MADER, Jacob

MADER, KARLEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/11/2014 at 21:34:02

Biography ~ Jacob Mader

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 689:

JACOB MADER, residing on section 7, Fayette Township, is a native of Canton Bern, Switzerland, born August 15, 1840. In 1854 his parents, Christian and Mary Mader, immigrated with their four children to the United States, landing at New York, November 11, of that year. They spent the following winter in Chicago, Illinois, and from there went to Will County, Illinois, where they lived on rented lands, and in 1867 the parents settled in Brown County, Minnesota. Jacob Mader, the subject of this sketch, remained in Will County until the fall of 1879, and was married in that county, March 28, 1868, to Miss Mara Karley, who was born in Canton Solothurn, Switzerland, January 2, 1851, a daughter of John Karley, of Will County, with whom she came to America in 1858. To this union have been born seven children - Susie, Minnie G., Clara A., Jacob T., Walter E., Laura L. and Gracie.

Mr. Mader enlisted in defense of the Union in August, 1862, a member f Company H, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and the first battle in which he participted was at Stone River. Laer he was placed in the Pioneer Corps, Third Battalion, Army of the Cumberland. He received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, in June, 1865, when he returned to Will County, and in the fall of 1870 came to Decatur County, Iowa, since which he has resided on his present farm, on seciton 7, of Fayette Township. Mr. Mader started in life a poor boy. After reaching Illinois he confided to his mother his hope and ambition, saying, "Mother, if I live and have health I intend to own a home, and be able to drive four horses, and own ten cows," and by his industry and frugality he has prospered even beyond his most sanguine expectations. He has now one of the finest farms in Fayette Township, containing 500 acres, 200 acres being under thorough cultivation, and the remaining 300 acres well fenced, and used as pasture land. In his political views Mr. Mader is a Republican, casting his first vote of Abraham Lincoln, in 1860

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014