Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1908-10-17
DEATH OF CHRISTIAN CASSIE
NAN.

Christian Cassleman. who was buried
beside his wife In Calvary Cemetery Oh
Monday. was for years one Of the best
known and most popular Of ChicagO's
old residents AMI business men. lie
was born In Utica. New York, In 1873.
and came Of Revolutionary stock. be.
longing to I'M old Mohawk Dutch family
that settled In New York state In the
seventeenth century. The "MOhawk
Dutch" and PENNSYLVANIA Dutch" as
everybody knows. were Germans from
the Rhine and Inlatinate who settled
In Central New York In the seventeenth
century and were given their peculiar
designations to distinguish them from
the Holland Dutch who had settled
along the Hudson.
Mr.. Cassleman came to Chicago In
1855 and engaged In business as Il tan.
ner. which he followed successfully for
forty years. From II small beginning
Mr.. Casslemnn's tnnncry grew to large
proportions. lie also operated u large
mlticn factory and was also engaged In
the manufacture of mattresses.
His public spirit brought him actively
to the front In all matters concerning
the welfare of his fellow citizens ana
rs u man In the community In his day
enjoyed the regard Of the people to II
great degree.
His genial disposition attracted to
him many warm ana stcadfnst friends.
An Incident illustrating his indomit.
able will and devotion to the people
will not he ont Of place here: The
Western Marine Bank, as all old Chi.
cagoans know. closed It's doors early In
the war, The bank failed on a Satu:-
day. The day before, Friday. Mr. Cas-
slemnn. who was treasurer of the draft
fund of the old Twelfth Ward. had de-
posted $1,000 IN the bank to the
credit Of that fund. The money was
taken In AMI not word uttered rs to
the Insolvency Of the institution. The
next morning II did not. open for busi-
ness. Mr.. Cassleman, accompanied by
y large number Of persons interested in
the fund. started for the bank. Arriving
there, Mr.. Cassleman gave the officers
fifteen minutes to pay back the money
or he strung Nb by the excited crowd.
The Sl2,COO was forthcoming at once.
Mr.. Casslcman was elected to the
City Council In 1863 and 1867 rs II
| Democrat from n strong Republican
| ward and against very strong OppOn-
| ents.
The man he beat In 1863 was the late
o. W. Potter, the multi-millionairc iron
man then at the head of the North Chi
cago Rolling Mil,
In 1860 he was unanimously nominal.
| ed by the Democratic party for the
Office of Commissioner of Public Works.
but the chances of the party We're
| wrecked by the feeling growing out of
| the assassination Of President Lincoln
| which occurred u few days before cleo
| ton.
In ISIS he was elected West Town
Collector by the largest majority of any
| man on the ticket,
| In 1880 he was unanimously nominal
1
| ed by the Democracy for sheriff an,!
ran over 1000 votes ahead of his ticket.
In lSNj, against his will, he was nom
mated for County Commissioner and
elected by II large majority.
Mr.. Casslenai. was married In Ithtl,
New York, in May, 1851, to Miss Ellen
Croak, an estimable lady who lived
L
ding anniversary. Mrs. Casseman dirl
two years ago and her death affected
her aged spouse very much. lie said ut
the time that he would soon follow her
and he did, dying after painful III.
ness in his eightlcth year.
| Four grown children ana many