My Genealogy Hound

JACOB R. ISETT, of Royersford, is a descendant of an old and influential family in Montgomery county. He was born in Limerick township, October 16, 1845, and was trained to habits of honest toil on the homestead as a farmer. He was educated in the common schools of the vicinity, also attending Washington Hall Institute, at Trappe, for a time. Mr. Isett is the son of Frederick and Henrietta (Shade) Isett. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also named Frederick. They lived in Upper Providence township.

The immigrant, Frederick Isett, was one of two brothers who came to America from Holland in 1732. The name of Frederick is handed down in the youngest generation of the family, making the seventh in this country. The immigrant settled in Upper Providence, taking up land and making substantial improvements on it, and rearing a family. He was buried at the old Lutheran church, Trappe. He was a leader in church work and a member of the vestry. He reared a family of five children as follows: Frederick; Barbara; Betsey; Hannah and Jacob.

Frederick Isett (grandfather) was born at the old homestead. He learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed many years, being known through all the surrounding country as a fine mechanic. He made a specialty of edged tools. He owned his home, and was a broad-minded, intelligent man, being always above reproof in his community. He married. Mary Hallman, of an old family in that vicinity. Their children were: Seth; Frederick; Samuel; Benjamin; John and Hannah.

Frederick (father) was born July 26, 1812. He received a good education for that day, in the intervals of farm pursuits, and taught school for more than twenty years. In some respects he was a genius, being quite an artist. He learned the trade of plastering, and worked at it in the summer season, teaching school during the winter. In school he was noted for his exact and careful work and the maintenance of rigid discipline. After teaching for twenty years he gave all his attention to agriculture, being a practical and successful farmer.

In his younger days Mr. Isett was a Democrat in politics, but later he became a Whig and a Republican, but he never aspired to office beyond filling the position of school director. He served as secretary of the board.

Frederick Isett died November 11, 1899, at the age of eighty-seven years. He married February 4, 1841, Henrietta Shade, who descended from an old Montgomery county family. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Shunk) Shade, her mother being a cousin of Francis R. Shunk, Governor of Pennsylvania. Jacob Shade (her father) was a prominent farmer of the township, owning part of the land on which Royersford is now located. Mary Shunk, his wife, was a school teacher.

The children of Jacob and Mary Shade were: Jeriah, a minister of the Reformed church; Henrietta, mother of Jacob R. Isett; Daniel S., a physician; Jacob, a blacksmith, who was a Democrat in politics and was nominated for recorder of deeds, but was defeated by a small majority at the election.

The children of Frederick and Henrietta Isett were: Mary, married John Y. Eisenberg; Lavina, died at the age of twenty-four years, unmarried; Jacob R., subject of this sketch; Charlotte, married William Y. Eisenberg; Frederick S., a physician, who practiced in Philadelphia and died July 28, 1895; John U., member of a stove firm, and a dealer in coal and lumber at Royersford; Henrietta, married John M. Mauger. The parents were members of the Brethren church.

Jacob R. Isett was born and reared in Limerick township, and has been engaged in farming the most of his life, occupying the old homestead, a fine farm of some fifty acres. Mr. Isett makes his home at the old homestead. In 1901 he bought out all other interests in the home farm, and since has devoted much attention to it. Politically Mr. Isett is a Republican. He has filled several township offices, but has never aspired to higher positions. He is an active and intelligent business man, and has been successful in all his undertakings.

Mr. Isett married May 4, 1892, Miss Anna B. Amole, born in Chester county, on March 17, 1865. She was a teacher in the public schools for seven years. She is the daughter of Jonas and Ellen (Bisbing) Amole. Jonas is the son of Peter Amole, also of Chester county, the family being of German descent. He is a farmer by occupation and is well known and highly respected. The children of Peter Amole were: Jesse, Jonas, John, Maria, married J. Shick; Leah, married J. Miller; Rebecca, married D. McFarlan; Ann, married George Ray; Elizabeth, unmarried. The parents belonged to the Reformed church.

Jonas Amole died in April, 1885. He was a carpenter by trade, and later a farmer. Politically, he was a Democrat. Mrs. Jonas Amole died in 1876. She was a daughter of Peter Bisbing, of Chester county, who was of German descent and a farmer by occupation. He affiliated with the Methodist church. Jonas Amole was married three times. His first wife has Rachel Carvel, their children being: George; Harriet, married J. Culp; Henry; Eber. Mr. Amole married (second wife) Ellen Bisbing. Their children were: Anna B., wife of Mr. Isett; Elmer, of Cincinnati, where he is manager of an ice machine company; Lyman, of Pottstown. By his third marriage to Mrs. Sarah Smith, a widow, the mother of three daughters, all dead, there were no children. Mrs. Amole’s (third) maiden name was Sarah Skean.