WADE, JAMES
AARON, farmer, was born July 10, 1876,
near the Tennessee River, Marshall County: son of John
Washington and Sarah Elizabeth (Woosley) Wade, the
former who was a native of Rome, Ga. Both the Wade and
Woosley families were early settlers in Marshall
County. J. A. Wade was educated in the public schools
at Alston, Ark., and in 1901 graduated from the high
school at Cook- ville, Tex. He taught school in
Cookville, 1903-04; at Naples, Tex., 1905-06; in 1906
entered the U. S. department of agriculture as a
special agent and in such capacity served from
1906-1907 in Texas, and from 1907-1910 in Alabama; was
active in the boll weevil campaigns both in Texas and
Alabama; in 1906 began a series of experiments which
resulted in the development of the Uncle Sam cotton,
for which he received prizes at the state fair, 1910
and in 1912 the award of one thousand dollars offered
by the American land and irrigation exposition in New
York City, for the best short staple cotton developed
to that date in the United States; in 1907, located in
Alexander City; during the next three years organized
and conducted farm demonstration work throughout Ine
central and northern parts of the state; in 1910
resigned his position with the govern - ment; entered
upon farming on his own account; and on November 3,
1914, was called to the position of commissioner of
agriculture and industries, defeating Norris Wood,
Republican, Sid Berry, Progressive, and F. A. Genaty,
Socialist. He is a Democrat; a Baptist; and a Master
Mason. Married: on December 2, 1906, at Mt. Pleasant,
Tex., to Abbie A. Stephenson, daughter of John Mann
and Cora (Glass) Stephenson of that place. Residence:
Near Alexander City.
Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of
Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie
Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke
publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Barb
Ziegenmeyer
