Hamilton Wade

As printed in 1902

HAMILTON WADE.

Hamilton Wade, a native of Clark county, since arriving at years of maturity has been closely associated with the industrial and agricultural development of the same. He is to-day engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born in Clark county, January 20, 1828, and is a son of John and Mary (Butterfield) Wade, both of whom were born near Chester, Virginia, and were there reared and married, removing to Clark county, Ohio, several years before the birth of Hamilton. The father followed farming, having one hundred and sixteen acres of land in Clark county. He died when our subject was but five years of age, and the mother passed away when he had reached the age of thirteen or fourteen. He was thus early left an orphan, with life's intricate problems to solve for himself. In the father's family were seven children, but the youngest died in infancy; Mary A. married Jackson Allen, and moved to Iowa, living near Mount Pleasant, but is now deceased; Isaac married and removed to Greene county, Missouri, where he died; Thomas resides near Cedarville, Ohio; John died near Lafayette, Indiana; Joshua died in Indiana; and our subject is the youngest of the family.

The subject of this review, after his mother’s death, worked upon a farm, earning a livelihood for himself as best he could. At first his salary was four dollars per month and later eight dollars arid thirty-three cents per month, which was the highest he received during his minority. However, as the years passed by he grew familiar with the work of field and meadow, and as he had early learned habits of industry, economy and frugality these stood him in good stead in later life and formed a good capital on which to build his fortunes.

In Clark county, March 26, 1848, Mr. Wade was united in marriage to Miss Anna Eliza Wise, of this county. For the next five years he rented land, on which he raised good crops and was able to save quite a little money. He had started with the earthly possession of two horses, a dear wife and his own willing hands. At the expiration of five years he bought one hundred and three acres of land, on which he resided for about a year. He next removed near his present location and rented over four hundred and forty acres, where he engaged in the raising, buying and selling of sheep. In this he was very successful. Here he remained for two years, when he rented his present place, which at the expiration of two years he purchased. He now owns one hundred and fifty-four acres of rich and highly cultivated land in Madison township, his present place of residence, with his postoffice address at South Charleston.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wade was blessed with six children: Jane, who is at home; Emma, who died in early womanhood; Lucy, now deceased, who became the wife of Sterling Sprague, and left one child, Charles Sprague, who married Katie McQuaide, and has two children— Elden and Frank; Jesse D., who was born in Madison township, December 17, 1857; Charles, deceased; and Alice, at home.

Mr. Wade may truly be called a self-made man and deserves all the praise that the term implies. Starting out in life ‘for himself when nothing more than a child, having had limited educational privileges, through experience, reading and observation he has improved the natural faculties*with which nature endowed him, has led an honorable, upright life and has achieved a very creditable degree of success. He has also taken an active part in the upbuilding of his community. He was born in the county at an early date in its history and has witnessed its advancement to its present proud position as one of the leading counties of this“ great commonwealth. He was reared amid the scenes of frontier life and endured many of the hardships that fall to the lot of the pioneer. Throughout all of his career he has embodied the brave and courageous spirit of one who, brooking no obstacles, has gradually and steadily won his way to success, until he is to-day one of the honored and highly respected citizens of his community.

Mr. Wade is a Republican in his political views, although not an aspirant for office, yet ever taking a deep interest in the growth of the party. As an agriculturist and stock-raiser of Clark county he stands as a representative citizen, whose sterling traits of character have won for him many friends.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.