Nicholas, Alex and Josephine Ringeling

 

Spoken of earlier as a Vigilante, N.B. Ringling (Ringeling) was in the headlines of the January 26, 1906, Philipsburg Mail, with the sale of mining claims in Butte. He held half interest in two placer mining claims near the Pittsmont shaft, for over twenty three years, and though it was considered of little value he had continued to hold onto the claims. The Amalgamated Copper Company, were co-owners of claims only 500 feet away. Mr. J. J. Stewart of Butte, agreed to pay N.B. $100,000. A cash payment was made as a down payment and the remainder was to be paid in four quarterly installments ending in 18 months. Although N.B. felt the price really too low he had the need to provide comfort to his aging mother, so agreed to the price. N. B.’s brother, A.B. Ringeling, was involved in the re-organization of the Philipsburg Silver Cornet Band and served as their secretary and as a trustee. In the same issue of the Mail, is the announcement, A.B. Ringling was elected president of the newly organized Stockmen’s Association. Vice president was Albert Shuh (Schuh), Treasurer A.A. McDonald and Secretary C.H. Eshbaugh. Next A.B. was re-elected as Chief of the Fire Brigade and because the treasury was in negative territory a committee was formed of Ringling, Fairbairn, and A.S. Huffman to revise the Fireman’s Hall rental schedule. This was where most of the town dances and social functions were held. Continued research reveals he was elected as an alderman, and he was elected president of the City Council at the May 3, 1897 Council meeting. 

Alex was also involved in mining in the Frog Pond basin as I found the following: “Mrs. A.B. Ringling left last week for the Frog Pond Basin, where her husband is engaged in mining. Mrs. Ringling contemplates remaining all winter.” Mrs. A.B. (Josephine) was born in Southington Connecticut on March 18, 1861 and arrived in Philipsburg in 1891. One year later she married Alexander and was very active in Philipsburg life. She became proprietress of the Grand Hotel and Restaurant, originally owned by Charles Stringle, in December 1896 and was often involved in catering meals for the Fire Brigade and Philipsburg Band where Alexander played Tenor Drum. Because of the “Times” she was always referred to as Mrs. A.B. and even in the census was listed as housewife, including after she became Deputy Montana Fish and Game Warden for the Philipsburg District. The Federal census states she had one birth but no living children. 

Death came to her from Pneumonia after she was fishing on Georgetown Lake on October 28, 1925. Her Death certificate lists her occupation as housewife even though she was still employed as the Fish and Game Warden, with maiden name and parents name listed as unknown. 

 Alex, educated as a Stationary Engineer was involved in Silver Mining and served many years as Chief of the Fire Brigade. When he became infirmed they altered his duties and continued electing him as chief. His death came October 8, 1928 at Yenter’s Hospital, in Philipsburg. 

Nicholas Berthoud Ringeling, “Montana’s oldest mining engineer and resident of Granite County for the last fifty years”, died on his ninety first birthday, at a friend's home at Georgetown Lake, February 6, 1940. Born in St. Louis Missouri on February 6, 1849, he was educated in Missouri and then attended Washington University. Next he traveled to Freiburg, Germany and attained a mining degree at their world famous mining school. In 1875, he moved to Butte and was an associate of Marcus Daly in the early 1880’s and ran a mining office with a partner named Kellogg. 

N.B. came to Philipsburg about 1890, opening a mining office and then, became involved with Hope Mining Company. During the years, he acquired many mining properties and in his later years spent his time working the claims. He was a very large, handsome man and his athletic build served him well as a fencer and boxer. He trained in his early years under a renowned English Boxing champ named Tom Allen. His horses, racing dogs and game cocks were the finest in the area and he made a handsome sight when he drove the streets in his Connolly Buggy. 

Because he never married, he lived alone in his residence on the upper end of Broadway, after his mother and two brothers died. A picture of him with the Barr Family and their daughter Kathryn Hoben shows a very large dapper man, dressed in a fur coat. Funeral services were held in Anaconda on February 8, with burial in the family plot at Mount Moriah Cemetery, in Butte, next to A.B and Josephine.