William Riley Wallace William was born in Williamson County, Texas on February 27th, 1844. In 1850, he was still in Williamson County with his family. 1860, found him in Bexar County, Texas living with his mother and younger brother. In 1862, William enlisted as a Private into the Dewitt Guerillas, Texas Mounted Riflemen, 24th Brigade. Dewitt County is just southeast of Bexar County, Texas and the city of San Antonio. The enlistees were instructed to furnish their own horses and arms and they would serve without pay from the Confederate Government and would go into service when the State of Texas was invaded by an enemy. During the War, in 1863, William married Martha Ellen Freeman (1844-1882). It is believed that William also enlisted into the 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment when he was living in Dewitt County. The unit served in the Army of New Mexico, then was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department. It saw action in numerous conflicts in Louisiana including Cox's Plantation and Bayou Bourbeau. Late in the War, the Regiment was ordered to Hempstead, Texas, early in 1865, and was disbanded there. After the War, William and Martha moved to Palo Pinto County, Texas, likely near the New Salem Community in Precinct 4, where a daughter was born in June of '65. The family moved again and the 1870 Census recorded that they were living in Bell County, Texas where William was farming. At that time there were two young children in the family. In 1880, they were in Erath County, Texas where on April 7th, 1882, Martha passed away. She was laid to rest at the New Salem Cemetery in Palo Pinto County. She and William had the following children: Mary Jane (1865-1961); David Moore 'Dave' (1867-1952); William Jackson 'Jack' (1872-1935); Rachel Ellen 'Ducie' (1874-1935); Melissa Orlenia (1877-1943); Winnaryh 'Cooney' (1881-1960); and Infant Son Wallace (1882-1882) (This infant was buried in the New Salem Cemetery two years before Martha's death.) On September 8th, 1884, William married Louisa Jane 'Lou' Ellis (1862-1957) in Palo Pinto County, Texas. The 1900 Census recorded that William, Lou and family were back in Precinct 4, likely around the town of New Salem. William was working as a stockman and the family included six children, ages nine months to thirteen years of age and two of Lou's children, ages thirteen and twenty. By 1910, the family was back in Erath County, Texas where William was still working stock. The family included four children, ages six to fourteen. On March 5th 1918, William passed away in Erath County, Texas and was buried beside Martha at the New Salem Cemetery. Lou stayed in Erath County where she died on April 27th 1937. She was laid to rest beside William and Martha at the New Salem Cemetery. She and William had the following children: John William Wallace (1885-1950); Riley Ann (1887-1974); William Martin (1890-1977); George Washington (1892-1929); Nettie (1894-1978); Floyd (1897-1972); William Wyley (1899-1970); Bud (1901-1967); and Amanda Jane Wallace (1903-1987). source: Find-A-Grave