WADE, Charles W. 1872 - 1956

WADE, KARNES, KEARNS, SIMPSON, LAWSON, LAURENCE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/10/2011 at 18:52:57

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Thursday, January 26, 1956
Page 1, Column 3

Charles W. WADE, Retired Business Leader, Is Dead

Charles W. WADE, 83, retired Fairfield merchant and civic leader, died at 9:30 a.m. today at the Curtis Nursing home. He had been in failing health for more than a year and seriously ill since Tuesday.

Last rites will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian church in charge of Dr. C. R. Douglass. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 to 2 p.m.

As owner and operator of the Fair Store (sic - in partnership with George J. Bonfield for much of the time), Mr. WADE was a local leader for nearly half a century. He was born Feb. 23, 1872 in Mercer county, Ill., the third son of Oliver P. and Martha Cora WADE.

He moved with his parents to Maryville, Mo., as a small boy and attended public school in that city. In 1893 he was married to Margaret KARNES of Maryville.

Mr. WADE came to Fairfield in February, 1897 and purchased a small variety store on North Main St. He began his business with a capital of $257 which he had saved from his earnings as a store clerk in Maryville.

A short time later the business was moved to the south side of the square where it opened under the name of the Fair Store. The establishment grew rapidly and for many years was the city's largest department store. Mr. WADE retired from active business in 1943 when the store closed after 46 years of continuous operation.

Mrs. WADE died in November, 1925. In April, 1928 Mr. WADE was married to Mrs. Myrtle SIMPSON (sic - nee KEARNS) of Fairfield who survives. Other survivors include two step-children, Mrs. Roy LAWSON, Council Bluffs, and Roy SIMPSON, Fairfield; two brothers, Ross F. WADE and Herbert B. WADE, and a sister, Mrs. Zella LAURENCE, all of Los Angeles, Calif. Two step-grandchildren also survive. Three brothers preceded him in death.

Mr. WADE was a member of the First Presbyterian church and held numerous church offices. He was a charter member of the Fairfield Rotary club and a member of the first board of trustees of the Jefferson County hospital. He was also a trustee and treasurer of Parsons college, a member of the Evergreen Cemetery board, a member of the Fairfield Library board, and for many years he served as vice-president of the Iowa State Bank.

In 1944 Mr. WADE was elected to the state senate from Jefferson and Van Buren counties to fill an unexpired term caused by the resignation of Sanford Zeigler.

The body is at the Weston Behner Funeral home. Members of the family have requested no flowers.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Evergreen Cemetery as are both of his wives; he is buried next to Margaret in Lot 3rd.107.