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. 477.
 
RUFUS C. WALLIS

     promoter of the town of Rufus and owner of the townsite and waterworks, was
born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 11, 1837, the son of Allen and Ann
(Sargent) Wallis, natives of Minnesota and early pioneers in Missouri.  The
family, for several generations back, were builders and people of wealth.  Our
subject was reared in Missouri, whence the family went when he was four years of
age.  He came to Oregon in the fall of 1862 and settled in Klickitat county,
Washington, engaging in the cattle business.  He also planted several ranches to
fruit there.  In 1884, he moved to where Rufus now is and started a ferry boat
warehouse.  He was backed by Finch & Company, of The Dalles, and commenced
buying wheat, which he continued at for  thirteen years.  At one time, it was
said he was the second largest individual wheat shipper on record.  Then he sold
his ferry and the warehouse, but still owns considerable other property at
Rufus.
     On February 21, 1866, Mr. Wallis married Mary Bergin, who was born in
Missouri, the daughter of John Bergin, a native of Virginia.  She was born in
1849 and came west to The Dalles with her parents in 1859.  It is interesting to
note that at that time, owing to the scarcity of provisions, flour was eighty
dollars per sack.  Mr. Wallis has one brother, also one sister, Jane, the wife
of William H. Hale, retired, at Goldendale, Washington.  Mr. Wallis has the
following named brothers and sisters:  William, residing at Goldendale, and
three times sheriff of Klickitat county; Thomas and Oscar, farmers in the Big
Bend country, Washington; Newton, living with his mother in Klickitat county,
having the distinction of being the first white child born in the Klickitat
valley; Jane, the wife of William Thompson, living in Washington; Nancy, the
wife of John Graham, in Klickitat county; Lydia, the wife of Frank Branton, who
operates Mrs. Branton's farm of three hundred and eighty acres; Emmie, the wife
of Mr. Baker, in Idaho; William A., a clerk in Portland; Rufus A. and Harry E.,
in Gilliam county; Charles W., in Dawson; George at Rufus; Ida M., the wife of
John A. Foister, at Rufus; and Josephine, the wife of Robert Haley, of Rufus.
     Politically, Mr. Wallis is a Democrat and has served in the county and
state conventions.  He was an ardent laborer for building up this western
country and is known far and near and has many friends.


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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.