Burlington judge was U.S. mine inspector

“I was born May 16, 1851, at Coatbridge, Scotland, and attended public schools of that town when 7 years of age. Left school when only 12 years old. At that time it was customary to begin a trade very early in life. The usual time of learning a trade was 7 years. My grandmother had decided that I should become a boilermaker and consequently I was apprenticed when only 12 years old with the magnificent salary of 12 cents a day for the first year.

My apprenticeship began with heating rivets for the riveters. I was to heat the rivets in a small forge and run into the boiler and poke the hot rivet through the hole for the riveters. Once in awhile I would drop a rivet and before I could pick it up it would be too cold and would have to take it back and reheat it

On one occasion I had a mishap and when poking a hot rivet into the hole one of the riveters struck it with a hammer knocking the rivet back. The hot rivet dropping into my sleeve, burning my arm. I knew it was done on purpose and when I came out of the boiler I threw the tongs at the riveter, put on my little coat and quit right there, and my chances for a boiler maker were gone.

Sometime afterwards, when only 13 years old I was engaged as an engineer on a small steam boat on a ship canal in Scotland, known as the Firth and Clyde, plying between Coatbridge, Glasglow, Greenmouth

and Bowling. I remained in this capacity until I was 17 years of age when I entered the locomotive shop of the North British Railway company. When 19 years of age I left the shops and became a locomotive fireman. Reaching the age of 21 years passed the examination locomotive engineer and was registered as such. I remained as engineer for over two years when my father induced me to come to the United States. I came to the U.S. in 1874 and settled in Ohio in the Hocking Valley. Here I was engaged around the coal mines in different capacities. In 1877 I was engaged as locomotive fireman until 1879 when I resigned and accepted a position to put in an equipment for mining machines, the first of the kind in Ohio to mine coal by machines. On the completion of the plant I was retained as mine machinist and put in three other plants near Nelsonville, ­Ohio, for mining machines. On their completion I was retained as manager for that part of the mine for eight years. During that time I took out seven patented improvements for mining machinery, chief of these was automatic pumps for mines

in 1888 I formed a partnership with the firm name of Wallace and Brooks, and engaged in the mining and shipping of coal in the Hocking Valley. In 1891 I sold my interests and accepted a position as mine superintendent in Belmont County, and remained three years, until the mine closed..

I then entered the Scranton School of Mines and took a full mining course, including mine surveying, finishing my course in 1986. I was then engaged by the Birdwind-White Coal company to open and equip two mines for a capacity of 2,000 tons per day. On completing the first plant I was suddenly changed ­to a new territory. I was asked to come at once to Burlington, N.D and take charge of the mine and put in the equipment for mining machinery, cable, haulage and brick plant.

This mine was the owned by the Soo Line. My orders were to come at once as two men had been lost in a

Mine-gas explosion. I came to Minneapolis and met E. Pennington and L. M. Davis of the Soo Line, accepted the

Position as superintendent and came to Burlington in January 1898. I remained with the company until the sold their holdings. I then opened a mine for myself at Burlington which I have operated for eight years.”

Judge Wallace Assisted in the organization of Burlington township and while a member of the school board called the election for the purpose of bonding the district for a school in Burlington. This carried and resulted in getting a $10,000 school building for Burlington township, he held the office of justice of the peace.

Seven years ago Mr. Wallace was requested by the secretary of the interior to enter the U.S. reclamation service and go to Williston, N.D. and take charge of the opening of a coal mine for and irrigation project. He put in equipment and opened same which is still in operation and still retains his position as mine inspector. He enjoys the rather unique distinction of being the only mine inspector employed by Uncle Sam.

Always looking for the betterment of Burlington and having the honor of surveying and laying out Burlington he has worked hard for an electric line there and his ambition in that respect in now relieved. While his life has been rather a strenuous one, he finds this old world a good place after all and especially for those living in Burlington.

In spite of his 64 years the judge personally conducts his many business interests and is always ready with a good pat Scotch story to regale his friends in the intervals of his strenuous life.

Mr. Wallace is a Master Mason of Star in the West Lodge, No. 33 Minot, and a Roycal Arch Mason of Tyrian Chapter No. 14 of Minot.

With the death of Irving Speed WAL­LACE in a Minot hospital in 1983 at the age of 81, a somewhat legendary figure departed the scene, according to the Minot Daily News.

The News wrote “He lived a life other men only dream of, a life stuffed with adventure, with travel to far-off and exotic places, of undertaking feats of daring in many fields and hobnobbing with the greats.” WAL­LACE was a free-lance article writer and it is estimated his works appeared in more than 300 magazines, books, newspapers, syndi­cates, on radio, television and in motion pic­ture scripts.

WALLACE was what one writer called a “true cosmopolitan man” He tried his hand at anything he found interesting. He was a stunt man for the movie studio and set a record for driving the longest distance a car had been driven or jumped through mid air. He set a world record running, averaging 60 miles per day for 17 days running from Mex­ico to Canada... and was saluted at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles as an out­standing amateur athlete. He was an aviator and promoted an early goodwill flight from Mexico to Minot 50 years ago. He success­fully caught a ball dropped from an airplane. WALLACE was a diplomat and received many honors including the Merito Medal, Mexico’s top honor. President Herbert HOOVER named him as a delegate on a goodwill trip to Central and South America. He was personal aide to Josephus DANIELS when DANIELS was Ambassador to Mex­ico. He was designated a Colonel by North Dakota Gov. William LANGER. His radio broadcast, the Dakota Maid Broadcasting Station was his own hookup of seven sta­tions, serving the Dakotas. He built Speed­way, the first cabin motel west of the Mississippi River.

WALLACE never forgot his heritage or lost the pioneer spirit. He was born Dec. 23, 1901 at Burlington, N.D. and came from pioneer families on both sides. His mother was the first white girl, Carrie JOHNSON, born in the Imperial Ward County, daughter of Jim and Ida JOHNSON and grand­daughter of the Joseph COLTONS, who founded Burlington. His father was Alvin WALLACE son of Judge John WALLACE who came to Burlington in 1889 with his wife, Barbara (MACAULY) and surveyed and laid out the town.

WALLACE was the step-son of Henry A. KLUVER, early Burlington banker, Minot businessman, county supervisor and former North Dakota State Representative. WAL­LACE was presented the Golden Award from the Minot College in 1982, was grand marshall of the Burlington Centennial Parade in 1983 and was serving on the board of regents of the Minot College at the time of his sudden death.

In 1924, he married a Minot girl, Linda JOHNSON, daughter of Ida and Henry S. JOHNSON. She was an artist and was asked by the governor of North Dakota to do two large oil paintings of the state for the Chicago World’s Fair. By a daughter, Wan­da, (Mrs. Charles Jackson KENNEDY) of Clear Lake, Iowa, WALLACE had four grandchildren: Sam, Scott, Sally (ROPER) and Susan (BRISTOL) and four great grand­children.