Ringling brothers

Updated on Oct 23, 2023

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The Ringling brothers (originally Rungeling) were seven American siblings of German and French descent who transformed their small touring company of performers into one of America's largest circuses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in McGregor, Iowa and raised in Baraboo, Wisconsin, they were the children of harness maker Heinrich Friedrich August Ringling (1826–1898), of Hanover, Germany, and Marie Salome Juliar (1833–1907), of Ostheim, in Alsace. They merged their Ringling Brothers Circus with America's other leading circus troupes, ultimately creating the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Siblings

Albert "Al" Ringling (1852–1916). Albert divorced his wife in 1914 and died of Bright's disease at the age of 63 in Wisconsin.

Augustus Gustav Ringling "Gus" (1852 - 000000001907-12-18-0000December 18, 1907). A founder of the circus, Augustus was largely self-educated. He died at age 55 from complications of various diseases at a sanatorium in New Orleans, where he'd arrived two weeks earlier hoping the warmer climate would help his condition.

Otto Ringling (1858–1911). Otto died April 2, 1911, at the home of his brother John, who lived on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He was in New York to see a show at Madison Square Garden.

Alfred "Alf" Theodore Ringling (1861–1919). Alfred was a juggler. He had a son, Richard Ringling, and a daughter, Marjorie Joan Ringling, who was married to future United States Senator Jacob K. Javits from 1933-1936. His granddaughter, Mabel Ringling, married Richard Durant, an elephant trainer. Alfred maintained a winter residence in Petersburg, New Jersey, now known as Oak Ridge, where he was responsible for creating what is now Lake Swannanoa. The property was also used as the winter quarters for his son Richard's circus, the R.T. Richards Circus. Alfred died in his New Jersey manor on October 21, 1919.

Charles Edward Ringling (1863–1926).

John Nicholas Ringling (1866–1936). John was a singer and a professional clown.

Henry Ringling (1869–1918). Henry was the youngest of the brothers, and died October 10, 1918, of heart and other internal disorders.

Ida Loraina Wilhelmina Ringling (1874–1950). Ida married Harry Whitestone North (1858–1921) in 1902. Their sons were John Ringling North and Henry Ringling North.

References

Ringling brothers Wikipedia

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