Iroquois-Winnebago-Cook County IL Archives Biographies.....Cassidy, William H. March 17, 1837 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Cassidy marilyn.cassidy@gmail.com August 24, 2013, 12:01 am

Source: History of Iroquois Co., Illinois
Author: Unknown

William H. Cassidy, who carries on an insurance business and also runs a livery 
in Gilman, is a native of Ireland, where he was born March 17, 1837, in County 
Donegal. He is a son of John and Jane (Chestnut) Cassidy, both of whom were 
natives of the same county. They had a family of nine sons, of whom eight lived 
to be grown, and all of whom came to the United States. The father followed the 
occupation of farming. Of the children, Samuel, a graduate of Dublin College was 
the first to leave his home and cross the broad Atlantic. He came about 1846, 
and is now engaged in merchandising on Staten Island. Some two years later his 
brother John followed his example, coming to the United States, and was 
yardmaster at Olney, Ill., where he was killed by the cars in the year 1859. 
Richard and Thomas emigrated about 1852, the former residing at Crescent City, 
Iroquois County, while the latter was in the mercantile business with his eldest 
brother and died in New York City. Our subject next left his native land, and 
his brother Moses in 1862 did likewise, and is an extensive farmer in Winnebago 
County, Ill. At the close of the war, James and Henry, the remaining sons came 
with their parents to the New World. James engaged in the mercantile business in 
New York until the time of his death, while Henry lived quite a number of years 
in Gilman, following the insurance business, and has but lately removed to 
Chicago. The parents later removed to Winnebago County, where they both died at 
the age of eighty-five. They were members of the Episcopal Church and among the 
worthy citizens that Ireland has furnished to America.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and his education was received 
in the common schools of Ireland. He made the voyage across the Atlantic in 
1856, and in pursuit of fortune he first sold Irish linens and notions from 
house to house for a year. He then followed farming until 1860, when he entered 
his brother's store at Detroit, Mich.

In the fall of the same year, when Mr. Cassidy went to Belvidere, Ill., he there 
married Sarah M. Dawson, their marriage being celebrated on the 1st of December, 
1860. She was born in Summit County, Ohio, and reared to womanhood in Illinois. 
Her parents came from England. After their marriage, our subject and his wife 
settled in Winnebago County, on a farm, where they lived until 1866, at which 
time he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Danforth 
Township. This he greatly improved and drained. In 1875 he removed to Gilman and 
has since been in the insurance business. He purchased the livery barn, which he 
still runs, in 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy were born four children: Jennie T., 
who carries on a stationery and book store, is the Assistant Postmaster at 
Gilman; Elmer married Rosa Keller, and is engaged in the livery business with 
his father; Alice C., a teacher of recognized ability; and Minnie May, who died 
at the age of six and a-half years.

Politically, Mr. Cassidy was a member of the Republican party until 1884, since 
which time he has been a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are members of the 
Free-will Baptist Church, to which they give their hearty co-operation. 
Socially, he is a Mason and Modern Woodman. By industry and saving he has made a 
comfortable competence and having commenced life without a dollar. During his 
seventeen years of residence here he and his estimable wife have made many 
friends and to them their home is most hospitably open. It is with pleasure that 
we present this brief sketch of one of Gilman's most worthy citizens, who though 
a native of another land has always been most loyal to his adopted country. 

Additional Comments:
This biography is a transcription of an unsourced photocopy on which is written 
the notation: History of Iroquois Co. Ill., Old Courthouse Museum, 2nd Cherry St., 
Watseka, Ill. 6(?)0970. Pages 747-748.

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