Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 375 - 376 

J.A. WALLACE is a wealthy and influential citizen of Wichita, where he is carrying on a large wholesale and retail business as a dealer in farm machinery, wagons and buggies, at Nos. 308, 309 and 310 on the east and west side of Douglas avenue. He also has a branch establishment at Kingman, Kingman County, in this State. He was born in Cooper County, Mo., in 1840, and is the son of Robert and Margaret (Steele) Wallace, natives of Kentucky. 

            Robert Wallace was extensively engaged in farming in Missouri, to which State he removed in 1818, where he became a pioneer of Cooper County. He soon took a prominent part in State affairs, and was one of the framers of the Missouri Constitution, and was otherwise identified with the public interests of his adopted State. He was a warm personal friend of Thomas H. Benton, the renowned statesman. Mr. Wallace was twice married, and was the father of seventeen children, six of whom died in infancy, eleven grew to maturity, and four are now living, namely: Kate, Eliza, A.N. (a twin brother), and J.A., the subject of this sketch. Kate is now Mrs. Ferguson, of Sedalia, Mo.; A.N. is a farmer in Kingman County, Kan. 

            Mr. Wallace, of whom we write, was reared on his father's farm, and after he grew to manhood assisted in the management of his large property until he was twenty-eight years old. He then traveled for the Walter A. Wood Mower and Reaper Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., remaining in the employ of that firm for several years. At length he decided to go into business for himself, and came, in February, 1878, to Wichita, being attracted here by the fine location and other superior advantages it offered to men of push and enterprise. He first established himself in business on East Douglas avenue, but at the end of a year he bought out Houck Bros.' establishment, and merged their business into his, retaining both establishments. His first building is 50x120 feet in dimensions, and the other house across the street is 25x120 feet, with two warerooms in the rear, each 75x120 feet. He carries on a very large business, which he has greatly extended since he first began, and now has a branch store in Kingman, which is doing a fine trade in a building 50x150 feet in dimensions. He employs ten men here and has one of the largest houses in the city. He is a stockholder in the Wichita National Bank, and has other interests in the city. 

            Mr. Wallace was married, in 1879, to Miss Pamelia M. Hutchison, of Independence, Mo., daughter of Thomas Hutchison. They have a very pleasant home at No. 1020 North Lawrence avenue, to which their large circle of friends often resort to enjoy the charming hospitality extended by the gracious hostess and genial host. Mr. Wallace's large business interests have made him widely known through the State of Kansas, and he has gained the confidence of all with whom he deals by his strictly honorable methods of conducting his business. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

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