Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line
Julius Vader (1830-1918) Store Owner, Postmaster, Farmer
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by Carolyn Ann Howard
Julius Vader was born 31 Mar 1830 in Dale, New York, the son of Tobias Vader and Anna Sutphen. Unfortunately, he is not related to me by blood that I can find, as he was the brother-in-law of my 3rd great-granduncle. Our forebear, John Godfrey Howard, had a son, Elias, who married Katie Vader, Julius' sister. Interestingly, these two children, Katie and Julius, were 12 years apart in age; Katie was born in 1817 and Julius in 1830. Katie and Julius had two other siblings, Cornelius, born 1819, and one other that I have yet to find, which might be Louisa, who is with Tobias on the 1850 census.
The first record to mention Julius by name was the 1850 United States Federal Census. Interestingly, he had already, at the age of 20, started out on his own, living in Stafford, New York, with the Hoag family. He was listed as a peddler, which would be correct, and it may be how he got his start with the general store. His recently widowed father, Tobias, lived in nearby Bethany, New York. Both of these towns are just south of Lake Ontario. The 1850 census was done in October. Julius married Julia Ann Nichols in December that same year. On the census, Julius was on page 7; Julia, along with her family, were on page 8.
Julius and Julia had three children: Cyrus, who died in childhood; Allie, who was born in 1858; and Frank, who was born in 1860.
In the U.S. Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule, 1860, Julius Vader was listed. He had 29 acres of improved land, and his farm was valued at $1,160 with $50 in equipment. He had 3 horses, 2 cows, and 3 pigs. In the 1860 Federal Census, he was listed as a farm laborer, not yet a store owner. Perhaps contradicting what the Non-Population Schedule had stated, his farm was valued at $450, and his personal worth $300. Listed with him on this census was his wife, Julia, and daughter, Allie. Their son, Cornelius, had already died, and Frank had not yet been born. They were in Bethany at this time, but they would soon move to nearby Middlebury, New York. Although Julius was enrolled in the draft June 1863, we have no records of him fighting on the side of the Union.
In the U.S. Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule, 1870, Julius was still in Middlebury. He had 41 acres of improved land, valued at $1500 with $90 in equipment. He had 2 horses, 1 cow, 23 sheep, and 2 pigs. In the 1870 Federal Census, Julius was a farmer with a farm valued at $1500. His wife, Julia, was listed as "keeping house," and his father, Tobias, was living with them. That's nice to see, and it's also nice that the census enumerator put his occupation as "retired farmer" instead of "none." Allie, aged 12, and Frank, aged 9, are there with the family, too, both attending school.
Julius Vader appeared in the 1874 New York State Business Directory under "country store" for Dale and Middlebury. I don't know exactly when Julius was appointed postmaster, but it makes sense in that he had the store. His father, Tobias, died in 1875.
In the 1880 Federal Census, Julius was listed as a grocer and Julia as "keeping house." Allie was gone from the household, having married James Loren Smith. Their son, Frank, however, was still with them, married to Flora Loomis. Frank was listed as a grocer. Flora as "keeping house."
In 1897, Julius's sister, Katy, died. Apparently the funeral was pretty large, according to her obituary, and all of her children, save for one, came to the funeral. Julius and the fam were at her funeral as well.
In the 1900 census, Julius was still listed as a grocer, and that is correct. He did not retire until 1910, according to a wedding anniversary announcement in the newspaper in 1913. In 1900, Julius and Julia were empty nesters. He was 70, and she was 69. This census shows that they had 3 children with 2 living. That is correct. Allie and Frank were both out of the home by this time. Ten years later, in the 1910 census, they were still pretty much the same. The enumerator listed him as a "retired merchant," which is nice. It shows value and worth in the eyes of the enumerator and of Julius, that his occupation wasn't listed as "none." Unlike his wife, Julia. Her occupation was listed as "none," and we know that's a bunch of hooey. Click on photos to enlarge
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| Buffalo Sunday News 28 Dec 1913 Fair Use/Public Domain |
I'm sure it was a very sad day when Julia passed at the age of 84. Her date of death was 29 Sep 1914. I imagine she was at her daughter's house when she died. In the 1915 census, Julius was living with his daughter and her husband, which is why I came to that conclusion. The only "old folks home" in Wyoming County was the poor farm and Julius and family were far from poor.
Julius wasn't exactly having it, though. He married the widow Chloe Vanderheyden in 1916 at the age of 86. She was 77. They may have continued living with daughter Allie, though, but I don't know. I do know that, according to his obit, he died at his daughter's home. The year was 1918. Spanish influenza pandemic. I'm guessing that's what finally took the old man out. The obit states that "on account of the influenza, the funeral was held at the home of his daughter." Having lived through a pandemic myself, the article really doesn't make it clear, does it? Were they not gathering because of the influenza, or did he die from it? I suspect both, but I don't know for sure. Pre-pandemic, I admit that I would've read that much differently.
Julius died 26 Nov 1918 at the age of 88. His second wife, Chloe, died 14 Aug 1921. They are both buried in the Dale Cemetery in Dale, New York. Julius was buried with his first wife, Julia. Chloe was buried with her first husband, Daniel.
