ISAIAH F. BAIR, one of the old soldier farmers of Valley Township, who, when our great civil war broke out, volunteered in defense of the Union, and enlisted August 22, 1862, in Company K. Twenty-Second Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia. He was in the battles of Fort Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, and the Red River campaign. After this the regiment was transferred to the Nineteenth Army Corps, and sent to the East, joining the great Army of the Potomac. He was under Sheridan at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek; the latter Mr. Bair describes as the hardest battle in which he participated. He was also in several skirmishes, after which he went to Moorhead, North Carolina; was there ordered to Augusta, Georgia, and was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia. From there he returned to Davenport, Iowa, where he was paid in full and returned home.

Mr. Bair was born in the village of Willwood, Knox County, Ohio, September 21, 1843 the son of David Bair, who was a blacksmith by trade. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was the son of Christian Bair, who served in the war of 1812, and also in several skirmishes. His father, the great grandfather of our subject, served in the Revolutionary war, and was a native of Germany. He emigrated from Pennsylvania to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in an early day, and built his log cabin in the woods. He was the father of four children: Michael, Jacob, David and Sarah. Christian Bair died in Indiana, at the age of eighty-three years; he was a member of the Dunkard Church, was a prominent farmer, and a man of integrity and honesty. David Bair, the father of our subject, was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, and was but a small boy of between three and four years when his father came to Ohio. He learned his trade in that state, and when a young man of twenty-one years, was married, in Indiana, to Rhoda Bybee, a daughter of John and Luceane (Lane) Bybee.. They were the parents of seven children: John, Robert, Byron, Elizabeth, Lucinda, Rhoda and Ann. The father emigrated to Utah Territory, and was one of the pioneers. He died in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. David Bair were the parents of nine children, viz.: Uriah, Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Isaiah, Byron, David, John Charles, Harvey and Sarah. After marriage Mr. Bair settled in Millwood, Knox County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until 1854, when he emigrated with his family to Green Township, Iowa County. He improved a farm in that county, and lived there until 1882, when he removed to Iowa City, where he is still living, at an advanced age. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Church, of which he is a trustee, and socially he is a Mason, being a member of the blue lodge. He has always lived an honorable and upright life, and is respected by all who know him.

From such old Revolutionary and pioneer stock, and from men who fought for independence and again to establish it, and who assisted in settling up the untracked forests and wild prairies, descends our soldier citizen. After his return from the war Mr. Bair settled in Johnson County on a farm until 1877, when he came to Valley Township and settled on his present farmer of 120 acres. Politically he is a Republican, socially a Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge, and religiously a member of the Methodist Church, of which he is a trustee. He has been an Assessor of his county, and stands deservedly high as an honorable citizen, whose word is as good as his bond. He is a self made man, having accumulated his property by his own industry and energy. He is a commander of the William Layton Post, No. 358, Oakland, Iowa.

He was married in Johnson County, Iowa, to Alminra E. Popham the daughter of Richard and Lucy (Barnes) Popham, who were of English descent, and first settled in New England. Richard Popham was born in Knox County, Ohio, and was the son of Frank Popham, who was one of the early pioneer merchants and financiers of that state. Richard and Lucy Popham were married in Kosciusko County, Indiana, and had one child, Alminra E. Popham. They lived in that state until 1860, when they came to Iowa, settled on a farm in Johnson County. In 1880 they removed to Hancock, Iowa, where the wife died in 1887. Mr. Popham is now living with his daughter and son-in-law. To Mr. and Mrs. Bair have been born five children, viz.: Louisa, who is the wife of Robert Martin; Charles is attending school at Iowa City; Clinton, Howard and Arza.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini