According to the Historical Record of Wood County, Ohio, published in 1897, pages 1158-1159, Isaac was born in Henry Township on the farm which is still his home, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. He was educated in the school districts and in the fall of 1865 he enlisted in Company F, 12th U.S.V.I., but afterward transferred to the 21st U.S.I., from which he received an honorable discharge in 1868 at Camp Hamilton. He was engaged in doing guard duty, being stationed at Richmond, VA, at Petersburg, and at Fortress Monroe, where, for six months, he guarded Jefferson Davis. Later he was sent in pursuit of a band of robbers in Virginia and was discharged at Camp Hamilton.

Returning home, Isaac Ackerman followed farming with his father until his marriage. In Henry Township, he wedded Nancy, who was born in Bloom Township. They located on the old family homestead and their union was blessed with seven children. From his father, Mr. Ackerman inherited 44 acres of land, and afterward purchased 36 acres of his brother, so that he now has an excellent farm, upon which he has made many splendid improvements. His present commodious home was erected in the fall of 1893. In politics he is a Democrat, and is an intelligent, self-made man and highly esteemed citizen. His wife belongs to the United Brethren Church.

The Genealogical Record by David E. Peters, page 125, adds to the story.
The first pocket knife the writer ever owned was presented to him by this soldier as he was leaving home to join his company. He was engaged in doing guard duty, being stationed at Richmond, Virginia, at Petersburg, and at Fortress Monroe, where for six months he guarded Jefferson Davis. He is a farmer, owning 160 acres, a portion of which has some good producing oil wells. He has erected commodious buildings. His union with Nancy was blessed with seven children. They own and continue to reside on part of the farm where he was born, which was the family homestead entered by his father.