WALLACE, Julia A. (1825-1900)

WALLACE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 8/4/2017 at 15:34:00

Julia Ann Wallace
(September 10, 1825 - April 5, 1900)

Indianola Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thurs., April 12, 1900, p.2
Julia A. Wallace
Julia A. Bilby, eldest child of Stephen and Jane Bilby, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Sept 10, 1825, and in early childhood moved to Indiana and there married John S. Wallace, Oct 19, 1844. He died Sept 30, 1873. In 1848 they came to Warren County, Iowa, returning to Indiana in 1849, came again to this county in 1850, to the home near Wick where she lived till 1893, when she moved to Indianola, dying there April 5, 1900, aged 74 yrs, 6 mo and 25 days. To her were born 3 sons and 4 daughters, of whom 2 sons and 1 daughter survive her. Soon after her marriage she was converted and joined the M. E. church. When she and her husband came to this county there was no regular preaching service, but occasionally an itinerant preacher visited the neighborhood and preached at their home. In 1850 the first regular circuit was established in the county, and at its third quarterly meeting Indianola and Fetters appointment were formed and added to the circuit, and the preaching place for the time was her log cabin, and to make room for the people, the beds, except one reserved for the babies, were taken down, and in times of protracted meetings these beds were often not made till after midnight. This was the regular order till the school house became the place of preaching. In 1870, Mr. Wallace, being class leader and one of the building committee, the church at Wick was built, the black walnut for the seats being sawed from trees in his timber. In 1887 her daughter Emma died leaving 4 little children whom she gave to her mother, then a widow. Bravely and lovingly she accepted the trust and for the second time assumed the toil and care, incident to rearing a family of little ones, and God and these children now grown, alone can tell how faithfully she discharged these duties. It is true of her that not only her children but her children’s children rise up and call her blessed. April 6th, after prayer by Dr. Miller, her body was taken to the church at Wick, and after a service conducted by S. W. Lee, was laid to rest by the side of her husband on the farm which they originally entered in 1850 in the cemetery which they had given to the public. Her old neighbors, friends from Norwalk, Prole and Indianola gathered at these services and by their tears testified to their love for “Grandma” Wallace.