Person:John Ringling (1)

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

John Nicholas Ringling (May 31, 1866 – December 2, 1936) was an American entrepreneur who is the best known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Bros World's Greatest Shows to create a virtual monopoly of traveling circuses and helped shape the modern circus. In addition to owning and managing many of the largest circuses in the United States, he was also a rancher, a real estate developer and art collector. He was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1987.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 United States. Passport applications, 1795-1925. (Washington, D.C. : National Archives).

   ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1433.

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 National Archives and Records Administration. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. (Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   Year: 1914; ; Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: T715_2249; Line: 28; ; Page Number: 29.

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Find A Grave
   Memorial# 6458.

   John Ringling
   Birth: May 31, 1866
   Death: Dec. 2, 1936
   Burial: John and Mable Ringling Museum , Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida, USA
   Spouse: Mable Burton Ringling (1875 - 1929)
   
   Entertainer. Born Johann Nicholas Rüngeling, one of seven sons of German immigrant and harness maker, August Rüngeling, in McGregor, Iowa. After moving to Baraboo, Wisconsin, the brothers Ringling created and performed a vaudeville-type show in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, on November 27, 1882. John played the clown. Two years later, the Ringling Brothers were able to open their first circus. By 1887, the growing Ringling brothers' show was called Ringling Bros. United Monster Shows, Great Double Circus, Royal European Menagerie, Museum, Caravan, and Congress of Trained Animals. By 1900, Ringling Brothers had one of the largest shows in the country and began absorbing other circuses. In 1907, the Ringlings purchased their largest competitor, Barnum & Bailey Circus; The Greatest Show on Earth became the Ringlings' show for $400,000. He was an early settler and developer of Sarasota Florida. He owned and planned the Ringling Isles subdivision that included St. Armands Key, Bird Key, Coon Key, Wolf Key, and 2,000 acres on Longboat Key. He had built the Ringling Causeway and bridge to St. Armand Key and then donated it to the city. John was listed as one of the richest men in the world in 1925. In 1927, he moved the winter quarters of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus to Sarasota. In 1929, he bought the American Circus Corporation for $2 million. With that purchase, the last surviving Ringling brother owned virtually every traveling circus in America. Shortly after the acquisition, he lost in short order his wife, Mabel, and much of his fortune. Ringling was voted out of control of his business in 1932. At his death, he willed his house, his museum, and his entire art collection to the state of Florida.

4. ↑ Clayton, Iowa, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1870; Census Place: McGregor Ward 3, Clayton, Iowa; Roll: M593_383; Page: 382B; Image: 494; Family History Library Film: 545882.

5. ↑ Tenth census of the state of Florida, 1935.

   (Microfilm series S 5, 30 reels); Record Group 001021; State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.Archive. Series #: S5, Roll 27

6. ↑ Sauk, Wisconsin, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1880; Census Place: Baraboo, Sauk, Wisconsin; Roll: 1446; Family History Film: 1255446; Page: 10C; Enumeration District: 245; .

7. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. (Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   Year: 1931; ; Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: T715_5009; Line: 24; ; Page Number: 23

8. ↑ Minnesota, Territorial and State Census, 1849-1905.

   •Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota State Population Census Schedules, 1865-1905. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 1977. Microfilm. Reels 1-47 and 107-164. Roll: MNSC_17

9. ↑ "John (1866 -1936) and Mable (1875 - 1929) Ringling: Short Biographies", in The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
   [1].
10. ↑ John Ringling, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
11. ↑ "John Ringling Dies of Pneumonia at 70", in The New York Times. (New York, New York)
    Dec. 2, 1936.

    "John Ringling, who formed and directed one of the world's greatest circus organizations, died at 2:45 o'clock this morning of bronchial pneumonia at his home at 270 Park Avenue. He was 70 years old."