Isaiah Cortright

    Isaiah Cortright is a native of Blackford County, Indiana, born in Jackson Township, September 14, 1851, a son of Isaac and Mary (Hudson) Cortright. The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, and when a boy came with his parents by team to Blackford County, Indiana, where the father of Isaac has entered a tract of 160 acres in Jackson Township, on which the family located in 1838 or '39. The parents of Isaac lived in this county until their death. He grew to manhood in Jackson Township, where he married Miss Mary Hudson, whose parents settled in the county at a later date.

    Isaiah Cortright, whose name heads this sketch, was also reared in Jackson Township, receiving his education in the schools of his neighborhood and at Ridgeville College, where he pursued his studies two years. He then began teaching school in Blackford County, teaching two terms here, and two terms in Delaware County, after which he engaged in the drug business at Hartford City.

    February 4, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Hedge, a native of Blackford County, a daughter of John and Mary E. (Townsend) Hedge, her parents now living in Marshall County, Kansas. The Hedge family settled in Blackford County in a very early day, the father of Mrs. Cortright being born in the county.

    In 1877 Mr. Cortright was elected recorder of Blackford County. In 1881 he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, and in 1885 was re-elected, his term of office expiring in August, 1889. He is a member of Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., and is now conductor in the lodge. He has passed all the chairs, and has represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State. He is also a member of the encampment at Hartford City.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.