My Genealogy Hound

HARVEY CADY, a representative general agriculturist of Berrien Township, Berrien County, Mich., has for fifty years been a witness of the rapid growth and upward progress of his immediate locality, which, from an almost unbroken wilderness, has within this period of time been transformed into meadow-land, waving fields and populous country. Mr. Cady is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., and was born in April, 1829. His parents, Aleale and Abigail (Royce) Cady, were both natives of the Empire State, the mother’s early home being in Cayuga, while the father was born in Saratoga County. The parents were united in the birthplace of the mother, and after their marriage continued for many years to reside in Cayuga County, where the father carried on a shoemaking business, and also engaged in farming. In 1843, with their family, the parents, journeying to the West, located in Michigan, settling on section 84, Berrien Township. They were in comfortable circumstances and were prospered in their new home. The father industriously converted the wild land into an extensive and finely improved homestead and owned over a three hundred acre tract. The worthy parents took an active interest in all the matters of the township, and, passing away at an advanced age, were regretted by their old friends and neighbors.

Homes were few and far between in those early days of 1843, but as changes came the father identified himself with the growth of enterprise. He and his good wife were valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and actively aided in religious work. Politically, Father Cady was an old-line Whig and conservative in his views. A man of fair education, he was School Inspector for several years and faithfully assisted in the promotion of educational advancement. He was a fine penman and skillful in making out reports and all the practical work demanded by an executive position. Harvey Cady attended the schools of his native State in his early boyhood and later completed his studies in the little log schoolhouse of Berrien Township. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself and learned the trade of a carpenter. He followed the occupation for nine years and then entered into the pursuit of agriculture in Three Oaks Township, farming the northeast eighty acres of that township for twenty years. In 1882 our subject settled on his present farm of one hundred and thirty-one acres, most of it under cultivation and now rented to a tenant.

In 1857, Harvey Cady and Miss Cornelia Bailey were united in marriage. Mrs. Cady, a most estimable lady, now deceased, was a daughter of pioneer settlers of Berrien County. Reared amid primitive scenes, she was a native of Cass County, Mich., and, born in 1838, passed away in 1877. She was the mother of four children: George W., who resides in La Porte, Ind.; Mattie, the wife of Erastus Hickman, who has two children and lives at Three Oaks; Fannie M., the wife of A. J. Valentine, who has two children and is at home in Benton Harbor; and Fred William, the youngest-born. Mr. Cady was a second time married, in 1878, to Esther Barnes, a daughter of Ivory Barnes, of Vermont. Mrs. Cady was born in Berrien County and, receiving a good education, completed her studies in Valparaiso. She is an accomplished lady and taught school several years in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Cady have been blessed by the birth of one child, H. McDonald Cady. Formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Cady is now connected with the United Brethren Church and is an active worker and teacher in the Sunday-school of this latter denomination. Our subject was for some length of time a member of the School Board of Three Oaks and aided his children to obtain an excellent education. The family contains a bright little girl, Myrtle Barnes, a sweet singer and the daughter of a brother of Mrs. Cady, who is bringing this little child up as her own. Politically, Mr. Cady is a Republican, and, intelligently posted on both local and national issues, is a liberal and progressive citizen, identified with matters of mutual welfare and highly esteemed by all who know him. Together with his excellent wife and family, our subject occupies an enviable position of usefulness and influence and possesses many sincere friends.