- ALBERT S. ISHAM, hardware dealer and a prominent business
man of Clinton, was born in
- Hamburg, Erie Co., N.Y., Sept. 17, 1840, and is a son of
Ira and Mary (CLOUGH) ISHAM, who emigrated to Galena, Ill., in
1846, when our subject was but a mere lad. The following year
they removed to Blue Mounds, Dane Co., Wis., where Albert grew
to manhood, receiving a common school education. He remained
under the parental roof until President Lincoln's call was made
for troops to put down the Rebellion, when he responded and enlisted
in Company G, first Berdan Sharp Shooters, being mustered into
the United States service at New York City. With others, he was
sent to Washington, D.C., where the regiment was organized and
then sent to the front. The first engagement in which he participated
was the battle of Big Bethel, which was followed by that of Yorktown,
where he participated in several skirmishes and the siege against
the city, and was with the first troops to enter after its surrender.
From there the regiment was sent to Williamsburg and on to West
Point, where it remained a few days and then to Gaines Hill and
to Hanover Court House, May 27, 1862, where a general engagement
was brought on. While making a charge upon a North Carolina battery
Mr. ISHAM was wounded, but nevertheless remained with his men.
He was next engaged in a series of battles, known as the Seven
days' Fight, the first being at McCormickville, which was followed
by that at Gaines Hill, Charles City and Cross Roads, in which
the regiment lost heavily, and the captain and several men of
Company G were killed. The next engagements were at Glendale,
Malvern Hill and Harrison Landing, where Mr. ISHAM was taken
sick and sent to Fortress Monroe, going thence to New York City,
where he had an attack of typhoid fever. After regaining his
health he rejoined his regiment and soon after participated in
the second battle of Bull Run under Gen. Fitz John Porter. this
was followed by the battle of Antietam, Sharpsburg, Sherpherdston,
Fredericksburg, Mary's Heights and Chancellorsville, where he
sustained a severe wound, the ball passing through his right
knee, severing the large artery. For three long days and nights
he laid upon the field, suffering untold agony. The woods took
fire and many of our brave boys were burned up. A surgeon gave
him chloroform with the intention of amputating his leg, but
the union forces coming up at that time, drove the enemy back,
and thus that member was saved him. He was placed upon a stretcher
and carried to an old house, which was filled with Rebel prisoners,
and subsequently placed upon an ambulance which was driven over
a corduroy road. By that time his limb had become much swollen
and the pain which he then endured cannot be imagined by any
one who has never driven over such a road. He was subsequently
sent to the Washington Army Square Hospital, whence he went to
Philadelphia, and while on the way Stewart's cavalry tore up
the railroad, and fired into the train. On the 17th of September,
1863, on account of physical disability he was discharged from
the service at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.
- Returning to his home in Dane County, Wis., Mr. ISHAM was
joined in wedlock the following
- year at Black Earth, with Miss Juliette PARK, a native of
Vermont. In 1867 he removed with his young wife to Marion County,
Iowa, where he engaged in farming for several years, when, in
1875, he sold out and went to Waukesha County, Wis. Residing
in the latter place for about four years, he then, in 1879, came
to Clinton, where he embarked in the hardware business. He has
been very successful in that line and well deserves a liberal
supply of the public patronage. He is energetic, enterprising,
and takes a deep interest in the advancement of any object which
is calculated to benefit the public. In political sentiment he
is a staunch Republican and has held several local offices of
trust in Clinton. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic,
being a charter member of Tallman Post.
- Mr. and Mrs. ISHAM are the parents of two daughters, Cora
V. and Nellie A. They stand high
- in the community where they reside and are well known throughout
the county.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 771-772.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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