Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 479.
 
GEORGE E. WALLIS

     of the firm of Wallis & Venable, proprietors of the "Little Brown Jud"
saloon at Rufus, Sherman county, is a Washingtonian by birth, having been born
in Klickitat county, June 2, 1882, the son of Rufus C. and Mary (Bergin) Wallis,
the former a native of Tennessee; the mother of Missouri, both of whom are
mentioned elsewhere in this work.
     The parents of our subject came to Sherman county when he was about five
years of age.  Here he attended district school and assisted his father at home
in Rufus.  Practically he has resided here all his life, with the exception of a
few months in western Washington and Idaho.  In October, 1903, he engaged in his
present business enterprise, later selling a half interest to J. R. Venable,
mentioned elsewhere.  He previously conducted the Rufus Hotel a trifle over a
year. 
     At Moro, in February, 1903, our subject was united in marriage to Miss
Minnie Blackburne, born at The Dalles.  She is the daughter of William and Clara
(Hill) Blackburne, the father a native of Ireland; the mother of England.
They now live at Grant, Sherman county.  They were married in England.  The
mother is a descendant of a well-to-do family who afforded her every opportunity
for the acquirement of a superior education which she improved to the best
advantage.  Her father was educated in the Scottish high schools, and was
graduated from the University of Glasgow, and practiced law in Scotland.  The
parents of our subject's wife came to the United States, and, having ample
means, toured the country for a number of years.  Finally he located in San
Francisco, where, for a while, he conducted a hotel.  In this unfortunate
enterprise he lost all his money, and subsequently went to The Dalles.  In 1874
he engaged in the lumber business, and later was in the employment of James
Peters, elsewhere mentioned.  He, also, for some time, handled lumber at Cascade
Locks, Wasco county.  A portion of ten years he was at Grant on his homestead,
where he made a specialty of poultry rising.  He was the first judge of Sherman
county, and for several years was justice of the peace. 
     Our subject's maternal grandmother, Susanne  Bergin (Simpson), was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana.  Her father, John, was a native of Virginia; her mother,
Sallie (Crabb), was, also, a native of Virginia.  Their fathers were in the war
of the Revolution, and Susanne Bergin has a powder horn that was carried by one
of them.  She married in Missouri, in 1844, John S. Bergin.  They crossed the
plains with ox teams in 1852, accompanied by three children.  They located in
the Willamette Valley, eight miles from Salem.  In December, 1859, they removed
to Klickitat county, Washington, and erected the first house in Klickitat
Valley; it is still standing, a log structure.  They reared stock and later
engaged in general farming.  She now lives on the same place.  He died in
December, 1900, on the home place aged seventy-five years.
     Mr. and Mrs. Wallis have one child, Lynn R., born May 5, 1903.  Mrs. Wallis
has two brothers, George, living at Grant, and Albert E., with his parents.
Politically Mr. Wallis is a Democrat.  He is a progressive and broad-minded
young man, patriotically interested in the welfare of his home community and
popular among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.