The area was first settled by Thomas Ingersoll who was born in Massachusetts and immigrated to Upper Canada (Ontario) following the American Revolution. In 1793, he obtained a land grant of 66,000 acres in Oxford County from Governor John Graves Simcoe. He named the new settlement Oxford-on-the-Thames. His eldest daughter, Laura Ingersoll Secord, warned the British of an impending American attack on Upper Canada during the War of 1812. His son, Charles renamed the thriving settlement Ingersoll in honour of his father. This took effect in 1852 when the village was incorporated as the "Village of Ingersoll". Nine years later, In 1861 the village was then incorporated as the "Town of Ingersoll". The over eight foot tall statue at the left, carved from a single basswood tree was created by internationally acclaimed artist Neil Cox, a native of Ingersoll. It resides in the lobby of the Town Centre where it will be the centre of attention for years to come.

Oxford County cheese has achieved international acclaim both in the past and present. Ingersoll had the distinction of being Oxford's cheese capital in the mid 1800's to early 1900's, producing and packaging a good deal of the County's renowned cheddar.

It was near Ingersoll about 1840 that the first cheese factory in Canada was built. Further a field in Norwich, the first Canadian co-operative cheese factory was erected by Harvey Farrington in 1864. Ingersoll also saw the beginning of the Canadian Dairymen's Association in 1867, springing up due to Oxford's cheese expertise and also from the farmer's drive to improve and standardize the dairy industry.

The cheese making practice was introduced to Canada by English and Scottish immigrants. In early times, cheese was produced right in the farmhouse kitchen with the use of surplus milk. As cheese became more popular in Canada, it became necessary to move into, "cheese factories", of which the museum is a replica.

The Big Cheese was made in 1866 at the James Harris Cheese Factory approximately 1 km south of the Town's Museum on Highway 119. The Harris home is now the popular Elm Hurst Inn.

Curd was brought in from the George Galloway and Hiram Ranney factories to produce a mammoth cheese weighing 7,300 pounds, measuring 3 feet high and 7 feet in diameter. Forty-five yards of cheese cloth were required to wrap it.

The pressing operation to form the cheese took two days. A special lifting device to turn the cheese was manufactured by the Noxon Implement Company of Ingersoll. This device allowed the cheese to be turned by one man. The mammoth cheese was manufactured to promote the cheese industry in Oxford County.

The cheese was exhibited in Saratoga, New York at the State Fair. From there it was shipped to Liverpool, England and then to shows all over England. Three hundred pounds were returned to Ingersoll and shared with the factory workers and interested citizens.

Prosperity Through Progress is the Town of Ingersoll's motto and is positioned across the bottom of the town's crest. The Red background is symbolic of the Towns association with the Empire Loyalists, led by Thomas Ingersoll, who came north after the American Revolution and settled in this area. The crest also shows the town's loyalty to Canada with two red maple leafs one on each side of the crest.

Ingersoll had the distinction of being Oxford's cheese capital in the mid 1800's to early 1900's, producing and packaging a good deal of the County's renowned cheddar. This is symbolized by the block of cheddar in the lower left of the Town's Crest. The cog is symbolic of Industry in the area. Ingersoll is home to the following:

Ingersoll Paper Box ( IPB )     Sivaco

Ingersoll Machine and Tool ( IMT )     CAMI Automotive

The blue and white waves through the middle of crest symbolize the peaceful flow of the Thames river which runs through the center of Ingersoll.