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Vol. 3, p. 1312-1313 There can be no element of indirection or puzzling in defining the value of the services of Mr. Rader in connection with educational affairs and civic progress in the state of Oklahoma, for he is making a most admirable record in his administration as librarian of the University of Oklahoma, at Norman, and is known as a young man of high intellectual attainments and ideals and of utmost loyalty and appreciation as a citizen. The interest in his work as librarian is enhanced by the fact that he himself was graduated in the university with which he is now connected in an executive capacity, and he is a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of Oklahoma, where his parents established their home in 1893. Mr. Rader traces his agnatic [sic] lineage back to a Prussian soldier and officer, one Rader who had served as an officer in the Prussian army and who came to America about the time of the War of the Revolution; he established his residence in Virginia and became the founder of the family in the United States. Jesse Lee Rader was born at Prairie Home, Cooper County, Missouri, on the 20th of April, 1883, and is a son of Nathan and Sophia (CHALLES) Rader, the former of whom was born in Nicholas County, West Virginia, which state was then a part of Virginia, in the year 1836, and the latter of whom was born in Missouri, in 1838. Nathan H. Rader was reared and educated in his native county and in the State of Kansas, his parents having removed to the West in 1847 and having become early pioneer settler in the Sunflower State, and later having removed to Cooper County, Missouri. In the county last mentioned he became a prosperous farmer and there he continued his residence until 1887, when he removed with his family to Stuttgart, Arkansas, where he continued his activities as an agriculturist until 1893, when removal was made to Oklahoma Territory and he became one of the pioneer farmers near Newkirk, Kay County, as now constituted. He finally retired from the active labors that had so long engrossed his time and attention and he passed the closing years of his long, honorable and useful life at Newkirk, where he died in the year 1912 and where his widow still maintains her home. Mr. Rader was unwavering in his support of the principles and policies of the democratic party and was a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, in which he served in the command of General Price and took part in many important battles, including those of Gettysburg and Pea Ridge. His service covered virtually the entire period of the war and in later years he was an appreciative member of the United Confederate Veterans, besides which he was for many years affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Of the children, William, the first born, died at the age of twenty-one years; Robert E. is a prosperous merchant at Newkirk, Oklahoma; and Miss Mattie remains with her widowed mother. He whose mane introduces this article acquired his earlier educational discipline in the public schools of Stuttgart, Arkansas, and Newkirk, Oklahoma, after which he took a course in the preparatory department of the University of Oklahoma. He next entered the regular academic or literary department of the university, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1908 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, his alma mater conferring the degree of Master of Arts upon him in 1913. After his graduation Mr. Rader was employed for a time as clerk in a drug and book store in Norman. In August, 1909, he was appointed librarian of the library of the University of Oklahoma, and of this important office he has since continued the efficient and popular incumbent, being known as a true bibliophile and as a careful and effective executive. The university library was established in 1892, and the original building was destroyed by fire in 1902. The following year marked the completion of the present fine library building, in which excellent provision is made for the accommodation of the select and valuable library of 24,000 volumes. Mr. Rader is aligned as a loyal supporter of the cause of the democratic party, is a member of Phi Alpha Tau National Dramatic Fraternity and the Norman Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Norman State Bank, and attends and supports the local Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is an active member. He is affiliated with Norman Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Lion Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; and Norman Commandery No. 38; and is a member of Sigma Nu and the Sigma Delta Chi college fraternities. On the 26th of July, 1911, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rader to Miss Mary Frances SIMPSON, Daughter of John J. and Sallie Simpson, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom resides in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rader, at 527 West Eufaula street, Norman, Mr. Simpson having been a prosperous agriculturist and merchant of Caddo County at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Rader have one child, Virginia Katherine, who was born February 25, 1915. Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, October 7, 1998.