Ingersoll, Robert Green, 1833-1899

Ingersoll: unmarried lawyer in Peoria, Ill.

From the description of Letter : Peoria, Ill., to Miss Han Selby, Smithland, Ky., 1859 Sept. 24. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986349

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer, well-known proponent of agnosticism. Hackley (1837-1905): businessman & philanthropist from Muskegon, Mich.

From the description of Letter : New York, [N.Y.], to Mr. [Charles Henry?] Hackley, 1897 July 21. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986345

Robert G. Ingersoll was an attorney, political leader, and orator on politics and religion.

From the description of Robert G. Ingersoll papers, 1877-1898. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64071666

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer & well-known proponent of agnosticism. Garfield: wife of president-elect James Garfield.

From the description of Letter : Washington, D.C., to Mrs. [James A.] Garfield, 1880 Nov. 4. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 42269355

Robert Green Ingersoll was born in 1833 and became a lawyer in Illinois by the age of twenty-two. After practicing law in Southern Illinois for approximately three years, Ingersoll and his brother, Ebon Clark, moved to Peoria in 1857 where they earned reputations for being outstanding attorneys. In February of 1862 Ingersoll married Eva Amelia Parker and had two daughters, Eva and Maud. In 1863 Ingersoll began lecturing against traditionally held religious beliefs and became active in politics. He campaigned for Ebon who was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1864 and was himself appointed that state's Attorney General in 1866. Ingersoll later lost the Republican nomination for governor because of his increasing notoriety as an outspoken agnostic. Ingersoll's speech nominating James G. Blaine for the Presidency at the 1876 Republican Convention in Cincinnati established his own national reputation as an orator but did little to advance his political career. Ingersoll left politics and moved in 1877 to Washington D.C. to pursue business and law. Eventually he moved to New York where he defended some of the most significant legal cases of the 1880's and 1890's. He continued lecturing to thousands across the country against the Christian religion. As his fame spread, some of his earlier lectures and subsequent retorts from consternated clergy were published. Ingersoll suffered a heart attack and died July 12, 1899.

From the description of Gordon Stein Collection of Robert Green Ingersoll, 1801-1970. (Southern Illinois University). WorldCat record id: 244637587

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer & well-known proponent of agnosticism.

From the description of Postal card : New York, N.Y., to Urbana Daily Citizen, Urbana, Ohio, 1890 Nov. 26. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 42269359

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer. Johnston: wealthy & prominent jeweler in New York, N.Y.

From the description of Letter : to John H. Johnston, 1885 Nov. 26. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 42269354

Lawyer and lecturer.

From the description of Robert Green Ingersoll papers, 1826-1940 (bulk 1866-1899). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79455263

Ingersoll: lawyer, author & lecturer. Pond: lecture manager in New York City. Dunbar: Afro-American poet.

From the description of Letter : Dobbs' Ferry-on-Hudson, [N.Y.], to Mr. [James B.] Pond, 1896 Sept. 14. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986343

American lawyer, political orator and writer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : to Charles Stowe?, 1877 Oct. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269539139

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer & well-known proponent of agnosticism. Savage: author, Unitarian clergyman, pastor of Church of the Unity in Boston.

From the description of Letter : [New York, N.Y.], to Mr. [Minot J.] Savage, 1898 Dec. 16. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986348

Ingersoll: lawyer, author & lecturer. Pond: lecture manager in New York City.

From the description of Letter : [New York, N.Y.], to [James B.] Pond, 1889 Oct. 26. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986341

American lawyer and author. Green was a colonel in the Union Army, attorney general of Illinois, 1867-1869, and a noted agnostic lecturer.

From the description of Papers of Robert Green Ingersoll, 1877-1909. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 31448306

Ingersoll: regimental commander of the 11th Illinois Cavalry. Halleck: commanding general, Dept. of the West.

From the description of Letter : St Louis, [Mo.], to Major Gen[eral H.W.] Halleck, 1862 Mar. 13. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 42269357

Ingersoll: lawyer, close friend of Illinois Governor Oglesby. Schilling: labor movement activist in Chicago, Ill.

From the description of Letter : New York, N.Y., to Geo. A. Schilling, Chicago, Ill., 1887 Nov. 3. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986350

Ingersoll: Dorsey's lawyer in the Star Routes trials (1882-3). Dorsey: rancher and businessman in Colfax County, N.M.

From the description of Letter : New York, [N.Y.], to Mr. [Stephen W.] Dorsey, 1886 Oct. 14. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986337

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer, well-known proponent of agnosticism. Marsh: retired lawyer, orator, devout Christian.

From the description of Letter : New York, N.Y., to Luther R. Marsh, 1897 Dec. 25. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986347

Ingersoll: lawyer, author, lecturer, well-known proponent of agnosticism. Walker: church history professor at Hartford Theological Seminary.

From the description of Letter : New York, [N.Y.], to Mr. [Williston] Walker, 1891 Sept. 24. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986342

Ingersoll: lawyer & well-known proponent of agnosticism. Savage: author, Unitarian clergyman, pastor of Church of the Unity in Boston.

From the description of Letter : Washington, D.C., to Mr. [Minot J.] Savage, 1882 Dec. 8. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986340

From the description of Letter : Washington, D.C., to M.J. Savage, 1878 July 17. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986336

Ingersoll: well-known proponent of agnosticism. Ray: recent Norwegian immigrant & law student.

Ray immigrated from Norway in 1881 and began practicing law in Chicago in 1890. He died in Chicago on 28 October 1943.

From the description of Letter : to Olaf E. Ray, 1886 Nov. 5. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 41986339

Civil War soldier, lawyer, author & lecturer, well-known proponent of agnosticism. Also represented are his brother, wife, in-laws, children & grandchildren, and other family members.

Organized and commanded the 11th Illinois Cavalry. Practiced law in Peoria, Ill., Washington, D.C., and New York City. Active in Republican politics. Son-in-law Walston H. Brown was a financier and railroad builder. Most of the women represented were active in various progressive movements.

From the description of Family papers, 1854-1970 (bulk 1862-1935) (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 43358703

Biographical Note

• 1833, Aug. 11: Born, Dresden, N.Y.
• 1844: Moved with family to Illinois
• 1854: Read law and was admitted to the Illinois bar
• 1855 - 1857 : Practiced law, Shawneetown, Ill.
• 1857: Moved law practice to Peoria, Ill.
• 1860: Defeated as Democratic candidate for seat in United States House of Representatives
• 1861: Commissioned colonel of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
• 1862: Married Eva Amelia Parker Served in the Tennessee Valley campaign, at Shiloh and at Corinth during the Civil War
• 1863: Discharged from military service
• 1864: Joined the Republican Party
• 1867 - 1869 : Attorney general of Illinois
• 1869: Resumed law practice in Peoria, Ill. Began to acquire a reputation as an orator and agnostic
• 1876: Attained national fame as orator in a nominating speech for James Gillespie Blaine at the Republican national convention
• 1877: Moved law practice to Washington, D.C.
• 1882 - 1883 : Defense attorney, Star Route trial
• 1885: Moved law practice to New York, N.Y.
• 1899, July 21: Died, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

From the guide to the Robert Green Ingersoll Papers, 1826-1940, (bulk 1866-1899), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)