Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


THEODORE J. RING.� The oldest resident of Raisin City is Theodore 
J. Ring, a native of Winston-Salem, N. C, born August 2, 1876. The Ring 
family is traced back to England ; members of the family came to North Caro- 
lina about six generations ago. One ancestor served in the Revolutionary 
war. Grandfather William Jackson Ring was a lieutenant in the Confed- 
erate Army in the Civil War. Theodore's father was Lee Ring, a planter at 
Winston-Salem and later at Elkin, where he died. The mother of Mr. Ring 
was named Augusta Ridings. She was also of English descent, and her 
father, Thomas Ridings, also served in the Confederate Army. Lee and 
Augusta (Ridings) Ring left two children. Theodore J. and his brother 
Thomas, who still own the old plantation at Elkin and have added to it until 
it embraces almost 600 acres; it is operated by and in charge of his brother. 
Thomas "Ring. 

Theodore Ring had the advantages of the public schools at Elkin. After 
the completion of his schooling he assisted on the home place until twenty- 
four years of age, when he entered the employ of the Southern Railroad, 
having charge of the freight warehouses at Elkin for a period of two years. 
While there he was married, on February 25, 1903, to Miss Carrie Sprinkle, 
a native of Elkin, and the daughter of J. H. and Minerva (Messick) Sprinkle, 
natives of North Carolina, of Virginian parents. J. H. Sprinkle is a tobacco 
commission merchant at Elkin, and also the owner of a transfer line, being still 
actively engaged in business. Of their nine children Mrs. Ring is the fourth. 

Deciding to locate in California, the young couple arrived in Caruthers, 
Fresno County, March 9, 1903. For two years Mr. Ring followed ranching, 
and then entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Armona, and 
with the use of a speeder filled the duties of track-walker for two years. In 
April, 1907, he was transferred to Ormus, now Raisin City, as foreman of Sec- 
tion 49, a position he has ably filled ever since. He is now using a gaso- 
line motor car for transporting his crew and supplies over the section. When 
he came here there was no town, but the same summer Raisin City was laid 
out and in the fall the hotel and store went up and the Raisin postoffice was 
established. Mr. and Mrs. Ring have made several trips back to the old 
home, and as stated before still own a half interest in the old plantation, 
in which they take much pride. They have six children: Muriel, Mary, 
Leslie, Jack, Catherine, and Maude. Mr. and Mrs. Ring are enterprising 
and charitable and always have been ready to assist others less fortunate 
than themselves. Mrs. Ring is a devout Methodist. Fraternally, Mr. Ring 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and 
the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Politically he is a Democrat.