McGregor residents were the first to see the Ringling Brothers’ passion for circus showmanship. It was in Walton Hollow (now Walton Street) that the Ringling family, August and Saloma and their sons Al, August and Otto, set up housekeeping in 1860. August Ringling was a harness maker in the small Mississippi River town. Four more Ringling brothers were born in McGregor between 1861 and 1869: Alf T., Charles, John and Henry.