93rd Ingalls Reunion Meeting Minutes

The 93rd Ingalls Reunion was held on Saturday, October 15, 2022, in Carney Hall of the Asbury United Methodist Church of Greenville and Norton Hill. The temperature was 40 degrees F at 7:00 a.m., with a high of 70 degrees F later in the day. It was sunny and breezy.

A total of forty-four people attended, with thirty-seven in person (including one guest, Don Teator, Historian for the Town of Greenville, NY) and seven participating on Zoom. This was around fourteen fewer than attended last year. The reunion was not offered over the church’s YouTube channel this year.

The Eleanor Ingalls Winegard Family hosted. A huge and lovely display of chrysanthemums greeted people as they arrived, and the tables were decorated prettily with autumn decorations.

When people entered the hall, they chatted with one another and also were able to visit with those participating on Zoom on a lap top set up near the stage.

The Historian, Krista Ingalls Haushalter, displayed various family photograph albums and framed copies of family deeds.

Copies of the 2003 Genealogy and History of the Jacob Ingalls Family were available for twelve dollars each. Three were sold. Copies of the 2023 Greenville Local History Group calendar were also for sale for ten dollars each by Don. A couple of calendars were sold.

Ken Williams, the President, asked the children who were present (Alex, Clare, and Noah Ingalls and Olivia Hagan and Eian Lafferty) to ring Jacob Ingalls’ cowbell at 12:00 noon to call all of those present to gather for a group photograph. Don took the picture, which was later posted on the jacobingallsfamily.com web site.

After the children rang the cow bell again, everyone was seated, and Pastor Dale Ashby, who joined the family for lunch, said grace. The children then called the order of tables to get their food. There were many dishes and desserts to choose from - a bountiful pot luck meal! The Treasurer passed the basket while people were eating.

After the meal, the children rang the cowbell one last time, to call the meeting to order, and Ken welcomed everyone to the 93rd Ingalls Reunion. He thanked Pastor Dale L. Ashby of the Asbury United Methodist Church of Greenville and Norton Hill for the use of its church hall; the host family; and Vicky Tripp for helping out in the kitchen for the fourth year. She was given a round of applause. It was noted that Janet Lockwood, our “Honorary Ingalls” who helped out in the kitchen for many years, recently passed away, on October seventh. Her obituary was passed around during the meeting, along with a sympathy card that was signed by those in attendance. The card was presented to her daughter Ann Albin, who stopped by later in the afternoon.

Acknowledgement was extended to the host family, many of whom were diagnosed with COVID-19 just prior to the reunion, which decimated their ranks. Special thanks were given to those who were not affected and made sure the “show went on” and everything ran smoothly.

The person who traveled the farthest to attend the reunion was Lee Walker, who came from Wales, the United Kingdom. He was the guest of Jennifer Dedie. The youngest person attending the reunion was Noah Ingalls, six years old. Barbara Cross, at eighty-five, was the oldest person taking part in the reunion. Barbara and her husband Gerald (Gerry) Cross attended a reunion for the first time. They accompanied Thomas (Toby) and Elaine Nevins, who attended a reunion for the first time last year. Barbara Ann (nee Filkins) Cross and Elaine (nee Britton) Nevins are from the Cyrus Ingalls (1851-1922) (Westerlo) Branch. Barbara and Gerry were extended a warm welcome.

The Secretary, Paige Ingalls, read the minutes from the 2021 reunion, which were approved as written. She then sent around the book for everyone to sign, along with a folder of “Ingallsiana.”

Of note was the election of Hunter Smigel of Greenville Central School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) to statewide office as Vice President for 2022-2023. This is an exceptional honor, and everyone extended him (in absentia) their congratulations.

Two examples of Ingalls relatives engaged in doing good works were clipped from The Greenville, NY, Pioneer newspaper dated 12/03/2021. These included articles featuring Rotarian John Ingalls, who did much of the electrical work and installed posts for the seventy Christmas trees that lined the pond at the center of town during the holidays, and John and Kathryn McAneny from the Missions Committee at Asbury United Methodist Church, who distributed meals to families in need over Thanksgiving. Kudos were extended to these inspiring community volunteers.

On a less positive note, Paige sent around an article pertaining to the “other” Laura Ingalls: Laura Houghtaling Ingalls (12/14/1893 – 01/10/1967), i.e. the one we’d never heard of before. She was a famous American pilot who won the Harmon Trophy in 1934. However, she was arrested in December 1941, and convicted of failing to register as a paid Nazi agent who spoke at events of the America First Committee. She was a distant cousin of Little House on the Prairie’s Laura Ingalls Wilder, and became a friend of her daughter Rose Wilder Lane.

Paige also read correspondence received during the past year.

On 10/18/21, following last year’s reunion, Betty Rugg Dickson Brenton, who lives in Carol Stream, Illinois, wrote to Ken Williams, “I want to thank you for making the Reunion possible via Zoom. It was interesting to see people I have heard about but not seen or met in person. I also saw my brother and sisterin-law, who were in attendance – Gerald and Janet Rugg. I know this was a lot of additional work for you, but for me it brought back memories of the area, past, Church, people, and the purpose for keeping the Ingalls Reunion alive. Thank you so much!” Paige noted that Betty beautifully captured what it means to be part of a wonderful family tradition.

On 09/18/22, Judy Hildebran e-mailed from Kentucky to provide updated genealogy information and to inform us her family would not be attending this year’s reunion after all. She has the opportunity to visit Paris at the same time the reunion is being held and (surprise!) she has chosen to go to Paris. She noted that they will try again to attend next year’s reunion. She also sent a check for fifty dollars ($50.00) as a contribution towards the reunion.

Carlton Simons from Charleston, SC, sent a note on 10/05/22, and again included a generous check for fifty dollars ($50.00) as a donation. His wife Etta Ray and he are faithful supporters of the reunion.

Paige passed around a get well card for those in attendance to sign for Walter Ingalls, who was in a rehabilitation facility recently. It was to be sent to let him know his in person presence was missed at the reunion.

The Treasurer, Alliene Applebee, gave her report:

There was $2,396.16 in the savings account prior to the reunion, with $4.19 interest earned between October 2021 through September 2022, leaving a balance of $2,400.35.

The day’s income equaled $536.40. $436.40 came from the Dinner Collection and $100.00 from the two donations sent by Judy Hildebran and Carlton Simons [see Correspondence section above]. No one who participated by Zoom donated this year. This left a balance of $2,936.75.

Dispersals/Expenses totaling $347.40 were made for

Printing of the Invitations ("Postcards")	$130.00
Postage for the Invitations	$ 92.40
Vicky Tripp’s Services ("Kitchen")	$ 75.00
Church Hall Rental	$ 50.00

The cost of the Meat, Biscuits, and Butter was graciously donated by the Host Family.

This left a profit of $189.00, and a grand total of $2,589.35 in the savings account.

Alliene noted how those attending via Zoom can contribute to the cost of the reunion, e.g. by sending a donation to her attention via PayPal, sending a personal check in care of Paige (who will make sure she forwards it to Alliene), etc. Paige's address appears at the bottom of the Reunion invitation.

A motion was made to pay all bills, and it was moved and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report.

Ken inquired if there was any “old business” to be addressed? There was none.

Ken then asked if there was any “new business?”

Paige shared information received from Nancy (Nan) Christian Davis of the Henry Ingalls Branch pertaining to our family's connection to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. Mr. Alden and Ms. Mullins sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, which brought the English settlers commonly known as Pilgrims to Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts. Copies of Nan’s information about how we are related were distributed, along with how we are eligible to join the Alden Kindred of America Society because we are descendants of John Alden’s daughter, Elizabeth Alden (1625 - 05/31/1717). [NOTE: The Historian will maintain copies of this handout in her files for future reference.] We are grateful to Nan for providing this information.

There was no additional new business brought up.

The George and Irene Williams Family volunteered to host next year’s reunion. After a vote, it was agreed to hold the reunion on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

The Officers elected for next year were:

Krista gave a presentation pertaining to how cousins are related to one another (first, second, and removed). She included a storyboard to assist with understanding these relationships. This is often confusing, so this was a useful presentation.

Krista then led the Roll Call of Families, and the following numbers indicate how many people from each branch were represented at the Reunion.

[Note: Some families are counted twice, reflecting members who are descendants from two distinct branches. This year, 11 members from the Joseph Truman Ingalls Branch also were counted with the Ransom Page 5 of 5 Benjamin Ingalls Branch, and four members of the Cyrus Ingalls (Westerlo) Branch were counted with the Thaddeus Warsaw Ingalls Branch, as well.]

This year's “entertainment” was a presentation by Vice President Genevieve (Genn) Ingalls Howley.

She began by referencing an old beam found in Ed Griffin’s barn (at Balsam Shade Resort in Greenville, NY) with the name “Trum Ingalls” signed on it. Trum (Truman Ingalls – born 11/02/1864 – died 05/21/1941) was her great great grandfather. When added to information found in the diaries of Trum’s wife Carrie Spalding Ingalls (born ??? – married 11/24/1885 -- died 08/25/1951), which she kept starting with her marriage year and ending a few weeks before her death, a wealth of information about the lumber and building materials industry with its roots in Greene County beginning in the late 1800s up to and including the present was discovered. The “wood (logging and sawmill) business” has been in the family for well over one hundred years and is now run as GNH Lumber by Genn, her brother John Randall Ingalls, and their cousin Edward Joseph McQuillen II.

For her presentation, Genn summarized the full history article, which can be found on the GNH Web site: https://www.gnhlumber.com. It gives an excellent overview of the importance of the lumber business to the area and how the Ingalls family continues to contribute.

Before the close of the meeting, a round of applause was given thanking Ken and his wife Jeanne for once again updating the reunion database with people's current mailing and e-mail addresses and setting up Zoom for the reunion.

Ken then thanked everyone for participating in the 93rd Ingalls reunion and invited them back next year for the 94th, to be held on October 14, 2023.