QUITMAN WADE

The following bio was taken from page 84 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Quitman and Caroline Wade came to Rusk County from Jackson, Mississippi as young marrieds and bought a home in New London, where all their six children were born. Ironically, eighty-three years later the principal of this short history, Ernest H. Wade, died near the home place.

The Wades moved later to Short Pone Community and bought a farm where they raised their family. They later moved nearer town where, Mrs. Wade died.

The children of this union were: Medie Wade, who never married; Daisy Compton, whose husband George donated the land for the Compton school and church, thus changing the name of the community from Short Pone To Compton; Audie Strickland; Leonard; Ernest; Carrie; and Percy Wade.

Quitman Wade or "Quit" as people affectionately called him, donated the land for the Neely Cemetery. Since the first person to be buried there was Mr. Jim Neely, the cemetery was called the Neely Cemetery.

Ernest Wade met and married Iva J. Davis, whose grandfather, father, and five uncles were all missionary Baptist ministers. Her father, O.W. Davis, is buried in Woodman Cemetery, Dekalb, Texas. The Lord blessed Ernest and Iva with six children: Merlyn Brooks, Lou Spittle, Dot Armstrong, Bob Wade, Ernest Wade, Jr., and Janet Lockridge. These children yielded fourteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren, all of whom are living except for two fine young men and one infant great-granddaughter; Otis Brooks, Jr., Ronnie Wade, and little Jennifer Armstrong. The family was a large one, but a happy one, weathering the depression as best they could. They had their share of sickness and trouble but were greatly blessed in many ways. Their family is a credit to their upbringing, all Christians and good citizens.

Lou married a good man and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, but still calls Henderson her home. Ernest, Jr. served two years in the armed forces earlier in life. The rest of the family are also good, hard-working citizens of Rusk County.

In 1978, Iva Wade married her second husband, a good man. Eric S. Edwards, who also owns a home on Lourinda Street here in town, and Iva couldn’t be happier.

Submitted by Iva Wade Edwards