The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-28
INGRAM FLETCHER DEAD
FORMER WELL-KNOwN CITIZEN
PASSES AWAY IN FLORIDA.
Sudden Death of DIR. w. ID. Fletcher's
BrOther--His Life i'm Indianapo-
lis-Burial Here.

Word was received in this city yesterday
of the death of Ingram Fletcher at Orlando,
Fla, Wednesday night. Mr.. Fletcher, VINO
was the sixth son of Calvin Fletcher, ST.,
was very well known in Indianapolis, where
| he spent most of his life. and the news oil
his death will be received with deep regret
by many people in this city. For the last
eight years he had been suffering from
heart trouble. While on 3Kisit to Indian
apolis few years ago he was taken with
severe attack of this maiady, and was
almost on the verge of death upon that
occasion, it being only through the deter
mined efforts of his brother, DIR. W. b.
Fletcher, and other physicians, that his life
was saved.
Ingram Fletcher was born i'm this city
June p, 1895, ia a little log cabin on the
corner of Alabama and Ohio streets. The
days of his boyhood were spent on the old
Fletcher farm, which was situated on the
ground now occupied by Fletcher-place
Church, and the adjoining residences for
many squares surrounding it. He went to
school in the old Marion County Seminary,
his schoolmates being George Yandes, John
ii. Holiday, John and Henry Coburn and
others, who belonged TO the first families
of the town. When only fifteen years old
he became fired with spirit of adventure,
secured his fathers permission to accom-
pany missionary named Tanner far
into British Columbia as the town of Penn
blna. thousand miles north of ST. Paul.
MIMI lie was away from home six months
and during his visit among the Indians of
the great Northwest he learned great deal
of the language and customs of the copper
colored people, and was afterward consid-
cred an authority on these subjects. He re-
turned all the way from Pembina to st.
Paul on sledge hauled by dogs, and when
ne reached his home town of Indianapolis
was one of the heroes of the day.
Mr.. Fletcher's close companionship with
the missionary was perhaps largely respon-
sible for the religious zeal which marked
MS life from the time of his return from
MS adventurous trip into British Columbia
His education was completed at an acad-
envy in Lancaster, Mass, and, returning to
indianapolis, he engaged in various pur-
suits until the breaking out of the war
or the rebellion, when he entered the serv-
Ice as acknowledgements He was mar
rled TO Miss Gertrude Newman. daughter
OF the Hon. John Newman, and not long
aIterWard became one of the partners in the
FLETCHER x Sharpe bank, for many years
one of the principal banking concerns of
indianapolis. He removed, with his family,
TO Florida just twenty years ago, and pur-
chasing a beautiful home a mile south of
the town of Orlando, engaged in orange
culture and other agricultural pursuits
upon two different occasions by severe
frosts that swept through Florida, leaving
terrible disappointment and financial fall
ure behind them, but with the hopeful ma
ture that was characteristic of him, Mr.
Fletcher started anew, and his efforts were
finally rewarded. His orange farm is at
the present time looked upon as one of the
best in the vicinity of Orando-the very
center of Orange-growing; and it was his
hearts fQndest hope TO live to see the day
when the many fruit trees on his estate
would produce what would be regarded as
"a banner crop" If he had lived until next
winter this hope would have been realized
in all probability.
Mr. Fletcher was made postmaster of
Orlando about ten years ago. and served
in this public office for time. His
health failing him for awhile, he came to
indianapolis to receive treatment, and il
was during this visit that he suffered his
first critical attack of heart trouble. before
mentioned During his former residence
here he had always been an active church
worker, first in Roberts Park Church and
afterward i'll the Meridian-street NJ f.
Church. and while on his visit, when his
health permitted, he again entered enthu-
siastically into church and charitable work.
When he had entirely recovered from his
Illness he visited his eldest daughter, whose
home is in Salt Lake City, and then went
back TO his Florida place, Orchard of
Palms." where he remained until the time
of his death
A widow and four children survive Mr.
Fletcher, the latter being Mrs. Burt Chap
man, OF Sdlt Lake city, MIS- Minor Berry
and Miss Gertrude Fletcher, of Orlando.
Fla, and Mrs. +. NJ. Churchman, of Indian
apolis. There are also two brothers and
a sister survving-Albert r. Fletcher of
Philadelphia; DR.. w. b. Fletcher. of this
city, and Mrs. c. G. Hines, widow of the
late Judge Hines. Mrs. Hines is now living
in New York
DIR. Fletcher and f. M. Churchman left
Indianapolis yesterday afternoon for Louis
ville where they will meet the widow of
the late Mr.. Fletcher and her daughter
Gertrude, who are now en- route to Indian
apoliS with the remains. The funeral will
take place from the Churchman residence
on North Meridian street and the burial
will be at Crown Hill.