Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of
Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Theodore Ingersoll
Portrait and
Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman
Brothers, Chicago, 1890
THEODORE INGERSOLL, a distant relative
of the noted Robert G. Ingersoll, is numbered
among the most liberal and public-spirited
citizens of Clay Township, Clay County, which has
been the scene of his prosperity and in whose
growth and development he has taken an absorbing
interest. He did good service as a Union
soldier during the late Civil War, and is one of
those whole-souled, genial and companionable men
who makes friends wherever he goes.
Mr. Ingersoll is essentially a Western man, having
been born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 13, 1843.
He is the son of a Congregationalist minister. Rev.
Elihu P. Ingersoll, who, in the discharge of his
pious duties, traveled all over the States of Michigan,
Illinois and Kansas. He was possessed of
more than ordinary musical tastes, and for several
years was a teacher of music in Oberlin (Ohio)
College. He departed this life at his home in
Broughton, in 1887.
The subject of this sketch received a limited
education and came to Kansas with his parents
when a lad of fourteen years. Two years later he began
freighting for the United States Government,
under the firm name of Majors and Russell,
making three or four trips with ox teams from
Kansas City to Colorado. After the outbreak of
the Civil War he enlisted as a Union soldier in
Company E, 8th Kansas Infantry, and served three
years, participating in the battles of Perryville,
Chickamauga, and in other important engagements.
He was wounded at Chickamauga and confined
a year in the hospital. Upon his recovery he
endeavored to re-enlist, but was rejected on account
of disability. Then coming back to Kansas
he settled in Wabaunsee County, where he remained
until 1867. That year he changed his
residence to Clay County, homesteading land on
section 35, Clay Township, where he made his
headquarters mostly until the fall of 1889. Then,
removing to Broughton, he homesteaded 160 acres
of raw prairie, which he improved and added to
until he is now the owner of 280 acres, upon which
he has erected two farm houses, with the necessary
buildings adjacent, one of these being occupied by
a tenant.
On St. Valentine's day, Feb. 14, 1871, Mr. Ingersoll
was united in marriage with Miss Julia,
daughter of Reuben Kipp, the latter a native of
New York, and who spent his last years in Kansas.
Of this union there have been born six children,
five of whom are living�Katie, Viola, James,
George and Edna, and all at home with their parents.
Mr. Ingersoll cast his first Presidential vote for
Lincoln, and has steadfastly supported the Republican party.
He has been the School Treasurer of
his district many years, and was made the first
Postmaster of Rosevale, now Broughton, which
position he held for a period of years. He first
established the office, held it three or four years,
then went to the neighborhood of Emporia and
worked on the Santa Fe Railroad one season. He
was appointed to the office by President Harrison,
and resumed his duties there Oct. 1, 1889.
As an old soldier, he is a member of the G. A. R.,
at Broughton. Mrs. Ingersoll and her daughter,
Katie, belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
at Broughton.
Mr. Ingersoll was first married in Galva, Ill., to
Miss Anna Whitehead, who became the mother of
one child, a daughter. Myrtle, and departed this
life at her home in Broughton in 1869. The child
died when two years old.