[Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp 438-441.]

“GEORGE C. WALLACE. There is no businessman of Paducah better known or more closely identified with business and industrial affairs than is George C. Wallace, whose name forms the caption of this article.

Mr. Wallace was born in the city of Paducah, April 23, 1860, and is a son of Philip H. and Fannie (Woolfolk) Wallace, his father born in Christian county, Kentucky, and his mother in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

George C. Wallace grew to manhood in Paducah, and in private and public schools gained a fair literary education. His first business experience was with the Paducah Furniture Manufacturing Company, with which concern he was identified for a period of four years. For three years thereafter he was secretary and treasurer of the Paducah Milling Company. He next engaged in the manufacture of vinegar, but in 1897 he became manager of the Paducah City Railway Company (electric street cars), a position he has since held. Mr. Wallace has diversified interests, being connected with numerous enterprises of Paducah. Of many of these industrial and business concerns he has been a promoter and organizer. In this wise he has materially contributed to the upbuilding [sic] of his native city, in the welfare of which he takes active and just pride.

October 5, 1883, Mr. Wallace married Miss May Wisdom, daughter of the late B. H. Wisdom, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work.

Mrs. Wallace's mother bore the maiden name of Belle Saffarans, and she was a native of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallace five children have been born, namely: Robert W., Frances, George C., Benjamin Hugh and Philip H.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are numbered among members of the better circles of society in Paducah. He is a Knight Templar Mason, also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Ancient Order of United Workmen; and is one of Paducah's most popular citizens.”

His first business venture was as a salesman for Paducah Furniture Manufacturing Company traveling throughout Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee. Four years later he became the secretary and treasurer of Paducah Milling Company. Later he was employed by and subsequently headed the Gregory Vinegar Works with branches in Savannah, Georgia and Brocton, New York.

In 1886 he commissioned Brinton B. Davis of Natchez, Mississippi to design the house at 323 North Ninth Street that was a restaurant owned by Curtis and Norma Grace.

In 1897 he sold his interest in the vinegar company and was elected vice-president and general manager of the Paducah Street Railway and Light Company, which position he held till 1906.

The Wallace & Company Vinegar Works was inaugurated in 1878 by Leopold Friedman, and continued in his hands and management for several years. He was succeeded by Joseph L. Friedman & Company, and still later by Joseph L. Friedman and the subject, the enterprise continuing under their joint management until 1897, when it was changed to the O. L. Gregory Company. In January 1910, the business was again changed and took the name of Wallace & Company. It has developed into one of the largest concerns of its kind in the state, vinegar and cider being manufactured exclusively, and these commodities are shipped to the various states and localities. The building, which houses the concern, is a large one, covering an acre or more of ground, and its situation is near the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad, thus furnishing ready and easy transportation.

He was elected to the Board of City Commissioners of Paducah in 1915, served a Commissioner of Property and was president of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Library of Paducah.

In 1918 he moved to Memphis becoming president and general manager of the Richardson Motor Sales Company and also secretary and treasurer of the Standardized Parts Corporation of Memphis until his death. The following was posted in the “Princeton Alumni Weekly” of January 20, 1920:

“George Wallace is with the Richardson Motor Sales Co., distributors of Republic motor trucks, 280 Monroe Ave., Memphis, Tenn. He is still single, and says the possibilities are very dim and distant. His home address is 1543 N. Parkway, Memphis, Tenn.”

George Wallace was a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Ancient Order of United Workmen.

He is the "Georgie" in the Civil War diary of his mother Frances.