My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS WALLACE. This prominent resident of Post Oak Township, Johnson County, is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Anderson County, January 7, 1816. His parents were Joseph and Millie (Landrum) Wallace, the former born in Virginia, and the latter in South Carolina. They were both taken by their respective parents to Tennessee when about six years of age.

The maternal grandparents of our subject, Thomas and Alred Landrum, were also natives of South Carolina, and after emigrating to Tennessee passed their remaining years in that state. The paternal grandparents, John and Jennie (Miller) Wallace, were natives of the Old Dominion, and after taking up their residence in Tennessee engaged in farming. The grandmother was accidentally killed by falling off a horse. John Wallace then removed to Indiana, locating in Putnam County, and several years thereafter became a citizen of Hendricks County, that state, where his death occurred. He reared a family of eleven children, namely: John, Samuel, David, Enoch, Nancy, Jennie, Joseph, James, Bryce, Peggy and Betsy.

The father of our subject remained at home until his marriage with Miss Landrum, when he purchased a farm in Anderson County, Tenn., and made that section his home for several years, when he removed to Indiana. After several years’ residence in the Hoosier State he returned to Anderson County, making several changes back and forth until his decease, which occurred in Tennessee. His first wife had died several years previously, and for his second wife he married Eliza Kirkpatrick, who also departed this life in Anderson County.

In 1839 Joseph Wallace made a trip to Missouri, in company with our subject. They journeyed as far as Crawford County, but as the former was not favorably impressed, they retraced their steps to Tennessee, purchasing the old farm again. To Joseph and Millie Wallace there were born nine children, of whom Thomas was the eldest. Jennie died in infancy; John is now living in Nodaway County, this state; Joseph Miller died in the above county; Armstead departed this life while a resident of Tennessee; Fannie also died there; David, when last heard from, was a resident of that state; James is living on a farm near the old home place; and Aaron makes his home in Nodaway County.

Our subject left home at the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1837. The lady on this occasion was Miss Hannah Hibbs, a native of Tennessee, who was born in Anderson County, January 17, 1818. She was the daughter of William and Betsey (Weaver) Hibbs, both of whom were born and spent their entire lives in Tennessee.

After his marriage Thomas, of this sketch, erected a small log cabin on a portion of his father’s farm, but only made his home there one winter, when he purchased a small tract near the home place, for which he paid $250. He farmed it until the following fall, when he sold and moved three miles distant, renting a tract of land until the spring of 1839, when, with his wife and one child, he came to Missouri, accompanied by his father. Their stay in the state was very short, as on the same day as they arrived they turned their faces homeward. Upon again taking up his abode in Tennessee, Thomas Wallace built a house on a portion of his father-in-law’s farm, and resided there for four years, when he took charge of his father’s estate. A year later, however, he became the owner of a tract of land, but never occupied it, as about the same time he bought land on which he made his residence for five years. At the end of that time he sold his possessions in Tennessee and determined to try his fortunes in Missouri. He accordingly came hither and located in Nodaway County, but remained there only a few months, when he returned to Anderson County, Tenn., on account of poor health. In 1855 he made a trip to Texas, but returned shortly afterward, making his home in Tennessee for a number of years. By that time he had saved quite a sum of money, which it was his determination to invest in Missouri lands. In 1861 he came hither with a capital of over $5,000, again locating in Nodaway County, where he stayed until the following fall, when he came to Johnson County. He first rented a farm on the Clinton Road for three years, and while there selected one hundred acres of his present homestead. He has added to this purchase from time to time, until it now includes two hundred and twenty acres, all of which, with the exception of twenty acres, is under a high state of improvement. Mrs. Wallace died in this township September 16, 1875.

December 22, 1878, our subject chose for his second companion Miss Louisa Wyatt, a native of North Carolina, who came to this section with her parents after the close of the war. By his first marriage Mr. Wallace became the father of twelve children, namely: Elizabeth, born July 5, 1838; Amelia, December 25, 1840; William, September 24, 1842; Nancy, born December 9, 1844, and now deceased; Joseph, born September 20, 1846; Tabitha, who was born September 28, 1848, and died when fifteen years of age; Hannah, born September 16, 1850; Fannie, February 24, 1852; Benjamin, January 17, 1855; Louisa J., June 17, 1857; Thomas, July 24, 1859; and Stotha A., January 13, 1864.

Mr. Wallace has never been an office-seeker, nor has he ever held any public position, with the exception of School Director. Although in early life he voted the Whig ticket, he is now a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Dunkard Church and a most worthy and estimable lady.