Ingalls was born on September 6, 1842 in Harrison, Maine, United States, where he worked on the family farm until he began teaching at the age of 16. He was the third son and third child of Ezra Thoms Ingalls and Louisa M. (Mayberry) Ingalls. His ancestor, Edmund Ingalls, came originally from England, and settled at Lynn, Massachussets, in 1629.
Ingalls spent his boyhood on a farm, receiving his early education in the local district school and at Bridgton Academy where he prepared himself for Bowdoin College.
His lack of sufficient funds compelled him to forego his college course, however, and he entered the law office of A. A. Stront of Harrison to study for the legal profession. In 1862 he matriculated in the Harvard Law School. The following year he graduated from this institution, receiving one of the prizes offered for a dissertation.
Ingalls began the practice of law in Gray, Maine, but in 1864 removed to Boston where he entered the law office of Judge Charles Levi Woodbury, a distinguished member of the Massachusetts bar. He then began to specialize in corporation law, particularly in its application to transportation lines. In 1867 he was elected to the Massachusetts legislature from the sixth senatorial district. He served one term in the state Senate and declined a renomination.
In 1870 he began his career as a railroad executive, becoming president of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad, which was in dire financial straits as the heavy traffic incident to the Civil War declined and competition increased from the construction of other roads. The stock of this company was held principally by Bostonians, and in 1871 they requested Ingalls to assume complete charge as receiver. Under his management a reorganization was possible in 1873 and he was elected president of the new corporation.
The organization was premature, however, and in 1876 he was again appointed receiver. It was in this trying position that he clearly demonstrated his financial ability. He secured voluntary subscriptions from the stockholders and with these funds paid off the indebtedness and freed the company from litigation.
By 1880 he had consolidated the Lawrenceburg line with the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad and organized a new company under the name of the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railway, of which he became president.
Meanwhile he attracted the attention of the Vanderbilts, who controlled the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, & Indianapolis Railway, popularly known as the Bee Line. In 1889 the Ingalls and Vanderbilt interests were consolidated and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company was organized. Of the new system, known as the Big Four, Ingalls was elected president. He held this position until the New York Central in 1905 assumed control of the various properties under his direction; he then became chairman of the board of directors, an office he retained until his resignation, November 14, 1912.
He was also president of the Kentucky Central Railroad from 1881 to 1883 and president of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company from 1888 to 1900.
In 1903 he was Democratic candidate for mayor of Cincinnati but was defeated. In 1905 he was chosen president of the National Civic Federation.
His death occurred at Hot Springs, Virginia.
Melville Ezra Ingalls was known as the president of the multiple consolidations Big Four Railroad. Besides, he took an active interest in the political, cultural, and business life of Cincinnati. He was one of the founders of the Cincinnati Art Museum and president of its board of directors. He was chosen president of the Cincinnati Exposition and was president of the Merchants' National Bank of Cincinnati. Ingalls also was one of the founders of the Cincinnati Technical School. He erected in Cincinnati the first concrete skyscraper in that city.
In politics Ingalls was a "sound money Democrat. " He supported McKinley in 1896 and 1900 but voted for Bryan in 1908.
A firm believer in "physical culture as a mental stimulant, " Melville Ezra was one of the pioneers in the modern playground movement, advocating more baseball and athletic fields for the city's children.
Ingalls had great skill as a railroad reorganizer.
His associates and employees found him approachable and affable but a rigorous disciplinarian.
On January 19, 1867, he married Abbie M. Stimson of Gray, Maine. Of their six children, five survived him.
