This study began early in my life. In summer I spent time at my grandparents 100 acre farm in
southern Indiana. That “huge” farm was
my whole world to explore! It was the
source of conversations, picking up little tid bits here and there,
assimilating a new way of living. My
grandfather, Henry M. Wallace, calling
my uncles – “it’s 4 o’clock – time to get up!”
Livestock to be fed, cows to be milked, horses to be harnessed. Then back to the house for a huge “stick to
the ribs” breakfast prepared by my grandmother. Then back to the horses for cultivating the fields.
My maternal great grandfather, John Clements, lived there
also. He kept bees and there was always
fresh honey. There were home cured hams
and sides of bacon hung in “the summer kitchen”. Canned meat and vegetables in “the cellar” – a self-sustaining
existence. It has been said “we had
everything except money” - it was a
fact of life in the Depression Years.
Kerosene lamps provided light in the house and kerosene
lanterns in the barn. Kerosene was
commonly referred to as “coal oil”. The
new Alladin lamp in the parlor provided better reading light. Lamps did not
burn too long – on the farm it was early to bed, early to rise. Sunday afternoons on the front lawn – home
grown watermelon and muskmelon and “hand cranked” homemade ice cream. Games of hide and seek, catching fire flies
etc. The life was both harsh and
austere – but at the same time romantic.
These days would become “The good old days”. Every generation has it’s “good old days”.
In the summer of 1935 my grandmother hitched a team of
horses to a “hay wagon”. No seats! My grandmother stood and drove the team,
pulling the wagon, me, my brother Dean, uncle Donald, aunt Margie and aunt
Martha to my great grandmothers home.
It was known as the Isaac Shelby Wallace home, 1 ½ miles east of
Orleans. The trip from the farm was 2 ½
miles one way. We found my great
grandmother baking apple pies!
What was the heritage that motivated these strong,
self-reliant people? I now know it was
forged over the years, generation by generation. This question emerged as the force that has driven us to record
it for future generations. We wanted to
know our roots and we want our children and their families who follow, to know their
roots and appreciate the heritage that precedes them.
Wallaces served in
the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and in the Civil War - some wore Blue,
others wore Gray! Lew Wallace, a Union
Major General in the Civil War, also served as Ambassador to Turkey, and as
Territorial Governor of New Mexico.
They have served their country in time of war and have served their
country in public service. In the
course of time, some of the approximately 10,000 members named in this report
have resided in every state of the 50 United States except Hawaii, Maine, and
North Dakota.
In the 13th century, Sir William Wallace, known
as the Hero of Scotland, also as the Defender of Scotland, defeated English
Armies at Sterling Bridge. He later was betrayed and put to a cruel death by King
Edward I of England. Political
persecution eventually drove some of the Wallace clan to move to Ireland. Later, many migrated to America. Matthew Wallace emigrated from Ireland in
1648. He established himself as a
planter in the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
In time, some of the family moved on, his son, Matthew moved on to Cecil
County, at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay. Some moved to New England where
Oliver Hazzard Perry was born. Later as
Commodore Perry, he defeated the British Fleet in the battle of Lake Erie in
the War of 1812. His mother was
descended from the Maryland Wallace families.
Some moved to North Carolina and others moved to Western Virginia.
Upon discovery of the Cumberland Gap, people swarmed through
and fanned out in many directions. Some
south, south-west, west and north into the old Northwest Territory. Thus, with temporary stops in Kentucky, the
family arrived in Indiana in the early 1800’s.
Clark County, Sullivan County, Scott County and Orange County were
destinations. As society became more
mobile, the ever widening path of migration continued.
My son Douglas began collecting data in the mid 1970’s. I served on the historical committee of the
Wallace Family Reunion of the descendants of Henry Morton Wallace and Cora
Frances (Clements) Wallace. Both Doug
and I have a curiosity for history in
general and this has served us very well as we pursued the story of this
Wallace family. Each bit of new
information made additional information imperative. Clue by clue this record began to take shape.
I have said of our field trips, we collect dots – then
return home to try to connect the dots.
Perseverance, a sense of historical perspective, the mind set of a
detective, serendipity and at time just plain luck are critical factors in
genealogical research.
Our journey back in time, took us to the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, where in 1650’s, Matthew Wallace was known as “one of the three kings
of Manokin”. From Maryland, this time
journey took us to Ireland, Scotland
and Wales. Richard of Wales (born 1076)
migrated to Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland.
He was also known as Eimerus Gallieus.
He is the progenitor of t