ANDREW
INGLES was born in Beaver County, Penn., Dec. 12, 1823, the
son of John and Elizabeth Ingles, former of whom was a nephew
of Dr. John Anderson, the first professor of theology in the
first theological seminary established on teh Western Continent.
The institution was located in Beaver County, Penn., and from there
were graduated Rev. Nathaniel Ingles (uncle of Andrew)
and Rev. David French the father of Mrs. Ingles, wife
of Andrew.
In the early life of the subject of this writing
there are no incidents known, illustrating his character; there
were, no doubt, many of these, as there always are in the childhood
of those who have attained to any prominence, but busy parents
failed to make a note of them. Early in life, however, the
trait that was afterward strikingly characteristic began to manifest
itself. It seemed to have been adopted as a motto by him, that
whatever is worthy of being done is worthy of being well done, and
this he closely followed through life. He was a man of clear
judgment and of deep convictions. He had learned in early life
that there is a right and a wrong, that there is truth and
falsehood, and that it is important to know the right and the truth,
and to frame the life by it. With this conviction, when he
began the investigation of a subject, he began a search for the
right and the truth. He respected the convictions of others,
reasoned that if great and good men had views different form those
which he himself held, they must have reasons for them, and was
willing to look candidly and impartially into them, weigh them well
and determine their worth. This gave him power in argument; he
manifestly aimed at the truth, and sought to establish it, rather
than to gain an advantage over his antagonist. A very marked
trait of his character was kindness, evenness of temper, calmness
and readiness to relieve the distresses of others, ministering to
their wants, but without anything of ostentation or parade.
When he knew there was suffering he was ready to supply the want,
but without display.
When quite young, Andrew seemed to have imbibed
the spirit of his grand-uncle, and his heart was set on the work of
the ministry. He began a regular classic course, when twenty
years old, with this in view, and was only induced to abandon it by
the failing of his health. He was reared to husbandry,
although this did not seem to be his taste. He was for some
time in mercantile business, and for a time a partner in a
bookstore. He had also engaged in school teaching, in which he
was very successful. He was himself a thinker, and seemed to
have a tact for developing the powers of mind in the children.
Illustrative of this is the direction he gave to a complaint, in
great grief and bitterness, that he could not remember the task that
he was required to memorize. Repeating the matter over two or
three times, he said to the lad "Why, you cannot forget that, go to
your seat and try to forget it." It is needless to say that
the matter was so impressed upon the memory of the pupil that he did
not forget it.
Patriotism was another trait that manifested itself in
the "times that try men's souls." When the 100-day men,
familiarly called the "Squirrel Hunters," were called out, Mr.
Ingles was among them. He was loyal to his Government.
When in the army he contracted typhoid fever and was compelled to
return home, which he reached in a convalescent state, but very much
reduced, his emaciated features telling the struggle he had, not
with the enemies of his country, but with the deadly miasma.
The spirit of adventure was also strikingly marked, and he took long
journeys to the East and to the West. Sometimes these were
taken apparently form the love of adventure, and a desire to learn
of the country in which he lived, and sometimes they were in the
fulfillment of a trust reposed in him, a work committed to him.
The reputation he had for sterling worth and integrity is shown by
the trusts reposed in him. He was for many years, and till the
time of his death, the efficient secretary of the Holmes County
Bible Society; and also for some years secretary of the Holmes
County Agricultural Society. He was for a long time a member
of the committed of school examiners; for this he was the better
fitted by the degree of progress he had made in the classic school.
He was for a time secretary of the library association, and at the
time of his death was deputy county treasurer, recognized as
eminently fitted for the position. He was trusted because he
was known to be trust-worthy. No man feared a flight to
Canada, no matter how well filled the county coffers or how
completely under his control; all felt that the treasure in such
hands was safe. The confidence placed in him, however, was not
due only to the fact that he had always dealt in strict honesty, but
it arose from the assurance which all had of his religious
character, and that his uprightness of life and integrity in all his
deportment of life and integrity in all his deportment grew out of
this. It had, therefore, a basis on which to rest, and he
would not be swayed by policy or any consideration of advantage.
Mr. Ingles was the son of pious parents, and from his childhood
was instructed in the law of the Lord; his pretensions, like those
of Cowper, were not that he was of royal blood and that he had come
in the line of kings,
But higher far my proud
pretenses rise,
The son of parents passed
into the skies.
But became a member, in early life, of the Associate
Presbyterian Church (commonly called Seceders), and those who are
acquainted with the history of that church know that it required
high attainments in knowledge to be received into it. His
father was the founder of that church in Millersburgh, and was a
ruling elder and secretary of the congregation. Andrew
was also chosen elder, and for many years was the successor of his
father in the office of secretary. In the United Presbyterian
Church, composed of the Associate and the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian Churches, he held a prominent place. He was
repeatedly sent as a delegate of the Presbytery to the meetings of
the General Assembly. Of high religious character, he was
regarded as the more reliable and this character gave confidence in
him. When men judged his religion they gave their verdict in
favor of it, because of the integrity of his life, and when they
judged of his moral life they gave their verdict in favor of it,
because of the integrity of his life, and when they judged of his
moral life they gave their verdict in his favor because of his
religious character. The one was a witness to the other.
When he was comparatively young, his spirit of
adventure brought him to Washington County, Penn. There he
became acquainted with Miss Susan B., daughter of Rev.
David French, who for forty years was pastor of the united
charge of North and South Buffalo; the acquaintance ripened into
fondness, and Nov. 1, 1855, they were married. To them were
born four children: David French, M. D., now of Wichita,
Kansas; John Preston, of Chicago, Ill.; Miss Fannie
(who resides in Millersburgh with her lonely mother), and little
Eva Maud, who died when eighteen months old, and awaits the
coming of the others in the same grand home. The death of
Mr. Ingles was peculiarly sad. On the 24th day of
September, 1887, he started to visit near relatives who lived in the
neighborhood of Fredericksburgh, Ohio. On reaching the depot
he started to walk down the railroad, necessitating the crossing of
a railroad bridge. The express train from the north came at a
very rapid rate. Being rather dull of hearing, Mr. Ingles
did not notice the alarm, and stepped upon the bridge; the danger
signal was then given, which he seems to have noticed and hastened
his pace, but being somewhat embarrassed he lost time, and when
about to step from the bridge, was struck by the locomotive and
instantly killed. He was recognized by the Presbyterian
minister of Millersburgh, who was on the train and the remains were
brought to that place for interment. They were laid away in
the beautiful cemetery high on the hill. Mr. Ingles was
one of Millersburgh's noblest and best citizens, and the whole
community felt the blow of his sad death. But he is gone to
his rest.
~ Page 619 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
DR. JAMES S.
IRVINE* one of the early graduates of the Medical College at
Cincinnati, Ohio, was born in Huntington County, Penn., in June,
1800, and came to Millersburgh in 1824, locating, to practice
medicine, he and Dr. Enos being partners for many years.
At the formation of Holmes County, Dr. Irvine was made the
first clerk of the Supreme Court and of the Common Pleas Court of
the County. After several years Dr. Enos was made clerk
of the Common Pleas Court, which office he held for over twenty
years, our subject retaining the clerkship of the Supreme Court,
until that court was abolished by the constitution of 1851.
Dr. Irvine was a physician of great ability, and
wide and large practice throughout Holmes and adjoining counties.
He was a man of energy of character, and the warm advocate of all
improvements in his town and county. He was for many years a
leading Whig politician of the county, being frequently on the
ticket for office. He was nominated for the State Senate, and
was upon the electoral ticket for President of the United States.
For many years he was engaged in mercantile business, in partnership
with James Johnson, a very active and enterprising citizen of
Millersburgh, doing the leading business of the county. He
lived a bachelor until about 1833, when he was married to Miss
Louisa, daughter of John Armor, and sister of Dr. S.
G. Armor, who afterward studied medicine with him. The
Doctor reared a family of seven children, only two of whom are now
living.
In the midst of active practice, and at the bedside of
a patient, the Doctor was stricken with apoplexy, and died without
any consciousness on the 5th day of September, 1855. No man in
this part of the State had deservedly won so wide a popularity as a
citizen, and as a wise, careful and useful physician.
*Contributed by Judge Martin Welker
~ Page 687 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
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