INGRAHAM: First settler of Left Reedy between what is now Billings Railway Station and Reedyville, about the year 1840. Parents of Captain Albert G. Ingraham, of Civil War activities. The name is lately often spelled "Ingram."

Abram Ingraham was the name of the above first settler; he and his wife, both descendants of old Virginia families, came here from Randolph County about the year 1840, having with them several children whose names as given us by Hugh Ingram (as he spells it), a grandson now seventy-nine years old. The names of these five sons and three daughters of Abram Ingraham and wife are as follows: Jesse, Albert G., Jacob, John, Stewart, Jemima, Mariah and Ruhama "Ruie." Their marriages and something of their respective careers are as follows:

Jesse became a sailor on the high seas, and was gone for periods of several years at a time, covering a space of twenty-five years, brought home a wife just before the Civil War and soon thereafter died leaving no child.

Albert G. Ingraham married Drusilla, daughter of Thomas Hardman, then neighbors to the Ingrahams; to them were born two sons whose names were William J. and Franklin. William J. married Miss Martha Burdette, in 1866; this is the Captain Albert G. Ingraham (spelled Ingram) mentioned often in the History of the County and City of Spencer, Chapters I and IX of this book. After close of the Civil War Captain Ingram and his family all went West, first to Missouri, afterward moved to Kansas.

Jacob, third son of Abram Ingram, is grantee in a deed of conveyance of a tract of 350 acres of lands on upper Middle Fork of Reedy, by A. G. Ingraham and his wife, Drusilla; this he improved, sold it soon after and removed to Ohio.

John Ingraham, fourth son of Abram, the pioneer, married Miss Emily Hardman, daughter of a Benjamin Hardman, pioneer and brother of Thomas Hardman, above named; she was born in Ritchie County, West Virginia, says her son, Lycurgus, in his biograph given Hardestys History in 1882. To John and Emily (Hardman) Ingram, his wife, were born and by them reared the following children, named in order of their respective ages: Hugh, Alice, wife of Jacob Argabrite; Lycurgus and Akbar. Further of this family: Hugh was born in the year 1848, is yet hale and clear of mind, and gave most of the information in this fami]y history; Hugh married Miss Emily Jane Board, daughter of William Board, then a resident of Jackson County, and they made their home in western Curtis District ever since. Their children are five sons and three daughters, whose names in order of their respective ages are, Irven, Florence, Rosie, Alma, Arthur, William T., John and Charles Holly. The last two named are now merchants residing in the City of Spencer.

Stewart Ingraham, fifth son of Abram and wife, pioneers, married a lady in Lewis County and went to the "Far West."

Of the daughters of the pioneer Abram and wife:

Jemima became the wife of Benjamin Riddle and they later became the owners of the pioneer Ingraham large tract of land on Left Reedy, a prominent place for twenty years next before
the Civil War; they went West about the year 1871. (See name, Riddle in Chapter X of this book.)

Mariah, second daughter of Abram, married first a William Tanner, son of Jesse Tanner near Spencer; she was mother of Josephine (Kyger) Burdette, and Ann (Watson) Roach. (See these latter names in Chapter X, this book.)

Ruhama "Ruie," third daughter of pioneer Abram Ingraham, married Jonathan Vandal, son of James Vandal. (See name Vandal, Chapter VII.) They reared three daughters, their names, Elizabetih "Bett," Catherine and Jemima, the latter married Hezekiah Miller, of Spring Creek, on April 21, 1866.

Lycurgus Inghram (thus spelled by himself), second son of John and Emily (Hardman), was born December 26, 1853, on upper Reedy; on September 22, 1878, married Miss Cynthia A. Harless, daughter of Harrison F. Harless and Elizabeth (Fry) Harless, his wife, both born in Giles County, Virginia, and settled on upper Reedy in the year 1880. Lycurgus and Cynthia A. made their home on part of the patrimonial lands on Reedy, where to them were born and by them reared the following named children: Gusta B., 1879; Jesse W., 1881; Francis B., August 22, 1883, and Virginia, 1885; Virginia married L. Ordway Curtis, August 21, 1905, her age 20, his age 25. See family name "Curtis."

Ackbar Ingraham, son of John and Emily (Hardman), married Miss Louvena Morrison; they lived some years on Reedy; later moved to Wood County, West Virginia: live near Parkersburg now -- 1927.


Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927, William H. Bishop, Esq., p 562-563
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999