Born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Wade received a limited schooling. He moved to Andover, Ohio, in 1821, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1827 and commenced practice in Jefferson, Ohio. He was served as Justice of the Peace of Ashtabula County in 1831. He moved to Unionville in 1832. He served as prosecuting attorney of Ashtabula County 1833. He moved to Cleveland in 1837.
