Dominick Mader Jr.
1886 – 1956

Dominick Jr. was the son of Dominick and Mary born on November 26, 1886. When he was young he helped his father in the brick yard and later on the farm.

Dominick Jr. was joined in marriage to Edith Moss. They were the parents of three children; Margaret, William, and Frank.

Frank remembers living in La Crosse first, where his father worked at People’s Ice and Fuel Co.. He was about eight years old when the family moved to the farm.

Having taken the farm back from Hyde and Funk, Dominick Jr. and his brother Arthur returned to farm it for their father, later purchasing it. One of the large tobacco sheds built by Hyde and Funk was converted into a barn,. the other was torn down. (Andy North and others on Losey Blvd. built their homes from this wood.) Dominick Jr. dairy farmed and sold dirt in town. The dirt was from the area where the race track used to be.

“Dad wasn’t used to driving a tractor. Once he came to the creek bank and hollered ‘Whoa’ to the tractor and it wouldn’t stop!” recalls Bill. “My dad was so easy going. He always smoked a corn cob pipe.”

To the south, just below the house, the Maders had a picnic area. (Where Hass Park is now.) Further away from the house on Dominick Jr.’s farm there was another small park where the downtown business men came every Thursday night for a party. Erickson Bakery, Bodega, and others belonged to the club and they always catered the food. The businessmen enjoyed it so much, eventually they ran power lines down to it for lights and played horseshoes until midnight.

This one particular night they said, “Come on down, Dom!” They had beer and shots until finally they had to carry Dominick home. His wife was so disgusted she told Bill to stay with his father because he was moaning and groaning so much he was going to die. The next morning he probably wished he had because his wife Edith lit into him! This was the only time Bill could remember his father drinking too much.

In ca. 1936, the family moved to 1406 Johnson St. in La Crosse. Dominick’s brother Arthur still remained on the farm.

Bill told this story:

“My mother went over to visit Angeline on 13th St. On the way back in the middle of the street on 15th and Farnam was a present all wrapped up. Ma picked it up, brought it home and opened it. She was surprised to find that it was chicken guts! The butcher shop had put it in the street as a joke to see who would pick it up. Ma wrapped the chicken guts back up and put the present back in the middle of the street. Then she stood behind a tree to see who would pick it up next!”

Dominick Jr. had a disagreement with Fr. Riesterer at Holy Trinity and the family quit going to church. Later, Fr. Plecity tried to get him to come back to the church.Bill recalled, “Dad would be laying on the porch after work and Mom would say, ‘Here comes that young priest again!’ My dad would duck out the back door and visit friends on the next block.”

They never owned a touring car. Earlier, Dominick Jr. drove the ice truck back and forth to work and in later years drove a pick-up.

At the age of 69, Dominick Jr. passed away in his home at 1923 S. 30th St. on Nov. 5, 1956. His wife Edith survived him.

Edith was a cook at Hillview Co. Hospital for many years. When she became old and needed care, she wanted to go to Hillview so that she could look out the window and see the family farm. She couldn’t go there because she had too much money so she went to Gunn Nursing Home instead. Edith was unhappy there and died three months later.