edward swift isham (january 15, 1836 – february 16, 1902) was an american lawyer and politician from vermont. the son of a justice of the vermont supreme court, isham attended williams college and the harvard school of law before he was admitted to the bar in 1858. he headed west, establishing a practice in chicago, illinois, in 1859. the practice eventually became isham lincoln & beale. isham also served one term in the illinois house of representatives.