Melville E. Ingalls
Encyclopedia
Melville Ezra Ingalls commonly abbreviated M.E. Ingalls, was a Massachusetts
state legislator who went on to become president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (the Big Four Railroad).
in 1863, Ingalls began practicing law in Gray, ME before moving to Boston, MA where he became an expert in corporate law, specializing in transportation lines. In 1871, he was retained as counsel to the Cincinnati and Lafayette Railroad and would eventually become its president. After multiple consolidations under his watch, the company became known as the Big Four Railroad.
On July 11, 1914, Ingalls died at his summer home in Hot Springs, VA from heart disease
after undergoing treatment for an ulcerated tooth. He was buried in Cincinnati, OH.
Ingalls also organized the Joint Traffic Association, which shut down by the United States Supreme Court and co-founded the Cincinnati Technical School. He is the grandfather of David Sinton Ingalls
.
Melville financed the construction of the Ingalls Building
in Cincinnati, which was the world's first reinforced concrete skyscraper in 1903. The town of Ingalls, Indiana
is named in his honor.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
state legislator who went on to become president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (the Big Four Railroad).
Career
Ingalls was born on September 6, 1842 in Harrison, ME where he worked on the family farm until he began teaching at the age of 16. After graduating from Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1863, Ingalls began practicing law in Gray, ME before moving to Boston, MA where he became an expert in corporate law, specializing in transportation lines. In 1871, he was retained as counsel to the Cincinnati and Lafayette Railroad and would eventually become its president. After multiple consolidations under his watch, the company became known as the Big Four Railroad.
Positions Held
- President of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad until 1900
- President of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis until 1905, Chairman of the Board until 1910
- President of the Kentucky Central Railroad (January, 1881 - October, 1883)
- President of the Cincinnati Northern
- President of the Merchants' National Bank in Cincinnati, OH
- Co-founder and President of the Cincinnati Art MuseumCincinnati Art MuseumThe Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. Founded in 1881, it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies. Its collection of over 60,000 works make it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Midwest.Museum founders debated locating...
- President of the National Civic FederationNational Civic FederationThe National Civic Federation, was a federation of American businesses and labor leaders founded in 1900. It favoured moderate progressive reform and sought to resolve disputes arising between industry and organized labor. It emerged first in 1893 as the Chicago Civic Federation , which was also...
in 1905 - President of the Queen City Club in Cincinnati, OH
On July 11, 1914, Ingalls died at his summer home in Hot Springs, VA from heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
after undergoing treatment for an ulcerated tooth. He was buried in Cincinnati, OH.
Ingalls also organized the Joint Traffic Association, which shut down by the United States Supreme Court and co-founded the Cincinnati Technical School. He is the grandfather of David Sinton Ingalls
David Sinton Ingalls
David Sinton Ingalls, DSC and DFC was the only United States Navy Flying Ace of World War I, with six credited victories; thus he was the first ace in U. S. Navy history. He was the son of Albert S. Ingalls; his mother, Jane Taft, was the niece of President William Howard Taft...
.
Melville financed the construction of the Ingalls Building
Ingalls Building
The Ingalls Building, built in 1903 in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the world's first reinforced concrete skyscraper. The 15 story building was designed by the Cincinnati architectural firm Elzner & Anderson and was named for its primary financial investor, Melville E. Ingalls...
in Cincinnati, which was the world's first reinforced concrete skyscraper in 1903. The town of Ingalls, Indiana
Ingalls, Indiana
Ingalls is a town in Green Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,391 at the 2010 census. The town is named in honor of Melville E...
is named in his honor.