Stories from the WADE Family

Jesse Thomas Wade My Great Great Grandfather.

Jesse Wade was born near Chattanooga, TN in the mid 1800's.  He married the former Nancy Hardin also of Chattanooga. They moved to Arkansas around 1898.. They came by covered wagon. Jessie farmed in the summer and worked as a coal miner in the winter. To Jessie and Nancy were born 9 children.

William Enoch Wade

William went by Enoch and this is Great Grandma Mary's brother. He worked as a blacksmith and coal miner in Russellville. He also was a restaurant owner in Russellville, AR. His last 30 years was spent as a blacksmith in Atkins, AR.. The following article was taken from the WADE Family News letter and written by his great granddaughter.

I remember being told that my great grandfather tried to lift an anvil and suffered a heart attack. He was a blacksmith, so this may be true. I was also told he had been quite a drinker, and I don't know if that played any part in his death. His death certificate states he died of chronic congestive failure of heart. Enoch is buried in Atkins Cemetery. Below is a photo of the Wade Cafe where he was part owner and this is a story about Mr. Canerday and Enoch..

Mr. Canerday, his daughter, Enoch Wade and his brother, Joe, had a small soup and sandwich cafe in Russellville, and his clientele was primarily coal miners. Mr. Canerday had a larger restaurant and Enoch thought business might be better if the two joined together. Enoch asked him if he would like to merge the two businesses. Enoch had $2500.00 and he was willing to put it toward the deal. Well, Mr. Canerday said okay, but I want the money in both our names and we'll put the name WADE on the front of the store, and my daughter will be the waitress. So it was done. The hope of Enoch's customers coming over to the new restaurant didn't happen. Things weren't as prosperous as Enoch had hoped for. Soon thereafter, Enoch had gone to the bank to draw money for supplies and the teller announced that Mr. Canerday had withdrawn the entire account! Enoch headed for the cafe, only to find Mr. Canerday had split town. Enoch checked Canerday's apartment daily (which was above the restaurant) and seen he had been there and left signs of crackers and cheese (just like a dirty rat). So Enoch slept there hoping to surprise him, but he never returned. So he was gone for months and when the town had a "shindig", guess who rode into town on his horse drawn buggy? It was Mr. Canerday. Enoch ran up and grabbed the horse's reins and Mr. Canerday began to whip Enoch with his whip. Enoch grabbed the whip from him and threw it. Then, Canerday drew his gun and began to hit Enoch on the top of the h head. Enoch tried to grab the gun, but Canerday fired once, nothing happened, fired twice, again nothing happened and after firing the third time, the chamber flew out! Enoch was able to grab the gun now, and with all his might, he twisted the gun until the man's finger came off, still in the gun!! Mr. Canerday rode off and was never to be seen again. Enoch said "he'll never be able to disguise himself, for I'll know him with is missing finger!". That was the end of the restaurant business and Mr. Canerday's crooked finger. Story is told by Cora Wade Berry.