James B. Ingalls

James B. Ingalls was born in Hancock county, Illinois, December 29, 1839, and was reared in Jefferson and Webster counties, Iowa. During the years of youth he worked on a farm in the summers and attended school in winter. At Border Plains, January 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, which was mustered into the Union service in Davenport, and drilled at Benton Barracks, later being ordered south and taking part in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and the campaign in front of Vicksburg under General Grant. In 1863 he returned home on a furlough, and at the expiration of thirty days rejoined the army at Cairo, proceeding up the Tennessee river to Clifton, and then across the country to join General Sherman at Buzzard's Roost. On July 22, when Hood made the move against the left wing of Sherman's army, he and eighteen other soldiers were captured by the Confederates and taken to Andersonville, where he remained for sixty days, meantime suffering all the horrors that made the prison famous throughout the world. After his release he joined Sherman at Atlanta and accompanied him on the march to the sea, thence went to Washington and took part in the grand review. Next he was ordered to Parkersburg, Virginia, and there took a boat for Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out of the service. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, July 26, 1865. Returning home, he resumed work on the farm and also was employed for a time in railroading.

The marriage of Mr. Ingalls was solemnized at Border Plains, July 23, 1885, and united him with Mrs. China (Hendricks) Crawford, who was born in Marion county, Tennessee, November 5, 1845, a daughter of Mark and Mary (Standerfer) Hendricks, natives respectively of Indiana and Tennessee. Some years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks removed to Missouri, in 1855, and there both died, the father in 1862 and the mother in 1872. Their family consisted of ten children: Blackstone, deceased; Anderson, who was killed while in the service of his country during the Civil war; Caroline, Mrs. Jeremiah Prior, deceased; Jane, widow of Lafayette Prigmore, and a resident of Marion county, Tennessee; Phoenix, who died in California; Skelton, who died during the Civil war; Amanda, Mrs. Josiah Conn, who died in Hickory county, Missouri: Harrison, who married Susan Steinbaugh, and lives in Indian Territory; China, Mrs. Ingalls; and Fatten, deceased.

By her first marriage Mrs. Ingalls had four children. No children were born of her union to Mr. Ingalls, but they have adopted a daughter. Winnie May, who was born in Lehigh, Iowa, November 14, 1885. Mrs. Ingalls is connected with the Order of Rebekahs, and Mr. Ingalls is a member of the Odd Fellows, and also the Grand Army of the Republic. They attend the Church of Christ in Lehigh, and contribute to its maintenance. Politically he is a Republican, firm in his allegiance to the party, and interested in public affairs. His home property comprises forty acres on section 25, Washington township, and in addition he owns property in Lehigh.

SOURCE: S. J. Clark Publishing Company, The Biographical Record Of Webster County, Iowa, p. 415-6