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Mary Peters Ringo diary, May 18, 1864-October 6, 1864.
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Collection Overview

Title:

Mary Peters Ringo diary, May 18, 1864-October 6, 1864

Creator/Contributor:

Ringo, Mary Peters, 1826-1876, creator, creator.

Abstract:

The diary (74 p. and handwritten in pencil) begins as Mary and her family leave Leavenworth, Kansas and chronicles the family's journey first along the Oregon Trail route to Fort Bridger, Wyoming and then along the California Trail to Austin, Nevada. Mary describes the campsites and places she visits as well as the people she meets in the emigrant trains. She mentions the lack or abundance of water and grass for the oxen and mules. She discusses various encounters with Indians, some that resulted in trade and others that were more violent. She documents the painful experience of losing her husband to an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in July 1864. She mentions her children occasionally. In addition to the diary, the collection contains a typed transcription of the diary and accompanying genealogical materials. Photographs that were acquired with the diary were transferred to the Pictorial Division of The Bancroft Library.

Date:

1864 (issued)

Subject:

n-us-ca
Overland journeys to the Pacific -- Personal narratives
Pioneers -- Oregon National Historic Trail -- Diaries
Pioneers -- California National Historic Trail -- Diaries
Voyages par terre jusqu'au Pacifique -- Récits personnels
Pionniers -- Oregon National Historic Trail -- Journaux intimes
Pionniers -- California National Historic Trail -- Journaux intimes
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Pioneers
Travel
West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
États-Unis (Ouest) -- Descriptions et voyages
United States -- California National Historic Trail
United States -- Oregon National Historic Trail
West United States
Ringo, Mary Peters -- 1826-1876 -- Archives
Ringo, Martin -- 1819-1864
Ringo, John -- 1850-1882
Ringo family
Ringo family
Ringo, John -- 1850-1882

Note:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for use.
Purchase from Michael Vinson Americana; 2022.
Photographs transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 2022.107).
Mary Peters Ringo was born in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, the daughter of John Robert and Frances Augusta (Simms) Peters. She married Martin Ringo on September 5, 1848 and together they had five children: John, Martin Albert, Fannie, Mary Enna, and Mattie Bell. Mary, Martin, and family left Liberty, Missouri in spring of 1864 on an overland journey to California. Mary's sister, Augusta, lived in San Jose with her husband Coleman P. Younger, the uncle of infamous outlaw Cole Younger. Martin Ringo (Mary's husband) had tuberculosis, and the family hoped the change of climate would improve his health. During the journey, Martin Ringo was killed when he accidentally fired a bullet from his own gun directly into his right eye. Mary, herself, was pregnant during the entire trip and gave birth to a stillborn baby in Austin, Nevada. After the family's journey to California, John Ringo, Martin's and Mary's son went to Texas and eventually to the Arizona Territory. There, he became the notorious outlaw and gunslinger John Ringo.
Mary Peters Ringo diary, BANC MSS 2022/184, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
In English.

Type:

diaries.
Archives
Diaries
Personal narratives
Diaries.
Overland journals-1864.
Journaux intimes.

Physical Description:

print
0.2 (1

Language:

English

Origin:

California

Copyright Note:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Advance notice required for use.