Richard Wallace, city
assessor and tax collector for the city of Calgary, is one of this
community's most substantial citizens and popular public officials. He
was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 3d of April, 1882, a son of
Richard and Janet (Gibson) Wallace, natives of Scotland. For the greater
part of her life the father has engaged in contracting and building in
Edinburgh and has won widespread prominence in that connection. He is
now living retired in that city. Mrs. Wallace died on the 3d of April,
1920.
Richard Wallace received
his education in the public schools of Edinburgh and after graduating
from high school he engaged in quantity surveying for four years. At the
termination of that time he was in the contracting and building business
in association with his father and that connection was maintained until
1904. In that year Mr. Wallace came to Canada and located in Calgary,
working on a farm for the first year and on the 6th of January, 1905, he
went to work for the city as clerk in the assessor's department. In the
spring of 1909 he was appointed city assessor and has since been active
in that position. In 1915 he was made tax collector and he is now active
in both offices. He devotes his entire time and attention to the many
duties devolving upon him, discharging them with an efficiency that
commands the respect of all, and he is readily conceded to be one of the
most popular public officials in Calgary.
In September, 1905,
occurred the marriage of Mr. Wallace and Miss Edith Maude Hann, a
daughter of Captain Henry and Emma (Brann) Hann, natives of England.
Mrs. Wallace's father was in the service of England for forty-two years
and she was born while he was stationed in Rangoon, India, oil 25th of
March, 1884. Captain Hann died on 22d of February, 1909. His widow
resides in Portsmouth, England. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace
three children have been born: Richard, Jr., was born on the 29th of
January, 1907; Harry Valentine was born on the 14th of February, 1909;
and Eva Muriel was born oil 25th of February, 1912. Mrs. Wallace is a
woman of culture and refinement and she is active in the club and social
affairs of Calgary.
Fraternally Mr. Wallace
is identified with the Masons and he holds membership in Perfection
Lodge, No. 9, of Calgary. His religious faith is that of the Anglican
church. For recreation he turns to outdoor sports and is particularly
fond of golfing and fishing. |