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(NOTE: Alexander Wallace probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Alexander, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't...
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(NOTE: Alexander Wallace probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, Alexander, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and for their friends, in the 86th and back home.
Alexander then survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, Alexander probably had his picture taken dozens and dozens of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see some more pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)
Private ALEXANDER WALLACE, Co. B & Co. C, 86th Illinois; and Co. B, 1st Regt. U.S. Vet. Vol. Engineers
Alexander Wallace was born on April 19, 1837/8 in Ireland, one of at least five children known to have been born to William Wallace, who was born c. 1806 in Ireland, and Margaret "Jane" (Ross) Wallace, who was born c. 1807 in Ireland. The children born to William Wallace and Jane (Ross) Wallace include;
1. William Wallace Jr., born c. 1834/35 in Ireland.
2. Alexander Wallace, born April 19, 1837/38 in Ireland. See his biography below.
3. Henry Hamilton Wallace, born c. 1839/40 in Ireland. Henry served in Troop M of the 11th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War.
4. Margaret Wallace, born c. 1841/42 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
5. Thomas Ross Wallce, born October 20, 1846 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Thomas was married to Margaret Gill in 18__. Thomas Ross Wallace died on December 8, 1929 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana and his mortal remains were laid in the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 29391325.
The Wallace family is believed to have come to the United States sometime after Alexander was born in 1838 and before the next child, Margaret, was born in 1842. They settled in or near Philadelphia and remained there until at least the late 1840's and possibly 1850's. At the time of the 1850 census, the Wallace family is found in Blockley, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania;
Family Number 177
William Wallace 42 Block Printer Ireland
Jane Wallace 40 Ireland'
William Wallace 15 Ireland
Alaxander Wallace 13 Ireland
Henry Wallace 10 Ireland
Margaret Wallace 8 Philadelphia Co
Thomas Wallace 4 Philadelphia Co
Samuel Gibb 25 Block Printer Ireland
The Wallace family then came on west to Illinois, probably in the 1850's, where they settled near Chillicothe. The Wallace family is found residing in Hallock Township near Chillicothe, Illinois in Peoria County at the time of the 1860 census. They are farming for a living. Alexander is listed as having been born in Ireland in this census. Later census records list him as being born in Pennsylvania.
620 606 Wallace Wm. 54 Laborer 500 Ireland
620 606 Wallace Jane 53 Ireland
620 606 Wallace Alexander 22 Laborer Ireland
620 606 Wallace Margaret 18 PA
620 606 Wallace Thomas 15 PA
On August 13, 1862, Alexander Wallace volunteered in Peoria County to serve in a company which was being raised primarily in the Henry, Illinois area of Marshall County, by a man by the name of Elias C. Brearly. At the time he enlisted, he lists his residence as Chillicothe and his place of birth as Philadelphia.
A few days later, when Brearly had about 100 volunteers, he led the Marshall County volunteers into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Brearly and 88 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. B of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Brearly was elected Captain of Co. B.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name WALLACE, ALEXANDER
Rank PVT Company B Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence CHILICOTHE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 24 Height 5' 9 1/2 Hair DARK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion DARK Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA CO, IL
Joined By Whom CPT BREASLEY Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks TRANS TO CO C 86 ILL INF SEP 10, 1862
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name WALLACE, ALEXANDER
Rank PVT Company C Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence CHILLICOTHE, PEORIA CO, IL Age N/A Height 5' 9 1/2 Hair DARK
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity PHILADELPHIA, PA
Service Record
Joined When N/A Joined Where N/A
Joined By Whom N/A Period N/A
Muster In N/A Muster In Where N/A
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks TRANS TO 1 VETERAN VOLUNTEER ENGINEERS JUL 29, 1864 TRANS FROM CO B 86 ILL INF
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana. On September 10, 1862, Private Alexander Wallace was transferred to Co. C of the 86th, which was a company which was raised in the Chillicothe area. Alexander would spend the remainder of his time in the 86th as a member of Co. C.
By early October, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they would go into winter camp.
During the next year and a half, Private Alexander Wallace served faithfully in Co. C as the men of the 86th served in Tennessee and Georgia. During this time, Alexander was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chicakamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, and Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
Shortly after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, on June 29, 1864, Private Alexander Wallace was transferred to Co. B of the 1st Regt. of the U.S. Veteran Volunteer Engineers. As a member of the Engineers, Alexander would have been employed in the repair of the railroads and building bridges and block houses guarding those bridges. Private Alexander Wallace would spend the remainder of the war in the Engineers and is believed to have served in the Army of the Cumberland and "marched with Sherman to the Sea" and t have participated in the Carolina Campaign of 1865, which helped to bring the war to a close. Private Alexander Wallace was discharged from the service in June of 1865 and then returned to his home near Chillicothe, Illinois.
About 1866/67, the Wallace family moved still further west, settling in Cass County, Iowa. Alexander would reside in Cass County, residing in Brighton, Iowa and Atlantic City, Iowa for the remainder of his life, farming the land for a living. At the time of the 1880 census, he is found farming near Brighton, Iowa.
Alexander Wallace was married to Sarah Elizabeth Fudge on February 12, 1882 at the age of 43. Sarah was born about February 22, 1853 in Coles County, Illinois, the daughter of William E. Fudge, who was born about 1817 in Virginia, and Elizabeth (Thompson) Fudge, who was born about 1812 in Virginia. The Fudge family came to Iowa, first settling in Jasper County in 1854 and then to Cass County in 1871.
Four children are known to have been born to Alexander and Sarah. They are;
1. Cora B. Wallace; born June __, 1884 in Iowa; married to Edgar Taylor.
2. Harry Alexander Wallace; born August __, 1886 in Iowa. At the age of 22, Harry was married on February 23, 1909 in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa to Margaret Ellen Gocken/Golkin, who was 18 years of age. Alexander's parents are listed as Alexander Wallace and Sarah Elizabeth Fudge, while Margaret's are listed as Charles Gocken and Mary Agnes Conroy.
The children born to Harry Alexander Wallace and Margaret Ellen (Gocken) Wallace include;
A. Charles Alexander Wallace, born December 23, 1914 in Beadle, South Dakota. Charles died on December 27, 1995 in Ventura, California. His mortal remains were laid in the ____________ Cemetery in ____________, California.
B. Thomas Gerald "Jerry" Wallace, born July 28, 1917 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Jerry is known to have entered military service on February 10, 1941 at Atlantic, Iowa.
C. Paul Joseph Wallace, born April 2, 1920 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. Paul was married to Nada Ann (Jencks) Wallace (1921 - 2004) and they are known to have had at least one child;
a. Lynn Paul Wallace (1943 - 2008)
Paul Joseph Wallace died on June 20, 2003 in Merced, Merced County, California and his mortal remains were laid in the
Evergreen Memorial Park in Merced, Merced County, California. See his Find A Grave Memorial # 20748458.
At the time of the 1920 census, Harry and his family are found in Cedar, Linn County, Iowa;
Harry A Wallace Head M 33 Iowa
Margaret A Wallace Wife F 29 Iowa
Charles A Wallace Son M 5 South Dakota
Gerald T Wallace Son M 2 Iowa
At the time of the 1930 census, Harry and his family are found in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska;
Harry Wallace Head M 43 Iowa
Margaret Wallace Wife F 39 Iowa
Charles Wallace Son M 15 South Dakota
Gerald Wallace Son M 12 Iowa
Paul Wallace Son M 10 Iowa
Mary Gocken Mother-in-law F 59 Wisconsin
At the time of the 1940 census, Harry and his family are found back in Union Township, Cass County, Iowa;
Harry Wallace Head M 53 Iowa
Margert Wallace Wife F 49 Iowa
Jerry Y Wallace Son M 22 Iowa
Paul J Wallace Son M 19 Iowa
Mary Goeken Mother-in-law F 69 Wisconsin
Harry eventually moved to California, where he died on ____________ __, 19__. His mortal remains were laid in the ________________ Cemetery in ____________, ____________.
3. Ray Earl Wallace; born February 5, 1888/89 in Anita, Cass County, Iowa. Ray Earl Wallace was married to Evelyn Hope Seymour (1914 - 1974). Ray and Evelyn are known to have had at least one daughter;
A. Lena E. Wallace, born ____________ __, 193__. Lena was married to ____________ ____________. They had at least one daughter, Lisa Varnes Rex, whose email address is [email protected]
B. Earl Alexander Wallace 1940–1940
C. Edward Leroy Wallace 1941–1982
D. Robert Ross Wallace 1943–1944
E. Sheila Evelyn Wallace, born ____________ __, 1949. Sheila was married to ____________ Woods. Sheila died on ____________ __, 2000.
At the time of the 1940 census, Ray and his family are found in Ward 4 of the city of Atlantic, Atlantic Township, Cass County, Iowa.
Ray Earl Wallace died on January 3, 1964 and his mortal remains were laid in the Brighton Cemetery in Marne, Cass County, Iowa. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 113138519.
4. Elva Jane Wallace; born May 14, 1891 in Iowa. Elva was married to C. Homer Gaines. A grandson of Harry Wallace, Dennis Wallace emailed me in December of 2012 and told me the following. "My father always referred to her as Aunt Bid. I believe that is a derivative of Elisabeth."
Elva Jane (Wallace) Gaines died on December 17, 1945 and her mortal remains were laid in the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 141808871.
In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion on August 27, 1887, the 25th anniversary of the mustering in of the men of the 86th. The reunion was such a success they continued to hold these reunion on or as close to that August 27th anniversary date as possible through 1923, when it was tearfully decided that the veterans were just getting too old and too few to continue them. Alexander Wallace was never able to attend any of these reunions.
At the time of the 1900 census, the Wallace family is found in Brighton, Cass County, Iowa;
Alaxander Wallace 63 April 1837 Farmer PA --- ---
Sarah E. Wallace 46 Feb 1854 IL VA VA Married 18 years 4 children/4 living
Cora B. Wallace 15 June 1884 IA PA IL
Harry A. Wallace 14 August 1886 IA PA IL
Ray E. Wallace 12 Feb 1888 IA PA IL
Elva J. Wallace 9 May 1891 IA PA IL
Alexander and Sarah resided for some years at 107 Cedar St. in Atlantic City, Iowa. Sarah Elizabeth (Fudge) Wallace died in her home on Cedar Street on March 7, 1924. She suffered a stroke 12 years before and was an invalid the last 12 years of her life. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Brighton Cemetery near Marne, Iowa in Cass County. Private Alexander Wallace died in this home on June 27, 1926. His earthly remains were laid to rest beside those of his wife of more than 40 years in the Brighton Cemetery.
by Baxter B. Fite III, Carol Dorward, of Washington, Illinois and Judi Wallace Sinclair, whose email address is [email protected] Judi is the great granddaughter of
Henry Hamilton Wallace (FAG #26051619), the brother of Alexander Wallace.
(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Wallace family, who might be able further to the biography of Private Alexander Wallace and the Wallace family. Baxter would also love to get copies of any pictures of Private Alexander Wallace which may have survived the years for his Find A Grave site and for the local Historical Societies.) |
