My Genealogy Hound

MINOT INGRAHAM, a well-to-do citizen of Coloma and for twenty-three years the most prominent merchant of this thriving village, was born in Sackett’s Harbor, N. Y., on the 10th of February, 1820. His father, Jarett Ingraham, was a native of Connecticut, having been born there in 1777, and was one of eight children in the family of a Revolutionary hero, who, after having served his country with indomitable bravery, died during the continuance of the struggle with England. The family originated in England.

Jarett Ingraham was a mechanic and a farmer, and in an early day made settlement in Jefferson County, N. Y. During the War of 1812 he served as inspector of provisions, and he also shouldered his musket and participated actively in the battle of Sackett’s Harbor. In 1845 he came to Michigan and for one summer resided in Bainbridge Township, Berrien County, after which he located in the northern part of Watervliet. Here he and his son, our subject, purchased seven eighty-acre tracts, and he cleared and improved one of these lots, making it his home for a number of years. His death occurred in Bainbridge in 1856.

A Whig in politics, Mr. Ingraham was a man who gave considerable attention to affairs of local or general interest, and was a thoughtful student of the times. He was a consistent Christian and an active worker in the Free-will Baptist Church, toward the growth of which he was a liberal and regular contributor. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Pitman, were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. The wife and mother survived her husband’s demise for fifteen years.

Early in life our subject began work in a wagon shop and at the age of twenty-five began in business for himself, purchasing at that time fifty acres in the town of Clayton, N. Y. In 1847 he sold that property and, coming to Michigan, settled on section 4, Watervliet Township, where he improved two hundred and eighty acres. He has given considerable assistance to his sons, and still retains the ownership of one hundred and sixty acres, besides four houses in Coloma, the St. Cloud Block in this village, and other real estate. It will thus be seen that prosperity has rewarded his exertions, and he is one of the moneyed men of the village.

On the last day of the year 1843, Mr. Ingraham was united in marriage with Miss Valetta C., daughter of Jacob A. Williams. Her father was one of the pioneers of Jefferson County, N. Y., whither he removed from Massachusetts, and he was also one of the pioneer teachers of Watertown, where he taught for a number of years. His death occurred on a farm. He had served in a number of county offices and was one of the prominent men of the township. His father was also a man of influence and note, and died during the Revolutionary War.

Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham are members of the Free-will Baptist Church. They were the parents of three children, two of whom were reared to manhood, Lyman and Solon. In addition to engaging in the mercantile business for almost a quarter of a century, Mr. Ingraham also was proprietor of a hotel and conducted that enterprise with success. Formerly a Whig, he is now a Republican, and has been the incumbent of a number of positions of trust.