Placer
County
Biographies
WILLIAM INGRAM
William Ingram is the pioneer
druggist of Lincoln, Placer County, and in the conduct of his business has
reached the goal of prosperity, which is the destination of every man who
enters business life; but many fall by the wayside. Persistency of purpose is a strong element in
success and to this is due in large measures the gratifying results which have
attended the efforts of Mr. Ingram. He
was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1834 and during his infancy was
taken by his parents to Virginia, in which state he was reared and educated. His father, David Ingram, was of Scotch lineage
and during his boyhood located in Pennsylvania with an elder brother. He continued to reside in the Keystone state
until after he had arrived at years of maturity and was married there to Miss
Mary Barton, a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of one of the early
families there. As before said, they
removed to the Old Dominion and the father became one of the prosperous and
influential farmers of his locality.
Later in life he engaged in merchandising in the town of Hamilton, where
he remained until his life’s labors were ended in death, when he had attained
the age of eighty-two years. They were
members of the Presbyterian Church and their many excellent qualities assured
them a place in the regard of those with whom they were associated. They became the parents of ten children, five
of whom are now living.
William Ingram pursued his studies
in the schools of New Cumberland, Virginia, and in 1855 when nineteen years of
age, came to California, making the journey by way of the Isthmus. He sailed from New York, arriving in San
Francisco in February, and from the Golden Gate he proceeded inland to Sierra
County, where he secured mining claims and met with good success in the search
for gold. The largest nugget which he
ever found was valued at sixteen dollars.
Later he joined a large company who had drift mines. He followed mining three years and though he
took out considerable gold sunk most of it in mining ventures which proved
unprofitable. Subsequently he engaged in
teaming between Marysville and Goodyear’s Bar and other mining camps, that
business at the time proving a very paying one.
The subject of this review was part owner of the Down East mine, a drift
property, in which he sunk a shaft one hundred and ten feet deep. He afterward sold the mine for twenty-two
hundred dollars and engaged in the livery business, in which he met with
success; but in 1862 a fire destroyed his property, causing the loss of about
four thousand dollars. With
characteristic energy, however, he rebuilt and resumed business, continuing in
that line until 1866, when he sold out and removed to Sutter County, where he
purchased two hundred acres of land.
There he erected a residence and continued farming operations for a year
and a half; but he suffered with malaria there and in consequence disposed of
his property, selling it for four thousand dollars. On the expiration of that period he removed
to Marysville and again engaged in the livery business for a year and a
half. He next came to Lincoln in
1871. It was then a town of little
importance, lacking enterprise, but he opened a general mercantile store, which
he conducted for ten years, when he sold most of his stock, since which time he
has given his attention solely to the drug department of his business. He has the leading drug store in the town,
has a first-class establishment, fitted up with everything in his line. His identification with the business
interests of the place and his services in official capacities have contributed
in a large measure to the progress and advancement of the city. He owns in connection with his store a
commodious residence and a ranch near the town.
In politics he has always been a
stalwart Republican since the organization of the party and for nineteen and
one-half years has served as the postmaster of Lincoln, during which time he
has made many improvements in the office and its business has largely
increased. He received his first appointment
from President Grant and later was appointed by President Harrison. He was also deputy sheriff of Placer County
under High Sheriff John Butler, and his official services were discharged with
promptness and fidelity. He is a valued
member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Saint Louis
Lodge, in Sierra County in 1856. He has been the treasurer of the lodge in
Lincoln twenty-five years and is one of the most highly esteemed and exemplary
members of the order, in his life showing forth its benevolent and ennobling
principles.
In 1866 occurred the marriage of Mr.
Ingram and Miss Corinne Flint, a native of Maryland, who in 1864 came to
California. She is a daughter of Dr.
Joseph Flint. Mr. Ingram has four
sons: J. Clarence, the eldest, is now a
druggist in the United States Navy, being in charge of the marine hospital at
Agana, Guam. William D. is now the
postmaster of Lincoln and is also in charge of a drug store. George B. is engaged in the drug business in
Keswick and is also the express agent there, while Ralph is in the same town
and in his business life is an engineer.
The daughter, Estella C., became the wife of R. G. Allen and departed
this life in the twenty-eighth year of her age, leaving a little son, Clinton
G. Allen, who is now living with his grandparents, as does Rhode Ingram, a
daughter of the eldest son. Mr. and Mrs.
Ingram are valued members of the Congregational Church. They have long resided in the town, where
their circle of friends is limited only by the circle of their acquaintances.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 603-605. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.