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Below is a family biography included in County of Todd, Kentucky, Historical and Biographical edited by William Henry Perrin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Co. in 1884.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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NELSON WADE, a leading citizen and merchant of Fairview, was born in northeastern Todd County, Ky., March 23, 1825, and is the third of ten children—seven boys and three girls—nine living, born to Brunt and Easter (Carr) Wade, natives of Virginia and Todd County, Ky., respectively. The father was of Welsh-English and the mother of Irish descent. Subject’s grandfather Wade was a native of Virginia; his grandfather Carr, of Ireland. Subject’s father was born in 1793, and served one year in the war of 1812. When he became of age he emigrated to Todd County, Ky., where he rented land and engaged in farming and teaming, and succeeded in accumulating 100 acres of land. He died in 1867. Subject’s mother was born in 1797, died March, 1883; she drew a pension of $8 per month after her husband’s death. These parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject’s advantages for an education were poor. He attended school in all about two years. He was reared on a farm and lived with his parents till he was twenty-two years of age, when he commenced to learn the cabinet trade, which business he has followed ever since. He started in Elkton, where he remained two years; thence came to Fairview in 1850, where he has remained in the business ever since. Mr. Wade has made life a success; commencing with nothing, he has by industry succeeded in accumulating, till he now owns a good furniture store, business lot and blacksmith-shop, also a good residence and twenty-five acres of land at Fairview. He has been Trustee of the village of Fairview for the past fourteen years, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for twenty-five years. On May 25, 1854, he was married to Miss Susan E. Smith, daughter of Zachariah and Sarah D. (Snelson) Smith, of English extraction. This union was blessed with four children: Emma L. (deceased) who married Rev. M. A. Maxey, Walter D., Thomas H. and Richard Lee. Mrs. Wade died May, 1877; she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Wade’s second marriage was December 15, 1881, to Miss Mittie V. Evans, daughter of Hugh V. and Martha (Dunaven) Evans, of Hopkinsville; her father was born in Birmingham, England; her mother in Christian County, Ky.

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This family biography is one of 200 biographies included in The History of Todd County, Kentucky published in 1884.  For the complete description, click here: Todd County, Kentucky History and Genealogy

View additional Todd County, Kentucky family biographies: Todd County, Kentucky Biographies

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