John W. Wallace Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1255-1256 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN W. WALLACE. 

	John W. Wallace is a surveyor residing in Springfield and he has 
surveyed many town sites throughout the west. He was born in Columbus, 
Wisconsin, a son of George W. and Emily (Thompson) Wallace, both 
natives of England. Mr. Wallace of this review first came to Dakota 
territory in 1879 as a member of a railway engineering corps under 
Chief Engineer F. W. Kimble. He began the work with practically no 
knowledge of engineering and rose from axeman to rodman and finally to 
engineer. Max Bridgeman, an engineer, took a great interest in him and 
taught him the intricate mathematics of railroad engineering. Mr. 
Wallace worked on many divisions of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad in South Dakota and Iowa, including the lines at Running Water 
and Chamberlain, this state, and Emmetsburg, Iowa. For two years he w-
as on the topographical survey and drainage project in the lake region 
around Okoboji, Iowa, under Moses Burpee and later laid out the town 
sites on that line of the railroad. He was also in the party running 
the line to the Black Hills and reached a point thirty miles east of 
Cheyenne river, when the party was turned back by hostile Indians. Near 
Fort Hale sixty Indians were secured as guides and the line was run 
through to the Hills. He was later employed on the line from Aberdeen 
to Seattle and located and laid out most of the towns along almost the 
entire length of the line. He was then for two years employed in the 
company's offices in Milwaukee, working in the drafting rooms much of 
the time. He has laid out the town sites on the Lewiston, Great Falls, 
Cannon Ball, Armour, Jim River and Faith lines of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, as well as at Emmetsburg, Estherville 
and other points in Iowa. For a number of years he has been in the 
constant employ of the Milwaukee Land Company, plate tiny and surveying 
town sites along that railroad system. He also served as county 
surveyor for twelve or fourteen years, part of the time while he was 
residing upon his farm. He first purchased a quarter section situated 
eight miles west of Springfield and later bought an additional forty 
acres. After his marriage he lived upon the farm for fifteen years, 
removing to Springfield in the fall of 1898 in order that his sons 
might attend normal school. 

	Mr. Wallace was married at Reedsburg, Wisconsin, February 13, 
1884, to Miss Sarah C. Hunter, a daughter of Joel and Parmelia 
(Northup) Hunter, both natives of New York. Mrs. Wallace was born near 
Reedsburg. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, 
two sons and two daughters: George W., who owns a ranch in Meade 
county; Joel H., who holds a lease on the Springfield ferry; and Carl 
H. and Clara H., who are both taking a full course in the Springfield 
Normal School. The parents are communicants of the Episcopal church. 
Mr. Wallace is a past master of the Masonic lodge and past patron of 
the chapter of the Eastern Star and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen 
of America. 

	At the time of the great flood of the spring of 1881 Mr. Wallace 
was at Chamberlain, where he saw the waters rise and fall almost daily 
during the time that the flood conditions lasted. At the time of the 
fearful blizzard of January 12, 1888, he was on the farm and was 
fortunate enough to get his cattle all in before any perished. He lost 
nothing by prairie fires because of his foresight in keeping his place 
always surrounded by ample fire guards. He has led a busy life which 
has not only brought him material success but has contributed to the 
development of South Dakota, and all who know him respect him for his 
sterling character