Snapshots of History
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By Mike Avitt
This week’s photo appears on page 183 of the book, “Early History of Ringgold County,” by Mrs. B. M. (Maryann) Lesan. I’m usually pretty good at narrowing down the date of undated pictures, but this one has me buffaloed. I know the date to be between 1917 and 1936, that’s all. I am fully convinced this photo was professionally taken.
Mitzi Hymbaugh recently donated a copy of “Early History of Ringgold County” to the Mt. Ayr Depot Museum and I tell you a little about this rare book. Rare because I find an initial print run of 300 and I can find nothing more. The book was compiled by MaryAnn Lesan and published in 1937. There are 260 pages with 34 pictures and illustrations. Mrs. Lesan spent 13 years culling information for her book which sold for $5 upon publication.
There are a great number of biographies in the book, most notably Luke Shay. Mr. Shay, an Irishman, came to Union County in 1851 and then Rinngold County in 1854. A copy of his naturalization certificate can be seen on page 241.
MaryAnn recorded the winter of 1936 which was the worst winter since 1912. Travel ceased completely, including railroads, for days at a time. That winter was the coldest and snowiest winter in our recorded history.
Barton and Laura Dunning’s portraits appear on page eleven. These are the same photos that appear in the Mount Ayr Centennial Book of 1975. The Dunnings were the first settlers in Mount Ayr in 1855.
There were contributors to the book, as well. Jerry Zaruba wrote the history of the Bohemian Settlement in Washington Township with the first Bohemian’s arriving in Ringgold County in the late 1850s. Jerry described the date certain Bohemian settlers arrived and the marriages that took place. The church and cemetery are also recorded.
There are things in this book that are very unpleasant. Mrs. Lesan recounts gruesome accidents, horrific deaths, barbaric treatment of people and unsolved crimes. Nonetheless, they are a part of our history.
Mount Ayr’s telephone system is recorded on pages 136-37. Telephone service began in Mount Ayr in 1896. That is 13 years before we got electricity, 18 years before we got running water, and 19 years before we got a paved street. That always seemed very bizarre to me.
About everything we know concerning Ringgold County’s first stagecoach line can be found on pages 140-142. The book says the line began in 1857 or 1858 with Eddyville being the starting point and Nebraska City, Nebraska being the terminus. Eddyville would’ve gotten a railroad about that time. The stops in Ringgold County are listed as Merritt Station (near present-day Kellerton) and Mount Ayr. Platteville, in Taylor County, is also mentioned. Platteville is a ghost town northwest of Blockton. By 1869, there were enough railroads in the area to make stagecoaches obsolete.
Beginning on page 146 is an excellent autobiographical account of Isaac Keller’s first few years in Ringgold County. He did his early shopping in Hopeville in Clarke County. Mr. Keller later became an attorney and civic leader. The town of Kellerton is named for him.
MaryAnn Lesan completed her book on January 1, 1937 and it is the most sought after history book in Ringgold County. The Mount Ayr Public Library has a photocopy of the book, but it may not be checked out. It is in the genealogical room in the basement with lots of other cool history books.
Ringgold County’s history is very well recorded, but knowing where to find it is something of an adventure.
