Cadwell, Luman L. 1836 - 1925

CADWELL, RICHARDS, STREETER, JOHNSON, SHULZE

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/18/2014 at 19:27:53

Luman L. Cadwell, a venerable and highly respected citizen of Decorah, has made his home here for about three decades and for some years was identified with financial interests as cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank. He is the proud possessor of a medal which was awarded him by congress for gallantry in action during the Civil war and for the past thirteen years has served as commander of Colonel Hughes Post, G. A. R. His birth occurred in Binghamton, Broome County, New York, on the 22d of May, 1836, his parents being Nathan and Eliza (Richards) Cadwell, who were natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. The father removed to New York in a very early day and engaged in the hotel business, while subsequently he followed railroading for a number of years. At the time of his demise he was living retired at Sparta, Wisconsin, his death occurring on the 12th of May, 1884. His wife passed away at Melrose, Wisconsin, on the 1st of December, 1862.

Luman L. Cadwell was reared and educated in New York and Wisconsin and afterward devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits for a short time. Subsequently he entered the service of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad in Tennessee as a conductor, acting as such until the beginning of the Civil war. Returning to his native state, he enlisted in 1862, at Schenectady, becoming a member of Company B, Second New York Cavalry, serving with that command until November, 1865, and being mustered out at Albany, New York. He was wounded several times and barely escaped with his life. He made a splendid record as a brave and valiant soldier and was awarded a medal by congress for gallantry in action—an honor of which he may well be proud, for there are only two other similar medals in the state. In 1912 he was brevetted major by Governor Dix of New York. For the past thirteen years he has served as commander of Colonel Hughes Post, G. A. R., and on the 19th of December, 1912, was appointed aide-de-camp to Alfred B. Beers, commander in chief of the Grand Army.

When the country no longer needed his military aid Mr. Cadwell made his way to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Crossing the Mississippi river, he began running a train on the Iowa and Dakota division. Before and after the war he was in the railroad service for twenty-six years, running a passenger train during twenty-one years of that time. In 1883 he abandoned railroad -work and came to Decorah, Iowa, being here identified with the Citizens Savings Bank in the capacity of cashier for some years. He is now spending the evening of life in well-earned ease, having accumulated a handsome competence by dint of good management and wisely directed effort.

On the 16th of September, i860, Mr. Cadwell was united in marriage to Miss Anna Johnson, a daughter of Nelson and Sarah (Streeter) Johnson, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a machinist by trade and followed that occupation for a number of years. At the time of his retirement he came to Decorah and made his home with our subject until his demise, which occurred in 1880. His wife passed away two years later. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cadwell were born two children, namely: Herbert H., who passed away in 1904 at the age of thirty-four years; and Bessie, who died in infancy. They adopted a daughter, Grace, who is now the wife of George Shulze and resides in Decorah. Mr. and Mrs. Shulze have two children, Katherine and Nathan, who are thirteen and eleven years of age respectively. In 1876 Mr. Cadwell erected a handsome and modern two-story brick residence at No. 815 Maple Avenue, which has since remained his home.

In politics Mr. Cadwell is a stanch republican, having ever supported the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He served as a member of the school board for twenty-four years and during a part of that time acted as its president. He is now serving for the sixth year as a member of the city council, the value of his labors in this connection being widely acknowledged. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and Eastern Star. His name is also on the membership rolls of the Knights of Pythias. In religious faith he is a Unitarian. He has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone of life's journey and enjoys the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publ

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