Background
Elias Ingraham was born on October 1, 1805, in Marlborough, Connecticut, to Joseph Ingraham and Eunice Carrier.
Elias Ingraham was born on October 1, 1805, in Marlborough, Connecticut, to Joseph Ingraham and Eunice Carrier.
Elias Ingraham early learned the trade of cabinetmaking. Attracted by the extensive clockmaking business, he came to Bristol in 1824, at the age of 19, to work for the Honorable George Mitchell, making clock cases. In 1852, Elias and his brother, Andrew, started a clock manufacturing company with the financial backing of Elisha C. Brewster. The company Brewster-Ingrahams was formed. Later Brewster withdrew from the company, and it became E. and A. Ingraham.
Ingraham was the foremost clock case designer. His "sharp Gothic" shelf clock, nicknamed "steeple, " was his best-known and most widely copied design, though few makers kept his excellent proportions. Other famous case styles designed by Ingraham were "Doric, " "Ionic, " "Grecian, " and "Venetian. " The Ingraham Clock Company, which he founded in 1831, remains one of the largest producers of timepieces in the world.
Elias Ingraham died on August 16, 1885, in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.
Elias Ingraham was married to Julia Sparks and had one son named Edward Ingraham.
Joseph Ingraham was born on July 8, 1776, in Colchester, Connecticut, United States. In 1803 he married Eunice Carrier and they had two children.
Eunice Carrier was born on March 17, 1774, in Colchester, Connecticut, United States.
Julia Hale Sparks Ingraham was born on March 27, 1806, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States. She was the daughter of Nathan and Lucinda (Hale) Sparks.
