The New York herald., 1878-03-03
OBIT U AR Y.
BtNJAMIN FRANKLIN WADE.

btNJAhIN FRANKLIN WADE.
Hon. Benjamin Franklin Wade died at his residence.
Jefferson. Ohio, at hali-past six O'Clock yesterday
morning He appeared a little better on Thursday,
and although apparently greatly prosrassd, actually
gol up out oi bed and stood his night be-
tore he died He has been 10 bed sinoe January 80,
constantly the prey Of typhoid fever. Al one time.
ior aoon' twove hours, II was thought he dead
Out otherwise Le has been rational duIing the
whole period OF his illness He had the
newspapers read to him daily up Sun
day last On Friday night he appeared
80 much worse that Mrs. Wade would not consent to
leave his bedside. and she aud her youngest son,
Captain II. Z. Wade, passed the night watchers.
TIE patient rested quietly all night and when he
orcaihed his last It was without struggle, and his
passing away almost imperceptibIe. ewing to
;he coalition o his throat he could talk. but he
Knew his wife and neid her hand during the night,
aud few hours before his death drew her toward
bis own II requesting kisG His eldest son. Major
lanes r. Wade, Is az FL Paso, or Fort Bayard. aud
has not yet been reached BY selcgraphic messages
tent by his mother. The funeral will place
o'clock Tuesday afternoon next The remains lying
N the mont psrlor OF his home. The face s quite
natural but hts body Is greatly atteuua.ed His Ghost
ooks full He has left viii dsposng Of his estate,
rhioh is probably worth from $4,000 TO $4,000.
The two sons and Mrs. wade comprise his entire
family.
SKETCH HIS LTE
Tho father Of Benjamin franklin Wade was James
Wado, man who fought at Concord, Lexington and
Bunker Hin, aud suffered long Imprisonment at
Halifax, In British North America The close Of the
Revolution left him very poor. Benjamin Wade, bis
son. was born near Springfield, Nass, on the 27th or
October 1900 He had ave brothers and sisters all
Older than himself The boy who familiarly called
"Frank." from his middle name, received eduoa-
at a m MN achO Rut ha wal m of
all the books no could lay hs hands on. In 1921 the
father removed TO Ashtabuia county, Ohio For
eral years Benjamin spent his winters In teaching
country school and bis summers hewina and roll
Ing logs. For several months he was engaged,
with wheelbarrow and shovel. in helping to
dig the Erie Canal. In 1928 he was en-
ployed at driving cattle over the mountains
TO the Hudson, and In 1926 he taught school at
Albany. In 1926 no entered the law oGlce Of Hon.
Elisha whittlessy. and two years later admittsd
10 the Bar OF Ashtabula county, Ohio. He se,sed at
Jefferson and soon became famous fortunate
snaiyzer OF intricate cases at law and as one who
was apt at reconoiiing conflicting authorities HIS
practice became extensive In The tall oil 1885 he
elected prosecuting attorney of the county and be-
came distinguished for ability which he displayed
In special pleading His indictments this day
oons'dsred in his country as models Of precision.
IN THE STATE SENATE
In 1887 the whigs OF his district elected him to Q
scat In the State Senate wherein he Immediately bo-
gan TO serve the Judiciary Committee. He was
twice reelected, and gave honest 10 the duties
OF his position. He made attack the laws
ating to imprisonment for debt the discretion Of
the creditor and succeeded having them repealed
lie at once popular with the poorer classes,
but unpopular with business his district. But
he was the lender Of the wings n the Senate. When
-tt was proposed 10 Congress- annex Texas to the
United States Mr. Wado introduced tho Ohio
senate series OF resolutions condsmning the effort
~ iuexpedient unconstitutional action tending
TO Involve the general government In war; His meas
ure unanimously carried. In the winter 1S3S-3o
when the hrs effects Of the nuncal panic were pass
Ing away, rage Tor internal improvements prsva
cnt IN Ohio. Specuations the credit Of the State
found every bill The legislators gave freely
both to public and to private enterprises for
(. internal improvements Mr.. Wade was tho first
Senator who dared 10 raise hts voice against the
fashionable exlravagance. But his voice was not
bceoed. Corruption loaded the State with debt At
tue time Mr. Wade lost the political friendship
ofthe lobby ana Of many OF his colleagues. II in
lhe winter, lS3s-39 that bill WAS introduced
In the Ohio Legislature intending aid arrest OF
fugitive slaves or 10 expei those who having been
manumitted mad sought to i've In Ohio Ths measure
was stimulated by commission from the Legislature
u
effectively opposed the bin
ON rHR STUMP.
When General Harrison was nominated as the whig
candidate for President in 1s40 Mr.. Wade zeaiousIy
und vigorously entered the lists for "rppecanoe and
Tyler too !" He became stump orator, and showed
that campaign speaker he had superior IN the
Western Reserve. 10 his spescnes as much any
the Western Reserve received u majority OF
10000 votes MI. Wade resigned nis scat
wishes was roturneo IL was TO his credi. i6at In the
list session the Kentucky black laws repealed
and Tue prod'gaty OF tho laws tor internal improve
monts was rec0gn.zeu asd condemned
MARRIED.
In ls4l Mr. Wade was married to Miss Carolina NJ.
Roscnkranx, IA lady oi Mddletown, Conn, by whom
ho had Two sons
ON THE BKScH
From 1871, when he declined again for the
Quo senate, until lS47, MIR. Wade held no public
icc, but attended 10 the practice VI ns profession
IN Of nG ~ns 6hs
II. WAS one OF Tue most popular men the StaLe.
pirins The time that ns was on Tho bench jude
WAGES popularity steadily Increased He despatched
business rspuiy and satisfactorily
UNITED srArks SENATOR.
He served his distrct well until 1851 whcu, while
holing court at Akron, he heard vi his election
United States Senate. He was greutIy surprised. He
HAD maze no Efforts 10 secure tno position, and he
did not eOeu Know that any one had natned him a
saudlditc. III the campaign ot 1s4S Seuator Wade
whiy candidate Tor the Presidency. He urgent IN
nidIug also bis nomination. Before tho nom iuRting
convention met senator Wade openly expressed his
opinion that GcDcrai Taylor hau Dcter mingiing of
good sense, VI patriotism and o unbending purpose
than any man IN America. Most oil the politicians IN
the West w,rc opposed 70 General rayl0r's caudi-
ascy. Mr. Wade took the stump Tor HIS iavorile, and
alter sptakini IN ono visited Penns ylvania, New
York nLd several vi tho New England states
Ihc main point OF his argument that
General Taylor wouia unte The North and the
south. lp 1852 senator nue made persistent cnorts
tho election Of General Scott tOUk mo
stunip invor Of hts candidate He was every ywhefe
listened 10 Win great attention aud considered
OF The most popular uEj elective caapa gu speak
the country. Mr.. WADE tall robust and
rvmmandng; ms voice was oil great v3lulpe, aud hls
mabuer was sincere. Hc known Us '.viun aud
honest Ben Wade" No IN Tue country WAS moro
popular thhu he after his advocacy Of
ihe Homestead Dill la 1852 Senator Waue
voted III minority of nve iVr the re-
peal Of tne Fugtive Slave law When senator
Douglas Introduced bill TO abrogalc tue Nj ssouri
coinpromlse Mr. Wade Voted against ino Lu-
c,Iupton constitution object !, most vigo
Gus attack. Ia 1884 no nad maue speech In the
Senate defining his relations Win the wnig party.