A life-long resident of Bedforl county, and a fine representative of its native born citizens, Wallace W. Lacy, of Shelbyville, is widely known throughout this section of the state as a trustee of the county. A son of John Lacy, he was born May 15, 1847, on a farm lying seven miles south of Shelbyville, coming on the paternal side of French ancestry. His great-grandfather Lacy, a native of France, immigrated to America in colonial days and after coming to this conntry dropped from his name, which was originally de Lacy, the "de." He located in Virginia, and there lived the remainder of his life. Elijah Lacy, Mr. Lacy's grandfather, was born and reared in Petersburg, Virginia. In 1810, accompanied by his wife and children, he came across the country with teams to Tennessee, being several weeks on the way. Purchasing a tract of wild land in Bedford county, he settled on it, becoming one of the brave and sturdy pioneers of his day. He erected a log house in the wilderness, when deer, wolves, bears and the other beasts of the forest were plentiful, often terrorizing the few inhabitants of the locality. On his land, which was situated seven miles south of Shelbyville, he made valuable improvements, and the log ho*use which he erected has since been ceiled and weatherboarded, and is now in good condition. He married a Miss Eckolls, who was born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and to them six sons and two daughters were born, as follows: Joseph, John, Moses, Samuel, Obadiah, Robert, Elizabeth, and Elsie.

John Lacy was born in 1805, in Petersburg, Virginia, and as a child of five years came with his parents to Bedford county, where he grew to man's estate. Possessing great mechanical ability, he early became familiar with the use of tools of all kinds, and as a young man learned the trade of a boat builder, and for several years was engaged in boat building in Montgomery, Alabama. Returning to Bedford county, Tennessee, in 1844, he married, and on the land, lying near the old homestead, which he purchased, he was subsequently engaged in farming until his death, in 1849, when but forty-four years old. He married Eliza Reagor, who was born in Bedford county, a daughter of Wayne and

Rebecca (Boone) Reagor, pioneers of the county. Her Grandfather Reagor came with his parents to America from Germany, and when he was a small boy the Indians killed his father and mother, and kept him as a prisoner for a long time. After his release he married a widow, a Mrs. Brock, and lived at the headwaters of Plat creek. After the death of John Lacy, his widow married for her second husband R. S. Dwiggins, owner of a large plantation five and one-half miles south of Shelbyville, where she spent her last years. "Wallace W. Lacy, the special subject of this sketch, was the only child by her union with John Lacy, but by her second marriage she reared three children, as follows: Louisa, James P., and Benjamin P. Dwiggins.

Wallace W. Lacy was educated in the rural schools of his district, and well remembers the time when there were no railways in the state, his step-father having to team his pork and other surplus farm products to Mobile, the nearest market, and on his return trip bring back cotton and other needed supplies. His mother used to card, spin and weave the homespun in which she clothed her family, in common with her neighbors being well versed in the domestic art. Soon after attaining his majority, Mr. Lacy purchased a farm lying three and one-half miles from Shelbyville, and for a time devoted his energies to the tilling' of the soil. Extending his operations, he began dealing in live stock, and this occupation, in connection with auctioneering, which he has followed for a number of years, has brought him in contact with people in all parts of the county, his acquaintance being very large.

Mr. Lacy married, May 30, 1867. Sue E. Bartlett. a daughter of L. B. and Matildie (Meadows) Bartlett, and of their union five children have been born and reared, namely: Wallace W., Jr.; Ida; Nora; Nellie and Louella. Wallace W., Jr., married Betty Bearden, and has two children, Wallace and Wayne. Ida is the wife of W. M. Shearin.

A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans: the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities. By Will T. Hale Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913