94th Ingalls Reunion Minutes

The 94th Ingalls Reunion was held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Carney Hall of the Asbury United Methodist Church of Greenville and Norton Hill. The temperature was 45 degrees F at 7:00 a.m. It was overcast with a light breeze and a chance of showers later in the day. The high was in the mid-50s.

A total of fifty-two people attended, with forty-eight in person and four participating via Zoom. Two additional people attended as guests, Charlene and Ken Mabey.The George and Irene Williams Family hosted. Lovely autumn decorations graced the tables, which were set up in two long lines, extending from the stage area to the back of the hall.

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. Six were sold. Copies of the 2024 Greenville Local History Group calendar also were for sale for ten dollars each. Three calendars were sold.

Genevieve (Genn) Ingalls Howley, the President, asked Noah Ingalls to ring Jacob Ingalls’ cowbell at 12:00 noon to call those present to gather for a large group photograph taken by Jeanne Williams. It was later posted on the www.jacobingallsfamily.com Web site.

After Noah rang the cow bell again, everyone was seated, and Genn read Walter Ingalls’ grace that he gave at the 75th Ingalls Reunion in 2003. As always, there were a great many dishes and desserts to choose from. The Treasurer passed the basket while people were eating.

After the meal, the cowbell was rung one last time to call the meeting to order, and Genn welcomed everyone to the 94th Ingalls Reunion. She thanked Pastor Eunice Kim 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 fifth year. She was given a round of applause.

The person who traveled the farthest to attend the reunion was Elizabeth Ayalew, a Rotary exchange student from Ethiopia. She was staying with the John Ingalls family, spending her senior year attending Greenville Central School.

The two oldest attendees were Betty McAneny, 96, and Edna Elliott, 94. The youngest person attending the reunion was Noah Ingalls, seven years old.

Seven people attended the Ingalls Reunion for the first time: Elizabeth Ayalew, Mrs. John Eugene Jennings, Dorothy Jennings, Gail Elliott, Annie McDonald Schwartz, and Charlene and Ken Mabey.

The Secretary, Paige Ingalls, read the minutes from the 2022 reunion, which were approved as written. She then sent around the book for everyone to sign, along with a folder of “Ingallsiana.”

Paige also read correspondence received during the past year from Carlton Simons from Charleston, SC, and Judy Gardner Hildebran from Shelbyville, KY. Both sent checks for fifty dollars ($50.00) to support the reunion, which was much appreciated. They are from the Lucinda Ingalls Branch. Judy noted that attending another Ingalls Reunion is on her “bucket list,” which got a big chuckle. We hope to have her husband and her join us sometime soon.

The Treasurer, Alliene Applebee, gave her report:

There was $2,589.35 in the savings account prior to the reunion, with $3.87 interest earned between October 2022 through September 2023, leaving a balance of $2,593.22.

The day’s income equaled $795.00. $623.00 came from the Dinner Collection and $100.00 from the donations sent by Carlton Simons and Judy Gardner Hildebran [see Correspondence section above]. The sale of six Genealogies brought in $72.00.

Dispersals/Expenses totaling $449.00 were made for--
Printing of the Invitations ("Postcards") $165.00
Postage for the Invitations $ 159.00
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 $346.00, and a grand total of $2,939.22 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 or sending a personal check in care of Paige (who will make sure she forwards it to Alliene). Paige's address appears at the bottom of the Reunion invitation. One donation was received from those attending via Zoom.

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

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

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

Ken Mabey spoke briefly about how he is related (via marriage) to the Ingalls in various branches, noting that his surname is spelled differently in different places in our Genealogy. He also shared a few amusing anecdotes about some Ingalls who have crossed his path through the years. Genn thanked Ken for sharing his connections to our family and stated that it was a pleasure having his wife and him join us at our reunion.

Jeanne Williams brought up the fact that the family Web site, www.jacobingallsfamily.com would benefit from a more “hands-on” webmaster. She also thinks a Facebook page would be a good idea. Unfortunately, no one volunteered to take on either of these projects. The Warren T. and Clarence Ingalls Families volunteered to host next year’s reunion. After a vote, it was agreed to hold the reunion on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

The Officers elected for next year were:

Historian Krista encouraged those in attendance who had not yet signed the autograph quilt she is making to please see her at the conclusion of the meeting so that they can be a part of it.

Krista then reviewed the births, marriages, divorces, and deaths that she had received over the past year. Of particular note was the passing of her father, Walter Henry Ingalls, who was a major supporter of the Ingalls Reunion through the years. His presence will be missed.

Krista next 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, 12 members from the Joseph Truman Ingalls Branch also were counted with the Ransom Benjamin Ingalls Branch (12+25=37 total who stood up with the Ransom Benjamin Ingalls Branch).

This year's “entertainment” was a presentation by Vice President JohnIngalls. He spoke about his family building and donating a pavilion for the Greenville, NY, Town Park as a memorial to members of GNH Lumber, Inc. – Stanley L. Ingalls (founder), Randall (Buddy) S. Ingalls, Walter H. Ingalls, and Stanley R. Ingalls, all of whom “chose service over self” throughout their lives. GNH provided the plans and materials for the pavilion; Delaware Engineering assisted with permits; and local contractors, vendors, and volunteers helped bring the project to fruition. A prospective Eagle Scout took on the task of constructing twelve picnic tables and benches for the pavilion. Several hundred community members attended a ceremony on September 13, 2023, to enjoy a barbecue celebrating the new structure, named The Ingalls Family Pavilion.

Before the close of the meeting, Genn thanked Ken and Jeanne Williams for once again updating the reunion database with people's current mailing and e-mail addresses and setting up Zoom for the reunion.

Genn then thanked everyone for participating in the 94th Ingalls Reunion and invited them back next year for the 95th, to be held on October 19, 2024.