San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MINARD WALLACE
A substantial citizen of San Joaquin
County whose memory will long be honored is the late Minard
Wallace, who was born in Hants County, Nova Scotia, on February 8, 1856, the
son of Michael and Margaret Wallace. The
father was a progressive and favorably known farmer. In 1876 Minard
Wallace came to California on the transcontinental immigrant train and settled
at Lockeford, where he was employed in various
ways. On December 19, 1878, in Lockeford, he married Miss Alice Mary Blois, the daughter
of Oliver and Tryphen (Parker) Blois, who was born
within three miles of Mr. Wallace’s birthplace.
Her father was also a farmer, and she attended the excellent district
schools in Nova Scotia. She came to
California in 1878 with her brother, who with a sister was already living in
California, and she made her home with them until her marriage to Mr.
Wallace. After their marriage they
resided at Lockeford for five years and then located
on a ranch in the vicinity of the present home, where Mr. Wallace began stockraising and farming.
He prospered, leasing range until he began purchasing land. Mr. Wallace improved the home-ranch with a
fine house, built fences, and put up farm buildings; and together with his two
sons he acquired additional land, until they jointly owned 800 acres; then they
engaged in a general farming and stock business. Mr. Wallace laid aside the cares of this
world on April 5, 1920, leaving an enviable record for integrity and industry,
and a family of four to inherit his good name and his fortune. Maude has become Mrs. Lane, of Oakland;
Walter is at home; Harriet is Mrs. Holmes, of Martinez; and Oliver is also at
home.
The two sons, Walter and Oliver,
have assisted in carrying on the stock business. While Oliver was away in the World War, the
elder son ran the ranch; and as it was very hard to get help, he did three
men’s work. He produced much grain, but
on account of the high prices of labor, he only broke even, despite the
favoring high prices of the grain market.
Oliver, the younger son, entered the United States service on September
21, 1917, and was sent to Camp Lewis, as a member of Company L, 363rd
Infantry, 91st Division. In June, 1918, he went to New York and was
sent overseas, where he participated with his famous division in all of the
drives for which they were noted, in the Argonne and on the Belgian front. On his return to San Francisco he was
discharged at the Presidio in April, 1919, as sergeant, and took up ranching
again with his brother. He was married
at Lockeford on July 14, 1920, to Miss Alvine Ostermann, the daughter of
Theodore and Lena Ostermann, a native of San Joaquin
County; and their union has been blessed with the birth of twin sisters, June
and Jean. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wallace
live on the old Wallace Rancho, with his mother and brother. The two brothers are Republicans.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1219. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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