George F. INGLE
submitted by:
Bob Ingle

Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Oklahoma. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1901. pgs 277-8.

George F. Ingle. During the many years of his activity, Mr. Ingle attained prominence in various avenues of his endeavor, and at all time won the esteem of all who were permitted to associate with him whether in a business or friendly capacity.

His entrance to the territory in 1889 was under rather pleasant circumstances, for there is much in kinship when we are embarking upon untried experiences, and he was accompanied by three brothers, also in search of improved conditions. The brothers succeeded in locating adjoining claims, and the work of improvement was conducted jointly, thereby facilitating matters greatly. After staking his claim, G. F. Ingle returned to Kansas, from which place he came to Kingfisher county, Okla., and brought hither his family and worldly possessions, and, pending the erection of more commodious quarters, lived in a tent. Twenty acres of his land in Union township were planted with an orchard, which contained one thousand apple trees, six hundred peach, and other fruits in proportion. To the raising of fruit Mr. Ingle devoted almost his entire time and attention, and from his efforts in the line derived the most satisfactory results. The vineyard contained about 5 hundred vines, and everything about the place is of an up-to-date kind, and all fenced in.

Mr. Ingle was born in Edgar county, Illinois, in 1831, and was reared on his father's farm. As one might suppose, the educational advantages of the time and place were indeed limited, and confined to a few month's study during the winter at the district schools. He was united in marriage, in 1851, with Sarah Harrison, who died in Kansas in 1888. In 1854 he removed to Jasper County, Iowa, and for ten years was engaged in all kinds of general labor, after which he bought a farm and devoted his energies to general farming, and was also interested in a circular sawmill. For twenty-six years he lived in Jasper County, and for four years in Calhoun County. In 1884 the scene of his efforts was shifted to Sumner county, Kans., in the vicinity of Caldwell, where he soon after bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and conducted large farming and stock interests, until his departure for Oklahoma in 1889.

In 1862 Mr. Ingle, enlisted in Company G, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and was unanimously chosen second lieutenant by the member of the company, which commission he retained for nine months, but resigned owing to illness contracted while in the service. He served in the southwest division of the army, department of Missouri, under General Curtis, and was stationed at Iron Mountain, MO.

The Ingle family is of English descent, and the paternal grandfather, Nathan Ingle, was born and died in Virginia. During the Revolutionary war he fought with courage and distinction. [This material is incorrect; Nathan was a great uncle; Neeley's father was Henry George Ingle of Virginia.] His son, Neeley Ingle, the father of George F., was born in Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1831, where he was among the very early settlers of Edgar County. From there, in 1857, he removed to southeast Kansas, and in 1861 changed from Geary County to Iowa, where he died at the age of sixty. He was a prosperous and industrious man, and prominent in political and other affairs of his locality. A Democrat, he was vitally interested in the cause of education, and contributed time and money to an improvement of school system. He also served for several years as justice of the peace. As a member and ardent worker in the Universalist Church, he exerted an extended influence for good, and was always ready to defend its creed and uphold its methods.

His wife, Susan L. Hanson, was born in Kentucky and was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom are living. William T. is living in Caldwell County, Kans. [this is incorrect; farm is near Caldwell, Sumner County, KS]; G. F. is in Kingfisher County, Okla.; James is on the home place; Thomas is in southern California; Barnett is a fruit grower in Union township, and has an orchard of thirty-five acres; Barbara is the wife of Andrew Cashatt of Caldwell, Kans.; Rebecca is the widow of Willis Jones; Susan is married to Benjamin Prunty, and lives in Iowa; and Sarah is the widow of Daniel Camory [my records spell this as "Carmerer"]. Mrs. Ingle died in Iowa at the age of sixty-four.

In politics G. F. Ingle was a free-silver Populist, and held a number of local offices within the gift of the township, in Oklahoma, and in his former town in Iowa. In the territory he as largely instrumental in securing better school accommodations, and helped to organize the first school board in the township. He secured the bonds for erecting the schools, and the bonds sold at a premium of $10. Much attention was given by him to the securing of the best possible teachers, and to the most improved methods of teaching. Fraternally, he was associated with the Masonic order of Caldwell, Kans., and was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workman for twenty years, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Iowa.

Mr. Ingle died July 1, 1900 and is mourned by a wide circle of friends and the community at large. He was generous and kindly in disposition, and ever thoughtful of the interests of those around him. In his loss the township is deprived of an able and conscientious citizen, and many individuals of a disinterested and helpful friend.

Source: Pioneers of Kingfisher County 1889-1976, 1976, pg. 114-115

INGLE

George Franklin Ingle was born in 1831, Edgar County, Illinois, the son of Neeley and Susan Chastain Ingle. He moved from Illinois to Iowa, to Caldwell, Kansas, and made the Run in '89, settling in Kingfisher County close to Dover.

His first project was the building of a six-room log house which became a stopping place for travelers, many of them preachers, for "Uncle George" as he was known, was an avid Bible student.

His large family consisted of Jim, Sarah, Will, John, Art, Viola, Gordon, Flora and three children, Archie, Kate and Clifford, belonging to his second wife, Eva Dixon Squires, plus two more Georgia and Mark, born of this union.

His main interest in helping to establish the new community was the building of a school which served as church as well. He was the one who name it "Union", for he said "in Union there is strength." Then came the surveying and laying out the cemetery. After he and Walter Wilson had completed their work, one of them said, "Well, we should have something for our labor so you take the lot on that side of the gate and I'll take this one." so there they lie, Walter on the left and Grandpa on the right as you enter the cemetery.

The following is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to his daughter, Sara Whorton, of Huron, South Dakota, which tells how it was in the early days of Kingfisher County.

Wanamaker, Okla.
Dec. 14, 1890

"Dear Children,

I got your letter, and was glad to hear from you and to know you were all well, that you had not been scalped by old Sitting Bull, and now that Bill Cody is back, he will settle Bull's hash for him. There is some talk down here of an Indian Scare, but no one seems to scare worth a cent. There were some 300 Ponca Indians passed our place some four or five weeks ago going to an Indian dance southwest of us, some 50 or 70 miles, and they have all gone back. When they passed here I asked them if they had a good time, some said yes and some said no. They all had wagons, some with two horses, some with four to a wagon. I do not think that those Indians down here will do us any harm unless it is put on them by those Indian agents for the purpose of making more money of their position with the hope of getting more
supplies, which I think is a real cause of the Indian trouble in Dakota.

Well, we have a school in one mile of us and there are four of our little ones that go. It had been runing 1 1/2 months and the little ones seem to learn real fast. It is a subscription school. It costs me $2 per month. Then we have Sunday School, also preaching every two weeks, and a literary every week, all at our school house, so you see our school house is crowded chuck full of business.

Nearly everybody here belongs to the Alliance. The Alliance swept the state of Kansas and at our next election here we allow to clean out the protectionist that is the blasted monopolistic Republican, you bet.

Well, you say times is hard up there. I will tell you what I am doing to make a living. I live in the timber 9 miles from the railroad station and I cut and haul 3 ft. wood to that station for $1.60 per cord and take it out in flour at $3 per hundred, corn 75 cents, corn meal at $1.50 per hundred and we have everything that we live on to buy at high rates. I make one load of wood per day, about $1.20 cents worth per load. So that's the way I make a living and it keeps me hopping, you bet. But as long as we all keep well I don't mind it.

So, now children, you see that we down here are more afraid of poverty clutches than of Sittling Bulls or the hand of any Injuns.

I do hope to live to see all my dear children at home once more.

Rite soon, Pa."

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