Among the worthy citizens of Haskell, Texas, is found the subject of this sketch, who has resided here since March 1, 1899. Wyman is an English name and originally was spelled Weymann. Members of the family emigrated from England to this country in Colonial times and settled in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, and during the Revolutionary war, being in sympathy with the Mother Country, moved to Nova Scotia. Calvin Wyman, the father of William Henry, was born in Maine and accompanied the family on their removal to Nova Scotia, where he was reared and spent his life. When he was quite young the support of his widowed mother and three young brothers and a sister devolved upon him, and for a number of years it was necessary for them to practice the strictest economy. He learned the trade of furniture maker, later engaged in the manufacture of furniture, and carried on that business for many years. His three brothers, Albert, William and Joseph, when they grew up became seamen and in time each was master of his own vessel. The sister, Mary Ellen, married an English soldier by the name of Charles E. Villiers, who was for man years associated with Calvin Wyman, in the manufacture of furniture. Calvin Wyman died of fever in Nevis, British West Indies, March 10, 1870, whither he had gone in search of his health. His wife was before her marriage Miss Mary Brown and was known as the belle of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia at the same time and for the same reason the Wymans did. The rocky harbor in which they landed they called Sunday Point because of the day of landing, which was on a Sunday, and it was four miles south of Yarmouth. Calvin and Mary Wyman had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom five are now living: viz.: Arabella, widow of Rev. Charles A. Harris, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; William H., whose name introduces this sketch; John C., a practicing dentist of Brooklyn, New York; Joseph R., who is carrying on the furniture business established by his father at Yarmouth; and Jacob L., a resident of Dixon, Tennessee. Of the deceased members of the family we record that two sons and a daughter died in infancy, and two daughters died at the age of sixteen years.
William Henry Wyman was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, March 14, 1842. He was a weakly youth and his schooling was frequently interrupted on account of his ill health. When he was fourteen he went into his father’s factory, where he served a seven years’ apprenticeship covering all the different branches of furniture business. And at least half of this time he had charge of the business, assuming the management of affairs in order to relieve his father who was at that time in poor health. He afterward became associated with his father as a partner, under the firm name of C. Wyman & Son, which partnership lasted about four years. After this the business took the name of Wyman Brothers, another son, Joseph, coming into the firm. Under this name they continued to do business for fifteen years, and during all that time the most perfect harmony existed in all their business relations.
In May, 1883, Mr. Wyman left Nova Scotia and came to the United States. He first located in Shelbyville, Bedford county, Tennessee, where he organized the Bedford Manufacturing Company, for the manufacture of fine grade furniture, of which Mr. Wyman was manager. The climate and business conditions of that locality, however, were not what he wanted for a permanent home, and he went to Springfield, Missouri. There he was for some time engaged in the shoe business, afterward turned his attention to dealing in real estate, and still later was interested in the organization and management of a furniture business, building factory, etc. After a residence of nearly fifteen years in Missouri, Mr. Wyman came in April, 1897, to Texas and located at Brenham, where he became connected with the Brenham Manufacturing Company. For sixteen months he was on the road as a salesman. His next move was to Marietta, Indian Territory, where he opened a racket store, and where he remained a year and a half. Returning to Texas at the end of that time, March 1, 1899, he located in Haskell, where he has since maintained his home and identified himself with the affairs of the town, giving his influence and support to all that pertains to its welfare and prosperity.
Mr. Wyman joined the Baptist church at the age of twenty-five years and has since been a consistent member of the same. While in Springfield he was made a deacon in the church. For twenty-seven years he has been a member of the Masonic Order.
Mr. Wyman’s first wife was Josephine M. Rankin, a daughter of Daniel Rankin, of his town, Yarmouth. The breaking up of his home by the sad event of her death led him to leave Yarmouth, and located for a season in Boston, where later, June 27, 1870, he married Mary E. Ingraham.
She was there reared by her uncle, Samuel Tuttle. Mrs. Wyman is a native of Buffalo, New York, born November 14, 1847, and was left an orphans when five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Wyman have a son and two daughters, namely: Arthur B., of Springfield, Missouri; Georgia L., wife of T. P. Walker, of Stamford, Texas; and Mabel E., now attending college at Springfield, Missouri.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 521-522.