Martin Henderson Ringo (1819-1864)
Mary Ann Peters (1826-1876)
paternal 2nd great-granduncle/great-grandaunt
[This post is currently being revised - April 2026.]
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| The inside front cover of The Journal of Mrs. Mary Ringo; a diary of her trip across the Great Plains in 1864. (Library of Congress) |
In 1864, Martin Ringo, and his wife, Mary Peters, made
the decision to move from their home in Gallatin, Missouri to San Jose, California due to Martin's health. He had tuberculosis which he contracted while serving as a wagon master and
freighter during the Mexican War (1846-1848). Their hope was that the California climate would improve his condition. Mary's sister, Augusta, and her husband, Colonel Coleman Younger, lived in San Jose, which would make it easier to adjust to their new home.
"On
the eighteenth of May eighteen hundred sixty-four, a party of
adventurous people started on the hazardous trip across the continent to
California. Among them was my father Martin Ringo, age 45 years, his
wife Mary Ringo, age 38 years, brother John, age 14 years, Albert, age
11 years, sister Fanny, age 7 years, Enna, age 4 years, Mattie (myself),
age 2 years.
We had two large covered wagons one drawn by oxen and one by mules,
we brought a lot of things, a large bed and dresser, a number of heavy
books besides all the things necessary for a long trip. My father had
been in the Mexican War, was stationed at Sacramento for some time where
he contracted tuberculosis and he thought it would be better for him in
a milder climate, but he didn't get to live there."
Covered wagons were typically ten feet long and about four feet wide. With all the family's belongings and supplies taking up most of the space inside, family members often to take turns walking next to the wagons. The travelers slept in tents, out in the open, or under the wagons. If the weather was particularly bad, the family might even squeeze inside a wagon and sleep on the load. At the time of the family's departure from Gallatin, Mary was about four months pregnant with their sixth child, so she probably rode more often than usual in the later months.
– THE JOURNEY BEGINS –
The
Ringo family became part of a wagon train that eventually grew to have 70
wagons. Martin's experience as a wagon master made him an asset during the long, hazardous journey. The map below shows their route from Gallatin to San Jose, California, following the Oregon Trail and then heading south on one of the California Trails from Fort Bridger in Wyoming.
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| The way to California. (Google Maps) |
Mary began her journal on the day they left Gallatin.
Life on the trail was challenging in many ways. Daily routines were more difficult, mules and oxen had to be cared for, wagons often needed to be repaired, and finding good grass and water was often time consuming. Diseases caused by unsanitary conditions, such as cholera and dysentery, killed about 1 in 10 emigrants. Accidents—gunshot wounds, falling off a wagon, getting run over by a wagon wheel, or drowning at river crossings—were not uncommon. All these, as well as Indian attacks, were part of most journeys.
The weather played a big part in life on the trail. High winds could overturn a wagon. Heavy rain turned trails into mud, making them temporarily impassable, and swollen, fast-flowing creeks and rivers were not safe to cross. All these factors impeded progress.
Below: Westport Landing near Independence, Missouri was an important "jumping-off" place for emigrants. (The Scotts Bluff National Monument William Henry Jackson Collection–National Park Service)
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By
1864, there were ferries across some of the rivers on the way to
California. These eased some of the dangers of river crossings. The
family used a ferry for the first time when they crossed the Missouri
River into Kansas shortly after they left Gallatin. The downside was
that it was a slow process since a ferry might able to carry only one
wagon and its team of mules or oxen at a time. Below is an example of
one type of ferry.
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| "Bissell's Ferry, Windsor, Connecticut—in continuous existence since about 1648," from Crossing the Connecticut, published 1908. (Internet Archive) |
– GALLATIN, MISSOURI TO SCOTTS BLUFF, NEBRASKA –
MAY 18–JULY 20
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| First part of the journey: across the Great Plains toward the Rockies. |
On
June 3, Mary noted that they made camp at a place called Rock Creek. A stagecoach and Pony Express station was nearby. The large rocks
there had many names, some nicely carved "and
conspicuously on a nice little square is a Seses Flag. I know by this
southerners are ahead." ["Secesh" was short for secessionist.] The war was still real, even though it seemed far away now.
Tragedy struck the wagon train on June 7.
On the 8th, the men had a successful buffalo hunt.
Left: Wagon Train by William
The wagon train has reached the Platte River. [Platte is the French word for flat.] The river is characterized as being "a mile wide and an inch deep."
Many diarists mentioned that traveling along the Platte was the easiest, most pleasant part of the journey. For the most part, the landscape was treeless, flowers and grass were abundant, and the valley was wide, making "wheeling" easy. On June 22, Mary wrote that they are near the North and South Platte. They made 21 miles, found good grass, and saw antelope for the first time.
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| Map of the Platte River drainage basin, showing the North and South Platte Rivers. (Wikimedia) |
The next two weeks are trying as they wait for word about the boat that will ferry the wagons across the North Platte River. There are heavy storms off and on—one had high winds that blew over some wagons even though they carried heavy loads.
Mary carries on with her usual work doing the wash and preparing meals. She likely has the three oldest children, Johnny, Albert, and Fanny gathering buffalo chips for a fire, since wood is not plentiful during this part of the trip.
The Ringo's wagon train has had few encounters with Indians so far, and all have been friendly. But in this case it was probably unsettling.
Jul 2 move to location of the boat - several miles
Jul 3-Jul 7 crossing very slowly finally done
July 8 on their way again start journey again
copy Jul 9-11
landscape - elevations about 4200 ft
Jul 13 - see Courthouse Rock @ distance of ~ 3 miles /quicksand at a crossing
Jul 14 - copied
The wagon train has Chimney Rock in sight. It's a significant landmark that tells the travelers they are leaving the Great Plains and nearing the Rocky Mountains. riding in back of 2nd wagon - lame mule
July 14 – Today we pass Chimney Rock this in another grand edifice, you can see it for same 20 miles, it is a 150 feet high, the chimney or cone being some 70 feet in heighth.
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| The Road Along Scotts Bluff-Chimney Rock Region of North Platte River, Wyoming by William Henry Jackson. ( |
Jul 15 - 1st violent Indian encounter
Jul 16 - Scotts Bluff bad road but grand sight
Laramie Peak about 35 miles from Douglas
Jul 19 - Indians
* * *
* * *
– SOURCES –
– Gatto,
Steve. Johnny Ringo. [Protar House, 2002]
– Ringo,
Mary. The
journal of Mrs. Mary Ringo; a diary of her trip across the Great
* * *
– FURTHER READING –
– Jeremy Neeley's article, "A Most Cruel and Unjust War:" The Guerrilla Struggle
Along the Missouri-Kansas Border, is eye-opening. I vaguely remember this horrific
piece of history from high school but not the details that Neeley provides.
– The article, Traveling the Emigrant Trails, has a detailed description of the wagons,
provisions, tools, food, other items needed to make the 2,000-mile journey on the
Oregon Trail. It's part of a U.S. National Park Service series, The Emigrant Experience.
* * *
Howell-Richards Family History – June 2021 (updating March 2026)
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