Jeptha Homer Wade (1811-1890) US industrialist. Wade founded the telegraph company Western Union in 1856, helping to consolidate the industry through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Later, in 1861, he was one of those who formed the Pacific Telegraph Company that completed the telegraph link between the east and west coasts of the USA. Wade was also a philanthropist, donating large parts of his fortune to establish schools, universities and Wade Park in Cleveland, Ohio, named in his honour. This is an engraving and amtrotype print, prepared by the photographer Mathew Brady and the engraver John Chester Buttre. It was created for publication in Shaffner's Telegraph Manual.