[44-74] CHARLOTTE BESTOW REINEWALT, b Apr. 25, 1842; dau Adam (Jr.) and Mary Ann (Lehn) Rinewalt [44-30]; m Sept. 12, 1865, CHALMERS INGERSOLL, b Oct. 29, 1838; d Jan. 1, 1908; s Thomas and Sarah (Walker) Ingersoll. Editor and publisher, Belozt Free Press, Beloit, Wis. Widow resides at Williamsville, N. Y. (1920.)
Children (8):
Chalmers Ingersoll was born in Westfield, N. Y., the son of New Englanders, his father dying while Chalmers was still a young boy. After living in Westfield and Brockport, N. Y., for several years, Mr. Ingersoll went to Greenfield, Mass., where he learned the printer’s trade.
In 1856 he located in Freeport, Ill., and followed his trade as printer. Leaving Freeport, he went to Chicago and was employed by The Tribune when the Civil War broke out. He was one of the first to enlist in the army of the North, and served three years with Co. G, 8th Il. Cavalry, and re-enlisted as a veteran when his first term of enlistment expired. After nearly four years of service, he was discharged on account of illness. Mr. Ingersoll participated in some of the fiercest engagements of the War. He was at Gaines’ Mills through the Potomac campaign, in the battles of Fredericksburg, Antietam and Gettysburg, besides numerous smaller engagements.
In 1866 Mr. Ingersoll went to Beloit, Wis., and started the Beloit Free Press, but in 1872 sold the paper to engage in manufacturing. He was the first to put out the paper plates used so commonly by grocerymen. In 1882 he formed a partnership with H. F. Hobart and published the Daily Free Press, but Mr. Hobart retired soon after and Mr. Ingersoll continued the publication of the paper alone, until 1904, when M. C. Hanna of Milwaukee was admitted into partnership, and finally sold his interest in the Free Press to the ‘‘Free Press Publishing Co.’’ in 1907.
For nearly 20 years, Mr. Ingersoll was postmaster at Beloit, having been first appointed by President Hayes. Aside from the postmastership, Mr. Ingersoll held many political honors, but gave his efforts unselfishly for others. He served as Sergeant-at-Arms in the Wisconsin Senate from 1870 to 1880; often was a delegate to congressional and state conventions, and a member of Beloit Common Council.
It was stated at the time of his death that there was, in all probability, no Beloit man so widely known in the state or who had possessed so much influence in political matters as Mr. Ingersoll. All through his life he was the highest type of American politician.