Biographical Review of Henry County - 1906 - I

Henry County >> 1906 Index

Biographical Review of Henry County, Iowa
Chicago: Hobart Publishing Company, 1906.

I


Biographies submitted by Polly Eckles.

Joseph T. Ingrim

The character of a community is always judged by its representative citizens and to this class in Salem Joseph T. Ingrim belongs. In business life he has made an excellent reputation for activity, enterprise and reliability and in other relations has commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio , February 3, 1845 , a son of Robert and Hannah ( Parkins ) Ingrim. The father was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania , and in that state learned and followed the blacksmith's trade. He afterward resided for some years in Ohio, and in 1853 came to Iowa, spending the winter in Henry county, and in the spring of 1854 settled in Polk county, where he entered a tract of government land east of Des Moines and was engaged in farming there up to the time of his death. He also had a blacksmith shop and did work along that line upon his home place. He was a Douglas democrat, but neither held nor desired office.

He passed away February 10, 1862 , respected by all who knew him and is still survived by his wife, who, at the age of eighty-nine years, is now living with her daughter in Danville , Iowa . She was left a widow with six young children, the youngest being about three years of age, and very little of this world's goods. By means of hard work and very careful management she kept her family together and gave them all fair education, and has always been highly esteemed by all who knew her. She has lost her eyesight but is enjoying comparatively good health. She was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends but in later years both Mr. and Mrs. Ingrim became members of the Methodist church.

In their family were eight children: Joseph T., of this review; Sarah, who died in infancy; Louisa, who died when twenty-two years of age; Robert, who living in northwest Missouri; Stephen, who resides in North Dakota; Harriet, the wife of R. M. Swan, of Danville, Iowa; Martha, who became the wife of Caldwell McDonald, and after his death married Charles Gillard and resides at East Troy, Wisconsin; and David C., who resides in Denver, Colorado.

Joseph T. Ingrim was educated in the common schools principally in Polk county, and was a youth of only sixteen years, when, in 1861, responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in an independent company of the Second Iowa Battery, with which he served for four years. He was with Sherman 's army at Vicksburg , participating in the battle of Corinth , also the engagements at Iuka, Nashville and Spanish Fort, and was honorably discharged at Davenport in 1865, being at that time not yet twenty-one years of age. Although he was so young he was a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented and no greater valor was displayed upon the field of battle by any veteran of twice his years.

He spent a few months in school in Henry county following the close of the war and afterward learned the carpenter's trade in Salem , which he followed until 1899. He had erected many buildings in Iowa by contract and was closely identified with building operations in his home neighborhood. In 1899 he engaged in the lumber business and receives a liberal patronage from Salem and the surrounding country. He has a well equipped lumber yard and his trade is now extensive and profitable. That he has prospered in his undertakings is indicated by his property holdings, which include a handsome residence on Main street , also the property in which the Belle Telephone Company is located and his lumber yard.

On the 11 th of August, 1868 , Mr. Ingrim was married to Miss Leannah Hobson, who was born in Salem , July 4, 1849 , and is a daughter of Peter and Rachel J.

( Gibson ) Hobson. Her mother was born in Ohio and her father was native of North Carolina . They came to Iowa about 1838, settling in Salem , when it was a very small village. He became an early merchant of the town, being associated with his father and brother in the conduct of mercantile interests but later he turned his attention to farming. His business activity and energy along other lines contributed in substantial measure to the growth and progress of that community. He served as school director and gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, while in the Society of Friends, in which he long held membership he acted as an elder. Mrs. Hobson was a noble Christian woman and an elder in her church. Mr. Hobson died July 2, 1901 , while his wife passed away March 30, 1890 . They were worthy people, displaying many excellent traits of character that gained for them the esteem and good will of all with whom they were associated.

In their family were ten children. Sarah Ann became the wife of Samuel Comer and after her death he married her sister, Louisa Maria Hobson, and now resides in Elk City , Kansas . Mary Jane is the deceased wife of S. C. Jones, who now resides in Palisade, Nebraska . Maria is now Mrs. Comer. Elizabeth became the wife of Henry J. Lamb and both are deceased. Leanna is the wife of Joseph T. Ingrim. Tamar D. is the wife of Harvey D. Slack, publisher of a newspaper at Belle Plaine, Iowa . Emma is the wife of Jesse Slack, of Spirit Lake , Iowa . Lincoln J. was killed by a haypress accident, leaving a wife, who bore the maiden name of Ida Logan, and who has since married Peter Hines, and resides at Cedar Falls , Iowa . Belle is the wife of Samuel Logan, of Madison county, Iowa , and one son died when four years of age. After losing his first wife Mr. Hobson was married to Miss Martha Myers of Indiana .

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ingrim was blessed with five children: Jennie, born in West Grove, Davis county, Iowa , in 1870, is now a teacher in the public schools of Wyoming , where she has pre-empted land. Emma, born in Davis county in 1872, married Charles E. McClaren, of Mount Pleasant , and died December 25, 1897 . Hannah Belle, known as Dolly, was born in 1875 and died at the age of nineteen years. Rachel, born in 1880, is a milliner. Arthur J., born July 22, 1882 , is now station agent and operator for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Salem , Iowa . He married Grace Cramer and has one child, Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Ingrim are also rearing a little girl, Mildred Foreman, who has been with them since six months old and who has now reached the age of twelve years. She has not been regularly adopted according to the forms of law but is reared as one of their own children.

They have given to their children excellent educational privileges, all having been students in Whittier College in Salem . Their daughters were all very successful school teachers, but Roe prefers the millinery business. She has also served the past two years as the worthy matron of the order of the Eastern Star, in the chapter of her home. Mrs. Ingrim was a charter member of the Woman's Relief Corps and its president for several terms, also a member of the Eastern Star.

In his political views Mr. Ingrim is a stalwart republican and about eighteen or twenty years ago served for one term as mayor of Salem . He was also justice of the peace for a number of years and is now again mayor. He was likewise assessor for eight or ten years but retired, not caring for the office longer. He served for twenty years as a member of the school board and for an number of years was its president. His co-operation can always be counted upon to further progressive public measures and his labors in behalf of public measures in Salem have been far-reaching and beneficial. Mr. and Mrs. Ingrim are devoted members of the Methodist church in which he is a trustee and steward. He is also an Odd Fellow, having passed all of the chairs in Salem Lodge, No. 48, and belongs to Salem Lodge, No. 17, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

His life has ever been honorable, his actions manly and sincere and he enjoys the confidence and trust of his fellow men in an unusual degree. Having made a most creditable military record when but a boy, he then entered the business life with no capital but with strong purpose and determination and steadily he has worked his way upward until he has attained success, finding that prosperity is the reward of laudable ambition guided by sound judgment and that an honorable name may be won simultaneously.