----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 10/14/1926

Wage, Fernando (6 APR 1841 - 6 OCT 1926)

Fernando C. Wage, one of the oldest residents of Clark County, Wis., passed away suddenly at his home on South Hewett St., Wednesday morning, Oct. 6, 1926, aged 85 years and 6 months. His death was due to a stroke of apoplexy, a strange coincidence being that it occurred just 28 years from the date on which he suffered a similar stroke, and which in a measure made him unable to work much during all those years since, though he had no intervening recurrence of the trouble.

Mr. Wage was born in Bradford Co., Penn., April 6, 1841, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wage. At the age of 15 years he came west, the family settling in the town of Grant, Clark County on 160 acres of new land. Here they all worked helping to clear the land and make a home. At the age of 22, in the year 1863, Mr. Wage enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, as a member of Co. I, 14th Wis. Infantry. His regiment was assigned to the 16th Army Corps and took part in a number of battles and the noted Red River Expedition. He was honorably discharged Oct. 9, 1865, after the war had closed.

Returning to Neillsville he took up logging and farming. He bought a half of the home farm, erected good buildings on it. In the seventies he sold this place and moved to a farm in Pine Valley, Clark County, which he had purchased, south of Neillsville. On Oct. 3, 1869, he was married to Ruth Payn, and together they developed the home. There they resided until 1901, when failing health compelled Mr. Wage to abandon farming. They sold the place and moved to Neillsville, which has been their home ever since. In 1905 they made a trip to Oregon, but always looked upon this city as their home.

The week of his death was one of the rather peculiar anniversaries. As before stated, his death on Oct. 6 occurred just 28 years after he was first stricken with the disease that finally caused his death; the Sunday previous, Oct. 3, was the 57th anniversary of the marriage of Mr. Wage, and he was laid to rest on Oct. 9, on the 61st anniversary of his discharge from the army.

Mr. Wage was a man of upright character, genial and pleasant in his dealings with his fellow men. During his earlier life he was much interested in public affairs. He served five years as supervisor of the town of Grant, and held the same office for many years in Pine Valley, also serving on the local school board. He was in every way a model citizen.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wage no children were born, but they adopted a son, John, whom they reared and educated, and who died at the age of 20, about 19 years ago. He is survived by his wife; also one brother, Thomas Wage of Granton, and one sister in California.

The funeral was held Saturday at the Congregational Church in Neillsville, Rev. Longenecker officiating.