The civil war was approaching Pennsylvania in June 1863. James was of age, and probably asked his mother Mary if he could join the Union army. He was probably going back and forth with the opinion to join and spending time with family and friends prior to his decision. He was the oldest brother and was probably too the man of the family. Even though he was 17 years old, his father was insane in the Alms House north of town. Unknown to James, he would enlist a few days prior to his daughter having her first son.
James enlisted in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, company B in a six-month regiment on June 17, 1863. Remember that his sister gave birth at the McClellan house on June 26th, and his sister passed away on July 3rd. Six months later, he re-enlisted in Chambersburg on February 2, 1864. This time, he enlisted for three years and was promoted to bulger in March. He survived the Civil War and discharged in July 1865. Later, in the fall of 1865, he moved westward to Iowa.
After traveling to probably Denison, Iowa, where his sister Georgia was with her family, he had to find work. He obtained a job within the Union Pacific Railroad and traveled westward with work. While working on the railroad, he met his wife Julia Frances Rush in Nevada. They later married and had four children, shown above. Each of the children would have their own families that passed the memory of their father onward through history. Here are some of the information on these children
- 1) James Louis Wade born in Nevada – Married Ida Dalton in 1899 – six children together
- a) Their first son, Kipling Rudyard Wade (1899-1918) served and died at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
- Their son, Rudyard Kipling Wade (1918-1970) served in World War II.
- a) Their first son, Kipling Rudyard Wade (1899-1918) served and died at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
- 2) Louisa Mary Wade (1877 – 1945) – Married John Wetherill in 1896 – four children together
- Their fourth child, Francis Virginia Wetherill (1918-2007) – Married in 1945 – four children together
- Their first child, Gretchen Elizabeth Mahan (1939-2018) – No children – Oldest descendant
- Their fourth child, Francis Virginia Wetherill (1918-2007) – Married in 1945 – four children together
- 3) Nellie V. Wade (1881 – 1968) – Married Elmer Coston in 1901 – one child together
- Their only child, Preston Colston (1908 – 1968) – Married – no children.
- 4) John Frances Wade (1884 – 1960) – Married Maude Edith Ruth – four children together
- Their fourth child, Eileen Louise Wade (1914-2022) – Married Allan Herbert Wasson in 1935
- Had a son together, John Herbert Skip Wasson (1936-1993)
- Their fourth child, Eileen Louise Wade (1914-2022) – Married Allan Herbert Wasson in 1935
Surprisingly, there are no descendants from the brothers of Jennie Wade that are past 2018!!