The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-20
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6. 1888; death taking place. the ensuing
day, April 7. 1888.
At the south end of this grave, occupy
ing the remaining space on the east side
of the lot, is the grave of the grandson.
Ellsworth. son of Edwin C. and Ethel
ingalls, Blair, of Kansas City, born Feb
ruary s. 1885, dying the next day.
The death which grieved ingalls, most,
was that of his daughter Constance,
wife eff Robert Porter Shick,. of Pennsyl-
yania, who was born August 70, 1873. dy-
ing December Is, 1899. Death occurred
when the ingalls, household was prepar-
ing for the Christmas festival and fam
lily reunion, feature of the family life
which was never neglected At that time
Ingalls, was in Arizona; he was planning
70 come home for Christmas, but the
daughters death was such shock that
he suffered a relapse of such force, that
he was denied the mOrsel of comfort of
coming home for the funeral. If there
were causes other than disease for the
death of the daughters illustrious faith
er, this was one. Ingalls, was never again
the man of strength he was prior to this
sheck.
Decline began there said Mrs. In
gals, and Mr.. Ingalls, seemed to always
brood and mourn over the death of Con-
stance and being prevented from attend
ing the funeral
Mrs. Ingalls, is. the only person who
ever addressed the illuStriOus Kansas
by using his first name John. To all
others, he was Mr.. Ingalls,. to political
associates he was senator" until his
death. ingalls, lived unto himself. He
deSpiSed crowds and when at the
zenith Of his public career, remon-
strated against riding in parades. He
sought reserve rather than publicity.
When he made speeches he seldom ap-
peared until the time for his address.
That finished he disappeared; Ingalls,
never stood on platforms to shake
hands after filling his part of the pro-
In -7f 49,, r..
cIuse Guests of the family would find
Ingalls, in his favorite corner on the
Veranda lost in reverie- Yet, at the
family table he was the life and spirit
of the company. The meal ended, IN
gals would again seclude himself. Gal
Looping over the hills. unattended, save
the conp2nionShip of his horse, was a
favorite pastime. In these trips he
sought and found SeclusiOn. His was a
familiar figure in the bride paths of the
woods. In solitude he would be- sitting
on his horse with military precision, an
imposing figure, lost to his surround
ings, gazing in rapture across the hills;
peering with interest into the recesses
of the woods: examining carefully the
beauty of some wind blown wild flow
er: communing with nature, his mind
given up to all else, except the beauty
of the landscape In these rambles and
rev cries he developed a taste for native
wilds and plateus of land He became
impressed with the beauty of the spot
which contains the cemetery, and had
his dead removed there.
In the old days before the original
Ingalls, home was burned, the senator
was able to enjoy his flights of fancy
and solitude on his Veranda- Seated in
a comfortable arm chair on the large
porch, ingalls, would look down, far
down below him, to the base of the
bluff upon which the house stood, into
the turbulent yellow waters of the Mis-
souri,, rushing to the sea There is the
majesty of nature there" he once said.
In this contem platiOn of the scene be-
fore him. Ingalls, developed a great love
for the spot. On clear. SunShiny days,
one could see St. Joe, on the north and
east. while far to the south, from the
ingalls, Veranda, the stream, like a slip
of silver disappeared.
Then rivers edges were not 50 much
in demand by railroad companies for
rights of way and track privileges. One
by one these progressive spirits invaded
the quiet of the ingalls, home, and the
base of the bluff became a noisy, clat-
tering place that would have eventual
~ driven ingalls, away, but his house
burned and he went to Oak Ridge,
where he longed to die. but the end
came, much to the great mans regret,
among strangers, and shut in by the
uninViting walls of a hotel room, in
which he experienced only suffering.
Atchison is renowned among other
things, for its hills, not pleasing to
strangers. but fascinating for the citys
own .people South, east and north
there are many hills, the Missouri river
creeping lazily by on the east. Oak
Ridge the Ingalls, home, reached by an
electric car line, surmountS one of the
many hills on the south side of the city
The house is of brick. facing south,
surrounded by trees-an inviting spot
to be sure. Sloping gently to the north.
the high ground in front of the house
is lost in a grove of sturdy young oaks
at the rear A road in front has been
graded down, as railroads make cuts,
the southeast corner of the yard being
the highest point, a sharp crest in fact,
of the ridge, which is reached from the
east and west by steep inclines. Below
the crest the drive enters the yard and
winds among trees to the front or the
house. Immediately west of the house
is the barn, also of brick but q. turn in
the driveway from the point where Wis
itors leave the carriages. On the east
is the veranda, a reproduction of the
Ingalls, favorite nook. The distance
from the road prevents close observa-
ton from pasSersby, and this nook gave
the man unrestricted opportunity for
his quiet moods. A huge wind mill be-
tween the barn and the house supplies
the waterworks system in the house.
One hundred feet east of the house
a fence of paling separates the ingalls,
grounds from an unIenanted wood of
oaks. Around the front of the yard
runs a fence of four smooth wires,
foot apart, on implanted posts. The
gate which always stands open, is of
the large red pattern, so frequently seen
at the entrances to prosperous farm
houses. The ingalls, home is not in the
state of preservation and care it was
few years ago.
A feature of the interior of the home
like and inviting residence, is the