John Randolph ISENHOWER

John Randolph ISENHOWER, for many years a respected citizen of Bloomfield, passed peacefully away at his home in the east part of town Tuesday morning at 1:00 after ten day’s illness of pneumonia.

He was born on a farm near Bloomington, Monroe County, May 6, 1833; died March 6, 1906; aged seventy-two years and ten months.

He attended the country school not far from his home and in 1853 entered Indiana University. He took a complete scientific and law course and was graduated from that institution in 1859 with the honors of his class, delivering the valedictory address at the Commencement exercise. He was secretary of the alumni association and served in that capacity for one year

After finishing his schoolwork he immediately began the practice of law—his chosen profession—and was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for Monroe County, in which capacity he served for two years.

In 1861 he formed a partnership with David SHEEKS, the latter attending to the business of the firm at Bloomington and Mr. ISENHOWER coming to Bloomfield in January 1862. Some time later the firm of SHEEKS & ISENHOWER was dissolved and afterwards he formed partnerships with John HUMPHREYS, Col Aden G. CAVINS, and Judge Harry BURNS, of this county.

He was appointed county superintendent of schools and served in that capacity for some time and in 1872 was elected to the Legislature taking up his duties and following January as a member of the Forty-Eighth session of the General Assembly of Indiana.

Soon after this his health failing he was compelled to retire from business, after which time he lived a quiet plain unassuming life.

He was united in marriage in 1863 to Miss Sarah LESTER, and to this union were born two sons, Will L. and Harry H., the former departing this life eight weeks to a day before his father.

He united with the C. P. church in 1883 and lived a conscientious Christian life. For many years he had been one of the best-known citizens of Bloomfield, respected and esteemed by all.

The funeral services were conducted by his former pastor, Rev. L. P. MARSHALL, from the C. P. church, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in the presence of a large assemblage of relatives and friends who had gathered to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the departed and the remains were laid to rest in the Bloomfield cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic order of which the deceased was a member.

Last updated 21.11.2009