Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

One of the oldest settlers of the County was born in Breckenridge County, Kentucky in 1827. When he was three years of age, his father emigrated to Edgar County, Illinois from which state Mr. RUBY moved to Ringgold County in 1855. He entered eighty acres in section 5, Jefferson Twp. But three white families lived in the neighborhood when he commenced improving his new home. These were those of Isaac REYNOLDS, Charles RUSSELL and Garrett BIND, deceased. A few other families were living in distant parts of the County. The first house erected in Mt Ayr, Iowa was being raised as he drove over the open prairie on which the city is now located. This structure was a "round pole shanty" the property of Mr. DUNNING, another pioneer.

When Mr. RUBY moved into this township the Indians were present in considerable numbers. An Indian village containing over 100 adults, besides children, was located on one corner of his farm, less than eighty rods from his house. Attached to this village was a large Indian gravery and from which numerous bodies have been exhumed by physicians and scientists. This burying ground remained intact for years but is now a part of Mr. RUBY's cornfield. These Indians did not it seems always practice the rite of septum. Mr. RUBY found on looking over his farm a strange object strung up in a large tree. On examination it proved to be the half decomposed remains of a little Indian baby on "papoose". It's casket had been made from a log, the two halves of which had been hollowed out sufficiently to enclose the child and were held together and suspended by strips of bark. It had probably been swinging in every stormy wind that blew for a year or more. When it was found by Mr. RUBY, who out of respect to the traditions of his father, took it down and gave it a Christian burial.

The pioneers of Ringgold County, knew something of the hardships, in the spring of 1856 Mrs. Riley ANDREWS died of consumption and lumber was so scarce that Mr. RUBY cut up his wagon box to make her coffin. Mr. RILEY got his mail at Hopeville, Clarke County, 25 miles away and the nearest mill was of Gentryville, Missouri 65 miles distant. On one occasion provisions was so scarce that he could get no grain to feed his oxen on the way and hence he would drive them until they showed signs of exhaustion, then stop and turn them out to graze. This trip to the mill consumed 18 days. At that time there was but one team of horses in the County, and they were owned by Riley ANDREWS.

In the spring of 1856 occurred the "Big Sleet" during which all the wheat and corn was exhausted and the only thing in the shape of bread stuffs in the neighborhood was two bushels of buckwheat which Mr. RUBY purchased on his last trip to Missouri. This buckwheat was shared out and ground into flour upon coffee mills. Luckily the ice softened sufficiently from traveling before this supply was exhausted. Mr. BURROUGHS, who moved in the county in 1856 offered his wagon and harness both new and worth at least $100.00 for twenty five bushels of corn and could not get it. From the 14th of February 1856 until after harvest when corn was hard enough to feed, there was not a particle of grain fed to oxen or horses and they subsisted by grazing although they were worked hard raising a crop.

The people attended church, Weddings etc. in oxcarts. For several years the only religious services in the neighborhood consisted of an occasional sermon preached in Mr. RUBY's house by Rev. Mr. WILLIAMS of Afton, Iowa. The first election in the twp which then consisted of Washington and Jefferson in one, was held at the house of Mr. Asa RUBY in 1856. Peter DOSE was the first Sheriff when Asa RUBY was elected Justice of Peace, V. G. RUBY constable, Garrett BIND, William RALSTON, and Rollin ANDREWS Trustees, the last three are all deceased. In 1856 the first school house was built and was made of round logs. The size was 16 x 18. Roofed with clapboard and the seats were made from parcheons (sic). The building was on Mr. RUBY's land. The first school was taught by Miss Arcela KIRKHAM - now Mrs. George ANABRIGHT living near Mt Ayr, Iowa.

Mr. RUBY has paid $8.00 per cwt for flour, $10.00 per barrel for salt and $2.00 per bushel for coarse ground cornmeal. The county abounded in game but Mr. RUBY never hunted, with the exception of a single half day which he spent crawling up on a drove of deer. After approaching near enough for a shot he could not get his gun to fire off. Thoroughly disgusted with the business he took an oath or two which he held inviolate. He served about a year as soldier in the 40th Iowa Vol. Inf. but was engaged in no important battle.

He has always taken a leading part in twp offices and has filled at different times every office in the township. He owns over 200 acres of timber and prairie land in the southern part of Jefferson township and has a fine large farm house and is quite well to do. He is also a Republican and in favor of BLAINE and the Record.

Above from a series of biographical sketches the Ringgold Record published of their subscribers in 1880 and 1881. Valentine Gilbert RUBY married in 1847 to Harriet CONLEY who died in April of 1890. Valentine died on September 6, 1895 and was interred at Centenary Cemetery, Knowlton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009