Hugh Wallace was a native of Cumberland county Pennsylvania, and was born August 10, 1812 (Think this should be 1802), and came to Sterling
in 1837. Mr. Wallace was married March 16, 1830, to Miss Mary Galt, a member of a large family of that name,
several of whom came West, and are now the leading business men of Sterling and vicinity. Their
children have been: James G., born May 10, 1831 Agnes, born July 10, 1832; Mary Isabella, born June 17, 1834; Elizabeth C born June 10, 1837; Kate, born
October 28, 1839; James M., born October 25, 1841; Jesse, born June 10, 1844; Hamilton, born July 29, 1847; Ann Eliza born September, 1852. They also had four
children who died in infaney . James G.., died in childhood. Mary Isabella married Wm. L. Patterson, March 20, 1860; they immediately left Sterling, and settled in Mannchchunk,
Pennsylvania, where they remained eight years; Mr. Patterson afterwards engaged in building a portion of the Union Pacific Railroad;
then returned to Sterling where be has since resided, and is now one of the firm of Patterson & Co., bankers, and is also extensively engaged
in manufacturing and other enterprises; children; Nathan, Mary, Susan L, Hugh W., Stella, Lillian, and Isabella. Agnes married Roswell Champion. Hamilton married
Miss Anna R. Spencer, September 17, 1870; children, Hugh S., and Jessie E. Ann Eliza married W. B. Leffingwell, December 17, 1874; children, Robert Bruce, and William Wallace. James M. enlisted
in Hawthorn’s Battery, in 1862, and was afterwards transferred to Henshaw’s Battery; was in the service about three years, and during the entire time was Sergeant Major; he is now a practicing lawyer in Sterling,, and
has been Alderman of the city, and Supervisor of the township. Hugh Wallace
graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, and read law with Gen. Porter, in Lancaster city, and
upon being admitted to the bar, opened an office in that place, practising for several years, when be returned to his native county.
Upon his emigration to Sterling he pursued the mixed employment of law and farming until business improved, when be devoted
himself to the practice of his profession. Mr. Wallace was elected a member of the house of Representatives of the General
Assembly of the State in 1846, and in 1852 he became Senator. He also served four years as
Register of the Land Office at Dixon, receiving his appointment from President Pierce. He was earnest
and perservering whenever enlisted in any pursuit or undertaking, entertaining and
holding opinions upon all subjects with inflexible tenacity. He never adopted
any new theory, or engaged in any new enterprise, without full examination as
to its merits, and whence once fully embarked never doubted his ultimate success. His social
qualities were of a very high order, and his table and fireside free to all. His
great leading trait of character was hospitality of the old fashioned pioneer style. His death
occurred on the 18th of August, 1864. The city of Sterling was named at the
suggestion of Mr. Wallace as a compliment to his friend, Col. Sterling, of Pennsylvania.
His widow still resides at the homestead in Sterling.
Extracted from Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 398
Hugh Wallace, deceased, was born Aug. 10, 1812, in Cumberland Co., Pa. He was a graduate of Washington College, Pa., and read law with George Porter in Lancaster, Pa. On being admitted to the Bar he opened an office in Lancaster, where he continued to practice for a time, and then returned to his native county. In 1837 he came to Whiteside County, and located at Chatham, now the city of Sterling. The country being new and the county not yet organized, the law business could not be very profitable; and so he followed the business of farming for a few years, or until the country became more densely populated, when he devoted himself to his profession.
As a lawyer he took high rank at the Bar, and when he undertook a case de determined to win at all hazards. Hugh Wallace was a man of energy, and in every enterprise calculated to build up his adopted city he was very active. To him, more than to any other man, is due the construction of the dam at Sterling. He served the county as a member of the General Assembly of the State, both in the House and Senate. He also served four years as a Register of the Land Office in Dixon. A leading trait of his character is said to have been his great hospitality. The latch-string of his door was always out, and his hospitality was treated by hundreds.
Mr. Wallace was united in marriage with MissMary Galt, March 16, 1830. The following are the names of their children - James G, Agnes, Mary, Isabella, Elizabeth C, Kate, James M, Jesse, Hamilton and Ann Eliza. Mr. Wallace died Aug. 18, 1864. His widow resides in Sterling.
Portraits & Biographical Pg 382
