William H. Wisener

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William H. Wisener (April 22, 1812 – December 24, 1882) was a Tennessee lawyer and politician who played a key role in state politics before, during, and after the Civil War. He served four terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives and was Speaker from 1853 to 1855. After the war, he briefly served in the Tennessee Senate and helped ratify the Thirteenth Amendment. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 1870.

Early life and career
Wisener was born in Bedford County, Tennessee (then part of Bedford County, now part of Marshall County). He studied law and moved to Shelbyville in 1835. He started a pro-Whig newspaper, The People’s Advocate, in 1836 and later focused on his legal practice.

Political career before the Civil War
Wisener built his political career in the Tennessee House of Representatives, winning four terms (1847–1849, 1851–1855, and 1859–1861). He became Speaker in 1853. His interests included funding for internal improvements, judicial reform, and tax relief. He supported public schools and took part in party realignments as the Whig Party declined, aligning with the American Party (Know Nothings) and later the Opposition Party.

Civil War era
A Southern Unionist, Wisener opposed secession. He spoke against leaving the United States and introduced resolutions arguing that secession was unconstitutional. As the conflict began, he took some pro-Confederate positions, reflecting the divisions in his district. In 1865, as a state senator, he introduced the bill to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, but resigned from the office after about four weeks.

Later political activity
Wisener remained active in politics after the war. He was considered for another U.S. Senate seat in 1865 but did not win. He was reelected to the Tennessee Senate in 1867 and served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He supported efforts to counter the Ku Klux Klan and backed Governor Brownlow’s controversial actions to manage elections. In 1870, Wisener was the Republican candidate for governor, running on a platform that emphasized enforcing federal laws, expanding public schools, encouraging immigration, and protecting civil rights. He was defeated by Democrat John C. Brown.

Later life and death
Wisener continued to be involved in Republican politics, attending national conventions and running for office again without success. He served as Shelbyville’s postmaster in his later years. He died on December 24, 1882, and was buried in Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville, Tennessee.