The Wise Families of Stark County, Ohio

ELIAS T. WISE, farmer; P. O. New Berlin; is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Tombaugh) Wise, who were natives of Washington Co., Pa. Peter Wise, the grandfather of our subject, came to Plain Tp. in 1807, and entered about 1200 acres of land; he then returned home, and the following vear returned to Plain Tp. with his family. In 1811 Daniel built the first grist-mill erected in Plain Tp., it being situated on the middle branch of Nimishillen creek. He exchanged his mill for 320 acres of land, where he lived uj to the time of his death. He died in 1818, at the aije of 34 years, and his widow married, in 1824,.judge John Hoover, of Canton, who was one of the most energetic and cultured men Stark Co. had. Mr. Wise, our subject, was born in Plain Tp., at the Middle Branch Mill, Sept. 24, 1813; his youth was spent on the farm of his father, and he obtaineil such an education as the common schools of that day afforded. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, working at the same for sixteen years, part of the time being in Pennsylvania. In 1847 he began farming the old homestead of the Speelman family, and after remaining there seven years (in 1854) he bought the farm he now occupies, owning now 350 acres of valuable land, and is considered one of the most successful farmers of Stark Co. In 1843 he was united in marriage to Margaret, daughter of Valentine Speelman, of Plain Tp. From that marriage there were four children, three of whom are living, viz. — Margaret, wife of Urias Schrantz, of Plain Tp.; J. W., at home; and Henry A. Mrs. Wise died in 1850. For his second wife he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Price, of Montgomery Co., Pa. From that marriage there were seven children, three of whom are living — Elias P., attending college at Ashland; Milton P. and Annie C, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the German Baptist Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. Z. WISE, farmer and county surveyor; P. O. Middle Branch; is a son of Peter" M., and Catharine Wise. The mother was a native of Cumberland Co., Pa., and Peter M., was born in Washington Co., Pa., where he was engaged in farming with his parents, and came to Ohio in 1811; he soon after returned, anil in 1819, settled on a farm in the northeast corner of Plain Tp., where he lived up to the time of his death. In 1836 he represented the district, including Stark Co., in the Legislature, and was one of the most prominent iiin of his county; he died in 1876, at the age of 82 years. Our subject was born in Plain Tp, Stark Co.. O.. Aug. 26, 1836. His childhood was spent on the farm, and in attending the common schools and the college of Mt. Union. After completing his education he taught school for several terms, in Plain and in the adjoining townships. In 1880 he was elected surveyor of Stark Co., on the republican ticket. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Lydia, daughter of Benjamin Gans, of Lake Tp. Mrs. Wise died in 1877 leaving five children. In 1879 he married for his second wife, Rebecca A., daughter of Charles and Susanna Poe, of Navarre, this county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. M. WISE, farmer; P.O. Middle Branch; was born in Washington Co., Pa., in 1833. His early life was spent at home on the farm, and he obtained his education in the common schools and the academy of his native town. At the age of 23 years he came to Ohio, settling in Delaware Co., where he remained but one year, when he removed to Stark Co., settling on a farm in Plain Tp., where he has since resided. His farm contains 144 acres of valuable land, upon which he has been engaged in sleep-raising extensively, since coming to the county. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Phoebe C., daughter of Adam Wise, of Canton. This lady died in 1872, leaving five children. In February, 1873, he married for his second wife, Lydia Archer, of Canton, who bore him three children. Mr. Wise is a member of the M. E. Church of Canton. His father, Solomon Wise, was a native of Washington Co., Pa., where he was engaged in farming and the distilling business. In 1858 he sold his interests in his native county, and removed to Marshall Co., In., and engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed for several years. He then purchased a farm where he lived up to the time of his death.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

L. E. WISE, farmer; P. O. Greentown George Wise, the father of L. E., was born in Union Co., Pa., about the year 1806. His parents were natives of the same county, and came to Ohio, settling in Lake Tp., in 180! It was in this township George passed his boyhood. Facilities for ol)taining an education were not abundant in the region of his home; he went to the old log-cabin school-

9-18 house, where he obtained as good an education as the times afforded. He assisted his father in ridding the farm of its massive oaks, and in this way passed his early life. He married Miss Barbara Cramer, who came to Ohio with her parents, from Pennsylvania, at an early time. Soon after their marriage he commenced farming, and in this vocation continued for several years; he subsequently removed to Springfield Tp., Summit Co., settling on a farm, and there lived up to the time of his death. Both he and wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by their deaths the church lost faithful and true christian members. Young Wise, the subject of this short sketch, was born on his father's farm, in Lake Tp., Jan. 27, 1834. The early years of his life were passed on the farm. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and after acquiring a good education, he directed his attention to farming. He at the age of 31 began farming the homestead, where he remained seven years. He subsequently purchased a farm of 133 acres upon which he settled, and has continued to live on the same ever since; he has made several important improvements on the same, which now ranks among the first farms of the township. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, appropriate mention of whom is made in this work. That union has been blessed with four children, all of whom are living. Mr. Wise affiliated himself with the Republican party at its organization, and has been an adherent of its principles up to the present time.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEWIS WISE, farmer; P. O. Greentown; is the youngest in a family of ten children, born to.John and Barbara (Auble) Wise, who were natives of Union Co., Pa., where John Wise was engaged in farming. While Lake Tp. was in an unimproved condition, this family left its home in the native state for the purpose of founding a new home in the west; after a journey, that in these days would be termed tedious and adventurous, John Wise arrived in Lake Tp. He settled on a farm, and after a few years of hard labor he converted it into a productive farm. He remained a resident of Lake Tp. up to the time of his death. The subject of this sketch was born in Lake Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, his birth occurring Majl-i, 1837. The early years of his life were spent in the labors of the farm, but little interrupted by educational pursuits, as facilities for procuring an education in those days were scanty and of an inferior order in the region of his home. At the age of 81 he began working in Aultman & Miller's works, where he remained one year, he then bought 80 acres of land, upon which he settled and lived 16 years. He then settled on the farm he now occupies, consisting of 136 acres. In 1848 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Raber, who was a native of Lake Tp.; from that marriage ten children were born, viz. — Calvin, Milton, Alvin, George, Ida, Catharine 0., Frank, Frances, Charles, and Wilbur. Mr. and Mrs. Wise united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life, and still remain consistent members of the same body.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEVI WISE, farmer; P. O. Greentown. This gentleman was born in Lake Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1843, and is the son of Samuel G. and Catharine Wis?, who were early settlers in Lake Tp. Levi, our subject, spent his childhood on the farm, where he remained until he reached his 16th year. In the meantime he attended the common schools and acquired a good education. At the age of 16 he apprenticed himself to the carpenter trade, serving two and a half years as an apprentice, and worked at the same for three years. He was connected with the Greentown Foundry for eleven years, and in 1881 he purchased a pleasant and a desirable home adjoining Greentown, where he still resides. In 1866 he united in marriage with Miss Lavina, (laughter of S. P. Pontius, of Stark Co. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wise are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been identified with the Democratic party, and has held many offices of trust in the township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.