Henry F. Wise

WISE, HIGHLY, RIDENOUR, ERICKSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Jacie (email)
Date: 6/25/2008 at 12:54:34

1907 History of Greene co., Iowa.

Henry F. Wise, a representative of the farming interests in Paton township, living on Section 11, claims Ohio as the state of his nativity, his birth having occured in Crawford county, Ohio on 14 August 1845. His parents were Samuel and Rebecca Highly Wise, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. During the early boyhood of their son Henry, they moved westward to Iowa, where they arrived in 1850. The father purchased a tract of land in Cedar county, and devoted his remaining days to further development and improving it, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred on March 18, 1857, when he was 35 years of age. His wife, long survived him, died in Paton in 1896 at the age of 72 years. They were the parents of six children: John C., who was killed in a sawmill at Muscatine, Iowa in 1867, Henry F. of this review, Harvey, who follows farming in Paton township, Charles, deceased, Ella, the wife of H.C. Erickson of Paton township, and Katherine, the wife of J.F. Johnson of Paton township. Henry F. Wise was but five years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Cedar county, Iowa where he spent his boyhood and youth upon a farm. He was trained for life's practical duties, as he early began work in the fields and assisted in all of the farm work in connection with the raising of grain and stock. In 1874 he arrived in Greene county, where in connection with his brother Harvey, he bought 240 acres of land. They began development of the property, but later divided their interests. Henry Wise has continued to reside on his original farm in this county and is today the owner of 210 acres of rich and productive land. He has made all of the improvements upon the place himself and the farm is today an excellent property, which stands as the visible evidence of his life of thrift and energy. He is yet one of the world's workers and will continue to be so up to the last, for idleness is foreign to his nature, while diligence and perserverence are numbered among his strong characteristics. Mr. Wise was married in Cedar county, Iowa to Miss Matilda Ridenour, and unto them was born a son Harry, who is now living in California. Having lost his wife, he afterward married her cousin, Miss Amanda Ridenour, who is still living. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have been identified for many years. Mr. Wise votes with the democracy, having given to it his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows. He is widely known in this community as a man of genuine personal worth, and has gained the friendly regard of his fellow citizens.