An American Family History

Hannah (Hane, Hena, Helena) Yarmark Ringler was born in eastern Galicia on the San River in the Lwow district. about 1876. Her parents were Isidore (Itzig) Yarmark and Fanny (Frimet) Neger. Information about the Ringler family is from Kathleen Monroe.

About 1891, Hannah married Saul Ringler who was born in Austria in about 1867. Before leaving Poland they lived at 36 Dvorskiega Street in Przemsyl. Their children were born in Przemsyl. Leiba (Leopold, Leo, Leon) Ringler was born in 1892, Louis Ringler was born about 1896. Feiga (Fannie) Ringler Katz was born in 1896. Roza Ringler Pasternack was born about 1899. Nathan Ringler was born about 1907. Lola Ringler Ginsburg was born about 1912. Rena (Ray) Ringler Hershkovitz was born May 14, 1915.

In 1893 Hannah's parents and siblings immigrated to the United States. Hannah stayed behind with her husband and child.

Jacob Ringler, who was a cousin to the Ringler children, came to the United States in 1910. He may have come with Saul, but Saul does not appear on the ship manifest when he arrived. Oral family history says that Saul came to America with one of his sons, then returned to Poland to his family.

In 1915 when her father died, his estate documents indicate that Hannah was living at Nakly near Przemysl, Glacia, Austria.

Leiba (Lipe Ringler) and Fannie arrived in the United States on November 25, 1920 on the ship Ryndam from Rotterdam, Holland. On the ship manifest Fannie was 24 and Leiba was 16.

Louis Ringler immigrated in 1920.

Hannah and Saul immigrated to the United States with their three younger children. They arrived on November 11, 1921 on the ship Aquitania, which had left from Southhampton, England. Saul was listed on the ship manifest as 54 years, Hena was 45, Rena was seven, Lola was nine and Nathan was 13.

Roza did not come to the United States. She married Saul Pasternack and they had two daughters. 

In or about 1929 Fannie married Israel Katz. He might have been one or two years younger than she. He was born in Austria. He claimed he had been married previously when he was 22 years of age. Within a year of her marriage, Fannie returned to her parents. She worked as a milliner. 

In 1920, cousin Jacob and his wife, Lillian Ringler were living in New York City, at 40 West 117th Street. Louis Ringler, who had immigrated that year was living with them. Jacob had a grocery store. Jacob's wife, Lillian (Lily) Nager, was Jacob's cousin. Jacob and Lillian had three children: Nathan Ringler(1916), Herman Ringler (1920) and Howard Ringler (1924). 

At the time of the 1930 census, Jacob and Lillie were living at 1129 Fteley Avenue in the Bronx. Living with them was Lillian's sister, Sylvia Nager.

In 1930, Leon was living in Los Angeles, California at 1247 Windsor Boulevard as a lodger. He was working as a bookkeeper in a Wholesale House. He married Lilly Ganka who was born in Uruguay. Her mother's maiden name was Jackson. They had two children Robert Ringler and Judy Ringler Hathaway.

In about 1938 Lola who was known in the United States as Lillian, married Isaiah Ginsburg. They had one child.

Roza and Saul Pasternack may have perished in the Holocaust in 1941. Records show a Saul Pasternak who died at age 46 on July 7, 1941 whose last address was in Likar. He was buried July 20, 1941 in Lvov, (Lwow) Poland. The Germans had reoccupied Przemysl after the Soviets had taken it on 28 June 1941. At that time 16,500 Jews lived there. Before World War II, 24,000 Jews lived in Przemysl.

Hannah died December 28, 1942. Fannie died March 15, 1945.

About 1947, Rena, who was known as Ray in the United States, married Aaron Hershkovitz. They had two children.  

Louis died March 12, 1959 in Grayson County, Texas. Nathan never married and died May 14, 1977. Leon died March 17, 1977 in Los Angeles.  Ray died March 27, 2004. 

Children of Isidore Yarmark and Fanny Neger Max Jahrmarkt Goldie Glaser Abraham Jarmark Harry Jarmark Hannah Ringler Yetta Morrison

from "Fashion's Last Stand" by Shirley Clark, Texoma Living Monthly, December 25, 2009

In the early 1930s, Louis Ringler emigrated from his native Poland to seek a new life in America. He met his wife Esther, who was Austrian by birth, in New York City, where they were married. When their son Herman was born, Louis and Esther decided to seek their fortunes outside the big city. A cousin, Oscar Tannenbaum, whispered "retail" in their ears and in the best tradition of Horace Greely pointed them west. In 1946, the Ringler's dream took root in Denison when they bought the Cinderella Shoppe at 304 Main Street. The shop flourished, as the business shrewdness and personal charm of Louis combined with Esther’s exquisite taste and flair for fashion. Their motto became “Exclusive, but not Expensive." Designer labels from New York and Kansas City were readily available.

When fashion returned with a vengeance after World War II, women who had scaled back on their clothing during the war years now wanted what they saw in the major fashion magazines. Louis and Esther Ringler were happy to guide their customers in replenishing their closets. In the early 1950s, they put their name on the store and the old motto was revised: “Exclusive and maybe a bit Expensive."

In outfits from Ringler’s, women could be confident they would look their best, and the personal service was top-notch. The shop became a gathering place for those seeking the latest fashion news. Regular customers who needed last-minute Christmas gifts could always call on Christmas Eve and be assured the doors of Ringlers would remain open for them to pick up their splendidly wrapped gift. They could also count on help with unexpected events, such as special clothing for funerals. Customers loyal to certain brand labels were guaranteed a personal telephone call alerting them to new arrivals they might like. Husbands depended on Ringler’s for a hint when buying gifts for special occasions.

Son Herman Ringler was enrolled at the University of Texas when Louis Ringler died in 1959, leaving Esther in charge of the business. At his mother’s insistence, the son completed his degree before taking charge of the store in 1964. In addition to sales experience from his parents, Ringler had learned much from his mentor, John Gies, who worked at another Denison bellwether retailer, Lilly’s Department Store on Main Street.When Esther Ringler died in 1980, Herman became the sole proprietor of Ringler’s. . .