Memorable Manitobans: John James Wallace (1865-1936)

John James Wallace Click to enlarge

Building contractor, municipal official.

Born at Carleton County, Ontario on 13 October 1865, son of Joseph and Jane Wallace, he was educated at public schools. He commenced a contracting career at Ottawa in 1894 then came to Winnipeg in 1904 and formed the contracting firm of Wallace and Akins in partnership with William John Akins. He was prominent in the Winnipeg building trades for over 30 years.

In 1894, he married Georgina Crosbie (1865-1938) of Ottawa, with whom he subsequently had three children: Joseph William Wallace (1895-?), George Crosby Wallace (1897-?, husband of Marjorie Shirley Waldie), and Jean Mildred Wallace (1899-1942, wife of William John Linton). He served as a Winnipeg city alderman from 1908 to 1914, and a member of the Winnipeg Board of Trade from 1916 to 1918. He served as President of the Winnipeg Builders’ Exchange (1927-1929), Vice-President of the Knowles Boys Home, and a Director of the Winnipeg General Hospital. He was a member of the Winnipeg Gladiolus Society, Loyal Orange Lodge (No. 120), AF & AM (Assiniboine Lodge), Knights of Pythias, and IOOF.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 172 Lanark Street, on 13 October 1936 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wallace House (84 Maryland Street, Winnipeg)

Manitoba Business: Wallace and Akins

Sources:

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

“John J. Wallace, one-time city alderman, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 April 1936, page 5.

Obituary, Western Municipal News, April 1936, page 100.

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Ex-alderman’s widow, resident since 1907, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 January 1938, page 2.

“Jean M. Linton dies Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 January 1942, page 18.

We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 June 2022

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!