His father was a descendant of early Delaware settlers and served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

[1][2][3][4] Vandiver was educated in public schools in Harford County, including Havre de Grace Academy.

In June 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed him Collector of Internal Revenue for Maryland, the District of Columbia, Delaware and Virginia's Eastern Shore.

[1][2] He served as chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee from August 12, 1897, until his death.

[1][4] Vandiver bought land from Havre de Grace mayor J. Thompson Frieze.

In 1886, he built a Queen Anne style house in Havre de Grace, Maryland, at 301 South Union Avenue that would be called the "Vandiver Mansion".

[3][7] Vandiver died on May 23, 1916, following liver problems and tuberculosis, at his cottage near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.

The items were commissioned by the Democratic Party and manufactured by Samuel Kirk & Son Co. of Baltimore.