BASHAM, R.M. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

We have just reached the Fountain county turn for a show to the world and have selected Wallace as our start. Scarcely a citizen of Indiana lives but knows of this historical section located among the picturesque hills of old Fountain, under its original and long standing name oi Jacksonville. Great wrong has been credited this prosperous community in days past by stories current regarding the villagers. We have personally met contradictory proof sufficient to allay any bad reputation it may have achieved through lawless visitors of our own county, in fact. Wallace is and has been one of the most thrifty inland towns in Indiana and is located on main cross roads nine miles distant from the nearest railway. It is blessed with live people, good churches and highly creditable schools.

Wallace is a village of 100. Its school population is about 20. The school enrolls 139. The  daily attendance up to Thanksgiving was 127. Three years ago the Wallace school was a district school of fifty. John W. Shular is one of the most enthusiastic township trustees to be found anywhere.

D.W.Sanders has been principal of the school since its beginning. Three  years of high school work are given in the course.

The Business Pushers

Grimes brothers A. B and CC Grimes, the general hardware merchants have conducted this business in Wallace for one year. The firm for eleven months previous was Garland & Grimes and is the first and only hardware store in the town. They carry a large stock of hardware, stoves, pumps, ammunition, etc.

W. W. Vice came here seven years ago and has followed farming to a successful end. Mr. Vice is well known in Crawfordsville where he resided for six years, he has been marshal and constable here for two years, and has proven himself a worthy official.

James Morgan, a resident and miner of Kingman, Ind., gave us the following facts while in Wallace. Mr. Morgan has been a coal miner for forty years, and for the past four years he has operated a vein south-east of Kingman. Mr. Morgan leases the land and employs his aids to work the mines He is a competent miner and has made many friends by his honest business methods.

D. W. Dove came here from' Attica three years ago to oversee his saw mill business, which he bought of Moore & Banta in 1893. His mill is located one and one-half miles west of Wallace on Mill Creek, in the heart of good oak and poplar timber.

J. H. Bowman was born in Jackson township, Fountain county, 39 years ago. Two years ago he moved to Wallace and started a poultry wagon. Last June Mr. Bowman was compelled to quit the road on account of failing health, and started a lunch stand at which place he yet buys poultry for Zook Bros., of Waynetown.

John R. Osburn has resided here for twenty-two years, during which time he has done blacksmithing and general repair work. His is the oldest shop here now and that it is a favorite with the farmers can be plainly seen by its daily activity. Expert horse shoeing, wagon and carriage repairing and all kinds of iron work are features of the shop.

W. E. Hamm moved here from Parke county one year ago and started a harness repair shop and barber shop, in which business he has been very successful. As a barber Mr. Hamm has had several years' experience and is an acknowledged expert at harness work.

Elliott J. Bowman was born in Jackson township in 1876, He followed farming until last September when he came into possession of his father's blacksmith shop. With him is his uncle, Dennis Bowman, who has been a blacksmith for more than 20 years, and has worked in shops when they made their own horseshoe nails.

R. M. Basham was born and raised here. For 11 years he conducted a hotel where Wm. Spinning now runs one. For six years Mr. Basham has owned and managed a drug and grocery store, taking his son into partnership with him two years ago. Perhaps no business in south-east Fountain county is better known than the general store of Roberts, Fine & Co.  Five years ago last August Messrs. A. C. and L. W. Roberts and J. E.  Fine associated themselves together for this business, and they have since held an enviable patronage from far and near. Their commodious store room is well stocked with groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, notions, hardware, a complete line of furnishing goods, and in short everything that would meet a daily demand.

Wilkinson Bros, own a large general store, occupying 3,800 feet of floor space and a new building erected by them for their business in 1894. The stock con¬sists of groceries, dry goods, millinery, boots, shoes, hardware, implements, etc.

Jacob Bowman has been here for two years. He was born one-half mile east of Wallace 42 years ago and has followed farming the greater part of his life. As stated he came here two years ago and started a grist mill which he has operated since. Ho has a growing trade on corn meal and mill feed and has sold a vast quantity of it.

S. H. Shular & Son have conducted a furniture and undertaking business here since August, 1896. It is the only establishment of the kind here. John W. Shular graduated from the Chicago College of Embalming in July.1896: was elected trustee of Jackson township in 1894, and is the youngest trustee in the State. The store needs no introduction. The Review man learned from John W. Shular that since he has held the office of trustee the debt has been decreased $2000.  A new high school building has been built and claims the largest high school class in the county.  Last year 28 scholars were graduated.  Mr. Shular was the first president of Jackson Township Alumni Association, is a Mason, was master two years of Wallace Lodge No 495 is an Eastern Star member and an all-around good fellow.  He is the Review’s agent for Wallace.

J. H. Bowman has lived in Jackson Township for 30 years.  He was a successful farmer until the year past when he was appointed mail carrier between Wallace and Hillsboro. He is also freight hauler between these points and has given satisfaction of more than the ordinary character of Wallace.