In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912), History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the State of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... (1881)
WILLIAM WISE, furniture dealer and undertaker, Bucyrus; is the sou of George and Charlotte (Moore) Wise, and was born in Fairfield Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1824. The first eighteen years of his life were spent on a farm, varied with a short season of schooling in the winters. His parents removed here when he was aged 10 years. When 18 years of age, he commenced to learn the cabinet-maker's trade with C. Howenstine, his apprenticeship lasting three years. He afterward spent one year working at his trade, in Valparaiso, Ind. Returning from thence he formed a partnership with Howenstine, which lasted some twelve years. At this time the subject of our sketch commenced in business for himself at his present place on Main street, and has been there since 1866. He has now a large stock of furniture, and
As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the State of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM R. WISE, who, in association with his brothers conducts a furniture and undertaking business at Bucyrus, O., is a representative business man of this city. The Wise family was known in Clearfield county, Pa., in the days of George Wise, the grandfather. He died there and later his widow came to Crawford county, O., accompanied by her sons, and afterward to Valparaiso, Ind., where she remained during the rest of a long life.
William Wise, father of William R. Wise, was born in 1824, in Pennsylvania, and was twelve years old when his mother came to Crawford county. About 1845 the sons, William, Adam, Jacob, John and Henry, returned to Crawford county from Indiana and all settled on farms in the county. William located first in Bucyrus township, but afterward moved on a farm nearer the village and still later became a resident of the hamlet, where he started a cabinetmaking shop. He had but the tools of his trade, none of the present machinery for the making of furniture having yet been invented, and even the black walnut coffins were all made by hand. He was one of the first in this section to purchase machinery and had the enterprise to keep abreast with the times, and in 1847, in partnership with Christopher Hoenstein opened a large shop at No. 215 East Mansfield street, Bucyrus. This continued until 1865, when the firm name became William Wise, and later Wil-
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Fred A. and Joseph 13., all of whom have been practically brought up in it. This firm carries a large stock of furniture and house furnishings and a complete line of undertaking goods, including two funeral cars and an ambulance. The present business house was erected in 1884 and additions made in 1895, the present frontage being 33 feet with a depth of 160 feet. Every department of the business is carefully attended to and the patronage is heavy. Old methods, in so far as business integrity is concerned, are still maintained, confidence in the name of Wise having been secured a half century ago.
The late William Wise was a leading member of the English Lutheran church at Bucyrus for thirty years. He gave political support to the Republican party but accepted no offices. For some years prior to his death he was a member of the fraternal organization, the Knights of Honor. Fie was married in Crawford county to Eliza Jane Deardorfif, who was born in 1827 and died in 1888. Fler father, Emanuel Deardorff, was an early settler in Crawford county, a tanner and farmer, who spent his last years in comfortable retirement in Bucyrus. None of his surviving children reside in this county. To William Wise and wife eleven children were born, two of whom died young. One daughter, Lizzie, died in 1902, and one son. Preston, in 1890. A daughter, Millie, who died February r, 1910, was the wife of Edward Vollrath, an attorney at Bucyrus, and was survived by three sons and two daughters. The surviving members of the family of William and Eliza Jane Wise are: Martha, who is the widow of Rev. George Hindle and resides at Wooster, O., with her large family; Bessie, who is the wife of Seth 1 lodges, who is at the head of the II. S. Express Company at Cleveland, ( and who lias one son, William Preston: William R., the subject of this sketch; George L., who married Fannie Shaw and has one daughter, Mary; Fred A., who married Maybcll Beard and has two daughters, Helen and Frances V.; Joseph 1C, who married Olive Greyer, formerly a successful teacher of music at Bucyrus, and has one son, William.
William R. Wise was reared and educated with his brothers in the city schools, and also with them had the practical training under their father that provided them with a business as soon as they were able to take responsibilities on themselves. He was married at Bucyrus to Miss Stella Lauck, a daughter of George Lauck, who for many years before his death was a merchant here. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have two children: Eleanor C., who was born April 18, 1901; and Virginia, who was born July 29, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the English Lutheran church. He belongs to the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Eagles and the Order of Ben Hur. He and brothers are all Republicans. From their father they have inherited musical talent of a high order and frequently they take care of the musical service as well as the practical work of funerals, this usually being more than satisfactory. Mr. Wise and brothers are all graduate embalmers.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.