CLAUS RINGEN, b 8 Dec 1844

RINGEN, BROUNS, SCHWIDDESSCAN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 9/17/2004 at 19:14:24

The theory of Horace Greely, who contended that a small area of land, well cultivated, was in the end more profitable than a large extent, partially neglected, has been finely illustrated in the labors of Mr. Ringen, on his snug farm of seventy acres, occupying a part of section 10, in Van Buren Township. It is conceded by his neighbors that he realizes as much profit from his thoroughly cultivated little homestead, as many farmers who own twice as much. This is the true theory of agriculture which will not admit of anything running to waste. Mr. Ringen is justly proud of his accomplishments, proud of his children and home, and is well spoken of by his neighbors and fellow-citizens. He is of German birth and ancestry, and although speaking English fluently reads mostly in the mother tongue.

The Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, is the native place of our subject, and he first opened his eyes to the light Dec. 8, 1844. He lived there with his parents, Peter and Catharina (Brouns) Ringen, until a youth of nineteen years, and then the family all set sail for America, in the last of June, 1862. They came directly to Iowa, and settled in Van Buren Township, taking up a tract of land where they constructed a comfortable home, and where the father died June 5, 1883, at the age of seventy-one years. The mother's death took place April 16, 1884, when she was sixty-two years old. Their family consisted of three children only: Claus, our subject; John, a resident of Fairfield Township; and Annie, who died at the interesting age of fifteen years.

Our subject assisted his father around the parental homestead until his marriage. He then occupied himself at farming until approaching his thirty-sixth year, when he was married, June 18, 1880, to Miss Mary Schwiddesscan. Mrs. Ringen was born Feb. 25, 1867, in Germany, and was but a child when coming to America with her uncle, William Schwiddesscan, now living east of Maquoketa. Of her union with our subject there have been born five children, namely: Annie, Henry, Ida, Mary, and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Ringen are members in good standing of the German Lutheran Church at Spragueville, and Mr. Ringen politically, gives his support to the Democratic party.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)