Orville Clyde Cadwell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 898-899 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ORVILLE CLYDE CADWELL is a native of the Buckeye state, having 
been born in Fayette, Ohio, on the 20th of August, 1861, a son of Alpha 
Dow and Alta Delight Cadwell, who removed from Ohio to Minnesota in 
1865, being numbered among the early settlers of Fairmont, Martin 
county, where the father engaged in the mercantile business, becoming 
one of the interested principals in the Ward & Cadwell Company, of that 
place, whose business has grown to be one of the largest of the sort in 
southern Minnesota. The father of the subject died in 1899, at the age 
of seventy-two years, and his widow is now living at Chokio, Minnesota.  

	When the subject of this sketch was but five years of age he was 
rendered totally blind, as a result of an attack of fever, and his 
early educational training was therefore secured in the school for the 
blind at Faribault, Minnesota, while later he was afforded excellent 
advantages in being permitted to prosecute his studies in the 
celebrated Perkins Institute, in South Boston, Massachusetts, where he 
was graduated as a member of the class of 1881. His alert and receptive 
mentality enabled him to make notable progress, and he early evinced a 
marked taste for music and for the reading of good literature, while he 
was fortunately endowed with a strong physique and buoyant spirit, so 
that his handicap has not been as great as might be imagined, for he is 
a man of fine attainments and excellent business ability, while his 
generous and genial nature has won him stanch friendships. He received 
the best of musical instruction and also learned the art of piano 
tuning, and after his graduation, in order to still farther advance 
himself, he devoted one year to teaching music and to the practical 
work of his trade. In 1882 Mr. Cadwell secured a position as tuner and 
pianist in the prominent music house of Dyer & Howard, in the city of 
St. Paul, Minnesota, and continued in the employ of this firm until 
1889, when his health became so impaired as to lead to his resignation. 
In the autumn of that year he came to Sioux Falls and engaged in the 
music business, his father being associated with him in the same until 
his death, when he left his interest to the subject, who is now the 
sole owner, while the success of the undertaking is shown when we note 
that this is the largest, best known and most popular music house in 
the state, having well equipped sales and store rooms and a full line 
of the best musical instruments and merchandise. To this attractive 
enterprise Mr. Cadwell devotes his entire attention, and he has 
manifested great tact and administrative ability in the connection and 
personally attained the highest popularity in the business, social and 
musical circles of the city. He is a staunch supporter of the 
Republican party, and in 1899 was elected to represent the fifth ward 
on the board of education, being still in tenure of this office and 
taking a lively interest in educational affairs and in all else that 
makes for the well-being of his home city. He is liberal and tolerant 
in his religious views, and both he and his wife are members of the 
Unitarian church. He has been affiliated with Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 
262. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, since August, 1902, and 
is one of its valued members.  

	In the city of St. Paul, Minnesota on the 18th of November, 1885, 
Mr. Cadwell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie A. Burdick who was 
born in Fairmont, Martin county, Minnesota, being a daughter of John 
and Rebecca (Swearengen). Burdick, and of the children of this gracious 
union we enter the following brief record: Grace B. was born August 26, 
1886; Muriel C., April 22, 1890, and Ralph K., November 2, 1894.