T. J. Smader, political leader, able business man and sportsman, whose activities and interests have been of a. character that have promoted public progress along many lines, was born in Caledonia Township, this County, December 2, 1878, a son of Tobias and Mary Smader, both of whom were natives of Bohemia, in which country they were reared and married. At an early day they came to the United States, settling at Racine, and Mr. Smader purchased a farm in Caledonia Township on which he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death about eight years ago, his widow surviving him for two years.
T. J. Smader began his education in the district schools of Caledonia Township and afterward pursued a commercial course, being graduated from the Wisconsin Business College. He then made his first step in the commercial world as a bookkeeper and after four years devoted to that work entered the employ of his brothers, with whom he continued until he took over the business nine years ago. For the past eight years he has been engaged in the theatrical and masquerade costume business and still continues in the same.
Mr. Smader has long been recognized as an active political leader of Racine County, being a prominent democrat. For fifteen years he served on the election board and has been inspection clerk. He was elected to the board of aldermen, in which capacity he served for four years, and then after a period out of office he was re-elected in 1915 as alderman for the First ward and is now acting in that capacity, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many well devised plans and measures for the general good.
Moreover, Mr. Sander has long been interested in clean, manly sports and managed a baseball team. He was a large investor in the ‘Wisconsin-Illinois League and also in the Lake Shore League and in the latter had a team, while previously he had a team in the Cedar League. He is the president of the Major Bowling League and he belongs to various other organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, of which he is a charter member, and the Bohemian Turners, of which he was one of the organizers and a. charter member. He is likewise a member of the Narodni Jednota, one of the oldest and richest Bohemian organizations in the state of Wisconsin. He belongs as well to the Racine County Liquor Dealers’ Protective and Beneficial Association and is a member of the Racine Commercial Club. His varied activities have made him widely known and he is popular in the County in which his entire life has been passed and where he has exerted broad influence along many lines.