James Adkins Slade

     James Adkins Slade was born on November 2, 1814 in Richmond, Virginia.^1,2 He was the son of John Wesley Slade.

     James married Ellen K. Smith circa 1839.² James Adkins Slade was listed head of household in the census in 1840 in Randolph County, Illinois.³ He was listed head of household in the census on August 16, 1850 in Reynolds County, Missouri.² He was listed head of household in the census on June 26, 1860 in Lesterville, Reynolds County, Missouri.¹ He died of typhoid on December 15, 1869 in Lesterville, Reynolds County, Missouri, at age 55.⁴ The following death notice appeared in the Iron County newspaper:

Died: Lesterville, Reynolds Co., Dec 15, 1869, James Adkins Slade aged 55 years, one month and 13 days. He was born in Richmond Va. living in Reynolds Co. past 22 years. Member of Missionary Baptist Church. Leaves a wife and large family to morn.⁴

A biographical sketch written about James Adkins Slade in the Reynolds County, Missouri Sesquicentennial Year publication indicates that James Adkins' father was John Wesley Slade of Richmond, Virginia, who settled in Randolph County, Illiinois about 1830.

There was another John Wesley Slade who was named as a son in the 1826 will of John Slade of Richmond, Virginia. However, that John Wesley Slade mentioned in the will was still a minor in 1826, making him about the same age as James Adkins Slade. Thererfore, the two John Wesley Slade's are more likely to be cousins rather than the same person. However, it should also be noted that James Adkins Slade of Missouri named his first son John Wesley Slade. We feel with some certainly, that these two families must be closely related in some manner.

Another train of thought, and possibility is that the Sesquicentennial publication was in error and the John Adkins Slade was actually the James "G" Slade mentioned in the 1826 will who was son of Jonah Slade, brother of John Slade of Richmond.⁵