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JOSEPH A. SHADE

 

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Joseph A. Shade. In the lumber industry of Ohio, the name of Joseph A. Shade is recognized as that of a man who possesses an intimate knowledge of the business and whose experience has been broad and comprehensive. Mr. Shade, who is general manager of the Wright-Kuntz Lumber Company, of Piqua, was born at Dayton, Ohio, June 30, 1855, a son of Joseph and Ellen (Livensberger) Shade. The Shade family, which possesses a brilliant military history, came to Ohio from Berks county, Pennsylvania, while Mrs. Ellen Shade was related to the well-known Spitler family, of Pennsylvania. Joseph Shade was one of the largest tanners during the early days in Ohio, conducting a tannery at Dayton, to which he shipped hides from as far north as Toledo, via the old Miami canal. He and his wife were the parents of five children: Joseph A., Margaret, who married William Taylor; Mary, who married Martin Herr; Henrietta, who married Warren Benham, and Nellie, who married Frank Vater. Joseph A. Shade was educated in the public schools of Dayton, St. Mary's College, Miami Commercial College, and graduated from the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, under Professor Holbrook. After leaving school he farmed for a time in Darke county. Subsequently he engaged in the grocery business at Noblesville, Ind., and while there was united in marriage with Kate L., daughter of Homer Evans. Homer Evans married Harriett Emily Brown, a native of New York, in March, 1860, and they were the parents of five children, three of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are Mrs. Shade, and Mrs. F. P. Johns, of San Jose, Calif. Mr. Evans died in 1903, and Mrs. Evans in 1920. An uncle of Mrs. Shade, Major John B. Evans, became noted for his military record during the war between the states, and another uncle, James Evans, was elected congressman from Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Shade went to Springfield, Mo., where he engaged for a time in farming, but later returned to Ohio and became associated with the Wright-Kuntz Lumber Company, first at Greenville, where he rose to a foremanship. He was then made bookkeeper, and in 1889 came to Piqua as manager of the local plant, a position which he has since occupied, in addition to discharging the duties of vice-president and treasurer. Mr. Shade, in addition to being one of his city's leading business men, has taken a prominent and active part in civic affairs. He was a member of the city council during the momentous flood period, when he was credited with much effective work in the way of reconstruction, and was prominent in the fight for location of the "Y" elevation of the railroad tracks, defending the city's interests at that time. He has likewise been interested in the, revival of waterway transportation, and when Gen. Warren Kiefer was in Congress, Mr. Shade became one of the congressman's chief supporters in the advocacy of a barge canal through this region. At the Retail Lumbermen's Convention, and at the convention of lumbermen, at Toledo, he introduced resolutions favorable co this project. He has at times gone to considerable personal expense in advocating canal construction and traffic. At all times he has shown himself a constructive and public-spirited citizen. willing to give of his time, abilities and means in any project which has promised to redound to the benefit of the city and its people. Mr. and Mrs. Shade are. the parents of four children: Homer and Harry, who died in infancy; Ruth M., the wife of Leon F. Koester, and they are the parents of four daughters, Louise, Rosiland, Harriet, and Laura; and Harriet, who died at the age of six years.

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