Henry Wise was born in 1777 in what is now Adams County, Pennsylvania. Henry married Anna Maria (Mary) Shaul (1779-1875) who was the daughter of Captain John Shaul and Catharine Reinhard. Henry and Mary were married in what is now Carrol County, Maryland. In 1800 they moved to Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania with Mary's parents.

Henry was a farmer and a blacksmith. In 1814 Henry and Mary inherited a farm in Collinsville from Mary's father. In 1831 they sold this farm to their son Samuel and his wife Mary Curran. Henry and Mary then bought a farm which was made up of part of Captain Shaul's homestead named "Rural Banks".

Henry and Mary had the following children: Catharine (1800-1866); Mary (1802-1878); John (1803-1884); Jacob (1807-1892); Samuel (1809-1879); Henry (1811-1879); Philip ( -1885); Joseph (1814-1877); Elizabeth ( - ); and Andrew (1822-1897).

Henry died in 1855. Mary died in 1875. Both are buried in a family cemetary on the old family farm at Rural Banks.