His father, Bartholomew Ringle, was an early settler at Wausau and served as mayor, state representative, and several other county offices.
Ringle was born on October 2, 1848, in Herman, Dodge County, Wisconsin.
He also served on the Wausau Common Council and the Marathon County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors.
President Grover Cleveland appointed Ringle postmaster of Wausau.
Additionally, Ringle was a candidate for State Treasurer of Wisconsin in 1877, losing to Richard W. Guenther, and for the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 9th congressional district in 1886, losing to incumbent Isaac Stephenson.