Name/Title
Jack Ring - Rescued Hundred of People From the Missouri River in the late 1800sEntry/Object ID
2020.25.218Description
Jack Ring - Rescued Hundred of People From the Missouri River in the late 1800s
Jack Ring was known as a river hero in St. Joseph, MO in the late 1800s into the turn of the century. He was known to have performed many river rescues (over 300 according to a St. Joseph News Press article at the time) and recovered the bodies of those lost on the river.
According to the Kansas City Star newspaper, Jack Ring lived for over fifty years on the St. Joseph Riverfront, and knew the Missouri River better than most people in the area. Orphaned as a young boy, Ring made his way in the world by scrounging for what he could.
From the September 17, 1919 issue of the Kansas City Star containing Ring’s obituary:
“Ring was known here as "king of Ring's Island," because he lived in a tumbledown shack on a sandy stretch of ground which ran out into the river, and ruled it with an iron hand. He often boasted that they voted down there the way he said, and that was always Republican, and results showed him to be right. Jack left no relatives. He and his wife were taken sick about two and a half years ago in their little house down on the river, and they lay for days without attention of any kind, too ill to call for help. Finally a child wandered in and went for help. It was too late to save the woman's life and Jack barely, that pulled friends through.”
Ring was well known for his rescues and won several awards over the years, including a Carnegie medal for bravery. This was awarded to him after saving a girl from a runaway team of horses.
Jack Ring’s shack by the river was washed away at one point in floodwaters. The citizens of St. Joseph quickly raised funds and erected a small dwelling in its place.
Ring eventually moved into the Leavenworth, KS Soldier’s Home, where he passed away in 1919 after a fall from a silo.
Links to news articles about Ring:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-kansas-city-star-jacks-death/58213501/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-news-press-jack-rings-home/104530540/
https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/3rdstreet/3rdstreet.htmlPhotograph Details
Subject
photoSubject Person or Organization
Jack RingSubject Place
City
St. JosephState/Province
MissouriContext
Jack Ring was known as a river hero in St. Joseph, MO in the late 1800s into the turn of the century. He was known to have performed many river rescues (over 300 according to a St. Joseph News Press article at the time) and recovered the bodies of those lost on the river.
According to the Kansas City Star newspaper, Jack Ring lived for over fifty years on the St. Joseph Riverfront, and knew the Missouri River better than most people in the area. Orphaned as a young boy, Ring made his way in the world by scrounging for what he could.
From the September 17, 1919 issue of the Kansas City Star containing Ring’s obituary:
“Ring was known here as "king of Ring's Island," because he lived in a tumbledown shack on a sandy stretch of ground which ran out into the river, and ruled it with an iron hand. He often boasted that they voted down there the way he said, and that was always Republican, and results showed him to be right. Jack left no relatives. He and his wife were taken sick about two and a half years ago in their little house down on the river, and they lay for days without attention of any kind, too ill to call for help. Finally a child wandered in and went for help. It was too late to save the woman's life and Jack barely, that pulled friends through.”
Ring was well known for his rescues and won several awards over the years, including a Carnegie medal for bravery. This was awarded to him after saving a girl from a runaway team of horses.
Jack Ring’s shack by the river was washed away at one point in floodwaters. The citizens of St. Joseph quickly raised funds and erected a small dwelling in its place.
Ring eventually moved into the Leavenworth, KS Soldier’s Home, where he passed away in 1919 after a fall from a silo.
Links to news articles about Ring:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-kansas-city-star-jacks-death/58213501/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-joseph-news-press-jack-rings-home/104530540/Collection
PHOTOGRAPH
