Historic Cambridge residents with ‘I’ Surnames
INNES & ISHERWOOD – A waggoner and a photographer – both these historic residents are founders of our town. Here are their stories.
INNES Charles Robert
Charles was born about 1866 and a waggoner when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge, 11 January 1887.
ISHERWOOD James Henry Alfred Lionel de Montaigne
‘Leo’ was born 24 May 1877, the son of Montague Isherwood and Evelyn Tracey de Montaigne, in Hobart Australia.
He was manager of Tom Wells’ ironmongery department prior to his wedding and was given a carved flower stand by fellow employees.
He married widow Evelyn ‘Effie’ Mary Cooke nee Chambers on Sunday 24 July 1899 in St Andrews Anglican Church, Cambridge. (She had two children – Norman Douglas Cooke born 26 September 1894 who died 8 May 1915 on Gallipoli, and Geoffrey Cooke born 1895.) As Madame Isherwood Effie taught the children of Cambridge how to sing and dance. Leo and Effie had four more children.
In the 1902 Electoral Roll Leo’s occupation was Photographer. Also in 1902 he became a member of the Duke of Cambridge Lodge and called on the sickness fund in December 1903 getting £1 10s for 9 days illness.
He was actively involved with the tennis club being president from 1907 till 1912. Leo also played hockey and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1911 he joined the golf club but his main sporting interests were still tennis and hockey. In 1912 both Leo and Effie became members of the NZ Political Reform League – Leo being elected Secretary/Treasurer the next year.
On 21 January 1913 Leo applied for a Prohibition Order on himself. 8 December 1914 Effie took Lionel to Court failing to provide adequate maintenance and persistent cruelty to herself and children. She asked for £2 a week. On 15 December 1914 – Leo was again granted a Prohibition Order.
In January 1915 his photographic establishment in Duke Street was burnt to the ground. March 1918 he sold his photographic business to Miss Ivy Gordon.
Lionel died while in custody in the Cambridge lock up on 30 October 1918.