The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
WALLACE B. FORREST.
Wallace Byron Forrest, who is occupying the position of clerk of the courts of Crawford county, was elected to the office in 1897 anc^ entered upon the discharge of his duties on the 1st of August, 1898. In the fall of 1900 he was re-elected, so that he is now serving for the second term. If all public officers were as true and faithful to duty as Mr. Forrest there would be no complaint of corruption in politics, for his public service is above reproach.
Mr. Forrest was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1853, and is a son of James and Margaret (Aston) Forrest. On the paternal side he is of Irish lineage, for his grandfather was a native of county Derry, Ireland, whence he emigrated to the new world, becoming a resident of the Keystone state. James Forrest was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799, and died at Oceola. Ohio, in 1880, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. His wife, who was born in the same count}-, in 1805, passed away in 1881, at the age of seventy-six years. She was of Scotch lineage for the Astons came to the new world from the land of hills and heather. In 1854 the parents of our subject came to Ohio, taking up their abode in Todd township, Crawford county, upon a farm, where they spent their remaining days. They became well known and highly respected citizens of the community.
Wallace B. Forrest was an infant at the time of the removal, and thus within the boundaries of Crawford count}' he was reared. To its public school system he is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. In 1872 he began teaching school and for seventeen years followed that profession in Oceola. He was acknowledged to be one of the most competent instructors in this portion of the state, was enthusiastic and zealous in his work and has the ability to impart clearly and accurately to the students the knowledge which he had acquired, and to forcibly impress upon the young minds the lessons which prepare them for life's practical
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duties. He also served as school examiner for six years and was long an active member of the Crawford County Teachers Association, and served as its president for two years.
Air. Forrest was married, in Oceola, to Miss Lottie E. Stull, a daughter of J. M. and Alar}- E. (Smith) Stull, who removed from Stark to Craw- ford county. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with the following named children: Edith S., who is now acting as deputy clerk for her father ; Nina, the wife of Charles McLaughlin, of Oceola ; Fannie, who is in school ; Bruce and Irene. The family took up their abode in Bucyrus in 1898, removing hither from Oceola. Air. Forrest is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. In politics he *is a Democrat and takes con- siderable interest in political affairs, doing all in his power to advance the growth and success of his part}'. Todd township many times honored him by electing and re-electing him to office, he having held the offices of clerk and treasurer for ten and live years, respectively. In 1880 he was a census enumerator for Todd and Dallas townships, having been appointed by a Republican president over three Republican rivals. In 1890 and 1891 he acted as deputy county treasurer under Frank Blicke. For five years he was proprietor of a general store, which he closed out in order to assume the duties of county clerk, and during four years of the time he spent in merchandising he was also postmaster, appointed to the office -by President Cleveland in 1892. During the fiftieth congress he was an index clerk in the house of representatives, having been appointed to the position by Gen- eral Clark, of Alissouri, who was at that time clerk of the house. In the- spring of 1901 Mr. Forrest was elected a member of the Bucyrus city coun- cil, a position he now holds. His election to this office, he being not long a resident of Bucyrus, indicates the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens of Bucyrus. Called to the position of county clerk by popular ballot, he discharged his duties so< faithfully through one term that he was re-elected to the office. His public career is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and as a man and citizen Air. Forrest commands uniform respect.
Source: Biographical Record of Crawford County, Ohio. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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