San Francisco County
Biographies
John H. Wise was born in Accomack county, Virginia, July 19, 1829. His ancestry sprung from the Douglas family of Scotland and the Wise family of England, the branch that came to the United States being among the early settlers of the eastern part of Virginia. They attained great distinction in the Old Dominion, where many members of the family became prominent in State and Federal affairs. His grandfather, Honorable John Wise, toward the close of the last century was Speaker of the Virginia Assembly. He presided when the famous Virginia resolutions were adopted. An uncle, Honorable Henry A. Wise, was Governor of Virginia in 1855, and subsequently represented his State in Congress for about twelve years. He was one of the most influential men in the country. The father of our subject, Tully R. Wise, was appointed First Auditor of the Treasury by President Tyler, in 1842.
John H. Wise received his early education at Washington, District of Columbia,
and afterward entered the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, where he
graduated. After completing his collegiate course, he returned to his
home at Washington, and while there was appointed on the Atlantic Coast Survey
by Professor Dallas Bache. He continued thus employed until 1853, when he
came to California, making the journey via the Isthmus route, and arriving in
San Francisco May 12 of the same year. He immediately went into the
Custom House, under Major Hammond, Collector of the Port, and remained through
the administrations of Pierce and Buchanan. The latter personally
introduced Mr. Wise and had him appointed Deputy Collector, with a special
commission to act as Collector during the absence of the superior officer.
In the fall of 1861 the co-partnership of Christy & Wise was formed to transact
a wool commission business. They located on Front street, between Pacific
and Jackson streets, where they remained until 1880, when the largely increased
business, which had grown from the annual handling of a few hundred thousand
pounds to upwards of twelve million pounds, necessitated the renting of the
large warehouse at the corner of Fifth and Townsend streets. Mr. Christy
died in 1882. The firm name, however, continued the same, the business
being transacted by the surviving members, Mr. Wise and Mr. Thomas Denigan, the latter having been admitted to the partnership
in 1866. A branch house had been established at Portland, Oregon, and the
firm of Christy & Wise were prominent in the
handling of the wool product of Arizona, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and
California. The wool business increased up to about 1876, when the
product of this State amounted to 56,000,000 pounds; but, as the lands which
had been devoted to the wool industry were gradually withdrawn for agricultural
and fruit purposes, the product fell off to about 30,000,000 pounds, which is
the condition of the wool market to-day (1891). The house of Christy
& Wise is the oldest in the wool commission business on the Pacific coast,
and for years has done the largest business here. In February, 1890, Mr. Denigan sold his interest to Mr. Wise, who then received
his son, Henry E. Wise, into the firm.
Mr. Wise was married in San Francisco, in 1868, to Miss Sally Merker, a native of Illinois. Their union has been
blessed with three children, two of whom are living--Henry E. and George
Douglas.
In landed interests Mr. Wise has not been unmindful, but from time to time has
made a number of valuable investments in real
estate. He owns 13,000 acres in Santa Barbara county, near Lompoc; 29,000
acres on Estrella creek, near Paso Robles, San Luis
Obispo county, where he is engaged in the cattle business in partnership with
C. W. Clark, of Sacramento, who owns adjoining land; also 559 acres near
Gilroy, Santa Clara county, where he has some fine horses and cattle, and is
planting 100 acres to fruit. Mr. Wise owns and occupies a handsome
residence on the corner of Washington and Leavenworth streets, and has much
other valuable city property.
While he has never taken a very active part in politics, on account of the
demands of his business, he served as Harbor Commissioner under Governor Stoneman for six years, and in 1878 was Supervisor of the
Fourth Ward, again being tendered the nomination, which he declined. He
is a member of California Commandery, No. 1, Knights
Templar, and of many philanthropic and charitable organizations.
Coming to California a poor boy, Mr. Wise has won his way up to a position of
prominence and affluence, and his success in life is due to his natural
ability, his energy and his integrity.
Such is a brief sketch of one of San Francisco's prosperous and honored
citizens.
Transcribed
1-10-05 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source:
"The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 687-689, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.