Hiram Hanchett Wallace

HIRAM HANCHETT WALLACE, a highly esteemed citizen of Northfield Township, was engaged in farming for many years but is now retired from active management of his farms, though still residing in a commodious residence which he built on one of them several years ago. He is the second son of the late James W. and Adeline (Hanchett) Wallace and was born February 18, 1843, in Northfield Township, Summit County, Ohio. This branch of the Wallace family became American through Robert Wallace, the great-great-grandfather of Hiram, who removed from Scotland early in the eighteenth century to Londonberry, Ireland, and thence to Londonderry, New Hampshire. To Robert was born James, and to James came two sons, George and Robert, not mentioning the numerous collateral branches. These brothers, George and Robert, having the spirit of adventure in them, and perhaps being restive under the strict New England discipline of those days, put good axes over their broad shoulders and fat bags of beans on their backs, and, leaving their native town of Ackworth, New Hampshire, directed their foot-steps westward. By aid of the axe they supplemented the provender in the bags and after traversing some six hundred miles of scarcely settled country they reached Youngstown, Ohio, where they were engaged by a Mr. Samuel Menough to chop wood at twelve and one-half cents per coid. The two brothers must have done more than chop well, for George captured the hand of Mr. Menough's daughter Harriet, and her sister became Robert's wife.

In 1806 George Wallace removed to Cleveland and purchased twelve acres of land on what is now Superior Avenue N. W., running from the site of the old Weddell House (the present Rockefeller Building) to the river, and built thereon a log hotel building. It is said that Mr. Wallace paid three hundred dollars for this land which, with improvements at the present time, is worth millions.

In the latter year Mr. Wallace removed with his family to the southern part of Northfield Township to escape the malarious air of Cleveland and to develop a fine water-power on a beautiful stream to which Mrs. Wallace gave the name of Brandywine.

Here George Wallace purchased a largo tract of land and built and operated a gristmill, saw-mill, woolen-mill and a distillery, making Brandywine the great.st business point between Cleveland and Pittsburg. He remained active in his many enterprises until his death in 1846, at the age of seventy-three. Though not a church member he was a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church, his day-book now in possession of his grand-son Hiram,.showing among other items the entry of ten gallons of whiskey armually towards the minister's stipend; the good liquor of that day and locality being known as "Brandywine currency." He left four children: James AVaugh, George Young, who was one of the early sheriffs of Portage County, Emeline, and Perkins, a physician.

James W. Wallace, father of Hiram, became one of the most widely known and universally respected of the older residents of Smnmit County. Born in Youngstown, November 27, 1803, he Avas three years of age M-hen the family removed to Cleveland and began the limited school curriculum of the time. Early in life he was intrusted with business interests by his father, at the age of fifteen managing alone the general store at Brandywine with its large and varied stock of goods. About 1825, in company with his brother George Y., he took immediate charge of the different branches of the Brandywine business including a twelve hundred acre farm on which were kept 2,000 to 2,500 sheep, seventy to seventy-five head of cattle and ten to fifteen horses. As an index to the time it is interesting to note that the total tax on this property was then but five dollars. Later, m a.association with his father, he built many miles of the Ohio Canal and the aqueduct at Roscoe. Large tracts of the AVestern Reserve were faaniliax to him, as for years he was the representative of the Land Company which (originally owned that section of Ohio. This together with his otJier diversified interests, brought him Aade acquaintance in the territory between Cleveland and Pittsburg. His unfailing courtesy to all, combined with just but considerate business methods, made him the grand old man of the time and section.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Their second son, Hiram Hanchett Wallace, received his education in the Northfield public schools and at AVestern Reserve College, and remained at the home in Brandywine until his marriage Decemljcr 18, 1867, to Marianna Mearns, daughter of Mr. John Mearns of Cecil County, Maryland. To them were born: Adeline Rebecca, now deceased; Belle Alearns,' who became the wife of Mr. Clark Dillow of Brecksville and is deceased, leaving two children, James Hiram and Elizabeth; Anna AVaugh, married to the Rev. Mr. AVm. T. Hammond of Northeast, Maryland, both deceased, leaving a daughter, Rebecca; Alargaret, deceased; George H., an intelligent farmer of Northfield who married Miss Emma Rudgers of Brecksville and has an infant daughter; Schuyler J., a promising young attorney of Cleveland; Harvey Baldwin, a.s.sistant manager of a large manufacturing concern in Detroit, who married Miss

Olive Snyder, and also has an infant daughter; Marianna Mearns, who since infancy has been as a daughter to her aunt, Mrs. Lorin Bliss, Mrs. Wallace dying February 18, 1887, shortly after childbirth.

In 1891 Mr. Wallace married (second) Mary Jane, daughter of the late Mr. James Fayenveather of Boston Township.

Soon after his first marriage ]\Mr. Wallace settled in Pocahontas County, luwa, in the same neighborhood as his brother George, where he fanned extensively until 1879, when he sold hl-> holdings and, returning to Northfield, bought the Proctor farm. Lot 04. In 1885 he increased his acreage by the purchase of the- Boyd farm, Lot Ho. and on a.-igluly eminence well removed from the public highways, he erected hls present handsome residence, which was completed in 1891. Beautiful shade trees, fruitful orchards, well kept gardens, a large barn with the usual outbuildings, and an inexhaustible pure water supply, on an automatic system, make evident the thrift and comfort which prevail. His farms, through intelligent care and foresight, have been kept up to the high standard which might be expected and are now managed by his first son who resides in the substantial brick dwelling built sixty years ago by Mr. Daniel Proctor.

Mr. Wallace's religious training and beliefs are Presbyterian, of which church he is a supporter; his politics are Republican and he has served.several terms as township trustee in Iowa and for years he was a leading spirit in the Northfield Board of Education which has brought to a high standard the schools that he attended as a child. Naturally Mr. Wallace is widely known and enjoys an enviable reputation in the esteem of his extended acquaintance.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.