MIlton’s Dr. John Wallace (1870-1929)

By Muriel Bristol | January 13, 2021

John Wallace was born in Gortaheran, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, June 24, 1870, son of William and Mary Jane (Glass) Wallace. (Some sources say June 23, 1870).

Later sources say that he graduated from Queen’s College, in Belfast, [Northern] Ireland, and received his medical degree in Edinburgh, Scotland (prior to his December 1895 marriage). He practiced in [Northern] Ireland for two years.

John Wallace married in Finvoy, [Northern] Ireland, December 12, 1895, Wilhelmina Margretta Price “Mina” Hay, he of Portglenone, and she of Finvoy. She was born in Mullanyduffy, County Leitrim, Ireland, February 28, 1873, daughter of William and Mary Jane (McMullen) Hay.

MARRIAGES. WALLACE-HAY. December 12, at Finvoy Presbyterian Church, by Rev. W.H. Craig, assisted by Rev. A. Gallagher, Kilrea, Dr. John Wallace, Portglenone, only son of William Wallace, Esq., Newmills, Portglenone, to Wilhelmina Margretta Price (Mina), second daughter of William Hay, Esq., Finvoy (Belfast Newsletter, December 17, 1895).

Daughter Mary Jane Wallace was born in Northern Ireland, October 4, 1896.

(The British, including the Irish, had a naming custom, which was observed also in early America. The first son would be named after the father’s father, the second son would be named after the mother’s father, the third son would be the “Junior,” and subsequent sons would be named after the father’s brothers in sequence. The first daughter would be named after the mother’s mother, the second daughter would be named after the father’s mother, the third daughter would be the “Junior,” and subsequent daughters would be named after the mother’s sisters in sequence. In this case, both the parents had fathers named William, and both had mothers named Mary Jane. So, their first two children would be named Mary Jane and William. Then came the “Juniors,” Wilhelmina and John).

John Wallace left Londonderry, [Northern] Ireland, on the SS City of Rome, August 28, 1897. He was a surgeon, aged twenty-six years, and traveled “Second Cabin,” i.e., second class. He evidently transferred in Liverpool, England, to the RMS Etruria, which sailed for New York, NY, arriving there September 18, 1897. He was a doctor, aged twenty-seven years, and again traveled “Second Cabin.”

W.F. Wallace appeared in the Milton business directory of 1898, as a Milton physician. (Despite what the directory says, this was actually Dr. John Wallace, rather than the earlier practitioner of the same surname, Dr. William F. Wallace, who had moved since to Plaistow, NH).

John Wallace appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a physician, with his house at 22 S. Main street. (He left for Roxbury, i.e., Boston, MA, prior to June 1900).

John Wallace, a physician, aged twenty-nine years (b. Ireland), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of four years), Wilhelmine M.P. Wallace, aged twenty-seven years (b. Ireland), and his child, Mary J. Wallace, aged three years (b. Ireland). John Wallace rented their apartment at 2773 Washington Street. Wilhelmine M.P. Wallace was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. They had all immigrated into the U.S. in 1897.

John Wallace appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1901, as a physician, with his house and office at 2773 Washington street. (He appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as having removed to “Roxbury, Mass.”).

John Wallace, of 324 Warren Street, Boston, MA, petitioned to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, in Roxbury District Court, in Boston, MA, October 23, 1901. He was a physician, born in Gortaheran, County Antrim, [Northern] Ireland, June 24, 1870. He had sailed from Londonderry, [Northern] Ireland, arriving in New York, NY, September 2, 1897. Frank S. Lee, and Frank W. Lee, both of 77 Cedar Street, Boston, MA, signed as his witnesses. His petition was granted and he became a naturalized U.S. citizen, November 19, 1903. (His wife and children would have become naturalized also through his action).

Son William Wallace was born at 2787 Washington Street in Roxbury, MA, October 24, 1901, son of John and Wilhelmina M.P. (Hay) Wallace. (The day after his father’s initial petition for naturalization). His parents were both natives of Ireland, and his father worked as a physician.

John Wallace appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1905, as a physician, with his house and office at 324 Warren street, in the Roxbury district of Boston. (Thomas H. Wallace, an engineer, boarded at 324 Warren street).

Daughter Wilhemina Elizabeth “Mina” Wallace was born at 324 Warren Street, in the Roxbury district of Boston, MA, June 18, 1905, daughter of John and Wilhelmina M.P. (Hay) Wallace. Her parents were both natives of Ireland, and her father worked as a physician.

Son John Wallace was born at 223 Warren Street, September 11, 1909, son of John and Wilhelmina M.P. (Hay) Wallace. His parents were both natives of Ireland, and his father worked as a physician.

John Wallace, a general practice physician, aged thirty-nine years (b. Ireland), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Wilhelmina Wallace, aged thirty-seven years (b. Ireland), his children, Mary J. Wallace, aged thirteen years (b. Ireland), William Wallace, aged eight years (b. MA), Wilhelmina E. Wallace, aged four years (b. MA), and John Wallace, aged seven months (b. MA), and his servant, Annie Gallagher, a private family servant, aged nineteen years (b. Ireland). John Wallace rented their house at 223 Warren Street. Wilhelmina Wallace was the mother of four child, of whom four were still living. Annie Gallagher was a recent Irish immigrant, having arrived in 1909.

John Wallace, a medical doctor, aged forty-nine years (b. Ireland), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Wilhelmina M.P. Wallace, aged forty-six years (b. Ireland), and his children, Mary J. Wallace, aged twenty-three years (b. Ireland), William Wallace, a barker clerk, aged eighteen years (b. MA), Wilhelmina E. Wallace, aged fourteen years (b. MA), and John Wallace, Jr., aged ten years (b. MA). John Wallace owned their house at 219 Warren Street, with a mortgage. The Irish natives in the family had immigrated into the U.S. in 1897, and had become naturalized U.S. citizens in 1902 [SIC].

Daughter Mary J. Wallace married in the Roxbury district of Boston, MA, September 21, 1922, Robert Whitelaw Smith.

GREATER BOSTON WEDDINGS SHOW THAT SEPTEMBER IS STILL A POPULAR MONTH. … The marriage ceremony of Miss Mary Jane Wallace, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Wallace of Roxbury, to Robert Whitelaw Smith of White River Junction, Vt., was solemnised Thursday evening at the home of the bride’s parents (Boston Globe, [Saturday,] September 23, 1922).

Daughter Wilhelmina E. “Mina” Wallace received her M.A. degree from Radcliffe College at the Sanders Theater in Cambridge, MA, June 19, 1929 (Boston Globe, June 19, 1929). (Her undergraduate Radcliffe scrapbook is retained by the college).

John Wallace died in the Roxbury district of Boston, MA, December 2, 1929, aged fifty-nine years.

DR. JOHN WALLACE DIES IN ROXBURY. Active in His Profession Until Ten Days Ago. Dr. John Wallace, a practicing physician in Roxbury for 30 years, died this morning at his home, 219 Warren st., Roxbury, after a sickness of 10 days. He was in his 60th year, and had been active in his practice until he was taken sick. He was very well known to many old residents of Roxbury. His office was directly opposite the Boston Clerical School, which was formerly the Roxbury High School. Dr. Wallace received his early training in Ireland where he was born. He was graduated from Queens College, Belfast, and received his degree as a medical doctor at Edinboro. For two years Dr. Wallace practiced his profession in Ireland. He became affiliated with the British Medical Association and was honored with a membership in the Royal College of Surgeons. Upon arriving in this country, Dr. Wallace settled in New Hampshire and established a practice there, remaining for two years. He then moved to Roxbury, where he had resided since. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and was prominent in the Masons and Odd Fellows. Dr. Wallace is survived by his wife, Wilhelmina; two sons, William and John; two daughters, Mrs. Robert W. Smith of White River Junction, Vt., and Miss Wilhelmina Wallace, and three sisters, Miss Martha Wallace of Belfast, Me., and Misses Elizabeth and Mary Jane Wallace of New York. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Dudley Street Baptist Church, Roxbury (Boston Globe, December 2, 1929).

Willhelmina M.P. Wallace, a widow, aged fifty-seven years (b. Northern Ireland), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her son, John Wallace, aged twenty years (b. MA). Wilhelmina M.P. Wallace rented their house at 70 Howland Street, for $45 per month. They had a radio set.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION. Miss Mina Wallace of New York City is visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs. Robert W. Smith (Vermont Standard (Woodstock, VT), March 26, 1931).

In Society. Wallace-Martin. The marriage of Miss Wilhelmina Elizabeth Wallace, daughter of Wilhelmina H. Wallace and the late Dr. John Wallace of Boston and Northport, Me., to Dr. Samuel Forrest Martin, son of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Vilas Martin of Maryville, took place June 18 at Providence. R.I. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Harold L. Wilson in the First Presbyterian church there in the presence of Miss Marian Higgs of Boston, classmate of Mrs. Martin at Radcliffe College, and Dr. Charles Voss Ferguson, classmate of Dr. Martin at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. Mrs. Martin is a graduate of Radcliffe College, having received both her Bachelor of Arts and Masters degrees from that institution. Dr. Martin attended Choate school, Wallingford, Conn., and is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. Dr. and Mrs. Martin will make their home in Providence where Dr. Martin is an interne in the Rh0de Island hospital (Maryville Daily Forum (Maryville, MI), June 23, 1934).

Wilhelmina M.P. Wallace sold Lot 2102 in Quincy, MA, to Sidney W. Grossman, in 1937 (Boston Globe, February 13, 1937).

Wilhelmina M.P. Wallace, of 134 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA, appeared in a list of escheats – unclaimed money – published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She or her estate was owed $15 (Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA), July 15, 1952).

References:

Wikipedia. (2021, January 7). RMS Etruria. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Etruria