The Columbia River Sun-July 4, 1935 Cathlamet, Washington Mrs. Ingram, Cathlamet Pioneer Passes Away (By J. Bruce Polwarth) On Saturday last, a little after midnight had given way to the advent of the morning hours heralding the coming of the dawn, Mrs. Christina T. Ingram set forth for that mysterious realm to which each must journey upon the completion of an earthly cycle. Weary of a futile struggle against the inevitable, the strong will failed and the active mind became listless the evening came with its beautiful smile, the eyes closed to slumber awhile and thus she entered the Great Adventure, which is the lot of all living things. She faced it with out fear or apprehension-approached the portals of the Unknown, feeling that one who had ever striven to discharge every duty unselfishly, sympathetically, kindly, and to the full extent of the light at hand, could enter "the house with the narrow gate" hopefully, unafraid. Encouraged and sustained, perhaps, by those "sweet voices we hear in the days gone before" guiding to the port of call another baroque homeward bound. Her's was a completed life, holding as done all that which had been assigned; it was, as humans estimate, a long life-75 years, winters drifting like flakes of snow and the summers like buds between and the year in the sheaf; dour skies and moaning winter winds, the crossing of the spring song calling again from dormancy to busy life, the sunny days of growth and realization and the time of reaping and the joys of accomplishment, and thus the years come and so, one by one, they disappeared into the murk and dusk of the eternal and relentless past. Born at Riccarton, Scotland in 1859, she, with her parents, George and Jean West, came to America in 1874 locating at Westport, Clatsop county, Oregon, a little town founded by her late uncle, John West, who was there engaged in the sawmill, canning and mercantile business. In 1881 her father purchased the property known as the Birnie Donation Land Claim and which included the subsequent townsite of Cathlamet and the family, including Mrs. Ingram, moved at once to the new home which has proved to be her life-long residence. In 1892 she and Capt. David Ingram, her surviving husband, were married in Cathlamet, the captain at that time being in command of a British ship a part of whose outward cargo was being loaded at Westport. After their marriage Mrs. Ingram accompanied her husband on the outward voyage and continued to sail with him for some time thereafter until the lure of the sea was gone and she returned to her Cathlamet home where, later on she was joined by her captain and the two have been, for many years, delightful and esteemed residents of our ancient town. In addition to her husband, two children survive her, Alex G. Ingram of Seattle, who for a number of years has held a very responsible position with certain nationally known insurance companies; and Mrs. Janet Ingram Orth, wife of E. M. Orth president of our local bank; and three grandchildren and other relatives. Monday funeral services were conducted at the home, Rev. Phillip Kelly, Congregational minister officiating, in the presence of a large gathering of sympathetic friends. Interment was held in the West plot of the old cemetery back of the high school building where rest the remains of her father, mother and several brothers. The ranks of those who aided in development of our little community and our little county are fast melting into thin air; but they carry with them a realization of work well done, of burdens, heavy though they were at times, bravely borne with some, if not all, of the day- dreams of the past the actualities of the present. They labored in their simple, kindly way that others, as well as self, might benefit, setting a standard for us today worthy of more consideration than is given it. As the years grow apace many will recall with gentle pleasure their memory of Mrs. Ingram; her soft voice with the dulcet Scotch accent as attractive as the lilt of he mavis.... Christiana T. (West) Ingram Birnie Pioneer Cemetery, Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Washington 1857-6/29/1935 (Original in the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum)