Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Wallace, Andrew G. 1861 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 30, 2013, 6:46 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

ANDREW G. WALLACE.

There are inspirational elements in the life history of Andrew G. Wallace,
indicating as it does what may be accomplished when ambition points out the way
to success and perseverance and energy enable the individual to continue therein
although difficulties and obstacles may at times block his path. The career of
Mr. Wallace may seem somewhat spectacular when we consider that he entered upon
his present line of business without previous experience and without capital,
but back of it all is the story of unflagging diligence and constant
watchfulness. He was born in Sweden, October 12, 1861, his parents being L. H.
and Mary Wallace, also natives of that country, whence they sailed for America
in 1869 and became residents of Wapello county, Iowa. They established their
home upon a farm in Polk township and both there remained until called to their
final rest. They had a family of eight children, of whom five are yet living.

Andrew G. Wallace spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads, the
work of the fields largely monopolizing his attention during the summer months,
while the winter seasons were devoted to mastering the branches of learning
taught in the public schools. In early life he conceived the idea of entering
the printing business and never for a moment did he lose sight of his purpose,
although at times he was obliged to resort to other methods to earn a
livelihood. Today he is at the head of the Ottumwa Stamp Works, owning and
controlling an extensive plant, which constitutes one of the most complete
printeries in the state and is unsurpassed in its equipment by any of similar
size. Of his business career it has been written:

"Few starts have been more humble; few men have possessed more undaunted spirit
or greater determination to conquer in a chosen path—a path strewn with almost
unsurmountable obstacles. His is the case of a man winning success in a line in
which at the outset he had absolutely no practical experience and only the whim,
ambition, desire, or whatever you will, to go ahead with his pet business,
secured for him the success that has attended his efforts. He crept before he
walked. The discouragement he met at the outset would have made a man stop and
change tactics, but his youth and inexperience would not let him. He plunged
ahead and succeeded, as his present business testifies. When a boy on the farm,
like other country boys, he became possessed of a hobby to begin some business
that would earn him independence and freedom from the drudgery of the farm.
Frugal in his habits, he saved his money and when still a boy bought a small
printing press, suitable for printing cards, and also purchased a small amount
of type. Before he left the farm he became a printer in a way and by sheer
originality developed into a card printer for a number of people, who to
encourage him and also because pleased with his work and his charges had him
print name cards for them. At that time it was a fad to have such cards and all
of the young folks and many of their elders became his customers. It was this
work which developed in Mr. Wallace the idea that he could establish a printing
business and make it successful. Financial conditions did make this impossible,
however, following his arrival in Ottumwa. He turned to other pursuits and
became yard man for Riley & Carter, then managers of the Ballingall Hotel. After
a time he rose to the post of steward and, leaving the hotel soon after a change
in management, he decided to give his printing scheme a test. Even while at the
hotel he carried on his side line of card printing and had a number of lads,
many of whom are now men about Ottumwa, selling cards for him on a commission
basis. In the summer of 1886 he rented a room in the basement of the First
National Bank. The last of the first five months his receipts amounted to just
nine dollars. Undiscouraged, he negotiated with a Chicago firm for twenty-five
dollars worth of New Year's cards and by this deal cleared twenty-five dollars.
This encouraged him and the next year he went into larger quarters in the
Leighton building, where he remained for a year and then removed to the two
upper rooms at his present location at No. 217 East Main street. Since 188q,
when the move was made to his present location, the changes due to the growth of
the business have been numerous. The upper floor of the building to the west and
later a part of the one on the east were used until finally about six years ago
the entire building at 217 East Main street was taken for the plant and today
presents a quite congested appearance in the housing of the huge printery and
the immense stock of goods carried.

"The printery, while always the chief factor in his business, has not been the
only thing to which Mr. Wallace has given his attention. He has established a
business in connection with his printery that has to do with offices of all
kinds. All manner of modern office supplies from stationery to furniture, desks,
filing cabinets, etc., are carried by the Ottumwa Stamp Works. All kinds of
rubber stamp making are done, together with metal seals and checks, celluloid
buttons and other novelties, safes and strong boxes for valuable papers, ink,
paste, pens of all kinds as well as pencils and high grade stationery; in fact,
everything used in an office may here be found. The printery is equipped second
to none in the state according to size and it is not small. It is one of the few
printing houses that owns the Monotype machine, which device gives it a constant
new faced type and the plant replenishes the stock of type when needed. Besides
all kinds of job printing done by the firm binding to some extent is carried on.
There are about sixteen employes at the stamp works, but none are more on the
job than the founder and owner."

In 1882 Mr. Wallace was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Berg, a native of
Sweden, who came to America in 1880. They became parents of eight children:
Carl, of this city; Turull, deceased; Alida, the wife of Claus Klang of Ottumwa;
May, the wife of George Lundgren of Des Moines, Iowa; Hildur, deceased; Elmer,
of Ottumwa; Sigrid; and Catherine. The wife and mother is a member of the
Swedish Mission church, while Mr. Wallace belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in
which he has attained high rank, reaching the thirty-second degree in the
Scottish Rite. He also holds membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Arcanum and the Maccabees.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914

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