TOMBOY DAYS AT HOPETOWN

RECALLED BY NONAGENARIAN

By Barbara Bolmer Kalfs
Oct 7, 1952

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"Oh please thank everyone for making my 90th birthday so nice," requested petite Mrs. Charles F. (Mary) Mader of 365 Mill Street, who reached the four score and ten mark Sunday, Oct 7.

This smiling little grandmother was overwhelmed by all the attentions she received. In addition to visits from devoted members of her family and friends, she received three fancy cakes, more than 90 cards, cookies and flowers by the dozens.

One of the highlights of the day was the anticipation of a phone conversation with Mrs. George Babler of Frenchtown who was 90 on Oct. 8. The women, who have been friends since childhood, jokingly refer to each other as "twins."

Born At Hopetown

Mrs. Mader was born Oct. 7 1861, in Hopetown to Adam and Melissa Hankel Gartner. Her parents had come to this country from Germany when they were small children.

This entraining nonagenarian can spin tales of her youth by the hour and she loves to reminisce about her wonderful childhood in Hopetown.

Mrs. Mader attended the little one-room brick schoolhouse at Hopetown until she was 13. Then her father, anxious for his family to acquire more education, sent the children to James Poe's Private-School on Hickory Street. The 90 year old remembered that Mr. Poe was a wonderful teacher and when she left the school at 17, she had a full high school education. In class with her were John I. Vanmeter, Will Sulzbacher, Albert Keim, the Harness boys and the Smith family from Hopetown.

Speaking of traveling to and from Chillicothe by express, reminded Mrs. Mader of one of her greatest victories. From the time she could toddle, she loved to be around horses. When she was in her late teens, her father had an exceptionally fast trotter, named Fannie.

It is hard to visualize Mrs. Mader as a daredevil, but she maintains she was quite the "tomboy" type in those days. Whenever she had Fannie on the road, she would race any and everything that came her way. Finally, her father issued strict orders about no more racing and the matter was considered closed.

However, one afternoon she was obliged to race--for Fannie's honor--a young man, named Snyder, from Kingston also owned a fine trotter. He made a passing remark that his horse could outrun the Gartner horse. This incited Mrs. Mader's urge to race, but she recalled her father's orders.

Her brother was in a buggy behind her and as Mr. Snyder kept up his heckling, he yelled "Let 'er go!" That was all Mrs. Mader needed and she gave Fannie the reins. Mr. Snyder kept trying to pass, but as he drew up even with the Gartner buddy, Mrs. Mader would let Fannie out a little more.

This went on for some time and finally, the two racers rounded the bend near the Gartner home. Mr. Gartner was coming from the barn and heard the pounding hooves approaching his home. As he ran out to the road, there came Fannie tearing past with Mrs. Mader holding sway in the driver's seat. Tagging along behind was Mr. Snyder, definitely the loser.

Father Proud

Mr. Gartner was so pleased with his fine mare, that he forgot to scold his daughter. And Mace McConnell who had been following the entire race, was so delighted that he stood up in his buggy, waved his hat and uttered jubilant cries, Mrs. Mader reported.

When Mrs. Mader, was quite small, she and her brothers and sisters visited their aunt and uncle, Henry and Margaret Haney, at Frenchtown. Mr. Haney operated the famous Marfield Mill and it was during these visits that Mrs. Mader and Mrs. Gable became fast friends.

"I was a Leap Year Bride," laughs Mrs. Mader. On Nov 29, 1888, she was married to Charles F. Mader who died Jan. 6, 1933. The newly-weds moved to Marion, but in the following February returned to Chillicothe where Mr. Mader operated a grocery.

This nonagenarian is "doing real well" and is able to be up and about despite a serious set back she suffered last winter.

Conquered Pneumonia

In January she contracted pneumonia and it wasn't until April that she was feeling "up to snuff again. She loves to go for rides and even went on a picnic last summer. Although she walks with the aid of a cane, Mrs. Mader manages real well in the house, but hesitates to tackle steps and sidewalks.

One of her regrets is that she cannot attend church. She has been a faithful member of the Walnut Street Methodist church for many years.

But, Mrs. Mader finds pleasure in the little things of life and is remarkably quick-witted. Her looks belie her age as her wealth of hair has very few strands of gray in it and her snapping eyes don't miss a trick.

Happy With Family

But, she is happiest when she can be with her family. Of five girls and four boys in the Gartner family, only four survive, Mrs. Mader, Louis Gartner of the Cincinnati Pike, Mrs. Samuel (Ida) Honnold of the Foulke Block; and Edward Gartner of Dayton.

The Maders reared four children, Mrs. George (Melissa) Mathewson of West Second Street, Mrs. Harry S. (Viola) Allen of Dayton, Miss Irene Mader who lives at home, and C. Albert Mader of this city. Albert's two children, Mrs. Al (Mary) Herzel and Charles (Chuck) Mader of Urbana, have given their grandmother three mighty fine great-grandchildren, Nancy Herzel and Charles (Chuckie) and Sandy Mader.

This sweet little lady dotes on her family and they return her affection by being in her words "such nice children."