Andrew Ingles
Andrew Ingles was born in Beaver County, Penn., December 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 the 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 from 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 establich 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 youthful pupil that came to him with 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 from 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. He was for a long time a member of the committee 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 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 pretentions, 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 pretense rise,
The son of parents passed into the skies.
He 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 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 November 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 embarrassd 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.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889