Jane “Jennie” Netherton Isaac was born 1827 in Tennessee. She married William in 1848 and they would eventually have 11 children, 8 survived to adulthood. The family moved to California around 1860 and in 1870 were in Gilroy where they were farmers. William would also serve as a Baptist Minister and on the Board of Education. Education would continue to be a priority for this family.
In the Spring of 1875, Jennie packed up her household and all headed for Prescott with two wagons, each pulled by four horses. It took two months to arrive, at one point crossing the Colorado River. The family would remain in Prescott until the Spring of 1876, moving temporarily to a small adobe house in Phoenix. A home was built on 400 acres of land at what is now 35th Ave. & McDowell Rd. The Isaacs needing to educate their children, donated the land founding Isaac School. That school is still in existence.
The Isaacs prospered and in 1884 Jennie began conducting business in
her own name dealing with stock and farming products. The Arizona Legislature
had given married women that right in 1865. In 1887 Jennie helped start a
chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star as William was a Mason. Jennie held
the office of the “Electa,” who shares the lesson of Charity and Hospitality.
Jennie’s husband William died March 23, 1900. Jennie lived alone until she
developed grippe, the flu, and died after seven days on February 10, 1902. Jennie is
buried in the Masons Cemetery next to her husband.
-Donna Carr
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