Belle Rita (Roy) Wallis, 1867–1936

The seventh of eight children, Belle Rita Roy was born on 13 March 1867 in Carondelet, Missouri. Her parents were Joseph Roy (1824–1898) and Matilda Braddock (1828–1970).

The 1870 federal census identified the Roy family in Carondelet with Joseph’s occupation listed as a laborer and Belle identified as Isabell. In October 1870, when Belle was three and one-half, her mother, Matilda, passed away. Belle’s father, Joseph Roy, remarried in 1872 to Caroline M. Ong and had two additional children.

The 1880 federal census had the family in St. Clair, Illinois. By this time her name was shortened to Belle. This census stipulated that Joseph could read and write, but that Caroline was not able to do either.

Belle Rita Roy married Charles Edgar Wallis on 28 August 1888. He was born on 10 September 1865 in Edwardsville, Illinois, to Jerome Wallis (1842–1900) and Emma Virginia Weir (1845–1867). They had five children, all born in Illinois.

Children of Charles Edgar Wallis and Belle Rita Roy:

1. Charles Elmer Wallis (1890–1961) married Ruth Ann Hall and Bessie Viola Brower.
2. Lille Mae Wallis, a twin, (1891–1968) married Louis Thomas Mackhorn, Ora Henry Coker, and Jacob Kauten.
3. Mabel Blanch Wallis, a twin, (1891–1966) married Glenn Edwin Barnard and Edwin William Lingenfelter.
4. Jerome Roy Wallis (1894–1896)
5. Mamie Virginia Wallis (1900–1987) married Tornie Benton Stokes and Frank Alfonzo Fillingham.

In the 1900 federal census, the Wallis family lived in East St. Louis, Illinois, where they rented their home. Charles and Belle had been married for twelve years and Belle had given birth to four children. Charles worked as a rail cutter. Everyone in the family could read, write, and speak English.

The 1910 federal census indicates the Wallis family lived in East St. Louis, Illinois. They had been married for twenty-one years, Belle had given birth to five children, and they owned a home without a mortgage. Charles was foreman of the Frog Shop.

In the 1920 federal census, the Wallis family lived in East St. Louis, Ward 6, St. Clair County, Illinois. By then Charles was a foreman in the rail yards. They owned their own home but with a mortgage.

In about 1932, after retiring from his job at Elliott Frog and Switch, Charles and Belle moved to Los Angeles, California, where most of their children lived. Belle Rita Roy passed away on 5 January 1936 at the age of sixty-eight after a marriage of forty-eight years. Charles died on 27 February 1939 at the age of seventy-three. Their final resting place is at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Charles has a Find A Grave memorial number of 66231715 and Belle’s is 66231871.

Written by Linda Jane Wallis

September 2016

© 2016, St. Louis Genealogical Society