A Joshua King Ingalls miscellany

In 1843, Ingalls was a Universalist minister, working in Danbury, CT. Public records show that he performed the following marriage ceremonies, including, apparently, a double wedding:

  • FOOT, Grandison D, m Mercy Ann PORTER, b of Danbury, this day Nov 5, 1843
  • GRIFFIN, Mary Ann, m William HURLBURT, b of Danbury, Nov 2, 1843
  • PECK, Ammon T, m Harriet TAYLOR, b of Bethel, Nov 8, 1843
  • PRICE, Lewis T, m Jane BENEDICT, Dec 31, 1844
  • PRICE, Nathan, m Amelia COLEMAN, Dec 31, 1844
  • STEVENS, Matthew B, of Brookfield, m Diadema WILDMAN of Danbury, Nov 6, 1844
  • TAYLOR, Harriet, m Reuben _____, b of Danbury, Oct 30, 1844
  • WILDMAN, Miles H, m Emily J STEWART, Sept 21, 1843

The Spirit History site has posted portions of The Proceedings and Addresses at the Freethinkers’ Convention Held at Watkins, N. Y., August 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th, ‘78 (New York: D. M. Bennett, 1878). Of interest is the following paragraph:

In the evening a meeting and council was held at [16] the Opera House, Mr. Courtlandt Palmer presiding and making a short address. Mr. James Parton delivered a most excellent address on the subject of “The Coming Man’s Religion; will he have any?” Mrs. Bristol recited a beautiful original poem, and spoke some fifteen minutes. Speaking was also done by Mrs. Colman, Mrs. Laura Kendrick, Mrs. P. R. Lawrence. Mr. C. D. B. Mills read several letters to the Convention from Professor Oliver, and others. Among the letters was one from Mrs. Miller, apologizing for having gone on the bail bond of Miss Tilton. She had since read the pamphlet, “Cupid’s Yokes,” and found she did not approve of it in tone and temper. On account of Mrs. Miller’s regret for having gone bail, Miss Tilton announced her determination to surrender herself on Monday. At this juncture a gentleman offered himself as bail, but Miss Tilton declined the same, saying if she could not have a woman for bail she would accept none. At this moment, Mrs. J. K. Ingalls offered herself as bail, and was accepted. The audience was munificently supplied with music by the Hudson Troupe.

The entire document is available at Google Books, and there are a couple more minor mentions of Ingalls.

From the Dundee Record, August 27, 1874, via the Yates Country Chronicle site:

Jefferson Fraser….[died] in the city of Brooklyn last Monday….He was born at Hector, Schuyler county, forty-seven years ago. His wife was Miss Amie Harrington of Westfield, Chautauqua county, who with six children survives him…Mr. Fraser has two sisters and a mother living, the former being Mrs. S.C. Cleveland of Penn Yan, and Mrs. J. K. Ingalls of Glenora. His mother lives with the latter named.

The Library of Congress electronic text collection includes this account: First organization of colored troops in the state of New York, to aid in suppressing the slave-holders’ rebellion. Statements concerning the origin, difficulties and success of the movement: including official documents, military testimonials, proceedings of the “Union league club,” etc., collated for the “New York association for colored volunteers,” by Henry O’Rielly, secretary. J. K. Ingalls is listed (along with William C. Bryant, P. T. Barnum, and others) among the signatories of a call from the association.

Fifty Years of Freethought mentions Joshua Ingalls as part of “the group, composed of Ingalls, Rowe,Evans, and himself, who in the ’70s met at [Henry Beeny’s] store in Fourth avenue to discuss Land Reform,” and recounts Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s 80th birthday celebration, at which Stanton recognized women’s rights pioneers:

Of the living, she mentioned, paying tribute to each: Parker Pillsbury, Amy Post, Lucy N. Colman, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Mrs. Olive H. Fraser Ingalls (wife of J. K. Ingalls), who was at the first woman suffrage meeting held in the state of New York, and C.B.Waite, who had fifty years previously published the Liberty Banner at Rock Island, Ill.

Details about Glenora, NY, where the Ingalls lived for many years, and about Olive:

In 1867, Joshua K. Ingalls, then residing at Big Stream Point, got the Post Office resuscitated at that place after it had been discontinued in 1865. He remained as postmaster until 1870. Mr. Ingalls had the office renamed Glenora, intending to signify “mouth of the glen.” In 1866, he married Olive H. Fraser, an accomplished wood engraver. After his residence in Yates Co., NY, he moved to New York City where he became involved with land and labor reform organizations.

 

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Independent scholar, translator and archivist.