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Townsend Schools 7th grade visits Radersburg

On April 30, Preserve Broadwater History, the Broadwater County Museum and Radersburg Historical Preservation, Inc. (RHPI) hosted the Townsend Schools 7th grade class's 5th annual outing at the historic Radersburg School.

The 7th grade class is the class that studies Montana History and Radersburg has a very rich history!

Linda Huth (Broadwater County Museum Curator) started off the outing by giving an interesting and entertaining history of Radersburg. All of the students were enthralled with Linda’s presentation.

The Seventh Grade Class enjoying a photo op 

To read more about the field trip click on:

Radersburg Fieldtrip

 

 

Reuben Rader - Founder of Radersburg (from the Broadwater Bygones available at the Broadwater County Museum)

Reuben Rader

Found of Radersburg

When a certain boy was born in 1833 in Roanoke, Virginia to bear the name of Reuben Rader, little did anyone realize that this person at the age of 21 years was to leave his native state to journey west and not only discover the first gold in the district but become the founder of a small Montana town - Radersburg. As did most of the trains of covered wagon that crossed the plains have trials, so did Rader's company. He arrived on horseback in the area that was to bear his name as early as 1863, so history reveals.

He acquired large acreages of land and along with mining he became a leading citizen and cattleman. He deeded 40 acres of his land for the township of Radersburg, used his equipment (horses and scrapers) to level the land for its first courthouse. In 1865 when Jefferson County was formed he became its first County Commissioner.

The name of Reuben Rader is now a legend. In 1875 he was married to Cora A. Herrick, the two making one of first and most hospitable homes in the area. The log structure still stands in the northerly end of "The Burg".  Mr. Rader died in 1905 leaving his wife and three children, Lee, Clifford and Mamie, the boys staying on for a number of years and then settling in Envermere and Cranbrook, B.C. Mamie married A. Franklin and had two daughters and is now deceased. Three other children of Mr. and Mrs. Rader were Daisy, Earl and Nellie who died early in life and the family plot is in the Radersburg cemetery(1).

Notes: 

(1): There are no cemetery records for any Raders being buried in Radersburg Cemetery nor are there any grave markings remaining with the family name.