12 April 1933, Wed., Kewanee Star Courier, Kewanee, IL page 1
Davis Smith Wallace, 83, Champion Speller, Dies In Bureau Co; Knew /Bryant
Princeton - April 12 – Death summoned Davis Smith Wallace, 83 year old Bureau County resident yesterday at his home near Wyanet. Known as a champion of Champions of old time spellers, Mr. Wallace was a personal friend of William Callen Bryant and had also the unique record of having attended the Bureau County Fair for 68 consecutive years. A funeral service will be held in the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Tindall will read the service and burial will be made in the Forest Hill cemetery at Wyanet.
Mr. Wallace, who is survived by his wife and one son Moses of Wyanet, had looked back from the sunset of life upon many striking changes. He spent his childhood on the quarter section farm of his grandfather Isaac Brokaw, where Kasbeer now stands being many times lulled to sleep by the howling of wolves. He was born about one half mile east of Limerick in Ohio Township.
Recalls Indians
He often recalled in his recollections the seeing of droves of deer and stray hands of Indians. In addition to William Cullen Bryant, he knew his brothers John and Arthur. George Hinsdale, the first overseer of the poor in Bureau county and many others.
During his young manhood, one of the principal divisions for evening entertainment was the spelling school. Great rivalry excited between the various schools. On one occasion the teacher of the school attended by Mr. Wallace boasted that the pupils of the school could spell down the pupils of Princeton high school. A niece of William Cullen Bryant, a teacher in the high school, indignantly denied that any country school could beat them. A contest was held. The old Sanders spelling book was used and when the last high school student went down four of the country lads and lassies still remained standing.
Spelling Was the Sport
Long trips were made to these spelling schools. On one occasion in Lee county after he had succeeded in spelling down the assembly, an Irishman wanted to bet him fifty dollars he couldn't spell him down. The bet was refused but the contest was staged, with the result that "conchology" proved too much for the son of Erin.
Days of Lovejoy
During the Civil War many stirring events occurred. The activities of Owen Lovejoy, Eli and Elijah Smith aiding Black slaves to escape to Canada kept things at fever heat. On one occasion the pursuit was so close that the escaping slave was dressed as a nun and allowed to walk out to the barn, mount a horse and ride away unmolested, when the pursuers were in the yard and watched her unsuspecting.
Mr. Wallace held a life membership in the Bureau County Fair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few years ago.
Davis Smith Wallace, 83, Champion Speller, Dies In Bureau Co; Knew /Bryant
Princeton - April 12 – Death summoned Davis Smith Wallace, 83 year old Bureau County resident yesterday at his home near Wyanet. Known as a champion of Champions of old time spellers, Mr. Wallace was a personal friend of William Callen Bryant and had also the unique record of having attended the Bureau County Fair for 68 consecutive years. A funeral service will be held in the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Tindall will read the service and burial will be made in the Forest Hill cemetery at Wyanet.
Mr. Wallace, who is survived by his wife and one son Moses of Wyanet, had looked back from the sunset of life upon many striking changes. He spent his childhood on the quarter section farm of his grandfather Isaac Brokaw, where Kasbeer now stands being many times lulled to sleep by the howling of wolves. He was born about one half mile east of Limerick in Ohio Township.
Recalls Indians
He often recalled in his recollections the seeing of droves of deer and stray hands of Indians. In addition to William Cullen Bryant, he knew his brothers John and Arthur. George Hinsdale, the first overseer of the poor in Bureau county and many others.
During his young manhood, one of the principal divisions for evening entertainment was the spelling school. Great rivalry excited between the various schools. On one occasion the teacher of the school attended by Mr. Wallace boasted that the pupils of the school could spell down the pupils of Princeton high school. A niece of William Cullen Bryant, a teacher in the high school, indignantly denied that any country school could beat them. A contest was held. The old Sanders spelling book was used and when the last high school student went down four of the country lads and lassies still remained standing.
Spelling Was the Sport
Long trips were made to these spelling schools. On one occasion in Lee county after he had succeeded in spelling down the assembly, an Irishman wanted to bet him fifty dollars he couldn't spell him down. The bet was refused but the contest was staged, with the result that "conchology" proved too much for the son of Erin.
Days of Lovejoy
During the Civil War many stirring events occurred. The activities of Owen Lovejoy, Eli and Elijah Smith aiding Black slaves to escape to Canada kept things at fever heat. On one occasion the pursuit was so close that the escaping slave was dressed as a nun and allowed to walk out to the barn, mount a horse and ride away unmolested, when the pursuers were in the yard and watched her unsuspecting.
Mr. Wallace held a life membership in the Bureau County Fair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few years ago.
12 April 1933, Wed., Kewanee Star Courier, Kewanee, IL page 1
Davis Smith Wallace, 83, Champion Speller, Dies In Bureau Co; Knew /Bryant
Princeton - April 12 – Death summoned Davis Smith Wallace, 83 year old Bureau County resident yesterday at his home near Wyanet. Known as a champion of Champions of old time spellers, Mr. Wallace was a personal friend of William Callen Bryant and had also the unique record of having attended the Bureau County Fair for 68 consecutive years. A funeral service will be held in the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Tindall will read the service and burial will be made in the Forest Hill cemetery at Wyanet.
Mr. Wallace, who is survived by his wife and one son Moses of Wyanet, had looked back from the sunset of life upon many striking changes. He spent his childhood on the quarter section farm of his grandfather Isaac Brokaw, where Kasbeer now stands being many times lulled to sleep by the howling of wolves. He was born about one half mile east of Limerick in Ohio Township.
Recalls Indians
He often recalled in his recollections the seeing of droves of deer and stray hands of Indians. In addition to William Cullen Bryant, he knew his brothers John and Arthur. George Hinsdale, the first overseer of the poor in Bureau county and many others.
During his young manhood, one of the principal divisions for evening entertainment was the spelling school. Great rivalry excited between the various schools. On one occasion the teacher of the school attended by Mr. Wallace boasted that the pupils of the school could spell down the pupils of Princeton high school. A niece of William Cullen Bryant, a teacher in the high school, indignantly denied that any country school could beat them. A contest was held. The old Sanders spelling book was used and when the last high school student went down four of the country lads and lassies still remained standing.
Spelling Was the Sport
Long trips were made to these spelling schools. On one occasion in Lee county after he had succeeded in spelling down the assembly, an Irishman wanted to bet him fifty dollars he couldn't spell him down. The bet was refused but the contest was staged, with the result that "conchology" proved too much for the son of Erin.
Days of Lovejoy
During the Civil War many stirring events occurred. The activities of Owen Lovejoy, Eli and Elijah Smith aiding Black slaves to escape to Canada kept things at fever heat. On one occasion the pursuit was so close that the escaping slave was dressed as a nun and allowed to walk out to the barn, mount a horse and ride away unmolested, when the pursuers were in the yard and watched her unsuspecting.
Mr. Wallace held a life membership in the Bureau County Fair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few years ago.
Davis Smith Wallace, 83, Champion Speller, Dies In Bureau Co; Knew /Bryant
Princeton - April 12 – Death summoned Davis Smith Wallace, 83 year old Bureau County resident yesterday at his home near Wyanet. Known as a champion of Champions of old time spellers, Mr. Wallace was a personal friend of William Callen Bryant and had also the unique record of having attended the Bureau County Fair for 68 consecutive years. A funeral service will be held in the home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Tindall will read the service and burial will be made in the Forest Hill cemetery at Wyanet.
Mr. Wallace, who is survived by his wife and one son Moses of Wyanet, had looked back from the sunset of life upon many striking changes. He spent his childhood on the quarter section farm of his grandfather Isaac Brokaw, where Kasbeer now stands being many times lulled to sleep by the howling of wolves. He was born about one half mile east of Limerick in Ohio Township.
Recalls Indians
He often recalled in his recollections the seeing of droves of deer and stray hands of Indians. In addition to William Cullen Bryant, he knew his brothers John and Arthur. George Hinsdale, the first overseer of the poor in Bureau county and many others.
During his young manhood, one of the principal divisions for evening entertainment was the spelling school. Great rivalry excited between the various schools. On one occasion the teacher of the school attended by Mr. Wallace boasted that the pupils of the school could spell down the pupils of Princeton high school. A niece of William Cullen Bryant, a teacher in the high school, indignantly denied that any country school could beat them. A contest was held. The old Sanders spelling book was used and when the last high school student went down four of the country lads and lassies still remained standing.
Spelling Was the Sport
Long trips were made to these spelling schools. On one occasion in Lee county after he had succeeded in spelling down the assembly, an Irishman wanted to bet him fifty dollars he couldn't spell him down. The bet was refused but the contest was staged, with the result that "conchology" proved too much for the son of Erin.
Days of Lovejoy
During the Civil War many stirring events occurred. The activities of Owen Lovejoy, Eli and Elijah Smith aiding Black slaves to escape to Canada kept things at fever heat. On one occasion the pursuit was so close that the escaping slave was dressed as a nun and allowed to walk out to the barn, mount a horse and ride away unmolested, when the pursuers were in the yard and watched her unsuspecting.
Mr. Wallace held a life membership in the Bureau County Fair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary a few years ago.
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