Notes for George W. Wisecarver

Notes for George W. Wisecarver

Biographical Sketch
From
History of Greene County, Pennsylvania
by
Samuel P. Bates
Chicago, 1888
George W. Wisecarver, farmer, Waynesburg, Penn.- Among the representative
business men of Greene County, we take pleasure in mentioning the name
of George W. Wisecarver, who was born in Whiteley Township, this county, July 22, 1813. His
parents were George and Catharine "Orndorf" Wisecarver,
natives of Frederick County, Va., and of English and German descent. The
former was born in 1756. Mrs. Wisecarver was several years younger. They/"
came to Greene County in 1800, settled in Whiteley Township and remained
until their death.. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom
lived to be over seventy years of age. Of these six are living, the youngest
now past the seventieth mile-stone. George W. Wisecarver's early life was
spent with his parents on the farm in Whiteley Township, and on account
of the thinly settled country his opportunities for an education were very
limited, and he received but four months' schooling. His father did not
succeed in accumulating very much of this world's goods, and was obliged
to have his children raised by strangers. At the age of sixteen George
started out in life for himself, and has succeeded so well that at one
time he was the owner of 4,000 acres of good land in Greene County, the
most of which he has divided with his family. It is very interesting to
hear Mr. Wisecarver relate the many things that have transpired from the
time he did his first day's work in the county for himself, up to the present,
when we find him among the wealthiest men of Greene County. The pay for
the first day's work was a fishhook, and we would presume that he did not
like work by the day, as he soon found employment by the month at very
low wages, and for his first month's work received from his employer, Samuel
Nelson, one pair of shoes valued at $1.50. At that time $4 was considered
good pay for a month's work. Mr. Wisecarver learned the cooper's trade,
which he followed in connection with his farming. Most of the time for
twelve years he worked eighteen hours out of every twenty-four, and for
seven years he made enough at night at his trade to pay two men for their
work through the next day. In 1843 he bought a farm of 210 acres in Washington
Township. In 1849 his shop and coopering tools were destroyed by fire.
Since then he has devoted most of his time to farming, dealing in real
estate and raising live stock. In 1854 Mr. Wisecarver went to Iowa and
entered 2,000 acres of land. In 1857 he bought 330 acres more in GreeneCounty, and in the same year he traded his land in Iowa for 500 acres in Richhill Township, this county, giving the difference in cash. He traded most of his land in Iowa for land in Pennsylvania. By good management and industry he added many acres to these purchases, and has cleared over 1,000 acres in this county. Mr. Wisecarver, like the majority of business men, has had his share of bad luck, and has paid over $45,000 for security and otherwise, from which he has derived little benefit; but being more of a believer in pluck than luck, he has succeeded notwithstanding the losses. He was united in marriage, May 1, 1843, with Priscilla, daughter of Jacob and Phoebe "Crayne" Barnes. To Mr. and Mrs. Wisecarver have been born eight children, viz: Nancy, who has been twice married, first to Norman Worley, deceased, her present husband being Maj. Benjamin Harrington; Caroline, wife of Amos A. Allison; Frank P., of Philadelphia; Timothy J., a large land-owner in this county; Margaret M., wife of Jesse Wise, a young attorney of the Waynesburg bar; and Virginia, a very estimable young lady. The deceased are Phoebe J. and Elizabeth. Mr. Wisecarver's father served as wagon-master under Gen. Washington, and drew a pension until his death. He was present when Lord Comwallis surrendered.............boards.ancestry.com

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