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Martin and Louisa Mader Family

Edward Mader – d1966

Edward Mader
– 1966

Edward was the son of Martin and Louisa Mader. He fought for his country in World War I.

Edward was married and the father of two (known) daughters; Naome who married George F. Taylor, and Mrs. Dunning. In 1928 Edward was residing in Centralia, Washington, later moving to Portland, Oregon sometime before 1941. He lived there until he died on March 9, 1966. His wife preceded him in death.

The American Legion conducted a private funeral. Surviving him was one daughter Naome and two grandchildren; Commander Fred F. Dunning and Lee/Leigh G. Dunning.

Martin and Louisa Mader Family

Anna Mader

Anna Mader

Anna was the child of Martin and Louisa Mader.

Sometime before 1904 she became the wife of N. Gehr and they lived in St. Paul, Minnesota. Anna probably went to Minneapolis to visit her older sister Angeline and stayed in the area. She was still living in St. Paul when her brother Willard died in 1941.

In 1929 Anna was a glazier for a company in St. Paul and lived at 163 State St. Her husband apparently had died before that time. (1929 was the only year Anna was found in the City Directory. She was the only one listed with the name Gehr.)

Martin and Louisa Mader Family

Clara Mader – d1948

Clara Mader
– 1948

Clara was the daughter of Martin and Louisa Mader. She graduated from the old high school in Spokane, Washington. Clara never married. She began a teaching career in Spokane in 1896 until her retirement in 1946. After her death, the Spokane Spokesman Review Dec. 17, 1948 paid her the following tribute:

Obituary
FUNERAL IS SET FOR MISS MADER
Rites for Teaching Veteran to Be Held Tomorrow

Funeral services for Miss Clara E. Mader, E1110 Fifth, will take place tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in the Alwin chapel at Hazen and Jaeger funeral home. Dr. Joel Harper will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood cemetery. Pallbearers will be male members of the elementary principals’ group.
Miss Mader, a graduate of the old Spokane high school, began her teaching careers in Spokane in 1896. In 1914, she was appointed principal of the Washington, where she served until 1921, when she became principal at Logan. Emerson school claimed her for principal from 1924 to 1940 and from 1940 until her retirement in 1946, she was principal at Willard.

Compliments Paid Her:

High compliments were paid Miss Mader yesterday by school authorities.

Said Superintendent of Schools John Shaw, “As principal of Havermale junior high school, I worked closely with Miss Mader during her principalship at Emerson and knew her as a very close personal friend. I considered her one of the most efficient and most completely human principals it has been my pleasure to know. I remember her very active interest in athletics. She followed her teams everywhere and helped develop several championship baseball teams.”

Dr. Orville C. Pratt, former superintendent of school, remarked: “I knew Miss Mader from the time I first came to Spokane. She was a very conscientious, faithful person who could always be relied on to carry out the things that had to be done. She was a favorite with her teachers, who liked her for her fairness, patience and tolerance.”
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Martin and Louisa Mader Family

Angeline (Mader) Meghen

Angeline (Mader) Meghen

Angeline was born to Martin and Louisa Mader. (1)

She married G.H. Meghen and they were residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1904 when her mother Louisa died in Spokane, Washington.

Angeline was remembered by Isabelle:

“Angeline visited us every time she came to town. My dad (Henry Mader) and Angeline were first cousins. Dad always asked how Clara was. We had a picnic in Myrick Park one time and Angeline was there with some of her children.”

Angeline’s husband must have died before 1913. She was listed in the Minneapolis City Directory as a stenographer working for different concerns from 1913-23. During these ten years, Angeline boarded at various places. After that there is no further record of Angeline, except that she probably died sometime before 1941.
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(1)Records show that after the death of Martin and Louisa’s first child in 1871, two daughters were born before 1875. I believe they were Angeline and Clara because they were remembered by the family in La Crosse and they came back to visit them.
La Crosse Stories

Early Catholic Churches in La Crosse

Early Catholic Churches in La Crosse

St. Mary’s
The first Catholic Mass held in common was in the old court house on August 24, 1855 by Rev. Henry Tappert, the first pastor and also the first resident priest of La Crosse County. Within one year, he erected a small frame church, 35×60, on the N.E. corner of 7th St. and Cameron Ave. called St. Mary’s. This was accomplished with difficulties since everyone was poor and there were only 25 Catholic families.
By 1874, the building had become too small and was moved to 805 West Ave. and remodeled into a residence. A new larger brick church was built on the same site.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral
In 1863, it was decided to divide the St. Mary’s parish by having the English and French remain at St. Mary’s and a new church, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, built for those who spoke German. Frank and Theodore Mader contributed money toward the purchase of the lot which cost $1,500.00. A parochial school was built first. The first mass was celebrated in the new church on the first Sunday in October of 1870. Without an architect, the German settlers themselves built the church by memory, favoring a German style of Gothic Revival. The Cathedral was built with Mader brick. There was not enough to finish the steeple until 1883. Florence recalls her father Frank Jr. telling her that because of a lack of funds, the Maders donated the brick for the steeple. (The old St. Joseph’s Cathedral was torn down when the new cathedral was built.)

St. Nicholas
The increasing Catholic population of La Crosse made it necessary to establish two new parishes, St. John’s on the north side and St. Nicholas on the south side. In 1887 six lots were purchased between North and South Park Streets and construction of the new church began. Dominick and Theodore Mader furnished the brick for the church. It was two stories, the first story used for school purposes and the second as a church. The first mass was held on Sunday, October 30, 1887 and the school was opened with 72 pupils.
By 1894, St. Nicholas Parish was replaced by a new and larger church dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.

Mader Family Stories

Oak Springs Farm

OAK SPRINGS FARM

Oak Springs farm, owned by Dominick Mader, got its name from the water which was piped from springs in the hills. On Oak Springs was a big two-story farm house with an open front porch on three sides. A wood canopy extended from the side of the house so one could drive a horse and buggy up to the house without getting wet. The road came to the farm from the east. In winter, the Mader family drove by the County Home because the farm road was too hard to plow out.

Inside the house was a beautiful open oak stairway which led to the upper floor. The stairway had a closet beneath it. Off the kitchen was a second back stairway which was used by Arthur, being the oldest, while the other children used the front stairs. A third stairway went to a full attic. There were four bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs with a fireplace in each one. Later, a furnace was installed in the basement and enclosed in brick so the heat wouldn’t escape. The house was cold in winter. (The farm house stood north of Hass Park where 3012 Willow St. is today.)

The Mader family lived in the house from 1909 to 1919 when Dominick sold the farm on a land contract to partners Hyde and Funk. They bought the farm with the idea of making money and tried several unsuccessful ventures.

On land below the house and also extending into Hass’s land, they built a one-mile harness racing track with a grandstand. The city extended the street car line to go out to the track. In this area there was a little lake where Doerflingers had a cottage. Due to a lot of wet weather the track because too muddy and they could not make a success of it.

They invested in cattle but the bull died and that didn’t work out. Then they went into tobacco and put up big tobacco sheds. When that failed they dissolved the partnership and the farm returned to Dominick. His sons, Dominick Jr. and Arthur, moved back to run the farm. They purchased the farm upon the death of their father in 1934.

La Crosse Stories

Dominick Mader’s Brick Yard in State Road Coulee

DOMINICK MADER’S BRICK YARD
In State Road Coulee

Dominick’s brick yard had its beginning in 1858 when Gunkle and Bloomer of Ohio began the manufacturing of brick on State Road. Valentine Weimer operated the Gunkle and Bloomer kilns until he bought them out for $800 in 1862.

After Weimer’s death, Frank, Dominick, and David purchased the brickyard on the estate sale for $4,750 in January of 1878. On April 13th, the same day David sold his farm to Theodore, he gave Frank and Dominick his share for $1.00 Later that year on December 4th, Dominick bought out his brother Frank and became the sole owner. The brick yard had one shed.

Mamie (Mader) Herman wrote about the yard to her niece Margaret:

“…The brickyard shed was about 120 feet long. I think it could have three kilns at a time, when they were burning brick they used cordwood, and in later years, coal and peat was kept burning with a blower run by a gas engine. When the kilns got too hot, some of the boards on the roof of the shed were taken off. Art and Emily North were the kiln builders.
“August was the mud maker. He drove the team on the mud wheel. There were two men to fill the the molds with mud. Dominick Jr. and Henry were the carry off boys. They carried a mold the length of three bricks, from the molding table to the drying yard.
“After the bricks were dry they were built into hacks, and covered with two boards nailed together to form a trough, so they would not get wet, if it rained. They were called wash brick if they got wet and would not bring a good price.”

During the busy season up to 30 men were employed at the Mader brick works.(1) They were paid board plus a small salary. In the 1880’s workers received $25.00 to $50.00 a month. Brick making was seasonal work from May to September.

Dominick and Theodore furnished the brick for the first St. Nicholas Parish on 13th and Park St. They sold the brick at $6.00 per thousand.

The Cargill Mansion on Twelfth and Case Streets was built ca. 1880 of Mader brick selling at $4.75 per 1,000. The bricks were a special bargain during a slack season. The mansion was a residential show place of La Crosse. (The home was torn down by the Presbyterian Church.)

Three yards manufactured common brick around La Crosse in the 1890s; Dominick Mader, M.J. Meyer who opened in 1883 and the Schnell Brothers who opened in 1890.

Dominick owned the business 28 years before he sold it for $4,000 in April of 1906 to his nephew John Boma, who later dismantled the works.
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(1) There is confusion between Dominick’s yard and the older one on David’s farm which the older family members don’t remember. The 30 employees could have been at either brick yard during a busy time. Family members recall the brick yard called “State Road Coulee Brick Yard.”
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David Mader Family

Mary (Suhling) Mader Wife of Dominick Mader 1856-1946

MARY (SUHLING) MADER
Wife of Dominick Mader
1856-1946

Mary Julia was the daughter of August and Maria Suhling born in America in October of 1856. Her parents came from Germany in 1847. The family had traveled by oxen to Milwaukee and purchased land in what is now the Milwaukee business district. Her father August was a cobbler and made shoes with wooden pegs instead of nails. He sold his property when friends wrote that Bostwick Valley near Barre Mills looked just like Germany and purchased a farm there.

Mary married at age 22 to Dominick Mader. He was short and she was tall and slim. Besides having to care for her family and later her father, Mary did all the cooking for the men working in the brick yard across the road. Margaret (Mader) Seiler wrote to her grandchildren;

“One day Mrs. Mader and the maid walked a mile to visit a neighbor. Mrs. Mader told the children if they went outside to be sure to have the door closed. After she left they thought it would be nice to go wading in the creek. Away they went as fast as they could, leaving the door open. When Mrs. Mader returned she found chickens on top of the bread she had raising in the tins. This was terrible, twenty two people to feed and no bread. Long, long ago people baked their own bread. There were no bakeries and stores did not sell bread. Mrs. Mader hurried up and made biscuits to go along with the other food for the evening meal. In the morning she made pancakes and started some more bread.”

“Grandma Mary was stern,” Bill Mader said, “and used to dress all in black.”

Widowed at age 78, her son Hank and his wife took care of her in her home at 1406 Johnson St. After a lingering illness, Mary, age 89, died in a local hospital May 22, 1946.

David Mader Family

Dominick Mader 1851-1934

DOMINICK MADER
1851-1934

Two years before the family immigrated to America, Dominick was born September 20, 1851, the youngest child of David and Mary Mader. Until he was 27, Dominick lived at home and worked on his father’s farm.

In December of 1878, Dominick bought out his brother Frank’s share in the (Weimer) brick yard becoming the sole owner and that same year married Mary Suhling.

“…Dominick Mader has manufactured brick since that time, turning out from 8-10 hundred thousand each season, and selling them in La Crosse. He is a self-made man who has procured a good income from his business.”(1)

The 1880 Federal Census lists Dominick age 28 as a brick maker, Mary 23 keeping house, Arthur one month old, two sisters as servants, and 14 hired men working in the brick yard. Dominick must have built the attractive two-story brick house across the road from the brick yard. (The house was built by 1892 but was not there when the photo was taken from Irish Hill.)

The first child of Dominick and Mary lived only 5 1/2 months. Her name is engraved on David’s tombstone; “Maria M. Born the 4th of February and died the 25th day of July, 1879.” Five more children were born and raised on the brick yard; Arthur in 1880, August 1884, Henry 1885, Dominick 1886 and Mary 1889. Also living with them was Dominick’s father-in-law August Suhling, from the time his wife died in 1886 until his own death in 1904.

In a letter to her grandchildren, Margaret (Mader) Seiler wrote:

“…There was not much time for the Mader children to have fun. As soon as they were able they had to help in making the bricks.”

Brick became two cheap to be profitable ca. 1893, so Dominick rented his place to a dairy man and moved his family to 226 So. Third St. in La Crosse where he had a saloon business up town. After four years time they moved back to the brick yard and dairy farmed for awhile before they started to make brick again. Dominick sold the brick yard in 1906 to his nephew John Boma. In 1909, Dominick purchased the old Neumeister farm of 240 acres called Oak Springs farm for $22,000, located just south of the County Poor Farm (Hill View Nursing Home). By this time all the children were in their twenties. They lived in the big farm house which had five bedrooms. Dominick and his sons, who were still living at home, dairy farmed. Much of the bluffs behind the farm were treeless then became fields.

Many fourth generation members recall trips to Dominick’s farm in horse and buggy.

After ten years Dominick sold the farm to Hyde and Funk on a land contract and retired to 1406 Johnson St. Some years later Funk and Hyde were unable to make the payments and Dominick got the farm back. Dominick Jr. and Arthur became partners and went back to the farm for their father who was too old. One month before he died, Dominick moved back to the farm home, passing away May 14th 1934.

Memories of their Grandfather

Grandson Bill Mader remembers being scared,

“When Grandpa died they brought him in that great big room and we had to take turns staying up with him all night to drive away the evil spirits. It seemed like he stayed in the house for days and Grandma looked like a witch dressed in all black.”
“Grandfather had a white mustache cup from Germany with “Remember me” written in gold lettering on it. Mother said whoever had a mustache would get it and when I came home from service with a mustache she gave it to me,” Frank Mader said, “I treasure it.”

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(1) Biographical History of La Crosse Co., Monroe and Juneau Co., WI (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892.) p. 126.
David Mader Family

Jacob Boma Husband of Caroline Mader 1841-1930

JACOB BOMA
Husband of Caroline Mader
1841-1930

In Baden, Germany, Jacob was born the son of Franciska Boma in July of 1841. He served in the army under Kaiser Wilhelm. Jacob had said, “If Kaiser Wilhelm told you to climb up that wall, you climbed up the wall!” He immigrated from Germany in 1865 with his father, three sisters; Salomea, Sophia and Caroline, a brother Martin and a nephew Sebastian.

The Boma farm was originally his father’s but upon his father’s death in 1875, Jacob took over the farm. At this time Jacob was 34 and had married Carolyn Mader three years previously. The Platt Book records the Boma farm to be large even in 1874 and by 1906 it consisted of 380 acres.

Andy North related the following story of his Grandpa Jacob having had too much to drink:

“He didn’t know two sheets to the wind and pulled into the wrong farm where he unhitched the horse. The horse took off for home and Jacob had to walk. The next day he had to go back and get the wagon.”

Jacob lived to be 90 years old, a resident of La Crosse county for 65 years. He died in his home November 5, 1930.