Children of George and Emily (Thomson) Wallace - by Judy Sievers Bates

John Wilton Wallace   

November 18, 1858 John was born in  

Columbus, Columbia County, WI
Source: Biography written for the “Springfield, South Dakota Centennial 1870-1970”; WHT collection states John’s birth date is Nov. 18, 1859

Aug. 20, 1881 John purchased the NE1/4 of section 7, Bon Homme County, Dakota Territory
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Mangement, patent search; glorecords.blm.gov

February 13, 1884 married Clara C. Hunter in Sauk County, WI

Source: WHT collection p. 31; exact date not mentioned in a small notice in the “Reedsburg Free Press”, Feb. 21, 1884, p. 3c. 5 “WALLACE-HUNTER In Reedsburg Tp., at the residence of the bride’s parents, by Rev. E. C. Booth, Mr. John Wallace, of Springfield, Dakota to Miss Clara Hunter of Narrows Prairie.”

Nov. 27, 1885 son George Wilton born
Source: WWI draft card; tombstone inscription, Faith Cemetery, Faith, Meade Co., SD; WHT collection lists the year of birth as 1886

Sept. 12, 1887 son Joel Hunter born in Running Water, Bon Homme Co., SD
Source: WWI draft card, tombstone inscription Springfield, SD; WHT collection lists year of birth as 1888

Dec. 7, 1895 daughter (correct) Carl H. born

Nov. 22, 1897 daughter Clara Mate born

March 9, 1899 unnamed son born

March 19, 1899 unnamed son dies He is buried in the Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, SD

October 10, 1915 John and Clara divorce
Source: WHT Collection

Nov. 3, 1928 John dies and is buried in the Wallace family plot in Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, SD.
Source: South Dakota Death Index 1879-1855 Cert. #118662 p. 999 on Ancestry; tombstone inscription Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, SD

A few notes about John Wilton Wallace:

• He was the only son of Emily and the first child of Emily and George Wallace. His middle name is found on a (delayed?) birth certificate for his daughter Clara. This was filed in Bon Homme County, S.D. on June 2, 1944.
• He appears to have moved to South Dakota as a young man, a tribute to him in a biography written for the Springfield Centennial in 1970 states he arrived around 1879.
• John appears in the 1880 US census records twice; 

1. June 1 he was recorded as living in Bon Homme County, Dakota Territory, he states his date of birth as 1857, born in Wisconsin, he is a 23-year old laborer.
2. June 15, he is listed in the home of his mother, Emily in Columbus, WI. He is a 21-year old laborer.

• In 1884 John returned to Wisconsin, not to Columbus, but to the Reedsburg area, Narrows Prairie to be exact, to marry Clara Hunter. Together they return to his farm home north of the small town of Running Water, situated along the banks of the Missouri River. Five children were born to Clara and John. Their marriage did not last, and in 1915 they divorced. John had worked as a surveyor and civil engineer on the railroad most of his adult life. It is said, he was quite fluent in the languages of the local Sioux Indians who lived in the region along with the new Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul rail line, commonly known as the Milwaukee Road. By 1920, with the railroad long established in South Dakota and beyond, John, a single man, is noted as living in Tyndall, SD, working as a county surveyor. He is a boarder in the home of the James Herman family.

A few notes about Clara Capitola Hunter:

• She was the only daughter of Joel and Pamelia Hunter, born in Narrows Prairie near Reedsburg, WI. on Nov. 28, 1860.
• Eleven years earlier, on Sept. 1,1849 her father, Joel, registered his newly purchased land in the east ½ of the NE¼ of section 25 and the NE¼ of the SE¼ of section 25.
• This was the same date George Randall had registered his new land purchase in the N1/2 of the NW¼ of section 25.
• Thus the Randall and Hunter families became neighboring farmers in Narrows Prairie. Knowing their close proximity, it is quite likely the Randall boys and the Hunter boys were close friends. Could this be how Naamah’s nephew, John Wallace of Columbus, met his future bride, Clara Hunter, when he came for visits?
• Sometime after John and Clara moved to Running Water and later Springfield, Bon Homme County, Clara’s parents and her brother Samuel, known as Quincy, and his wife Mary also left Narrows Prairie and removed to Springfield. Clara’s parents both died in 1893, brother Samuel “Quincy” died in 1923, his wife Mary, known as Mate, died in 1921. They are all buried in Springfield Cemetery. Clara Hunter Wallace died on January 7, 1942, she too is buried in Springfield Cemetery.

Phoebe Parsons Wallace 

February 1,1864 Phoebe was born in Wisconsin

March 31, 1886 she married Angus Johnston at the home of Ed and Mate Devy in Mitchell, SD
Source: story by Elizabeth Ludeman, niece of Phoebe; date WHT collection p. 33

Sept. 21, 1887 son Angus Jr. born in Mitchell, Davison Co. SD
Source: date WHT Collection p. 33

Feb. 21, 1895 son Wallace Daniel born in MO
Source: date WHT Collection p. 33

May 19, 1898 daughter Genevieve Emily May born in CA
Source: date WHT Collection p. 33

Dec. 31, 1912 husband Angus died in San Bernardino, CA
Source: CA Death Index 1905-1939 File # 2416 found on Ancestry; WHT Collection p. 33; he is buried in Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, Colton, San Bernardino, CA

Jan. 30, 1946 Phoebe died in Hollywood, Los Angeles Co., CA, at the home of her daughter, Genevieve Shepherd. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage, duration 5 days. She is buried in Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, Colton, San Bernardino, CA
Source: CA death cert., County of Los Angeles Dist. # 1901 Registrars #1844; CA Death Index 1940-1997 no File #, found on Ancestry; burial place found on findagrave

A few notes about Phoebe:

• I know little about Phoebe. It may be assumed she moved to Davison County, S.D with her mother and younger sisters, but this is unknown for certain. Per Elizabeth (Sunny) Ludeman, Phoebe lived with Aunt Mate Devey while she studied to be a teacher at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.
• Phoebe gave birth to their first child, Angus in 1887 in South Dakota.
• Sometime between 1887 and 1894 the family moved to Missouri where their second child, Wallace was born in Feb. 1895.
• Three years later the family is living in Colton, San Bernardino County, CA where daughter Genevieve is born.

A few notes about Angus Johnston:

• He was born in Massachusetts in 1861, the son of Scottish immigrants. When he arrived in South Dakota is unknown.
• On March 31, 1884 land was registered in his name in Town 103N Range 062W NE ¼ of section 6 in Davison Co. S.D. One may assume that owning 160 acres his occupation was that of a farmer.
• By the 1900 US census, with the family in CA, the occupation of Angus is an accountant.
• By 1910 he lists his occupation as an expert bookkeeper. The family is living at 1115 N. 8th St., Colton, CA.

Cora May Wallace (known as May) 

March 9, 1863 Cora was born in WI

Source: year of death on the headstone in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri; other information on website findagrave provides a date of March 9, 1863

May 2, 1885 she married Wright N. Sevey (presumably in S. D.)
Source: WHT Collection, p. 35

Dec. 28, 1885 daughter Florence May is born in S. D.
Source: full date on tombstone inscription on findagrave.; place of birth indicated in the 1900 census

1886-early 1900, unknown date, another child is born as the 1900 census indicates Cora May had given birth to 2 children, 1 is surviving; 1886-early 1900, the family leaves S. D. and moves to Jasper Co., MO.; by the census taken in April, they are living in Webb City, Jasper Co., MO.

March 12, 1910 daughter Florence dies, about one month after giving birth to a son.
Source:: full date inscribed on the headstone on findagrave.com website; she is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper Co., MO.; “Jasper County Deaths Reported in the “Joplin Daily News Herald” dates 01 Jan.1906--31 Dec. 1910 two references “Mrs. Clifford Hollywood 12 March 1910 and Mrs. Florence Sevey 12 March 1910; book located at Wisconsin Historical Library F472 J3 W43 vol. 3

Nov. 7, 1919 husband Wright (W. N.) dies in Carthage, MO
Source: year inscribed on tombstone per findagrave. website; he is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper Co. MO; I do not know the source of the exact dates; place of death provided by WHT Collection p. 35

Between 1919 and 1921 it appears Cora moved to Joplin, MO

Feb. 17, 1921 Cora May died in Joplin, MO.
Source: year inscribed on tombstone per findagrave.com website; she is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper Co., MO.; I do not know the source of the exact dates; place of death provided by WHT Collection, p. 35 Per Elizabeth (Sunny) Ludeman, “May was the musical one.”

A few notes about Cora May Wallace:

• The 1910 US census shows a household of Wright and May Sevey, along with son-in-law, Clifford S. Hollywood, and Sevey Hollywood, infant son of Florence (deceased) and Clifford. The family lived at 415 N. Ball St. in Webb City.
• Wright Sevey was born in MN.
• In the 1880 US census, the last name is spelled Seavey. At this time he is living with his mother, Kate, and his two younger brothers in Mitchell. Wright is 22 years old.
• The government land records indicate that Wright purchased the N ½ of the SE¼ and the N½ of the SW ¼ in town 103 range 061w in Davison County, Dakota Territory on Sept. 10, 1883. Farming in the Dakotas was always a tenuous business, especially for the smaller farms. Consecutive years of grasshopper infestations that ate entire crops, intense heat that wilted crops near harvest time, and days-long blizzards drove many a farmer out of Dakota Territory. Perhaps this is why Wright and May, as well as many others, left this area. Perhaps the farm life disillusioned Wright as once in Missouri he worked in the zinc mines. Webb City, lying just outside Joplin was in the heart of this massive mining enterprise. The production of zinc and lead peaked in 1918. 
• Wright died in Nov. 1919. I do not know the cause of his death, but it would not be surprising if it was scoliosis, caused by the zinc dust. The 1900 US census indicates he was a laborer in a zinc mine, while in the 1910 US census he is a driller in the mine. 

Elizabeth Estella Wallace 

Nov. 1870 Born in Wisconsin
Source: 1900 census

March 21, 1892 Married Theodore F. Mentzer in Joplin, MO.

Source: Missouri Marriage Records 1805 -- 2002 (#399 of 1850) no date is listed; WHT Collection, p. 37; information provided by Elizabeth Ludeman

March 21, 1893 son Theodore Thurston in born in WA.
Source: WHT Collection, p. 37

Aug. 21, 1895 daughter Emily Williams born in WA.
Source: inscription in the Tacoma, WA Mausoleum,  Tacoma, WA per findagrave.com website; WHT Collection p. 37

Jan. 12, 1901 son Cyrus Joseph is born

Source: WHT Collection, p. 37

Feb. 27, 1936 husband Theodore died in Tacoma, Pierce Co. WA.
Source: WA Death Certificates 1907-1960 FHL File # 2023362 Reference ID 291

Nov. 16, 1955 Lizzie died in Tacoma, Pierce Co., WA.
Source: WA. State Death Records found on Ancestry; obituary “Tacoma News Tribune”, Nov. 17, 1955, p B-2; she is entombed at the Tacoma Mausoleum in Tacoma, WA.; WA. Death Certificates FHL File #2033575 Reference ID 21613

A few notes about Elizabeth Estella Wallace:

• Information is short on Elizabeth, commonly known as Lizzie. Elizabeth Ludeman stated Lizzie also stayed with her aunt and uncle, Mate and Ed. Devey while she studied to be a teacher at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. Elizabeth added that Lizzie was also “a talented musician.” 
• Her obituary states she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. It also said she was a native of Joplin, MO.

A few notes about Theodore Frelinghuysen Mentzer:

• Theodore Frelinghuysen Mentzer (often noted as T. F.) was born on Oct. 13, 1849 in Marion, Linn Co., Iowa. 
• The 1880 census indicates he is a lawyer living in Marion with his younger brother, Cyrus. 
• By Feb. 5, 1885 he appears to be in Jerauld Co., Dakota Territory as the following land was registered in his name: in Township 106N Range 066W NW ¼ of NE ¼ Sec. 30; NE ¼ of NW ¼ Sec. 30, Lot/Tract 1 Sec. 30, and Lot/Tract 2 Sec. 30 for a total of 149.44 acres. 
• On Feb. 15, 1888 the following land was registered in his name: SE ¼ of NE ¼ Sec. 29, N ½ of SE ¼ Sec. 29, NW ¼ of SW ¼ Sec. 29. It appears T. F. may have been renting or leasing, or perhaps has sold his land as he is living in and practicing law in Mitchell during the latter part of the 1880s. 
• As a member of the Dakota Territory Legislature, he was instrumental in guiding South Dakota to statehood in 1887. 
• In 1981 Irwin Test, a lifelong citizen of Mitchell created a list of the mayors of Mitchell from 1881-1981. T. F. Mentzer served as mayor in 1887 and 1888. 
• Washington. Taking a trip to see his brother (Cyrus?) who was running a sawmill near Tacoma, WA. Before returning to Mitchell in July, Theodore and a partner bought the Tenino Lumber and Shingle Company. News came six weeks later that the enterprise had burned to the ground. Theodore returned to Tenino to rebuild the business; it was at this time he decided to make Tenino his permanent home. 
• 1892 was a busy year for Theodore. In March he traveled to Joplin, MO. to marry Lizzie Wallace on the 21st.; he won a seat in the WA State Legislature; he and his brother built up their lumber business. People recalled the Mentzer brothers were “the most energetic and successful businessmen in Thurston County. 
• The 1910 census indicates his occupation is lumberman. The 1912 and 1914 R. L. PolkThurston and Mason Counties directories list him twice, once as Mentzer Brothers lumber manufacturers and loggers, and secondly as First Vice-President, State Bank of Tenino. 
• Sometime before the 1920 census the family moved to Tacoma, WA in Pierce Co. At age 70, per the 1920 census he is practicing law, in 1930 he is still in the law practice. 
• Theodore died on Feb. 27, 1936 and is buried in the Tacoma Cemetery.
• Note: A more detailed version of his life in WA can be found on WorldCat at https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/250665624 This comes from the WA State Digital Archives