(1811-1890)

American Artist, 20th Century

Union Club of Cleveland, Gift of J.H. Wade Jr.

Wade was born in New York State.  He had been an itinerant portrait painter until, as a young man, he became fascinated with telegraphy. Over the course of less than 15 years, he constructed vast networks of Telegraph lines consolidated companies and ended up becoming the founder of Western Union Telegraph Company. This was all before he moved to Cleveland in 1856, after which he served as director of eight railroad companies and organized a series of banks. He was also an incorporator of Case School of Applied Science in 1880 and offered the city its first large gift of open green space in the city, 75 acres along  Doan Brook (Wade Park).

In this portrait, which was based on surviving photographs, one can discern his distinctive features: a high forehead due to receding hairline beard but no mustache and a craggy profile with deep set eyes heavy eyebrows and a prominent nose. Contemporary accounts of wade describe him as being favoured with a powerful and opposing figure 6 feet in height, a constitution physically and mentally strong, tirelessly devoted to the requirements of business, willing and prompt in responding with an approachable unostentatious manner which made him always, the 1st and most desirable choice for director financier advisor or other officer.

 On  December 4th 1923, the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Union Club hosted a ball marking this important landmark.  On that occasion Jeptha Homer Wade junior presented this portrait of his grandfather Jeptha Homer Wade to the club.