Born in Washington county, Ohio, on the 24th of April, 1830. His parents were John and Eliza Ann (Melvin) Shrader. John's boyhood was spent on the farm, and he was raised, as were the families of that day, to habits of economy and industry. Owing to the illness of his father, on him, as eldest son, mainly devolved the support of the family, which denied him much opportunity for early education. A college education was begun, but abandoned for lack of means to complete it. But native talent and earnest study in later life made the lack of college training imperceptible, and placed him the company of men with the culture of schools. While young, he had the desire to devote himself to the profession of medicine, and to this end all his energies were bent. While at home he pursued his studies under the direction of Dr. John Hemphill, and filled the hours between teaching with studious application to his work of medicine. Removing to the west in 1855, he located in Linn county. Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock raising. This he continued successfully till the crisis of 1857-8, which wrecked him along with thousands of others in the west. Leaving the farm, he assisted in the organization of Western College, in Linn county, afterward becoming one of its first instructors. His new occupation afforded him the opportunity of resuming his studies with renewed vigor, under the direction at first of Dr. Crouse, and afterward under that of Dr. Parmenter, then a professor in the college. He resigned his place in the school, attended medical lectures, and was fairly at work in a rapidly increasing business when he was commissioned, by Governor Kirkwood, captain in the 22d Iowa Infantry. While serving with his regiment as captain he was detailed for duty on General Fitz-Henry Warren's staff, and served for a time in 1864 as provost-marshal general of Texas. Returning to his regiment, he was soon afterward appointed its surgeon, with rank of major, by Governor Stone, and on the removal of his regiment to the eastern department, was chosen one of the operating surgeons of the second division, nineteenth army corps. After the battle of Winchester he had charge of one of the largest hospitals in Winchester, Virginia. After rejoining his regiment he remained with it till it was mustered out. On leaving the Service he entered upon the practice of his profession at Iowa City, where he has by successful practice made himself one of the leading physicians of the city, and has built up a large and remunerative business. Upon the establishment of the medical department of the University of Iowa he was appointed, by the board of regents, professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and children. He was physician to the board of health of Iowa City, member of the Iowa City Medical Society, the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society, the Eastern Iowa District Medical Society, the Poweshiek County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Society. He was made a Mason in December, 1864, at Hiram Lodge No. 21, at Winchester, Virginia, one of the oldest lodges in the United States. He has held offices in Royal Arch Chapter and as Knight Templar, and was an eminent commander of Palestine Commandery No. 2, at Iowa City. He also belonged to the order of Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workingmen. The doctor is a member of no church, and is liberal in his religious opinions. He has been a republican since the organization of that party, but his profession engrosses his time and leaves none for political matters. He has been twice married: on the 1st of January, 1852, to Miss Lydia P. Evans, of Washington county, Ohio, who died in 1871. His second wife was Miss Maggie A. Carter, of Iowa City.

Born in Washington county, Ohio, on the 24th of April, 1830. His parents were John and Eliza Ann (Melvin) Shrader. John's boyhood was spent on the farm, and he was raised, as were the families of that day, to habits of economy and industry. Owing to the illness of his father, on him, as eldest son, mainly devolved the support of the family, which denied him much opportunity for early education. A college education was begun, but abandoned for lack of means to complete it. But native talent and earnest study in later life made the lack of college training imperceptible, and placed him the company of men with the culture of schools. While young, he had the desire to devote himself to the profession of medicine, and to this end all his energies were bent. While at home he pursued his studies under the direction of Dr. John Hemphill, and filled the hours between teaching with studious application to his work of medicine. Removing to the west in 1855, he located in Linn county. Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock raising. This he continued successfully till the crisis of 1857-8, which wrecked him along with thousands of others in the west. Leaving the farm, he assisted in the organization of Western College, in Linn county, afterward becoming one of its first instructors. His new occupation afforded him the opportunity of resuming his studies with renewed vigor, under the direction at first of Dr. Crouse, and afterward under that of Dr. Parmenter, then a professor in the college. He resigned his place in the school, attended medical lectures, and was fairly at work in a rapidly increasing business when he was commissioned, by Governor Kirkwood, captain in the 22d Iowa Infantry. While serving with his regiment as captain he was detailed for duty on General Fitz-Henry Warren's staff, and served for a time in 1864 as provost-marshal general of Texas. Returning to his regiment, he was soon afterward appointed its surgeon, with rank of major, by Governor Stone, and on the removal of his regiment to the eastern department, was chosen one of the operating surgeons of the second division, nineteenth army corps. After the battle of Winchester he had charge of one of the largest hospitals in Winchester, Virginia. After rejoining his regiment he remained with it till it was mustered out. On leaving the Service he entered upon the practice of his profession at Iowa City, where he has by successful practice made himself one of the leading physicians of the city, and has built up a large and remunerative business. Upon the establishment of the medical department of the University of Iowa he was appointed, by the board of regents, professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and children. He was physician to the board of health of Iowa City, member of the Iowa City Medical Society, the Iowa and Illinois Central District Medical Society, the Eastern Iowa District Medical Society, the Poweshiek County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Society. He was made a Mason in December, 1864, at Hiram Lodge No. 21, at Winchester, Virginia, one of the oldest lodges in the United States. He has held offices in Royal Arch Chapter and as Knight Templar, and was an eminent commander of Palestine Commandery No. 2, at Iowa City. He also belonged to the order of Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workingmen. The doctor is a member of no church, and is liberal in his religious opinions. He has been a republican since the organization of that party, but his profession engrosses his time and leaves none for political matters. He has been twice married: on the 1st of January, 1852, to Miss Lydia P. Evans, of Washington county, Ohio, who died in 1871. His second wife was Miss Maggie A. Carter, of Iowa City.