James Madison Isley (Malachi > Philip > George > James) was born July 4, 1825, in Gwinnett County, Georgia. James married Martha Goode while he was living in Alabama. Martha is thought to have died circa 1856. After Martha’s death, James did migrate to Missouri and was issued a land patent 1 May 1857 in Cass County, Missouri. His stay in Missouri was short. He was enumerated in Visalia, Tulare County, California in 1860. He was the only person enumerated in his household. James Madison was then issued land patents in Kings County, California on 1 November 1860 and 22 January 1861. He then migrated to Oregon sometime between 22 January 1861 and 16 October 1865 when he married his 2nd wife Melvina Pennington. James and Melvina were enumerated in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon in 1870. His sons by his first wife, James Madison Jr. and William Relford, joined him in Oregon by 1880. Census records and death records reflect that most of his descendants remained in the Oregon/Washington area. Several lived in Alaska for a while.

OREGON became a territory in 1846 and became the 33rd State on February 14, 1859. To this day there is controversy over the name of the state. World Book Encyclopedia states: The Columbia River was at one time called the Oregon or Ouragan, which means Hurricane in French. Others believe the name was derived from a mapmaker's error in the 1700s. The Wisconsin River was named the Ouisconsink and was picked up by travelers referring to the country west of the Great Lakes as Ourigan.

Oregon in 1863

WASHINGTON COUNTY Established July 5, 1843 as Tuality County, one of the 4 original counties of the Oregon Territory. Changed to Washington County in 1849; named after George Washington. Actual county organization was in 1854.

UMATILLA COUNTY created September 27, 1862. It was carved out of Wasco County. Umatilla County's name is derived from an Indian word Youmalolam, as reported in Lewis and Clark journals. It means "water rippling over sand."

WALLOWA COUNTY Established on February 11, 1887, out of the eastern portion of Union County. There is no generally accepted origin of the word Wallowa.

WASHINGTON - On March 2, 1853, Washington split from Oregon and became the Washington Territory. The Territory included all of present-day washington, Western Idaho, and western Montana. Washington was admitted as the 42nd State on November 11, 1889. Washington was named after George Washington.

WALLA WALLA was one of the original counties formed as part of the Washington Territory in 1853. In those days it included all the area east of the Cascade Mountains to the western portion of Montana. On November 11, 1875 the present day Walla Walla County was established.

UMATILLA COUNTY created September 27, 1862. It was carved out of Wasco County. Umatilla County's name is derived from an Indian word Youmalolam, as reported in Lewis and Clark journals. It means "water rippling over sand."

Malachi Isley Descendants in Oregon and Washington James Madison ISLEY - born 4 July 1825 - married to Martha Goode and Melvina Pennington. Enumerated in 1850 in Jackson County, Alabama with wife Martha. In 1860 was enumerated by himself in Tulare County, California. Enumerated with wife Melvina in 1870 in Washington County, Oregon and in 1880 in Milton, Umatilla County, Oregon. Mary Ann ISLEY Mills, born circa 1853 in Alabama, was enumerated with husband John S Mills in 1880 in Kingsville, Johnson County, Missouri. She was then enumerated in 1910 in LaGrande, Union County, Oregon with her daughter Ollie and her husband. James Madison ISLEY, Jr, born 24 August 1850, and wife Mary A Vanderpool were first enumerated in 1870 in Kingsville, Johnson County, Missouri. In 1880 they were in Milton, Umatilla County, Oregon. In 1910 and 1920, they were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. George RAMAGE, born June 1856, and wife Martha B ISLEY, daughter of James Madison, were enumerated in Small, Walla Walla County, Washington in 1900. Charles J HALL, born April 1870, and wife Minnie Belle ISLEY, daughter of James Madison Jr., were numerated in Weston, Umatilla County, Oregon in 1900 and in N. Athena, Umatilla County, Oregon in 1910. Madison Pennington ISLEY, born 1 January 1872, son of James Madison, and wife Belle Vesta Kutch, were enumerated in Divide, Wallawa County, Oregon in 1910. Edward E THORINGTON, born March 1872, and wife Carrie May ISLEY, daugher of James Madison, were enumerated in Small, Walla Walla County, Washington in 1900; Ritz, Walla Walla County, Washington in 1910; and College Place, Walla Walla County, Washington in 1920. Charles Edward ISLEY, born 20 February 1874, son of James Madison, and wife Nettie Violet Sims were enumerated in Prairie Creek, Wallawa County, Oregon in 1900. James Franklin ISLEY, born 2 September 1875, son James Madison Jr., and wife Alma M were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington in 1920. John Wesley ISLEY, born 17 August 1879, son of James Madison, and wife Bessie Blankenship were in Joseph, Wallawa County, Oregon in 1910. Jodie BOYER, born circa 1882, and wife Myrtle ISLEY, daughter of James Madison, were in Pine, Baker County, Oregon in 1910. William Arthur ISLEY, born 2 November 1883, son of James Madison, and wife Elizabeth M Perkins were in Milton, Umatilla County, Oregon in 1910. Jesse W RAMAGE, born October 1883, son of Martha B ISLEY Ramage, and wife Anna C were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington in 1920. Clifford T OTTO, born circa 1886, and wife Grace Myrtle ISLEY, daughter of James Madison Jr., were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, in 1910 and 1920. Mathew Cowan ISLEY, born 29 December 1887, son of James Madison Jr, and wife Stella M Garneu were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington in 1920. Claude Harold ISLEY, born 21 November 1889, son of James Madison Jr, and wife Lenia Mize were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington in 1920. Claud C RAMAGE, born January 1889, son of Martha B ISLEY Ramage, and wife May E were in Baker, Walla Walla County, Washington. Raymond Earl ISLEY, born 1 December 1892, son of James Madison Jr, and wife Mabel V Hall were in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington in 1920