VIRGINIA "JENNIE" WADE, 1845 - 1909

Virginia "Jennie" Wade, daughter of Edward and Mary Haggard Wade was born on March 15, 1845 in the Eden/Birmingham Township area of Schuyler County, Illinois and died on July 2, 1909 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. She was 1st buried in the Keath Cemetery near Marcelline in Adams County, Illinois but was later moved to the New Providence Cemetery at Ursa and laid to rest next to her husband Washington Irving Agard and their youngest son Albert, or "Bertie" as he was known to family and friends. She was married to Washington Irving Agard on July 16, 1863 at her parent's home in Plymouth, Hancock County, Illinois. This was W. I.Agard's 2nd marriage, as he had been married earlier on March 15, 1851 to Martha S. Jenkins, the daughter of Wm. and Susan Stone Jenkins, she died about the year 1861.

The following is a short biographical sketch of Virginia "Jennie" Wade Agard:

Published in William H. Collins & Cicero F. Perry's, "Past and Present of the City of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois" (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1905)

p706-7, Mrs Virginia Agard;

"... Mrs. Virginia Agard, who is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres situated about four and a half miles northwest of Ursa, was born March 15, 1845, in Schuyler County, Illinois, her parents being Edward and Mary (Haggard) Wade, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. For many years they resided in Illinois. The Father died April 7, 1884, while his wife passed away in Plymouth, this state, May 22, 1882.
Mrs. Agard spent her girlhood days in her parent's home and acquired her education in public schools. After reaching womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Washington I. Agard, on the 16th of July, 1863. He was born in Ohio and was a son of James and Nancy (Vales) Agard, who came to Adams county during the early boyhood of their son. Here the mother died in 1875, having survived her husband for a number of years. In 1851 Mr. Agard located on what is now the old Agard homestead and he became the owner of the entire farm in 1865, which lies on section 35, Ursa township and to its improvement and cultivation he gave his undivided attention, transforming the land into very productive fields and also keeping upon his place good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. He was a man of determined purpose and resolute will and carried forward to success whatever he undertook, overcoming all obstacles that could be surmounted by determined and honorable effort.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Agard were born eight children as follows: Albert E., born May 10, 1864, married Olive Ellis and lives in California; James E., born November 26, 1867, makes his home with his mother; John I., born January 24, 1869, died August 30, 1874; Alta A., a resident of Knox County, Missouri; Lena B., born March 10, 1875, became the wife of James Clapper, March 7, 1895, and resides in Marcelline; Walter, born May 1, 1877, assists in the operation of the home farm; Bertie W., born December 3, 1884, died August 4, 1898; and one son died in infancy.
Mr. Agard was a member of the Masonic lodge at Marcelline, and James E. is likewise a member of that lodge. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp, the Royal Arch chapter of Masons, the Eastern Star lodge, and the Christian Church at Marcelline. The father was a republican and the sons have followed in his political footsteps. He died June 10, 1895, respected by all who knew him, and, owing to his earnest labor and carefully managed business interests, he was enabled to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. Mrs. Agard is now the owner of a very desirable farm and it returns to her a good annual income. She belongs to the Christian Church at Marcelline and is well known in the community, while the family occupies an enviable position in social circles and in the public regard ..."

FYI: Virginia "Jennie" Wade was one of ten girls born to Edward and Mary Haggard Wade. She and her husband, Washington Irving Agard had four children as of October in the year 1871. They had eight children in all, their names were as follows;

I. Watson Riley Agard
Ii. Albert Elmer Agard
Iii. James Edward Agard
Iv. John Irving Agard
V. Alta Adelia Agard
Vi. Lena Belle Agard
Vii. Walter Agard
Viii. Bertie Wade Agard