Born June 26, 1882, in Llano, Texas to William Washington Wallace and Ellen R. Cohron.
Matthew's right leg was withered and paralyzed, possibly from a snake bite when he was young. In spite of his handicap, he worked almost his entire life as a cook.
In 1903 he met and married Ola Leona Houston of nearby Cameron, TX. It's assumed it's about this time that Matthew started using William for his first name.
They are found in the 1910 US Census in Bell County, Tx, along with their daughters; Ellen Leona, Evalene and Arlis E; and their son, William Lawrence. In 1913, another son was born, Fredrick Earl. Just months later Leona died from blood poisoning.
With his family's help, Matthew struggled to continue to work and raise his family, but he finally felt compelled to take drastic measures; placing his sons with family members and his daughters in Buckner's Orphanage in Dallas, TX, until they were adults.
Matthew moved to California in the late 1930s and stayed with his daughter, Evalene, and her husband, William "Bill" Sprague. In 1947 he moved to Kansas City. He spread himself around, staying with one of his daughters or one of his grandchildren, although he continued to work as a cook.
One granddaughter, born in the mid 1940s, described him as a 'wizened old man' who was somewhat child like. He loved to play with his grandchildren and freely showered attention on them.
He passed away in Sept, 1952, a victim of coronary and arterial disease.
Matthew's right leg was withered and paralyzed, possibly from a snake bite when he was young. In spite of his handicap, he worked almost his entire life as a cook.
In 1903 he met and married Ola Leona Houston of nearby Cameron, TX. It's assumed it's about this time that Matthew started using William for his first name.
They are found in the 1910 US Census in Bell County, Tx, along with their daughters; Ellen Leona, Evalene and Arlis E; and their son, William Lawrence. In 1913, another son was born, Fredrick Earl. Just months later Leona died from blood poisoning.
With his family's help, Matthew struggled to continue to work and raise his family, but he finally felt compelled to take drastic measures; placing his sons with family members and his daughters in Buckner's Orphanage in Dallas, TX, until they were adults.
Matthew moved to California in the late 1930s and stayed with his daughter, Evalene, and her husband, William "Bill" Sprague. In 1947 he moved to Kansas City. He spread himself around, staying with one of his daughters or one of his grandchildren, although he continued to work as a cook.
One granddaughter, born in the mid 1940s, described him as a 'wizened old man' who was somewhat child like. He loved to play with his grandchildren and freely showered attention on them.
He passed away in Sept, 1952, a victim of coronary and arterial disease.
Born June 26, 1882, in Llano, Texas to William Washington Wallace and Ellen R. Cohron.
Matthew's right leg was withered and paralyzed, possibly from a snake bite when he was young. In spite of his handicap, he worked almost his entire life as a cook.
In 1903 he met and married Ola Leona Houston of nearby Cameron, TX. It's assumed it's about this time that Matthew started using William for his first name.
They are found in the 1910 US Census in Bell County, Tx, along with their daughters; Ellen Leona, Evalene and Arlis E; and their son, William Lawrence. In 1913, another son was born, Fredrick Earl. Just months later Leona died from blood poisoning.
With his family's help, Matthew struggled to continue to work and raise his family, but he finally felt compelled to take drastic measures; placing his sons with family members and his daughters in Buckner's Orphanage in Dallas, TX, until they were adults.
Matthew moved to California in the late 1930s and stayed with his daughter, Evalene, and her husband, William "Bill" Sprague. In 1947 he moved to Kansas City. He spread himself around, staying with one of his daughters or one of his grandchildren, although he continued to work as a cook.
One granddaughter, born in the mid 1940s, described him as a 'wizened old man' who was somewhat child like. He loved to play with his grandchildren and freely showered attention on them.
He passed away in Sept, 1952, a victim of coronary and arterial disease.
Matthew's right leg was withered and paralyzed, possibly from a snake bite when he was young. In spite of his handicap, he worked almost his entire life as a cook.
In 1903 he met and married Ola Leona Houston of nearby Cameron, TX. It's assumed it's about this time that Matthew started using William for his first name.
They are found in the 1910 US Census in Bell County, Tx, along with their daughters; Ellen Leona, Evalene and Arlis E; and their son, William Lawrence. In 1913, another son was born, Fredrick Earl. Just months later Leona died from blood poisoning.
With his family's help, Matthew struggled to continue to work and raise his family, but he finally felt compelled to take drastic measures; placing his sons with family members and his daughters in Buckner's Orphanage in Dallas, TX, until they were adults.
Matthew moved to California in the late 1930s and stayed with his daughter, Evalene, and her husband, William "Bill" Sprague. In 1947 he moved to Kansas City. He spread himself around, staying with one of his daughters or one of his grandchildren, although he continued to work as a cook.
One granddaughter, born in the mid 1940s, described him as a 'wizened old man' who was somewhat child like. He loved to play with his grandchildren and freely showered attention on them.
He passed away in Sept, 1952, a victim of coronary and arterial disease.
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