Walter Scott Rader papers

Collection

Identifier: MSM-2010-048

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes an autobiography, obituaries of both his wives, family genealogy, ordination certificate and preacher's licenses, typescripts of speeches he had delivered, and pastor's notebooks from his various appointments.

The folders in document case MC 25 are arranged alphabetically by subject matter. The folders in document case MC 64 are arranged by charges and are in chronological order.

Dates

1861 - 1953

Creator

Rader, Walter Scott (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical Note

Walter Scott Rader was born on June 15, 1861, near Bloomington, Indiana. His parents, Thomas Y. and Nancy Jane Rader gave him a Christian home. Attendance at Sunday School and the preaching services were taken for granted. Rader was converted as a youth and joined the church under the ministry of J. D. Crane. His education was received in the public schools of Monroe and Morgan County and at Indiana Asbury, now DePauw University, where he spent three years.

He was licensed to preach in 1884. He entered the Indiana Conference in the fall of 1885 and throughout his active ministry of 47 years served with effectiveness the following charges: Linton, Worthington, Main Street in New Albany, Paoli, Spencer, Petersburg, Mt. Vernon, Madison Avenue in Indianapolis, Lawrenceburg, Aurora, Washington, Franklin, College Corner, and Carthage.

In September, 1932, he retired to live in Greencastle. Rader had an unusual record of having attended the opening session of 67 consecutive Indiana Annual Conferences. It is a record of which he was justifiably proud.

Rader was twice married, both wives preceeding him in death.

His death came on November 27, 1953 after a long illness due to a weakened heart. He was 92 years of age. The funeral service was held in Gobin Memorial Methodist Church. Burial was at Morgantown, Indiana. The Reverend Elmer L. Harvey officiated, assisted by Dr. Willard C. Patrick.