Ringler, Peter J.

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Peter J. Ringler, who is manager and part owner of the Parsons Bottling Works, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the state, has had a very active and successful business career.

He was born in Livingston County, Illinois, December 14, 1868. His grandfather Peter Ringler was born in Kurhessen, Germany, came to the United States about 1876 after his wife had died in Germany, and lived on a farm in Livingston County, Illinois, until his death. In Germany he was a contractor for the building of railroads, and he also served his regular term in the German army.

Peter Ringler, Jr., father of the Parsons business man, was born in Kurhessen, Germany, in 1825. He came to this country about 1843, locating first in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was engaged in the bakery business, and afterwards for several years was connected with the Armour Packing Company in Chicago. He was married while living in Chicago and from there moved to a farm in Livingston County, Illinois. That farm was where he reared his children. In 1882 he moved to Sibley, Iowa, continued farming in that state for a number of years, and in 1906 went to the Northwest, spending a short time in Dakots, and from there went to Minnesota. He died in March, 1915, in a hospital at Staples, Minnesota. He was a democrat, had been honored with various township offices, and was an active member of the Lutheran Church. Peter Ringler married Louisa Strauss, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1834, and died at Lake Park, Iowa, in 1904. Her children were: William, who in 1915 moved from Lake Park, Iowa, to Pipestone, Minnesota, and has been a farmer all his active career; Peter J.; John, a farmer at Staples, Minnesota; Rosa, wife of John Card, a carpenter and builder at Staples, Minnesota; Katy, wife of Euos Thorne, a farmer at Staples, Minnesota; and George, also engaged in farming at Staples.

Peter J. Ringler received his early education in Livingston County, Illinois. At the age of fourteen he left school to learn the machinist's trade. He worked out his apprenticeship at Sandburn and Milford, Iowa, and followed the trade of machinist for many years. His home was in Iowa until 1903, and in that year he moved to Wellington, Kansas, in 1910 went to Wichita, to Iola in October, 1914, and since May 20, 1916, has had his home and business headquarters in Parsons. Mr. Ringler has been in the bottling business for the past eighteen years. He conducted a bottling plant at Spirit Lake, Iowa, at Wellington, Kansas, and during his residence at Iola and Wichita was in the real estate business. In$$May, 1916, he bought an interest in the Parsons Bottling Works from C. O. Humphrey, and is now active manager of this business. The plant has a capacity of 300 cases a day, and that makes it one of the leading concerns of its kind in the state. The plant is fitted with all the up to date appliances and machinery, the motive power is supplied by electricity and other features are a fine sterilizing machine. The plant is located at Twenty-first Street and Corning Avenue. Mr. Ringler is also a stockholder in the Uncle Sam Oil Company.

His home, which he owns, is at 1407 East Crawford Avenue. Mr. Ringler is a member of the Lutheran Church, served on the school board for two terms while living in Iowa, is a republican, and joined the Woodmen of the World in Camp No. 11 at Wellington, Kansas, and now has membership in the Camp at Iola.

In October, 1897, at Eldora, Iowa, he married Miss Caroline Christoffer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Christoffer. Her father now resides at Ellsworth, Iowa, and is a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Ringler have four children: Laurel was born July 21, 1901; Clarence was born August 22, 1903; Celia was born September 16, 1905; and Doris was born April 1, 1910. All the children are now receiving their education in the Parsons public schools.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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