Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 424

SAMUEL H. WISE, the popular artist of Wilton, Iowa was born Oct. 24, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Sophia ( Kester ) Wise. His father was born in Union County, Pa., Jan. 18, 1801, and his mother was born April 30, 1804, in the same county. They were reared and married in their native State, and both were of German ancestry, the grandparents on both sides having emigrated to America from the Fatherland during the early days of the history of Pennsylvania. In 1829 Henry Wise removed from his native State to Crawford County, Ohio, where he continued to make his home until 1839, when, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to Iowa, settling in Rochester Township, Cedar County. He was a miller by trade, and followed that occupation in connection with farming during the greater part of his life. In 1849 he erected a mill in Rochester, which was one of the first mills in Cedar County, being a saw and grist mill combined. The latter department was quite primitive in its character, but was a great blessing to the pioneers, who had been compelled to go long distances to have their corn ground with which to make the cornbread, which was one of the staple articles of diet in those early days. Mr. Wise was one of the representative pioneer settlers, a Whig in politics, and in religious faith, a Lutheran. He and his wife were parents of thirteen children, three of whom are now deceased : Moses, born Jan. 17, 1826, died July 23, 1886 ; Sarah Ann, born March 10, 1827 ; Isaac, April 30, 1829 ; Emanuel, Sept. 7, 1830 ; George W., April 9, 1832 ; Melinda E., March 6, 1834 ; John A., March 26, 1836 ; Owen, Jan. 15, 1839 ; Hannah, Jan. 23, 1840 ; Samuel H., Oct. 24, 1842 ; Silas,born Jan. 4, 1844, now deceased ; Julia Ann, born Aug. 24, 1845, is also deceased ; James U. born Aug. 1, 1848. The death of the father occurred in Cedar County, Iowa, July 23, 1856; the mother departed this life Jan. 11, 1883.

Our subject was born and reared on the old homestead in Rochester Township, Cedar County, and remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, when, on the 14th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company J, 35th Iowa Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He acted in the capacity of musician, and was in active service all the time until a few months prior to the close of hostilities, when, on account of disability incurred in the service, he was transferred to the invalid corps, and sent to the North. He took part in many of the most important engagements, was at the siege of Vicksburg, and participated in both battles at Jackson, Miss., and with his regiment accompanied Gen. Banks in his unfortunate Red River expedition. By forced marches and exposure in this campaign, his health was badly shattered, and his constitution, hitherto robust, was broken, he never having fully recovered from the terrible ordeal which he at that time underwent.

At the close of the war Mr. Wise engaged in the profession of photography, establishing business at Wilton in 1868, since which time he has continued in that line with good success, having gained a well-merited reputation as a superior artist. In 1866, Nov. 29, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ellen Healy, a daughter of Abiel L. Healy, of Wilton, an early pioneer of Cedar County. By their union five children have been born, three sons and two daughters-- Mary S., Edwin A., George C., Ida E., and Samuel A.

Mr. Wise is a charter member of Henry Sibert Post, G.A.R., at Wilton, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote in 1864, while a soldier in the field, for Abraham Lincoln. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them. A gallant soldier in the War for the Union, a worthy and respected citizen, an enterprising and progressive business man, Mr. Wise is a man of prominence, and is widely known throughout the community.


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