Sonoma County Biography
Samuel Cassiday
A gratifying practice in the newspaper profession and an honored place as man and citizen in the community of Petaluma, came to Samuel Cassiday not through any special dispensation of fortune or encouragement along lines of influence or money, but rather as the result of untiring devotion tot he profession which he hand chosen as his life work and the possession of personal traits that made him a friend of all who were permitted to know him. He passed away April 5, 1904, in Petaluma, after a residence of many years in this city and community.
Samuel Cassiday was a native of Ohio, born in Reedsburgh, Wayne county, April 12, 1830. His parents were John and Sarah (McGee) Cassiday, who were born respectively in Washington county, Pa., October 21, 1800, and Jefferson county, Ohio, October 22, 1800. The marriage of the parents occurred in Wayne county, Ohio, June 23, 1823, and resulted in the birth of a large family of children, named in the order of their birth as follows: David,William, Alexander M., Samuel, Esther, Robert, Margaret, Rachel, Benjamin, Sarah, John W., Benjamin Franklin, Lizzetta and Laura. With this large family to be provided for it is not surprising that the advantages which the parents were able to offer their children were meagre. Samuel Cassiday made good use of the educational advantages which were offered by the district school in the vicinity of his Ohio home, and the very lack of opportunity undoubtedly did much to stimulate his determination to get an education in spite of existing conditions and take his place in the world of activity for which his power of mind fitted him.
Mr. Cassiday's identification with the west and with Petaluma in particular dated from the year 1851, and in 1861 he began the practice of his profession in this city. For reasons not stated, although presumably in the hope of securing a better location for more rapid progress in his profession, he removed to Salinas, Monterey county, some time after settling in Petaluma, but after remaining in that city for ten years ye returned to Sonoma county and made this his home throughout the remaining years of his life. Politically he was a Republican and a stanch adherent of its principles.
Mr. Cassiday's marriage united him with Miss Cynthia Frances Denman, who was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., February 4, 1841. She was the youngest of the large family children born to William and Nancy (Curry) Denman, the former of whom was born in England February 8, 179, and the latter born in New York February 2, 1799. Named in the order of their birth the children born of this marriage were as follows: John, Daniel, Michael, Stephen, Ezekiel, James, Thomas, Anne, Elizabeth, Martin and Cynthia Frances. Five children were born of the marriage of Samuel Cassiday and his wife, all of whom reached maturity and are now taking their place worthily in the world's activities. The eldest of the children, Sara Frances Cassiday, is the efficient librarian of the public library of Petaluma; the next in order of birth, Elizabeth Louisa, is also a resident of Petaluma, while Benjamin Franklin makes his home in Vallejo, and Samuel Denman and Minnie Belle are residents of Petaluma.
History of Sonoma County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Roberta Hester Leatherwood
May 2008
Pages 1015-1016
Sonoma County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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