ISAAC M. BOBB, of Oneco Township, was born in Marion county, Pa., Dec. 22, 1835, and is the son of David and Melinda (Bingman) Bobb (see sketch). When but nine years of age he came with his parents to Stephenson County, and during his boyhood he attended the district school three months assisting his father in the work upon the farm, during the remainder of the year.

Mr. Bobb remained with his parents until 1854, and then started West and traveled as far as Iowa, engaging in the carpenter trade in Howard County, that State. While there he built the first frame house erected in that county. In 1856 he lived at Locust Lane, Winneshiek Co., Iowa, and cast one of the two votes given for Fremont in that precinct. There were no printed ballots, and he wrote both of those cast. In the fall of 1854 he visited the Territory of Minnesota, and soon after Dakota, before it was yet named. He remained in the Northwest until 1861, and then returned to Stephenson County. On the 15th of July, 1861, he enlisted in Co., A, 11th Ill. Inf., and served in that regiment two years, when he was discharged on account of sickness and returned home. He re-enlisted Dec. 12, 1863, in Co. D. 46th Ill. Inf., in which he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, and later was promoted to First Lieutenant. He was mustered out of service at Baton Rouge, La., in January, 1866. Upon his return home he purchased eighty acres of timber land on section 33, of Oneco Township, on which he built a house and immediately began the improvement of the farm. He has lived upon this farm ever since, has erected a good class of buildings, and now has sixty-five acres under cultivation.

January 20, 1863, Mr. Bobb was married to Sarah Miller, who was born in Centre County, Pa. They have had four children – Milton, Snyder, Archie and Minnie.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 390-391.