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Portraits of Pioneers: John Isles (1850 – 1934)

Portraits of Pioneers: John Isles (1850 – 1934)

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A snippet from an 1894 plat map showing John Isles’s farm.

John Isles

7 Feb 1850 — 1934 (aged 83–84)


Bio

The following is an excerpt from a book published by Chapman Brothers, 1884.

John Isles, farmer, section 24, Flynn Township, was born Feb. 7, 1850, or 1851, in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. His parents, James and Mary (Scott) Isles, were natives of Scotland, whence they came to Ontario in early life, afterward settling in Hamilton. They removed at a later date to Luther, Wellington County, where they reside at present and are respectively 70 and 69 years old.

Mr. Isles is the second son and child of a family of 12 children, eight of whom (five sons and three daughters) are still living. He was but four years of age when his father removed to Luther, where he was brought up to the period of his majority under the charge of his parents. A year later he became a farmer on his own responsibility and rented a place which he continued to manage four years. During this time he was married, March 31, 1875, in the township of Luther to Susan, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Carson) Coe. She was born May 24, 1857, near Paris, Oxford Co., Can. Mr. and Mrs. Isles have had four children, all of whom are living save one. They were born as follows: Mary E., Feb. 19, 1876; John H., April 22, 1877; Frederick J., Dec. 25, 1879, died March 7, 1880; James Scott, May 16, 1884.

After his marriage, Mr. Isles remained a resident on the farm he had rented nearly four years and in the fall of 1877 he came with his family to Michigan and took possession of a farm he had purchased a short time previously. It comprised 80 acres of land in an unbroken, unimproved state and he has labored and managed to such good purpose that he has now 65 acres in most creditable agricultural condition, with first-class arrangements for the successful prosecution of his chosen calling. He is a Republican in political views and action and has discharged the duties of the minor official positions of his township.


Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County; Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Citizens of the County. Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1884.


John Isles on FindAGrave