Miss Ring: Farewell

—by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

The Valley Falls New Era, March 18, 1899, E.P. Karr, editor:

“Miss Ring is dead.
“Funeral services were held from the Congregational Church conducted by her pastor and longtime friend, the Rev. Skinner.”

Quoting in part from the Rev. Skinner’s sermon:

“Forty-one years ago our sainted sister landed in Grasshopper Falls. She came as others have done, having imbibed the free state principles in her Boston home—the seat of American learning, culture and genius.

“She brought her culture and genius. She brought her culture and principles with her, putting them into practice where they were most needed. Her courage was unflinching as her 40-day trip behind 12 yoke of oxen across the plains testify. (referring to the trip from Grasshopper Falls to Denver.)

“She was the first school teacher in Denver where she made a name for herself not effaced today. There, as in Valley Falls, no entertainment was complete without her and the exhibitions under her care were not only unique, but as near perfection as possible. Her faith was love and charity.”

Her obituary included the following information:

“Miss Lydia Maria Ring was born at Greensboro, Vt., Oct. 26, 1814. Her girlhood days were spent there. Her family then moved to Boston. She came to Kansas in 1858 where she spent nine months, establishing a select school at Grasshopper Falls, then opened a school in Leavenworth and in 1860 departed Kansas for Denver.”

Another longtime friend, A.G. Patrick, for many years a Valley Falls resident, wrote the following from his California home:

“Some 40 years ago our acquaintance began and we well recalled the rainy night that ushered her into Kansas. As a school teacher at the Falls, she gave universal satisfaction and endeared herself with loving regard to all the young folks at the time, and as pioneer school marm of Colorado in 1859 (?) 1860. She will long be remembered by the oldest settlers of Denver.

“She was held in such high esteem that the town company of Denver donated her a good lot upon which she built a schoolhouse and in time made considerable money druing the Pike’s Peak excitement, but lost a greater portion by bad investments of her financial agent.

“She returned to the Falls and in the early ’70s built her residence. Her last visit to Denver, going by rail, as delegate to a national educational convention and with words sparkling with vitality of youth, shook hands with 10,000 delegates there assembled.”

From the Valley Falls New Era:

“Miss Ring will be missed in nearly all social circles of the city. She was welcomed to every gathering and without her entertainments were incomplete. She was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery. A kind and nobel friend. May she rest in peace.”

The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7. Closing time will be dependent upon the temperature.