OBITUARY From: Decatur Review, Tues., March 19, 1912 Transcribed by Pat Hageman. WALLACE, Julia A. (Stuart) Funeral services for Mrs. Jula A. Wallace, who died Sunday morning, will be held this morning at 11 o'clock in Mt. Zion, burial in Long Creek cemetery. Mrs. Wallace was born in Wythe county, Virginia, September 8, 1821, and was 90 years and six months of age at the time of her death. She was one of the very oldest settlers of this part of the country, coming to Illinois with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stuart, in November, 1829, and on account of the extremely deep snow all settlers who came to Illinois in that year were termed, "The Snowbirds". They settled near the place known as the Old Trading House, which was northeast of where Decatur is now located. A few months later they moved to Macon county and some 82 years, or practically all her life, was spent in Macon county. Her grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and while she could tell many interesting incidents repeated and handed down to her from those times the more vivid and lasting impressions were the ones made during their early days in Illinois. Those first years were memorable in many ways, and more especially on account of the hardships they were obliged to undergo and the bitter toil made necessary on account of the unsettled condition of the country. During their first year when they were snowbound for quite a length of time, they knew what the pangs of hunger were and while they could trap deer and had sufficient meat, it was impossible to get to the trading place for meal, and as necessity is ever the mother of invention, they were forced to grind their grain between rocks, which was the only flour they had for several weeks. Yet as the years went by all of these hard experiences lost their rough edge and the many thrilling and interesting tales she told in her later years! of these time. She was married to Robert Wallace January 23, 1845, who died May 16, 1904. Of the 59 years of their lives spent together, they lived more than 50 years on the old homestead eight miles east of Decatur. That is, east of where Decatur is now located, for in those primitive days Springfield was the nearest trading point of any moment. It was no unusual thing for Mr. Wallace to drive to Chicago for the sale of his stock and grain. Mrs. Wallace leaves four children--Mrs. J.P. Nicholson and Mrs. Sarah E. Bryant of Decatur, Mrs. Lewis Myers of Mt. Zion and Mrs. M.D. Kizer of Dallas, Texas. Besides these four children who survive her she had one son and two daughters deceased. She had a remarkable line of descendants, the majority of whom are still living, there having been seven children, twenty-eight grandchildren, twenty-six great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. ------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Pat Hageman (© 1997 Pat Hageman)