The subject of this sketch, W.E. Shrader, came to Kansas with the tide of emigration that rolled into the state during the early 'seventies. He bought the relinquishment of a claim on Oak creek, where he lived from 1873 until the latter part of the 'eighties, when he sold the homestead and bought a farm on Wolf creek. Mr. Shrader has been successful, owning five hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land, is retired from the busy farm life and, with his wife, is enjoying the proceeds of their accumulated interests in a pleasant home, a brick cottage located on East Seventh street. Their three sons and three daughters are all married and have homes of their own. His sons are all practical farmers and stockmen, and as they add other lands and their herds increase, their property holdings will be numerous as those of their sire. Mr. Shrader made every dollar of his present fine estate in Kansas and, although he has met with many reverses and was in straitened circumstances during the grasshopper raid, he prefers the Sunflower state. Mr. Shrader was born and reared in Washington county, Ohio, near Marietta, the oldest town in the Buckeye state, but asserts he could not gain a livelihood there after having lived on the prairies of Kansas. However, there were times during his early career in the state when, had it been possible to gather up his family and depart for fairer fields, he would have joyfully done so; but like most Kansans he was bound down and could not leave, for which condition he is now duly thankful. He is most happy that he continued in Kansas to raise cattle and hogs, having made the bulk of his property in stock raising.

Our subject was nurtured in the principles of Democracy and still clings to that faith. Socially he is a member of the Concordia encampment of Odd Fellows. The Shraders are attendants of the Uunited[sic] Brethren church, of which Mrs. Shrader is a member.