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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ALVIN D. WALLACE, proprietor of the Hotel Brunswick of Cortland village, and one of Cortland’s most popular young business men, was born in May, 1853. He is a son of David and Martha (Colvin) Wallace, and a grandson of David Wallace.

David Wallace, Sr., was a native of Scotland, but when still a young man came to America and located in Rensselaer County in the State of New York. He followed the occupation of a farmer all his life and was very successful. He reared eleven children, — six boys and five girls.

David Wallace, the father of our subject, was a native of New York and received his education in the common schools. He engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cayuga County as a means of obtaining a comfortable livelihood, until 1862, when he moved to Mechanicsville, Saratoga County, N. Y. There he worked at the carpenter trade until 1889, when he moved to Cortland to live with his son. He was a Republican in his political belief. Religiously, he was a member of the Universalist Church. He was a Mason, being a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 520, F. & A. M., of Stillwater, N. Y. Mr. Wallace was the father of the following children: Frances, who is now the wife of George Arnold of Saratoga; Alvin D., our subject; Ella, who is the wife of J. C. Baker of Mechanicsville, N. Y.; William of Cortland; Mary, the wife of Arthur Johnson of Mechanicsville, N. Y.; and Charles of Watertown, N. Y. Mr. Wallace departed this life April 30, 1895.

Alvin D. Wallace received his primary education in the public schools, after which he attended the academy at Mechanicsville, N. Y. He learned the trade of wagon maker, which he followed for twenty years. In 1889 he came to Cortland and engaged in the hotel business. He is now the proprietor of the popular Hotel Brunswick, which is located in the central part of the town on Main Street. In the past year he has remodeled the structure from cellar to roof, furnished all the rooms with steam heat, and made one of the most desirable places in Cortland. He is quite prominent as a politician and has been a member of county and town committees. He is well known in social circles, and belongs to several lodges; he is a member of the Masonic Order, and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of Cortland; the Scotish Rite Bodies of Syracuse; Ziyara Temple of Utica; and is a member of the Elks Lodge, No. 31, of Syracuse; and of Pecos Tribe of Red Men, No. 357, of Cortland. He is also the president of the Cortland Athletic Association. He was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hodson of Cortland, February 8, 1882. In business life, active and straight-forward; in social circles a true and firm friend, Mr. Wallace is surrounded by many well-wishers.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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