San Mateo-Sacramento-Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Wisnom, Robert 1845 - 1918
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Author: S. J. Clarke (1928)

ROBERT WISNOM

   The spirit of a pure, noble and earnest life burned in the mortal tenement of
the late Robert Wisnom, whose death occurred November 20, 1918, at his home in
San Mateo. His life was one of fullness and completeness, one of vigor and
inflexible integrity. For many years he was active in business affairs here and
was not denied the due reward of his labors.

He was long recognized as one of the most important factors in the growth and
prosperity of his community and his death was regarded as a distinct loss to the
locality which had been honored by his citizenship. Mr. Wisnom was born on the
13th of January, 1845, in Ballycarry, County Antrim, Ireland, and in the schools
of that locality received his education. In his early youth he went to Glasgow,
Scotland, where he served an apprenticeship to the building business, after
which he went to New Zealand. Shortly afterwards, in 1865, he came to
California, first locating in Sacramento, and there and at Davisville he worked
at his trade for three years. In 1868 he came to San Mateo to work on the
construction of the Parrott home and, liking this section of the state, decided
to remain here. Forming a partnership with James R. Doyle, under the firm name
of Wisnom & Doyle, he engaged in the contracting and lumber business, his first
yard being located at Second avenue and B street, where the National Bank
building now stands. There he remained for eleven years and in that period laid
the foundation for the splendid business career that marked the remaining active
years of his life. As he prospered he enlarged his field of interests, and in
association with the late Philip Roedel, organized the San Mateo Bank, of which
he became vice president, retaining that position until that institution was
acquired by the Bank of Italy a few years ago, at which time he became chairman
of the local advisory board, and thus continued his interest in and
identification with the bank, in whose growth and prosperity he had had so
important a part. About fourteen years prior to his death, Mr. Wisnom retired
from active life, though continuing his keen interest in the general business
affairs of the city and in his advisory capacity at the Bank of Italy, of which
he was a large stockholder.

   In 1872 Mr. Wisnom made a trip to Ireland and was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Donnan, whom he brought back to San Mateo. They first lived on C street,
in what is now known as the Dixon place, from which they moved to a house that
stood on the present site of Buchmann's grocery store, on the corner of First
avenue and B street, and eventually moved into the home on Second avenue, where
he died. Mr. and Mrs. Wisnom had seven children, five sons and two daughters,
all of whom have been prominent in the business, civic and social life of San
Mateo, namely: John, of the Wisnom Lumber Company; Robert J. and William D., of
the Wisnom Hardware Company; Samuel A., a well known contractor; David, who is
cashier of the National Bank of San Mateo; Jennie D., who is the wife of Carl W.
Elfving, of San Mateo, and Anna, the wife of Robert Wisnom. Of these, John was
born on October 12, 1872, and secured his education in the public schools and
the Gamble Military School at San Mateo. When his father retired from the lumber
business, he took it over.

   During the entire period of his residence in San Mateo Mr. Wisnom took a deep
interest in everything pertaining to its progress and development. When the city
was incorporated, September 24, 1894, he became a member of the first board of
city trustees, the other members being Captain A. H. Payson, J. H. Hatch, George
W. Dickie and Charles Herbst. During the subsequent years his attitude toward
public affairs was that of one who felt that the general interests of the
community were his own and in no degree did he ever abate his efforts for the
public good or evade his responsibilities as a citizen. One of his hobbies was
that he believed every head of a family should own his own home,—a principle
which he insisted upon for his own employes, and many people in this community
were indebted to him for his sound advice in these matters, as well as his
material assistance in many instances. Evincing the keenest interest in the
general advancement of his city along all normal lines of development, he gave
whole-hearted and generous support to all worthy public enterprises, churches
and other deserving institutions being the recipients of his liberality. His
intense patriotism was evidenced in the fact that he was one of the largest
subscribers in San Mateo to the Liberty loans, as well as to the Red Cross and
other war-time funds. A man of rugged strength of character, of finest moral
fiber, and one who realized a large measure of useful accomplishment, he was
widely recognized as a splendid citizen—such a man that the world was better for
his having lived in it. He was a good husband, faithful and loving; a good
citizen and friend, constant and reliable; a man in the fullest sense of the
word, who stood "four square to every wind that blows." His life was a busy and
successful one and he earned the confidence and respect of all who knew him. His
nature, strong and vigorous, found expression in kindly tolerance and human
sympathy, generous deeds and worthy service. Only those admitted to his intimacy
could have full appreciation of the combined elements of strength and
gentleness, of courage and kindliness, of duty and generosity, that made him
beloved and respected by all.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY
OF
SAN MATEO
COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO, ILL. 
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1928


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