John Tade

TADE, DAVIES, MARSHALL, DEWEY, PERCIVAL, SPEAR

Posted By: Gloria Jean Dodds (email)
Date: 5/13/2002 at 13:57:10

In Memoriam John Tade.

John Tade, died in Decatur County, Kansas, Oct. 5, 1890, John Tade, aged 86 years 5 months and one day. Deceased was born in Barren County, Kentucky, May 4, 1804. His father David Tade, a local preacher in the M. E. church having emigrated to that place from North Carolina some time previous. Soon after John's birth, he removed with his family to White County and thence to Jefferson County, Illinois, where deceased grew to manhood, and was married to Martha Davies in 1826. He removed soon after his marriage to Tazewell County, Illinois, remaining there until the Autumn of 1835, when with his family he removed to the then territory of Michigan, now Iowa, crossing the Mississippi River as what was then known as "Flint Hills" now Burlingame, Iowa. He built a cabin at the foot of the bluffs about half way between Burlington and Fort Madison, and remained there during the following winter, having for immediate neighbors Chief Black Hawk and scores of Sac and Fox Indians. In 1836 he removed to what is now Denmark Township, Lee County, remaining there until 1854, when he removed to Harrisburg Township, Van Buren County. He was a Citizen of Harrisburg Township until 1877 when with his son, John D. he removed to Mills County, Iowa, and thence to Decatur County, Kansas in 1883, where he died as stated above. Retaining his mental faculties in full vigor until the last. During the summer of 1889 his health and physical power
was such as to enable him to raise a good crop of corn, gather and crib it himself, but during the winter of 89-90 he was attacked with la grippe, from which he never recovered. He was a member of the Christian Church and died with a good hope of living immortality. Mr. Tade was twice married. The fruit of his first marriage was six sons and three daughters. Of his sons, the eldest, Ewing O., is a Congregational Minister located in Washington, D. C., George died soon after reaching his majority. B. F. is a resident of Sacramento, California. James returned from the army a broken down soldier and died soon after. John D. owns a large farm in Decatur County, Kansas. W. A. was the honored representative of Van Buren County, Iowa, in the 2nd General Assembly. Of his daughters, Susan engaged in teaching for several years, married Mr. William Marshall, present treasurer of Trego County, Kan.
Mollie also taught several terms, married G. K. Dewey, merchant and resident of Wakeeney, Kansas; Lottie is an estimable person, married to Mr. J. Percival, one of Van Buren County's respected citizen's. Mr. Tade's first wife died in 1848 in Denmark Township, Lee County, Iowa. In 1858 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Spear, who survives him, having walked by his side for thirty years. Thus it has been with our old friend, born in the wilds of Kentucky, when it was just emerging from that condition which its name imports, "The bloody ground". The Indians were yet numerous and dangerous; the white population of the entire state did not equal the present population of one of its principal cities, less than four and a half years after the death of George Washington, hence has lived under the administration of every president this government has ever had but two. Born when all the territory lying north of Mason and Dixon's line, and west of the Wabash River to the Missouri was only inhabited by "beast of prey: or "men as fierce and wild as they". While all the country between the Missouri and the foot hills of the Rockies was but little better than the great Arabian desert, with a life stretching almost the nineteenth century, he has lived to see this vast empire much larger in area than many kingdoms of the old world; brought from the awful grandeur of loneliness to a state of beauty and civilized loveliness. But he is gone. Father Tade, farwell. October 1890

Sent to me by Mark Tade and to him i am greatful and thankful for his help. Jean Dodds