Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland,
OR: Print & Lithographing House of A.  G.  Walling, 1882.  p. a37.

WALLACE B.  THOMAS

	a farmer living on Mill creek five miles northeast from Walla Walla, first
moved to Washington territory in June, 1871.  Upon his arrival, he purchased the
320 acres of land which are included as a portion of the 590 acres constituting
his present home farm.  He had twice crossed the plains previous to this, but
perhaps it would be a better way to go back and trace in brief the events of his
life as they occurred.  He was born in Hardinsburgh, Brethinridge county,
Kentucky, March 3, 1839; and while a lad learned the tanner's trade from his
father, Joseph H.  Thomas, who was an extensive manufacturer in this line.  In
1852, after his father's death, the family moved to Linn county, Iowa, where
Wallace purchased a ranch, and his mother lived with him until her death.
December 17, 1861, he was married to Miss Rebecca C.  Lewis, of Benton county,
Iowa.  In 1863 he became impressed with the fact that the West might contain a
locality where, if he should go to it and settle, his condition in life would be
materially improved, and following this prompting crossed the plains to Walla
Walla in Washington Territory.  He retrained in this Territory over winter,
found people generally of opinion that the country was not good for tanning
purposes, and returned to Iowa by way of Willamette valley, overland to
California, and around by the Isthmus and New York.  In 1865 he came again to
Washington Territory, by way of the Isthmus to California, thence to Nevada, and
through Boise City to Walla Walla; and went home the next year by way of Salt
Lake.  As he left this region in 1866, it was with the determination of selling
his Eastern property and moving with his family to this Territory, which he did
as indicated by us at the beginning of this sketch.  The birth and names of the
children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are: Ada E., October 30, 1862; Lucy R., May 12,
1865; Charles W., April 6, 1867; Denney G., July 12, 1869; Esther M., March 31,
1872; Melissa J., July 18, 1876; James B., August 27, 1878.  Mr. Thomas is one
of the active, energetic, and successful business farmers of the county, and is
respected by those who know him.  In politics he is on the order of independent,
but believes strongly in the policy of a united grange movement.

* * * *

Submitted to the WA.  Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.