William H. Wallace

For Confederate general with a similar name, seeWilliam Henry Wallace.

William H. Wallace
Delegate to theU.S. House of RepresentativesfromIdaho Territory'sat-large district
In office February 1, 1864 – March 3, 1865
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Edward Dexter Holbrook
1st Governor ofIdaho Territory
In office March 10, 1863 – February 1, 1864
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Caleb Lyon
Delegate to theU.S. House of RepresentativesfromWashington Territory'sat-large district
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	Isaac Stevens
Succeeded by	George E. Cole
4thGovernor of Washington Territory
In office April 9, 1861 – 1861
Preceded by	Richard D. Gholson
Succeeded by	William Pickering
Personal details
Born	William Henson Wallace (1811-07-19)July 19, 1811 Troy, Ohio
Died	February 7, 1879(1879-02-07)(aged 67) Steilacoom,Washington Territory
Political party	Republican
Residence	Tacoma
Profession	Attorney

William Henson Wallace(July 19, 1811 – February 7, 1879) was an important figure in the early histories of two U.S. states, serving as governor and Congressional delegate from bothWashington TerritoryandIdaho Territory.

Biography

Wallace was born July 19, 1811, nearTroy, Ohio.He attended in the common schools ofIndiana,studied law, was admitted to the bar and began practicing law. He married Luzanne Brazelton and had three children, two girls who died in infancy and one son. Wallace's older brotherDavid Wallaceserved as aWhigGovernor of Indianafrom 1837 to 1840. Wallace's nephew wasLew Wallace,a Civil War Union general and the author ofBen-Hur.

Career

After being admitted to the bar, Wallace moved to theIowa DistrictofWisconsin Territoryin 1837. He was elected to the Iowa Territorial Legislature as a Whig afterIowa Territorywas organized the following year.Despite aDemocraticmajority in the body, Wallace secured eleven of twenty votes for the speakership.Wallace was appointedcolonelof state troops and receiver of public money atFairfield.Wallace ran an unsuccessful campaign for delegate from Iowa Territory in 1843. In 1848, he was a candidate forUnited States Senatefrom the new State ofIowa,but the Iowa Legislature instead selectedDemocratsGeorge Wallace JonesandAugustus C. Dodge.Wallace moved to Washington Territory in 1853. Sometime during the early 1850s, he befriendedAbraham Lincolnand they remained good friends until Lincoln's death.

In 1861, Wallace was appointed governor ofWashington Territoryby President Lincoln, but was also elected the territory'sdelegateto theUnited States House of Representativesand never took office as governor. He was the firstRepublicanchosen for those roles in Washington Territory. Wallace served a single term representing Washington Territory in the House. During his term, he got Congress to establish Idaho as a territory. Shortly after his term expired in March 1863, Lincoln appointed Wallace governor of the new Idaho Territory and he took office July 10, 1863.

Wallace designatedLewistonas the territory's capital and arrived there in July. Later that year, Wallace was elected as the delegate from Idaho Territory and again vacated his gubernatorial appointment to serve in the House.

Wallace is reported to have been one of several people who turned down an invitation from Lincoln to accompany him toFord's Theatreon the night Lincoln was assassinated.

Death

After his term expired in March 1865, Wallace returned to Washington Territory where he served as a probate judge inPierce Countyuntil his death in 1879. Wallace is buried inFort SteilacoomCemetery, Steilacoom, Pierce County, Washington, United States.

External links

• United States Congress."William H. Wallace (id: W000086)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Meany, Edmond S(1915).Governors of Washington: Territorial and State.University of Washington.Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection
• Defenbach, Byron (1933).The State We Live In: Idaho.The Caxton Printers Ltd.
• William Henson Wallace entryatThe Political Graveyard
• William H. WallaceatFind a Grave
• The Mossback Tripod
• Idaho State Historical Society