30th Annual Strader Reunion
The 30th Annual Strader Reunion was held on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006 at the Hindsboro Christian Church, Hindsboro, Illinois, with thirty-four in attendance. After the Blessing was asked by Duane Strader, a bountiful potluck meal was enjoyed by all those present. After eating the family enjoyed visiting and sharing pictures and family news and stories.

The Strader Family originated in Germany, came to America and settled in North Carolina before moving on to the Hardin County, Kentucky area, very near to where Abraham Lincoln was born. Francis Strader and his wife, Susannah (Easter) Strader moved with their family to the Hutton Township, Coles County, Illinois area before 1830, when the area was still part of Clark County. Their son, Vincent Strader and his wife, Patience H. (Stewart) Strader were the ancestors of everyone present at the current reunion. Among their ten children were two sons, William Francis Strader and John Strader, both of whom are buried at Maple Hill Cemetery at Westfield, Illinois. They were the great-grandfathers of the oldest generation present at the 30th Annual Strader Reunion.

Those present included the following great-grandchildren of William Francis and Catherine (Troxell) Strader (through their son, Melford H. and Amanda Adella (Allen) Strader, through their son, Earl Berton Strader): June Strader Crackel of Champaign-Urbana and her sister, Theda Strader Miller Scott and her husband, Dale Scott of Arthur.

The following descendants of John and Mary Jane (Conley) Strader were present: (through Irene Elizabeth (Strader) Hofsas and her daughter Mary Rebecca (Hofsas) Reeder) Betty Reeder Fombelle Harshbarger and her husband, Fred Harshbarger of Atwood and her daughter Becky Fombelle Liffeck of near Newman, (through Leah May (Strader) Drake and her daughters, Mary Ethelyn (Drake) Level and Dorothy Pauline (Drake) Williams) Nancy Level of Urbana and her first cousins, Charlene Williams and Cathy Williams White of Casey. Also present were the following descendants of Alva Curtis and Maude Luesta (Sears) Strader (through their son, Clifford Anthony Strader and his first wife, Thelma Easter (Allen) Strader): Jeanne Hayes Strader of Hindsboro and her daughter, Jaye Strader Roberts of Kemp; Nelson and Edna Owens Strader and their son, Randy and his wife, Tracy Strandberg Strader – all of Oakland; Myra Strader Coy, her son, David Kent Coy, and her daughter Erika Coy Dial and her daughter, Elizabeth Dial – all of Decatur; Duane and Sabina Hayes Strader and their children and grandchildren, Rick and Sara Strader East, Ed and Caryl Marrs Strader, Carter and Claire, and Cliff and Michelle Baker Strader, Caitlyn, Michael, and Heyden Strader – all of Hindsboro; and Archie and Dolores Strader Dague of rural Oakland.