Transcribed by Deb Thormahlen

p. 462

Robert Wallace, Mayor of Morrison, was born June 17, 1841, in Lochwinnoch, near Paisley, Scotland.  His parents, William and Margaret (Dinsmore) Wallace, were natives of the same country, and the father was born in 1812.  The son was less than a year old when the family emigrated from “auld Scotia” to the New World, and located at Newburgh, N.Y., where the father maintained his family by labor in a cotton factory.  They came in 1851 to Whiteside County, and located in Clyde Township, where the father bought a farm of 120 acres.  On this Mr. Wallace was reared, and when he attained to the period of independent manhood, purchased 80 acres of land in the township of Ustick.  He conducted its agricultural progress for four years, and at the expiration of that time came to Morrison, where he bought the hardware business of W.I. Robinson & Bro.  He became associated with N.S. Forsting in its interests and relations, and they managed their affairs jointly about two and a half years.  He operated alone about the same length of time, after which he sold his business to its original proprietors.

            In 1879, in partnership with his cousin, William H. Wallace, he established a private banking enterprise at Exeter, Neb.  It was operated as a private institution until February, 1884, when a stock company was formed, and the establishment was converted into the National Bank of Exeter, with Mr. Wallace as its President, which position he still holds, and at intervals he gives its affairs his personal superintendence.  In May, 1879, he was appointed to the position of cashier of Smith & Mackay’s Bank, at Morrison, and discharged its obligations until July, 1884.  At that date he resigned his connection with active business interests.  He was elected Mayor of Morrison in the spring of 1883.  He is a member of the Congregational Church.

            Mayor Wallace was married Oct. 10, 1866, at Milledgeville, Carroll co., Ill., to Malinda, daughter of George B. and Mary M. Dodd.  Mrs. Wallace was born in Ohio.  The family includes an adopted daughter, Julia Wallace.