She moved to San Diego from Sri Lanka in 1887. In 1893-94 Miss Bessie Treahy was listed in the San Diego City Directory as was a chambermaid at the Florence Hotel.
She married Francis (Frank) Xaviel Wallace in July, 1904. Frank was born on November 27, 1858 in Canada. His parents were George H. Wallace and Mary Ann Crocker.
From 1901-1902, Frank worked for the American Fishing Company. From 1905 until he died on October 22, 1915, he operated Mays & Wallace Saloon at 1236 F Street with John C. B. Mays.
At the time of the 1910 census they were living at 446 National Avenue. The household consisted of Frank X. age 54, Mary C. age 45, and Edwin Edsall, their nephew, age 6.
At the time of the 1920 census Katherine was still living in San Diego at 1842 National Avenue. She was employed as a nurse and living with her nephew Charles Edsall.
She was at the same address in 1930, but was no longer working. She was still living with Charles.
In 1940 she was still in the same house with "Charles Edwin Wallace." Charles was a house painter.
She died on June 1, 1942 of gangrene of the left ankle in San Diego. She is buried at Mission Hills (Calvary) Cemetery in San Diego.
Charles died June 16, 1948 when he was only 48.
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San Diego, California was incorporated in 1850, the same year California became a state. The original Old Town was located several miles inland. In the late 1860s, Alonzo Horton promoted a move to New Town on the bay. New Town grew quickly and became the city center. In 1915, San Diego hosted the Panama-California Exposition.
WALLACE - Mary Catherine, June 1; age 78; sister of Mrs. Agnes Flynn and Mrs. Elizabeth Edsall; aunt of Catherine and Edwin Edsall, William and Frank Flynn. Requiem mass this morning (Wednesday), 9 o'clock, at Blessed Sacrament church. Interment Mission Hills Cemetery. Goodbody's Ivy Chapel conducting. The San Diego Union, 3 June 1942
Woman Pioneer Resident of S. D. Succumbs
Mrs. Mary Catherine Wallace, 70, of 1842 National Ave., a pioneer resident of San Diego, died yesterday in a local hospital.
The Rosary will be recited tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Goodbody mortuary chapel. Requiem mass will be celebrated in the Blessed Sacrament church, 4540 El Cerrito Dr., Thursday morning at 9. Burial will follow in the Mission Hills cemetery.
Born in Batticoloa, Ceylon, Mrs. Wallace moved with a sister and two brothers to San Diego in 1887 from her birthplace. She was a member of the Foresters of America.
She leaves two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Flynn and Mrs. Elizabeth Edsall; a niece, Catherine Edsall and three nephews, Edwin, William and Frank Flynn.
The San Diego Union, June 2, 1942, page A-4:3
WALLACE - At the residence, No. 1842 National Avenue, this city, Oct. 22, 1915, Frank X. Wallace, husband of Mary Katherine Wallace, brother of Alice J. Wallace, and uncle of Mrs. Josephine M. Short of San Diego, and Leo Friedman of San Francisco, Cal.; a native of Canada, aged 67 years, 10 months, 25 days.
Friends and members of the Foresters of America are invited to attend the funeral from the residence No. 1842 National avenue, at 9 o'clock a.m. today (Monday), thence to Our Lady of Angels Church, Twenty-fourth and G streets, where a solemn requiem high mass will be held at 9:30 o'clock. Interment at Catholic cemetery. Funeral arrangements in charge of Johnson, Saum and Benbough. The San Diego Union, October 25, 1915, page 5
