Wayne County

A. L. Wall

1884 Biographical Sketches of Mt. Erie Twp

A. L. WALL, A.L., farmer, P. 0. Mount Erie, was born in Davis County, Ky. on January 9, 1838. and is a son of A. S. and Elizabeth (Allen) Wall.

"Bird" Wall, the grandfather of our subject, probably came from.Scotland, when a boy and settled in Beaufort County, N. C.. and there the father was born. When the latter was about ten years old, his father moved to Kentucky, where the grandfather died.

The father grew to manhood in Hopkins County, Ky., and there resided until 1850, when be came to Wayne County, Ill. Here he settled in Mount Erie Township, about a mile from where subject now resides. In this county he lived about six years, and then moved to Dickson's Precinct, Edwards County. In that county he only lived three years, and then moved to White County. There he settled on a farm south of Grayville, where he resided until his death, which occnrred on March 15, 1862.

The mother of our subject was born in Richmond, Va., in 1807, and died in Massillon Township, this county, on November 15, 1870. To her were born nine children, and of this number subject was the fourth. The following children are now living :

  1. C. M. (in Xenia, Clay County)
  2. Elizabeth (wife of W. H. Porterfield)
  3. Sarah F. (wife of Allen Graves, of White County)
  4. A. L. (our subject)

The subscription schools of Kentucky, and the Elder School of Edwards County, furnished our subject his means of education. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two, when he went into the war. In 1865, he came to Wayne County. and settled in Mount Erie Township, where he has since resided. He now owns 130 acres in Section 33, of Township 1 north. Range 9 east. Of this there are about 120 acres in cultivation. He also pays some attention to stock-raising, handling from fifty to seventy-five bead per year.

Mr. Wall was married on April 12, 1864. to Miss Mary B. Porterfield, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Thompson) Porterfield, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born in Worthington, Armstrong Co Penn., on April 25. 1841. and was the mother of two children, one of whom is now living-Mary E , born July 21, 1869. This lady died October 15, 1870, and subject was married the second time, on December 3, 1871, to Mrs. Sarah J. Vandyke, nee Porterfield, a sister of his first wife. She was born in Pennsylvania on October 12, 1837.

Mr. Wall enlisted on July 25. 1861, in Company E. of the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. and served until July 24. 1865. He acted as Corporal and sergeant while in the service. Among the battles in which he participated were those of Shiloh, Corinth. Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge and Savannah.

He has served as member of the County Board one term, and two terms as Justice of the Peace. In political belief, he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of MeKendree Chapel.



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