William J. Wallace 1832-1904

WALLACE

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/6/2014 at 17:11:52

OLD SETTLER GONE.
 
One by one the pioneers of Villisca are passing away, but in all the list there was none better known or more highly esteemed than that kindly, considerate and good-natured citizen, William J. Wallace, who died suddenly Sunday morning. Mr. Wallace had gone to bed Saturday night as usual, but his wife was awakened in the morning at half past three o’clock by his uneasiness. She lighted a lamp but found her husband resting in the sleep that knows no wakening.

Mr. Wallace was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, November 8, 1832, and when four years of age moved with his parents to Brown county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. In the fall of 1858 he went to Andrew county, Missouri, where he was married to Mary J. Lightbody on December 7th of the same year. In 1859 they settled where this city is now located and helped to make Villisca what it is today. At that time there were only three or four families here and about a dozen voters in the county. Mr. Wallace drove his hogs to St. Joe to market and underwent many other inconveniences.

Six sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, but one son died in infancy and another at the age of three years. The surviving children are Mrs. E.O. Gardner, J.A., W.A., T.E., G.E. and Miss Leona. The funeral was held from the home Tuesday afternoon and the remains interred in the Villisca cemetery, Rev. W. W. Merritt of Red Oak conducting the services.

Those in attendance from a distance were G.E. Wallace of Wahpeton, North Dakota, L.B. Wallace of Omaha and N.R. Wallace of Rock Port, Missouri, the latter two being brothers of the deceased.

In the departure of this pioneer, Villisca loses a good citizen, and her people all mourn with the sons, daughters, aged wife and other relatives in this their hour of profound sorrow.

THE VILLISCA REVIEW, Villisca, Iowa, Thursday, October 13, 1904.