From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1297
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
LEWIS R. CADY
Such honors as belong to the pioneer in any locality are due to the subject of this sketch, who is a representative farmer and prominent citizen of Rice county, Kansas. Mr Cady, who lives at Little River, in the county mentioned, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, June 25, 1844, a son of Lyman and Celia (Lezotte) Cady. His father was a native of the state of New York, and his mother was born in France, and they were married in the Empire state. Lyman R Cady was a descendant of an old and honored New England family which traces its lineage to Ireland and some members of which settled early in New York. Celia Lezotte was a daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth Lezotte. The father came at an early day from France to America and made his home in the state of New York and served his adopted country in the war of 1812. Later he removed to Wisconsin, where he lived out the remainder of his days. In religion he was a devout Catholic. His children were named John, Lewis, Oliver, Celia, Elizabeth, Martha Emily, Jane and Mary. Lyman R Cady had brothers and sisters as follows: A B Cady, who served his country through the war of the Rebellion with the rank of adjutant, and now lives in Oregon; Harmon Cady, of the state of New York; Benoni Cady, who is dead; Dr R C Cady, who died in Nebraska; and Sarah, who is Mrs L Sabin.
Lyman R Cady was born and reared in the state of New York. He was a shoemaker by trade and conducted a boot and shoe store in Omro for twelve years. Late in life he became a farmer and cleared and improved a farm near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on which he died. He was a plain, honest man with no aspiration for public office or notoriety, but gave his time and attention entirely to his home interests and private affairs. His wife, who survived him five years, was a consistent member of the Baptist church, as was also her husband. The following items concerning their children will be found of interest in this connection: Maria married P Schaffer; Sarah married C Clark; L R is the immediate subject of this sketch; Imogene married H Beatte; Emily married J M McGuire; Daniel lives in Wisconsin; Stella married W M Samuelson; and Joseph lives in Colorado.
Lyman R Cady was a member of Company C, Fourteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and saw much hard service in the Civil war, participating in many memorable and hotly contested battles. At the battle of Corinth he received what was thought to be a mortal wound in the side of his head, but he was blessed with such a strong constitution and such splendid physical strength that after several pieces of bone had been removed from the wound he had sufficient vitality left to recover. After receiving an honorable discharge for disability he went home and there fully recovered his health, after which he rejoined his command and served with it continuously until the close of the war.
Lewis R Cady was reared on his father’s homestead in Wisconsin and early acquired a practical knowledge of farming and of the shoemaker’s trade. Physically he was not a strong young man and he was not acceptable to the government as a volunteer soldier, but as a teamster he had much experience of war in Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi. Returning to his home in Wisconsin he resumed his former occupations and after the death of his father cared for his mother during the remainder of her life. He worked at his trade during the winter months and ran a boat during the summer months, and for some years until 1878, when he went to Kansas, where, after spending some months in prospecting, he filed a homestead claim, in 1878, on land which is included in his present farm. He built a sod house and made some other improvements in order to hold his claim, and living a lonely bachelor life, began farming in a small way. In 1880 he married and then began the struggle for worldly success in earnest. Though he long since provided a better habitation for himself and family he retains the old sod house as a landmark on his farm to remind him of the happy days of his small beginnings. Not a very strong man, he developed the ability to manage well and, guided somewhat by the counsel of his good wife, he gradually achieved a notable success. His farm is well improved and every acre of it is fenced with hedge and wire. He has a good orchard and the place is beautified with groves and trees. At this pleasant rural home, a mile southeast of Little River, he has done general farming and raised considerable stock and has prospered so well that he is regarded as one of the solid men of his township. Politically he is a Republican, but he reserves the right to vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation. He is one of those worthy members of the Masonic fraternity who endeavors to live up to the teaching of the order.
In 1880 Mr Cady married Miss Jennie N Putnam, a lady of much intelligence and culture, who has been to him a worthy companion and helpmeet. Mrs Cady was born in Hardin county, Iowa, September 11, 1849, a daughter of James D and Diadema (Smith) Putnam, her father a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Indiana. Mr and Mrs Putnam were married in Indiana and went to Arkansas, where they lived for four years. From Arkansas they removed to Illinois, where for a time Mr Putnam was a merchant and later a farmer. From Illinois they removed to Iowa, and Mr Putnam conducted a general store at Keokuk until 1879, when he went to Kansas and located a homestead in Ellsworth county. He improved a good farm and put it all under cultivation and built on it a comfortable stone house, where he made his home until he removed late in life to Arkansas City, Kansas. Still later he made his home with his children until his death in 1897. Mrs Putnam, now nearly eighty years old, lives with a daughter in Oklahoma. Mr Putnam was in his time not only a good business man, but a man of prominence, influential in the Democratic party, and while a resident of Illinois he filled several offices of honor and trust and many minor offices and was once elected county clerk of his county. From early in their lives he and his wife were worthy and consistent members of the Baptist church, to which faith Mrs Putnam still adheres. Following is some interesting information concerning their children: Their son B F Putnam lives in Arkansas; Sarah E died while young; Elizabeth A married R Wright; J N married L R Cady, the subject of this sketch; W B is deceased; Robert F lives in Oklahoma; Daniel B lives in the state of Washington; Mary E married Rev J N Kidd; Martha O married Orlando McCown; and Charles J lives in Kansas.
Lewis R and Jennie N (Putnam) Cady have two children: Clara O, born July 9, 1883, and Lyman J, born July 4, 1888. Mrs Cady is a consistent member of the Baptist church, toward the maintenance of which Mr Cady is a liberal contributor. He is known as a friend of popular education and all in all is a public-spirited citizen.