Martin Ringo left his Missouri home in May 1864 with his wife and five children, headed for California, where other relatives had settled earlier. Near Scottsbluff, their wagon train experienced some unstated troubles with the Indians and banded together with others for increased protection. A few days before they reached this site, the party passed by the recent Kelly-Larimer massacre site.  That, combined with an attempted horse-stealing, led to jittery nerves on the night of July 29. The wagon train posted additional guards that night. The Ringo’s oldest son saw his father accidentally shoot himself with a shotgun while climbing onto a wagon.  Johnny Ringo subsequently gained notoriety as an outlaw and met his own mysterious death in 1882 near Tombstone, Arizona. The family blamed his "going bad" on what he witnessed on the plains that July morning but Mary Ringo’s uncle was married to the widowed mother of Frank and Jesse James and her brother-in-law was a member of both Quantrill’s Raiders and the James Gang.

Buried next to Martin Ringo is J.P. Parker from Iowa. He died July 1, 1860 at the age of 41. Nothing more is known about this emigrant.

National Park Service Comprehensive Management Plan
The site is marked by the Oregon-California Trails Association. Parker’s stone is deteriorating. Otherwise, there are no known threats. The site is not listed on the National Register.

Ownership
Private. {W. L. Miles, 805 HW 20-26, Glenrock, WY 82637]

Directions
Converse County, Wyoming. T33N/R76W

The grave is located two miles west of Glenrock on U.S. 26 on the north side of the road in the front yard of a private residence. Ask for permission before visiting the site.