Jeptha Wade, who had earlier made a living painting portraits, became involved with the building of the Erie & Michigan Telegraph Company line in 1847. The Erie & Michigan line was part of the expansion to the "West" which was taking place at that time. Wade helped in building the section between Detroit and Jackson, Michigan, and for a period of time managed the office at Jackson. Wade soon was to be found at various locations in the Midwest, constructing telegraph lines in several directions. He was a determined and energetic man, and one wise enough to see the advantages of consolidation rather than conflict with others in the industry.
He was partly responsible for the merger of various lines in 1854 resulting in the formation of the
Western Union Telegraph Company. Wade became an agent for the new company, and for the next few years had great influence with the officers and managers of several competing lines, many of which were consolidated into Western Union. By the close of 1865, Western Union had in operation approximately 44,000 miles of wire. On July 26, 1865, Hiram Sibley retired from the presidency of the company and Jeptha Wade was chosen to succeed him. In a period of less than twenty years, Wade had gone from being a wandering portrait painter to the head of the largest telegraph company in the country.
The glass insulator with wood covering known as the "Wade type" because of the widespread use of them on lines built in association with Jeptha Wade, as near as can be determined, had its beginnings in Erie, Pennsylvania.
J.J. Speed, who was a close associate of Wade's in the late 1840's and 1850's, is credited with inventing a wood-covered glass insulator in 1849. It was adopted, modified in form by Wade, and largely promoted in the 1850's and 1860's. One of the more well-known lines making use of this insulator was the 1861 Transcontinental line. Several of the glass inserts have been located along this route, as well as a small number with the wood cover still intact. (Figure 11.)
(Figure 11.) Drawing of the "Wade type" insulator on a side bracket pin.
The insulator consisted of a glass cylinder, inserted into a wood covering which had been coated with coal tar. The tar helped in preserving the wood. Two of the more readily available types are the CD 723.3 with smooth sides and the CD 723 with raised dots and dashes. The purpose of the projections on the glass of the CD 723 type was to help grip the wood cover and to prevent accidental separation of the two parts. In some cases tar was also used as an adhesive between the wood and glass. (Figure 12.)
A similar type, although smaller in size, was also used on Canadian lines. The CD 721 and CD 722 have been found on lines following railroad right-of-ways, primarily in the province of Ontario. A couple of them have been located with the wood cover intact, which is also smaller in size than those found on the CD 723 American type.
Other styles, which most likely also had wood covers, have been found in various locations. A couple of the CD 723.5 were located in New England, the CD 723.6 was found on a railroad line in Ohio, and the CD 725 in Nebraska.
Another style, although similar in its use, is different in that a flared skirt or flange is found near the bottom. These are represented by CD's 724 through 724.6. While these are generally classified with the Wade types, most were probably not used in association with lines promoted by Jeptha Wade. Most of them have appeared in the East and the CD 724.3 has been found in eastern Canada. It should be noted at this time that all the items in the series of CD numbers 721-725 have been assigned a number in that grouping with the assumption that they were to be used as a pin type insulator with a wooden cover. Without further knowledge of their use, they have been classified with the Wade-types. It is entirely possible however that an example could have been used for other purposes. All of this type of design are quite scarce, the CD 724.3 having perhaps more known specimens than the other types, although it too remains a very scarce item.
(Figure 12.) A CD 723 with raised dots and dashes still housed within its weathered wood cover. An Indian arrowhead is lodged in the wood cover at the lower left. (Courtesy of the collection of John Hall, Pearland, Texas; photograph by John McDougald)