This lady owns and occupies a farm of 203 acres on sections 25 and 26 in Guilford Township, and bears the distinction of being, with her husband, one of its earliest settlers. She saw much of life in the pioneer days, and endured many of its hardships and difficulties. She is of New England ancestry, but was born in Union County, Ind., April 14, 1823. She came with her parents to this county when a child of nine years, they settling upon a part of the present site of Galena. She attended the primitive schools; and was first married in 1840, to Azel Avery, by whom she became the mother of four children – Julia A., Martha J., Elizabeth, and Rachel. Her daughter Julia still lives with her; the others died young. Mr. Avery departed this life in 1849, in Elizabeth Township. He was a farmer by occupation, and a native of New York.

Mrs. Avery, in 1850, became the wife of E. T. Isbell, who was born in Kentucky, where he was first married, whence he removed directly afterward to this county. Later, his wife died leaving him six children, namely: Dorcas E., Mary F., Jason B., Susan J., Hope, and Fulton. Four of these are living, and make their homes in Illinois. Of this latter union there were born eight children – Israel G., Annie C., Lillie, Melina L., Louis L., Maria, George T., and William. George and Israel are dead. The homestead is situated on the old Galena road, and in earlier times was often the resort of the weary travelers passing through that section, and who were never turned empty away. Mrs. Isbell many a time prepared dinner for parties of from twelve to twenty persons, who came out from Galena to hunt in the woods with Mr. Isbell, who was himself an expert with the rifle. Deer and other wild game abounded at that time. Mr. Isbell had upon one occasion eighteen carcasses of deer stored away for safe keeping. One Saturday morning, while Mrs. Isbell was making preparations to visit Galena on a shopping excursion, and, while preparing breakfast, her husband came in, and inquired as to the money required for intended purchases, and jocosely added that he might kill a deer before breakfast, and take it with them to town to sell. The wife simply laughed at him; but Mr. Isbell took down his rifle, and started for the woods. In a few minutes he returned with the report that a fine large animal was lying on the ground not far away. He blew the horn to have the boys come in and assist in dressing it, and in consequence the contents of Mrs. Isbell’s purse was increased to the amount of several dollars; the meat bringing thirteen cents per pound.

The parents of Mrs. Isbell were Uriah and Rebecca (Hollingsworth) Cook; and, like their daughter, they also were natives of Union County, Ind. They grew up together, and were married when quite young; the father being a youth of eighteen and the mother only fifteen years old. They resided in Indiana for some time afterward; then removed to Alton, Ill., where the father farmed, and operated a saw-mill. The mother died in Indiana leaving four children, viz.: Mary, Israel, Anna, and Elizabeth. After the death of his first wife Mr. Cook was married a second time, in Union County, Ind., and became the father of four more children.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)