Alameda-San Francisco-Sonoma County CA Archives Biographies.....Ingram, Silas D. 1821 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2006, 2:39 am

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

SILAS D. INGRAM, one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Haywards, was
born in the township of Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence County, New York, March 31,
1821; followed farming, lumbering, blacksmithing and studied medicine, but
practiced it very little. In 1855 he moved to Wisconsin, and afterward to Flint,
Michigan; Brighton, Ohio, following his trade here until 1859, and then moved to
Morgan County, Missouri; May 2, 1861, after seeing the Confederate flag raised
in Kansas City, he started across the plains in company with others, for the
Golden Coast. While in camp at Mountain Springs, July 18, his train was attacked
by Indians and a number of the whites were killed; all the mules, sixty in
number, stampeded, and the Indians secured them. Two members of the train
started toward Salt Lake and overtook another train of emigrants, whom they
finally induced, through fraternal suasion, to aid them on the way. Soon
afterward Mr. Ingram was fortunate enough to purchase some mules, and continue
the trip on to California. Locating at what is known as Pleasant Grove, Sutter
County, Mr. Ingram was the first resident there and consequently the founder of
the town, where he carried on his trade until 1866, when he moved to San
Francisco, and became a dealer in live-stock for two years. Then he moved to
Sonoma County one year, thence to Austin Creek, near Duncan Mills, where five
years later he was burned out, losing nearly everything. In 1878 he built a
hotel and conducted it as a pleasure resort. In this and other enterprises Mr.
Ingram spent money freely in the construction of a wagon road over the
mountains, from Guerneville to Fort Ross, passing by his hotel, this enterprise
alone costing him some $8,000. His next struggle was to induce the North Pacific
Coast Railroad Company to extend their road to his place, in which he succeeded,
thereby making his hotel easy of access from San Francisco. In 1888 he sold out
this resort and moved near Haywards, locating for a time on thirty-five acres of
land which he still owns, and on which he raises nearly all varieties of
deciduous fruits. He is now a dealer in real estate, having his residence at
Haywards. He was the prime mover in establishing the electric light system in
1888, and he still owns half of the stock. This company was incorporated by S.
D. Ingram, D. Chisholm and J. H. Farrell, May 1, 1890. Politically Mr. Ingram is
a Republican, and fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic and Odd Fellows
orders,-in the latter being a member of Unity Lodge, No. 131, at San Francisco,
of which he was also one of the charter members; he has passed all the chairs.

  Mr. Ingram was married in Oswegatchie, New York, February 12, 1855, to Miss
Sarah A. Rolston, and they have three children: Frederick S., Charles W. and
George JB. The ancestors of Mr. Ingram on the paternal side were from Leeds,
England, and on the maternal side Scotch and German.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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