Brooks-Screven-Greene County GaArchives Biographies.....Wade, James D. (Jr.) 1856 - living in 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 1, 2004, 8:56 pm Author: William Harden p. 1067-1068 JAMES D. WADE, JR. A prominent and prosperous member of legal fraternity, James D. Wade, Jr., has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Quitman, Brooks county, for upwards of a quarter of a century, and during the time has gained for himself a fine reputation, not only as an able and skilful attorney, but as a man and a citizen. A son of Colonel James D. Wade, Sr., he was born, July 5, 1856, in Screven county, Georgia, of pioneer ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Wade, who was of English lineage, was born in Green county, Georgia, where his parents, well-to-do farmers, were pioneer settlers. Brought up and educated in his native county, he began life for himself in Newton county, Georgia, but after living there ten years removed to Murray county, buying land in that part now included within the boundaries of Whitfield county, and on the farm which he cleared carrying on farming with the assistance of his slaves until they were freed. In 1863, being then well advanced in age, he refugeed to the home of his son Archibald, in Pierce county, and there resided until his death, in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years, his death having been the result of injuries received in an accident at a cotton gin. He married Bethany Middlebrooks, a daughter of Isaac Middlebrooks, a pioneer settler of Morgan county, Georgia. She died in 1882, aged eighty-eight years. To her and her husband nine children were born, as follows: Elizabeth, who married a Mr. White, and removed to Texas; Peyton L.; Isaac M.; James D.; Archibald P.; Edward C.; Seaborn H.; William P.; and Milton C. James D. Wade, Sr., was born in Newton county, Georgia, February 13, 1826, and was brought up and educated in Whitfield county. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he organized a company for the Confederate service, and was commissioned as its captain. He remained with his command until the close of the conflict, taking part in many engagements of note, and for bravery on the field of battle was promoted from rank to rank until receiving his commission as colonel of his regiment. Returning home at the close of the war, Col. James D. Wade remained in Screven county, where he had located prior to entering the army, until 1870. Selling his plantation in that year, the Colonel came to Brooks county, purchased land lying eight miles north of Quitman, and there continued his agricultural labors. Several years later he sold out, and subsequently lived retired in Quitman until his death, March 3, 1910, at the venerable age of four score and four years. Colonel Wade married Sarah Bowie, who was born in Screven county, Georgia, in 1830, and died in March, 1909. Her parents came from South Carolina, their native state, to Georgia, locating in Screven county at an early day. and there clearing and improving a farm, which they managed with slave labor, remaining on their homestead the rest of their days. To Colonel Wade and his wife five children were born, as follows : James D., Jr., the special subject of this biographical review; Jesse P.; Josephine F.; Seaborn H.; and William C. Obtaining his early education in the common schools of Screven county. James D. Wade, Jr., subsequently attended the University of Georgia. His natural talents leading him to choose a profession, he then read law with Judge J. G. McCall, and being admitted to the bar in 1882 immediately began the practice of law in Quitman. In 1888 Mr. Wade was elected clerk of court, and was continued in that office by continuous re-election for a period of twelve years. On retiring from the clerkship, Mr. Wade resumed his practice in Quitman, where he gained an extensive patronage. Mr. Wade married, in 1888, Mary Jones, who was born in Thomas county, Georgia, a. daughter of James Y. Jones. Mrs. Wade's grandfather, Thomas Jones, a native of Bulloch county, Georgia, was a pioneer settler of Thomas county, Georgia, and, it is said, was one of the three men whose Christian name was "Thomas," and for whom Thomas county and the city of Thomasville were named. Buying a tract of timber land, he erected a log cabin in the wilderness, and with slave labor cleared many acres of land, and carried on general farming with most satisfactory pecuniary results. He made improvements of great value, building a commodious brick house to replace the log structure in which he and his family first lived, and putting up substantial farm buildings. On the homestead which he wrested from the forest he spent the remainder of his long life. He married Lavina Young, who was born in Bulloch county, and died in Thomas county, at the venerable age of ninety years. James Y. Jones, Mrs. Wade's father, came to Brooks county many years ago, and in addition to buying a plantation bought a home in Quitman. He never lived upon his plantation, but made his home in Quitman until his death, at the comparatively early age of fifty-nine years. He married Margaret Holzendorf, who was born in Camden county, Georgia, of Holland ancestry. She died at the age of sixty-one years, leaving four children, as follows: Lavina; Mary, Now Mrs. Wade; Margaret; and James Y. Jones, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are the parents of nine children, all daughters, namely: Mary, wife of Wallace W. Hopper; Lillie; Maggie; Freddie; Sarah H.; Willie; Annie; Minnie; and Edna. Additional Comments: From: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/brooks/bios/gbs521wade.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb