bakery shop and restaurant in the city. He continued the business for two or three years, when he sold out' and for five years thereafter he was employed by T. E. Alderman & .Sons, working at the bench in their hardware store. He then opened a hardware store of his own, which he sold five years later, going to California, where he spent six months, after which he returned and opened a restaurant, which he has since conducted. He has made this popular with the public and is accorded a good patronage. While there have been no sensational chapters in his business career, he has worked his way steadily upward and is now the owner of two good business blocks in the city in addition to his restaurant.
On the 27th of December, 1865, Mr. Thrift was married to Miss Emily A. King, a native of Ohio, and they have an extensive circle of warm friends in this city. Mr. Thrift belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and to the Knights of Pythias. In matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country today as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He deserves all the praise implied in the term, a self-made man, for he has worked his way steadily upward, depending entirely upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years. Whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his earnest labor and capable management.
WILLIAM N. CANADY.
Within the borders of Story county there still reside many of the veterans of the Civil war who in early manhood, with the vigor and courage of youth, fought for the defense of the Union and have since remained loyal citizens of the country, stanchly supporting measures which they believe to be for the best interests of the state and nation. Among this number is William N. Canaday, who was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on Saturday, December 31, 1842, in the last hour of the year. His parents, John and Jane (West) Canady, also natives of Kentucky, were residents of that state until 1850, when they came with their family to Iowa, settling in Clinton county near Dewitt. The mother died in Woodbury county, Iowa, but the father spent his last days in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Their family numbered twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom Robert Canady served for three years as a soldier of Company H, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, during the struggle to preserve the Union.
William N. Canady was but eight years of age when his parents left Kentucky and went to Clinton county, Iowa, where his youthful days were spent upon a farm. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges and when not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields. His time was given to the farm work until his enlistment for service in the Union army on the 12th of August, 1861, as a member of Company A,