MARRIED
The Democrat., June 27, 1870
On Wednesday evening, the 15th inst., at the residence of the bride’s mother, in Clarksburg, by Rev. Mr. Wade, Mr. Jerome B. Kester to Miss Martha C. Carder, all of Clarksburg.
M. E. Chuch South Appointments.
The Clarksburg Telegram., September 15, 1893
The fortieth session of the Western Virginia Conference of the M. E. Church South, closed its work at Ashland, KY., on Tuesday, after a very successful meeting. Rev. T. S. Wade is made Presiding Elder of the Clarksburg district and the assignments for the same are as follows; Clarksburg, M E Peck; Boothville, F M Candfield; Marion, W I Canter and J S Kinney supplied; Rivesville, M V Bowles and R H Edens; Green, A P Sturm; Sand Rock, Thomas Wilson, supplied; Philippi. J H Burns; Meadowville, W R Chambers; Braxton, J W Lambert; St George, J B J Yoak; Elkins, J D Stalnaker; Cedarville, H P Bell; Cleveland, Elias Yoak; Mingo Flats, E R Bowers; Glenville, C H Burns; Jacksonville, H Poling, supplied; Davis, J A Canfield.
Rev. Dr. Wade Conducted Ceremonies.
The Clarksburg Telegram., August 24, 1900, pg 2
Rev. Dr. T. Smith Wade, of this city, assisted by Rev. H. G. Henderson, conducted the ceremonies incident to the laying of the cornerstone of a new Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on the corner of Market and Elizabeth streets, in Parkersburg, Friday night. That organization is 55 years of age. The new structure will be modern in style and attractive in appearance, and will cost approximately $35,000.
CLARKSBURG DIS. CONFERENCE
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Clarksburg Telegram., June 07, 1901
The Clarksburg District Conference of the M. E. Church, South convened in the church of that denomination here Tuesday night, at which time Rev. F. F. Shannon, of Davis, preached the opening sermon. The first business session was held Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock. Rev. F. H. Heydleburgh spoke in behalf of the Children’s Home. In the afternoon at 2:30 o’clock Rev. E. R. Power, of Meadowville, filled the pulpit. Thursday morning there was a devotional and business session, and Rev. Dr. Wade made an address on “Twentieth Century Education,” which was attentively listened to. In the afternoon Rev. John Shorden, of Boothesville, preached at night Dr. Wade preached and the Communion was observed. This Friday there were two business sessions, one in the forenoon and one afternoon. At the meeting Friday night missionary reports will be read and addresses will be made by Rev. B. F. Gosling, of New Martinsville, and Rev. M. E. Peek, of Rivesville. Sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday. Eighteen regular pastors and a number of local preachers are in attendance. About sixty preachers are in attendance. About sixty preachers and delegates are present.
CLARKSBURG METHODISTS ELECTED
To Various Positions by the General Conference Now in Session at Parkersburg.
The Clarksburg Telegram., September 25, 1903
At the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, which is being held in Parkersburg, Rev. T. S. Wade, of this city, has been elected railroad secretary for the remainder of the session in place of Rev. S. F. McCloud, deceased. Among the statistical secretaries elected is Rev. C. A. Slaughter, of Clarksburg. Rev. Slaughter is also on the examining committee for admission on trial. He is also the chairman of the board of education. Rev. T. S. Wade is a member of the joint board of finance. L. S. Anvil, of the Clarksburg district, is among the local preachers who have been elected deacons. Rev. O. F. Williams, pastor of the church here, has been advanced to the second year.
LAST SERMON FOR THE YEAR
The Daily Telegram., September 02, 1905
Rev. T. S. Wade will preach his last sermon for this conference year at the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, tomorrow, and will leave on Monday for the annual West Virginia conference,, which will begin at Barboursville Wednesday. Dr. J. M. Carter, of this city, will also attend. Dr. Wade has been tendered the editorship of the denomination’s state paper, which he formerly edited very ably and successfully.
Dr. Wade Honored
The Daily Telegram., September 12, 1905
At the West Virginia conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Barboursville, Rev. T. S. Wade, of this city, has been appointed one of the two delegates to the general conference to be held in Birmingham, Ala.
The Daily Telegram., April 05, 1907 Pg 5
The Rev. Dr. T. Smith Wade is able to be out, after having been confined to his room some time with a severe affliction.
DR. WADE TALKS OF CONVENTION
Of the International Young People Who Were in Session at Pittsburg This Week.
The Daily Telegram., March 14, 1908 pg 7
The Rev. Dr. T. Smith Wade, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, returned last night from Pittsburg, where he attended as a delegate the International Young People’s Missionary Convention which convened in the Exposition building there Tuesday morning and continued three days. Dr. Wade speaks in an enthusiastic manner of the convention. He states that there were at least 2,500 delegates in attendance from 30 or more denominations. “It was a great convention in every sense of the term, chiefly in the simplicity and directness in which it was conducted,” says Dr. Wade, The closing address was by John R. Mott, international secretary of the students volunteer movement.
John Willis Baer, of San Francisco was chairman of the convention, and C. C. Michener, of New York, secretary.
REV. DR. WADE’S BROTHER DIES
Former Sheriff of Wood County Passes Away After Long Illness.
The Daily Telegram., June 12, 1908
Charles Amos Wade, one of Parksburg’s oldest and prominent citizens has received the final summons which comes to all, and passed away at his home at 1020 Ann Street. His death was not expected, as his condition for some time was such that it was known that he had not long to live, yet his demise was a shock to the family and friends.
Mr. Wade was prominent not only in business affairs but also had served the peoples of both Parkersburg and Wood County in a public way, and through his various associations in both capacities was known by almost everybody in Wood County. He enjoyed good health up to the time he was stricked with paralysis on July 22, 1906, after which he was confined to his home practically all the time, and to his bed since last Christmas. A week ago Wednesday night his condition took a change for the worse when he suffered three hemorrhages of the brain, but rallied to some extent after that time and appeared no worse until after having another hemorrhage, and soon expired, surrounded by the members of his family.
Mr. Wade was born in Highland County, Virginia, April 30, 1836, and with his parents journeyed when quite young across the mountains, settling at Wadesville, which place was named for the family. He took up his residence at Wadesville, which place was named for the family. He took up his residence in Parkersburg before the war and was engaged in the photograph business, later becoming engaged in the drug business with the late Dr. J. M. Stephenson, remaining in the latter business until he was elected sheriff of Wood County in 1896, in which office he served his constituents four years. He also served as a member of the city council for two or three terms. In addition to being engaged in the two lines of business above mentioned, he for several years operated the Farmers & Merchants’ flouring mill at the corner of Avery and Second Street up to the time he was stricken with paralysis, and he was also a member of the Parkersburg Mantle & Tile Company of which he was president for some time.
Mr. Wade was married in 1864 to Isabella Stephenson of Parkersburg, and to this union were born four children, three daughters and one son, they being Misses Sallie, Bettie, and Veronica Wade, who reside at the family home and Attorney James C. Wade. In addition to his family he is survived by one brother, the Rev. Dr. T. S. Wade, of this city.
Mr. Wade’s home life was an ideally happy one., He was kind and courteous on all occasions, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of every one. He was the soul of honor and uprightness, a Christian gentleman, and his death is a distinct loss to the community.
The funeral services will be held at the residence at 10 o’clock Saturday morning, and the interment, which will be private, will be at Mt. Olivet cemetery.
DR. WADE VISITS.
The Daily Telegram., April 26, 1909, Pg 4
Rev. T. S. Wade has been spending a few days in New Martinsville as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. James Sharp. Rev. Mr. Wade was formerly presiding elder of that district for the M. E. Church, South, and has been preaching the gospel for the last fifty years. He is one of the oldest active ministers in the state.
MEETING
For Prayer is Well Attended in the Methodist Church.
The Daily Telegram., December 01, 1910 Pg 3
Many attended the union prayer meeting in the First Methodist Episcopal Church last night and program was helpful. The Rev. James E. Bird called the meeting to order and stated its object. The Rev. L. E. Peters was named to preside and he read the scripture lesson. The Rev. Thomas S. Wade offered prayer. Several talks of an inspiring kind were made. Ministers present besides those already named were the Revs. H. T. McClelland, John E. Ewell, W. M. Long, L. S. Cunningham, B. D. Stelle and Paul L. Flanigan.
Daughters of Confederacy.
The Fairmont West Virginian., July 07, 1911 pg 5
The meeting of the Stonewall Jackson Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy, was held yesterday morning at ten o’clock, at the home of Mrs. Gilmer Weston, in Webster Street. Punch and light refreshments were served and routine business was transacted. A very encouraging report was made by the committee on the tablet fund. There yet remains a small amount to be raised and it is desired that the ceremony attending the placing of the tablet, may occur, the last week in August or early in September. It is also the intention of the chapter to make that day one of double interest, because of the expected presence in the city, or many Confederate veterans and make that “Bestowal Day.” There are fifty of the veterans upon whom Crosses of Honor will be bestowed.
The chapter contemplates the erection here of a handsome bronze statue to General Stonewall Jackson, a reproduction of the one in Charleston. They will appoint a committee soon to solicit funds and will communicate with Sis Moses Ezekial who made the Charleston monument and is now working on a similiar one for the Virginia Military Institute.
Much sympathy was expressed by the members present for Mrs. T. S. Wade, the very critical illness of her husband, the Rev. T. S. Wade, casting its gloom over the meeting.–Clarksburg Exponent.
FRIENDS
May View Body of the Rev. T. S. Wade at Residence and at Church
The Daily Telegram., July 08, 1911
The funeral of the Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Wade, who died Friday morning at, will take place at 9 o’clock Sunday morning at St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Revs. W. I. Canter, of Fairmont, and U. V. W. Darlington, of Huntington, will lead the service. The body lies at the late home at 449 West Pike Street where it may be viewed by friends and it will be taken to the church at 7:30 o’clock Sunday morning where the casket will remain open until 9 o’clock when the family will enter the church and the funeral will proceed. The burial will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Angel of Death Takes Dr. Wade
Prominent Minister of Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Passes Away.
Founder of College
Great Work is Accomplished During Active Career of Half a Century
The Clarksburg Telegram., July 13, 1911 Pg 6
Just as the first rays of the morning sun gleamed over the eastern hills, crowning everything with the glory of a bright summer day and fulfilling a dying wish, the spirit of the Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Wade, faithful minister and beloved man, passed away peacefully to its heavenly reward Friday morning at his home on West Pike street.
Dr. Wade was stricken for the second time with paralysis last Sunday morning while kneeling in prayer at the close of a Sunday school session in St. Paul;s Methodist Episcopal church, South, where he had just taught a class. He was unable to remain for the preaching service and the pastor sent him home in the care of Edward Flory, an officer of the church. There the stricken man gradually grew worse until death ended his long and useful life. Dr. Wade had been in failing health the last several years and four years ago he suffered his first stroke of paralysis.
The career of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith Wade embraces a wonderful amount of hard, faithful labor in the interests of the Western Virginia Conference of his church and it may safely be said that he did more for it than any other man. For fifty-three years he was a member of the conference and for half a century he worked incessantly and untiringly in building up his church and ministering to the spiritual welfare of his fellowmen.
Morris-Harvey College at Barboursville, one of the strong denominational colleges of West Virginian and one of the remaining few that were chartered by the state, stands as a monument to the persistent endeavors of Dr. Wade as he was its founder and first president.
Only recently he attended the annual commencement exercises of the college and although unacquainted with practically all the students, they gathered around him, lifted him upon their shoulders, bore him to the platform and gave him an ovation that lasted fully ten minutes. The venerable man was overcome with the tremendous acclaim, but tremblingly told his auditors his heart was filled with thanks that his early labors were so appreciated.
For many years after entering the ministry Dr. Wade was pastor of numerous churches in the Western Virginia Conference, filling charges at Charleston, Parkersburg and other places in this state and at Ashland, Ky., the conference embracing a small part of that state.
Then for twenty-five years he as presiding elder in practically every district of the conference. He was always appointed a delegate to the annual conference and he had the distinction of having answered the first roll call at every one held during fifty years with one exception when he answered the roll call the second day — a unique and perhaps unparalleled record. During his ministry he founded many churches in the conference.
During six terms of four years each Dr. Wade officially represented the Western Virginia Conference in the General Conference and for twelve years of that time he was a member of the book committee of the general body, one of the most important committees of it.
He was also a delegate at various times to many national and worldwide religious conventions in which his church was interested.
Dr. Wade became to be such a prominent figure in the councils of his church that at one general conference he received a large complimentary vote for the bishopry.
In addition to his ministerial work and at the same time he was carrying it on, Dr. Wade devoted much effort to the literary field and it was a source of great satisfaction to him just before he died that he had been able to complete a history of the Western Virginia Conference of his church, which is now being published in a volume of about 400 pages and which has been running serially for some time in the Methodist Layman’s Herald, published at Parkersburg, He was corresponding editor of that publication at the time of his death.
For twelve years Dr. Wade was also editor of the Methodist Advocate, which was published at Sutton and at Barboursville in the interests of his denomination. He spent much time and energy in issuing the paper.
Dr. Wade was scholarly and fluent in his writings and contributed many articles of interest to various publications in addition to the work noted.
Dr. Wade was nearing his seventy-third birthday anniversary, having been born August 5, 1838, in Highland County, VA. He had received only a high school education when the Civil War began and he abandoned his studies to join the Confederate Army, in which he served as chaplain for four years.
Afterward he finished his education chiefly by his own efforts and despite the lack of college facilities managed to acquire scholarly attainments. In later life an honorary degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by a Kentucky college.
In recognition of his war service, the Stonewall Jackson Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy held a special session Tuesday and conferred upon Dr. Wade the Cross of Honor of that organization. He wore it upon his breast when he died. The cross was to be formally presented to him next month, but it was given earlier on account of his critical illness.
In October, 1871, Dr. Wade married Miss Ella Hursey, daughter of Elmer B. Hursey, now deceased, and Mrs. Margaret Hursey. To this union two children were born, namely, Mrs. Fanny Isabelle Wade Wallis, wife of Edward S. Wallis, and Harry Marvin Wade, both of this city.
Dr. Wade was much devoted to his children and also to his children-in-law, Mrs. Harry M. Wade, formerly Miss Bessie Lorentz, and Mr. Wallis. Besides these children, the widow and mother-in-law, Mrs. Hursey, Dr. Wade is survived by James S. Wade, a nephew, who is an attorney at law at Parkersburg, and last member of the Wade family; and several other nephews and nieces.
All the members of his immediate family, his superior officer, the Rev W. I. Canter, of Fairmont, presiding elder of the district; and his pastor, the Rev. L. S. Cunningham were at Dr. Wade’s bedside when he passed away.
Bishop A. W. Wilson of Baltimore, MD., an intimate friend of Dr. Wade, has been asked to attend the funeral and will most likely do so.
