WADE

WADE FITZGERALD CLARKE

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 3/2/2005 at 20:34:20

John F. Wade dies Suddenly at Home
Prominent Public Officer and Member of Well Known Catholic Family.

Des Moines, Ia., Sept. 17- Senator John F. Wade of Aredale, Butler Co., died at his present residence in Des Moines, Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, following a stroke of apoplexy the previous evening.
Senator Wade, a brother of Judge Martin J. Wade of Iowa City, a Democratic National Committeman from Iowa, was a member of the State Board of Control. He was also a State Senator from the Butler-Bremer district, serving in the Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second sessions and in the Thirty-second special session. He had from time to time held various public offices in his home county and township.

Senator Wade was a devout Catholic, the family being staunch and aggressive members of the Church. He was an upright, honest citizen, serving his state to the best of his ability, earnest and exacting in the performance of this duty as he saw it. He was a kindly and devoted father and husband, and a loyal friend.
By those with whom he was closely associated he will be sadly missed.

John F. Wade was born at Burlington, Vermont, fifty-four years ago, and came to Iowa with his parents in 1871,settling on a farm in Butler County.
Mr. Wade engaged in farming, stock raising and the lumber business.
At the time of his death he owned a large farm and was active in its management. Last spring his family who had remained Aredale, while the Senator was occupied with affairs of state in Des Moines, joined him here for residence during his term of office, which would not expire until 1915.

Mr. Wade had been working arduously, his position as chairman of a Board all of whose members recently appointed, were new to office, necessitated his close attention to business, and gave him little time for relazation.

His anxiety for his wife's health which had been in a serious condition for many months, added to his cares. While his associates knew that his health lately had not been of the best, they were nevertheless shocked at his sudden death.

Senator Wade is survived by his wife and seven children. These are C.F. who last year was graduated from the state university law school and now is connected with the firm of Wade, Dutcher and Davis of Iowa City; Grace and Nelle, students at Highland Park college and Hugh, Martin, Katherine and John.

He was the third of a family of five children to die in a little more than a year.
A sister, Mrs. M.J. Fitzgerald of Dubuque, wife of a prominent attorney there, died suddenly on July -, 1912, while enroute to the Pacific coast, and William Wade of Dougherty, Iowa a brother, died last April.

Another brother, Judge Martin J. Wade was in Des Moines for the purpose of attending the Supreme Court, and was called to the bedside of his brother, shortly after the attack and was with him to the end. A sister, Mrs. P. J. Clarke of Dougherty, also survives.

The funeral will be held from his sister's home in Dougherty, on Thursday morning. In addition to members of the State Legislature, prominent citizens of Des Moines, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids will attend the funeral.

Mr Wade's death is much regreted by the Catholic Citizens of the state, who honored him as a worthy representative of the highest ideals of manhood.