Andrew INGRAM, one of the leading stock dealers of Ringgold County, and one who, by his energy and perseverance, has contributed largely to its interests, came to Ringgold County from Monmouth, Warren County, Illinois, in 1869. He is a native of Scotland, born in Aberdeen, May 29, 1833. When he was eight years of age his parents, George and Jane (SMITH) INGRAM, immigrated to the United States, via Quebec, Canada, and were forty-two days in crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel. Landing at Quebec they proceeded via the lakes to Huron, and thence to Savannah, Ohio, where they lived a number of years, and where Andrew grew to manhood and was educated.

He remained with his parents until twenty-one years old, when he started out to commence the battle of life for himself. For several years he engaged in farming, teaching school during the winter, and then turned his attention to dealing in stock, on a small scale at first, as his means were limited. At that time he was living in Monmouth, Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he came to Mount Ayr, Iowa, and located in Ringgold County.

His first business in the county was to buy hogs and cattle and drive them, on foot, to Afton and Leon. He has kept steadily at this business until he is now one of the largest buyers and shippers in Southern Iowa. In no year does he ship less than seventy-five car-loads, often reaching as high as 125. He, in addition to his stock business, is one of the largest land-owners in the county, owning 1,000 acres, all well cultivated and well stocked.

For the past eleven years he has been connected with the dry-goods trade, a member of the firm of A. INGRAM & Sons, which is under the direction of his son, A. O. INGRAM. Mr. INGRAM is an enterprising business man, and has contributed largely of his means toward the development and improvement of his adopted county. He has always been a strict temperance man, and has given his influence on the side of law and order.

He was married in 1854, to Miss Hester A. HADDIX, a native of Virginia. They have two sons – A. O. and Wilber B.

Andrew INGRAM was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was born May 29, 1833. When he was eight-years-old, his parents came to the United States via Quebec, Canada, and were 42 days crossing the ocean. From Quebec via Lake Huron, thence to Savannah, Ohio, where they lived and he grew to manhood and was educated.

When 21-years-old, he started on his own, farming in summer and teaching school in the winter. Then dealing in stock in a small way. He was living at Monmouth, Illinois, when he decided to come to Ringgold County in 1869. He first bought cattle and hogs and drove them on foot to Afton and Leon until 1879 when the railroad was built. He continued shipping until his business reached from 75 to 125 carloads of stock per year. He also had 1,000 acres of land which was well-cultivated and stocked.

He was also connected with Day DUNNING for five years in the dry goods store. Then in 1890, he and his two sons ran a dry goods store on the southwest corner of the square.

He was married to Hester A. HADDIX, a native of Virginia. He died in the 1890's.

His son, A. O. INGRAM, continued in the mercantile business until December 2, 1899. Will INGRAM, another son, moved to Kansas City. A. O. has one son and one daughter and grandchildren, and Will has three sons and grandchildren.

NOTE: Andrew INGRAM Andrew INGRAM died at the age of 60 years on September 23, 1893. Hester Ann (HADDIX) INGRAM was born near Phillippi, West Virginia, on December 6, 1832, and died in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, on June 3, 1893, aged 60 years. Andrew and Hester were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 318-19, 1887.

LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 85. Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcriptions and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009; updated June of 2010

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z