ISAAC D. VEDDER, formerly identified with industrial interests in White Hall and now serving as justice of the peace, was born in Onondaga county, New York, on the 5th of June, 1820. He is of Holland-Dutch and French-Canadian lineage. His father, Aaron F. Vedder, was a native of New York and was a carpenter by trade, following that pursuit for many years in order to provide for his family. His wife, Mrs. Nancy Vedder, was a native of Canada. The parents came to Illinois in 1847 and after residing here for four years returned to New York in 1851. The father died in 1860 at the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife passed away in 1878 at the very advanced age of ninety-three years.

In the public schools of Lysander, New York, Isaac D. Vedder acquired his early education and after putting aside his text-books he accepted a clerkship in a country store, at Fulton, Oswego county, New York, where he was employed for a year. In early life he also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years.

On the 15th of February, 1849, Mr. Vedder was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Prettyman, who was of English lineage, her ancestors having located in Virginia at a very early day. Her father died in the year 1837, but her mother reached the very advanced age of ninety years, passing away in 1901. Mrs. Vedder was educated in the Georgetown College for Women in Georgetown, D.C., and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children: Nannie, now deceased; Ada, who became the wife of Dr. George B. Millard, of Vergennes, Vermont, and died leaving four children, Sarah, Amelia, George and Delana; Minnie; Thomas A., who lives in Oklahoma and has one child; Francis L., who si married and has four children; Isaac D.; Richard P., who is married and has two children; Mrs. Nellie Stevens; and Charles.

Mr. Vedder has been a resident of White Hall for more than sixty-four years, having come to this county from the east in 1840. He has since resided in White Hall and in its development and progress has felt a deep interest and taken an active part. Only once has he left White Hall for any extended length of time. In 1847 he went to Washington, D.C., where he occupied a position in the land office until 1850. In that year he returned to White Hall and entered the dry-goods business as a partner of A. Davis, this relationship being maintained for six years. In the meantime upon his return to White Hall he had been elected justice of the peace and he served in that capacity until he resigned in order to become a factor in the mercantile circles here. He was associated with A. Davis and G. S. Vosseller until 1861. In 1866 he was appointed notary public, in which capacity he has since served. In 1872 he purchased a wagon and carriage factory from Judge Worcester and after conducting that enterprise for five years sold out. In the meantime he had become interested in real estate operations and in 1868 he laid out Vedder's addition to White Hall, owning in all about eleven acres of land, which he subdivided and sold as town lots.

Fraternally Mr. Vedder is a Mason and he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife and family are members. He has long been a resident of Illinois, living in the state through the period of its early pioneer development as well as its later-day progress and improvement. He was personally acquainted with Lincoln and John Bell and heard many of the famous orators of the early day, including Clay, Webster and Calhoun. He has been a life-long Democrat, although not a politician. He is, however, a stanch party man, unfaltering in his loyalty to the principles of the Democracy and in citizenship he is always loyal, having been the champion of many measures for the public good and given substantial assistance to movements which have resulted beneficially to the county. He is now one of the venerable citizens of Greene county and he receives the respect which should ever be accorded to one who has traveled thus far on life's journey and his career has been characterized by all that is honorable and straightforward in his dealings with his fellowmen. Mr. Vedder is particularly fond of a game of checkers and this proves his principal source of recreation. His office is a favorite rendezvous with many of his old friends and the early residents of Greene county and their reminiscences present a most interesting account of pioneer life and experiences in White Hall and this portion of the state. What to many are matters of history concerning Greene county are to Mr. Vedder affairs of personal knowledge or experience and throughout the long years of his residence here there has been no more loyal or progressive citizen of Greene County.