David Jasper Wade

     David Jasper Wade was born on 21 February 1869 in Kentucky. He was generally called Jasper. His father was George Wesley Wade and his mother was Alice "Ala" Forrester. When he was orphaned at an early age, Jasper was raised by his grandfather, James Braxton "J. B." Forrester.¹

David married Mary Ida WEAVER, daughter of Dempsey J. G. WEAVER and Letisia Hudson, on 2 June 1889 in Jefferson County, Alabama.²

Jasper Wade was a sheriff in Walker and Jefferson counties in Alabama, and eventually became employed by the Tennessee Coal Iron and Land Company (now U.S. Steel), and worked as a special deputy at their remote coal mines. He is said to have told many colorful tales of his escapades in those locations. If he made an arrest, he would handcuff his prisoner to his bed and make him sleep on the floor, awaiting the train to Birmingham the next day. He retired from that job after 25 years service in 1939. His pension was $41.00 per month. He also worked as a "Revenooer" along the way and destroyed many stills.

David Jasper Wade died on 6 July 1948 in Jefferson County, Alabama, at age 79. He died of a heart attack.^3,1 He was buried in Village Falls Cemetery, Mulga.