Contra
Costa County
Biographies
ROBERT
WALLACE
As a wheat grower of contra Costs county, Robert Wallace has attained a degree of success
which numbers him among the representative farmers of that section. A native of
the state, he was born in San Francisco September 28, 1859, son of Robert
Wallace, Sr. The elder man was born in Northshields,
England, and was reared to manhood in his native locality receiving his
education and learning the trade of ship-calker. (sic) He came to California in 1857 and located in San
Francisco, where he readily found employment at his trade and where he
continued in such occupation until his retirement from the active cares of
life. He still makes his home in that city, enjoying the fruits of his early
labors. He married Ann Shepard, also a native Northshields, England.
As his financial ability increased
with the passing of the years, Robert Wallace invested considerable money in
real estate, in 1870 purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Contra
Costa county, south of Brentwood, which he now rents.
Upon this property of his father’s Robert Wallace, Jr., began his manual labors
after receiving his education and growing to young manhood in his home in San
Francisco. He early assumed charge of the ranch which he managed for some time,
when he rented it and engaged in independent operations. He afterward purchased
one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his father’s property, which was settled
by George Bowman, and since that time has conducted the two ranches with a
remarkable degree of success. It is true that he was favored by fortune in
securing property in this county and in such favorable location, but much of
his success is due to the methods which he has always employed in the
management of his farming enterprises. With practical intelligence he realized
the benefit of other men’s experience, and brought to the prosecution of his
work all the thought and energy of which he was capable, meeting with a result
in his production of grain which is excelled by no farmer in this section of
the state.
After his marriage with Alice J.,
daughter of John Murphy, of Contra Costa county, Mr.
Wallace purchased a home in Brentwood, where he is rearing his four children to
a happy and useful maturity. They are named as follows: Robert, Jr., Ray,
Elaine and Richard. In his fraternal relations Mr. Wallace is associated with
Brentwood Lodge No. 345, F. & A. M., in which he serves as junior warden,
and also belongs to the Eastern Star, being patron of the latter. He is a broad-minded
and public-spirited man, giving a moral and financial support to all movements
looking toward the progress of the town and county. He serves as a member and
director of the Point of Timber Cemetery Association, and the Contra Costa
Agricultural Association, and socially is a member of the Concord Driving Club
of Contra Costa county.
Transcribed by: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 565-566. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.
Contra Costa County Biographies