OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE LATE EDWARD WALLACE, M.D.

BY WASHINGTON L. ATLEE, M.D.

About the middle of the last century, Robert S. Wallace, the grandfather of Dr. Edward Wallace, emigrated from Scotland, and located as a farmer in the Conestoga Valley, in East Township, Lancaster County, Penna. Here, on his own land, he was one of the founders of the Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, which is still standing. John Wallace, the father of Dr. Wallace, was born on this farm, and continued to reside on it until his death in 1854, aged 86 years. He was engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits, and occupied a high position in the above church and in society at large. For over a century the Wallace family has been one of the leading families in the northeastern section of Lancaster County, and is still in the possession of the original tract of land. Dr. Edward Wallace, the subject of this notice, was born March 28th, 1815, at the old homestead, and received his earliest education in that vicinity. Afterwards he was sent to school in Lancaster City, in Maryland, and in 1830-31, in Carlisle. During his residence in the last place he had deep religious convictions, which had a controlling influence over his whole future life. He finally completed his literary studies at Princeton College, New Jersey, graduating in 1833. Soon after, he entered upon the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Howell, of Princeton, under whose preceptorship he was engaged for about six months, and then became the pupil of Professor Horner, of Philadelphia, matriculating in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. The subject of his thesis was "Medical Character and Responsibility," and he was graduated in the spring of 1836.

Dr. Wm. S. Wallace, an elder brother, was at this time engaged in the practice of medicine in the Conestoga Valley, but so soon as Edward returned home with his diploma, he relinquished his praetice to him, and removed to Springfield, Illinois, and married Miss Todd, a sister of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Edward Wallace soon became extensively engaged in the active duties of his profession on his native soil. In May, 1837, he was married to Miss Olivia Haven, a daughter of the late Joshua Haven, Esq., merchant, of this city, and went to housekeeping on the turnpike between the Blue Ball Hotel and Churchtown, not far from his old homestead. Here he had as competitors Drs. Luther of New Holland, and Winters of Hinkletown. In March, 1849, he removed to Reading, Pa., and opened an office on Penn Street between 5th and 6th Streets. After a residence there of several years he was appointed Naval Officer at Philadelphia, during the first administration of Abraham Lincoln, and in order better to discharge the duties of his office he removed to the city. Upon Andrew Johnson's elevation to the Presidency, Dr. Wallace was deposed, and again returned to Reading, opening an office in Court Street. He continued to reside in Reading until the spring of 1872, when he returned to Philadelphia, and with a view of making it his place of permanent residence, purchased the property No. 3943 Chestnut Street. Immediately upon

his arrival in the city he was elected one of the attending physicians to the Presbyterian Hospital. In West Philadelphia Dr. Wallace was building up an excellent practice until the last year of his life, when his health began to fail. His family, however, was not seriously alarmed until the summer previous to his death, which occurred on the 28th of October, 1875, from valvular disease of the heart. He had seven children; the widow and five children remain to mourn their loss.

Dr. Wallace was a great friend to medical organization, and an ardent supporter of medical ethics. While residing in his native place he was a member of the Lancaster County Medical Society. He was admitted to the Berks County Medical Society March 24, 1849, was its president in 1853, again in 1857, and again in 1870; held various other positions, and represented it in the state and national medical associations. He was a respected member of this society, and its second Vice-President at the time of his death; a member of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia; and also of the Centennial Medical Commission. He was an active member of the State Medical Society, and was elected President in 1860 to preside over its deliberations at Pittsburgh in 1861, but as no meeting was held during that year, he occupied the Presidential chair in Philadelphia in 1862. His name is also on the roll of the American Medical Association.

This is a brief and rapid survey of the life of Dr. Edward Wallace, but the facts stated indicate his personal, moral, and professional standing. It, however, is due to his memory not to stop here, but place on record the opinion of his associates, and point out some of the traits of character which individualized the man.

An eminent member of the profession assures me that during Dr. Wallace's residence in Lancaster County, he made occasional visits to his neighborhood to consult with him, and always found him to be an intelligent and judicious physician; that his gentlemanly deportment and modest unassuming manners made him an agreeable companion, and that he always met him either there or elsewhere with affection and pleasure. Another gentleman of high standing, formerly a physician, and now a clergyman, informs me that during the fourteen years in which he practised in East Township, he was highly esteemed as an intelligent and scientific physician, and a consistent and devout member of the Presbyterian church.

In Reading, where he resided over twenty years, he was much respected as a gentleman, a physician, and a Christian. His neighbors describe him as having been a man of fine culture, a careful, attentive, and conscientious physician, quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and highly esteemed by all who were acquainted with him. The estimate of his character is indicated not only by his having been elected three several times President of the Berks County Medical Society, but also by the following proceedings at a recent meeting:

"Whereas, We recognize in Dr. Wallace a man who in his steadfastness of purpose, his strict morality, and his jealousy of the honor of his profession, as one whom neither this community nor that of his recent adoption could well afford to lose, therefore be it

"Resolved, That this association hastens to record its high appreciation of Dr. Wallace as a physician, as a citizen, and, last but not least, as a Christian, and hereby offers to his family, in this dark hour of their bereavement, uncalled for testimony to his honorable and useful life, as well as its warmest condolence with them in their affliction."

In Philadelphia, nearer home, where all who knew him loved him for his unassumed, gentle, and gentlemanly demeanor, many hearts were made sad by the announcement of the demise of Dr. Edward Wallace. An old friend and distinguished divine, attending to him, remarked that death, in its fearful ravages, seldom makes such havoc in so wide a range of attachment as it did in the case of him it has just claimed. His character was of that peculiar type which, though exciting admiration during life, produces a deeper sense of desolation after the hour of departure has come. As a physician, he was learned, skilful, self-sacrificing, sympathetic, and faithful. His service in this capacity in every field of his practice, as well as on the staff of the Presbyterian Hospital, was highly appreciated. Having in his youth consecrated himself to God, the sincerity, earnestness, and unreservedness of this act were amply vindicated by his after life. His path steadily brightened under an evident and successful effort to be conformed to the image of Christ. He discharged the duties of every relation he sustained with peculiar conscientiousness, tenderness, and affection. Gentleness, cheerfulness, unobtrusiveness, and love constituted his disposition, and ruled his deportment. After long battling with disease and death in behalf of others, Dr. Wallace, notwithstanding the best struggles of science to save him, fell himself in the strength of his manhood, with all his powers matured for longer and larger usefulness, and much around him, in possession and prospect, to make length of days desirable. However mysterious this event may be to our dim and limited vision, it must be submissively accepted as ordered by Him who is "too wise to err, too good to be unkind," and who is more to be "blessed" in "giving" His people than in "taking them away." Our lamented friend lived so as to assure us all, in our unavoidable grief for his decease, that it was an exchange of earth for heaven, and while his stricken family, over whose dwelling the dark cloud has gathered, deeply mourn that he is gone, surely they have equal reason to rejoice that the light of a Christian example adorned his worldly pilgrimage, gilds his tomb, sanctifies his memory, and encourages their aspirations to the home which the "last enemy" never enters.

The sentiment of the medical profession in Philadelphia was expressed at a meeting of this society, when it unanimously

"Resolved, That in the decease of our late fellow-member the Philadelphia County Medical Society has lost the services of an efficient officer, and an active and high-toned associate; the medical profession a gentleman, distinguished for ability and urbanity; and society the influence of a valuable and esteemed citizen.

"Resolved, That the chair of second Vice-President, made vacant by his death, shall not be filled during the remainder of the term. "Resolved, That we sincerely condole with the family in the