Jacob Rader when fourteen years of age left his father's farm to become a clerk in a grocery store in Easton. Six months later he entered the dry-goods store of C. & N. Innis, and in August, 1843, purchased the stock of his employer, and has since become one of the leading merchants of the city. He also assisted in organizing the Easton Gas Company, was a director of the First National Bank, and became one of the organizers of the Lehigh Water Company, of which he has now been the treasurer for many years. His activities have been of marked benefit to the city in promoting its material progress and substantial improvement. For thirty-six years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school conducted in connection with the Reformed church, and is very active in the different departments of church work. A prominent Mason, he has been a member of the consistory since 1865, and his political support is given the Republican Party.