BIO: John A. ISETT, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, page 272 __________________________________________________________ JOHN A. ISETT, James Creek, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born on the homestead in Penn township, May 2, 1851, son of James K. and Elizabeth (Garner) Isett. James K. Isett was a native of Huntingdon county, a farmer and distiller. He was bound out when very young to a farmer named Moore, in Walker township, Huntingdon county, and remained with his master until he reached his majority. He then came to Penn township, and worked for Matthew M. Garner, as a distiller. After his marriage to the daughter of Mr. Garner, he began business on his own account, cultivating a farm belonging to his father-in-law. Several years later, having purchased 145 acres in Penn township, he removed [to] his property, and resided upon it for the rest of his life, farming the land and raising stock. His wife, Elizabeth Garner, was a native of Penn township, and belonged to one of the pioneer families of the township. Their children are: Matthew, who enlisted in Company C, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Mary A., deceased, wife of William Huston, of Iowa; John, died young; George W., of Marklesburg; James M., of Smith county, Kansas; Samuel G., also of Kansas; Luther, died young; John A.; Benjamin F., farmer, Huntingdon county; Henry H., of Denver, Col.; and Jennie (Mrs. Dewalt Lynn), of Huntingdon. Mr. James K. Isett was a Republican, and was actively interested in political affairs. He served the township as justice of the peace, supervisor and school director. He belonged to the Lutheran church, in which he was an elder; he also taught in the Sunday-school. Mr. Isett was an excellent man, highly respected. He died in July, 1863, and Mrs. Isett at Marklesburg, in March, 1889. John A. Isett was educated at the Bower school in Penn township. He began life on the homestead, and lived nearly always in the same place. He worked for Grove Bros. in the iron mines of Penn township for eighteen years. He was for two years manager of the Patterson mines, and was contractor in the mines for eight years. In 1891, Mr. Isett bought the family homestead. He has greatly improved it, and has made his home upon the property ever since, engaged in its cultivation and in raising stock. He has been all his life a faithful and diligent worker, and has naturally been successful in accumulating a competence, and in attaining to a respectable position in the township. He was for one term supervisor. His politics are Republican. Mr. Isett is popular with his acquaintances. In Penn township in 1873 John A. Isett was married to Rachel, daughter of Reuben Wall, a farmer of Penn township. Mr. Wall died at Mr. Isett's home in 1895. Mrs. Isett was born in Berks county, Pa. The children of this marriage are: Gertrude M.; and James Guy, at home. The family belong to the Lutheran church.