In the 1840s, when Ingalls was a young boy, his family moved from New York to the tallgrass prairie of Campton Township, just west of Elgin, Illinois.

Together, they had five children: Mary Amelia (1865–1928), Laura Elizabeth (1867–1957), Caroline Celestia (Carrie) (1870–1946), Charles Frederick (Freddie) (1875–1876) and Grace Pearl (1877–1941) [4] He and his older brother did not serve in the Civil War.

[6] From their original home in the woods of Wisconsin, Ingalls moved his family to southeastern Kansas, then back to Wisconsin; and from there to southern Minnesota.They then went to Burr Oak, Iowa and then back to Minnesota; Presented with an opportunity to work for a railroad in Dakota Territory, he longed to move yet again, as the family was struggling financially in Minnesota.

[7] After promising his wife, Caroline, that the family would finally settle in one place, it was in 1879 that Ingalls decided to stay in De Smet, Dakota Territory following their move from Minnesota.

A few years later, he had "proved up" his claim and sold the farm, choosing to move back into De Smet and build a home on Third Street.

A respected citizen of De Smet, Ingalls held various elected positions in the town, including Justice of the Peace and deputy sheriff.