Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County, Illustrated,
Edited by Newton Bateman, LL.D, Paul Selby, A.M. - Edited by Jesse Heylin
1908
BADER, Benjamin F., of the firm of Bader & Company, successful
grain dealers of Vermont, Fulton County, IL, was born in Preble County, Ohio,
November 20, 1838. He is a son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Thompson) Bader, natives
of Germany and the State of Pennsylvania respectively. Jeremiah came alone
to the United States when he was about eighteen years old taking passage
thus hurriedly in order to avoid the required service in the German army.
He located in Pennsylvania, where he was shortly afterward married, and subsequently
moved to Ohio. In 1846 he journeyed to Schuyler County, IL, and located near
the village of Bader, named in honor of his son, William, who was largely
instrumental in locating the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad Company near that place. Jeremiah Bader entered 240 acres of Government
land in the vicinity of the town, on which he was engaged in farming until
1855, when he moved to Astoria, IL, and there died in October, 1856, at the
age of fifty-seven years. He was born in 1799 and came to this country in
1817. His widow passed away on the old home farm, September 1, 1886. Twelve
children were the result of their union, as follows: Pierson, who died in
infancy; Elizabeth, deceased, who married Philip Murry, also deceased; Mary,
who died in Astoria, IL, and was the wife of Lemuel J. Hopkins, who died
in Browning, IL; William, a resident of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Sarah, widow
of Elias Gibbs and a resident of Fresno, Cal.; Rosanna, widow of John J.
Bleeker, of Pasadena, Cal., who resides with her son, Dr. J. J. Bleaker;
Margaret, who first married Courtland Doane, deceased, by whom she had one
child, Laura, who became the wife of Eli Dixon, a banker, of Littleton, IL;
John L., of Le Roy, Kan.; Benjamin F., Addie L., whose, first husband was
Martin Cook, deceased, and who is now the wife of George W. Hughes, of Astoria,
IL, and Henry 0., who spent many years on the old home farm, but sold his
interest, and is now operating a grain elevator in Littleton, Schuyler County.
Benjamin F. Bader was about nine years old when his father
brought him to Schuyler County, IL, and was reared on the paternal farm
receiving his early education in the district schools of the vicinity.
He remained at
home until he was eighteen years old and then spent a year in Ohio. On
returning
home he went to work on the farm of his brother, William, by whom he
was
employed by the month for some years, after which he farmed jointly
with
the latter until he was about twenty-six years old. He then purchased
and
operated a threshing outfit, and has since worn out two or three such
equipments.
In 1900 Mr. Bader established himself in the grain trade in Vermont,
and
bought the Sutherland elevator. The firm of Bader & Company has
elevators at Rushville, Littleton, Astoria and Vermont, IL, and they
also deal in hard and soft coal at Vermont and Astoria. They operate
two steam hay-balers and turn out two carloads of hay per day through
their four elevators. Each has a capacity of 15,000 bushels of grain
per day, and the firm handles about 400,000 bushels per year. Mr.
Bader's sons are associated with him in this enterprise, and constitute
the
"company."
.
On December 15, 1864, Mr. Bader was united in marriage with Azuba
Ann Farr, a daughter of Cooper and Ada (Linn) Farr. Her father originally
journeyed from Pennsylvania to Columbus, Ohio, whence he moved to Fulton
County, IL, clearing a fine farm In Astoria Township, of which he was one
of the pioneer settlers. Her parents are both deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Bader became the parents of eight children, three of
whom died in infancy and one, Lora Ada, died at the age of four years. Those
surviving are as follows: Vira B., wife of W. S. Long, of Rushville, IL,
connected with the firm of Bader & Company; Fred G., who manages the
Astoria elevator; William F., who conducts the Vermont elevator, and Ernest
G., of Vermont, IL, who operates the hay department of Bader & Company,
attending to the buying in bulk.
In politics Mr. Bader is Independent, voting for the men and measures
which he thinks most conducive to the interests of all the people. Fraternally
he is affiliated with the I. 0. 0. F. He ranks as one of the most enterprising
and substantial merchants, and one of the best representative citizens of
Fulton County. His worthy and estimable wife is a member of the Christian
Church. 1861 Militia Roll
