NEGenWeb Project
Hall County

 

ADDISON E. CADY, banker and a representative business man of Grand Island, bears an old and honored name in Nebraska, one that has been identified with important and far-reaching business enterprises for many years and with political affairs for more than a quarter of a century.

Addison E. Cady was born in Nebraska, a son of Addison E. and Nellie E. (Hessler) Cady, natives of Wisconsin. The father was born at Watertown, December 7, 1853, and died at St. Paul, Nebraska, October 14, 1918. In 1880 he came to Colfax County, Nebraska and for the next five years conducted a newspaper at Schuyler. In 1885 he removed to St. Paul, Nebraska, where he organized the First National Bank of St. Paul, becoming the first president of the institution. He was an able man, well informed in the banking field. Both Elba and Dannebrog, Nebraska, are indebted to him for the institutions that supplied much needed financial assistance in the early struggle for development. As long as he deemed it advisable he retained his interest in these institutions but had sold them before he died. He was a man of wide vision and versatile talents, a power in politics in the state for many years and was put forward by the Republican party as its candidate for Congress and even for governor after long and statesmanlike service in both houses of the Nebraska state legislature. While a resident of St. Paul he organized a wholesale grocery company and later organized a branch at Grand Island, the entire concern being operated as the Nebraska Mercantile Company of which he was the first president. Later he assisted in the founding of the Nebraska State Bank at Grand Island and was serving as first president of the institution at the time of his death. His two children survive: Adnelle, who is the wife of George Pyne, a merchant at St. Paul, Nebraska, and Addison E., who is vice president of the Nebraska State Bank at Grand Island.

Addison E. Cady received his early educational training in the public schools and then entered the Shattuck Military Academy, at Faribault, Minnesota, from which institution he was graduated in 1901, when he returned to St. Paul and entered high school, from which he was graduated in 1903. He then interested himself in the wholesale grocery business at St. Paul and continued until 1910, when he came to Grand Island in the same business and remained with the Nebraska Mercantile Company until 1915. In 1916 he became vice-president of the Nebraska State Bank and since that time had devoted himself closely to its interests. July 15, 1919, the Nebraska Loan and Trust Company was organized with J. R. Hanna, president, A. E. Cady, vice-president and secretary, A. J. Guendel, vice-president, E. R. Guendel, treasurer, and B. T. Cunningham, attorney, with a capital of $50,000. Mr. A. E. Cady has the active management of this new concern.

In 1908 Mr. Cady was married to Miss Lucille Kotick, who was born at St. Paul, Nebraska, a daughter of Joseph Kotick, a general merchant and a pioneer of Howard County. Mr. and Mrs. Cady have one son, Addison E. (III), a bright school boy of seven years. Mr. Cady was more or less active in the Republican party but has never accepted any political honors beyond service on the state central committee. He belongs to lodge No. 80, B. P. O. E.

Transcribed by Kaylynn