William Carpenter Wisner
William Carpenter Wisner [1]
a Presbyterian minister, was born at Elmira, N.Y., Dec. 7, 1808. He was prepared for college in the Homer Academy, and graduated at Union College in 1830. He did not pursue any regular theological course at the seminary, but prosecuted his studies under his venerable father, Rev. Dr. Wisner, of Ithaca. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Rochester, and in 1832 was ordained and, installed pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of that city. After remaining there for a short time, he removed to Athens, Pa., where he preached for a while, and then served the Church in East Avon, N. Y., for eighteen months. In 1836 he accepted a call to the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mo. In 1837 he was called to the Church at Lower Lockport, and in 1842 became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lockport, and resigned on account of failing health after a successful pastorate of thirty-four years. He was for many years a trustee of Hamilton College and Auburn Seminary. He was moderator of the New School General Assembly at St. Louis in 1855. He died at Lockport, N. Y., July 14, 1880. His manner as a public speaker was peculiar, and strangers to it would at first find it unpleasant; but becoming familiar with it, they would come under his power, and find him a teacher of great originality, and would become fascinated with him. His principal publication was a work entitled, Prelacy and Parity. (W. P. S.)
