Benjamin F. Wade was a former U.S. Senator from the state of Ohio. In 1871, Wade, Douglass and others completed an eight week mission to Santo Domingo in what is now the Dominican Republic. The purpose of the trip was to determine the viability of the U.S. annexing a part of the island of Hispaniola. Douglass was sent along in a subordinate role to the other commissioners but was still eager to bring America’s newly found freedom and hopeful prosperity to other black populations. In the end, the annexation never took place.
Benjamin Wade died on March 2, 1878 at the age of 77. He was buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Jefferson, Ohio.
Approximate GPS coordinates: 41.744077, -80.761812
The Graves of Frederick Douglass 