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Below is a family biography included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John B. Ingram, a leading resident of Polk County, Mo., was born near Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn., August 17, 1834, being a son of Martin and Anna A. (Howard) Ingram, who were born in North Carolina, and moved from there to Wilson County, Tenn., where they remained five years, and in 1834 moved to Springfield, Mo. After living here one year they moved six miles northeast of Springfield, and opened up a farm, where they resided until their respective deaths. The father was a general mechanic in his younger days, having learned the trade in North Carolina, and was an excellent one for his day. In his political views he was first a Democrat, and then became a Republican. His birth occurred on the 29th of August, 1803, and his death, June 8, 1881. His wife was an earnest member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and died on the 1st of November, 1884, at the age of eighty years. John B. Ingram is the fourth of their eight children, and was educated in Greene County. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, then moved away to Polk County, where he bought and entered 220 acres of land and is now the owner of one of the best improved and most fertile farms in Polk County. He first engaged in the nursery business in connection with his farm work, but after some time gave his attention to farm work exclusively, and now devotes a part of his attention to manufacturing molasses. July 26, 1860, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. McCracken, a daughter of Thomas McCracken. She was born in Williamson County, Tenn., November 26, 1826, and by Mr. Ingram has become the mother of two children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. J. W. Allison, a physician of Rondo, Mo.; and Ben F., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ingram are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican, and is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, being always ready to support worthy enterprises. Mr. Ingram’s brothers and sisters are: Mary J. (McCracken); Archibald F., a prominent banker of Springfield, Mo., who has been connected with most of the newspapers published in that city; Sidney N., was a school teacher in his young days, but is now engaged in milling near Springfield; Thomas J. is a resident of Greene County, and was a soldier in the Union service in the late war; Benson H. is a life insurance agent of Sedalia, and has been circuit court clerk of Pettis County; Martin V. was also a soldier in the Union army, and is now engaged in the pork business in Springfield; and Virginia A. was the wife of John McCraw, and died when about thirty-four years of age in Dakota Territory.

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This family biography is one of 132 biographies included in The History of Polk County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Polk County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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