Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Isham, Elmer Burnette 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 6:17 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Isham, Elmer Burnette – There is something exceedingly attractive in the 
voluntary retirement of a man who, for a number of years, has taken an active 
part in the agricultural advancement of his community.  He leaves active life 
in the fullness of his strength, exchanging the scenes of agricultural toil 
for the quiet that comes as a reward to those who have spent their early years 
in industrious labor.  In this category stands Elmer Burnette Isham, of Mazon, 
Ill., but it must not be supposed that he has entirely put behind him the 
useful activities of life, for his is a nature energetic and progressive to a 
degree, and in his management of the Isham estate he finds an excellent field 
for the display of his abilities.  Mr. Isham was born in Mazon Township, in 
1867, and is a son of Zacharias and Susan (Viner) Isham, natives, 
respectively, of Vermont and New York.

The parents of Mr. Isham came to Grundy County in 1850, Zacharias Isham being 
a prominent farmer and the founder of the town of Mazon, which he platted.  
His death occurred in 1907, and he is buried in the Mazon cemetery, while his 
widow still survives and makes her residence on the old homestead.  They were 
the parents of five children, as follows:  Charles, Freddie, Vernon, George 
and Lizzie, all of whom died in infancy; Mrs. Sadie Clark, Elmer Burnette, and 
Wilbur V.  Sadie (Isham) Clark was given a good education, and after her 
graduation from the Morris Normal school was engaged in teaching music in 
Mazon, where she was very popular.  Her husband, who was engaged in grain 
dealing in Mazon for five years, is now in the automobile business in Chicago, 
where for four years he was a member of the Board of Trade.  They have two 
children, namely:  Marguerite and Lucille.

Wilbur V. Isham was born in 1874 in Mazon Township, was reared on the home 
farm, and secured his education in the district schools and the State Normal 
school.  Subsequently he attended the University of Chicago for one year and 
the Chicago Business college for six months, and after graduating from the 
latter became a bookkeeper in the Illinois metropolis.  In 1912 he returned to 
Mazon and became a member of the firm of Economy Implement and Hardware 
Company, in partnership with H. Preston and E. S. Strong.  Mr. Isham has 
various large interests, being engaged in the real estate business and also 
having the Mazon agency for the Krit automobile, while he is known as one of 
the best auctioneers in Grundy County, and an excellent business man 
generally.  He owns 125 acres of land included in the Isham estate, has 
disposed of thousands of acres of Texas land, and has sold more automobiles 
than any other dealer in this locality.  He is a Democrat in his political 
views and has served as assessor of Mazon Township, as collector thereof and 
as a member of the town board for four years.  In 1895 Mr. Isham was married 
to Lydia R. Jones, and they have one child, Leita, who is attending school.

Elmer Burnette Isham was reared on the home farm, and attended the district 
schools and the Morris Normal school.  Reared to agricultural pursuits, he 
followed farming on the home place until 1907, in which year he retired from 
active life to give his whole attention to the management of the estate.  
Progressive in all matters, Mr. Isham gave his support to the new Progressive 
party in 1912, assisting in the birth of that organization.  With his family, 
he attends the Methodist Church.  On November 22, 1892, Mr. Isham was married 
to Miss Mary Allen, who was born in Decatur, Ill., and they have two 
children:  Jeanette and Lucille, both of whom are attending the Mazon High 
school.

page 836

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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