Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-02-15
From Leisure Hours.
Biographical Sketches of Prominent
Public Men.
HON. WILLIAM A. WALLACE.

III D. ThAlNOI KING.
HON. WILLIAM A. WALLACE.
For our thirty-fourth subject we
have chosen Hon. William A. Wallace,
Speaker Of the State Senate, Pcnnsyl.
vania, and one OF the most careful and
judicious lawgivers we have. Mr..
Wallace is of Scotch Irish descent, and
was born in Huntingdon County,
Pennsylvania, in 1927, where his faith
er was a pioneer member of the bar,
and where the first decade of William s
life was spent. In 1886; bis father
moved into Clearfeld County, then a
wilderness, remote from canals, rail.
roads and nearly all other civilizing
and progressive institutions. In the
town of Clearfeld, the county seat,
whore he had "pitchod his tent" he
continued the practice of law for many
years, and William, when he had ac-
quired an academic education, at
about theage ofseventeon, commenced
the study oflaw with him, and was ad.
mitted to practice in lS47, by his Hon.
or, Judge Woodward, then president
of the Court of Common Pleas of that
District. After the completion of his
term of study, during the last years
of which he was thrown upon his own
resources, he turned his attention in a
special manner TO the study of land.
law, and was much facilitated by prac.
tical experience in the county offices,
where, by the investigation of the rec.
ords, he became familiar with nearly
all the titles in the county. The
knowledge thus acquired was invalu-
able to him after he was admitted,
and soon brought him a largo land
law practice. He practiccd his pro-
fession with marked ability and finan.
cial success for fifteen years, without
other ambition than to eyeel la aud
honor bis calling, and that he succeed
ed in both, the Supreme Court reports
of the State will fully substantiatc. In
the arguments of many of his heavy
land cases, where nice legal points
were in question, he has exhibited le.
gal acumen rarely seen on the courts
records.
He married very young-before he
was twenty .one-a daughter of Hon.
Richard Shaw, Of Clearfeld, and has
been blessed with q family of inLeres-
ting and promising children.
In 1862, he was nominated by the
Democracy for the State Senate, and
was elected ovor Hon. l.. W. Hall,
the then Speaker of the Senate, and a
popular man in the Republican party.
He has been twice reelected, and is
now in his ninth consecutive session,
In every canvass he ever made he has
led his ticket not only in his own
county, but in the whole district, com
prising five counties, mark of distin-
guished local popularity.
At tho time of his induction TO the
Senate, his party was in the minority
in that body, and has been during his
whole Senatorial career, up to the
present session but having that in
herent, indoscribable something, com
posed mainly of will power, unwaver-
ing integrity, clear sightedncss, indi.
viduality, and the caution for which
his race is noted, he soon became the
acknowledged leader of his party, and
commanded the respect of all his com,
peers of both parties. In the discharge
of his Senatorial duties, while keeping
in view the interests of his immediate
constituents, he never forgot that
he was sent there TO deliberate on the
interests of the people Of the whole
State as well as Of his own district,
and hence he persistently opposed un.
wise and improvident Legislation, 60
ing upon the principle that We are too
much governed by expediency.
lie was warm supporter of the
system Of educating soldiers orphans;
originated the resolution TO revise the
civil code opposed an increase OF
the rate of interest, on the ground
that cheap money was essential TO
the prosperity Of the country and cs.
pecially to the middle and poorer
classes. He also opposed change Of
the law of evidence so as to give q
party a right TO testify in his own
case. He was four sessions nom.
Der Of the Judiciary Committee, and
of the finance two years. He favored
the free railroad bill, and opposed the
repeal of the Connellsville railroad
franchises
In 1865 the Democratic convention
selected him as the chairman of the
State Committee, and gave him the lead
ership Of the democracy in that contest
Hehad not sought the place and acoep
ted il asa duty. The country was JUS
emerging from the war; and power
money and party patronage were
against the Democracy. In 1866 b,
was continued as chairman by tn,
unanimous voice of his party, ant
again, with unHinching devotion, h,
bent his whole mind TO the work, ant
for the first time in many years sys
tematic and thorough organization 0
the party was made. In 1867 he wa
again chairman, and by his onergeti,
efforts and thorough work carried th
State for Judge Sharswood. In 1866
the party again demanded bis ser
vices, and they were given with all th,
vigor Of his power Of organization
and under his lead his party in Octo
Der made the most gallant uphill fgh
in its history. In all these campaign
he enjoyed the entire confidence 0
the party. To bis high character 70