John Ade. Though in his sincere, earnest and useful life the late John Ade had no thought or desire to proclaim himself apart from the goodly company of the “plain people”, yet the very texture of his individuality gave him definite facility for leadership in popular sentiment and action, and his intellectual strength, his mental vigor and his high sense of personal stewardship made obscurity for him a thing in the realm of the impossible. He was one of the favored mortals whom nature launches into the sea of life with the heritage of a sturdy ancestry, a splendid physique, a masterful mind, and energy enough for many men. Planted in a metropolis, he would have used his talents in competing with and uplifting his fellow men. Established in a rural community, he used them in developing the things that the environment needed. John Ade was the type of a true gentleman and a representative of the best in community life, dignified and yet possessed of an affability that won him warm friends among "all classes and condition of men." He was a positive force and a benignant force in all of the relations of a significantly long and worthy career, and the influence that he wielded made him one of the best-known and most honored citizens of the county in which he so long lived and labored to goodly ends. He established his home in Newton County, Indiana, in the year that its organization was formed, and here he continued to maintain his residence until his death. Not too often or through the medium of too many vehicles can tribute be paid to this honored pioneer of Newton County, and it is gratifying to be able to present in this publication a brief review of his career, a memoir whose freedom from ponderous eulogy shall mark it as being in consonance with the personality of the strong, simple and kindly gentlemen to whom it is dedicated. John Ade was born in Sussex County, England, on the 21St of September 1828, and was the oldest in a family of six children. He was a son of John and Esther (Wood) Ade, and he was a lad of about twelve years at the time of the family immigration to the United States, in 1840. A home was established near the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, and there the subject of this memoir was afforded advantages that supplemented the educational discipline, which he had received in his native land. A sturdy and ambitious youth, he was soon found serving a practical apprenticeship to the trade of blacksmith, in which he became a skilled workman and to the work of which he gave his attention about five years. From 1849 to 1851 he presided with dignity over a toll-gate near Cincinnati. In 1851 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ade to Miss Adaline Bush, of Cheviot, Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1853 They removed to Iroquois County, Illinois. A few weeks later, however, they established their home at Morocco, Indiana, a village that is now included within the environs of Newton County. This county was organized and duly constituted in the year 1860, and at the first election of officers in the new county Mr. Ade was elected county recorder, whereupon he removed to Kentland, which had been designated as the judicial center of the county. Of this office he continued the incumbent until 1864, when he was elected county auditor, a position of which he continued in tenure until 1868. These preferments indicate significantly the influential status of Mr. Ade in connection with the governmental affairs of the county during the early period of its history, and show alike that his was inviolable place in the confidence and good will of the people. Soon after his retirement from the office of county auditor the Discount and Deposit Bank of Kentland was organized, and he accepted the position of cashier of the same. He continued his effective service in this capacity for many years, and in 1875 he became one of the interested principals or stockholders of the institution, to the up-building of which he had contributed greatly. Though his well ordered activities in this connection and in association with other lines of enterprise, including farming, Mr. Ade became one of the substantial men of Newton County, and his public spirit was ever on a parity with his sure and appreciative stewardship in connection with civic and business affairs. His life was essentially one of service, and well has it been said that "he who serves is royal," for no other patent of nobility can equal this. Without entering into the great white light of publicity, John Ade pursued his course toward the goal of all that is desirable and ennobling in life, concentrating his resources and lifting them into the sphere of worthy achievement. His fair fame rests not on the idea of mere financial success but upon the firm basis of work accomplished and honors worthily won. His character was the positive expression of a strong and loyal nature, and in studying his clear-cut, sane, distinct character, interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation. Mr. Ade was for many years actively affiliated with the time honored Masonic fraternity, in which he held membership in Kentland Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at the time of his death. In politics he was a stalwart and well-fortified advocate of the principles of the Republican Party, and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Christian Church, in which he served in official position for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Ade became the parents of seven children: Anna, William, Alice, Joseph, Emma, George and Ella. The devoted wife and mother passed to the life eternal, and of their children Anna is the wife of John W. Randall; William is a resident of Kentland, Indiana; Alice is the wife of John G. Davis; Joseph is a farmer of Newton County; Emma died November 28, 1865, at the age of five years; George has occupied a high vantage-place and "told the people a lot of things," his fame as an author and dramatist being such that mere words in this connection would be superfluous. Mr. Ade was essentially an appreciative reader and student, and it was his privilege and pleasure to give to his children the best possible educational advantages, He himself wrote with vigor and directness, and one of his noteworthy works was the preparation of a most interesting history of the Kankakee region, including Newton County, this having been published in book form and having called forth high commendation from authoritative sources. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted By Beth Bassett beth@ffni.com