W Goodspeed's
Biographical Sketches of
Dekalb County, Tennessee
W. W. Wade, Judge of the Fifth Chancery Division of Tennessee, is a native of Dekalb
County, born in Smithville in 1848, a son of Wm. M. and Caroline (Eastham) Wade.
The Father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Virginia in 1826. His Father (grandfather of
our subject), Wm. H., also a native of Virginia. He was a hatter by trade. After
residing in Wilson County for a few years he located, in 1840, in Smithville, Dekalb County,
where he passed the remainder of his days. Wm. M. studied law when a young man with
Judge M. M. Brien, who afterward became his partner. About 1855 he entered into
partnership with Judge Robert Cantrell, now of Lebanon, continuing until his death in
1858. His wife was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1828. After Mr. Wade's demise
she went to Nashville, in 1869, where she now resides. Of her five children three are living:
Timothy W., a lawyer of Smithville; Louella, wife of Winfield Graves, a
resident of Nashville, a produce dealer, and our subject who is the eldest living. He received
his literary education in the Fulton Academy at Smithville, and at the age of nineteen began
the study of law, under John B. Robinson. In December, 1876, he was admitted to the bar
and immediately entered upon his practice. In 1873 he formed a partnership with Hon.
Joseph Clark which continued until 1877, when Mr. Wade was appointed clerk and
master of the chancery court, by Judge W. G. Crowley. For six years he filled this
office, making an efficient and able officer. In 1885 he entered into partnership with his
brother, T. W. Wade. In August, 1886, he was elected to his present position, commencing
the discharge of his duties in September. His election was very complimentary. He had six
opponents, and his plurality was upward of 1,500. He was one of the first aldermen, after the
incorporation of Smithville. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; of the
I.O.O.F., Pure Fountain Lodge, No. 217, Smithville, is also connected with the K. of H. and
K. of G. R. He is an eminent and esteemed professional man and citizen. In March, 1875, he
married Miss Mary E., daughter of Judge W. G. Crowley. Mrs. Wade is a
native of Dekalb County, and the mother of two children: Wm. M. and Ida Belle.
Mrs. Wade is an estimable lady and member of the Christian Church.
Samuel Walker, a prominent physician of the Tenth District, was born February 8,
1848, in Dekalb County. He is the fourth of seven children of Hampton and Mary
(Hicks) Walker, both of whom were also natives of Dekalb County. The father was born in
1811. He served two years in the late war, at the expiration of which time he was discharged
on account of disabilities. His death occurred in November, 1886. The mother was born in
1813. Our subject received his literary education in the common schools of Missouri, attending
later two terms at the Kirksville branch of the State Normal School in the same State. at the
age of thirteen he became a member of Company C, Second Tennessee Cavalry. He was orderly
sergeant. The first six months, on account of his youth, he was excused from carrying arms
by Gen. Forest. He took part in the battles Tissue Mingo Creek, Harrisburg, Miss.,
Abbyville, also in the famous raid of Memphis, Nashville, Franklin and Murfreesboro, and
numerous skirmishes and expeditions in which Gen. Forest participated. The command
surrendered May 8, 1865, at Gainesville, Ala. He then returned home. After his father's
death he went to Missouri, where two of his brothers preceded him. In partnership with
Dr. Myers, of Queen City, Mo., he dealt in stock two years; they were so successful
that our subject was enabled to educate himself for his chosen profession. After studying
medicine in Dr. Myers' office, in 1874, he attended Missouri Medical College, after
which he engaged in the drug business with Dr. Myers. The winter of 1874-75 he took
a course of lectures at the Physicians and Surgeons College, at Keokuk, Iowa, where he
graduated in the spring of 1875, with high honors. He began his practice with Dr. Myers, who
gave him a share in an extensive and lucrative patronage. The spring of 1878 Dr. Myers died,
and owing to a severe illness Dr. Walker was forced for a time to give up his practice.
He came to Middle Tennessee to regain his health. In August, 1878, he established himself
in his present location, and is now one of the leading and most popular physicians of the
county. He is a comparatively young man, talented and highly esteemed both in professional
and private life. His possessions are the fruits of his own labors and industry. He is a
stanch Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Grant. February 8,
1880, he wedded Miss Sarah H., daughter of John and Jane (Mauldon) Glenn.
Mrs Walker was born March 14, 1861. Five children were born to their union:
Laura, an infant, deceased; Claude, Mary Jane and Samuel Rosco.
Hon. Bethel Magness Webb, attorney at law, Smithville, Tenn., was born in Warren
County Tenn., September 21, 1847. He is the sixth of thirteen children born to D. W.
and Sarah (Magness) Webb. His father was of English descent, Born in Warren County
in 1815, a son of Julius Webb, who was a native of North Carolina and came to middle
Tennessee in his youth and settled in what is now Warren County. He was on of the pioneers
of that section. After marriage D. W. Webb located in the northern part of Warren
County, where he lived till his death in 1866. He was a prosperous merchant and a large
slave and land holder up to the late civil war. He was a Democrat and went with the South in
that unfortunate struggle, and sustained heavy losses during the war. At his death there
were eight of his children single and living with him, of whom Bethel was the oldest,
and some of them were quite young, and owing to the ravages of the war, they and their widowed
mother were left with meager resources for support. Mrs. Webb was of Scotch-Irish
descent and was born in 1820 in what is now Dekalb County, Tenn. Her father,P. G.
Magness, Sr., was one of the pioneer settlers of that section. He was a strong Democrat
and an active influential man in politics and did much in shaping the politics of his section
in ante bellum days. He was a prosperous farmer and live stock dealer, and then a
prominent merchant in Smithville; and Jacob-like had a long line of respectable descendants,
many of whom attained to considerable prominence in financial and intellectual spheres.
Bethel, the subject of this sketch, had but limited educational advantages, owing to
delicate health before the late war, and the interruption by the war, and the consequences of
the war. Because of delicate health, at the age of eleven he was taken from school at
Middleton Seminary and placed in his father's store, where he was salesman and bookkeeper for
two years, when the war broke out and mercantile business was suspended. During the war he
worked on the farm in crop time and taught the children of the neighborhood during the fall
and winter, and the proceeds of his labor were used to assist in supporting the family. At
different times several crippled and discharged Confederate and Union soldiers, were his
pupils. He was a boy of seventeen when the war ended, and when he taught his last, about
seven sessions as assistant or principal, yet by his inherent executiveness, his well balanced
head and heart, and his untiring energy and industry, he achieved victories in his youthful
employments that would have been a credit to one of mature years with superior advantages.
He never went to school but five months in all after he was eleven years of age, but he
applied himself closely and by dint of effort in the judicious use of valuable time, by the
firelight and with borrowed books, he succeeded in acquiring a good English and Latin course.
While reading law he earned a living for himself and family, and aided his mother's family
in acquiring a support and education, at first by peddling on "barter" with hired wagon and
team, and then by farming, trading in live stock, selling goods, etc. He was married
January 11, 1867, to Miss Helen Ware, who was born in Dekalb County, in 1852. Their
union resulted in the birth of five children: Hallie, Carrie, Mattie, Robert Bethel,
and Nora; the first mentioned is dead. His wife is an amiable good woman, and his
children are quite brilliant and well favored. He, with his family, ranks with the first of
his town in the social circle and otherwise. Mr. Webb commenced the study of law at
the age of eighteen, and in connection with other business devoted as much time as possible
to his studies for about six years and was admitted to the bar in 1872, and became the law
partner of Hon. Holland Denton, of Cookeville, Tenn., in January, 1873. In 1873 he was
elected superintendent of public instruction for Putnam County, Tenn., and in connection
with his law practice, he filled this office for one term, when he declined a re-election. In
January, 1876, he located at Woodberry, Tenn., where he was associated as a partner in the
practice of law with Judges Robert Cantrell and J. S. Gribble, of Lebanon, Tenn.
In 1880 he located in Smithville, Tenn., and associated with him Alvin Avant, under the
firm name of Webb & Avant. In the latter part of 1886 Mr. Avant retired from
the firm, and J. B. Moore, Esq., took his place. In 1886 Mr. Webb was a
candidate for chancellor for the Fifth Chancery Division of Tennessee, entering the canvass
with but limited acquaintances in the division; yet he ran a good race, made a fine impression,
and many substantial friends, who would delight at his promotion. There were six Democratic
candidates, however, and only one Republican candidate in the division, where about one-third
of the voters were Republicans and the vote was so much divided that the Republican was
elected. During the campaign Mr. Webb was the recipient of many complimentary letters,
press notices and testimonials from his numerous friends, and from prominent jurists, judges
and officials of the State, which speak in strong terms of his many moral and intellectual
qualities. On different occasions Mr. Webb has presided as special judge of the circuit
and chancery courts, has served as attorney-general pro tempore, and served as
chairman and delegate in different political conventions and other representative bodies, and
on each occasion dispatched the business before him with efficiency and honesty. Judge
Webb is one of the most brilliant and able lawyers in the State. He is a profound jurist
and an able advocate. He commands an extensive and lucrative practice, and ranks high as a
lawyer in both the inferior and supreme courts. He is earnest and zealous in his pursuits,
firm in his convictions, yet social and affable, with good address and a good talker. He is
a devoted husband and father, a true friend and a good citizen, and a liberal, charitable,
devoted Christian, with temperate habits. He is a Royal Arch Mason and with his wife and
two children members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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