George Charles Wallace ^{1 2 3 4}

  Research Notes:

From History of Long Island, 1903, vol. III, pp. 114-115 :

"In the modern history of Long Island is no more interesting incident than the creation of Nassau county... When the plan was first proposed it met with strenuous opposition in the territory now comprising the new county, as well as in that from which it was separated... The burden of its advocacy and of its management, from the moment of its introduction [in the legislature] to that of its enactment, devolved upon George Wallace, then a member of the legislature from the district including this county's territory. He was industrious, resourceful and tactful, and gradually he disarmed opposition, converting antagonism into friendliness, and finally accomplished success... Mr. Wallace has been bestowed, by common consent, the designation of 'Father of the County of Nassau.' He is not only conspicuous for this and other public services, but for his eminent ability as a lawyer and for the importance of the causes which have been committed to him.

"George Wallace is descended from a Scotch family which has contributed members to every honorable and useful walk of life. His father, Donald Wallace, a native of Scotland, born in 1816, recently died in California, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. He reared a family of nine children, all but one of whom are living and occupying excellent business and social positions. The youngest son, a member of Roosevelt's 'Rough Riders' regiment, lost his life in the Spanish-American war. The eldest, John D., has long been a promient business man and a leader in Republican councils in North Dakota, and is now the county judge of Pembina county; Charles L. is editor of the leading Republican newspaper in Nassau county, at Rockville Center, also a promient operator in real estate. Albert J. and Frank S., as the firm of Wallace Bros., are at the head of large business enterprises at Los Angeles, Pasadena and elsewhere in California. Lavinia M. is the wife of R. H. Young, editor of the 'Methodist Herald,' of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Matilda H. is the wife of the Rev. James Healy, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman filling a pastorate in Southern California; and Mary A. is wife of S. Frank Johnson, a banker at Pasadena, California.

"George Wallace, son of Donald Wallace, passed his early boyhood upon a farm in Ontario, and later in the town of Hempstead, Long Island, where he arrived at the age of manhood. He was an ardent student from the first and supplemented his school instruction with an ample fund of general knowledge derived from persistent private reading. Before he had faIrly entered upon manhood, his scholarly attainments enabled him to acquit himself most creditably as a teacher in the schools in Lawrence, Rockville Center and Freeport. He completed a course in the law department of the University of New York, from which he was graduated with honors. He at once entered upon practice in the courts of Queens and adjoining counties, following all branches of civil law, but developing special aptitude for real estate and minicipal law, and establishing a reputation as one of the very ablest of his profession at the various bars where he appears. He has frequently served as counsel for various official boards, and in 1895 was appointed attorney of the board of supervisors of Queens county, a most responsible position, wherein his duties were weighty and exacting. He has appeared in several notable cases which are reported in volumes of decisions by higher courts, and are important as precedent cases. He carried to a successful conclusion, after it has been in the court of appears for threee and one-half years, the case of Smith vs. City of Brooklyn, which as a cause celebre is quoted in all the alw schools in the state of New York. The decision in this case, supporting the contention of Mr. Wallace, renders inoperative all previous water right legislation in New York and other states in so far as it relates to the diversion of fresh water that would otherwise flow through navigable streams.

"...He has offices at Jamaica in Queens county and at Rockville Center in Nassau county, with residence at Freeport in the new county... He is president of the Queens County Title Company, and years ago he served acceptably as justice of the peace of the town of Hempstead.

"Mr. Wallace is an enthusiastic fireman and organized the well known Ever Ready Hook and Ladder Company, of which he was foreman for many years. He is a charter member and past grand of Freeport Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also past master of Massapequa Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political affiliations are with the Republican Party, in which he is an acknowledged leader, his influence extending throughout Nassau and adjoining counties.

"Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Mariana Raynor, daughter of the late Benjamin R. Raynor, whose ancestors were the original settlers at Freeport. Two children were born of the marriage, Harriet R. and Archer B. Wallace."
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From Who's Who in New York (City and State) 1914, p. 745:
WALLACE, GEORGE
Lawyer; b. Elora, Ont., Canada, Feb. 28, 1849; s. Donald and Harriet (Lasby) Wallace; ed. public schools and by private tutors; grad. N. Y. Univ. Law Sch., 1878; m. Freeport, L. I., July 22, 1871, Mariana Raynor; children: Harriet R. and Archer B. In law practice since 1878; specialties, water rights and municipal law. Secured new interpretation of law laid down by courts as to water rights, Smith v. City of Brooklyn; numerous cases in Court of Appeals, where had new principles sustained in interpretation of municipal law and lower courts reversed. Republican. Nine years justice of peace; served in N. Y. Legislature of 1898, chm'n of com., declined renomination. Pres. Village of Freeport two terms. Methodist. Past master Massapequa Lodge, N. Y., F. and A. M., past grand Freeport Lodge, I.O.O.F. Recreations: European travel, also extensive tours in nearly all States of the Union. Clubs: Freeport, Union League (Brooklyn). Also does some literary work. Author: The Disinherited; Industrial Peace; etc. Address: Freeport, L. I., N. Y.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence, Abt 1869, Hemptstead, Long Island, [Nassau], New York, United States.

• Marriage, 10 Feb 1873, Pilkington Twp, Wellington, Ontario, Canada. ⁶ The wedding was witnessed by John Wallace [bride's brother John Donald Wallace], Pilkington, and George Wallace [bride's brother George Charles Wallace], United States. Bride and groom were Weslyan Methodist. The ceremony was performed by Revd. J. Briggs.

• Census: U.S, 1 Jun 1880, Freeport, Queens, New York, United States. ⁷ Household:
George Wallace, W, M, 30, Lawyer, b. Canada, fa. Scotland, mo. England
Mariana Wallace, W, F, 30, Keeping house, New York, New York, New York
Harriett R. Wallace, W, F, 8, Daughter, At school, New York, Canada, N.Y.
Archer B. Wallace, W, M, 4, Son, New York, Canada, N.Y.

• Residence, 1914, Freeport, Long Island, New York, New York, (United States). ⁴

George married Mariana Raynor, daughter of Benjamin R. Raynor and Unknown, on 22 Jul 1871. (Mariana Raynor was born about 1850 in New York, United States.)