WI BIO - Dane Co - ISHAM, Chauncy
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 588-589

Chancy ISHAM, the oldest settler of Dunkirk Township, Dane County, WI, was 
born in Hamilton, Madison County, NY, 18 Sep 1816, a son of [p 589] Chancy 
and Fannie (HAINES) ISHAM, the former a native of CT. Our subject was reared 
on his father's farm, and attended the common schools. At the age of 
eighteen years he was employed by the Boston & Providence Railroad Company, 
and stationed at Roxbury [Suffolk County, MA], near Boston. He was engaged 
as a fireman on the railroad until meeting with a bad accident, after which 
he resigned his position.

Mr. ISHAM was then engaged in the horse trade in NY, next as overseer on the 
construction railroad in MA about four years, and then began hotel keeping in 
Earlville, NY. In 1843 he came by wagon to WI, having been three weeks from 
Fredonia [Chautauqua County, NY] to Janesville [Rock County, WI], and at that 
time the country was new. He bought 520 acres of land where Stoughton [Dane 
County, WI] now stands, erected a small house, and purchased a few cows in 
Janesville. During the late war he spent two years in Stoughton, engaged in 
the produce business. Mr. ISHAM now owns 160 acres of fine land.

Chancy ISHAM, our subject, was married in Jul 1840 to Jane ARNOLD, a native 
of Washington [Berkshire County], MA, and they have had five children: 
Arnold H. (deceased), Mary Jane, Theresa Reed, Fannie R., and Cora C. Mr. 
ISHAM affiliates with the People's party, and has never aspired to public 
office.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly