Casady, Jefferson P.

CASADY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 15:40:02

Jefferson P. Casady

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.431)
Jefferson P. CASADY is one of a family of brothers who are thoroughly identified with the history and growth of the State of Iowa, the others being Hon. P. M. CASADY and Weir CASADY, of Des Moines, the late Hon. S. H. CASADY, of Sioux City, and J. N. CASADY, of Council Bluffs. Each of these has been active and energetic in all that pertained to the welfare and development of the State.

The subject of this sketch was born September 1, 1828, at Connersville, Indiana, a son of Simon CASADY. He is of that sturdy, strong Scotch-Irish ancestry which has produced so many of the notable men of America. Until eighteen years of age his life was spent upon the farm and attending the public schools, and afterward pursuing an academic course of study. Having but little taste for farm life he took up the study of law, and received his training principally from Hon. Samuel W. Parker in the days when the principles of the law rather than the cases were studied, and when the eminent lawyers of the day kept the Bible and Blackstone side by side upon their desks. Judge CASADY's tutor was one of a coterie of great lawyers who made the bar of Indiana famous, and he thus imbibed an exalted opinion of the law, as practiced by men of learning and virtue.

In 1852 he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and was admitted to practice. In 1853 he moved to Council Bluffs, and in conjunction with Hon. Hadley D. Johnson opened a law office in the city and engaged also in the land business. As a lawyer he preferred civil business, and being by nature conservative, cautious and prudent he soon became widely and favorably known; and in 1858 his fellow-citizens, recognizing his legal and financial ability, elected him to the office of County Judge. It is due to Judge CASADY to say that this office was wholly unsought by him. Each political party had put forth its candidate for the office, but the people, being dissatisfied with the party nominees, repudiated the nominations and without dissent or regard to political prejudices elected Mr. CASADY. Under the law as it existed at that time, the County Judge had full management of all the financial affairs of the county, and also of the Probate Court, thus putting upon that officer an unusual amount of hard work and responsibility. Judge CASADY filled the office with remarkable ability and at that same time conducted his private business, which until 1868 consisted largely of real-estate operations. During this latter year he was elected to represent the counties of Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont and Case in the State Senate for four years.

In July, 1861, he was elected a director of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad, and afterward was elected president of the road.

In political sentiment Judge CASADY is a Democrat in the broad and Jeffersonian sense of the word, being a believer in the brotherhood of man and in the dignity of all honest labor. He has always been active in the councils of his party, having frequently been a delegate to its State conventions, and in 1880 was one of the Vice-presidents of the National Convention. In 1872 he was nominated for Auditor of State and ran far ahead of his ticket, though the State was so overwhelmingly Republican that he was not elected. Judge CASADY uniformly polled his party strength and also a large number of votes from the opposition, out of compliment to his sterling manhood and integrity. He has never coveted office, and never accepted one except at a personal sacrifice and out of a sense of duty.

Judge CASADY has always been public-spirited, and has invariably shown his sympathy with all local enterprises and improvements.

While in the State Senate he gave to the business of legislation the same care and conscientious attention that he gave to all matters of duty entrusted to him; and it was his skill, diplomacy and untiring effort that secured the appropriation for the building of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Council Bluffs.

It is somewhat notable in this connection that Hon. P. M. CASADY, of Des Moines, represented that district in the State Senate, Hon. Samuel H. CASADY represented the whole northwestern portion of Iowa, containing Sioux City, in the lower house of the Iowa Legislature, and Hon. J. P. CASADY represented the Council Bluffs district in the Senate. It is another coincidence that his partners, Hon. Hadley D. Johnson and Hon. James D. Test, also represented the Council Bluffs district in the Legislature. The impress of his character has been silently felt throughout the county ever since its organization, and it is safe to say that there is not a man in the county better or more favorably known throughout every part of it than he is. In business, while thoroughly conservative, he has been successful, and his name wherever known is a synonym for honest and fair dealing. No man in the county ever enjoyed the confidence and good will of the farming community to the degree that he has enjoyed it. Intimate acquaintanceship with such a man has a beneficial influence upon character, and more than one of the clerks and employees in his office have become noted and succesful men, owing to the admirable business training received there. Many young men in politics, in the law, and in other walks owe their start in life, in part at least, to the kindly interest in their welfare shown by Judge CASADY, and some of his warmest friendships have originated in acts of kindness on his part toward young men. In his friendships he is loyal and unswerving. Socially he is a well informed, agreeable, companionable man. As a citizen he is universally liked and respected. Years ago he became identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and one of the charter members of Council Bluffs Lodge No. 49.
He married Miss Hannah JOINER, June 16, 1856, and they have had five children: Lawrence and Jefferson J., both of whom are dead; Thomas E., Ida and Albert W. The eldest son, Thomas E. CASADY is a practicing lawyer in Council Bluffs, and the youngest, Albert W., is a contractor. After living together in unusually happy domestic life for over twenty-five years, Judge CASADY's wife was taken from his household by death, May 6, 1882. Early in their married life they became members of the First Presbyterian Church of Council Bluffs, and have brought up their family in that faith. Judge CASADY is still a member and one of the liberal supporters of that church.