William H. Wallace
William H. Wallace | |
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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 July 19, 1811 Troy, Ohio |
Died | February 7, 1879 Steilacoom,Washington Territory | (aged 67)
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
[edit]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.[1] 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
[edit]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.[2]Despite aDemocraticmajority in the body, Wallace secured eleven of twenty votes for the speakership.[3]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.[4]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
Death
[edit]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.
References
[edit]- ^"William H. Wallace".The Moss Back Tripod.Retrieved12 September2012.
- ^"Councilor William Henson Wallace".Iowa General Assembly.Retrieved15 June2022.
- ^Johnson, Jack T. (1938)."A Whig of Many Parts".The Palimpsest.Vol. 19, no. 11. pp. 462–468.
- ^ab"William H. Wallace"(PDF).Idaho State Historical Society.Retrieved12 September2012.
- ^"William H. Wallace".The Political Graveyard.Retrieved12 September2012.
- ^"FOXNews - Western milestones in the life of Abraham Lincoln - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News".foxnews.Retrieved2020-10-23.
External links
[edit]- 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
- 1811 births
- 1879 deaths
- People from Troy, Ohio
- People from Steilacoom, Washington
- Members of the Iowa Territorial Legislature
- Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Idaho Territory
- Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Washington Territory
- People of Washington (state) in the American Civil War
- People of Idaho in the American Civil War
- Governors of Idaho Territory
- Governors of Washington Territory
- Iowa Whigs
- Idaho Republicans
- Washington (state) Republicans
- 19th-century American politicians
- Probate court judges in the United States