost any position in which they may be placed in western homes,” wrote Miss Ring continuing her Kansas recollections column for the 1878 Valley Falls New Era.
“We remained at the farm and cabin two weeks after the great inundation or until Peter’s Creek could be crossed in safety. For many days, the only way for men to get to the other side was substituting wash tubs for boats. People were obliged to resort to many expedients and inventions in this new world to accomplish their aims and objects never before heard of in a civilized country.
“One morning, about the last of May, we were informed that all arrangments had been made for our removal to the town of Grasshopper Falls. We are now in the cabin helping in preparation for our removal.
“The wagon (a hay cart or some other kind of vehicle) stands at the door and is soon filled to its utmost capacity. A place on the top of the load was prepared for animate luggage including the women and children, chickens and cat as well as all the breakable articles. The cow walked with dignity by our side, thinking perhaps (as did we) of the change from country to town life.
“She forgot her dignity when he eyes rested upon the fine new grass as she came upon the prairie, and the good race which could be enjoyed in the large open fields before her, and no animal ever ran better or seemingly with greater speed. Our escort ran too, not even thinking of the precious freight he was leaving to the mercy of the young oxen propelling us.
“They too were attracted by the sweet new grass and having no fear or responsibility, commenced doing as they pleased . . . turned off the road, making zig-zag movements until we were in danger of having our wagon upset and endangering our lives.
“We could not move, but screamed quite lustily to them to ‘Gee and Haw’ suppose they could not understand us for they were so intent on securing a good dinner. Our driver, seeing the danger that threatened disaster, ran with almost incredible speed, reaching us just in time to prevent the threatened disaster.
“Trembling with fright, but with hearts full of gratitude to a kind providence for our fortunate escape, we proceeded on our way.
“Soon after getting settled in our new home, there came a great freshet. The grasshopper got on a bender (as some of our jolly young men did sometimes). All of the lower part of the town was entirely inundated. Some people were obliged to move from their houses in the night.
“The old grist and saw mill was under water nearly to the roof. It was many days before the ground could be seen and then it was covered with filth and substances of all kinds.
“This was the last of June 1858. Soon after this , we think in August, the ague and fever became prevalent.”
Next Miss Ring relates the agony of the ague and shakes and the eventual beginning of her teaching career.
Roz Jackson and Betty Jane Wilson will be museum hosts in Valley Falls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10.
"It is still a mystery or puzzle which we cannot solve, how people coming to a new country endure trials, hardships, sickness and privation, leaving behind them pleasant homes, comforts and sometimes luxuries, can even come to be so seemingly happy and contented in almost any position in which they may be placed in western homes,” wrote Miss Ring continuing her Kansas recollections column for the 1878 Valley Falls New Era.
“We remained at the farm and cabin two weeks after the great inundation or until Peter’s Creek could be crossed in safety. For many days, the only way for men to get to the other side was substituting wash tubs for boats. People were obliged to resort to many expedients and inventions in this new world to accomplish their aims and objects never before heard of in a civilized country.
“One morning, about the last of May, we were informed that all arrangments had been made for our removal to the town of Grasshopper Falls. We are now in the cabin helping in preparation for our removal.
“The wagon (a hay cart or some other kind of vehicle) stands at the door and is soon filled to its utmost capacity. A place on the top of the load was prepared for animate luggage including the women and children, chickens and cat as well as all the breakable articles. The cow walked with dignity by our side, thinking perhaps (as did we) of the change from country to town life.
“She forgot her dignity when he eyes rested upon the fine new grass as she came upon the prairie, and the good race which could be enjoyed in the large open fields before her, and no animal ever ran better or seemingly with greater speed. Our escort ran too, not even thinking of the precious freight he was leaving to the mercy of the young oxen propelling us.
“They too were attracted by the sweet new grass and having no fear or responsibility, commenced doing as they pleased . . . turned off the road, making zig-zag movements until we were in danger of having our wagon upset and endangering our lives.
“We could not move, but screamed quite lustily to them to ‘Gee and Haw’ suppose they could not understand us for they were so intent on securing a good dinner. Our driver, seeing the danger that threatened disaster, ran with almost incredible speed, reaching us just in time to prevent the threatened disaster.
“Trembling with fright, but with hearts full of gratitude to a kind providence for our fortunate escape, we proceeded on our way.
“Soon after getting settled in our new home, there came a great freshet. The grasshopper got on a bender (as some of our jolly young men did sometimes). All of the lower part of the town was entirely inundated. Some people were obliged to move from their houses in the night.
“The old grist and saw mill was under water nearly to the roof. It was many days before the ground could be seen and then it was covered with filth and substances of all kinds.
“This was the last of June 1858. Soon after this , we think in August, the ague and fever became prevalent.”
Next Miss Ring relates the agony of the ague and shakes and the eventual beginning of her teaching career.
Roz Jackson and Betty Jane Wilson will be museum hosts in Valley Falls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10.
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