MericE. Cady

 
MERICE. CADY resides at Camden, and is numbered among the respected pioneersof Schuyler county. He was born in Tolland county, Connecticut, January22, 1828, being a son of Isaac F. and Sarah (Chapman) Cady, natives ofConnecticut. Isaac F. Cady in early life learned the trade of a carpenter,and, being a natural mechanic, also worked at the blacksmith trade. Hecould make anything in iron or other work in his line.

Hefirst married Clarissa Hunt, who died, leaving seven children, five girlsand two boys. He then married Sarah Chapman, and after two children hadbeen born, he with his family came to Illinois, in 1835, via canal, LakeErie and canal, to the Ohio river, where he purchased a boat, and cameto Quincy, Illinois, and in the fall of 1835 he settled in Camden township,where he entered several hundred acres of land, and resided there tillhis death, which occurred in 1847, aged seventy-two years, six months andtwo days.

Byhis first marriage there were seven children, namely: Isaac G., H. H. Franklin,Angeline, Caroline, Emaline, Adaline and Mary Ann. By his second marriage,he had Francis E. and Meric E. The mother of our subject, by former marriageto I. A. Jones, had five children; Austin, Alonzo, Revilo, Charles W.,and one died young. All the children were born in Connecticut, and theparents and fifteen children came to Illinois. The mother of our subjectdied aged eighty-one years.

MericE. Cady was reared on the farm, and being a natural mechanic he workedsomewhat in that line. In 1850, he crossed the plains to California, wherehe worked in the mines for one year, and then went on a ranch. In 1853,he came home via the Isthmus and New Orleans, and took 124 head of cattleand thirteen head of horses across the plains to California, and remainedthere till 1855, when he returned home via New York.

Hewas successful while in California, and on his return home he resumed farming,till 1882, becoming the owner of 268 acres, on which he made many improvements.When he removed to Camden village, he built a store, and with his son engagedin general mercantile business, and so continued ten years; since thenhe has lived a retired life. He sold his farm in 1891, and purchased anotherof 130 acres, in Camden township.

InMarch, 1856, he married Eliza A. Melvin. She was born in Maine, in thetown of Reidfield, 1835, daughter of John and Eunice Melvin, who settledin Schuyler county, in 1851. Our subject continued farming till 1882.

Mr.and Mrs. Cady have three children living, and one dead. Everett F. is afarmer in Camden township; Charles W. died at the age of nineteen years;Eugenia and Addie. In politics, Mr. Cady is a Democrat, and has held localoffices.

Mr.and Mrs. Cady are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Cady is a RoyalArch Mason, being the Master of the Camden Lodge, No. 648, A. F. &A. M., a position he has held for several terms.

Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 283-284.

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