Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-07-30
BEN" WALLACE HAS
UNIQUE HISTORY
Head of the Hagenbeck Wallace
Shows an Example of What
Work Will Do.

Fifty years ago a reu'lleaueu' lrech'
lcd.face little lad was running around
in Miami county, Indiana, and he was
looking for work, not for play. His
circumstances forced him to work In
order to support his widowed mother;
fortunately he liked work, and from
The first position he held in a livery
stable, working for fifty cents a week,
up to the present time. this lad has
never taken a vacation.
At one time Ben Wallace only own
ed the cheap oyeralls and s%uspenders
he wore. He did not inherit a dollar,
has never had any pull except that Of
his own brain. At n time. he did
not have money enough to buy feed
for his pet canary bird. Today he
owns one of the largest herds OF ele-
plants in the country and is opelat-
ing one Of the largest circus Organiza.
ticns in the world.
Is Great Farmer.
He is president of n of the larg-
est banking institutions in Indiana.
the Wabash Valley Trust Company,
at Peru. He owns one Of the largest
department stores in the state. He
owns a theater and all sorts of land
HOLDINGS in that city. But chief of Mr..
Wallacc's wealth is centered in land.
He believes land is the safest and
best place for money, and If her were
young now, according to his state
ment, he would be a simple son Of the
soil. Raised on a farm he has become
Indiana's greatest farmer, owning
and operating $500 acres of land that
could not be bought for less than
$3.50 an acre.
When the gorgeous street pageant
of the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus pass
es over the streets of Bismarck.
Thursday, August 5. the small and
poor lads of the city, may find en-
enlargement in the thought that the
owner of that magnificent display was
once as poor Is any boy, but that by
following two rules. of honesty and
unfailing work, he became a mighty
captain of industry. his circus inter-
ests, as large as they are, being COM
paratively a side issue with him.
Friend Of Poor.
Every well-posted farmer in the
eastern states knows of Ben" Wal.
lace, of Peru, Indiana. just as every
:ittle tot knows of the Hagenbeck-
Wallace shows. Notwithstanding his
wealth, Mr.. Wallace "a never too
busy to extend every possible thought
and care to his aged mother and nev.
er to proud to stoop and speak to the
poor. Today when with his shows.
he is sociable with every n of about
1000 employees. Even many Of the
humble workmen he calls by the first
name. He classes them among his
friends, Just as he does capitalists
and noted perons numbered among
his acquaintance.
He shuns the limelight and never
likes to be pointed out as "Mr. Wal.
lace" Frequently people out Of cur.
iosity may step up to him and Ask
il he is Mr.. Wallace. He is almost
sure to answer. Il am the boss host
ler," however, not denying that he is
Mr. Wallace.
Buys Best Horses.
Although this Hcosier Snowman
could buy and own all the %circusses
in the world, he has never desired to
own and operate but one complete
organization. which never divides or
splits. Early in life 1t was his ambi-
ton to build up "the highest class cir
Gus in the world and since that was
attained he has constantly maintained
the high standard. When buying
horses, he could buy cheap animals,