William McDade

Place of birth:

Orange County, NC

Date of birth:

05.15.1851

Place of death:

Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC

Date of death:

01.19.1936

William "Bill" McDade was born between 1851 and 1859 in North Carolina. He was born into slavery, enslaved likely by James B. McDade (and/or Anna J. McDade).

He married Fannie Hargrave on July 24, 1884. They had one or two children, with only their son Lawrence living into adulthood (Lawrence died of pneumonia at age 25).

He worked as a janitor and caretaker on the UNC campus since the 1870s; he also worked at fraternity houses. His last job before he died was as a caretaker at the Graham Memorial building on the UNC campus.

He died on January 18 or 19, 1936 and is buried in the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery. Also see findagrave.com/memorial/30747888/william-mcdade

1926