Ireland has
furnished to the United States many bright, enterprising young men who
have left their native land to enter the business circles of this
country with its more progressive methods, livelier competition and
advancement more quickly secured. Among this number is Mr. Caden, who
has for over twenty years successfully conducted one of the leading
hotels of Starrucca, Wayne county.
Mr. Caden was born in Carmore, County Kildare, Ireland, May 23,
1833, a son of Peter and Annie (Kelley) Caden, who spent their entire
lives in that country. Our subject was second in the order of birth in
their family of three children: (1) John came to America in 1856 and
worked in a tannery at Starrucca for a number of years, but now makes
his home on a farm in Susquehanna county, Penn.. He married Ellen
Timothy, of Wayne county, who was a native of Ireland, and they became
the parents of three children: Martin, who died in early manhood; John,
who is working in Port Allegheny, Penn.; and Katie, who was born in
Wayne county, and is at home with her parents. (3) Mary, born in 1834,
was educated in Ireland, and when a young lady came to the United States,
locating first in Wayne county. Here she married Thomas Comly, also a
native of the Emerald Isle, and to them were born several children. They
removed to Chicago, Ill., some years ago, and nothing farther has ever
been heard of them.
In 1851 Thomas Caden emigrated to the New World, and soon after
landing at New York obtained a position with Mr. Phillips, of Queens
county, Long Island, with whom he remained some six months. During the
following four years he worked in the brickyard of Alcott & Starble, in
Greene county, N. Y., where in 1853 he married Miss Julia Butler, of
that county, a daughter of Henry Butler, a native of Ireland, and they
began their domestic life in Athens, Greene county. In 1856 Mr. Caden
came to Starrucca, Wayne Co., Penn., where for twenty-four years he was
employed in the tannery of E. P. Strong, serving as foreman for the last
three years. He was instrumental in saving a number of lives at the time
when the waterspout in September, 1863, broke the dam and flooded the
town of Starrucca. In 1877 he purchased a lot in that place, on which he
erected a large hotel, which he has since successfully conducted.
His wife, who had cheerfully shared with him all the hardships and
trials of their early married life, was called to her final rest in May,
1893. To them had been born five children: (1) Michael, born in Athens,
N. Y., in 1854, was reared and educated in Wayne county, and on reaching
manhood wedded Margaret Dillon of that county. He resided in Starrucca
until his death, which occurred June, 1887. Of his four children, the
three eldest lived with our subject in Starrucca, to-wit -- Thomas, born
in 1876; John, born in 1878; and Henry, born in 1880. Mary, the youngest,
was born in Starrucca, in 1882, and resides with her mother. (2) Henry,
born in 1856, in Athens, N. Y., was educated in the schools of
Starrucca, and worked in the tannery with his father until his marriage,
at present serving as a foreman of a tannery in Port Allegheny, McKean
Co., Penn. He married Jane Ansley, of Wellsboro, Tioga Co., Penn., and
has four children: Julia, who was born in Wellsboro, and died at the age
of seven years; John and Lizzie, also natives of Wellsboro; and George,
born in Starrucca. (3) Peter, born in Starrucca, in 1859, lives in
Susquehanna county, and is employed in the roundhouse of a railroad
company. He married Maggie Gaffey, of Wayne county, who was born in
Ireland, and they have six children -- Mary, who was born in Starrucca,
lives at home with her parents; Julia, who was born in Starrucca, and
resides with our subject; and Michael, Annie, Harry and Maggie who were
all born in Susquehanna county, are at home. (4) Thomas, born in
Starrucca, in May, 1861, acquired his education in the schools of that
place, and is now engaged in the tannery business in Wellsville, N. Y..
He married Mary Fox, of Starrucca, and had four children -- Mary, born
in North Adams, Mass.; Thomas, who was born in the same place, died in
childhood; Willie, born in Susquehanna county, Penn.; and Martin, born
in Wellsville, N.Y.. (5) Patrick, born in 1863, died in September,
1865.
Politically, Mr. Caden is firm Jacksonian Democrat, but has never
cared for official honors, having refused to serve both as a member of
city council and as chief burgess of Starrucca after having been elected
by his friends. In 1894 he was again married, his second union being
with Miss Annie Timothy, a native of Ireland, who was then living in
Deposit, N. Y.. His wife and children are all communicants of the
Catholic Church, and in social circles occupy a prominent position. Of a
genial, pleasant disposition, Mr. Caden has made a most popular
landlord, and his house has become a favorite resort of the traveling
public. As a poor boy he began life in this country, a stranger in a
strange land, at first working for only $8 per month, but prosperity
crowned his efforts, and he is now one of the substantial citizens of
Starrucca.
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