The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
WILLIAM P. WISELY.
The above mentioned, who is one of Findlay's most popular young men, belongs to a family which has been identified with Hancock county from its earliest history. In fact his grandfather was at the very beginning of things in the county, being one of the first five men who made their appearance in its limits. This was as far back as 1831, and Allen Wisely helped survey the county w'hen it was still in its state of primeval wilderness. With wise fore- thought, however, he foresaw that there was a future for Hancock county and invested in a tract of land of considerable extent, which he spent his subsequent life in cultivating. He achieved remarkable success in his call- ing, and at the time of his death in i888, at the age of eighty years, was pos- sessed of a fine estate of three thousand acres of land. Allen Wisely married Amelia Bright, and of his eight children those now living are Mrs. Sarah Davis, Mrs. America Click, Loraine and Daniel S. Wisely, all of whom have been successful in life and are now in comfortable circumstances. The eldest of the eight children was William P. Wisely, who followed in his father's
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LlUIlAilY
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOCiNUATlONB a L
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY iZ7
footsteps as a successful farmer, and when he died, twenty-five years ago, at the comparatively early age of fifty-one years, own6d one of the handsomest landed estates in the county. He was a member of the United Brethren church, a man of upright life and strict integrity in business' dealings and in a quiet way exercised considerable influence in his community. He mar- ried Elizabeth Balton, and to this union we are indebted for tiie bright young man whose career and present status constitute the basis of this brief biog- raphy.
William P. Wisely, namesake, as well as worthy successor of his hon- ored father, was born at Findlay, Ohio, September 5, 1873. the benefit of a good education at the college in his native city, from which he was sent forth with a diploma in the class of 1891. Though still under legal age he lost no time in entering business, and in coimection with his brother, opened the ice and coal enterprise which still occupies his attention, and in the prosecution of which he has been quite successful. But it is not simply by his energetic management of the People's Ice & Coal Company that Mr. Wisely is known to the public of Findlay and the county of which it is the capital. He has figured actively in various capacities calculated to attract attention, and though still less than thirty years old is quite prominent in politics and recognized as one of the leaders of his party. Already he has served two years in the city council from the first ward of Findlay, and in 1900 was honored by the Democratic party as its canditlate for the state legislature from Hancock county. Though the district is Republican and it was an "off year" for the Democrats, Mr. Wisely polled the full vote of his organization and came out of the contest with credit. On the social side of life and in connection with the prC)minent fraternities, Mr. Wisely displays the same suavity and geniality of address that have given him popularity in politics and business. For one of his age he has achieved unusual promi- nence in Masonry, having reached the thirty-second degree in that ancient order, being a member of Findlay Commandery, No. 49, the Lake Erie Con- sistory in Cleveland, and the blue lodge at Findlay. In addition to this he is conspicuous in the Benevolent and Protecti\e Order of Elks, and altogether no young man in Findlay does his part more fully than Mr. Wisely in con- nection with the city's social activities.
On the 4th of June, 1895, Mr. Wisely led to the matrimonial altar Miss Bessie B. McLeod, and received the congratulations of many friends on his wise selection, as this young lady was not only of attractive personality, but a member of one of the standard families of the community. Her father. Dr. Joseph R. McLeod, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, is one
of the oldest and best known physicians in the county, as well as a man of influence in other departments of life aside from the professional. By his imion with Miss McLeod. Mr. Wisely has three briglit children : Frank, the eldest, was born May 21, 1897; Helen E., September 19, 1900; and Jo- seph R., the baby of the family, commenced life's journey November 16,
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Hancock County, Ohio. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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