Valentine Wallace

WALLACE, WELTY, COFFMAN, STOUFFER

Posted By: Gail Meyer Kilgore (email)
Date: 2/16/2004 at 08:44:16

VALENTINE WALLACE. There is an obscurity in the game of life that to the robust mind is always attractive. The important uncertainty of the final outcome serves as an incentive to great deals. To push forward and win the battle is the common impulse and ambition of humanity. But in this vast concourse of struggling warriors, the number who achieve success is comparatively small, and in the majority of instances is confined to those who by reason of family inheritance or extended learning have a far better start than their fellows. Without these qualifications success is rarely attained, but when it is the fortunate being invariably the possessor of an indomitable will, untiring energy and an unusual amount of native shrewdness and ability. Such a man is Valentine Wallace, the subject of this sketch. A native of Maryland, his birth occurred in Washington County, July 27, 1836, being a son of William and Nancy Ann (Welty) Wallace, both natives of Maryland.

The father of our subject was reared in his native state and there was educated and married. Agriculture was his chosen occupation, and he followed that in his native state until 1868, when he emigrated with his family to Iowa, and settled in Marshall County, being one of the pioneers of that section. By hard work and good management he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Grundy County, besides considerable town property and his land in Marshall County. He was a member of the Dunkard Church and a man well respected by all who knew him. Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred when seventy-seven years of age. His wife was also reared and educated in Maryland. She was of Dutch origin. Like her husband she is a devout member of the Dunkard Church, and although now eighty-one years of age, has fairly good health. To this esteemed couple were born nine children, three of whom died in infancy. The others were named: Fresby, Valentine, John, Susan, William H. and Emma.

Like most country boys, our subject’s early life was spent in work on the farm and in the common school, where he received a fair education. He married Miss Catherine Coffman, a native of Illinois, where she was reared and educated. She died of diphtheria seven weeks after her marriage, being at the time only twenty-two years of age. Most of her life she was a member of the Christadelphian Church. Our subject selected his second wife in the person of Miss Margaret E. Stouffer, a native of Illinois, where she grew to womanhood and received her education. Three children were the fruits of this union: Eusebia N., Lorena E., and Adelbert F. The mother of these children is a member of the Disciple Church.

Mr. Wallace came to Washington Township, Marshall County, Iowa, in 1869 and bought one hundred and twenty acres of partly improved land where he now lives. Like his father, he has always been a hard worker, and by industry and perseverance is now classed among the well-to-do farmers of his township. His buildings are all good, and everything about the place indicates that an experienced hand is at the helm. He has held the offices of Township Trustee, School Director, etc., and is a good citizen. Politically Mr. Wallace is a Republican, and religiously is a member of the Disciple Church.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894