Miss Ring: part 6

— 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.