Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 744.
 
WILLIAM G. WALLACE

     of Portland, Oregon, has become distinguished as an originator and
extensive producer of choice roses and ornamental and tropical plants. It is
interesting to know something of his history. Mr. Wallace is a native of the
Highlands, Scotland, born May 1, 1844. He is a direct descendant on both sides
of the family of two of the most noted Highland chieftains, his mother's
grandfather being Donald Duff McDonald, and his father's ancestor being the
great William Wallace, celebrated in song and story. Mr. Wallace's father was a
railroad and civil engineer. He married Miss C. McDonald, of Glencoe. They had
twelve children, of whom six are living, the subject of our sketch being the
third child. He was raised in Renfordshire, Scotland, until his tenth year, when
he went to sea with his uncle, Captain McDonald. They sailed from Glasgow to
China and Australia. After his voyage he engaged in the business of florist and
landscape gardening. He was engaged for five years on the fine grounds of the
Duke of Sutherland, Trintom Hall, Staffordshire, England, and at that time it
was conceded that, the Duke had the finest grounds in the world. After this he
was employed on the grounds of Lord Sligo in Ireland, as his land steward. In
1864 he came over to New York and enlisted in the army. At the close of the war
be was honorably discharged, and returned to his work in Philadelphia, and
continued the business in Baltimore and Ohio. He was well known in Ohio as a
collector of numismatics as well as a horticulturist. He had one of the finest
private collections of old coins and medals west of Philadelphia, numbering more
than 10,000 specimens. He has also the honor of growing the largest bnnch of
grapes on record, which was sent to General Grant for Thanksgiving dinner in
1871. The bunch measured five and one-half feet in circumference. From Ohio he
went to Menio Park, California, to take charge of and improve the grounds of
Mrs. Mark Hopkins. After this he traveled through British Columbia seeking a
location in which to establish his business, and finally decided upon Portland,
Oregon. Here he established himself and soon built up a large business. He has
six large greenhouses, heated by five furnaces, occupying two acres of ground in
the city. At Mt. Moriah, a mile and a half outside of the city, he has twenty
acres of ground, on which he is now erecting hothouses and other improvements,
as he intends making it his future home. He does a large business in cut roses,
sending them all over the Northwest. He has a fancy for pets, and is also
breeding a few fine horses, in which he takes much pride.
     In 1863 he was married to Miss Jane Richings, of Bath, England. They have
four children: Thomas Edward, McKee Bright, Maude 0., and Romeo A. Mr. Wallace
was a member of Akron Commandery for twenty years, and is also a K. of P. and
member of the B. P. 0. E. He is a Republican in politics. He takes pride in his
Scotch ancestry, and exhibits his clan suit with pleasure. He is a good specimen
of the foreign-born and a thoroughly loyal citizen of the United States.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.