The Portland daily press., 1876-01-04
George r. Insraham and His Ancestors,

thy city messenger, Mr.. George 7. Ingraham.
l knew that he was severely hurt by fall last
summer, and did not rally after the injury. No
citizen was better known, and few more re-
spected Some sketch of his parentage and
lifelong residence in the city of his birth, 1
think will be expected by your read
ers. Although he was comparatively humble
official, 1 am pleased to see that the city gov
eminent have shown their appreciation of his
long and faithful service, and who could do the
duties of the Office better at his age?
He was the son of one of the old towns most
public spirited and liberal citizens, Joseph Fl.
Ingraham, who came from old York in 1853,
then 16 years of age, and served his time with
John Butler, silversmith whose reason after
wards became unseated from repeated misfor-
tunes, and for years before his death lin 1927
at the age of 95) he walked harmlessly about
the streets, and to the younger people of the
time he was known as "Crazy Butler"
Mr.. Ipgraham had commenced business pre-
vious to Mowatt's COMMANDMENT and his loss
in the confagration is set down at 400 pounds.
He was the first to commence the rebuilding.
He married a daughter of Deacon james
Milk, and came into possession of that part of
the deacon's estate through which, in 1905, he
opened the lower part of Market street. In
1777 he built a two story building for a house
and shop on the north side of Fore street, few
rods east of Exchange street. This was the first
bnilding erected after the burning. In 1888
Mrs. Ingraham died, leaving one child, son,
James Milk. The mother of him whose death
calls for this sketch, was grand daughter of
George Tate, who came from London 20
Stroudwater as mart agent to succeed Col.
Westbrook, who died iu 1744. Tate's house is
now standing, unaltered, at Stroudwater, and
is the best sample of an Old-time residence in
this vicinity. The widow of Mr.. Tate, who
with her son William, lived in this house, was
accidentally killed in ITO by gun set for
thieves. Mr.. Tate, the father, sailed in the
first Russian frigate which was built by Peter
the Great, and his son George, born in London
in 1745, entered the Russian service and OBJ
tanned the rank of admiral under Alexander
First. He received repeated honors from Rus.
sian sovereigns for gallantry. He often visited
Portland and always kept up correspondence
with his relatives here. He died in London in
1921. George Tate senior, had another son,
Samuel, born in London, who commanded one
of the mast ships sailing between Falmouth
and the dock yards of England. He brought
his family to Falmouth and had daughter born
here in 1867. Her mother died while this daugh-
ter was an infant, and her god mother, Madam
Ross, took her into her own family. On the
breaking out of the revolution, Capt Tate, who
was very decided in his allegiance to the crown,
took his daughter, then seven years old, to
London, and lived at Newington, suburb of
London, on the Surrey side of the Thames. On
the opposite side of the street lived Doctor
johnson, who became attached to the little
motherless girl from her quiet manner and
loneliness.
Capt. Tate remained in the metropolis until
the close of the war. When the daughter.
whose name was Elizabeth for Madam Ross.
was twenty years old, he Capt brought her
back to Portland. She had received all the
advantages of London society and schools, and
was an accomplished lady.
In 1889 Joseph Fl. Ingraham, then 81, had
been widower five years, was thrifty and re-
spected Miss Tate was a refined lady of %,
They were married and occupied the Fore
Street House. Here, and of these parents, on
the 18th of Sept. 1895, George Tate Ingraham
was born. Mrs. IIngraham became the mother
or eleven children-one OF the seven sons and
two of the four daughters remain in Portland
In 1792 Mr.. lngraham built three one story wood
en- stores opposite his house, and the next year
he tegan 'Ingrahams" Commercially wharf.
These buildings were removed in 1928. In 1901
MT. Ingraham purchased large lot of land and
opened State street through it, 100 feet wide,
and presented the street, free of land damage,
TO the town, and the same year he built the vet
line residence near the foot of the street, which
for several years has been occupied by Can't.
James M. Churchill. From this time to 1906
was period of prosperity. Many expensive
buildings were built, and all branches of bust
ness, especially commerce, were successful, but
the embargo was flight to all hopes. Mr.
lngraham, being the largest real estate owner
in town, became embarrassed, as well as most
of the merchants.
There is nothing pleasant to contemplate in
the history of the town for the ten years sue
ceeding After the war of 1872, business reyiy-
ed and some of the business men retrieved their
fortunes, among whom was Mr.. Ingrabam.
His State street house became the property of
his nephew, Judge Preble, and in 1922, Mr..
lngraham built three story house on Dan
forth street, 1 think the same one now occupied
by Hon. VIM. W. Thomas. Here he died in
1S41, at the age of 49, He had been one of the
selectmen of the town eleven years, and a rep
resentative to the General Court of Massa-
% Jic xxy;1
aged II.
Capt. Tate, the father of Mrs Ingraham.
spent the last years of his life in his daughters
family. He was thoroughly English, main
tanning to the last his loyalty to his sovereign.
His deceased grandson has related to me cir.
cumstances of his frequent visits with his
grandchildren, to the old "mart landing"
above Clark's point, where in former years he
had taken in his cargoes of masts for the royal
navy, saying that he wanted them to dance
with him on British soil, insisting that the
landing had never been alienated from the
crown of Great Britain. In the sport he HEATH
ly Joined, singing some national song, such as
Rule Britannia" He died in 1914, aged Is.
In Mr.. Willis's notes on the Tate family, are
several errors. He says that Capt. Samuel
Tate died ia London; that his daughters Mrs.
Ingraham's name was Ann; that the Admiral
was grandson of the elder George; that the
Mrs. Tate accidentally shot at Stroudwater,
was the wife of William. All of which are
mistakes, which are set right in this sketch.
Mr.. Ingraham, whose name stands at the
head of this notice. on coming of age, kept
store on "Ingraham's'' wharf He never had
robust health. In the spring of 1874 he was
elected city messenger, and reelected annually
after, except in 1860, when Judge Howard was
Mayor; making thirty years service in one
office. His room in the City Building was
house of call for all having business with the
city officials, and he was living directory,
ready and willing to impart any information
which he possessed, in a pleasant and gentle
manly manner. Any imputation of meanness
or injustice to the city, or its government, he
was sure to resent. He was as chary of the
honor of the corporate name, as was his honor
ed father, and even as his grandfather Tate was
OF that of the crown of England. Mr.. lngra-
ham was twice married, the first time to Miss
Leavitt, by whom he had three children The
second wife. who survives him, was Miss Rus
sell, who has two children. All of the five
children think are living. VIC.
Ill