Dr. James Stone Ringo – Mercer County, New Jersey to Hickman County, Kentucky

By Kentucky Kindred Genealogical Research on July 5, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

As an accompaniment piece to yesterday’s post, we will go back one generation to the parents of Willis Lunsford Ringo. Dr. James Stone Ringo was the son of Joseph Ringo and Mary Ratliff. Joseph was born March 12, 1763, in Mercer County, New Jersey. Loudoun County, Virginia, was home to the family by the time Joseph was five. After the family moved to Montgomery County, Kentucky, Joseph Ringo married Mary Ratliff December 6, 1798. He was slightly more than twice her age. Mary Ratliff was the daughter of Zephaniah Ratliff and Philadelphia Stone. In the Bible records of Caleb Ratliff, brother of Mary, we find her birth date, June 2, 1781, and date of death, July 10, 1826.

The couple raised at least 13 children, the second of whom was James Stone Ringo.

Dr. James S. Ringo was born December 29, 1800. He studied medicine and practiced in Alabama, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth L. Harris. They were married in Lawrence County, Alabama, September 13, 1825. Their first son, Joel Butler Ringo, was born there November 29, 1825. The young family moved to Hickman County about 1827. James and Elizabeth were blessed with ten more children – Micajah, Joseph, Mary Ann and Thomas Neal. Elizabeth died shortly after Thomas’ birth.

On January 30, 1834, James Ringo married Sarah Morris White, the daughter of Dempsey White and Priscilla Morris. The couple had seven children – Amanda, Ann Martha, Frances Fee, Calvin Coleman, Willis Lunsford, James Morris and Laura Belle.

In the 1870 Census for Hickman County James was 69, wife Sarah, 63. Two adult children lived with them, Coleman, 28, and Laura Belle, 22.

Dr. James Stone Ringo lived another four years, dying September 7, 1874. His will was written on the same day, and he was so weak he could not sign his name. James Stone was buried in the Ringo Cemetery, presumably on the family farm. The family gravestones, and hopefully the bodies, were moved to Clinton Cemetery. While at the cemetery Ritchey and I took photographs of some of the Ringo gravestones, but not those of James, Elizabeth or Sarah.

Will of Dr. James Stone Ringo

Hickman County Will Book 5, Page 185

September 7, 1874. As I do not expect to live but a short time, I direct that my property, both personal and real, be disposed of in the following manner. To my three sons, Joel, Joseph Montreville and Thomas Neal, by my first wife, I give six hundred acres of land, more or less, in the State of Arkansas and no more. The balance of my property, both real and personal, after my wife has been thoroughly provided for and my just debts and burial expenses adjusted, I want divided equally between the children of my present wife, with the exception of my daughter Belle, who I desire to have five hundred dollars more than the rest and J. C. Sublett, who on account of previous advances I desire to have five hundred dollars less than the rest of my children of my present wife. And being too feeble to write my name I authorize J. W. Bryars and George Beeler to sign my name to this instrument.

J. S. Ringo

George Beeler

J. W. Bryars

State of Kentucky, Hickman County Court

I, Smith R. Taylor, Clerk of the County Court for said county, do certify that the writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James S. Ringo, deceased, was on the 15^th day of September 1874, produced in open Court and fully proven by the oaths of George Beeler and J. W. Bryars, subscribing witnesses thereto, to be the true last will and testament of said decedent and ordered to be recorded, which is done accordingly. Given under my hand this 15 day of September 1874. Smith R. Taylor, C.H.C.C.

Widow’s Allotment

September 18, 1874 – List of widow’s dower, Mrs. Sallie Ringo

2 mules $100 each – 10 head sheep $1.50 each – 2 cows and calf, $20.00 each – 1 lot poultry, $5.00 – Spun yarn and carpeting $20 – Bible and table $6.00 – 1 loom spinning wheel $15.00 – 2 bed and furniture, $40 each – ½ dozen plates, ½ dozen cups and saucers, 1 coffee pot, 1 tea pot, knives and forks, 1 oven and pit, $4.00 – 1 cooking stove, $25 – Chairs, $8.00 – 1 saddle and bridle, $4 – 1 plow and gear, $5 – 1 ax and hoe, $1 – 1 field corn, 20 acres, $150 – 5 head hogs, $25 – for a total of $603.00

M. Rally, R. D. Rennick, J. W. Bryars – J. M. Ringo

State of Kentucky, Hickman County Court – I, Smith R. Taylor, Clerk of the Count Court for said county, do certify that the foregoing assignment of personal property of estate of James S. Ringo, deceased, to his widow was on this day produced in open Court, examined, received and ordered to be recorded which is done accordingly. Given under my hand this 21 day of September 1874. Smith R. Taylor, C.H.C.C.

List of property of Dr. J. S. Ringo, deceased –

1 cow and calf, $20 – 1 cow, $20 – 1 lot of plows, 50 cents – a corn sheller, $5 – 1 pair gear, 50 cents – 1 wheat fan, $8 – 1 oat cutter, $2.50 – 7 barrels old corn, $21 – 5 hogs heads, $25 – 12 hogs heads, $36 – 1 sow and pigs, $10 – 1 horse wagon and gear, $30 – 1 ox, $10 – 1 harrow, $3 – 1 double shovel, $3 – ½ hay rake sulky, $5 – 1 pair stretchers and single trees, $1 – 1 hoe and long chains, $2 – 1 lot scythes and cradles, $2 – 1 piece leather, $2 – 1 buggy, $100 – 1 man’s saddle, $5 – 1 lot augers, $1, 1 reaper, $50 – 6 head cattle, $80 – 1 mare, old Julia, $5 – 1 horse, Sam, $70 – 5 bee hives, $10 – for a total amount of $527.50

M. Reilly, J. M. Bryars, R. D. Rennick, J. M. Ringo, Administrators

State of Kentucky, Hickman County Court

I, Smith R. Taylor, clerk of the County Court for said county do certify that the foregoing appraisal of the estate of James S. Ringo, deceased, was on this day produced in open court, examined, received and ordered to be recorded which is done accordingly. Given under my hand this 21 day of September 1874. Smith R. Taylor, C.H.C.C.

J. R. Ringo Inventory

September 18, 1874 – List of papers of Dr. J. S. Ringo, Deceased

Claim on M & ORR & Tom Brown, $652.16 – 10 shares of $100 each on M & ORR, $1,000 – $1,000 bond on M & ORR, No. 295, $1,000 – $375 bond on M & ORR, No. 294, $375 – 1 note on E. H. Porter, B. D. S. H. C., $30.00 – 1 county bond payable J. W. Robinson, $105.30 – 1 note on A. M. Johnson, due July 1874, $143.06 – 1 note on A. M. Johnson, due January 1874, $143.06 – 1 not on J. W. Harper, $172.07, Cr. 30.61 – $121.90 – 1 note on J. C. Caldwell, balance, $10 – 1 not on D. Zimmer to F. M. Raybal, $20.51 – 1 note on James Jere, $207.83-100.00, $107.83 – 1 account on M. M. Ringo, $400-160, $240 – 1 note on Willis L. Ringo, $200 – 1 note on Jordan & Wilcoxen, $90-74, $16 – 1 note H. E. Earle, $12.10-$6, $6.10 – I note M . M. Samuels, $259.09-240, $19.09 – Cash on hand, $220.05 – Total, $4,410.05

M. Reilly, J. W. Bryars, R. D. Rennick, J. M. Ringo, Administrators

Sworn to before me by J. M. Ringo to be correct this 19^th day of September 1874 – Smith R. Taylor, C.H.C.C.

State of Kentucky, Hickman County Court

I, Smith R. Taylor, Clerk of the County Court for said county do certify that the foregoing inventory of the estate of James S. Ringo, deceased, was on this day produced in open court, examined, received and ordered to be recorded, which is done accordingly. Given under my hand this 21 day of September 1874. Smith R. Taylor, C.H.C.C.

Children by Elizabeth Harris:

Joel Butler Ringo, born November 29, 1825, Alabama, died November 20, 1865, married Elizabeth Matthews, eight children, Georgia Ann, James Butler, William Alvin, Henrietta E., Mary Edmonica, Newton Brock, Martha Logan, Ella Price.
Micajah Ringo, born February 4, 1828, died 1828, Montgomery County, Kentucky.
Joseph Montreville Ringo, born September 14, 1829, Hickman County, died January 19, 1893, Mississippi County, Missouri, married Fredonia Ann McGregor, born August 21, 1831, Tennessee, died April 27, 1887, Iron County, Missouri. Six children, Sada Frances, 1855-1934, Douglas McGregor, 1856-1934, Nancy McDonald, 1858-1939, Salena Ann, 1863-1943, Mann 1864-1929, Sterling Price, 1869-1935.
Mary Ann Ringo, born August 27, 1830, died July 11, 1852, Hickman County, married Malcolm McDonald, born March 15, 1819, Canada, died April 4, 1879, Hickman County.
Thomas Neal Ringo, born December 5, 1831, died July 12, 1908, Hickman County, married Martha A. Amos, born 1834, Graves County, Kentucky, died 1854, Dade County, Missouri. One son, William Francis Ringo, 1853-1936. After Martha’s death Thomas married Nancy Elizabeth Brand, born September 17, 1836, Graves County, Kentucky, died February 24, 1874, Hickman County. Eleven children, James Micajah Ringo, 1858-1943, Mary Ann Ringo, 1861-1887, Kate Elizabeth Ringo, 1862-1946, Joel Ringo, 1863-1886, Willis L. Ringo, 1864-1880, Amanda Belle Ringo, 1865-1941, Fredonia Elizabeth Ringo, 1868-1870, Minnie Pearl Ringo, 1869-1911, Henry Ringo, 1871-1935, Robert Lee Ringo, 1873-1947, Clark Ringo, 1874-1874.

Children by Sarah White:

Amanda Ringo, born November 24, 1834, Kentucky, died February 13, 1880, Hickman County, Amanda was the second wife of Malcolm McDonald, widower of her half-sister Mary Ann Ringo, married November 18, 1857, Hickman County. The couple had six children, Sallie, 1861-1919, Mary Bell, 1863-1929, Katherine Christina, 1866-1921, Martha Ringo, 1868-1936, Ella, 1871-1888, Florence Malcolm, 1873-1904.
Ann Martha Ringo, born February 19, 1838, Hickman County, died November 24, 1914, Hickman County, married John Caldwell Sublett, born November 5, 1830, Oldham County, Kentucky, died February 28, 1896, Hickman County. Ten children, William Edward, 1857-1924, Luther Davis 1861-1871, Susan Agnes, 1863-1942, Joshua White, 1866-1931, Lindsay Ringo, 1869-1920, Fairy, 1871-1902, Cora Martha, 1873-1970, John Moore, 1875-1907, Harry Rupard, 1877-1959, Henry, 1878-?
Fee Ringo, born September 16, 1839, Hickman County, died September 14, 1917, Hickman County, married April 9, 1862, Thomas Saunders Gore, born November 3, 1824, Bullitt County, Kentucky, died January 26, 1876, Hickman County. Six children, Sue, 1863-1955, Ellen Moffett, 1864-1917, Harriet Saunders, 1866-1941, Kittie Wells, 1869-1956, Mattie Willis, 1872-1960, Thomas Saunders, 1874-1962.
Calvin Coleman Ringo, born October 19, 1841, Hickman County, died March 12, 1891, Hickman County, married November 12, 1871, Hickman County, Callie B. Jordan, born March 30, 1841, died February 27, 1901, Hickman County. Two children, an infant daughter born September 1, 1879, died September 3, 1879, Jencye Jordan, 1880-1949.
Willis Lunsford Ringo, born October 22, 1843, Hickman County, died February 9, 1900, Pinellas County, Florida, married November 4, 1869, Hickman County, Sallie Cresap, born December 15, 1845, Hickman County, died March 6, 1936, Boyd County, Kentucky. Six children, Ruby C., 1870-1946, Cresap Mercer, 1873-1931, Nora G., 1875-1941, Elizabeth, 1877-1952, Lillian, 1879-1881, Bolivar Buckner, 1890-1955.
James Morris Ringo, born July 19, 1845, Hickman, died November 13, 1907, Hickman County, married October 10, 1871, Ruth Lester Cheaney, born February 7, 1858, Henderson County, Kentucky, died July 18, 1926, Hickman County. Five children, Anna Barbour, 1893-1955, Frances Norbourne, 1896-1910, Dempsey White, 1897-1972, Philip McDaniel Ringo, 1899-1947, Ruth Cheaney, 1902-1976.
Laura Belle Ringo, born February 1, 1848, Hickman County, died May 22, 1907, Hickman County, married a Mr. Wiseheart.

Clinton Cemetery