The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-23
A POLITICAL CURIOSITY.


William Henry waiiues who Has Held the
Position OF Postmaster al IIammonda-
willie for ca YsaFs-Wln be Present AZ
stsahsnyllIs Centennial.
Special Dispatch to the Intelllgeneer
sFEBBENVILLE, o., Aug. PA
very venerable man who has q unique
record in many ways, win be a promi-
nent guest in this city during the CEN
tennlak William Henry Wallace, who
is the nations Oldest postmaster, in
point of continuous service, has a re-
cord In many ways that is without par
allel, Mr.. Wallace is postmaster at
Hammondsviiie and the fact that he has
held n government position all these
years through the changes in admins
tratlon, makes him an oddly,
Mr., Wallace was born in Canada, De-
cember 2, 1911, of Scotch and Saxon an
cestry. When but ten years OF age his
parents settled in this county and at
fourteen years OF age he was placed in
store as clerk, In June, 1880, he was
made assistant postmaster during An
drew Jaekson's term OF office and In a
short time he was appointed postmaster
so that he has been postmaster contin-
uously for sixty-seVen years, forty-tive
years of that time at Hammondsville,
He has established three postottlces In
this county. Linton, formerly Yellow
Creek Port Homer and Hammondsville.
He has served under thirty-two post
masters-geneFal
During that period OF time there have
been marvellous changes In the postal
service. In early days 20 rob the malls
meant death and Mr.. Wallace saw the
notorious Hair and his accompllce hang
ed In Baltimore for robhing mails; and
a few years later he saw Hutton and
Hull executed for cobbing the mail and
killing the driver. Mr., Wallace remem-
bers well when postage was charged
according to the distance the letter
went and for q letter that came four
hundred miles he has taken two bushels
OF oats; two bushels of potatoes; four
pounds Of butter. or five dozen OF eggs.
Mr., Wallace Is also agent OF the Cleve-
land & Pittsburgh railroad and Adams
Express Company agent positions he
has held for forty-flve years. He Is very
conversant with the early history of the
Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad He
has kept pace as far as knowledge goes,
with the progress and improvement In
the postal service and railroads and he
has seen much of It. He remembers
the changes that have taken place in
the moral. religious and political life of
the country during his long life.
Sixty-hve years ago he passed over
the first thirteen miles Of railroad built
in the United States, at the rate of ten
miles an hour. drawn by two horses. In
his mercantile life he has met a. t,
Stewart and many other prominent
merchants. Mr.. Wallace has met Hen
ry Clay, Daniel Webster John C. Cal
houn, "Davey" Crockett, j. Q, Adams
and many OF the prominent men Of later
years and Of the present day, He has a
rare collection Of pictures OF public men
and their autographs sent TO him per-
gonally. Mr.. Wallace Is distinguished
and venerable In appearance, being ov-
err six feet in height and of erect car
rage.
He can claim to be responsible for
nearly the whole town OF Hammonds-
vile, as he has established various min
ing and manufacturing Industries. His
mercantile experience extends over
nearly three quarters OF q century. Be-
Ing Of literary turn he has written u
great deal. He crossed the Allegheny
mountains twenty-slx times in stage
coaches before the days OF railroads,
and more times since. 8aa 0U0fr