JOHN W. CASAD

The name of John W. Casad is inseparably interwoven with the history of Tipton, where he long made his home, supporting during that period all the projects and movements which tended to upbuild and benefit the city. Through a half century he witnessed its growth and rejoiced in what was here accomplished. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, September 6, 1830, and was about twenty-six years of age when he arrived in Tipton. He found a small town of little industrial or commercial importance but believed that it might prove an advantageous field of business, for the west had entered upon an era of rapid and substantial growth. He therefore joined William Gilmore in the clothing business under the firm style of Casad & Gilmore, and from the beginning the new enterprise prospered. These gentlemen were in the same business at Bellefontaine, Ohio, before coming to Iowa. Year by year as the population increased the trade of the house extended, their establishment continuing as one of the foremost mercantile concerns of the city. Mr. Casad remained an active factor in its management and control until 1878, when he withdrew from the firm to enter the field of banking, becoming one of the organizers of the Cedar County Bank. He was elected its vice president and served in that capacity for a year, or until the death of William H. Tuthill, when he was elected to the presidency. He remained as the chief directing force in that institution until 1893, when he resigned, although he continued in the office of director up to the time of his demise. In connection with the management of the bank he instituted a safe, conservative policy that insured its success and in time made it one of the leading financial institutions of this part of the state. His business integrity was unassailable, his honesty above question. Moreover, he possessed unfaltering industry and determination, never fearing to venture where favoring opportunity led the way, while his unremitting energy carried him forward to the goal of success. In the years of his active life he accumulated a goodly fortune and his business interests were at the same time of a character that contributed to public prosperity.

Mr. Casad never sought nor desired public office and aside from a term’s service in the city council would never consent to accept official preferment. He was, however, a valiant soldier in the Civil war, responding readily to the country’s call for troops when rebellion threatened the destruction of the Union. He enlisted at Burlington, Iowa, on the 15th of July, 1861, as a member of Company A, Fifth Iowa Infantry, and on the 1st of November following was promoted to the rank of first sergeant. He was commissioned second lieutenant December 21, 1861, and his valorous and loyal service led to further promotion when on the 1st of May, 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant. His regiment was assigned to duty with the Army of the Tennessee, and saw much active service, participating in the expedition to Fort Fisher, the siege of Corinth, the engagement at Holly Springs and Jacinto and the battle of Iuka, where he was severely wounded in the side and left wrist. Because of disability occasioned by his wounds he was honorably discharged February 17, 1863.

Mr. Casad was married June 6, 1871, to Miss Ida L. Gilbert, who was born December 24, 1842 in Irvington, New Jersey, a daughter of Aaron and Abbie (Russell) Gilbert. Her parents were members of the Shaker society at New Lebanon, New York. He was superintendent of the work of gathering herbs and manufacturing medicines there in the early ‘30s and Miss Russell and other girls assisted him in the work of preparing the herbs. Withdrawing from the Shaker colony, they were married August 6, 1835, and in 1850 came to Tipton. Mr. Gilbert was born in Claverack, New York, April 30, 1802, while his wife was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, October 2, 1812. She joined the Shakers when nine years of age and he was fifteen when he became a member of that sect. After leaving them he engaged in the sale and manufacture of drugs at New Lebanon, New York, and in New York city, in partnership with Moses Tilden, the father of Samuel J. Tilden. He became a pioneer druggist of Tipton, where he continued business up to the time of his death, which occurred December 26, 1874. Mrs. Gilbert survived him until February 3, 1896, and died in Chicago. Their daughter, Mrs. Casad, attended Cornell Seminary at Mount Vernon in 1856-57, and the Tipton union school under Professor C. C. Nestlerode. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Casad were born three children. Edith, born April 21, 1872, attended the Tipton school and was graduated from St. Margaret’s school in Chicago in 1893. Anthony, born June 8, 1873, died October 15, 1874. John Russell was born April 18, 1879.

Early in life, while a resident of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Mr. Casad became a member of the Christian church and after removing to Tipton was for a number of years a member of the Universalist church. He was long a valued representative of Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., having been made a Mason at Bellefontaine, Ohio, in 1852, and demitted to the Tipton Lodge soon after his arrival here. He continued one of its prominent representatives until his death, serving as its secretary during the last twenty-five years of his life. He was also a member of Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M. and De Molay Commandery, K. T. He likewise held membership in William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R., and with the Loyal Legion. He was a man of broad and liberal views, charitable in his opinions of others, kindly in spirit, progressive in action and loyal in friendship.