The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-11-02

III INC City anu county IMAM GeOFBe
Wallis. During the long time that he
had lived in the city he had beep
prominently connected with the public
life of the city and his service on the
school board was one of the most
notable contributions ever made by any
Kenoshan to the advancement of the
educational program of the city. He
came to be known among the members
of the board as "The Builder of
Schools" for as chairman of the build
ing committee Of the board he had
charge of the construction of all~the
larger buildings built in Kenosha in
the last ten years. These included
the Lincoln, the Columbus, the Frank
schools. The fidelity which Mr.. Wal
lis showed in his work on the board
/ of education, and the personal inter
est which he took in everything con
nected with this work, made him a
leader on the board and many of his
fellow members united this morning
in paying tribute to his sterling worth
and his splendid loyalty and service
to the schools.
A Native of England.
Mr.. Wallis was son of the late
Thomas Wallis, an old resident of
Kenosha. He was born at Owermoing
England, June %, 1852. He spent his
early life in England and was edu-
Gated in the schools there. Accom-
panied by his wife, his father and
mother and his brother, Albert Wallis
he came to Kenosha in 1874 and he
had since made his home here. He
was a carpenter by trade and he had
much to do with the early building
work in the city. He was one of the
men who helped erect the first plant
for the Chicago Brass company and
he had part in the erection of many
other larger buildings of the city
His practical knowledge of building
proved of great value to the city
when he came to the head of the
building department of the schools.
Elected City Sexton in 1884.
He was elected sexton of the city
cemetery by the common council in
1884 and since that time he had been
IN charge of the city's main cemetery
| He has had large. part in the de-
yelopment of the cemetery and many
of the changes which have been made
in the grounds in recent years were
Ia
with his suggestion. His interest lin
the cemetery was like his interest in
the schools-a personal interest-and
he worked to carry out his plans for its
development until he was forced to
give up the work two weeks ago.
Mr.. Wallis was a member of the
Volunteer Fire department of Keno.
sha. He Joined the old Gem Fire Com-
pany No. 5 in 1875 and remained ac-
tive in the work of the volunteer de-
Ipartment until it was formally mus.
tered out of service only few years
ago. He was president of the vol
unteers for more than score OF
years, holding this Office when the
Past Master of Masons.
The deceased was one of the oldest
members of the Masonic Lodge in
Kenosha and he presided as Worship
full Master of Kenosha Lodge No. 45
and served with honor in many of the
Offices of Kenosha Chapter No. OF
the Royal Arch Masons. He took 8
great interest in Masonic work. He
divided his fraternal associations be-
tween the Masonic and the Odd Eel
lows order and in the latter order he
was asPast Noble Grand. He had been
active in the work of many other or
CARNATIONS of the city which had fol
their particular purpose the advance
ment of the city. He was active in
the work of the Methodist church dur
fling his long residence in Kenosha.
Mr.. Wallis is survived by one
daughter, Miss Edith Wallis, well
known teacher in the city schools and
one son, Harry G. Wallis, also of Ke-
nosha. He is also survived by two
brothers, James Wallis, now residing
in Virginia and Albert Wallis of Keno
sha, who was long associated with him
in his work in the care of the cemetery