From “The History of Polk County, Iowa”: “In 1865 the Hawkeye Insurance Company was organized with Mr. Ingersoll as president. He had no intention of abandoning his [prior legal] profession, but in the fall of 1870 his increase of business, insurance and legal, compelled him to abandon one branch, which the force of circumstances, with money investments, decided in favor of his continuance with Hawkeye. Mr. Ingersoll is a man possessing great force of character and eminent business qualifications, energetic, persistent, faithful and reliable in all business undertakings, and as a manager and financier, has but few superiors.” (Photo courtesy the Des Moines Public Library)