Biographical information provided for by Sarah Hewitt for the He Tohu exhibition:
Isa Bella (Isabelle) Peacock was born in Meeamee in 1871 to James Peacock (1834-1922) and his wife Margaret Helen Sangster Morison.
Her mother and sister Eva signed above her on the Suffrage Petition.
In June 1890, Isa appointed a 'probationer nurse' at the Napier Hospital and in 1893 she lived in Hastings doing 'domestic duties'.
On 19 April 1899, she married Frederick John Witherow of Eleworth, Patangata (d.1940) at St Thomas' church, Meanee (as Isa Bella). They had 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys - one son died as baby) between 1902 and 1909.
The 1908 Cyclopedia of New Zealand lists them as living at 'Wautukai' at Patangata running 1500 sheep and 40 short-horn cattle. The 12-roomed homestead is described as 'pleasantly situated'.
Frederick was a member of the local council in 1915.
Isa died on 30 August 1952 at Waipawa (two days after her sister Eva), aged 81. She left everything to her 3 surviving children.
