For the Next Generations, May we all find gratitude for the sacrifices that our ancestors made for us. From our Family History Book compiled by Earlen Lawerence Wade and Janese Wade. Page 57-60 History of Moses Wade Moses Wade, wife; Sally Maria Bundy, father of Edward Davis Wade, grandfather of Clarence Bertram Wade. A member of the Mormon Battalion and a Pioneer of Salt Lake City, Utah. On July 2, 1792 Moses Wade was born at Elizabeth Union, New Jersey. He learned the trade of a dyer and cleaner and practiced medicine for a number of years. We later find him at Niagara Falls were he had a Fullers Mill, , and was considered “Well Off” in those days. But later his wife wrote to her mother that Moses had been “Cheated out of his mill.” Before we go on with this, I’d like to tell you a little about his wife’s people. One of our progenitors was DE. Thayer of the Revolution and a piece of the coat he wore was in the Hickman Family in 1933. A young Drummer who had gone into the war barefooted decided later to learn to make shoes. He visited the Doctor’s home and fell in love with his daughter and married her. The daughter felt she should never be idle and had used her leisure time learning the tailors trade. Her husband died leaving her with two children under five years of age. She raised her family by applying her trade as a tailor. When the son Bensar grew older, he went to India to seek his fortune. His mother heard from him regularly for a time then all letters ceased and they were left to wonder if illness or if robbers caused his death. He had written he’d be home soon. Soon after the daughter Sally had finished her schooling she went to visit her Uncle at Farmersville, Catargue County, New York, where she met Moses Wade and married him. They had four children. Mary Elizabeth, Born Sugust 31, 1829, who married a Jackson. Edward Davis, Born May 11, 1825, who married Belinda Hickenlooper, January 2, 1849 and Mary Ellen Page one ear later Sarah Marie, who married James Monroe Elliott who was killed shortly after enlisting for the union. Minerva, who married William A Hickman. Moses Wade’s wife had tuberculosis and so her mother came to help her care for the four children. The Gospel message was brought to them by Elder Ephriam White and they were baptized April 1, 1837. They then moved to Nauvoo and later to Hancock county and bought a farm. They had money, provision, three teams and wagons. It was a new country and Grandma Theyer could not endure the added hardship and died soon after coming there. The two oldest girls became dissatisfied and went back to New York. Moses and his family lived on the farm until the mob drove them away and then they again went to Nauvoo where they continued on with the Saints. Having gathered all they could of what the mob had left, they started for the Rocky Mountains in 1846. They crossed the Mississippi River through Iowa in a boat that Moses built and ferried across the river. His wife was not well and the hardship made her worse, but she bravely faced whatever came. Minerva tells, “My pen fails to write of the sufferings, the ice, the snow, the rain, the scanty provisions, the hard work but I do not remember any complaints of poverty or hardship. We were all working to go west ward to our destination.” When all had crossed the Mississippi a call came from the government. Five hundred men were called to go to settle claims with Mexico. They had been called to fight for that same government which had driven the Mormons as fugitives from their homes. And so the Mormon Battalion was formed. Edward enlisted among the first. He never had seen strong Moses feared to have him go. He talked it over with his wife and daughter and it was decided that Moses the father go also, leaving his wife and daughter on the plains. As usual Moses had the welfare of his family at heart and thinking to spare his wife extra exertion he left his property in the hands of Jerome Danes, a man he thought to be a true friend. Jerome soon began to sell some of the belongings on the pretext of getting things ready for them to go on with the Saints. After he had sold them he took the money and skipped out leaving them destitute. They with many others were weakened by lack of food. Soon the wife and mother died of scurvy or “Black Leg” as it was called. Poor Minerva! She did everything she could. There were so many sick and dying. She prepared her own mothers body for burial and William A Hickman, a man who had come from Utah to help the Saints, helped Minerva dig the grave for her mother and helped her carry the body to the grave. Everyone who was able helped others. Minerva did everything she could to gain a livelihood and the time came when William Returned and they were married. Meanwhile Moses was with the Battalion where he did much good. His experience with the sick stood him where he could help the men. The army doctor gave arsenic and cammenilo to all sick men, but Moses and Edward did not take it so they became well and strong and were called in the Company that went with Colonel Cook though to California. He endured the hunger, thirst and hardships in the Company and General Kenny said, “Napoleon crossed the Alps, I know, but these men crossed a continent.” Moses Wade remained true to the religion and was true to his country. He was honorably discharged July 16, 1846. Then he with the other solders among them his son Edward, started East to be with the Saints. They were met by messengers from Brigham Young, telling them it was best to remain in California if they did not have provisions to last until crops could be harvested for if they came they would starve. Edward have his father all he had except just enough to take him back into California. He gave his horses, mules and provisions to his father then they parted. All men who could went on to the valley. Some used the wild mules for pack animals. They met herds of wild horses and the provision carrier mules stampeded with them. Moses, with others who did not have wild mules, divided with together so none starved. When they arrived in Salt lake there was nothing to be bought so Moses traded a horse for a Quarter of Beef and other things he needed. He went to the mountains, cut small trees down and made brooms. He planted broom corn in the spring and when it grew, made brooms and so became the first broom maker in Utah. We do not know anything about when he knew of his wife’s death and his daughter’s marriage on the plains. In these days of mail each day, the telephone, the telegram, and radio it seems impossible to the things that could happen and months go by before the ones most concerned knew. I have not found out when Edward Davis returned from California, but he was married to Belinda Hickenlooper January 2, 1849, by his father-in-law William Henry Hickenlooper. Later Minerva came to Utah and years later Sarah Maria came. Her last years were spent in the home of James Monroe Wade who was her favorite, being named in honor of her husband who was killed in the Civil War.. Edward William Wade, J Monroe Wade, Orson Hickenlooper and others have told how Moses used to leave Salt Lake City in the afternoon and be gone for several hours or sometimes stay overnight and he returned with Golden Nuggets. He grandsons thought he had found a gold mine but would not tell because “Brother Brigham told them not to mine. Many hunted for the mine but did not find it. He was endowed Jan 1 1852. He married a widow Nancy Armstong. They had one daughter, Jane. Moses was a man who always had a job. If there was none available he always in some way Made One. We all hear of the work, the hardships, the parties, the meetings, the pioneers had. I can remember my father and Uncle Monroe telling a practical joke played on our Great Grandfather Moses Wade and I will tell it as I remember it. Some men were standing on the street in Salt Lake City and saw Moses coming with ta sack of corn on his shoulder. Said one of men, “I’ll bet a dollar I can keep old Moses here holding that sack for an hour.” The other said, “I’ll take the bet.” As he came up they began talking with him and whenever he started to put the sack down the man who made the bet said, “well I must be going.” And hunched the bag over his shoulder. Then again the name began talking, and so it kept for an hour and the bet was paid. They didn’t say whether Grandfather laughed with them but I think he did. He went through life meeting many trials bravely and making the most of what ever came his way, not giving up but setting us an example to go on no matter what comes. I have learned to love him. He lived in Salt Lake City and Died November 2, 1869 and is buried in the City Cemetery in Salt Lake City. There are 50 others in the lot. At one time I was told Moses Wade was “Queer” One of George O Elliott’s characters said, “Everyone is queer but thee and me and sometimes thou art.” We are judged by our oddities and the real worth is often obscured. Once I was told Grandfather brought the gold from California, hid it and got it when he needed it. That could not be so, for he was in Utah before it was discovered. Edward was there when it first was found and got the gold there that formed Grandmother’s wedding ring. Now I remember there was a daughter of Mary Eliza Wade Jackson was hearing my father, Edward William tell of visiting his cousin Maron and the two little boys. There was an occasional letter and one came after father had sent photos of his children to cousin Marion, and she said she would take Nettie to live with her. Nettie was sitting in the little rocker listening to the letter and when it came to that part of the letter the tears began to roll down her cheeks, she really thought she would have to go. I do not know the husband’s name but the were Methodists and he picked up his little son and danced about. Some one reported it, and he was cut off from the church. Of course that was Long ago I think the late 1870’s. Compiled by Florence W. Johns from history and notes of Miinerva Hickman. Also from a writing by Ella Hickman Colob. Also with the Assistance of Judge Lester A. Wade.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:18:08 +0000
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