California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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PHILIP
WISE The
proud privilege of claiming Sacramento county as his native place
belonged to Mr. Wise. Nor was he less fortunate in being able to boast
of a lifelong identification with this same portion of the state, for he
was born at Walnut Grove, Sacramento county, Cal., October 18, 1857, son
of Joseph and Nancy J. (Phipps) Wise. The parents crossed the plains in
the '50s. The
son of a pioneer who had been attracted to the west by the discovery of
gold and who, disappointed in his hopes of finding a fortune in the
mines, had settled down to ranching pursuits on a large tract of raw
land, it was the fate of Philip Wise as a boy to undergo all the
hardships incident to existence in an undeveloped farming country of
unknown possibilities. Schools were few in that period of our history.
The sparsely settled country regions forbade any permanent educational
work. Whatever education he received, it was largely through his unaided
application to books and his own desire to obtain the knowledge
necessary for the business affairs of life. When attendance at school
was possible he availed himself of such opportunities and at other times
he assisted in ranch work, thereby gaining a diversified knowledge of
agriculture most helpful to him in his life work as a farmer. After
years of successful effort in the agricultural districts of Sacramento
county in 1896, at the age of thirty-nine years, death terminated his
earthly activities. The marriage of Mr. Wise had been solemnized in Freeport, June 24, 1885, uniting him with Miss Mary L. Beach, who was born at Freeport, Sacramento county, and is a daughter of the late Julius C. Beach, an Ohioan who came to the west during the memorable year of 1849, afterward identifying himself with the pioneers of Sacramento county. Mr. Beach returned east and was married in October, 1855, to Mary E. Davis, who was born in Pittsburg, Pa., and they came by way of Panama to his home in Sacramento county, where they resided until death took them. They were the parents of a son and five daughters. Mrs. Wise was the fourth eldest of her parents' family ; she received her education in the public schools of Sacramento county and is a well-informed woman, keeping abreast of the times and being especially conversant with the early history of our county. She has witnessed the gradual development into the prosperity and progress characteristic of the present era. While giving patriotic support to movements for the civic growth and county welfare, her time since her marriage has been devoted chiefly to her family, whose happiness is ever uppermost in her thoughts. Her first deep bereavement came in the death of her son, Joseph Clinton, a bright boy of four years, and later she was bereaved by the untimely passing of her husband. Three children are now living, the eldest of whom, Carol M., is the wife of Milo E. Dye, of Walnut Grove, Sacramento county, and they have one child. Grove Ernest, born October 9, 1907. The others, Mabel E. and Philip E., remain with their mother, and all are a source of blessing, joy and comfort to her. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |