John Isaacson

ISAACSON, BERG, OLSON, KLOSTER, KOTO, ROBINSON, GROVES, FORDE

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/30/2010 at 06:30:16

JOHN ISAACSON

John Isaacson, justice of the peace of Forest City, a veteran of the Civil war
and a retired business man and farmer, has in many ways left the impress of his individuality upon the history of Winnebago county, where he has ever stood for those things which are most worth while in the life of the community. He was born in Norway on the 12th of March, 1840, a son of Knud and Mary (Berg) Isaacson, who came to the United States in 1855, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they resided until called to their final rest.

John Isaacson was a lad of fifteen when he left his native country and came with his parents to the new world. His education was largely acquired in the parochial schools of Norway, and after coming to the United States he also attended district schools in Wisconsin. His parents were in humble financial circumstances, owing money for their passage to America, and John Isaacson early became a wage earner. Almost immediately after his arrival in Wisconsin he secured work as a farm hand, which brought him seven dollars per month, a sum which he contributed to the support of the family. He had reached the age of twenty-two years when on the 15th of August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the army as a member of Company H, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He enlisted as a private and was subsequently promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant, while later he was commissioned second lieutenant. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg from the 18th of May to the 4th of July, 1863, and assisted in the capture of Little Rock, where his command remained until March 6, 1864, and then joined the Seventh Corps under General Steele. He then took part in the celebrated Red River expedition and afterward was engaged in the battle of Okalona, Arkansas, on the 3d of April, 1864. He was also in the fight at Elkins Ford, Arkansas, which began the following day and continued until the 6th of April. At Moscow, Arkansas, on the 13th of April, and at Camden on the 24th his regiment again engaged the enemy and was also under fire at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas, on the 30th of April. The troops then returned to Little Rock, Arkansas, and were stationed there until some time in May, when they were transferred to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, but the same month returned to Little Rock, there continuing until February, 1865, when they proceeded down the Mississippi river to New Orleans, making their way afterward to Fort Morgan, Alabama. Mr. Isaacson with his command participated in the capture of Spanish Fort in April, 1865, and in the capture of Fort Blakely in the same month. In 1864 he was detailed home on recruiting service, being thus engaged for two months, during which period he was made first sergeant, and on the 25th of September of that year he was commissioned second lieutenant. He was mustered out of the service on the 25th of September, 1865, at Brownsville, Texas, after which he was sent north and was honorably discharged.

Prior to his enlistment Mr. Isaacson had secured eighty acres of land in Dane county, Wisconsin, and soon after his return he was married and settled upon his farm, there residing until June, 1881, when he came to Winnebago county, Iowa, establishing his home in Forest City, where he opened a store, being prominently identified with merchandising for nine years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and bought a farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Center township, to the cultivation of which he devoted his attention for two years. In 1892 he was called to public office, being elected county auditor, after which he returned to Forest City, entering upon the duties of his position on the 1st of January, 1893. By reelection he served for four years in that position, making a creditable record by the faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. Later he once more resumed farming and for eight years was identified with agricultural pursuits in Ellington township, Hancock county, but afterward sold out and returned to his Forest City home, which he has since occupied. He was again called to public office in 1912, when elected justice of the peace. He has been twice reelected and is now serving for the third term. In 1916 more than fifty cases were tried before him, about one-half of which were criminal cases, and in his official capacity he has also married sixteen couples. In 1906 he was appointed court bailiff and has continuously occupied that position to the present time. During the eight years that he resided on the farm in Ellington township, Hancock county, he was connected with the school board, five years as a director and three years as secretary to the board.

On Christmas Day of 1865 Mr. Isaacson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Olson, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, by whom he had fourteen children, eleven of whom still survive, as follows: Clara M., who is the wife of P. G. Kloster, of Forest City; Adelia M., who gave her hand in marriage to G. I. Koto, of Forest City; Carl A., who is engaged in the land business at Forest City; Newton E., the president of the First National Bank of Thompson, Winnebago county; George E., a Montana ranchman; Mabel A., the wife of C. E. Robinson, of Forest City; Amanda S., who is the wife of William F. Groves, of Viroqua, Wisconsin; Elpha F., the wife of Walter A. Forde, of Marysville, California; Sumner E., who is assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Thompson, Iowa; Reuben I., assistant cashier of the German State Bank at Hartley, Iowa; and Vernon V., who acts as assistant cashier of the Stanton State Bank at Stanton, North Dakota. On Christmas Day of 1915 Mr. and Mrs. Isaacson celebrated their golden wedding, on which joyous occasion their children and grandchildren to the number of more than fifty gathered.

Mr. Isaacson has always been a stanch republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and fraternally he is connected with Hayden Post, No. 151, G. A. R., thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and they are among the most highly esteemed and respected couples of Winnebago county, where they have now long resided, witnessing its development from a frontier district into one of the populous and progressive counties of the state. At all times Judge Isaacson has been as true and loyal in discharging the duties of citizenship as when he followed the old flag on the battlefields of the south, marching with quick step as the stars and stripes led on. His step today may be slower but the same spirit of loyalty remains, and though an adopted son of the nation, America has no more faithful and vigorous supporter of her interests than Judge Isaacson.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 105-107.