Sidney M. Isbell, of the firm of Isbell &
Sheldon, produce and commission merchants, 125 and 127
West Pearl St, is a native of Washtenaw County, Mich.,
and the youngest of 14 children, 13 lived to adult
age, of Leonard and Anna (Lewis) Isbell, natives of
New York State. They moved West and settled on
Government land in Washtenaw County, about 1832, which
they improved and occupied until 1854, then removed to
Ingham County, where Mr. Isbell's father died four
years later. His widow, now aged 82, lives with a son
on the old homestead in Washtenaw County. At 15 years
of age Mr. Isbell started in life for himself, spent
the first three years in learning the mason's trade:
attended school one term at Agricultural College, and
two terms at Normal school. He pursued his trade
summers and taught school winters for several years;
also taught vocal music. In 1865 Mr. Isbell bought 40
acres of land joining the home place, in Ingham
County, and farmed it three years. In 1867 he married
Miss Franc G. Bellenger, of that county, and a year
later bought and moved upon his father-in-law's farm,
six miles north of Jackson; a year and a half after
located in the city; followed his trade for a time,
was in the undertaking business a few months, and in
July, 1878, in partnership with B. G. Lowe,
established the commission business. Mr. Isbell
afterward became sole owner, and later took Mr.
Sheldon as a partner. They handle all farm produce
save grain, and do a yearly business of about $20,000,
which is increasing. Mr. Isbell is Republican in
politics.
Horace S. Ismon, President of Jackson County Bank, was born in Essex County, N. Y., in 1824. He is the son of Aaron and Susan (Reynolds) Ismon, both natives of New York. The father of Mr. Ismon had one brother, and their descendants are the sole claimants to the name in this country. Horace Ismon is the second child of a family of 7 - 3 boys and 4 girls. He was reared and educated in the Empire State. At the age of 20 he came to Jackson and engaged as a grocery clerk with Wiley Reynolds, continuing in that capacity two years. He then went to Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich., where he, in company with his brother, entered upon an enterprise combining mercantile and lumbering trade, under the style of C. & H. S. Ismon, a relation, which existed nearly 20 years. The brothers were projectors and builders of the Paw Paw Railroad, of which Mr. Ismon was President and General Manager until the road was sold to a company of citizens formed for the purpose. In 1848 he returned to Jackson and conducted a dry-goods enterprise for 20 years, about 15 years of which time he was also operating heavily in wood and produce, his interests rivaling any other in the State. April 1, 1870, Mr. Ismon purchased the land and laid out the town of Hanover. In 1872 he, with others, formed a stock company and opened a bank, with himself as President and H. V. Perrin as Cashier. The bank has a capital of $50,000, and does general banking business. In 1848 Mr. Ismon married Clara M. Barker, of Brandon, Vt. The marriage took place in Van Buren County, Mich.
