HON. CLINTON WHEELER WISNER:
HON. CLINTON WHEELER WISNER is now serving his third term as mayor
of the thriving little village of Warwick. He comes from a
distinguished old family, representatives of which have been
prominently connected with the history of Orange County since 1715.
In 1890, at the Republican convention, he was honored by being brought
forward as a candidate for Assemblyman from the Second District, but
was defeated after a close election, the district at that time being
strongly Democratic. He has always been a stanch supporter of the
party, and is Chairman of the Exectuive Committe of the Central
Republican Club. He has also served as a member of the Board of
Trustees of Warwick,and in requirements of the position. His
character is above reproach in every relation of life, and by his
superior judgment and genuine integrity he has won the confidence of
the leading business men of this locality.
The Progenitor of the Wisner family in American bore the name of
Johannis Weesner. He ws born in Switzerland, and fought under the
Price of Orange against Louis xiv if France. He emigrated to America
with his wife, Elizabeth, and settled in Orange County, near Mr. Eve
June 23, 1715. His death occurred in this county, in May, 1744, when
he left but one child Hendrick. The latter who changed the spelling
of the name to Wisner, was born in Switerland. He married a Miss Shaw,
of New England, and died in Orange County. Their to children were John
and Henry. The former was captain of Orange county minutemen during
the war of Revolution, and died at the close of the year 1788. Henry
was born in 1720, and in 1740 married Sarah Horton, of Queens County.
He served in the Colonial Assembly from 1750-1769, and was chosen by
the Provincial Convention which convened in April, 1775, to go as a
delegate to the Continental Congress, and he subsequently voted for
the Declaration of Independence. He died In September, 1790. Henry,
son of John Wisner, from whom our subject is descended, was born July
11, 1742, and died May 28 1812. He married Susannah Goldsmith who was
born in 1743, and died in 1811, and to them were born ten children,
namely:Gabriel, William, Mary, Abigail,Henry, Anna, John, Jeffrey,
Susannah and Richard. The father was a Captain of Hathorn's regiment
during the War of Revolution, and in February 1778, was commissioned
Lieutenant-Colonel.
The Grandfather of our subject, Jeffrey Wisner, was born April 20,
1769, and was called to his final rest April 11, 1855. By his wife,
who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Armstrong, he had six children:
Gabriel, Resselaer Jay, James, Richard Jeffrey Amherst and mary. Our
subject's father, Jeffrey A., was born October 18, 1827, and married
Mary Wheeler, whose birth occurred October 8, 1824. Both parents were
natives of Warwick, but after their marriage they removed to West
Pittston, PA., where the father engaged in the milling business for
five years. His estimable wife died about that time, and he removed
with his family to New York City, where he was successfully engaged
int he wholesale grocery trade for thirty years. In 1890 he tretired
from business, and is living at the pleasant home in Brooklyn. His
two children were Clinton W. and Grace Aguilla, the latter of whom was
born in October, 1854. By his second wife, Sophronia Pierce, the
father has two daughters and one son living, viz.: Kate, Sophie and
Horatio S.
Clinton W. Wisner was born in West Pittston, Pa, July 20, 1856,
and received his primary learning in the district school at Warwick,
as he had come here to live with and uncle when he was only four years
of age, continuing a member of his household for eight years. Then,
going to Brooklyn, he was a student in the public schools there for
three years, after which he accepted a position as office boy in the
wholesale dry-goods house of Bartlett, Berry, Reed & Co, of New York,
receiving a pittance of $1.50 per week.He then entered the employ of
George C. Chase & Co., importers of tea, and at the end of three years
associated himself with his father in the wholesale grocery business,
representing the house in Pennsylvania and Michigan for the succeeding
twelve years.
In 1888, on the death of one of the wealthiest bankers of the
keystone State, H.S.Pierce, of Scranton Pa., Mr. Wisner became
executor of the estate, which reached the millions, and has since
cared for the same. He has been very successful in the management of
this immense capital, and has an office in the Steward Building in the
New York City. He is a Director in the First National Bank of
Carbondale, Pa, in the Scranton Electic-Light Works, and in two large
coal mines.
In 1884 Mr. Wisner built the handsome residence in Warwick which
he has since made his home. In October, 1879, he married Martha,
duaghter of Thomas and Caroline Van Duzer Welling, who are both living
in Warwick. Our subject and his wife have had three sons and two
daughters namely; Grace Ethel, born December 31, 1880; John Welling,
August 24, 1883; Jeffrey Amherst, Jr., December 2, 1886; Thomas
Welling, twin of Jeffrey; and Marjorie Pierce, born August 14, 1891,
and who died March 7, 1892. Mr and Mrs Wisner are members of the
Dutch Reformed Church, of which our subject is one of the Deacons. He
is a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution,and is
considered one of the representative and patriotic young men of this
section. From his ancestors he inherited love of his country and high
sense of obilgation towards his fellow-men.
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