A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WALLACE & PETTAPIECE FAMILIES

RICHARD PETTAPIECE and ANN FERGUSON

   John “Richard” Pettapiece, b: abt. 1808; d: 1846; m. in 1826, Ann Ferguson, b: abt. 1810; d: July 23, 1898.

           We have not found any records of their emigration to Canada but believe it was around 1828. We know that Richard and Ann were living in Montague Township, Lanark County in 1830 as that information was found in the record of the birth of their first child, Helen on February 28, 1830. Richard’s occupation was listed as “shoemaker”. We do not know how long Richard and Ann lived in Montague but their second child, Rebecca was baptized in North Gower. It does not record where they were living at that time but Richard was listed as being a yeoman in Rebecca’s birth records. (In Britain, a yeoman was an independent farmer).

           In 1842, according to The Marlborough Township Minute Book for the years 1820-1847, Richard and and his brother William were two of 18 Pathmasters. (A Pathmaster was in charge of a group of men responsible for the repairing of a certain section of the road – which was specifically stated in the “Pathmasters Instructions”.)

           In 1843, Richard was sworn in as Collector while William was a Pathmaster and Assessor. (An Assessor recorded the number of people in a family — head of the family only was named — under the headings: Male +16, Females +16, Males -16, Females -16 and Total number of people. A Collector collected taxes.)

           On January 5, 1846, Richard was sworn in as Assessor and Collector. In the Carleton County minutes of October 1846, it was recorded that they needed to replace R. Pettapiece due to his death by drowning.

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ANDREW WALLACE and ELIZA ANN PETTAPIECE

Andrew Wallace (son of John (Jock) Wallace & Jane Muir) b: January 1, 1834; d: February 25, 1907; m: Eliza Ann Pettapiece (daughter of John Richard (Big Dick) Pettapiece & Ann Ferguson) b: March 7, 1842; d: April 30, 1922.

Andrew farmed on Lot 24 Concession 4, North Gower Twp. Andrew died of heart failure at the age of 73 years and Eliza Ann died at 80 years of age. They are buried in the same plot in Rideau Vale Cemetery, Kars.

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RICHARD ALFRED WALLACE and ELLEN MARTIN

Richard Alfred Wallace (son of Andrew Wallace & Eliza Ann Pettapiece) b: June 3, 1861; d: March 12, 1935; m: Ellen Martin, (daughter of Stephen Martin & Susannah Lindsay) b: February 5, 1863; d: August 20, 1945.

           Richard Alfred Wallace was a schoolteacher in Ontario but decided to venture west from North Gower Township, Carleton County, Ontario in June, 1883 when he was 22 years old. At that time the railhead of the C.P.R. was at Medicine Hat, from which place he travelled by freight teams to a place called Spitzee, later named High River, touching enroute the places which now are Lethbridge and MacLeod. When he came, High River was a river crossing and the only house was that of Mr. and Mrs. John Quirks. Messrs. French and Smith kept a roadhouse on the McLaughlin farm. At that time the stage only ran once a month, from Fort MacLeod to Calgary, mail coming and going via Fort Benton, U.S. Canadian stamps were of no use and American stamps were in general use.

           Richard cooked for roundups and then took a homestead. Becoming weary of bachelordom, he returned to Ontario, his old home, in the year 1886, and on March 23rd , in Ottawa, was united in wedlock to Miss Ellen Martin, of North Gower, Carleton County, daughter of Stephen Martin and Susan Lindsay. That spring, the young couple returned to the homestead near High River, driving out from Calgary in a “four-horse, 3½ inch, Studebaker auto”, as he humorously described it.

           In those early days they had the usual ups and downs of pioneer life, living in a log house that had a roof and floor made of mud, but they appreciated the country and its climate and demonstrated their faith by purchasing land in the early days when the entire country was practically free range. Richard later taught at Tongue Creek School for two years after it was built in 1891. The farm work was done by hired men during this time. In 1911 he possessed 2,500 acres of irrigated land immediately north of the town of High River, on which he grew timothy hay and raised the very best of Clydesdale horses and Shorthorn cattle.

           Mr. and Mrs. Wallace had three children, one girl and two boys. That he made good in this new country is evidenced from the fact of his having represented the High River district in the Territorial House in Regina, from 1897 to 1905. His constituency was a very large one, comprising that portion from Fish Creek to the north, Stavley to the south, the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Bow river to the east. It was an extensive field, and a hard one to cover and funds were short for roads and bridges, but through his persistent efforts he managed to get many improvements for his constituents. During his term in office, 300 miles of road were surveyed and the course of the Highwood River was changed to protect the town.

           In recognition of his worth as a public man, and realizing his ability as a stockman, he was selected as a member of the Pork Commission in 1908, of which he was chairman. In December, 1910 he was elected Mayor of High River and was also president of the Liberal Association for MacLeod federal constituency.

Excerpt from High River Times February 8, 1945:
“On Monday Mrs. R. A. Wallace observed her 82nd birthday and friends are much pleased that she is in good health and enjoying life. In honor of the occasion an afternoon reception was held at the home of her daughter Mrs. Jack Blair and a large number of old friends and younger friends called during the afternoon to extend their congratulations and pay a visit to the honored guest. On Sunday afternoon Dr. Eber Upton and Dr. Weston Upton of Calgary who are old family friends came down to visit with Mrs. Wallace and a family dinner party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mac Wallace. Mrs. Wallace is one of our earliest pioneer ladies, having come to High River in 1886 as a bride from her old home at Kars, Ontario. In her fifty nine years of residence at High River she has seen the town and district grow from the primitive to present settlement and has at all times taken her quiet, able part in that development. She was one of those who founded the Presbyterian church here maintaining her interest and association through the years. Another association is with the High River Oldtimers Association of which she was at one time president. Her husband, R. A. Wallace who served this district for many years as member in the North West Assembly, passed away ten years ago. But Mrs. Wallace has the comfort of her family around her. They are her daughter Mrs. Jack Blair and Mr. Blair of High River, Mac and Andy Wallace, who live on the outskirts of town on the land taken up by Mr. Wallace 60 years ago. There are nine grandchildren also to carry on the family in Alberta.”

ANCESTORS OF RICHARD ALFRED WALLACE

Generation No. 1
1.	Richard Alfred Wallace, born June 03, 1861 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died March 12, 1935 in High River, Alberta. He was the son of 2. Andrew Wallace and 3. Eliza Ann Pettapiece. He married (1) Ellen Martin March 23, 1886 in Ottawa, Ontario. She was the daughter of Stephen Martin and Susannah Lindsay.
			Children of Richard Wallace and Ellen Martin are:
		i.	Janet “Edna” Wallace, born 1894 in High River, Alberta; died 1971 in High River, Alberta; married John Morrow Blair 1923 in High River, Alberta.
		ii.	Myrtle Wallace, born February 08, 1897 in High River, Alberta; died 1901 in High River, Alberta.
		iii.	Andrew Scott Wallace, born July 10, 1899 in High River, Alberta; died 1971 in High River, Alberta; married Kathleen Harris.
		iv.	Malcolm Lindsay Wallace, born January 02, 1902 in High River, Alberta; died 1989 in Calgary, Alberta; married Florence Mabel Hoskin November 14, 1931 in High River, Alberta.
Generation No. 2
2.	Andrew Wallace, born January 01, 1834 in Dalhousie Twp. Lanark Co. Ontario; died February 25, 1907 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario. He was the son of 4. John Wallace and 5. Jane Muir. He married 3. Eliza Ann Pettapiece September 18, 1860 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
3.	Eliza Ann Pettapiece, born March 07, 1842 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died April 30, 1922 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario. She was the daughter of 6. John “Richard” Pettapiece and 7. Ann Ferguson.
			Children of Andrew Wallace and Eliza Pettapiece are:
	1.	i.	Richard Alfred Wallace, born June 03, 1861 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died March 12, 1935 in High River, Alberta; married Ellen Martin March 23, 1886 in Ottawa, Ontario.
		ii.	Jane Muir Wallace, born May 28, 1864 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died 1945 in Carlton Co. Ontario; married John “Wesley” Matthews August 08, 1893 in Manotick, Ontario.
		iii.	John Fulton Wallace, born December 21, 1866 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died August 08, 1937 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married Agnes Alice Wright April 17, 1894 in Richmond, Ontario.
		iv.	Ellen “Ella” Wallace, born February 18, 1872 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died 1954 in Lethbridge, Alberta; married Frederick William Stanley York 1903 in Calgary, Alberta.
Generation No. 3
4.	John Wallace, born 1810; died January 19, 1873. He was the son of 8. Andrew Wallace and 9. Ellen Fulton. He married 5. Jane Muir.
5.	Jane Muir, born Abt. 1811; died August 22, 1849.
			Children of John Wallace and Jane Muir are:
		i.	Susan Wallace, born April 12, 1832; died 1914; married Alexander Callander.
	2.	ii.	Andrew Wallace, born January 01, 1834 in Dalhousie Twp. Lanark Co. Ontario; died February 25, 1907 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married Eliza Ann Pettapiece September 18, 1860 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
		iii.	James Wallace, born 1835; died September 26, 1882; married Barbara Trimble.
		iv.	Ellen Wallace, born 1839; died 1916; married Henry Stephen Ferguson.
		v.	Robert Wallace, born 1842; died 1917; married Janet Thompson.
		vi.	Jannett Wallace, born Abt. 1845; died August 06, 1849.
			Child of John Wallace and Margaret Tierney is:
		i.	Hugh Wallace, born 1850; died 1916; married Mary Ann Matthews November 02, 1880 in Manotick.
6.	John “Richard” Pettapiece, born Abt. 1808; died 1846. He married 7. Ann Ferguson 1826 in County Sligo, Ireland.
7.	Ann Ferguson, born Abt. 1810; died July 23, 1898.
			Children of John Pettapiece and Ann Ferguson are:
		i.	Helen Pettapiece, born February 28, 1830; married James Matthews July 14, 1847.
		ii.	Rebecca Pettapiece, born March 15, 1832; died April 12, 1915; married Robert Wallace Brown Abt. 1853.
		iii.	Sarah Jane Pettapiece, born October 20, 1834 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died July 12, 1914 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married Alexander Wallace, Abt. 1857 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
		iv.	William Pettapiece, born August 05, 1836 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died February 14, 1920 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married Ellen Graham, May 01, 1861 in Goulbourn Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
		v.	John Richard Pettapiece, born July 08, 1838 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died August 19, 1908 in Buffalo, New York; married Janet Butter, December 28, 1866 in Motherwell, Fullarton Twp. Perth Co. Ontario.
		vi.	Thomas Ferguson Pettapiece, born February 18, 1840 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died February 22, 1915 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married (1) Isabella Callander, April 23, 1867 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married (2) Hester Davis, 1882 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
	3	vii.	Eliza Ann Pettapiece, born March 07, 1842 in Marlborough Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died April 30, 1922 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; married Andrew Wallace, September 18, 1860 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario.
		viii.	Matthias Pettapiece, born March 07, 1845 in North Gower Twp. Carleton Co. Ontario; died August 18, 1912 in Pettapiece, Manitoba; married Margaret Minto Butter, February 10, 1870 in Motherwell, Fullarton Twp. Perth Co. Ontario.
Generation No. 4
8.	Andrew Wallace, born 1771 in Dumbarton, Scotland; died Abt. 1844 in North Gower Township, Ontario. He married 9. Ellen Fulton, March 30, 1800 in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
9.	Ellen Fulton, born 1785; died January 02, 1872 in Perth County, Ontario.
			Children of Andrew Wallace and Ellen Fulton are:
		i.	Jean Wallace, born January 07, 1802; died June 26, 1892; married James Brown, February 05, 1818.
		ii.	Robert Wallace, born Abt. 1803 in Scotland; died July 02, 1830 in Dalhousie Township, Ontario; married Elizabeth Callander, Abt. 1825.
		iii.	James Wallace, born Abt. 1804; died April 1850; married Janet Graham.
		iv.	Hugh Wallace, born Abt. 1808; died April 07, 1844; married Isabella Callander.
	4.	v.	John Wallace, born 1810; died January 19, 1873; married (1) Jane Muir; married (2) Margaret Tierney; married (3) Mary Montgomery.
		vi.	Andrew Wallace, born Abt. 1812; died Abt. 1832.
		vii.	Margaret Wallace, born 1814 in Scotland; died 1857 in North Gower Township, Ontario; married William Callander.
		viii.	Helen “Ellen” Wallace, born May 25, 1817 in Rutherglen, Scotland; died 1863; married John Craig, Abt. 1852.
		ix.	David Wallace, born December 05, 1819 in Rutherglen, Scotland.
		x.	Janet Wallace, born March 06, 1822 in Dalhousie, Ontario.
		xi.	William Wallace, born 1825; died 1904; married Lillian Park.