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ORR A. WALLACE, a prominent farmer, owner of one hundred and seventy acres of land in Cedar township, Benton county, was born in La Porte, Iowa, November 24, 1858, and moved to the country with his parents at the age of two years. He is a son of James and Eliza Aulls (Wheeler) Wallace. James Wallace was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1819, reared in his native state, and there married, September 9, 1839; in 1844 he removed to Indiana, where he owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres for some years, which he had cleared. After twelve years in Indiana he removed to the city of LaPorte, Iowa, and in 1859, after living in Black Hawk county two years, he located in Benton county. Here he purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land. In 1861 he moved on to the farm and remained there until 1872, when he bought the place now occupied by his son Orr. Here he remained until his death, March 20, 1876. He acquired unusual success for the pioneer days of the region. At first his nearest market was Dubuque or Iowa City. His wife, born in Steuben county, New York, in 1820, was reared and married in her native state. She was a daughter of Seth and Polly Wheeler, who had come from Maine in an early day. Mr. Wallace and his wife had children as follows: Bruce, who lives in Cedar township; Margaret Letitia, deceased; Antoinnette, wife of A. B. Forester, of Vinton, deceased; Cleora, wife of Nathan Rogers, (deceased), who lives on the home farm with her brother; Jay, who lives in Linn county, Iowa; Adeline, deceased, wife of William Clark, of Waterloo, Iowa; Alice Adele, deceased wife of J. F. Butler (deceased), of Beatrice, Nebraska; Orr A.; and Dora Effie, wife of George R. Winegar, living near Brandon, Iowa.
Orr A. Wallace always lived at home, and at the death of his father continued to carry on the place. He is unmarried, and his sister, Mrs. Rogers, lives with him. He has spent a large part of his life on the present farm, although for six years he was engaged in traveling, traversing the country from end to end. After receiving a common school education he attended Telford College two years and later took a general business course at the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana. He taught school one year and worked a few years for a Chicago firm. He is a hustling and energetic farmer, and has met with great success, making a specialty of thoroughbred Duroc Jersey hogs and high-grade cattle. He takes considerable interest in local politics, and has held the office of township trustee and school officer. He is an adherent of the Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of LaPorte.
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