 He returned to Detroit, publishing two papers there, moved to Rochester, New York, and in 1858 moved to Owosso, Michigan to publish the "American".Harriett Ingersoll died in 1860, and John Ingersoll settled down somewhat, entering local politics, and in 1862 merging the Owosso "American" with the Corunna "Democrat", changing the name of the merged publication to the "Shiawassee American".He married Mrs. Julia H. Barnum of Owosso in 1864, and built a new house for the family in Corunna in 1868.