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What Was Edward Isham Early Life

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At the age of ten, Edward Isham threw the first punch that led down the long road of a violent lifestyle (Bolton, 1). He grew up without a mother and with an alcoholic and a womanizer role model of a father (Bolton, 102). Unlike most, Isham was uneducated and not involved in the church after being kicked out of both (Bolton, 2). His far from average and tumultuous childhood mirrored his far from average life (Bolton, 101). Edward Isham’s life was not one of a typical poor white man because of his work circumstances, his relationships, and his extremely violent lifestyle. Isham was not exempt from the travelling all poor whites had to do in order to find work; however, none travelled as often and as far into the countryside as he did. He took whatever job he could find and had skills in many different areas ranging from mining gold to herding cattle to working on the railroad (Bolton, 20). Isham’s lifestyle was particularly nomadic because wherever he went, he caused trouble and had …show more content…

He obtained some land to farm, but his crops died. He married a woman who became pregnant, but she died during childbirth. His positive efforts only failed. He returned back to his unstable and violent lifestyle (Bolton, 48). Isham did not fit the mold of the typical man. He did, however, live up to his nickname, Hardaway Bone (Bolton, 71). Isham did some work for a well-known farmer, James Cornelius, that resulted in deadly issues. Disputes arose between the two men over the pay for labor. Isham brutally attacked Cornelius over a few dollars. His violent nature was on full display as he beat the man so badly that death resulted. He escaped with warrants for his arrest in many towns. Edward Isham’s atypical life of work, relationships, and violence was ended when he was caught, put on trial, convicted, and hanged on May 25, 1860 (Bolton,

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