James M. Wade (obituary)

Transcription

JAMES M. WADE.
The recent demise of Deacon James M. Wade, so long and favorably known in this city and New York, was so unexpected, except to his immediate relatives, that a brief outline of the circumstances, and a sketch of his life and character, cannot fail to prove interesting to many of our readers. Though always remarkably quiet and unobtrusive in his manners and habits, he has so long been known as a real estate agent on Broadway, and in the immediate neighborhood of the TIMES office, that many who had no personal acquaintance with him will readily recall his familiar features.
Deacon Wade was born in the city of New York, February 19, 1816, and consequently just entered upon his sixty-first year—his ancestors having been of old English stock. He was left an orphan at the age of twelve or fourteen, and his brother and sister having also died soon after the demise of his parents, he was left the chief support of a half sister. At the age of twenty he became the junior partner in a coffee-roasting and spice establishment in New York; but his health failing, he was forced to leave the business, and subsequently became a builder in this city, with varying success. At the beginning of the late war he was the owner of considerable property, but lost it all in the panic that ensued. Since that time, he has been engaged chiefly in the real estate business, as before mentioned. He was a man of sound judgment and solid good sense; and in all his dealings he bore a character of the strictest integrity. In his family especially, he was revered almost to idolatry; and, indeed, wherever known he was held in the highest respect. Besides his excellent widow, he leaves a family of four sons, among whom are our successful and well known physicians, Drs. James D. and John E. Wade.
In his religious predilections Deacon Wade was a firm Baptist of the old school, as were his ancestors before him. His grandfather was not only one of the constituent members of the old Oliver Street Baptist Church, in New York, but was a licentiate preacher of that ancient body; and it was in his dwelling that Rev. John Williams, father of the present Rev. Dr. Williams, preached his first sermon in English. Deacon Wade became one of the constituent members of the Second Baptist Church, Williamsburgh, about twenty-five years ago, and was its first Sunday School Superintendent. In 1858 he removed his church relations to the South Baptist church, now the Lee Avenue Baptist, and long served as one of its deacons.
Of his early colleagues in that office, Messrs. John B. Wells, Henry J. Oldring, John G. West and T. W. Valentine, the latter is now the only survivor. Deacon Wade afterwards removed to the Gethsemane Church, and, finally, on the organization of the new Trinity Baptist Church about a year ago, he became one of its constituent members, and remained one of its deacons and its treasurer until his death. In all of these relations he was ever regarded among his brethren as one of the best and truest of men.
For some months past his health has been failing, but no dangerous symptoms appeared until pneumonia set in and terminated his life on Saturday morning last. His funeral was attended at the Central Baptist Church on Monday afternoon, Rev. Dr. Hodge and Rev. C. Rhodes officiating. But for the drenching rain the edifice would have been thronged; as it was, a large and sympathizing audience was in attendance. He was buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery.

The clipping is narrow and the scan soft in places; a few words are read from their shapes ("idolatry", "licentiate").

Citation: "James M. Wade," The Brooklyn Daily Times (Brooklyn, New York), Wednesday evening, 5 April 1876, p. 3; image (Newspapers.com, clipping by "megorry", 5 November 2025) supplied by Mary H., a researcher Matt Wade hired through Fiverr, with her first report (November 2025; Desktop/Wade Webb research/Fiverr Research by Mary H.txt).