Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt

By Editor | March 4, 2026 |

I took this photo in March 2010 at Ringgold Cemetery. The gate faces east, so a morning shoot is best. This is the oldest man-made site in Ringgold County. The cemetery was established by Charles Schooler about 1847 when he buried his wife and child there. Of course, these graves are unmarked and it is believed that there are more than 10 unmarked graves in this cemetery. One of them being Charles H. Schooler himself.
I repeatedly get asked where Ringgold City was. Well, it was about two miles southeast of Watterson and about three miles south-southwest of Caledonia. Or, more specifically, the southeast quarter of section 21, Lotts Creek Township. Good, now we’re all clear on that.
Ringgold County was established in 1855 and three communities got their start that same year: Mount Ayr, Caledonia and Ringgold City. Ringgold City was the oldest having had its beginning around 1845 under the name (Charles) Schooler’s Grove. Sanford Harrow is credited with laying out the lots in Ringgold City in the spring of 1855.
There were a few doctors in the area over the years. Dr. J. T. Merrill was the first. He moved to Mount Ayr in 1866. I see ads in the old newspapers for a Dr. E. M. Williams in 1873-74 who gave his address as Ringgold City. Dr. A. W. Reynolds was the last in the area and he moved to Mount Ayr in the 1930s.
The Evangelical Church was built in 1887 and my research revealed that in late fall of 1923, the building had been raised and a 24 feet x 36 feet basement had been built. I believe the last services were in early 1937.
A store was started in 1888 by S. F. Kater that operated for several decades. By the early 1890s, T. J. Ireland was the owner. In December 1894, Ireland sold to I. M. Cooper. Cooper became postmaster in January 1895, so now we see why Cooper wanted the store. Folks would come in to get their mail and see a store item they couldn’t live without.
In February 1901, Charles Gately bought the store and three months later became postmaster. John K. White got the store about 1909 and traded it to O. E. Cornell in 1910. Charles Coulson owned the store before he sold it to George Hacker in 1914. J. K. White, owner of the store at Caledonia, again buys the Ringgold Store and would operate both. White sold out to Stanley Brothers in 1920.
Stanley Brothers sold out to Merritt W. Hayes in 1922. Merritt was just like his father – work, work, work! M. W. Hayes had many projects and positions, one being a representative of the Standard Oil Company. So, in 1923, the Ringgold Store began to sell tires and other auto accessories. In 1924 one could purchase Red Crown gasoline at Ringgold. In 1925, Hayes hired Mr. F. Freeman as a full time mechanic to work in the Hayes Garage. Sounds pretty good. But …….
Watterson and Caledonia both had stores and they began to sell gasoline too. The roads were still mud and the population was on the decline. There was no high school anywhere in this area and young people moved to Redding, Mount Ayr or Hatfield, Mo. to attend high school. Rural Free Delivery had eliminated rural and community post offices. Even with the economic boom of the 1920s it was a difficult time for hamlets such as Ringgold City.
Earl Butler ended up with the store and he had a closing out sale in January 1929. The Mullin family took over the store and in August of 1932, the store at Ringgold City breathed its last breath. Mrs. J. M. Mullin & Son had an auction and sold everything: the merchandise, the buildings and the lots.
The only thing left of the original Ringgold City is the cemetery. And as I have said, it is the oldest man-made site in Ringgold County.

Posted in Snapshot of History by Mike Avitt