Ira O. Isham 1842-1906

ISHAM, PRICKETT, TOLL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/5/2010 at 21:54:13

Ira O. Isham Dead
Passed Away at Boise, Idaho, Last Friday Morning
Had Been Ill Several Months
The Decedent Had Lived in Estherville Since 1892 and Owned Several Farms in Emmet County
Ira O. Isham, for several years a resident of Estherville and a large owner of Emmet county land, died last Friday [May 11, 1906] at Boise, Idaho, where he had made his home for several months. He had been troubled with asthma for several years and moved last September to Twin Falls, Idaho, in the hope that the climate there would benefit his health. He found no relief, however, and later moved to Boise where he remained until his death, which was caused by dropsy and a complication of ailments. The remains were brought to Estherville for interment, arriving here last evening, accompanied by Mrs. Isham and her sons. The funeral services will be held at the M.E. church at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. F. W. Ginn of Webster City, a former pastor. The remains will be interred at Oak Hill cemetery.

Mr. Isham was born at Hamburg, Erie county, New York, October 10, 1842, and was thus in his sixty-third year. The year after his birth his parents moved to Dane county in the territory of Wisconsin, settling near the present city of Madison. He attended the state university at Madison and near the close of the war enlisted in the Fortieth Wisconsin infantry and served with the hundred day volunteers. At the close of the war he went west and made several trips across the plains from Plattsmouth to Denver. He returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming until 1872 when he moved to Marion county, Iowa, where he taught school and farmed until the fall of 1876 when he engaged in the hardware and lumber business with J. A. Houser at Pleasantville. The next year his brother, C. M. Isham, purchased Mr. Houser’s interest and the two brothers continued the business until 1891 when they sold out and came to northern Iowa to look at land. They purchased 2,100 acres in Lincoln and Iowa Lake townships and the next year the subject of this sketch moved to Estherville and built a home on North Sixth street, where he lived until leaving for Idaho last fall. He was engaged in the grain business for six years, first in partnership with Frank Albro and later with A. O. McCall, the latter firm selling out to the Skewis Grain company last July.

Mrs. Isham was twice married. His first wife was Miss Catherine Prickett of Pleasantville with whom he was united in 1872. Two sons were the fruit of this union, Gus and Frank, both of whom now reside in Longmont, Colorado. She died in 1876 and in 1880 Mr. Isham married Mrs. Sarah Toll of Pleasantville. Three sons were born to them: Orson, Ralph and George, all of whom lived at the parental home. He is also survived by four brothers: Albert S. of Clinton, Wisconsin; W. M. and C. M. of Des Moines and Eugene of Webster City.

The decedent was a man of strictest integrity, honest and upright in his dealing with his fellow men. He enjoyed the universal respect of all in the community in which he had made his home for the past fourteen years. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 16, 1906)

Ira O. Isham
Dies at Boise city, Idaho, May 11th. Brought to Estherville for Burial
Funeral Today at 2:30
Mr. Isham Went to Idaho last September to Try and Regain His Health – Failed Steadily Since

News reached Estherville friends Saturday morning of the death of Ira O. Isham of this city which occurred Friday in Boise, Idaho.

Last September Mr. Isham and his family left for the west hoping that a change of climate would prove beneficial to Mr. Isham’s health. He had been suffering for several years from asthma and rheumatism. He had not been in Idaho long until it was discovered that he was not getting the relief looked for, and letters from the family to friends, have brought discouraging news of his health. Other complications set in, and the end came Friday, as stated above. Mr. Isham has been a resident of Estherville since 1892, and has always been identified with the business and development of the town and county. In the year 1891, he with his brother, C. M. Isham, purchased a tract of 2100 acres of land in Lincoln and Iowa Lake townships, and the following years he removed from his home in Pleasantville, Marion county and located in Estherville where he build a beautiful home and devoted his time to superintending the development of his farms. About seven years ago he purchased an interest in the elevator business with Frank Albro, and upon Mr. Albro’s retirement, conducted the business in partnership with O. A. McCall. Mr. Isham’s failing health induced the firm to sell out last fall and the business is now owned by Skewis Brothers.

Ira O. Isham was born in Chautauqua county, N.Y. Oct. 10th, 1843, when one year of age he removed with his parents to Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the 40th Wisconsin volunteer, and served to the end of the war. After returning from the army he went west, and spent several years freighting from Omaha to Denver, and the various mining camps, returning in 1868, he located at Pleasantville, Iowa, where he farmed for a few years. At the latter place he was married in 1869 to Miss Katherine Prithard. To this union two sons were born. Mrs. Isham died in the fall of 1876. The same years he disposed of his farming interest and entered the hardware business in Pleasantville. In 1877, his brother, C. M. Isham entered business with him, and lumber and farm machinery was added to the business. In the conduct of his business he was very successful and accumulated considerable money, and in 1891 the brothers disposed of their business and invested their money in Emmet county land. In 1878 Mr. Isham was married to Mrs. Sarah Toll, to whom three children were born, Orson, George and Ralph, all of whom are living.

The remains were brought to Estherville for burial, accompanied by Mrs. Isham and two sons, Orson and George, arriving at 5:50 last evening. The funeral will be held from the M.E. church this afternoon conducted by Rev. Ginn of Webster City, formerly of Estherville, and the remains will be laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. Messrs. C. M. Isham of Des Moines and E. Isham of Webster City, brothers of the deceased, and Mrs. Johnson of Linden, Iowa daughter of Mrs. Isham, are here to attend the funeral. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 16, 1906)

Died While in Idaho
Ira O. Isham, Estherville Business Man Passes Away in Far West
Brought Here for Burial
Funeral Held from M.E. Church this Afternoon – Interment Made in Oak Hill Cemetery

At Boise City, Idaho, on Friday last, from a complication of ills, occurred the death of Ira O. Isham of this city and until last July one of the prosperous and active business men of Emmet county. On account of failing health Mr. Isham and family went to Boise City to spend the winter and in hopes of recruiting his strength but his condition grew gradually worse ever since going there. During the past few weeks he was a very sick man and from time to time it was announced that he was at death’s door. His wife and three children were with him during this illness and to its close. The immediate cause of death was heart failure induced by rheumatic troubles from which he suffered for some time.

The remains arrived here at six o’clock Tuesday evening and the funeral service is to be held in M.E. church at two-thirty this afternoon. Rev. Ginn from Webster City will preach the sermon and conduct the service. Rev. Ginn was for a long time a close personal friend of the deceased. The pall bearers selected are John Halvorsen, J. P. Kirby, M. K. Whelan, Gus McCall, Chas. Bartlett, J. B. Jewell, Howard Graves, and Frank Albro. The interment will be in the west side cemetery.

I.O. Isham was born in Buffalo, N.Y., Oct. 10, 1843 and was one of a family of eight children born to Ira Isham and Mary A. Clough. The surviving brothers are: I.N. Isham of –ton, W. M. Isham, of Des Moines; E. Isham, of Webster City and C.M. Isham, of Des Moines. When decedent was but one year old the parents moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he grew up and went to school and finished his education in the State University of Wisconsin. He served in the war of the rebellion being mustered in in one of the last calls made and in which the University of Wisconsin contributed a goodly number and deceased was one of those and which formed the 40th Wisconsin infantry. Senator Spooner was captain of his company.

At the close of the war he went west to Omaha and was for a time engaged in teaming it across the plains to Julesburg and Denver making a round trip to these points. He then returned to his home near Madison where during the succeeding three years he taught school. He then set out for Marion county, Iowa, where he farmed and taught school.

At Pleasantville in 1872 he was married to Catherine Prickett, two sons was the fruit of this union, Gus and Frank, both in Colorado. In the fall of 1876 Mrs. Isham died. In 1880 he was again married to Mrs. Sarah Toll and to this union three sons were born, O.A. Ralph and George. He was engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Pleasantville for nearly twenty years, first under the firm name of Howser and Isham and then Isham Bros., the latter partnership lasting for fourteen years. The firm sold out in 1891 and about that time invested in 2100 acres of Iowa Lake and Lincoln township lands which they bought for $10 per acre. In 1892 he moved to Estherville which place he made his home ever after and where for a long time he was engaged in the grain business, the firm of Isham & McCall doing business until last year.

He was an exceptionally successful man, a most exemplary citizen and at all times an honorable gentleman. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and had accepted Christ and his teachings and lived a life worthy of such profession. Mrs. Isham and her three sons accompanied the remains to Estherville and his three brothers mentioned above are here to attend the funeral. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, May 16, 1906)

Miss (Mrs.) Emma Johnson of Linden is here to attend the funeral of the late I. O. Isham. Miss (Mrs.) Johnson is a daughter of Mrs. Isham.
C. M. Isham of Des Moines and Eugene Isham of Webster City are here to attend the funeral of their brother, Ira O. Isham. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 16, 1906)