George M. Vader
George M. Vader, a resident farmer of Cedar township, living on
section 34, was born on the 30th of August, 1861, in Henry county,
Illinois. His father, George B. Vader, was a native of the state of New
York, born December 3, 1821. He was reared to manhood upon the farm and
continued a resident of the Empire state until after his marriage to
Miss Olive Brunson, who was born in New York in 1829. In the year 1858
they removed westward to Illinois, settling in Henry county, where the
father purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he at once
began to further develop and improve. He continued the operation of the
farm until 1868, when he sold out and came to Greene county, Iowa,
settling on section 30, Kendrick township. Here he bought one hundred
and sixty acres of raw land at four dollars per acre and upon this
place he made his home until 1888, transforming the wild prairie into
richly productive fields, while to the farm he added all modern
improvements and accessories. In 1888 he sold out and removed to Idaho,
where he has engaged in general farming and in the cultivation of fruit
in the Snake river valley. His life has been one of activity and
enterprise and although he is now eighty-five years of age he still
gives supervision to his agricultural and horticultural interests. In
1892 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. In their family
were five children, four of whom are living: L. S., a resident of
Hagerman, Idaho; George M., of this review; Mrs. Maria F. Berry, also
of Hagerman; and Mrs. Edith Otterson, of California.
The
boyhood days of George M. Vader were quietly spent upon the home farm,
where he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the
soil and caring for the crops. The public schools afforded him his
educational privileges and he remained with his parents until he had
attained adult age, when he began farming for himself. For some time he
rented land but when his financial resources had increased sufficiently
to enable him to make purchase, he invested, in 1887, in eighty acre of
land, where his residence now stands, on section 34, Cedar township. To
this he has added from time to time until his place now comprises two
hundred and forty acres of rich and well improved land. A large part of
the farm is fine grazing land, splendidly adapted for the raising of
shorthorn cattle, in which Mr. Vader is extensively engaged. He also
raises Poland China hogs, keeping thoroughbred registered stock, and
each year he holds a sale of cattle and hogs that is looked forward to
with great interest by the farmers of the country. He has in fact some
of the best stock raised in this part of the state and has gained a
wide reputation in this connection. In all his business methods he is
practical and enterprising and his labors constitute the basis of a
desirable success.
In 1881 Mr. Vader was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Berry, a daughter of
Thomas and Ellen Berry. She died in the year 1895, leaving two sons,
Herman and Roy, who are living in Cedar township. After losing his first
wife Mr. Vader wedded Miss Jennie McBurney, who came to Greene county in 1868,
settling in Cedar township, where the father carried on general agricultural
pursuits until his retirement from business life in 1901, since which time he
has made his home in Ames, Iowa. His family numbered six children.
By the second marriage of Mr. Vader there are four children: Ruth, Ralph, George
and Jeannette, all yet under the parental roof.
The family is well known in the community, the members of the household occupy
an enviable position in social circles in which they move, while the Vader
household is justly celebrated for its arm hearted and gracious hospitality.
Both our subject and his wife have many warm friends and enjoy in large measure
the esteem and good will of all with whom they have come in contact. Mr.
Vader has always been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the
right of franchise but he has never sought or desired political office nor
emoluments for himself. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows society
since 1992, belonging to the lodge at Scranton, and since 1902 he has affiliated
with the Masonic lodge at Churdan, being in hearty sympathy with the
principles and purposes of these organizations. His life has ever been an
honorable and upright one, bringing him the trust and high regard of many
friends.
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