Sangamon County ILGenWeb © 2000
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PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



Page 1249

ISAAC N. WEST - Isaac N. West, deceased was born in the Southwestern part of Indiana near the city of Lockport, April 21, 1855. His father, John West, removed from Indiana to Illinois during the early manhood of his son Isaac and purchased a farm in McLean county, Illinois, near Bloomington. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days and his wife is now living at Downs, nine miles southeast of Bloomington.

Isaac N. West was educated in the common schools of Bloomington and through the period of vacation and in the years of his minority he assisted in the cultivation and operation of the home farm, continuing under the parental roof up to the time of his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated on the 13th of August, 1883. He wedded Miss Emma S. Rhoades, who was born in Bloomington on the 20th of March, 1859, a daughter of John and Lydia Rhoades, who resided for many years upon a farm near Bloomington and there, finally died. Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. West, and all are at home with their mother, namely: Paul, born June 17, 1884; Stella, February 15, 1886; Edith, March 4, 1888; Ora, January 2, 1890; Winfield, October 13, 1891; Russell, August 9, 1893; and Benjamin, April 24, 1896.

After his marriage Mr. West purchased a farm near Bloomington and was there engaged in general agricultural pursuits for eight years. On the expiration of that period be removed to the northwestern part of Texas and settled upon a ranch, where be engaged in the raising of cotton and also in the raising and breeding, of fine horses. He was always a lover of fine horses and took great delight in raising excellent stock. For eight years be remained in the Lone Star state and then returned to Illinois, settling in Centralia, but on account of illness there and also on account of an injury which he sustained he was unable to do any business. He resided there for two years and then removed to Springfield, but his continued ill health prevented him from again entering active business life. He was, however, well known, especially to horsemen in this part of the state because of his business activity in that line in former years.

Mr. West was a Democrat in his political affiliations in early life and afterward became a stanch Republican, remaining an unfaltering advocate of the principles of his party until his death, which occurred on the 15th of June, 1903. His wife and daughter are members of the West Side Christian church of Springfield and Mrs. West, with her children, resides at No. 709 Lincoln avenue, where Mr. West established his home upon his removal to the capital city.



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