Robert C. Wallace

Robert C. Wallace

ROBERT C. WALLACE, farmer, section 33, Ashland Township, was born in the city of Toronto, Ca., April 11, 1844. His parents, William G. and Ann Wallace, were natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland, came to Canada in early life and were married in Toronto.

Mr. Wallace had the best educational advantages until he was 13 years of age, but the bent of his inclinations was toward the career of a mechanic, and he became an engineer in the machine shop of Alfred Metcalf in his native city. He afterward went to Hamilton, Ontario, where he engaged in a meat market, associated with an uncle, and there operated until the spring of 1860, when he became a farmer in Haldimand Co., Ont. He remained there until the fall of 1864, when he came to Michigan and located in Mecosta County, engaging in lumbering on the Muskegon River, spending the winter of 1864-5 in that occupation. He entered the employ of Alex. Blake of Newaygo, in the summer of 1865, where he continued some time, as a laborer in the common departments of the lumber business, and at a late period was made foreman of the entire lumber interest of Mr. Blake. In the fall of 1876 he became foreman for the lumber firm of Wyman, Buswell & Co., of Grand Haven, operating in their behalf until the fall of 1878, when he settled upon a partly improved farm on section 33, Ashland Township, where he has since expended his time and nergies, with the exception of one winter.

Mr. Wallace was married Jul 18, 1876 to Mary Jane, daughter of John and Nancy (Austin) McIlveen. The parents and daughter are natives of Ireland, where the latter was born, in the city of Belfast, May 12, 1841. They came to the United States in 1852, and after landing at New York proceeded westward until they reached Ottawa Co., Mich., where Mrs. Wallace resied until her marriage.

Mr. Wallace is a decided Republican, and is now (1884) filling his second term as Township Treasurer. He is a prominent member of the Order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the subordinate Lodge, No. 362, at Ashland Center, and to the Encampment, No. 82 at Newaygo. He holds the position of C.P. in the latter named body and that of M.W.G.P. in the former.

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