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Surnames: RADER
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3078
Message Board Post:
SUMMONS
Comes to Ex-Mayor Rader, of Jeffersonville
HAD LONG BEEN SUFFERING
WAS CONSPICUOUS IN SOUTHERN INDIANA LIFE
MAN OF MARKED POPULARITY
Thomas Bogle Rader, who was one of the best known men in Southern Indiana, and was at one
time Mayor of Jeffersonville, died at his home, 1122 Spring street, in that city, at 11
o'clock last night of Bright's disease and chronic heart disease, having been ill
since early in the spring. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination of Joint
Senator from the counties of Clark, Scott and Washington, and would have received the
nomination had the convention been held before his death, as two of the three counties had
instructed for him. It was while making his canvass that Mr. Rader was taken sick and
several times he was believed to be near death's door, but at the City election in May
he was able to get out and remain up for several days, but he was finally compelled to
take to his bed.
Mr. Rader was a thorough politician and a leader in his party, but he was never elected to
but one office, that of Mayor. At this contest, which was in 1898, he defeated Isaac F.
Whitside, who was filling the office as a Republican. The race was a spirited one and was
won only after a hard fight.. Mr. Rader remained in office four years and was defeated in
1902 by Abraham Schwaninger, who retires in September. When there was a shortage in the
office of Treasurer J. A. Jenkins, of Clark county, Ind., and that official had to retire,
Mr. Rader was appointed his successor by the Board of Commissioners, and he started to
make the race for re-election, but withdrew before the convention.
The County Chairman
He served as chairman of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee and was a hard
worker for his party leaving nothing undone to insure its success.
Socially Mr. Rader was on of the most agreeable of men, but unlike most of men who were
attached to worldly ways, he was a teetotaler, a fact of which he was proud. He was a man
of the firmest mind, and once set in a direction that he thought to be right, there was no
way of inducing him to leave the path he ad carved out ahead of him. While Mayor he
became wedded to the theory that municipal ownership was the thing for the city of
Jeffersonville, and he made a prolonged fight for an electric light contract based on the
form, but was finally defeated, although on the eve of winning several times.
Mr. Rader was a great believer in fraternal orders, and he probably belonged to more
lodges than any other man in Jeffersonville, and it is said he carried a life insurance
policy for every member of his family. He was a member of Hope Lodge, No. 13, Knights of
Pythias, a Past Chancellor and at the time of his death a Trustee; Captain of Company No.
9, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, since its formation; belonged to the Dramatic order
Knights of Korassan and the Rathbone Sisters, adjuncts of the Knights of Pythias order.
He was a charter member of Jeffersonville Lodge, No. 362, B. P. O. E.; a Past Master of
Jeffersonville Lodge, No. 340, F. and A. M.; a member of Jeffersonville Commandery, No.
27, Knights Templar; Horeb Chapter, No. 66, Royal Arch Masons; the Scottish Rite and the
Noble Order of Mystic Shriners. He was an Odd Fellow and belonged to Jefferson Lodge, No.
3, of Jeffersonville, and Rebekah Lodge, No. 8, Daughters of Rebekah. Other orders he was
affiliated!
with were Clark Council, No. 1,216, Royal Arcanum; Clark Commandery, No. 57, United
Order of the Golden Cross, and was at one time an officer in the Grand Commandery; Eden
Lodge, No. 240, Knights and Ladies of Honor; Hoosier Camp, No. 3,594, Modern Woodmen of
America.
Many Business Pursuits.
In every day pursuits Mr. Rader was a busy man and besides carrying on an insurance
business and being a member of a street contracting firm he was secretary of the Indiana
Cement Company and the Union Savings and Loan Association. He was a thorough accountant
and formerly did considerable work in that line, his work being rapid and accurate. He
gained much of his knowledge while teaching school as a young man and while he taught
others he applied himself and when he came to Jeffersonville as Deputy County Treasurer
under Dr. H. H. Ferguson in 1878, he was thoroughly equipped for business life. After
severing his connection as Deputy Treasurer he was for a time in the Auditor's office
of the Louisville and Nashville railroad in Louisville.
Mr. Rader was born near Henryville, Clark county, Ind., on Christmas 1859, and was the son
of Perry Rader, who has been dead several years. After coming to Jeffersonville Mr. Rader
met Miss Lotta Butterfoss and was married to her on May 8, 1882, by Dr. W. H. Sheets. She
survives with her five children, four sons and one daughter. Until recently Mr. Rader was
not a member of any church, but a short time ago he untied with Morton Chapel.