Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 258.
 
SAMUEL WADE

     One of the pioneer ranchmen of Wallowa county is Samuel Wade, who for
thirty-seven years has been successfully engaged in general farming and
stock-raising in the vicinity of Lostine, where he owns sixteen hundred and
forty acres of land, all of which is well improved and under high cultivation.
He was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, on the 7th of January, 1848,
and is a son of George and Mary Ann (Eakin) Wade. In 1856 the parents removed to
Iowa, where for many years the father engaged in farming. They are both now
deceased, the father having passed away in 1900 and the mother in 1879.
     Samuel Wade was only a child of eight years when he accompanied his people
on their removal to Iowa, where he pursued his education in the common schools
until he was twenty. While engaged in mastering the common branches he was
becoming familiar with the best practical methods of tilling the fields and
caring for the crops under the capable supervision of his father. For two years
after laying aside his textbooks, he gave his undivided attention to farming and
stock-raising in Iowa, but at the end of that time he decided to come to the
northwest. He had implicit confidence in the rapid development of this section
of the country as soon as better railroad facilities were afforded, and in 1873,
together with his young wife, he crossed the plains to Oregon. They first
located in Union county, where he rented a ranch that he operated with excellent
success for four years. At the expiration of that time he had sufficient capital
to undertake to develop a place of his own, so coming to Wallowa county he
homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles east of Lostine.
With his characteristic energy he immediately set about improving his land and
placing it under cultivation. He worked with tireless energy during those first
few years, meeting with the usual difficulties and obstacles encountered by all
pioneers. His efforts were rewarded with success, however, his land yielding
more abundantly each year, while his herds thrived and multiplied. As his
circumstances warranted from time to time he extended his holdings until he now
owns sixteen hundred and forty acres of land. This is all under cultivation and
well improved and is now numbered among the valuable properties of the county.
He has erected large, commodious barns and outbuildings and a comfortable
residence on his ranch, all of which are provided with modern conveniences
appropriate to their various needs. His place is thoroughly equipped with every
implement or machine that will minimize the labor or expedite the work connected
with its operation, which is entirely consistent with the spirit of progress
that Mr. Wade has always manifested. In connection with the cultivation of his
extensive fields he is making a specialty of the breeding and raising Percheron
horses. He is meeting with excellent success in this and unquestionably has one
of the best breeds of horses in eastern Oregon, and is known as one of the
representative stockmen of the state. Prosperity has crowned the endeavors of
Mr. Wade and in addition to his fine ranch he is a large stockholder in the
Enterprise State bank of which he is president, and he is interested in various
other local activities. He is a practical man, and conservative and cautious in
his speculation, never undertaking anything until he has conceived a definite
line of action.
     Wayne county, Iowa, was the scene of Mr. Wade's marriage to Miss Louisa
Evans, a daughter of Hiram and Sarah Jane Evans, the event being celebrated on
May 4, 1871. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wade, as follows:
Jennie, who married J. L. Reavis; Maude, who became the wife of C. B. Mays; and
Hiram, who is at home assisting his father with the operation of the ranch.
     The family attend the Christian church and the political support of Mr.
Wade is given to the democratic party. He has never prominently figured in local
affairs, however, his extensive private interests always having precluded the
possibility of his assuming official responsibilities. He is one of the widely
known ranchmen of the county as well as one of the most substantial citizens,
and has the gratification of knowing that such success as has attended his
efforts has been the well merited reward of concentrated and intelligently
directed energy, as he came to this county with practically no capital save his
youthful optimism and a determination of purpose that refused to recognize
defeat.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.