My Genealogy Hound

DOCTOR E. ISHAM. Longevity appears to run in families to a greater or less degree and the Isham family seems to be especially endowed with long life. David Isham (grandfather) attained to a full century lacking one year. One son reached the same age while the father of subject was eighty-nine years of age when he died. Doctor E. Isham is a son of Joshua and Lucinda (Chamberlain) Isham, and first looked upon the blue skies of heaven and the green grass of earth near the scene of his present home in Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York, September 19, 1843. The Isham family is one of Scotch extraction. David Isham (grandfather) lived in Vermont and died when ninety-nine years old. Joshua Isham (father) was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1778, and remained there until 1840, when he came to Chautauqua county and soon after settled in Westfield town on the farm where his son now lives. He died in 1867, aged eighty-nine years. Mr. Isham was a carpenter and joiner by trade which he followed nearly all his life. He was a republican and member of the Universalist church. In 1839, he married Lucinda Chamberlain, a native of Thetford, Vermont. She died in 1879, aged sixty-eight years, and was also a member of the same church. They had three children.

Doctor E. Isham was reared on a farm and then mastered the carpenter and joiner’s trade which he is now working at to a limited extent. His education was received at the public schools. When but nineteen years of age. August 22, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 154th regiment, New York Infantry. He served until January 22, 1864, and was then discharged from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D. C., having been wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. His left foot was shot away by a cannon ball on June 3, 1863, and he was confined to the hospital from that date until discharged. He then returned to Chautauqua county and lives upon the old homestead two miles east of Westfield village, engaged at his trade and grape culture.

On January 8, 1868, he married Nancy Bush, a daughter of Henry Bush of this town. They have four children, three sons and one daughter: Arlington D., Stella V., Claude E. and Earnest J. One child, Clyde, died in infancy in August, 1888, aged nine months.

Dr. E. Isham is a member of William Sackett Post, No. 324, G. A. R., and affiliates with the Republican party.