Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-26
.Joseph IR. Inger.oII.

The death of Mr.. Ingersoll has put
out another of the ancient lights of
Philadelphia. At one time it shone very
brightly in this community, and. down
to the last, for he was the attractive CEN
ter of social and familiar circle, in the
dimness of relative seclusion, it shone
genially and pleasantly. Mr.. Ingersoll's
was long life of eminent social and pro
fessional success, won and commanded
by unquestioned merit, and especially
by his own exertions. He was a
Philadelphian by birth, born in
this city on the 14th of June,
1856 a year before the Federal Con-
stitution was created, his father be-
ing one of its signers, he lived to see it
torn to pieces and scoffed at. His father
was Jared Ingersoll-a native of Con-
necticut but resident here all his active
life, one of the leaders of the ancient
Philadelphia Bar. His mother was
Elizabeth Petit. Mr.. j. R. Ingersoll's
early education was here. He gradu-
ated at Nassau Hall with the highest
distinction, and studied law with his
father. Instantly on his admission, he
sprang into great and varied practice
which he continued, as well in s.vari-
ETY. as its magnitude, till his retirement
from the bar. His professional habits
were in this respect very remarkable,
and the labor and preparation and YER
satility which such a practice required
were enormous. The Reports from 1914,
where friend points us to Mr.. Inger-
soils earliest case in the Supreme Court,
attest this wonderful success. Always
thoroughly prepared. always ready, he
was, in these qualities, the model of a
vigorous advocate. At Nisi Prius, he
was especially distinguished, for there
was in his mode of speaking an energy
of manner and ornamentation of rhet-
oric that had great effect with juries
and popular audiences, which juries are.
AS teacher in the old-fashioned
familiar form of office instruction, he
had great success, and it has been justly
said that Mr.. Ingersoll's brought
to the bar more eminent and dis
tinguished men than any other
Office in Philadelphia. Among the dead,
Henry D. 'Gilpin, Oswald Thompson,
L
Gerhard, and among the living, without
derogation to othors whose names at this
moment do not occur to us, Sharswood
Conyngham, Charles Gilpin, James Bay.
ard, Mccall, Hazlehurst, Hubbell
Charles E. Lex, and his own distin.
guished nephew. He was precise and
most methodical teacher of the science
he so well understood. There were nc
such helps as Lectureships in those
primitive days. His students were very
much attached to him.
Mr.. Ingersoll wisely deferred enter
ing political life till he could afford te
do so. He was never in the State Leg
, islature. In opinion he was first a Fed
eralist and afterwards Whig. He wa:
repeatedly in the City Councils as they
were in the good old times, before the
curse of consolidationfell upon us, ant
there rendered great service. Relatively
late in life he entered Congress, where
he served several terms with high dis
tinction. In 1852 he was appointed by
President Fillmore Minister to England
succeeding Mr.. Abbot Lawrence, and be-
ing in turn succeeded by Mr.. Buchanan
During his brief diplomatic career he
negotiated with Lord ohm Russell's gov
ernment a very important treaty, by
which all pending claims between this
country and Great Britain were fnall )
and satisfactorily disposed of. Since hi:
return from abroad, Mr.. Ingersoll has
we believe, held no public position. His
house, as we have said, was the centre
of most agreeable social communion
There was there always refined anc
elegant hospitality. Of Mr.. Ingersoll's
private and family relations, this is no
the place to speak. His two children
died many years ago, but though alone
he was in his old age in no sense soil
tary. Mr.. Ingersoll was member @
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
worshiper atold St. Peters, and yer.
often its representative in the State AM
General Convention. On his privat
character no reproach ever fell, and h
died as he lived, the object of genera
veneration and respect. = Philadelphi
A. pe