John James Ingalls

John James Ingalls (December 29, 1833 – August 16, 1900) was an American Republican politician who served as a United States senator from Kansas. Ingalls is credited with suggesting the state motto and designing the state seal.

Early life John James Ingalls was born in Middleton, Massachusetts, on December 29, 1833, to Elias T. Ingalls and Eliza C. Ingalls.

In 1887 Ingalls was elected president pro tempore of the Senate.

Death Ingalls died from bronchitis at the Montezuma hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, on August 16, 1900, with his wife and son by his side. He was buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Atchison.

Legacy In 1905, the state of Kansas donated a marble statue of Ingalls to the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection. After an effort starting in 2011, Kansas replaced Ingalls with Amelia Earhart in 2022.

Personal life John James Ingalls married Anna Louise Chesebrough in 1865, they had eleven children including Sheffield Ingalls. At the time of Ingalls' death, six of his children were still living.