Nicholas Cashin Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1043-1044

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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NICHOLAS CASHIN. The agricultural element that has been so largely 
instrumental in the upbuilding of Genesee County, has no better 
representative than this gentleman. For many years he has been a 
resident of this county, has become a man of wealth, and one of the 
principal farmers of Thetford Township, where he has large farming 
interests and a commodious residence. By years of hard and persistent 
toil, he has brought his land to a fine state of cultivation, and has 
become well known as one of the most influential residents of the 
community. He was reared to. habits of industry, and early displayed 
those strong characteristics which have made him successful in carrying 
on extensive farming operations on his estate of one hundred and sixty 
acres.

   Mr. Cashin was born in Ireland, August 15, 1830, and is the son of 
.John and Anastatia (Harper) Cashin, both natives of the Emerald Isle. 
By occupation John Cashin was a farmer, miller and trader, and as an 
honest and reliable citizen was well known throughout County Wexford, 
Ireland, in which he made his home. Worldly prosperity never carne to 
him, although he was able to keep his wife and children in comfort 
until his death, which came when he was yet in the prime of life. When 
that sad event occurred our subject was a lad of thirteen and afterward 
he was compelled to work his own way in the world. At the age of 
twenty-one he crossed the broad Atlantic, landed in Quebec, thence came 
to Michigan and settled in Genesee County. Having been the recipient of 
an excellent common-school education, he was enabled to bring to his 
work a disciplined mind, good judgment and the best ideas of eminent 
men in his calling.

   Immediately after his arrival in this county Mr. Cashin commenced to 
work for wages and also was engaged at the carpenter's trade for a 
time. When ready to establish home ties of his own he was married in 
1870, to Miss Eliza Donaly who resided in Mt. Morris Township. Their 
wedded life was brief, as the wife died in 1874, leaving one child - 
Katie. Mr. Cashin was again married in 1877, choosing as his wife Miss 
Mary A. Daily, of Mt. Morris Township, this county. Their congenial 
union has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely; John, 
Fannie, McArthur and Julia. The children still remain under the 
parental roof and are receiving excellent educations which will prepare 
them for responsible places in business and society.

   After his marriage Mr. Cashin resided in Mt. Morris for more than 
twenty-five years, buying and selling staves and square timber. He 
owned and managed a grocery store for about five years, and was engaged 
in the wholesale liquor business in Flint, where he now owns a lot. He 
is besides the owner of three stores and three acres of land in Mt. 
Morris Village. For more than thirty years his principal business was 
buying staves and square timber, shipping and selling in Europe, but he 
deemed it prudent to quit that business on account of the scarcity of 
oak timber. In 1887 he removed from the village of Mt. Morris to his 
present farm, which he had owned for over thirty years and cultivated 
by hired help. He has bought and sold land in Genesee County, mostly 
for the timber, but is now chiefly engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising.

   Politically Mr. Cashin is a Democrat and has served efficiently as 
Trustee of Mt. Morris Village. His many years' residence in this county 
has gained for him a host of warm friends who have been attracted to 
him by his genial and kindly nature. He has displayed great enterprise 
in the management of his affairs and yet finds time to keep him-self 
well informed regarding the political issues of the day.




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