RINGSDORF, FRANK

RINGSDORF, INMAN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 9/1/2003 at 20:21:17

Biography reproduced from page 608 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

One of the foremost citizens of Buffalo township is Frank Ringsdorf, who holds title to a quarter of section 13, where he is successfully engaged in diversified farming, stock-raising and dairying. Wisconsin is the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred on the 2d of March, 1868. His father, William Ringsdorf, removed from Wisconsin to Iowa with his family during the pioneer period, locating in Kossuth county, He filed on a homestead in Portland township, in the development of which he engaged until he passed away. The mother is living and continues to make her home on the old farm.

Frank Ringsdorf was very young when his parents located in Kossuth county, where he has since made his home. He began his education in the district schools of Portland township and continued it in the public schools of Bancroft, and while engaged in the mastery of the common branches of English learning was qualifying himself for the vocation he now follows by assisting his father with the work of the farm. After leaving school he devoted his entire attention to agricultural pursuits and for several years leased and cultivated the home farm. He met with good success in his operations, acquiring the money to enable him to buy his present place, on which he located after his marriage although he had owned it for five years prior to that event, renting the land out. Diligence and enterprise are the most striking characteristics of Mr. Ringsdorf, and both are plainly manifest in the appearance and condition of the farm. During the period of his ownership he has fenced and cross-fenced his tract with woven wire and cedar posts and has tiled his fields where needed. There is a large grove and orchard on the place, while the residence, barns and outbuildings are kept in good repair, and everywhere is evidenced that careful regard for details, which bespeaks prosperity. In connection with diversified farming, Mr. Ringsdorf engages in breeding and raising high-grade cattle and Poland China hogs. He feeds large quantities of stock for the market, having one year raised, fattened and sold two thousand dollars worth of hogs while living on the home place. Mr. Ringsdorf is one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community, where he is regarded as a capable agriculturist and shrewd business man. He holds stock in the Titonka Creamery, Burt National Bank, the Woden Savings Bank and the First National Bank of Titonka, Iowa.

In Bancroft on the 24th of July, 1907, Mr. Ringsdorf was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Inman, who was born in this county and reared and educated in Bancroft. Her father, H. L. Inman, is one of the well known residents of Bancroft, having located in Kossuth county during the pioneer period. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ringsdorf: Vern, born August 22, 1908, who died in 1909, at the age of sixteen months; and Clifford, born January 19, 1912.

Mr. Ringsdorf gives his political support to the democratic party, but has never aspired to official positions although he did serve out an unexpired term as trustee in this township. He has many friends, as he is honorable and upright in business and progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship, contributing his full quota toward promulgating the development of his locality and its agricultural interests.