U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shrader, John (b. 1862) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 473-475 JOHN SHRADER, whose successful and extensive building and contracting has brought him into prominence in Hancock County, West Virginia, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1862, and is a son of William and Eliza J. (Byers) Shrader, both of whom were born in Western Pennsylvania, and still reside there, the father being retired from business. The Shrader family is an old and honorable Dutch one of Pennsylvania, the great-grand father of our subject having settled near West Newton at an early date, at which time the spelling of the name was Schroeder. William Shrader, the grandfather, was a farmer and was also engaged in the flatboat business, taking provisions to New Orleans and frequently walking the whole distance home. The family is a hardy and long-lived one, and the grandfather lived to a good old age. The father of Mr. Shrader engaged in farming and later in the stock and coal business, and now resides at McKeesport. John Shrader is one of a family of six children born to his parents. He was reared and educated in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He began his business career as a farmer, and he remained at home assisting his father until he became 20 years of age. After marriage he settled on a farm of his own and continued in agricultural pursuits until 1889. He then sold his farm to the United States Glass Company, and then began contracting and building. His work has included every line, from houses to railroads. On December 3, 1895, he received the contract for building a bridge across the Ohio River, between East Liverpool and Chester. Mr. Shrader was doubly interested in the success of this great undertaking, as he not only contracted to build the bridge, but also supplied the East Liverpool Bridge Company with much of the money with which to do it. He owned a one-fourth interest in the ground upon which Chester stands and much of which land he still owns, and the completion of this bridge, on January 1, 1896, made sure the permanent growth of Chester, which is now a town of about 3,000 inhabitants. He continues to own stock in the bridge, which is one of the most important public improvements ever made in the locality. At the same time he was constructing the bridge he was engaged in building the East Liverpool & Rock Springs Railway, and the latter was completed in May, 1896. On March 15, 1882, Mr. Shrader was married to Mary E. McDowell, who was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. One daughter. Pearl, was born to this marriage, now a very attractive young lady. Few men are better known in Hancock County than Mr. Shrader, and few have more push and progressiveness. He is one of the substantial and enterprising men of Chester. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Hancock County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/hancock/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------