Pierpoint Isham (sometimes spelled Pierpont, Pierrepont, or Pierrepoint; August 5, 1802 – May 8, 1872) was a Vermont attorney and judge who served as an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1851 to 1856.
Pierpoint Isham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From Volume VII (1897) of The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography | |
| Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court | |
| In office 1851–1856 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Kellogg |
| Succeeded by | Luke P. Poland |
| Vermont Bank Commissioner | |
| In office 1848–1850 | |
| Preceded by | Carlos Coolidge |
| Succeeded by | George C. West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 5, 1802 Manchester, Vermont |
| Died | May 8, 1872 (aged 69) Piermont, New York |
| Resting place | Dellwood Cemetery, Manchester, Vermont |
| Political party | Whig[1] |
| Spouse |
Semantha Swift (m. 1831) |
| Children | 3, including Edward Swift Isham |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Signature | .png) |
Biography edit
Isham was born in Manchester, Vermont on August 5, 1802, the son of Dr. Ezra Isham and Nancy (Pierrepont) Isham.[2] He was raised and educated in Manchester, and at age 19 began the study of law with Richard Skinner.[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1823, and established a practice in Bennington and Pownal.[2] In 1831, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Middlebury College.[3] In the 1820s and 1830s, Isham was active in the Vermont Militia and served as inspector of the 2nd Division, which was headquartered in Manchester.[4]
In 1848, the Vermont General Assembly appointed Isham state bank commissioner, succeeding Carlos Coolidge, and he served until 1850.[5] In 1851, Isham was appointed an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.[2] He served until 1856, when he declined appointment to another term.[2]
Isham moved to Piermont, New York in 1860.[2] He continued to practice law until his death in Piermont on May 8, 1872.[2][6] Isham was buried at Dellwood Cemetery in Manchester, Vermont.[7]
Family edit
In 1831, Isham married Semantha Swift, the daughter of Dr. Noadiah Swift and Jennet Henderson of Bennington.[2] They were the parents of three children:
- Edward Swift Isham (1836-1902), an attorney in Chicago, who practiced in partnership with Robert Todd Lincoln,[8] and served in the Illinois House of Representatives[2]
- Mary Adeline Isham Prentice (1839-1913), the wife of Army Major Sartell Prentice[2]
- Henry Pierrepont Isham (1842-1897), a Chicago real estate broker and banker[2]
References edit
- ^ "Democratic Whig Ticket". Vermont Phoenix. Brattleboro, VT. July 26, 1839. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k History of Bennington County, Vt., pp. 539–541.
- ^ "Commencement, Middlebury College". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. August 30, 1831. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Division Head Quarters, Manchester, September 12, 1829". Bennington Gazette. Bennington, VT. September 15, 1829. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Legislature of Vermont: House". Brattleboro Eagle. Brattleboro, VT. November 6, 1848. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Death notice, Pierrepont Isham.
- ^ "Vermont News: Bennington County", p. 3.
- ^ "Edward Swift Isham".
Sources edit
Books edit
- Aldrich, Lewis Cass (1889). History of Bennington County, Vt. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co.
Newspapers edit
- "Death notice, Pierrepont Isham" (PDF). New York Times. New York, NY. May 10, 1872.
- "Vermont News: Bennington County". Green Mountain Freeman. Montpelier, VT. May 22, 1872.
Internet edit
- Harrington, S. P. (October 16, 2016). "Edward Swift Isham". Dellwood Cemetery. Manchester, VT: Dellwood Cemetery Association.