Vander J. D. Mattox
Vander J.D. Mattox was a lively center of the community in Auburn, Alabama. He was born around 1903 in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving to the Auburn community. His father, Vander D. Mattox Sr., born around 1863, was a merchant in a warehouse. His mother, Josephine, was a hard-working nurse. The family lived on Clark Avenue in 1920, which was close to where the Black high school, Drake, would be built almost 40 years later. Vander likely went to the Lee County Training School, an institution started by Booker T. Washington and was one of the first schools for African American education. He went to college for around two years and then married Ella Mae Foster, the daughter of Bob and Obelia Foster who were another prominent family in Auburn, in 1926. They had a nice marriage, and a son, but he died shortly after his birth. With around two years of college education, tough financial times led them to live with Ella's parents in Auburn. The family briefly relocated to Detroit in 1930 then to Chicago in 1935, but quickly returned to the Auburn they knew and loved by 1940, possibly due to economic difficulties from the Great Depression. Active in the community, Vander was a member of the Young Men's Improvement Club. This organization helped empower African American men in Lee County to be better citizens and educate themselves. The family played a vital role as the sole beer distributor in Auburn, and Ella Mae became the manager of Van's Lounge, a distinguished dining spot known for the coldest beer. This was a place where the Black community could come to relax and unload after a hard day at work or catch up with friends. Legal issues arose in 1960 when Vander faced charges for selling alcohol to minors, a common occurrence in a college town, resulting in a $50 fine. He died in 1972 after leaving a great legacy to the community behind.
Contributed by Lily and Henry from Auburn High School
Sources:
1920 Federal Census A
1920 Federal Census B
1926 Marriage A
1926 Marriage B
1926 Marriage C
1927 Birmingham Reporter
1930 Federal Census
1937 Obituary A
1937 Obituary B
1940 Federal Census
1942 Registration Card
1950 Federal Census
1953 Warranty Deed
1958 Qualified Voters
1960 GJ Indictment
1960 Plea A
1960 Plea B
1960 Plea C
1961 Warranty Deed A
1961 Warranty Deed B
1962 Qualified Voter
1966 Warranty Deed A
1966 Warranty Deed B
1972 Death Record A
1972 Death Record B
1972 Death Record C
1920 Federal Census A
1920 Federal Census B
1926 Marriage A
1926 Marriage B
1926 Marriage C
1927 Birmingham Reporter
1930 Federal Census
1937 Obituary A
1937 Obituary B
1940 Federal Census
1942 Registration Card
1950 Federal Census
1953 Warranty Deed
1958 Qualified Voters
1960 GJ Indictment
1960 Plea A
1960 Plea B
1960 Plea C
1961 Warranty Deed A
1961 Warranty Deed B
1962 Qualified Voter
1966 Warranty Deed A
1966 Warranty Deed B
1972 Death Record A
1972 Death Record B
1972 Death Record C