William Tinsley Wade was the son of George Boxley and Elizabeth Wade. He was born in Boneyard, Alcorn Co. , Miss. (Still Tishomingo Co. in 1850). He traveled to Texas with his parents and his 7 siblings between 1850 and 1860. They came first to Wood county in 1860 or before, and then on to Van Zandt by 1862.William had no children with his first wife, Luvisa, who he married in Van Zandt 12 Mar 1870. Luvisa died less than 11 months after she and William married. William and Lydia Caroline Brazeale, who was a half sister to Luvisa, married in Van Zandt county, 01 Mar 1877. This was 7 years after the death of Luvisa when Caroline was 16 years old. Jane Bradberry Hunt Brazeale was the mother of both girls. With Caroline, W. T. fathered 15 children, 13 of which lived to be adults. His youngest child, Lydia, passed away in 2003 at age 98. She was my Mother. William left each child a house and a piece of land. Lydia, the youngest got the home place and 50 acres. William was a member of the Church of Christ in the Morince community. He died July 31, 1911 and was buried in the Morence Cem., Van Zandt Co., Tx. .....notes by his granddaughter Betty Phillips

Caroline was the daughter of Henry Willis and Jane Bradberry Hunt Breazeale. She was born born in either Denton or Cooke Co., Texas near Pilot Point. Caroline was a sister to Eliza Brazeale. She was a half sister to Elizabeth Hunt. They all three married Wade brothers. W. T.'s first wife, Luvisa Hunt, was also a half sister to Caroline. Lydia Caroline always lived with her daughter Lydia (my mother), after W. T. died when little Lydia was 6 years old. I can remember several things about my grandmother, Caroline even though she died when I was 3 years old....note by her granddaughter Betty Phillips

W. T. and Caroline Wade had 15 children. They were:

1. George Willis Wade --- 03 Jan 1878 to 08 Oct 1878

2. Anna Eliza Wade --- 02 Mar 1879 to 07 Sep 1882

3. Melissa Jane Wade --- 02 Dec 1881 to 11 Jun 1957

4. Richard Jerome Wade -- 10 Feb 1882 to 22 Jul 1959

5. David Edmond Wade --- 17 Mar 1884 to 19 Nov 1935

6. William Tinsley "Billy" Wade --- 19 Jan 1886 to 05 Oct 1956

7. Ella Rea Wade --- 30 Sep 1887 to 17 Jun 1947

8. Matthew Harris Wade --- 14 Oct 1889 to 01 May 1951

9. Arizona Wade --- 01 Jan 1892 to 21 Oct 1962

10. Leona Wade --- 13 Apr 1894 to 05 Oct 1949

11. Quillie Chamblis Wade --- 03 Feb 1896 to 30 Jul 1962

12. James Earnest Wade --- 06 Oct 1897 to 12 Oct 1966

13. Buck Winn Wade --- 17 Feb 1900 to 28 Nov 1974

14. Herman Elliot Wade --- 04 Oct 1902 to 03 Feb 1979

15. Lydia Caroline (Bill) Wade --- 13 Apr 1905 to 12 May 2003

 

The William Tinsley & Caroline Wade family in 1898

This picture is from the collection of Lydia Caroline (Wade) Pickens and was restored by Betty Pickens Phillips. The picture was taken in 1898 at the home of Lydia's parents, William Tinsley & Lydia Caroline (Brazeal) Wade, in the Morence community. The Wades were the parents of fifteen children with Lydia being the youngest.

Top row: William "Billy" Tinsley Wade; Matthew Harris Wade; David Edward Wade; Richard Jerome Wade; Melissa Jane Wade; Ella Rhea Wade.

Bottom row: Arizona "Zona" Wade; Quillie Wade; William Tinsley Wade; Leona Wade; Lydia Caroline (Brazeal) Wade; James Earnest Wade on her lap.

This picture was taken in 1898......not yet born were: Buck Winn Wade; Herman "Pete" Elliot Wade, and Lydia Caroline Wade. Two other children, George Willis Wade died in 1878 at nine months old and Annie Eliza Wade died in 1882 at three years old. Of the fifteen children, Lydia, my mother survived the longest. She lived to age 98 and passed away in 2003....Notes by Betty Phillips

Old News Clipping from Wills Point Chronicle April 18, 1901

Your Hosts for Van Zandt County, Texas
Betty Teal Miller Betty Pickens Phillips