Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/587

Rh and it was a great satisfaction to liim that his life was spared to see the ultimate triumph of the gov- ernment over a rebellion that for a time threatened its existence. Gen. Cass was a man of great natu- ral abilities, a prudent, cautious legislator, a scholar of fine attainments, of the purest integrity, tem- perate in all his habits, and personally popular throughout the country. His wealth was largely the result of his fortunate original investment in real estate ; but the steady increase of his property in value was also due to able management. His published works are " Inquiries concerning the History, Traditions, and Languages of the Indians living 'within the United States " (Detroit, 1823) ; " France, its King, Court, and Government " (New York, 1840). See " Lewis Cass, Outlines of his Life and Character," by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (Al- bany, 1848); "Sketches of the Life and Public Services of Lewis Cass," by William T. Young (De- troit, 1852) ; " Life and Times of Lewis Cass," by W. L. G. Smith (New York. 185(i); and a memorial volume (Detroit, 1866.)— His son, Lewis, was ap- pointed charge d'affaires to the papal states in 1849, and in 1854 was promoted to be U. S. minis- ter resident in Italy, where he remained until 1858.

CASSERLY, Eugene, senator, b. in Ireland in 1822 ; d. in San Francisco, Cal., 14 June, 1883. His parents came to New York when he was two years old, and, as his father was a teacher, young Casser- ly received an excellent education. He was gradu- ated at Georgetown college, D. C, entered a law- yer's office in New York, was admitted to tlie bar in 1844, and was corporation attorney in 1846-'7. Three years later he removed to San Francisco, where he obtained a good practice, and took an active part in local and national polities. He was an ardent democrat, a fine stump-speaker, and for a time edited a paper in San Francisco. He was elected state printer, but, in consequence of a heavy fire by which his machinery and stock were destroyed, was compelled to retire from the busi- ness. Thenceforward he devoted himself to his profession. During the civil w^ar he was a war democrat. In 1869 he was elected U. S. senator from California, and served on the committees on printing, public lands, and foreign relations. His health having become infirm. Senator Casserly re- signed in November, 1873, returned to San Fran- cisco, and resumed practice. In the same year he headed with Gov. Booth the non-partisan independ- ent movement in California, working successfully to prevent the legislature from falling into the con- trol of the railroads. His death was the result of nervous prostration and softening of the brain.

CASSIDY, William, journalist, b. in Albany, N. Y., 12 Aug., 1815 ; d. there, 23 Jan., 1873. His grandfather had settled in Albany when he came from Ireland in 1780. His father, John Cassidy, sat for years in the municipal board, and was an intimate friend of DeWitt Clinton. William began his education at the Albany academy under Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, and was graduated at Union in 1834. He studied law in the office of Judge James McKown and John Van Buren, and was admitted to the bar. In 1840-'2 he was state librarian, and at this time began political writing, contributing anonymously to several papers. In the spring of 1843 he became part owner and sole editor of the Albany "Atlas," a democratic daily, which had been established a short time before. In that place he speedily made a reputation. The "Argus," which was the old organ of the democracy, found- ed in 1813, spoke for the hunkers. Edwin Cros- well was editor. The " Atlas," representing the weaker faction, struggled with poverty and hard- ship. But the young editor gave it his best power and industry, and it fought a vigorous battle. He wrote often on a poor table, in a dirty corner, amid the confusion of the composing-room ; but his articles bristled with sharp points and caustic wit. The battle was at its height in 1848, when Lewis Cass was the presidential candidate of the regular democracy, and Martin Van Buren held the stand- ard of the barn-burners. The confiict died out, and in 1856 the " Atlas " and " Argus " were united, and Mr. Cassidy became editor of the joint con- cern. In 1865 he changed the name back to " The Argus," and organized a stock association. He was for many years one of the knot of democratic politicians that ruled the destinies of that party in New York state and sometimes in the national conventions, and to which had descended the name of the " Albany Regency," formerly enjoyed by Croswell and his associates. The principal mem- bers were Dean Richmond, Peter Cagger, and William Cassidy. On the death of his brother-in- law, Peter Cagger, in 1868, Mr. Cassidy became his successor as secretary of the democratic state com- mittee, and held that place till the day of his death. He was invariably on the committee on resolutions, and many of the adroitest resolutions that have been attributed to others were, in reality, the product of his brain. The celebrated anti- slavery plank that was read and defeated at the Herkimer convention was from his pen. Mr. Cas- sidy was disinclined to enter public life, and tlie few ofiices that he held were forced upon him. In 1846 he was nominated in the democratic legis- lative caucus for state printer. In 1867 he was elected to the constitutional convention, and in 1872 was one of the sixteen appointed by Gov. Hoffman on the commission to revise the consti- tution. He was a fine classical scholar, and con- versant with French, German, and Italian. He knew books and autlioi-s almost as well as he un- derstood politics and politicians, and he was a fine conversationalist. His death evoked expressions of sorrow even from his political opponents.

CASSIN, John, naval officer, b. in Philadelphia about 1758 : d. in Charleston, S. C, 24 March, 1822. His father, an Ii'ish gardener and dairyman, came to Philadelphia before the revolution. John be- came master of a merchantman and was twice shipwrecked. He was appointed from the mer- chant service a lieutenant in the navy, 13 Nov., 1799, became master, 2 April, 1806, and post-cap- tain, 3 July, 1812. He commanded the naval forces in the Delaware, for the protection of Philadel- phia, in the war of 1812.— His son, Stephen, b. in Philadelphia, 16 Feb., 1783; d. in Georgetown, D. C, 29 Aug.. 1857, entered the navy as midship- man, 21 Feb., 1800 ; became a lieutenant, 12 Feb., 1807; master, 11 Sept., 1814; captain, 3 jMarch. 1825. He served with distinction in the war with Tripoli, commanded the " Ticonderoga " in Mac- donough's victory on Lake Champlain, and was re- warded by congress with a gold medal for bravery in that action. He was a terror to the pirates that infested the West Indies, and captured four of their vessels on 28 and 29 Se])t., 1822.

CASSIN, John, ornithologist, b. near Chester, Pa., 6 Sept., 1813; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 10 Jan., 1869. He became a resident of Philadelphia in 1834, and, after several years spent in mercantile pursuits and in official duties, devoted the remainder of his life to the study of ornithology. He contributed descriptions of new species of birds, and synoptical reviews of various families, to the Philadelphia academy of sciences. He is the author of the article on "Birds" in "Outlmes