California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 DANIEL W. WALLIS. The ability to concentrate upon a given subject, to master its every detail, and correctly gauge its bearing upon the other industries of the world, has brought a two-fold distinction to Daniel W. Wallis, that of general superintendent of the enormous interests of Miller & Lux at Los Banos, and the reputation of being one of the best judges of horses in the state of California. Marked business ability, control of the resources and usefulness of others, and the power to focus and direct both men and interests, has further aided in his rise to prominence. At the outset of his business career Mr. Wallis had the advantages of good birth, a practical home training, and a good education. Born in Fayetteville, Ala., January 20, 1854, he is a graduate of the Fayetteville Academy and of the San Jose Institute and Business College. The parents of Mr. Wallis were Daniel and Louisiana (Welch) Wallis, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Alabama. There is martial blood on both sides of his fam- ily, his paternal grandfather, William Wallis, and his maternal grandfather, William Welch, both served in the war of 1812, the latter attaining the rank of lieutenant. William Welch served also in the Seminole war in Florida, enlisted from his adopted state of Alabama, of which he was a pioneer settler, and to which he removed from Tennessee. The paternal great- grand father t John Wallis, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, enlisting from Virginia, where his entire life was spent. William Wallis changed the spelling of the name from Wallace to Wallis. He was born in Virginia, eventually owned a plantation in the old Dominion, and in time moved to South Carolina, but died in Texas. Daniel Wallis was a boy when his parents moved to Alabama, and for several years he was a merchant in Fayetteville and owned and operated a large plantation both of which he conducted until his death. When Fort Sumter was fired on he chanced to be on the ground, and was appointed a member of the commissary department, a po- sition which he resigned shortly after returning to his home. He thereafter improved the op- portunity of contracting for government rifles, axes, saddles, bridles and general equipment, and to this end started factories in different parts of the state, of which he made a distinct success. He died the year after the close of the war, at the age of forty-six years, his wife having died in Alabama in 1857. There were five children in his family, four of whom are living, Dan- iel W. being the fourth child and only son. Coming to California in 1871, Daniel W. Wallis completed his education and then engaged in the stock business in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and the surrounding counties, and for three years was located near San Miguel, raising sheep. The years 1876-77 proving disastrous to stockmen, he engaged in the cattle business with Dumpily & Hildreth, managing their extensive cattle in- terests with headquarters in San Francisco, and traveling throughout Idaho, Utah, and Nevada. Resigning in 1885, he engaged in the horse business in San Francisco, also conducting a large livery business, and at the same time interesting himself in mines in Madera county. The lat- ter venture proving unsuccessful, he entered the employ of Miller & Lux as manager of the Santa Rita ranch, taking the place of Charles Warfield. Mr. Wallis' responsibility included the care of two hundred and fifty thousand acres of land. He resigned the position in 1890 to buy cattle and ship them from Arizona and Nevada, connecting himself with the firm of William Dumphy. At the same time he became manager of the firm's Monterey ranch of thirteen thou- sand acres, nine thousand of which were under the plow. His next position was with the Spreckels Sugar Company, as superintendent of the Tequiusquito ranch at Gilroy, his duties in- cluding the oversight of the ditching and the improvement of the buildings and ranch in general, also the sugar beet industry. Two years later, in 1900, he resigned to accept the superintendency of the Miller & Lux interests at Los Banos, which extend from Dos Palos to Newman, and cover about two hundred thousand acres. The greater part of this land is under the canal, and he has five hundred men in his division. The land is devoted principally to the general cattle business, as well as raising fine horses and mules. In Nevada, at Battle Mountain, Mr. Wallis married Mattie A. Huntsman, a native of Nevada, and daughter of Dow and Nancy (Greer) Huntsman, natives respectively of Ohio and Missouri. Mr. Huntsman crossed the plains to California in 1847, soon after settling in Battle Mountain, Nev., where he engaged in mining and hotel business. He was a successful and thoroughly practical man, and previous to his death in December, 1903, while mining in the Lehigh valley, Utah, accumulated a competence in money and lands. In the early days, while on a journey to Washoe county, he chanced to meet John Mackey, who was out of provisions, and to whom he gave a sack of flour. Mr. Huntsman is survived by his wife, who still lives at Battle Mountain, and who, with four of her sisters, and her parents, crossed the plains in 1850. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wallis occurred January 30, 1884. They have one daughter, Mary D. Wallis, a graduate of the Lowell high school, San Francisco, and a young woman of high literary gifts. Mrs. Wallis' reminiscences of the early clays of Battle Mountain are interesting, and include accounts of many of the notable personages who contributed by their bravery and daring to the opening up of the west. She is a woman of extreme charm of manner, conversational ability of a high order, and great hospitality. Mr. Wallis is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the San Leseur Lodge F. & A. M. of Kings City, Monterey county ; the Humboldt Chapter, R. A. M., of Winnemucca, Nev., and the Eureka Commandery No. 2, K. T. Politically Mr. Wallis is a Democrat, and is a member of the couny central committee. Both himself and wife are members of Magnolia Chap- ter, O. E. S., of Gilroy. Mrs. Wallis is a member of the Episcopal Church.