WALLACE, EDWARD PATRICK (1867-1940)

WALLACE, EDWARD PATRICK, Catholic parish priest, Barnaby River, 1891-94, and Nelson, 1921-39; b. Levis, Que., 24 Jan 1867, s/o John Wallace and Catherine McDonough; brother of Peter James Wallace; ordained 1890; d. Chatham, 31 Mar 1940.

Edward P. Wallace moved to Chatham from Levis, Que., when he was five, with his parents, brothers, and sisters. Of nine children in the family who survived to adulthood, three became priests, one a university professor, and one a physician.

Wallace attended St Michael's male academy in Chatham and was trained for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary in Montreal. After his ordination he was curate at Campbellton, until appointed in 1891 as the first priest of the newly-erected parish of Barnaby River. Father Marcel-François Richard had been the missionary at Barnaby River between 1882 and 1884, and the Most Pure Heart of Mary Church was built there during the last year of his term. However, from September 1884, when Richard departed, to July 1891, when Wallace was installed, the church was served by Father Nicholas J. Power as a mission of Nelson.

In 1892-93 Wallace filled in as curate at Tracadie. He then returned to Barnaby River as parish priest and stayed until 1894. He later had appointments at Drummond, Campbellton, and West Bathurst. While stationed at Campbellton he took an interest in the activities of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was occupying the office of provincial president of the order in 1909. He returned to the Miramichi in 1921, as successor to Father Power at Nelson. Between 1923 and 1926 he also served part time on the teaching staff of St Thomas College.

In the words of Father Bernard M. Broderick, Wallace was a "quiet, soft spoken man," who was "full of kindness." He was "thoughtful" and "studious" and an "excellent preacher," but also "something of an eccentric." He kept his office in great disarray and would permit baptism and marriage information to accumulate for months before recording it. He was ill in December 1939 and was provided with relief from his duties. He was a patient in the Hotel Dieu Hospital at the time of his death.