J. Hiram Ringer M.D.

  General Notes:

From the Westmoreland County biographies:


J. HIRAM RINGER, M.D., of Larimer, one of the talented and popular young physicians of the county, was born at Salem Belmont), Westmoreland county, PA., October 7, 1855, and is a son of Isaac and Catherine Ann (Berlin) Ringer. His grandfather, Christopher ringer, was a native of German but immigrated to the United States, locating in Franklin township, this county, when the settlers were so scarce that his nearest neighbor lived four miles away. He married and became the father of eight children: William, Michael, Jacob, Isaac, George (deceased), Mary, Elizabeth and Ann (deceased). Mary, now a widow of George Russell lives in Iowa, and Elizabeth is also the relict of Daniel Metzgar. Jacob Ringer resides at Marion, Ohio, William Ringer makes his home with his brother Isaac and Michael lives on the old homestead in Franklin township. Elias Berlin, maternal grandfather, was born in what is now Penn township in 1802. For some time he was colonel of the “Cornstalk militia” which frequently paraded at Clover Hill, Washington township, where the parades were attended by all the people in the surrounding country and were memorable occasions indeed. Col. Berlin married Catherine Ament, who bore him nine children, six of whom are living: Mahala, wife of Nicholas King of Salem township; Catherine Ann (mother); Esther, married to Joseph Lauffer, of Franklin township, (mother of I.E. Lauffer, district attorney); Henry married to Martha Blose and now living in Franklin township; Seruab, wife of James Chambers, of that township, and Cornelius E. Berlin, a well-know and popular resident of Franklin township, who is married to Nancy Duff. Isaac Ringer (father) born in Franklin township, April 7, 1821. In 1854 he married Catharine Ann Berlin and they had five children, two of whom are living: Maggie Ann and J. Hiram. He was a carpenter by trade and during the oil excitement went to the oil country where he remained eight or ten years as a contractor and builder. When he married he removed to Salem township where he still resides and where he continues his occupation of contracting. In 1873 while erecting Moore's distillery near McKeesport he fell from the building and sustained injuries so severe that he has since been unable to do heavy work; for a year thereafter he was unable to leave the house. His constitution however was strong and he is still quite well preserved and has not retired altogether from the active duties of life. He is a man of quiet and reserved disposition and says nothing but what he means. He is an officer in the Lutheran Church, a man of strict integrity and of few words, but his word is as good as his bond.

Dr. J. Hiram Ringer was educated in the public and select schools of Salem and at Edinboro State Normal school, of Erie county, after which he engaged successfully for six terms in the pedagogical ranks. In 1881 he was elected auditor of Westmoreland county on the democratic ticket and served for three years. In 1882 he went into the Pullman service and got leave of absence for three months to attend the audit. The next year the company would not excuse him and he resigned, but after the audit was completed was re-instated. Having commenced to read medicine with Dr. U. M. Snyder of Delmont while yet teaching school, he in 1885 quit the Pullman service and continued his medical studies. In 1886 he entered West Penn medical college at Pittsburgh and between sessions read with Dr. L. R. Metzgar, then at Delmont. Graduating March 22, 1888, Dr. Ringer located at Delmont where he practiced his profession with excellent success and much encouragement until January, 1890, when he left Delmont and went into the employ of the Westmoreland Coal Company as physician and surgeon. Dr. Ringer stood high in medical college, was elected vice-president of the class of '88, and the same year was chosen vice-president of the Alumni Association. He is an unassuming gentlemen, but for intelligence, courtesy, integrity and honor stands high in the estimation of all who know him. He is a member of Carmel Lodge, No. 542, I.O.O.F.; Delmont Counsel, No. 58, Jr. O.U.A.M., and Delmont Grange, No. 859, Patrons of Husbandry.