My Genealogy Hound

James A. Wallace was born in Tippah County, Miss., December 25, 1840. His father, Thomas Wallace, a native of Tennessee, was born in March, 1811. On February 25, 1840, he married Miss Melissa A. Price, of Tennessee, who is still living. They had six children: James A., Robert T., John W., Mary A., Michael H. and Samuel B. Soon after their marriage they moved to Tippah County, Miss. He died December 20, 1853, having been a very prominent and popular planter in Holly Creek, Howard County, Ark. The subject of this sketch passed his school days in Mississippi and Arkansas, and commenced to support himself at the early age of thirteen by clerking and farming. On the death of his father, he and his mother moved to Arkansas, and settled in what is now Howard County. He remained there ten years. Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Margaret A. Reeder, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of David D. and Mary Reeder. They have had seven children: Mary H., John W., James, Carrie, Josie, Mamie and an infant (which died before being named). After his marriage Mr. Wallace went to Centre Point, and engaged in the mercantile business with A. W. Cole, under the firm name of Cole & Co. The firm moved to Dallas, and after nine years Mr. Wallace sold out to Cole & Wright, and moved upon his present farm, which contains about 240 acres. Lately he has been in the mercantile line at different times. Mr. Wallace enlisted July 4, 1861, in the Fourth Arkansas Infantry, under Col. Dawson, was elected and commissioned first lieutenant of his company, but never served; was in the battles of Oak Hill and Elkhorn, but was not wounded, and was discharged in June, 1865. In politics he is a strong Democrat, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has taken five degrees. Mr. Wallace has been very successful in life, and has devoted a great deal of his attention to stock-raising.