Shade, Jacob B

Shade, Jacob B., a minister of the German Reformed Church, was born in Montgomery County, Pa., April 25, 1817. He began his studies in Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pa., in May, 1839; and finished his theological studies in the seminary located in the same place. Full of zeal, he preached, while in the seminary, in destitute places among the mountains west of Mercersburg, and was the means of organizing several congregations. He was licensed and ordained in May, 1843, and continued his labors for a short time in the mountains where he had preached before. At the close of the same year he became colporteur in Berks County, Pa., for the American Tract Society, spending one year in that field. In 1844-45 he spent a year in the same work in Alabama. On his return his health had entirely failed, and he died Jan. 6, 1846. With ordinary natural abilities, he was possessed of extraordinary zeal and devotion to the work of Christ. He preached in German and English.