Fred K. Wallick, who has lived in honorable retirement at Mechanicsville for the past eleven years, was long numbered among the substantial and well known agriculturists and extensive landowners of Cedar county, successfully carrying on farming and stock-raising in Linn and later in Cass township. The period of his residence in this county covers fifty-two years, for he took up his abode among the early settlers here in 1858. His birth occurred in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 10th of January, 1830.
His father, George Wallick, likewise a native of that place, there wedded Miss Mary Kuhn, who was born and reared near Chambersburg, Franklin county. The first representatives of the Wallick family in this country came to Pennsylvania from Germany. George Wallick was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation in early manhood. Three children were born unto him and his wife while they were still residents of the Keystone state. In 1835 he removed to Stark county, Ohio, driving across the country with a one-horse wagon. Turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he cleared and developed a tract of land, erected good buildings thereon and succeeded in bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. Subsequently he took up his abode in Massillon, Ohio, and there engaged in buying and dealing in horses, leaving the farm in care and under the management of his sons. His demise occurred at Massillon in 1848, when he was but forty-seven years of age. His wife, who survived him, was fifty-four years old when called to her final rest.
Fred K. Wallick grew to manhood on the home farm in Stark county and received a good practical education in the common schools. On the 21st of August, 1851, while still living in that county, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary P. Magrew, who was born and reared in Ohio. Following that important event in his life he carried on farming in the Buckeye state until 1857, when he disposed of his property and came to Iowa, selecting a location in Linn township, Cedar county. He first bought one hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie land, prepared it for cultivation, erected a small house thereon and became busily engaged in the operation and further improvement of the place. The district was still but sparsely settled and largely undeveloped and he experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer existence. As the years passed by, however, he prospered in his undertakings and Linn township remained his place of abode for three decades. He built a commodious and substantial residence, barn and outbuildings and, as before stated, continued to reside there for thirty years, on the expiration of which period he turned the property over to his youngest son and purchased an improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres near Cedar Bluff. To the further cultivation and improvement of that place he devoted his attention until 1899, erecting a nice residence, repairing the barn and otherwise making it a model farming property. During the past eleven years, however, he has been living retired at Mechanicsville, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He owned nearly eight hundred acres of land at one time but has divided it all among his children with the exception of about two hundred acres.
Mr. Wallick, who has been twice married, had five sons and six daughters, by his first wife, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living, one son and two daughters having passed away in infancy. Marshall C., the oldest son, grew to maturity, was married and became a well known farmer and business man. At the time of his death, which occurred on the 15th of January, 1910, he was a resident of Cuba, Missouri. Winfield S. follows farming near Lisbon, Linn county. E. L. is a respected citizen and successful merchant of Cedar Bluff. Elmer is a mechanic and agriculturist of Lisbon. Mrs. Emma J. Marker, a widow, makes her home in Mechanicsville. Eva May is the wife of George Gunsolas and resides in San Jose, California. Artie Ann gave her hand in marriage to William Wallick, who is engaged in business at Williamsfield, Knox county, Illinois. Alta is the wife of Edward Brown, who follows farming near Cedar Bluff. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in 1891, her death being the occasion of deep and widespread regret. On the 24th of August, 1899, at Mechanicsville, Iowa, Mr. Wallick was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah Edith Kahler, a daughter of the Rev. David McKay. Mrs. Wallick was reared in the county and first became the wife of Martin Kahler, by whom she had three children, namely: Charles; Ray; and Clara, the wife of Lincoln Risley.
In 1852 Mr. Wallick cast his first presidential ballot for Franklin Pierce, th democratic candidate. Four years later, in 1856, he voted for John C. Fremont and has supported every presidential candidate of the republican party since that time. While living on the farm he capably served his fellow townsmen in various positions of trust and responsibility. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Wallick has been identified therewith since early manhood and acted as an elder for many years. There is perhaps no resident of Cedar county who can speak in more comprehensive and reliable manner concerning events which marked the early pioneer development, characterized the later growth and have fostered the present progress and upbuilding of this part of the state. He can remember when the greater part of the land was still uncultivated but has lived to see it transformed into rich farms, in the midst of which are beautiful homes. Towns and villages have also sprung up and the work of development and improvement has been carried steadily forward. Mr. Wallick has now passed the eightieth milestone on life’s journey and well merits the respect, admiration and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.
