John Jackson Wallis (1837-1914)
John Jackson Wallis was born on February 2, 1837, in Jackson County, Georgia, to William Hopson Wallis (1810–1879) and Delilah Tant (1807– ), both originally from South Carolina. His father was a miller, and John grew up working alongside him both in the mill and as a farm laborer.
At 18 he joined the Zion Baptist Chruch on July 29th 1855 baptized by JM Davis.
In July 1861, at the age of 24, John enlisted in Company B of the 16th Georgia Infantry Regiment, known as the “Centre Hill Guards.” He was elected 5th Sergeant and served until his capture in 1864, fighting in many of the Civil War’s most intense campaigns:
1862
Seven Days’ Battles (June 25–July 1): Heavy losses at Malvern Hill. . Northern Virginia Campaign: Advanced north with Lee’s army.. Maryland Campaign: Severe fighting at South Mountain (Sept. 14) and Antietam (Sept. 17).. Battle of Fredericksburg (Dec. 13): Defended Marye’s Heights.
1863
Battle of Chancellorsville (Apr. 30–May 6): Lee’s greatest victory, with the regiment losing 133 men. Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3): Under Col. Goode Bryan the 16th Georgia lost nearly a third of men on July 2. Knoxville Campaign: Sent west with Longstreet for the unsuccessful siege of Knoxville.
1864
Overland Campaign: Engaged at the Wilderness (May 5–7), Spotsylvania (May 8–21), Cold Harbor (May 31–June 12). Siege of Petersburg (from June): Early fighting around Petersburg and Richmond. Second Battle of Deep Bottom (Aug. 14–20): JJ Wallis was captured on August 16, 1864.
John was sent to the prison camp at Elmira, New York, and was not released until June 21, 1865.
Returning home to Jackson County, he married Virginia “Jennie” Josephine Venable, daughter of Capt. John Moorman Venable Jr., his commanding officer in Company B. Their first child, Joseph Oscar Wallis (1868), died in infancy and may be buried near his parents in the Justice family cemetery in an unmarked grave. They went on to have nine more children:
William August “Gus” Wallis (1870–1920)
Robert Lee Wallis (1873–1949)
Jennifer Clyde Wallis (1874–1929)
John Burton Wallis (1876–1956)
Garrad Lafayette Wallis (1878–1951)
Guy Clifford Wallis (1882–1941)
Etta Marine Wallis (1884–1951) (Twins)
Mattie Wallis (1884–1935) (Twins)
Linton Leonidas Wallis (1887–1940)
Jennie died shortly after the birth of her youngest son, Linton Leonidas, in 1887, and was laid to rest in the Justice family cemetery.
In 1888, John married Sarah Annie Elizabeth Garner (1863–1916), then 25 years old. They had three children together:
Loyd Wallis (1895–1959)
Annie Delores Wallis (1898–1986)
Flora Nell Wallis (1903–2008)
John spent his later life farming and was both a Justice of the Peace and a deputy sheriff in Jackson County. He died in Compton on June 2nd, 1914. His sons Gus and John Burton, by then living in Elberton, built his coffin. He was buried in the Justice family cemetery beside his wife Jennie. His second wife Sarah (who died in 1916) was buried next to him two years later .
John Jackson Wallis was the father of twelve children. His children spread widely, with some settling in Georgia cities such as Elberton, Waycross, and Atlanta, while others moved farther to California, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
