Peter Mader, Sr., is a mystery man. As with his wife, Mina Schrieber Mader, no record has been found of him after the Federal Census in 1880.
Peter was born in Switzerland, and emigrated to America before 1869. We find him first in the Federal Census of 1870, where he was living with his wife, Mina, and son Charles Augustus, born that year. They lived in Carlstadt, Bergen, NJ. It is likely that he married Miss Mina Schrieber, from Baden, Germany in 1867-1868.
Peter was a carpenter, and was listed as such in the 1880 New York City Directory. The couple moved to Manhattan, and resided at 183 Ludlow Street, one of the worst slums in the Five Points area. This is the same area depicted in the movie, "Gangs of New York". By 1880 there were five Mader brothers; Charles, Peter Jr., John, Jacob, and Baby Frank.
It was noted on the 1880 Federal Census that a total of 30 people lived at 183 Ludlow St. Jacob Riis, a Danish photographer captured the Maders' and many other immigrant families' struggles eloquently. A quick search online will reveal the horrors of "The American Dream" for poor immigrants in the late 1800s.
Baby Frank was born the month before the 1880 census was taken, and after that time, no further documentation of the boys' mother, Mina or father, Peter, has been found. The four oldest Mader boys were cared for by the Children's Aid Society. Peter, Sr. may have turned to drink, or otherwise become unable to care for his sons. Thousands of impoverished parents in New York turned their children over to charitable organizations because they could no longer feed them. Baby Frank was taken in and raised by Mina's brother, Ignatius Schrieber and his wife, Thekla.
The other four brothers were to become a part of history. The plight of destitute immigrant children became so horrific that the idea of "The Orphan Train" was born. About 200,000 children were put on trains which traveled across the midwest, making stops in towns where the children were literally put on display and interested families would come to view them.
By 1884 the Mader Boys had been "Placed-Out"--Charles went to a family in MO., and the other three were adopted or fostered by separate families in Spring Valley, MN. John J. Mader became James J. Lowe, Jacob was adopted by the Olds family, becoming "Jake Mader Olds", and Peter Mader Jr. kept his original name.
James, his wife Martha Watson Lowe and their children and brother Jake followed Martha's parents, (James Elliott and Sarah Means Watson) to Modesto, CA. The brothers lived close to each other, raising their children in the California sunshine. Peter remained in MN., raising a family there.
The only information about Mina and Peter's fate is a statement made by one of Mina's grandchildren: "Mina died in NY, (date unk) leaving Peter, Sr. with five sons, including infant Frank. Peter then became an alcoholic, and the boys were put on the Orphan Train." Mina probably died in New York about 1880 at about age 32. It seems Peter dissolved into the slums of New York, a nameless immigrant.
Mina and Peter never realized The American Dream. For them, their adopted country offered only poverty and pain. But their sacrifice gave their five boys the chance at The Dream. And they lived it, starting families that would become part of the fabric of America.
Peter was born in Switzerland, and emigrated to America before 1869. We find him first in the Federal Census of 1870, where he was living with his wife, Mina, and son Charles Augustus, born that year. They lived in Carlstadt, Bergen, NJ. It is likely that he married Miss Mina Schrieber, from Baden, Germany in 1867-1868.
Peter was a carpenter, and was listed as such in the 1880 New York City Directory. The couple moved to Manhattan, and resided at 183 Ludlow Street, one of the worst slums in the Five Points area. This is the same area depicted in the movie, "Gangs of New York". By 1880 there were five Mader brothers; Charles, Peter Jr., John, Jacob, and Baby Frank.
It was noted on the 1880 Federal Census that a total of 30 people lived at 183 Ludlow St. Jacob Riis, a Danish photographer captured the Maders' and many other immigrant families' struggles eloquently. A quick search online will reveal the horrors of "The American Dream" for poor immigrants in the late 1800s.
Baby Frank was born the month before the 1880 census was taken, and after that time, no further documentation of the boys' mother, Mina or father, Peter, has been found. The four oldest Mader boys were cared for by the Children's Aid Society. Peter, Sr. may have turned to drink, or otherwise become unable to care for his sons. Thousands of impoverished parents in New York turned their children over to charitable organizations because they could no longer feed them. Baby Frank was taken in and raised by Mina's brother, Ignatius Schrieber and his wife, Thekla.
The other four brothers were to become a part of history. The plight of destitute immigrant children became so horrific that the idea of "The Orphan Train" was born. About 200,000 children were put on trains which traveled across the midwest, making stops in towns where the children were literally put on display and interested families would come to view them.
By 1884 the Mader Boys had been "Placed-Out"--Charles went to a family in MO., and the other three were adopted or fostered by separate families in Spring Valley, MN. John J. Mader became James J. Lowe, Jacob was adopted by the Olds family, becoming "Jake Mader Olds", and Peter Mader Jr. kept his original name.
James, his wife Martha Watson Lowe and their children and brother Jake followed Martha's parents, (James Elliott and Sarah Means Watson) to Modesto, CA. The brothers lived close to each other, raising their children in the California sunshine. Peter remained in MN., raising a family there.
The only information about Mina and Peter's fate is a statement made by one of Mina's grandchildren: "Mina died in NY, (date unk) leaving Peter, Sr. with five sons, including infant Frank. Peter then became an alcoholic, and the boys were put on the Orphan Train." Mina probably died in New York about 1880 at about age 32. It seems Peter dissolved into the slums of New York, a nameless immigrant.
Mina and Peter never realized The American Dream. For them, their adopted country offered only poverty and pain. But their sacrifice gave their five boys the chance at The Dream. And they lived it, starting families that would become part of the fabric of America.
Peter Mader, Sr., is a mystery man. As with his wife, Mina Schrieber Mader, no record has been found of him after the Federal Census in 1880.
Peter was born in Switzerland, and emigrated to America before 1869. We find him first in the Federal Census of 1870, where he was living with his wife, Mina, and son Charles Augustus, born that year. They lived in Carlstadt, Bergen, NJ. It is likely that he married Miss Mina Schrieber, from Baden, Germany in 1867-1868.
Peter was a carpenter, and was listed as such in the 1880 New York City Directory. The couple moved to Manhattan, and resided at 183 Ludlow Street, one of the worst slums in the Five Points area. This is the same area depicted in the movie, "Gangs of New York". By 1880 there were five Mader brothers; Charles, Peter Jr., John, Jacob, and Baby Frank.
It was noted on the 1880 Federal Census that a total of 30 people lived at 183 Ludlow St. Jacob Riis, a Danish photographer captured the Maders' and many other immigrant families' struggles eloquently. A quick search online will reveal the horrors of "The American Dream" for poor immigrants in the late 1800s.
Baby Frank was born the month before the 1880 census was taken, and after that time, no further documentation of the boys' mother, Mina or father, Peter, has been found. The four oldest Mader boys were cared for by the Children's Aid Society. Peter, Sr. may have turned to drink, or otherwise become unable to care for his sons. Thousands of impoverished parents in New York turned their children over to charitable organizations because they could no longer feed them. Baby Frank was taken in and raised by Mina's brother, Ignatius Schrieber and his wife, Thekla.
The other four brothers were to become a part of history. The plight of destitute immigrant children became so horrific that the idea of "The Orphan Train" was born. About 200,000 children were put on trains which traveled across the midwest, making stops in towns where the children were literally put on display and interested families would come to view them.
By 1884 the Mader Boys had been "Placed-Out"--Charles went to a family in MO., and the other three were adopted or fostered by separate families in Spring Valley, MN. John J. Mader became James J. Lowe, Jacob was adopted by the Olds family, becoming "Jake Mader Olds", and Peter Mader Jr. kept his original name.
James, his wife Martha Watson Lowe and their children and brother Jake followed Martha's parents, (James Elliott and Sarah Means Watson) to Modesto, CA. The brothers lived close to each other, raising their children in the California sunshine. Peter remained in MN., raising a family there.
The only information about Mina and Peter's fate is a statement made by one of Mina's grandchildren: "Mina died in NY, (date unk) leaving Peter, Sr. with five sons, including infant Frank. Peter then became an alcoholic, and the boys were put on the Orphan Train." Mina probably died in New York about 1880 at about age 32. It seems Peter dissolved into the slums of New York, a nameless immigrant.
Mina and Peter never realized The American Dream. For them, their adopted country offered only poverty and pain. But their sacrifice gave their five boys the chance at The Dream. And they lived it, starting families that would become part of the fabric of America.
Peter was born in Switzerland, and emigrated to America before 1869. We find him first in the Federal Census of 1870, where he was living with his wife, Mina, and son Charles Augustus, born that year. They lived in Carlstadt, Bergen, NJ. It is likely that he married Miss Mina Schrieber, from Baden, Germany in 1867-1868.
Peter was a carpenter, and was listed as such in the 1880 New York City Directory. The couple moved to Manhattan, and resided at 183 Ludlow Street, one of the worst slums in the Five Points area. This is the same area depicted in the movie, "Gangs of New York". By 1880 there were five Mader brothers; Charles, Peter Jr., John, Jacob, and Baby Frank.
It was noted on the 1880 Federal Census that a total of 30 people lived at 183 Ludlow St. Jacob Riis, a Danish photographer captured the Maders' and many other immigrant families' struggles eloquently. A quick search online will reveal the horrors of "The American Dream" for poor immigrants in the late 1800s.
Baby Frank was born the month before the 1880 census was taken, and after that time, no further documentation of the boys' mother, Mina or father, Peter, has been found. The four oldest Mader boys were cared for by the Children's Aid Society. Peter, Sr. may have turned to drink, or otherwise become unable to care for his sons. Thousands of impoverished parents in New York turned their children over to charitable organizations because they could no longer feed them. Baby Frank was taken in and raised by Mina's brother, Ignatius Schrieber and his wife, Thekla.
The other four brothers were to become a part of history. The plight of destitute immigrant children became so horrific that the idea of "The Orphan Train" was born. About 200,000 children were put on trains which traveled across the midwest, making stops in towns where the children were literally put on display and interested families would come to view them.
By 1884 the Mader Boys had been "Placed-Out"--Charles went to a family in MO., and the other three were adopted or fostered by separate families in Spring Valley, MN. John J. Mader became James J. Lowe, Jacob was adopted by the Olds family, becoming "Jake Mader Olds", and Peter Mader Jr. kept his original name.
James, his wife Martha Watson Lowe and their children and brother Jake followed Martha's parents, (James Elliott and Sarah Means Watson) to Modesto, CA. The brothers lived close to each other, raising their children in the California sunshine. Peter remained in MN., raising a family there.
The only information about Mina and Peter's fate is a statement made by one of Mina's grandchildren: "Mina died in NY, (date unk) leaving Peter, Sr. with five sons, including infant Frank. Peter then became an alcoholic, and the boys were put on the Orphan Train." Mina probably died in New York about 1880 at about age 32. It seems Peter dissolved into the slums of New York, a nameless immigrant.
Mina and Peter never realized The American Dream. For them, their adopted country offered only poverty and pain. But their sacrifice gave their five boys the chance at The Dream. And they lived it, starting families that would become part of the fabric of America.
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