Ringgold County Courthouse,
Mount Ayr

On Thanksgiving Day, 1889, the second wood-framed building was destroyed by fire, burning to the ground. Fortunately, construction on the 3rd courthouse had already begun and completed at a cost of $36,455. This courthouse, constructed out of brick and stone, as pictured in sketch at right, served Ringgold County well for approximately 40 years. Inferior brick and lack of drainage caused extensive damage. It was ultimately condemned in 1921 and torn down after it was sold for $500 cash.

The county offices were situated in a part of a garage [where the Napa Auto Parts is currently located] for several years. The voters of Ringgold County approved the construction of a new courthouse (the 4th) in 1926. This courthouse was made of brick, has three stories, and was completed at a total cost of $132,533. It continues to serve Ringgold County courthouse to the present day, pictured at right.

In the first floor lobby hangs a plaque with the names of all the Ringgold County servicemen who gave their lives for our country. These men fought in the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. Also in the courtyard, there is a memorial statue honoring the county servicemen. The inscription reads: "In memory of the men who gave their lives to the defense of their country."

Until World War II, there was a large cannon mounted on the Northwest courthouse lawn. On the East lawn stood a tall flagpole. The base was shaped somewhat in a pyramid with large cannon balls imbedded in the cement. On Saturday evenings in the summer children loved to climb on both while their parents listened to band concerts from the bandstand on the North lawn.

In recent years a landscaping program has brought the beauty of new trees, shrubs, and flowers to the square.

Just as the early pioneers used the courthouse for many meetings in addition to its official functions, the courthouse is available to community groups for meetings, entertainment, and various activities. A good example is the hot cider and cookies served in the lobby during the Christmas walk.

Ringgold County was named in honor of Major Samuel B. Ringgold (1796-1846). Major Ringgold led a small American force to victory at Palo Alto during the first clash of the Mexican War. However, Major Ringgold was mortally wounded, dying three days later. News of his death, the first American casualty of the Mexican War, filtered back to the States and made his a hero. [To read more about Major Ringgold, click on his name to go to the link with his biography.] It is believed that Ringgold County is the only county in the United States named as such.

SOURCES: History of County Governments in Iowa, Iowa State Association of Counties,Des Moines, Iowa, published 1992

www.judicial.state.ia.us/.../pressrel79.asp Iowa Courts History

www.npg.si.edu/exh/brush/ring.htm

Counties Surrounding Ringgold County, Iowa

The county that is bordered on the north is UNION County, to the northwest ADAMS County and northeast CLARKE County; on the west is TAYLOR County and the is east DECATUR County; on the southwest WORTH County Missouri and southeast HARRISON County Missouri.