George Benjamin WALLACE

                   lds.org
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel
Journal History of Church, 21 June 1847, p.38
Abraham O. Smoot-George B. Wallace Company (1847)
Wallace, Melissa M.  (24)
////////
Research compiled by Eleanor L. Johnson (My second great grandmother, Edna King, was Melissa's sister).

Database: Utah, Our Pioneer Heritage
Viewing records 24523-24532 of 53248 
   October 20, 2002 
8:28 PM 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While George Wallace was presiding elder of the Boston Branch of the Church, Howes Crowell and his wife, Melissa Mandana King Crowell, requested a recommend transferring their membership from Boston Branch to Nauvoo. Later, when George went to Nauvoo, he again met Melissa who was heartbroken with grief at the death of her husband and their two children. Their friendship ripened into love and they were married June 4, 1845, in Nauvoo. When the Saints were leaving this ill-fated city, the Wallaces fitted themselves out for the long journey west and left for Winter Quarters where they spent the winter of 184647. Their first child, Mary Melissa, was born January 8, 1847, and a few months later they started their trek to Utah.

George Benjamin Wallace was appointed captain over fifty in Abraham O. Smoot's company of one hundred, which was organized June 17, 1847, on the west bank of the Horn River. They arrived in Salt Lake Valley September 26, 1847, and camped in the Old Fort. Their baby girl, Mary Melissa, died September 27, 1847, the day after their arrival. She was buried on a hillside in the northeastern part of the Valley. George Crowell Wallace was born June 12, 1848, died August 14, 1848, and is also buried there. The little girl, Mary Melissa, was the first person buried in that area.

George and Melissa built a log cabin inside the Old Fort. In this cabin four persons were set apart and ordained apostles, in a meeting held by the First Presidency of the Church. They were Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow and Franklin D. Richards. On February 22, 1849, in this home, when the Valley was divided into two wards, bishops of Salt Lake Valley wards were ordained under the direction of President Young, with President Heber C. Kimball, the Twelve Apostles and others. The next day another meeting was held in this log cabin home and Reynolds Cahoon and George Wallace were set apart as counselors to John W. Young in the High Priests Quorum; and Daniel Spencer was set apart as president of Salt Lake Stake.

The corner of First North and Second West Street was chosen by George Wallace as his property. It was then thought that this would be the future business street. The Union Hotel was built on the opposite corner and John Squires built a barber shop on the Wallace corner. The hotel was eventually used for a first class school known as the Union Academy, and still later the building was used as a temporary headquarters for the University of Deseret, Deseret Hospital and finally as a warehouse for the Salt Lake Knitting Works. George built a one-room adobe house near the corner. The bricks were made from a mixture of red clay and fine gravel; the roof was covered with boards and the cracks filled with rags. After it was completed, he moved the little log room, their first home in the Old Fort, to their new homesite.

On September 20, 1849, another child was born to George and Melissa whom they named Louisa King. She was one month old when George was called as one of the first missionaries to be sent from Utah, leaving for Great Britain, October 18, 1849. He gave a neighbor a yoke of oxen and several acres of land to look after Melissa and her little girl and to furnish fuel and other meagre necessities. She was given a dress by Vilate, wife of Heber C. Kimball, who advised her to reverse the material to the other side and Melissa made a fine dress for herself. Melissa learned to do work she had never done before, such as milking cows, growing a garden, raising livestock, taking in boarders, sharing her little dwelling with another family in exchange for fuel. She had a great faith and an undaunted spirit. Before George left for his mission she was concerned about a timepiece as the only one they owned was a silver watch he had brought from Boston. She asked him what she would do if he took the watch. President Young said, "Brother Wallace, if you will leave that watch with your wife, I will promise you that you will come home with a gold one." This promise was fulfilled for he did come home with a gold watch and chain, a gift from the Saints while on his mission. Before he left Salt Lake City, a little elderly lady at the depot pressed his hand in 'God speed' and left enough money in it to pay his fare and a few cents over. The Lord blessed him so he was able to send a little money home to Melissa and was able to bring back a parasol for her, the only thing she requested from him in the way of a gift.

Mr. Wallace, highly respected and loved by the Saints, remained in Great Britain nearly three years as first counselor to President Franklin D. Richards. He had issued a small circular among the Saints and friends with whom he labored to help pay his expenses home, and as a result had a purse of $800 in cash, also many other presents given to him by the Saints. He boarded the steamer Canada for the trip home, leaving Liverpool March 20, 1852, arriving in Boston approximately May 31, 1852. He went directly to Epsom, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, in an endeavor to see his estranged wife, Mary C. McMurphy. She was not at home and he was unable to locate her, so he reluctantly left Epsom for his home in the Salt Lake Valley.

In obedience to the law of plural marriage, George Benjamin Wallace under date of October 15, 1852, married the three Davis sisters, Lydia, Hannah and Martha, whom he had converted to the Church when in England. The parents, Edward and Sarah Drabble Davis of London, Middlesex, England, were also baptized. Lydia Davis, born June 15, 1830, died March 8, 1869, Salt Lake City, Utah; Hannah Davis, born May 4, 1832, died February 5, 1896, Granger, Salt Lake County, Utah; Martha Davis, born January 9, 1836, died October 7, 1913, Salt Lake City.

Three or four more rooms were added to the original red brick room and the family increased at a rapid rate. For Melissa it was quite a period of adjustment. Years later, on one occasion, Mr. Wallace received complimentary tickets from a circus manager for himself and family. Imagine the look of dismay on the manager's face when he saw George, his four wives and twenty or more children march past him

In 1860 Mr. Wallace was chosen to act as second counselor to President Daniel Spencer of the Salt Lake Stake. In 1866 he was first counselor, and in 1874 was called to preside over the Salt Lake Stake, which position he held for about two years. In 1867 he was instrumental, with others, in organizing Brighton Ward on the west side of Jordan River. In October 1869 he filled another mission to the Eastern States. He left home in a wagon, accompanied by Nathan Eldredge. This mission was short as he returned the following April. He had charge of the territorial farm located where the Fairgrounds now stand, receiving this appointment from President Brigham Young. From 1877 until his death in 1900 he was president of the High Priests Quorum in Salt Lake Stake.

In 1875 George homesteaded 120 acres of land in Granger, where his wife, Hannah, lived. Martha and her sister Lydia resided at the home located at 168 North 2nd West, Salt Lake City. Melissa lived there for awhile, until her son Howes built her a home on Second Avenue in Salt Lake. Mr. Wallace planted the first trees in the community of Granger and his first nursery business stood where West High School now stands.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ancestry.com
            Full Context of Sons of the Utah Pioneers-Utah,
             Pioneer Companies
            Name: Melissa M Wallace 
            Age: 24
            Captain: A. O. Smoot
            Arrival Date: 26 Sep 1847
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
4/12/01    Earl Wallace in Salt Lake City  said that there is a monument in Nauvoo that has the names of Howes Crowell and the two children that died in Nauvoo.  He did not visit the actual graves.

18 Oct 2002...my note....Charles and I (Eleanor) along with our son, Mark and his wife, Amy visited the Old Burial Ground on East Parley Street......there a memorial building stands with the names of those that are buried in the cemetery....Howes and Georgianna are on that listing....I did not find an exact grave site.  I don't know where the other child is buried unless that child died before they arrived in Nauvoo...

IGI 1988  Extracted Marriage Records, LDS Temple Records.

Sealed to Howes Crowell: 14 Jan 1995 Las Vegas Temple...as Melissa M. King.  Originally sealed to Howes in Endowment House in 1867...but records not available....George B. Wallace acted as proxy for her first husband, 
Howes Crowell.

ARCHIVE RECORD
Archive record for William King & Lucy Snow.
Family records in possession of Eleanor L. Johnson, c/o 530 S. 4th St.,  (Mrs.Charles) Las Vegas, Nevada 89101.

RECOMMEND FROM BOSTON BRANCH PRESIDENT...from Howes Crowell Wallace Autobiography, copy in my possession:
Boston, October 1, 1843
"This is to certify that the bearers here of, Howes Crowell and Melissa Crowell, his wife, are members of the Boston Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in full faith and good standing.
G.B. Wallace."

Our Pioneer Heritage
Volume 9
The Heroic Pioneer
Worthy Pioneer
Emigrant's Guide

"While George Wallace was presiding elder of the Boston Branch of the Church, Howes Crowell and his wife, Melissa Mandana King Crowell, requested a recommend transferring their membership from Boston Branch to Nauvoo. Later, when George went to Nauvoo, he again met Melissa who was heartbroken with grief at the death of her husband and their two children. Their friendship ripened into love and they were married June 4, 1845, in Nauvoo. When the Saints were leaving this ill-fated city, the Wallaces fitted themselves out for the long journey west and left for Winter Quarters where they spent the winter of 184647. Their first child, Mary Melissa, was born January 8, 1847, and a few months later they started their trek to Utah."


DESERET NEWS ARTICLE:
Newspaper Salt Lake City, Utah:  The Deseret News, Saturday, May 11, 1935....p.7
Artist Reproduces Old Pioneer Homestead....
Picture of old pioneer home, picture of Melissa Crowell Wallace and George B. Wallace....

HISTORY:
BOOK:  Brigham Young, American Moses by Leonard Arrington p.319
Marriage Problem: 
"There were many instances when the situation became quite complex.  One woman, married her second husband, apparently was not happy with him but had not been sealed to her first husband and was in a quandry as to what steps to take.  Brigham explained that there were two courses open to her:
The first, and in my judgement the best, is for you to be sealed to your first husband, Brother Wallace acting as proxy for him in the ceremony, which would have been the better plan when you were first married to Brother Wallace, and then if you  perfer it, secure a shelter that will be reasonably comfortable for the accomodation of yourself and children, doing what you can for your own and their support, in which Brother Wallace promises to assist you as much as he may be able, and not to interrupt you and your children in living by and laboring for yourselves.  If this course should not suit you, you are also at liberty to get a bill of divorce from Brother Wallace.  These two are the best methods for changing your present condition that I am now aware of, and you are at full liberty to take your choice between them, or to remain as you are now situated, just as you may prefer."
Footnote in back of book indicates this was taken from Brigham Young to Melissa M. Wallace, 29 Mar 1859, Letterbook C:719.....
my note: She was sealed to Howes Crowell  9 Feb 1867 in the Endowment House.....George B. Wallace acting as proxy for her first husband.
Burial:  M.K.Wallace (Melissa King) buried Salt Lake City Cemetery; Plot R, Lot 9, Lot 3, Tier E, grave 2. Her 2nd husband, George B. Wallace is buried next to her.  In same plot is their first child that died in Salt Lake...1st child to be buried in Salt Lake Cemetery.
OBITUARY:
Obituary:  Salt Lake Newspaper: " Wallace--At Granger, Salt Lake County, Utah of dropsy.  Melissa King Crowell 
Wallace, wife of George B. Wallace.  Deceased was born May 14, 1823 at Pomfret, Windsor, Vermont. She was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints January, 1843 and emigrated to Nauvoo the same year and afterwards to Salt Lake City, reaching this valley, Sept  25, 1847.
Funeral from Granger Ward Meeting House, Saturday, June 19, 1897 at 1:00.  Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend."

OLD LETTERS: (originals in my possession)
Written by Lucy King Holbrook to Edna King Farnsworth (my 2nd great grandmother) Dec. 10, 1842  speaks very well of Melissa's good husband and her being a good wife.  How she takes care of her house, very neat and very particular.

OLD LETTER:  Dated Feb 29, 1842 Boston stated Melissa is to be confined in May.

LUCY KING LETTER TO EDNA KING FARNSWORTH dated York, Maine 26 July 1846.  Lucy was in Maine to help her daughter, Emily Plaisted, with a new baby.  She wrote: "I hant took any comfort since Melissa went away.  I never expect to again.  The troubles I have seen about her has been almost too much for me and now she has gone were I never expect to hear from her again in this world."  Note: Melissa's mother, Lucy Snow King,  seemed to be very upset that Howes and Melissa had joined the Mormons and gone to Nauvoo, Illinois. Perhaps she was grieving too for the loss of Howes and her two grandchildren that died and that Melissa went across the plains to Salt Lake Valley.  She never did see her again in this life..

Howes & Melissa were in Nauvoo, Illinois. He received Patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith, 26 November 1843 and died in 1844.  The prophet Joseph Smith came by their house and gave Howes a blessing before he died.
(History of Howes Crowell Wallace).  .
   
9-16-1993 Correspondance and phone conversation with Earl Wallace, Salt Lake.  History of Howes Crowell Wallace, autobiographi in possession of Earl Wallace, 4479 Camille St., Salt Lake City, Utah.  Copy in files at Church Historian's office..

First Name Last Name Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Zip+4 Phone 
Earl M. Wallace 4479 Camille St.  Salt Lake City UT  84124 3675 (801) 278-4573 

Family records and history shared regarding children of George & Melissa Wallace  11/1/93.
Phone conversation with Earl Wallace.  Earl had notes from Howes Wallace with names of two children of Howes and Melissa.  Also that Howes & Melissa were intimately acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith, that he came into their home and gave Howes a blessing before he died.  Evidently George B. Wallace acted as proxy for Howes and Melissa acted for herself and were sealed in endowment House 9 Feb 1867.  Howes Wallace received this information from Salt Lake Temple president George F. Richards, 17 March 1933 at the temple, Earl said.

Submitted Howes and Melissa sheet for Temple Work to be completed in Las Vegas Temple..
10-12-1993 
Family History Department cleared Melissa name for all ordinances  22 OCT 1993. 
Evidently could not find her baptism date for 1843 or any sealing information.
   
ancestry.com 
            Search Results
            Database: Full Context of Heart Throbs of the West
            Combined Matches: 
            Previous Page      Next Page
            Heart Throbs of the West
            Heart Throbs of the West: Volume 8
            They Came in '47
            Later Emigration of 1847

            Wallace, George B.   30   Feb. 16, 1817   Epsam, Merrimack, New Hampshire
            Wallace, Melissa M