Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes - Those of Importance
Jacob Bader (1836-1903)
The following is an obituary for the Reverend Jacob Bader as published in the Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Mehodist Episcopal Church, South for the Year 1904 (Nashville, Tenn: Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.; Smith & Lamar, Agents).
REV. JACOB BADER
JACOB BADER: (1836-1903)--With deep sadness we record the fact that brother Bader, our brother dearly beloved and venerated, one of the veterans in our ranks, a man of stalwart frame and stalwart mind, with the heart of a child for simplicity and purity, has been called from the militant ranks of the Church which he loved, and for which he labored, to the triumphant host in heaven. While we rejoice at his release from earthly toil and care, our hearts are sad, and unforbidden tears will rise, because his genial presence ne’er again will cheer and brighten our communion here. We mourn his loss, but we are glad that his is the eternal gain. Jacob Bader was born on the 20th of February, 1836, at Ilsfield, Wurtemberg, Germany. His childhood days were days of hardship. He came to Texas in the year 1852, leaving his mother in Europe. His father he had never know, he having died previous to brother Bader’s birth. He remained some time with his uncle, Godfrey Bader, after which he hired out as a laborer, among strangers. In December, 1861, he was married to the good woman who now survives him. This marriage was blessed with two children, a girl and a boy, who survive him. In the year 1869 he was received on trial into the Texas Conference (Methodist Episcopal Church). During the thirty-three years of his ministry he served the following appointments: New Fountain Mission, 1870; Yorktown, 1871; then again New Fountain, till 1873; New Braunfels Mission, from 1874 to 1875; Cibolo Mission, from 1875 to 1877; New Fountain and Castroville Mission, in the year 1878; Mountain Mission, in 1879; Industry Mission, in 1880; Western District, from 1881 to 1884; Houston Station from 1885 to 1888; Cibolo and Elm Creek Mission, in 1889; Llano Circuit, from 1890 to 1893; Fredericksburg Mission, in 1894 and 1895; New Fountain Circuit, 1896. In 1897 he was supernumerary; in 1898-9, he served Fredericksburg Mission; in 1900, Bellville and Millheim Mission; and in 1901-2, San Antonio, Mission. At the last session of this Conference he was re-appointed to this mission; but God took him from this field of labor to the plains of heavenly rest in the kingdom above. He died at San Antonio, Texas, on the 17th of November, 1903 of malarial fever complicated with other troubles. Brother Bader was a man of strong parts. Without the culture of the schools, he still made the best of his opportunities, studying diligently and to good purpose the books of the prescribed course, and informing his mind by reading many other good books. He was a great Bible student, and his knowledge of the Bible was the most important part of his mental equipment, which made his pulpit ministrations eminently efficient. The pulpit was his throne of power. He never copied after others, but was original and, we may add, unique almost to the point of eccentricity. He was the Boanerges among his brethren---direct and forceful in his utterances, uncompromising in his reproofs of sin. He was serious in mien and disposition, as far removed from levity as the north pole is removed from the south pole, and yet without the spirit of pharisaism and asceticism. When occasion offered, he could be humorous, and at all times he was companionable and cheerful, never morose or incommunicative. As a pastor he was faithful, diligent, conscientious, indefatigable; hence, successful. His work abides, and his memory will be cherished by his brethren in ministry, and by all who ever had the privilege to sit under his ministry and enjoy his pleasant converse. May his mantle fall upon some Elisha who shall emulate his faith, his zeal, and his devotion to the cause of Christ.
Other obituaries from San Antonio newspapers:
The following was appeared in The San Antonio Daily Express, Wednesday Morning, November 18, 1903, page 10, column 2.
Mortuary
Rev. Jacob Bader, pastor of the German Methodist at the corner of San Marcos and Buena Vista streets, died of kidney trouble Tuesday morning. Deceased was 67 years of age and had been in the city two years. He was a native of Germany. He is survived by his widow and one son.
The San Antonio Daily Light of Tuesday, November 17, 1903, had the following on page 3, column 6.
Mortuary
Rev. Jacob Bader, aged 68 years, died this morning at his residence No. 1314 Zavala street, from malarial fever.
Deceased was the pastor of the German Methodist church on South San Marcos and Buena Vista streets, and had been in the ministry for the past 37 years.
A widow, one son, (the late W. F. Bader of this city), and a daughter in Medina county survive him. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon from the church.
The dates of service and locations served by Rev. Bader as found in the Medina County History and an obituary from the Methodist Church Archives:
| Medina County History | | Methodist Archive Obituary |
| 1869-1870 New Fountain | | 1870-1873 New Fountain |
| 1871-1873 New Fountain | | 1878 New Fountain |
| 1877-1878 New Fountain | | 1881-1884 Western Disrict |
| 1882-1883 New Fountain | | 1896 New Fountain |
| 1895-1896 New Fountain | | 1898-1899 Fredericksburg |
| | | 1900 Bellville & Millheim |
| | | 1901-1903 San Antonio |
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