Wade & Webb Family History

Wade Edward Powell1892–1966

Chipley · Dale · Madison · Birmingham

Born at Chipley, Florida, in 1892 and raised in Alabama, Wade Edward Powell married Wilma Lila Webb in 1913. Their son Wade Edward Powell Jr. was born in 1914, and an infant child died in 1920, when the family was living at Huntsville; by 1930 they were back in Birmingham. The marriage ended in divorce in 1940, and he married again in 1944; he died at Birmingham in 1966.

On this page
  1. Family Record
  2. Life
  3. Documents (1)
  4. Places
  5. Timeline
  6. Open questions
  7. Searches made
  8. Notes

Birth

  1. 15 Jul 1892 Chipley, Washington, Florida 1

Marriages

  1. 1 Oct 1913 Wilma Lila Webb Chappell, at Jefferson, Alabama 3
  2. 1 Oct 1913 Wilma Lila Webb Chappell, at Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama 3
  3. 14 Apr 1944 Mary McLaunn Nickles, at Election Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama 15

Death and burial

  1. Nov 1966 Burial: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
  2. 8 Nov 1966 Death: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama 17

Family

Parents
Not recorded
Marriage 1, 1 Oct 1913
Wilma Lila Webb Chappell 1894–1978
Children
Wade Edward Powell Jr. 1914–1962
Powell 1920–1920
Marriage 2, 14 Apr 1944
Mary McLaunn Nickles 1902–1976

Line of descent Webb line

  1. Wade Edward Powell
  2. Husband of Wilma Lila Webb Chappell
  3. Hilda Webb
  4. William Albert Webb Wade, son

Husband of half-aunt of Webb Wade, from whom this history is traced. Why Webb Wade?

Life

Wade Edward Powell was born on 15 July 1892 at Chipley, Washington County, Florida, according to the FamilySearch tree, which cites no record for his birth and names no parents for him.1 The federal census of 1900 listed Wade E. Powell in the household of James K. Powell in the town of Newton, Dale County, Alabama, and the census of 1910 found him in the household of Laura J. Powell in the fifteenth ward of Birmingham, Jefferson County.2 Inference James K. and Laura J. Powell were probably his parents, but the index entries in hand do not state the relationships and the tree does not yet record them.2

Marriage to Wilma Lila Webb

On 1 October 1913 Wade E. Powell married Wilma Lila Webb in Jefferson County; the marriage is indexed several times in the Alabama marriage records, in some entries with her name as "Wilmer."3 She was born at Kellyton, Coosa County, on 27 June 1894, the eldest child of James Pleasant Webb and his first wife, Elba Lively, and had grown up in her father's household in Coosa County and in Birmingham.4 The tree records their son Wade Edward Powell Jr., born in 1914, who died in 1962; the Alabama death index for him names his parents as Wade E. Powell Sr. and Wilma Webb.5

He registered for the draft of the First World War in 1917 or 1918 at Birmingham, under his full name, Wade Edward Powell.6 By the federal census of 1920 the family was living in the second ward of Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, with his wife enumerated as "Willima L Powell."7 In 1920 an infant child of the couple died; the Alabama death index records the child only as "Powell," with W. E. Powell and Willma Lila Webb as parents.8 In August 1920 the Huntsville Times noted that "Miss Hilda Webb has returned to her home in Birmingham after a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Powell."9 Inference Hilda was Wilma's half-sister, then eleven years old, and the visit was very probably to this household, though the note does not say so.9

Birmingham

By the census of 1930 the Powells were back in Birmingham.10 The tree places him in Election Precinct 21 of Jefferson County in 1935, and records that he applied for a Social Security number in February 1937.11 The census of 1940 listed Wade Powell with Wilma Powell in his household in Tract 16 of Birmingham; FamilySearch holds two index entries for that household.12 The tree, without a source, records that the couple were divorced in Alabama on 3 June 1940.13 An undated Alabama voter registration and poll tax card also bears his name, a poll tax being the annual fee that Alabama then required of voters.14

On 14 April 1944 Wade Edward Powell married Mary Nickles Middleton; the tree records her as Mary McLaunn Nickles (1902–1976) and places the marriage at Alabama City, Etowah County.15 His former wife Wilma had married James Arthur Chappell in 1942.16 Wade Edward Powell died at Birmingham on 8 November 1966 and was buried there that month; Find a Grave indexes him as Wade Edward Powell, Sr.17

Documents

  1. 9 August 1920 Miss Hilda Webb has returned to her home in Birmingham (social note) The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, Alabama) · clipping

Places

  1. 1892Chipley
  2. 1900Dale
  3. 1910–1966Jefferson
  4. 1913Jefferson
  5. 1920Madison
  6. 1935–1940Jefferson
  7. 1944Etowah

Timeline

  1. 15 Jul 1892BirthChipley, Washington, Florida
  2. 1900ResidencePrecinct 4 Newton (west part) Newton town, Dale, Alabama
  3. 1910ResidenceBirmingham Ward 15, Jefferson, Alabama
  4. 1 Oct 1913Marriage, Wilma Lila Webb ChappellJefferson, Alabama
  5. 1 Oct 1913Marriage, Wilma Lila Webb ChappellBirmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
  6. between 1917 and 1918Military Draft RegistrationBirmingham City no 1, Alabama
  7. 1920ResidenceHuntsville Ward 2, Madison, Alabama
  8. 1930ResidenceBirmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
  9. 1935ResidenceElection Precinct 21, Jefferson, Alabama
  10. Feb 1937Social Program Application
  11. 1940ResidenceTract 16, Birmingham, Election Precinct 21, Jefferson, Alabama
  12. 3 Jun 1940Divorce, Wilma Lila Webb ChappellAlabama
  13. 14 Apr 1944Marriage, Mary McLaunn NicklesElection Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama
  14. Nov 1966BurialBirmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
  15. 8 Nov 1966DeathBirmingham, Jefferson, Alabama

Open questions

None recorded yet.

Searches made

  1. 2026-11-08Bulk review of Matt's OneDrive genealogy folder (Phase 3): all documents transcribed and compared with the tree1 document(s) name this person; see Documents above. Conflicts and new facts are in each document record and in research/sources/document-review-2026-11-08.md

Notes

  1. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: birth 15 Jul 1892, Chipley, Washington, Florida, no source attached; no parents recorded back to the text
  2. "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch, Wade E Powell in entry for James K Powell, 1900. Record: Wade E Powell in entry for James K Powell, 1900 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: residence 1900, Newton town, Dale, Alabama; residence 1910, Birmingham Ward 15 "United States, Census, 1910", FamilySearch, Wade E Powell in entry for Laura J Powell, 1910. Record: Wade E Powell in the household of Laura J Powell, 1910 back to the text
  3. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch, Wade E Powell and Wilma Lila Webb, 1 Oct 1913. Record: Wade E Powell and Wilma Lila Webb, 1 Oct 1913 "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch, Wade E. Powell and Wilmer Lila Webb, 01 Oct 1913. Record: Wade E. Powell and Wilmer Lila Webb, 01 Oct 1913 "Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957", FamilySearch, Wade E. Powell, 1 October 1913. Record: Wade E. Powell, 1 October 1913 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: marriage 1 Oct 1913, Jefferson, Alabama back to the text
  4. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LVV9-QK3 (their page): born 27 Jun 1894, Kellyton, Coosa, Alabama, parents James Pleasant Webb and Elba Lively "United States, Census, 1900", FamilySearch, Wilma Webb in entry for James P Webb, 1900. Record: Wilma Webb in the household of James P Webb, 1900 "United States, Census, 1910", FamilySearch, Wilma Webb in entry for James P Webb, 1910. Record: Wilma Webb in the household of James P Webb, 1910 back to the text
  5. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: child Wade Edward Powell Jr., 1914–1962 "Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974", FamilySearch, Wade E. Sr. Powell in entry for Wade Edward Jr. Powell, 1962. Record: Wade E. Sr. Powell in entry for Wade Edward Jr. Powell, 1962 "Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974", FamilySearch, Wilma Webb in entry for Wade Edward Jr. Powell, 1962. Record: Wilma Webb in entry for Wade Edward Jr. Powell, 1962 back to the text
  6. "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell, from 1917 to 1918. Record: Wade Edward Powell, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: draft registration, Birmingham City no 1 back to the text
  7. "United States, Census, 1920", FamilySearch, Wade E Powell, 1920. Record: Wade E Powell, 1920 "United States, Census, 1920", FamilySearch, Willima L Powell in entry for Wade E Powell, 1920. Record: Willima L Powell in the household of Wade E Powell, 1920 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: residence 1920, Huntsville Ward 2, Madison, Alabama back to the text
  8. "Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974", FamilySearch, W.e. Powell in entry for Powell, 1920. Record: W.E. Powell in entry for Powell, Alabama Deaths, 1920 "Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974", FamilySearch, Willma Lila Webb in entry for Powell, 1920. Record: Willma Lila Webb in entry for Powell, 1920 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: child Powell, 1920–1920 back to the text
  9. Miss Hilda Webb has returned to her home in Birmingham (social note), The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, Alabama): Miss Hilda Webb has returned to her home in Birmingham after a pleasant visit with Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Powell; notes: Hilda aged 11, half-sister Wilma back to the text
  10. "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch, Wade E Powell, 1930. Record: Wade E Powell, 1930 "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch, Wilma L Powell, 1930. Record: Wilma L Powell, 1930 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: residence 1930, Birmingham back to the text
  11. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: residence 1935, Election Precinct 21, Jefferson; social program application Feb 1937 "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell. Record: Wade Edward Powell, NUMIDENT back to the text
  12. "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch, Wade Powell, 1940. Record: Wade Powell, 1940 "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch, Wade Powell, 1940. Record: Wade Powell, 1940 "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch, Wilma Powell in entry for Wade Powell, 1940. Record: Wilma Powell in entry for Wade Powell, 1940 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: residence 1940, Tract 16, Birmingham back to the text
  13. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: divorce 3 Jun 1940, Alabama, no source attached back to the text
  14. "Alabama, Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981", FamilySearch, Wade E. Powell. Record: Wade E. Powell, Alabama Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, no date back to the text
  15. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell and Mary Nickles Middleton, 14 Apr 1944. Record: Wade Edward Powell and Mary Nickles Middleton, 14 Apr 1944 "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell and Mary Nickles Middleton, 14 Apr 1944. Record FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: spouse Mary McLaunn Nickles, 1902–1976, marriage 14 Apr 1944, Election Precinct 29 Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama back to the text
  16. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch, James Arthur Chappell and Wilma Lila Webb Powell, 03 Nov 1942. Record: James Arthur Chappell and Wilma Lila Webb Powell, 03 Nov 1942 back to the text
  17. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LY3H-CZK: death 8 Nov 1966, Birmingham; burial Nov 1966, Birmingham "Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974", FamilySearch, Wade E. Powell, 1966. Record: Wade E. Powell, Alabama Deaths, 1966 "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell, Sr. Record: Wade Edward Powell, Sr, Find a Grave Index "BillionGraves Index", FamilySearch, Wade Edward Powell. Record: Wade Edward Powell, BillionGraves Index back to the text
Every FamilySearch record attached to Wade Edward Powell (23)
  1. 1900Wade E Powell, "United States, Census, 1900"
  2. 1910Wade E Powell in household of Laura J Powell, "United States Census, 1910"
  3. 1 Oct 1913Wade E Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"
  4. 1 Oct 1913Wade E Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"
  5. 01 Oct 1913Wade E. Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  6. 1 October 1913Wade E. Powell, "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957"
  7. from 1917 to 1918Wade Edward Powell, "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"
  8. 1920W.E. Powell in entry for Powell, "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974"
  9. 1920Wade E Powell, "United States Census, 1920"
  10. 1930Wade E Powell, "United States Census, 1930"
  11. 1940Wade Powell, "United States Census, 1940"
  12. 1940Wade Powell, "United States Census, 1940"
  13. 14 Apr 1944Wade Edward Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"
  14. 14 Apr 1944Wade Edward Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"
  15. 1962Wade E. Sr. Powell in entry for Wade Edward Jr. Powell, "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974"
  16. 1966Wade E. Powell, "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974"
  17. Wade E. Powell, "Alabama, Voter Registration and Poll Tax Cards, 1834-1981"
  18. Wade Edward Powell, "BillionGraves Index"
  19. Wade Edward Powell, "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007"
  20. Wade Edward Powell, Sr, "Find a Grave Index"
  21. 01 Oct 1913Entry for Wade E. Powell and Wilmer Lila Webb, "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950"
  22. 1 Oct 1913Wade E Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"
  23. 14 Apr 1944Wade Edward Powell, "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992"