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JAMES H. WISE, SR. It needs but a glance at the various estates which make up the greater part of the territory of Sangamon County to determine in a large degree the character of the occupants. Poor and inadequate buildings, tumbled down fences and fields in which the weeds struggle for the mastery with thin crops afford conclusive evidence of the shiftlessness of the manager, while neat fences, carefully tilled fields and well-kept buildings afford equally conclusive proof that he is characterized by thrift, energy and determination.
The gentleman whose life will be briefly sketched below is an honor to the agricultural community of Williams Township, where he owns a fine tract of improved land and has a pleasant home. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 6, 1825, and spent his early years in the log house which sheltered the family and which was one of the two or three buildings composing the village of Cummingsville. This hamlet was then about four miles from Cincinnati but is now included in it. The lad attended school until twelve years old in the old fashioned log houses with puncheon floor and homemade furniture which are common in sparsely settled districts.
Our subject lost his father when he was seven years old and then became an inmate of the household of John Shoemaker in Dearborn County, Ind. After living with that gentleman three years he ran off and making his way to Cincinnati soon afterward accompanied his mother to Jefferson County in the Hoosier State. He worked out until he was twenty-one years old, then learned the carpenter's trade which he followed steadily for six years. In 1851 he purchased a small farm in Ripley County, Ind., and sojourned upon it for seven years, then sold it with the intention of locating in Illinois. Owing to the ill health of his wife he postponed his removal for a year or two.
In the fall of 1864 Mr. Wise carried out his intention of becoming a citizen of this State and established himself on rented land in Fancy Creek Township, this county. After operating as a renter for two years he purchased the fine farm upon which he has since lived. It consists of one hundred and fifty acres which, under careful and intelligent handling, produces abundantly of the fruits of the earth and yields an income adequate to supply the wants of the family. The estate has been furnished with everything needful in the way of improvements and with many adornments such as befit the abode of prosperous and refined people.
Mr. Wise is descended from excellent families, his father, George Wise, having been a native of Virginia and his mother, Sarah (McLaughlin) Wise, a native of Kentucky. The father of our subject, a painter by trade, was a frugal and industrious man. He established himself in Hamilton County, Ohio, at quite an early day and died there in 1832. His widow survived until 1873 and was bout sixty-five years old when called from time to eternity. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church and faithfully labored to discharge the duties she owed to her nine children, five of whom now survive. The maternal grandfather of our subject was George McLaughlin, who removed from the Blue Grass State to Ripley County, Ind., and became well known in that section. His occupation was that of a farmer. He died about 1845.
The marriage rites were solemnized between our subject and Miss Sally Risk November 6, 1851. The bride was born in Jefferson County, Ind., February 8, 1829, her parents being Robert and Elmira (Thornton) Risk, who were born in Kentucky and Vermont respectively. Mr. Risk died in 1829 but Mrs. Risk is still living and is now eighty-three years old. She belongs to the Baptist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Wise the following named children have come: Millard F., born April 14, 1853; George R., December 9, 1854; James H., September 10, 1857; Rosa, August 2, 1858; Emma J., October 14, 1861; Morton B., June 27, 1865. Of this family Rosa and Morton have crossed the river of death.
Mr. Wise takes no active part in politics but firmly believes in the worth of the Republican doctrines and supports them with his vote. A worthy citizen, intelligent, high-minded and strictly honorable he stands high in the community, and his estimable wife is equally well regarded by those to whom she is known. Both belong to the Christian Church and endeavor to make their daily life and conversation correspond to their profession.