JUDGE ISAAC W. McCOLLUM, Livingston County, was born in Spartansburg District, S. C., March 8, 1815. His parents were Robert and Nancy McCollum, both natives of South Carolina. Booth McCollum, subject's grandfather, was a Carolinian and a descendant of an old Scotch family, which came to America before the formation of the Federal Government. Robert McCollum was born March 1, 1779 in South Carolina, and moved West in 1817, settling in what is now Trigg County, Ky., nine miles from the town of Cadiz. He was a farmer and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in Dycusburg, Crittenden County, in 1856, moving to the latter place in 1850. The maiden name of subject's mother was Nancy Haines. She was born May 5, 1772, and died in 1833. Isaac McCollum is the fifth in a family of seven children. His early life was spent on a farm, and at an early age engaged as overseer on a large plantation of Col. Hobbs', in Christian County, where he remained until after arriving at his majority, when he was married October 4, 1836, to Martha Wilson, of Edinburgh, Scotland. After marriage he moved to Montgomery County, Ill., where he entered a tract of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits for three years. At the end of that time he came to Kentucky and settled in Crittenden County, purchasing a farm of 220 acres, which he still owns, and on which he resided from 1839 to 1876. In 1856 Mr. McCollum was elected judge of Crittenden County, serving one term of four years. He was re-elected in 1864, completing his second term in 1868. While attending to the duties of his office he lived in Marion, but on the expiration of his term he removed to his farm. In 1875 he removed to Carrsville, Livingston County, and engaged in merchandising, which he continued till the spring of 1884. In the latter year he retired from active life and purchased a neat home in Salem, where he now lives. Mr. McCollum has filled the office of magistrate, besides practicing law in Crittenden and adjoining counties. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Democrat in politics; during the war his sympathies were with the Union. Mr. and Mrs. McCollum are the parents of six children, the following of whom are living: Susan A., wife of R. S. Threlkeld; Amanda J., wife of Joseph Parker; Finis B., M. D.; and Martha W., wife of Joseph Ward. The names of the deceased children were: Nancy M., wife of J. C. Foster, and Dr. Thomas R.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 826.