Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames I-K

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames I-K, extracted from the Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century by Stone, William Leete, 1835-1908.

INGALLS, Charles Fryer Biography

Charles Fryer Ingalls was born at Salem, Washington County, N. Y., January 28, 1795. His parents were Charles and Cynthia (Russell) Ingalls. Charles Ingalls was a graduate of Dartmouth College and shortly after his graduation removed from Methuen, Mass., to Salem, N. Y., where he read law and in 1802 was admitted to practice in the courts of the State of New York. Shortly after his admission he opened the first law office in Union Village, (now Greenwich) Washington County, N. Y., and there continued the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred September 2, 1812.

Charles Fryer Ingalls adopted the profession of his father and was admitted to the bar, October 9, 1819. He pursued the practice of his profession successfully until a short time previous to his death, which occurred March 5, 1857. He held the office of District Attorney and Judge of "the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County and in 1835 represented that county in the legislature of the State of New York. He was highly esteemed for his learning and ability as a lawyer and for his probity as a citizen. His two sons, Hon. Charles R. Ingalls and Thomas Ingalls read law with their father and became his partners in the business.

In 1860 Hon. Charles R. Ingalls removed to Troy and formed a partnership with Hon. David L. Seymour. Thomas Ingalls continued in practice with his father until the death of the latter and thereafter conducted the business until his decease, which occurred June 18, 1873.

Charles Fryer Ingalls, the subject of the present sketch, married Mary Rogers, the daughter of Nathan and Dorothea Rogers, October, 22, 1818, and they had three children, the two sons already named and one daughter, Mary Ingalls. Of the three, Hon. Charles R. Ingalls is the only survivor. Thomas ingalls was graduated from Trinit3y College, Hartford, Conn., with distinction, and was regarded as a man of marked talent.

INGALLS, Charles R. Biography

Hon. Charles R. Ingalls, one of the most distinguished members of the bench and bar of New York State, was born at Greenwich, Washington County, N. Y., September 14, 18 19. After his school days he entered, the office of his father, who was a lawyer, and began the study of law. In June, 1844, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and the Court of Chancery, New York State. Shortly after his admission to the bar, he and his father formed a partnership, which continued until 1860, when Charles R. Ingalls went to Troy and settled permanently. He at once formed a partnership with David L. Seymour under the firm naine of Seymour & Ingalls, and the firm soon became recognized as leaders in the legal profession in Troy and the surrounding counties.

In 1863 Charles R. Ingalls was nominated for Justice of the Supreme Court for the Third Judicial District, and his election followed. In 1870 he became ex-officio a member of the Court of Appeals, and in 1871 he was nominated by both political parties for the same office and was elected for a term of fourteen years.

In 1877 he was appointed for a term of three years by Governor Lucien Robinson, a member of the General Term of the Supreme Court, first department, which comprised the City of New York. From 1885 to 1889 he held the same office, but resigned in 1890 on account of having reached the age limit for Justices of the Supreme Court.

Judge Ingalls served in all twenty-seven years on the Supreme Court bench, and during his judicial career, he ranked among the foremost jurists of America, and today he is one of the most highly respected members of the legal profession in New York State.

Judge Ingalls has been a trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the last twenty-five years, and is also a trustee of the Emma Willard Institute.

On November 3, 1880, Judge Ingalls married Margaret L. Marvin of Troy, and they have one daughter, Margaret Marvin Ingalls, born in 1884.

The Ingalls family is of English descent, Edmund Ingalls, the founder of the family in America, came from Lincolnshire to Massachusetts in 1629. Four members of the family were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and James, an uncle of Judge Ingalls, was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. Charles Ingalls, (grandfather) was a native of Methune, Mass. He graduated from Dartmouth College, read law at Salem, N. Y., and was admitted to the bar of this state in 1802. He then settled in Greenwich, N. Y., and opened the first law office in that village. His son, Charles P., father of Judge Ingalls, took up the same profession which he followed from 181 9 until a short time prior to his death in 1870. He served as District Attorney, County Judge and Judge of the Court of Appeals.

Judge Ingalls' mother was Mary Rogers, daughter of Nathan and Dorothea (Cleveland) Rogers, who came to Greenwich from Canterbury, Conn., in the year 1800.

INGALSBE, Grenville Mellen Biography

Grenville Mellen Ingalsbe was born in the southern part of the Town of Hartford, N. Y., July 26, 1846, the only child of Milo Ingalsbe and Laura C. Ingalsbe, nee Chapin. He was under the instruction of his father until he was fourteen years of age. During the next four winters he attended the district school and one term of Miss Sarah Slocum's select school. In 1864-65 he spent a year at the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, entering Union College in 1866 in the class of 1868. He remained in college only one year. His record as a student was a brilliant one. He was the first scholar in every class room, and in college his record was such that his Bachelor's Degree was conferred upon him in 1870, and three years later, the Degree of Master of Arts.

In 1867 he assumed charge of the Argyle Academy at Argyle, N. Y., remaining its principal three years. In increase of students and in scholarly attainments these years were the most honorable in its long history. Here he commenced the formation of a library which has become one of the most valuable in the vicinity. He was a student with his students, at the same time doing much valuable literary work. In the summer of 1870 he resigned his position at Argyle, leaving the educational field with great reluctance.

He immediately commenced the study of law in the office of Hughes & Northup at Sandy Hill. After a year of unremitting application his desire for more school life caused him to abandon his clerkship, and enter the Harvard Law School. Here he accomplished the work of the two years course in one year, graduating with honors, as Bachelor of Law, in the class of 1872. Besides his law work he pursued the study of history under Dr. Eliot, botany under Dr. Gray, natural science under Louis Agassiz, and literature, German and other branches under equally illustrious masters. Upon his graduation he entered Hughes & Northup's office as managing clerk. This was during the political campaign of 1872. and he flung aside the most flattering offers of political preferment to espouse the cause of his personal friend, Horace Greeley. From this time, while identified generally with the Republican party, he has not been a partisan to the extent of placing party above country, and he has not hesitated to antagonize the party at all times when he has considered its position inimical to the interests of the common people, opposed to an honest and economical administration of public affairs, or subversive of sacred national traditions. In 1874 he was admitted to the bar, opening an office in Sandy Hill in 1875. He has since been actively engaged in his profession, building up a large and lucrative practice, and having in charge the legal work of a great number of the most important private and corporate interests of Northern New York.

On September 20, 1876, he was married to Franc E. Groesbeck at "Pine Avenue," the home of her step-father, Mr. Amasa Howland of Sandy Hill. Miss Groesbeck was born October 19, 1856; was the daughter of Nathaniel Barnett Groesbeck and Lydia A. Groesbeck, nee Kingsley, and on both sides was descended from revolutionary ancestry. She is a graduate of Temple Grove Seminary, and was a teacher in the Sandy Hill Union School. They have one child Grenville Howland, born November 8, 1878. He prepared for college at the Glens Falls Academy and Phillips Exeter, and is now in Harvard College.

For four years, 1874-8, Mr. Ingalsbe was the Secretary of the Washington County Agricultural Society, showing the highest order of executive ability. Its premium list and field of operations were more than doubled; great improvements were made upon its grounds; Memorial Hall was built; its office methods simplified, and its indebtedness reduced about four thousand dollars. Upon his retirement, the appreciation of the Association was shown, by his election as a life Counselor of the Society.

In 1877 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace and was twice elected, retiring after nearly nine years service, because the office interfered with his professional work. For three years, 1885-8, he was the Supervisor of his town; in 1887-8, being the Chairman of the Board. At the expiration of his third term he declined a second unanimous re-election. He was elected Clerk of the Village of Sandy Hill in 1875. By successive appointments he held the office, with the exception of one year, until March, 1894, when he resigned, that he might devote his energies exclusively to his profession; to his various business interests, including the management of the farm homestead for which, and farm life, he holds a great affection, and to study along the lines which, amid the duties of an exacting profession, have continued to have such attractions for him, that he has preserved the mental poise of a student, and many of the habits of the scholastic recluse.

After 1872, while taking an active part in local politics, he steadfastly refused to allow his name to be used as a candidate for district or county offices, preferring the emoluments and honors of his profession. In 1895, however, a few hours before the opening of the Republican County Convention, he consented to the presentation of his name for Surrogate. He was nominated and elected. Of his record as Surrogate, a paper of hostile politics said editorially: "Political friend and foe alike concede that Mr. Ingalsbe has made a model official." Upon his induction into office he instituted six entirely new series of record books; revolutionized a seventh series, and adopted improved systems for the filing of papers. During his term he prepared over one hundred different forms of blanks, introduced the card index, systematized the work of the office, increased its efficiency, and greatly elevated the standards of the Court. Early in 1901, a year prior to the expiration of his term, though keenly appreciative of the general commendation bestowed upon his official career, he declined becoming a candidate for re-election.

Mr. Ingalsbe's identification with learned societies has been extended. He is an active member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the National Bi-metalist Association, the American Anti-Imperialist League, the Harvard Law School Alumni Association, the Union College Alumni Association of Northeastern New York, the New York State Bar Association, the American Historical Association, the American Bar Association and many other kindred organizations. For many years he has been on the Executive Committee of the Union College Alumni, and of the State Bar Association, of which for three years, he was Chairman. He is now the President of the Alumni Association, and a member of the Local Council of the American Bar Association. He was one of the Incorporators, and is a Director of the State Historical Association.

His business interests for many years have been large and are constantly being extended. Until absorbed by larger corporations, he was a director and Secretary of the Sandy Hill Electric Light and Power Company, and the Sandy Hill Power Company. He has been for many years a Director and Secretary of the Spring Brook Water Company, and a Director of the Glens Falls, Sandy Hill & Fort Edward Street Railroad Company. He has been prominent in the organization of nearly every one of the business corporations at Sandy Hill, as stockholder or counsel, including the latest, the American Wall Paper Company. He is a Trustee of the Glens Falls Academy.

In 1884 he was elected a Director and Counsel for the National Bank of Sandy Hill, positions which he still holds, and in 1899 he was promoted to the vice-presidency of the bank.

[ Surnames L ]