Jeptha Wade

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Jeptha Homer Wade (August 11, 1811-August 9, 1890) was an American industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of Western Union Telegraph.

Born in New York state, Wade moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1856, the same year that he helped consolidate most of the telegraph industry by forming Western Union through a series of acquisitions and mergers.^[1]

In 1861, Jeptha Wade joined forces with Benjamin Franklin Ficklin and Hiram Sibley to form the Pacific Telegraph Company. With it, the final link between the east and west coast of the United States of America was made by telegraph.

Wade used his vast wealth to benefit his community of Cleveland. In 1882, Wade donated 72 acres (291,000 m²) of land east of the city for purpose of creating a park, which was named Wade Park in his honor. Wade also was heavily involved with the formations and establishment of Hathaway Brown School, a private academy for young girls and women; he also co-founded the Case School of Applied Technology, now part of Case Western Reserve University. In addition, Wade served as the first President of the Board of Trustees for Lakeview Cemetery on Cleveland’s east side.

Wade married twice. He was the father of one son, Randall Wade, and four adopted children. Many direct descendants of Jeptha Homer Wade still live in Cleveland today, including his great-great-great grandsons, Morris Everett Jr. and Chandler Homer Everett.