The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-12-13

Late newspapers from the Pacific coast
mention the death Sept, 9Th at keIeo, Wash
ington of Victor NJ. Wallace, a native of
Newbury. His career had enough that
was remarkable in ii to JUS ify an extend
ed notice of the man.
He was a son of Moses and BetSey Me
Keith Wallace, and was born, probably,
in tho old Spring Hotel, Aug. 22d, 1907.
He possessed an Unborn ingenuity. and
while still young became so proficient with
the clarinet that he made several improve
mentS upon that instrument. About 1885
he removed to st. Louis, Mo-, and opened ii
shop i'll which he made and repaired pistols
and guns. In that year he perfected the
model and obtained the patent Of the first
breech loading pistol.
In lS4l he married Miss Roy, Scotch
girl, and they soon after removed to Pettis
County, Mo-, where their first child was
born. In May 1S47 they started for Oregon
with two wagons which Mr.. Wallace made
with covers which his wife had prepared,
and five yoke of oxen. They were joined by
three other families, and the little eXpedition
reached Within" n in just six months. Here
they rested two weeks, and then pushed on
to Oregon City which they reached a fort
night before Christmas. Here he made the
first die with whichthe $40 gold pieces were
stamped at the Oregon mint. He also made
the first threshing machine used in Oregon,
and made the printing press upon which
the Free Press, edited by Mr.. Currier after
yard governor of Oregon, was printed.
When the gold excitement broke out in
California, Mr. Wallace started for the
mines, He was with the first party of sixty
men who opened the way from the Will
ametO to the Sacramento river.
In 1850 he removed to the COwlitZ valley
in Washington Territory and took up land
upon which he spent the rest of his life.
He was twice elected treasurer Of the
nd tNAtinn tnI txrn
missioner. He was concerned in building
the first school house in which is now the
Stale OF Washington. In politics he was
a republican. A brother of his was killed
by the Indians in Oregon many years ago.
This account Is condensed from an extend
ed notice in Washington paper.
1t is worth while t glance at the ances-
try of man who was pioneer in so many
notable events. His grand father, Colonel
William Wallace, came from Scotland be-
fore the Revolution, and opened a. store in
building which stood, says Rev.
house. This building he removed about
1879, to the site upon which he built a few
years later, the pring Hotel, and removed
it a second time to the other side of the
street where it still stands the back part of
the old Newbury house, and is one of the
oldest buildings in town. He carried on a
large trade. and bought furS of all kinds,
was paymaSter to the troops stationed at
Coos in the Revolutionary war, and was
sent to Montreal to negotiate an exchange
of prisoners. lie was high sheriff of the
county and one of the most prominent men
in this region for many years. Toward the
end of his life he met with reverSeS, lost
most of his property and lies in an unknown
grave in the OXb0w cemetery
His wife was Hannah Carleton, sister
of Mrs. Col. Thomas johnson and of Dud-
ley Carleton, and they had several children
among whom was John who graduated at
Dartmouth college and was a lawyer in
Newbury, but Gi d young; Ann who mar
rird William Brock, father of William
and Moses, father of the deceased. The
latter married Betsey, daughter of Deacon
Thomas McKeith, whose name is spelled
McKeach in the early Ryegate records. |
lie reached that town from Scotland Oct |
|, IVA, in his nineteenth year. He after |
ward settled in TOpSham, cleared a farm, |
and died there in 1923. He was a most !
worthy man by the testimony of all who |
knew him. His wife died two years later, |
and they are buried in sadly neglected |
burial ground on Currier Hill.
Among their children were Duncan Nc |
Keith. well remembered in Newbury as a |
most genial old gentleman with an mex |
haustaDle fund of Scotch stories; Catherine |
mother of no less genial nephew, Mr. |
John d. Martin of PIermont; and Betsey, |
the mother of the deceased.
Of such sterling stock did this pioneer |
come and it was from them that he Inherit |
ad the qualities which made him prominent |
In condIt ons as new as those his ances tors |
found among Vermont hills. F.P.w.