cassidym
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
MICHAEL R. CASSIDY, who lives
about four miles north from Hartline, is one of the best known and wealthiest
farmers of Douglas county. He was one of the pioneers of the county
and has labored continuously and assiduously since in the opening and building
up of this wealthy section of the state of Washington. Mr. Cassidy
owns five hundred and sixty acres of very fertile land and cultivates annually
about three hundred and twenty acres.
Michael R. Cassidy was born in Ontario, Canada,
on February 18, 1858, being the son of Bartholomew and Ellen (Dwyer) Cassidy,
natives of Ireland and emigrants to Canada when young. Our subject
was educated in the common schools of his native section and there grew
to young manhood and in 1886, went to Michigan, dwelling for a time in
Saginaw and being engaged in the lumber business. After that he removed
to Iowa and settled in Floyd county where he was engaged in general work
for two years. In 1888, we find him in Idaho, mining in the Bunkerhill
and Sullivan at Wardner. There he continued until 1891, when he moved
to Douglas county and bought the relinquishment of a settler and took the
land as a homestead. This was the nucleus of his present large estate
and he dwells on the same spot where he first settled. Mr. Cassidy
has been in partnership with his brother, John, largely since coming here
and they have been instrumental in doing much in the stock business as
well as in farming. They have some very fine thoroughbred stallions,
one Clyde and one English Shire, which have improved the horses in the
county. They continued in the stock business until recently when
they disposed of most of their livestock and turned their attention exclusively
to farming. Besides his brother, who has been a partner, Mr. Cassidy
has two other brothers, James and Peter, both dwelling in Canada, and three
sisters, Mrs. Lizzie O'Neal, Miss Winfer C., and Mrs. Ellen Foley.
In Ontario, Canada, on February 18, 1901,
Mr. Cassidy married Miss Katherine, daughter of Thomas and Bridget (O'Connell)
Walsh, both natives of Ireland. Mrs. Cassidy was born in Ontario,
in 1878, and has two brothers, Michael and John, the former in Alaska,
and the latter in Canada, and one sister, Mrs. Jonas FitzGibbons.
Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy were raised Roman Catholics
and are now supporters of the faith.
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