McLEAN COUNTY HISTORY & GENEALOGY NEWS
By Euleen Rickard
Last week we wrote of Linda Payne’s finding old letters and a brochure that told of Ben D. Ringo’s teaching at the Livermore Academy in 1883. In reading more of the letters they revealed that Professor Ringo left Livermore and was in Whitt, Texas in 1884. He continued his friendship with Livermore friends and while in Texas ordered a “size 40, raincoat with cape from Lashbrook & Hackett. The tag enclosed in one of the letters stated, “This Garment is thoroughly Vulcanized, Waterproof, will not grow hard, or come apart at the seams.”
In March 1884, Dr. Will Hillsman wrote to Professor Ringo giving him the news of Livermore. He wrote of the new professor as “Professor Belwin, our new man is from Chicago and is quite fond of society. He is young, seems polite but rather mysterious. His mail comes addressed to several names, V. H. Belwin, B. B. Chesleigh and Harry Hart. I am skittish of strangers about whom nothing can be learned.” He further wrote
“ We had a preacher here that caught the hearts of the people but he turned out to be an imposter who was never a minister and was making an easy living repeating verbatim Reverend Moody’s sermons from town to town.”
In the same letter he wrote, “The Hackett Mill burned down last week and was a total loss. Mr Rowan has transferred his stock of goods to Greary & Guigg. The firm’s new name will be Rowan, Geary and Quigg. Jim Moseley & Co. have bought Lashbrook & Co. and are doing a good business. The merchants, all, have heavy stock. Mine looks pretty and is twice as large as when you were here. Showcases are full of notions and fine jewelry. I am doing a rattling good business.”
In April, Dr. Hillsman wrote to Professor Ringo “I am glad to know you are coming home. It is almost a year since I bade you adieu in Owensboro.” He went on to write, “ J.R. Moseley is Superintendent of Livermore School. D.W. Whitaker lost his home by fire and has moved to Tennessee. John Yost and May married and moved to Memphis where John will be the depot agent. Bob Thomas is running now as a Democrat for Legislature.”
Professor Ringo returned to the area, settled in Hartford where he taught, then became a lawyer, judge and editor of the Ohio County Newspaper.
Letters from ladies to Professor Ringo include a Lizzie Belt who wrote of her friendship for Professor Ringo and in one letter tries to clear up a misunderstanding of some kind, then letters show that Emma Ryan came into his life and there are many letters, yet unread, between them. Emma was an artist, traveled often and far and later became his wife.
Interesting stories told in letters of yore give history and facts for further research.
Thanks to Linda Payne for sharing her letters. We hope to read all of them later.