John William Isaacson

ISAACSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 09:20:23

The attractiveness of Boone county as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, recognizing the fact that the opportunities she offers them are equal to those found elsewhere in the country. I fact, Iowa leads in various regards. It is one of the best agricultural states of this great Union and it is in the lead as to its public schools.
Mr Isaacson was born in Boone county, march 4, 1868. His parents Alexander and Margaret E (Bergquist) Isaacson, had made an overland trip for Andover, Illinois, to this state in 1866, settling in Garden township, Boone county on May 17, of that year. Both parents were natives of Sweden. The father, who was born July 7, 1831, crossed the Atlantic in 1859. He was married in Illinois on April 8, 1862, to Margaret E Bergquist, who was born in Sweden, July 25, 1840, and came to the United States in 1857. Alexander Isaacson was naturalized in 1864 and remained a loyal citizen of his adopted land to the time of his demise. On coming to the new world he settled in Illinois and for some time resided at Andover, Henry county, that state. In 1866 he drove across the country to Garden Prairie, in Garden township this county, and there made his home on the north one half of northwest quarter of section 15, township 82, range 25, util 1868, when he went with his family to a farm near Sheldahl, the west one half of the southwest quarter of section 25, township 82, range 25 where the succeeding decade was passed and in 1899 the parents went to Madrid,, where their remaining days were spent the father’s death occurring October 16, 1911. For about three years he has survived his wife, who died on November 17, 1908. They were early settlers of Illinois and likewise of Boone county and were numbered among the substantial and highly respected people of their community. In their family were five children, three daughters and two sons, namely, Mrs Amelia Kinland, who was born April 14, 1863, and died in Newkirk, Oklahoma, in 1902, Francis A born November 15,m 1865 and now living in Madrid, John William of this review, Anna l who died in infancy, and Mrs Ida O Johnson who was born September 20, 1875 and married in Boone county in 1897, her death occurring in July of the following year. The two eldest children were born in Illinois and the younger member s of the family in Bone county. All however were reared in this county and attended the country schools of the community in which they made their home.
John William Isaacson has always been a resident of Boone county and was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After attaining his majority he continued to engage in farming, but in 1899 left the farm and removed to Madrid, where for some time he was engaged in the hardware business. He owns good business property in the city, including the brick blocks in which the hardware business of A Yocum is conducted. He is also the owner of a well improved 120 acre farm in Colfax township and good residence property in Madrid.
Mr Isaacson is pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married in this county in 1906 to Miss Anna Matilda Alsin, who was born in Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa and came to Boone county in childhood. Here she was reared to womanhood and has since made her home. Her father P A Alsin was one of the pioneer settlers of Garden township.
In his political views Mr Isaacson is a republican and is thoroughly informed concerning party questions and issues, but dose not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He is today surrounded by most of the comforts of life as the result of his careful management and intelligently directed business activity. He forms his plans carefully, is determined in their execution, and as the years have gone by he has won that success which is the legitimate reward of earnest, persistent effort.

1914 Boone County History Book