"Sanford B. Wisner"

from the Biographical and Genealogical History of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton Counties, Indiana - Vol. II

Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1898

pages 618 - 620 -

Sanford B. Wisner. - In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environments we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test, but gain a new strength through the discipline. The following history sets forth briefly the steps by which our subject, now one of the substantial agriculturists of Liberty township, Tipton county, overcame the disadvantages of his early life.

A native of Indiana, he was born in Bartholomew county, June 14, 1829, and is son of Abner and Ruth (Gibbs) Wisner, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. The father's brothers and sisters to come to Indianapolis were: Moses, who died in Switzerland county; Jonathan, Sarah and Mrs. Coburn. The mother was one of a family of six children, the others being: Amos, Daniel, Mrs. Sally Chambers, Mrs. Polly Phelps and Mrs. Betsey Smith. On settling in Bartholomew county Abner Wisner entered forty acres of land, immediately commenced its improvement and had placed most of it under cultivation before he was called to his final rest in 1833. He left a widow and two children: Sanford B. and Van Rensselaer C., a shoemaker of Sharpsville. The mother afterward married Lemuel Chetam, who took charge of the farm.

During his boyhood and youth Sanford B. Wisner attended the common schools and remained with his mother and stepfather until he attained the age of sixteen years, when he was apprenticed to the tanner's trade, at which he worked until twenty-one. He then bought the establishment in which he had been employed and continued it on his own account for four or five years. After his marriage, in 1851, he sold the plant and operated rented farms until 1864, when he came to Tipton county and bought a partially improved farm of eighty acres, to which he added until he had two hundred acres. Later selling it he bought a place near Tipton, and on disposing of that property, in 1884, purchased his present farm of one hundred and ninety-one acres, most of which had been cleared, ditched and improved, while the buildings consisted of two barns and a dilapidated dwelling. In 1895 he erected a commodious two-story frame residence, with all modern conveniences, and has made many other excellent improvements upon the place, so that it is now one of the best farms of the locality. It is pleasantly located two and one-quarter miles southwest of Sharpsville. The only assistance which our subject received was one hundred dollars from his father's estate, but he has steadily worked his own way upward until he is now one of the prosperous farmers of the community.

In 1851 Mr. Wisner was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Thomas, of Decatur county, Indiana, a daughter of Reuben and Mary (Carper) Thomas, farming people, who died in that county in the faith of the Methodist church, to which they belonged. Their children were Frances, William, John, Sarah, Elihu, Frank, Lot D., Martha, Minerva J. and Elizabeth. To Mr. and Mrs. Wisner were born five children: Reuben, a resident of Sharpsville; Mary F., Sarah J. and Emma, who all died when young; and Celesta A., who married Daniel Hones, and died July, 1896, leaving three children, Ina E., Verna G. and Iva M., who now find a good home with out subject. Mrs. Wisner, who was a faithful member of the Methodist church, departed this life October 17, 1883. Mr. Wisner was again married February 28, 1885, his second union being with Mrs. Christina Snider, widow of George D. Snider, by whom she had one son, Ira B., who is now married and engaged in farming. Her parents, Philip and Betsy (Thurston) Sheplar removed from Kentucky to Indiana at an early day and improved a farm in Fayette county, where both died when Mrs. Wisner was quite young. The mother was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Wisner was reared by an aunt near Connersville, Indiana. She and her husband are sincere and faithful members of the Methodist church, while in politics he is a stanch Republican, but has never aspired to official honors, though he has most capably served his fellow citizens as assessor and supervisor of his township. Wherever known they are held in high regard and their friends are many throughout Tipton county.