Charles W. Wallace

Charles W. Wallace

Charles W. Wallace's early childhood is a bit of a mystery, however recent facts have shed some light on his childhood and parents.

According to the 1860 United States Federal Census, Charles is listed as the son of William Wallace (born circa 1825) and Lucinda Wallace (1834-1869), living in Armstrong, Lycoming, Pennsylvania. 

Records also show that Lucinda was a widow when she died in October 1869 in Lycoming County, thus leaving Charles an orphan. 

Charles appears in the 1870 United States Federal Census living in Brady, Lycoming, Pennsylvania. He was listed as an errand boy for the Shaffer family. Charles's birthday and birthplace are unknown, but he took the birthday of George Washington, February 22, and the birth city of Philadelphia. It is most likely that Charles was born in Pennsylvania, but with no records prior to 1860, nothing can be said for certain.

Wallace family oral history states that Charles's father was killed in New Orleans while serving during the Civil War. While those facts cannot be known for certain, it is certain that Charles was a laborer on the Shaffer family farm in 1870. In the spring of 1877, Charles moved to Belle Plaine, Iowa where he was employed as a farm hand. On December 23, 1879, in Tama County, Iowa, Charles married Martha Ann Shafer, the daughter of Frederick Shafer and Anna Maria "Mary" Meisner.

The remaining entry below is from "History of Buffalo County and Its People" by Samuel Clay Bassett, Pg: 347 & 348. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company - 1916

"Charles made the journey to Buffalo County, Nebraska, in a covered wagon and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land on section 25, Schneider township. His previous experience in farm work well qualified him to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own account and as the years passed his resources increased. He gave the greater part of his attention to stock-raising, specializing in pure-blooded Percheron and Shire horses. He was recognized as one of the most successful horse breeders of the county and for some time was secretary and treasurer of the Schneider Township Imported Horse Company, composed of horse breeders. He also raised high-grade hogs and cattle and seldom failed to sell his stock to good advantage. In 1912 he retired from active life and removed to Ravenna, where he purchased a good residence in the northern part of the town, where he has since lived. He is a stockholder and director of the Bell Telephone Company and is independent financially.

In December 1879, Mr. Wallace was united in marriage to Miss Martha Shafer, a daughter of Frederick

and Mary (Meisner) Shafer. Her parents were both born in Germany but became pioneer settlers of Tama County, Iowa, where the father owned and operated a good farm. He also held title to four hundred and eighty acres in Gardner township, Buffalo County, Nebraska, which he purchased for his son. He served throughout the entire Civil War for a period of four and a half years with an Iowa regiment and was taken prisoner and held for fourteen months in a prison at Tyler, Texas. He was also wounded, but in spite of the hardships and the suffering which he underwent his loyalty to his adopted country never wavered. He passed away in October 1911, and his wife died in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Wallace have become the parents of five children, namely: John C., a resident of Ravenna; Viola M., the wife of James Vogt, who is operating our subject's farm; Frederick S., who is assistant superintendent of the Industrial School at Kearney; Charles R., who is farming in Schneider township, this county; and Anna K., the wife of Wayne McWhinney, a farmer of Sherman county.

Mr. Wallace supports the Democratic Party at the polls and has held a number of public offices. For years he was a justice of the peace of Schneider township, for two years, was a member of the board of county supervisors, for twenty years he served on the school board and is at present the assessor of Ravenna. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodman of America. He takes a commendable interest in everything relating to the public welfare and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Ravenna."

A Copy of "History of Buffalo County and Its People" - Page 347