My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL INGLING. The United States owes a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid to those valiant defenders of the Old Flag, who proudly enlisted under its banner and, marching into the thickest of the fight, heroically braved perils, seen and unseen. Many of those valiant soldiers have passed from the scenes of earth and have entered upon their final rest. Some, however, still survive, and among that number prominent mention belongs to the subject of this sketch, who now resides in Dowagiac.

Born in Stark County, Ohio, July 21, 1829, our subject is the son of William Ingling, one of the early settlers of Michigan, who came here in 1847. Grandfather Samuel Ingling served in the Revolutionary War, and was taken prisoner at the blockade of the Delaware River by the British. William Ingling was born in Burlington, N. J., and was there married to Miss Rebecca Conroe. Soon after that important event he removed to Philadelphia, where he resided for about twelve years. In 1824 he removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he bought land and became identified with the pioneer history of that county. In 1838 he removed to Delaware County, the same State, where he resided for two years. Thence he removed to Logan County, and followed farming pursuits there until 1847.

During that year Mr. Ingling came to Michigan and settled in Calvin Township, Cass County, where he engaged in carpenter work. He died in that township in 1858; his widow survived him a few years, passing away in 1861. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom nine grew to manhood and womanhood. Elias died August 28, 1872. Those living are Letitia, Mrs. Griesemer, a widow; William, a resident of Denver, Colo.; Sarah, the widow of John Parker and a resident of Dowagiac; Keziah, the widow of J. McComber; Elizabeth, the wife of David Parker, of Calhoun County, Iowa; and Samuel, of this sketch.

In Stark County, Ohio, our subject passed his early childhood years. When about eight years old he removed to Delaware County, and later to Logan County, Ohio, whence at the age of eighteen he came to Michigan. Here he served an apprenticeship of two years to the trade of a miller, and at the expiration of his term of service he engaged in farming. At the time the war broke out he was engaged in tilling the soil, but his patriotic impulses were so strong that he was induced to lay aside the pursuits of peace for the weapons of warfare. On the 1st of September, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company I, First United States Sharpshooters. The regiment being greatly reduced in numbers, he was transferred on the 1st of January, 1865, to Company I, Fifth Michigan Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war.

April 5, 1862, Mr. Ingling was awarded the silver prize for making the best test sharpshooting in the regiment, and on the same day he carried off the gold prize, which he won for being the best sharpshooter in his brigade. Far and wide throughout his regiment and brigade, as well as in the main army itself, he was known for his unerring marksmanship, and he gained distinction even among his superior officers. At the battle of the Wilderness a ball struck the silver medal which he carried in his fob, and, glancing aside, left him uninjured, so that the medal, in addition to being a great honor, was probably the means of saving his life.

At the battle of the Wilderness Mr. Ingling was wounded, on the 5th of May, 1864, and was taken to the hospital, where he remained until able to rejoin his regiment. Among the other prominent engagements in which lie participated may be mentioned those of Spottsylvania, Fredericksburg, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. At Strawberry Plain, August 17, he was wounded by a ball, which struck the sciatic nerve. He participated in thirty-one battles of the war and was always in the front. He was a member of Berdan’s sharpshooters, and had many thrilling experiences in war times.

While detailed on picket duty at Cold Harbor, Mr. Ingling suffered intensely from thirst and inquired of the Corporal, “Is there any water here that we can get?” The Corporal replied, “Yes, just outside of the lines there is a spring.” Taking his canteen and his gun, Mr. Ingling started down the incline. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a rebel vedette standing at an “order arms.” He put on a bold front, and, walking up to the man, said, “Hello, Johnny, who are you?” “I am a vedette,” was the reply. “And who are you?” “I am a soldier of Berdan’s sharpshooters.” They then went to the spring, where they had a social chat and then took their departure.

Upon returning from the war, Mr. Ingling located in Dowagiac and was first a clerk, and later engaged in the hardware business for about five years. June 21, 1854, he married Miss Jane D. Stanard, who was the daughter of Ezra Stanard. She was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and came to Michigan about 1845. Politically, Mr. Ingling is a Republican, and has represented the Third Ward as Alderman of the city for a period of two years. Socially, he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a devoted member of the Christian Church and takes an active interest in religious matters. As a slight compensation for his services during the war, he is the recipient of a pension from the Government. For the past three years he has been confined to the house from the effects of injuries received in the service.

The following incident, which occurred at the Soldiers’ Reunion held at Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1882, is from the pen of Gen. Hiram Berdan: “At one time yesterday, when the General was talking in his animated fashion to clusters of farmer riflemen, who pressed about him and hemmed him in, a dark-complexioned, mustached man, of average stature and with a pair of glasses astride his nose, was seen approaching the tent. The old General was on his feet in an instant, his fine figure showing up above the rest like that of an old field-marshal of France. ‘I am going to put you in the guard house,’ he shouted. But it didn’t seem to us as though he really meant it. He grasped the spectacled man’s hand, shook it again and again, and pulled him around, while the moisture came into his eyes. ‘You, rascal, I’ll put you in the guard house and keep you there. How dare you?’ ‘This is old Sam Ingling,’ explained the General to the reporter, wiping his optics with his white handkerchief. ‘Yes, sir, Old Sam Ingling, of Dowagiac, down here; he was the crack shot in my whole brigade of crack shots. He first took the medal of his regiment as a marksman, and then that of the brigade. I’m going to put him in the guard house and keep him there all the rest of his natural life, the rascal! I’ll tell you all about it. He and Allen here, of Battle Creek, were out on duty together one morning looking for Johnny-rebs to pick off, when all of a sudden two confederates appeared in the distance coming towards them. Allen said he would take the right hand man and Ingling the left. Both fired, and only one rebel fell. Both claimed him. It came out that Ingling had understood perfectly that he was to take the left hand man, and, sure enough, when we advanced, they found the body of the dead confederate with two holes in it. But I sent Ingling to the guard house for missing his man. You deserved it, too, you rascal. There, that shows you the esprit de corps of our brigade and the discipline that was preserved. To miss your man was an offense worthy of the guard house, but to have Sam Ingling, the crack shot of the regiment! Oh, that was scandalous! He ought to be clapped in again and kept there,’ concluded the General, making a dip in the direction of Sam’s ribs. Mr. Ingling had the medals which he won, and, taking them out of the chamois bag in which he keeps them, exhibited them to the reporter. The regimental medal is of silver, and is dented with a bullet, it having saved Mr. Ingling’s life once, when carried in his pocket in the battle of the Wilderness. The brigade medal is of gold, a very handsome piece of jewelry, and is appropriately engraved.”