 |
 R. CANDY, division clerk of the I. & St.
L. R. R., is one of the prominent residents
of Mattoon. He was born March 7, 1844,
in Lexington, Ky., and is the son of John
and Celeste F. (Robert) Candy. His father, John
Candy, was a native of England, and came to
America when twenty years of age. He was a professional musician and settled in Boston, where he
was engaged in teaching music. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the New Jerusalem Church. His wife was a member of the Episcopal Church; her death occurred Jan. 17, 1849.
Her husband survived her many years, and died in
1885. There were four children in their family,
whose names are as follows: Theodore J.; Laura
V., now Mrs. S. Miller; A. R. and Edward B. A. R. Candy passed his boyhood in Lexington, Ky., whither his family had removed from Boston. He received an excellent education, both at the public and private schools of that place, and attended the University at Urbana, Ohio. He learned the printer’s trade, but finding no suitable business opening, took a position as watchman and second mate with a steamboat line plying on the Ohio and Mississippi. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted as a private in Co. D., 38th Ind. Vol. Inf., and was engaged in the battles of Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga, besides numerous skirmishes. At Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863, he was taken prisoner and conveyed to Richmond, thence to Andersonville, thence to Savannah, Milieu and Blackshear. From the latter place he escaped with two other prisoners. Through many difficulties they made their way to one of the blockade ships, named Diaching, off the head of Cumberland Island, and were taken on board Dec. 14, 1864, grateful to find themselves once more under the protection of the “Stars and Stripes,” after being held prisoners for nearly fifteen months. Of the seven others who were taken prisoners with Mr. Candy, one was exchanged after eleven months, and he was the only one who survived to reach home. Mr. Candy suffered severely from scurvy, the result of his long imprisonment, and his limbs were so swollen for a long time as to render it impossible for him to turn over while lying down without assistance. After his return home he received the appointment of Assistant United States Revenue Assessor of the First District of Ohio. He retained that position one year, and in 1867 went to Urbana, where he took charge of a printing-office for three years. He next went to Kansas, and entered a homestead there, but after remaining three years was driven out by the grasshopper scourge, which at that time overran the country. He returned to Ohio, and in a short time obtained employment on the Cleveland Leader, remaining there eighteen months. He then obtained a position as storekeeper for the C. C. C. & I. R. R. Co. at Cleveland, where his excellent business qualifications were recognized, and he was variously promoted until he received the appointment of Assistant Chief Clerk in the general mechanical office. In 1882, when the C. C. C. & I. R. R. came in possession of the I. & St. L. R. R., he was sent to Mattoon, Ill., to take charge of the locomotive and car department, and to change the old system of account of that department to correspond with the system in use on the C. C. C. it 1. R. R. He has since retained this position and become identified as a citizen with the interests of Mattoon, where he has twice been elected a member of the School Board from the First District. In 1869 Mr. Candy was married to Miss Sarah E. Armstrong, the daughter of Snover Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong is one of the prosperous farmers of Northern Ohio, where his daughter, Mrs. Candy, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Candy have one child living, Maie. Mr. Candy is a member of the G. A. R., the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias. In politics he is not restricted by party spirit, but always votes for the man whom he considers best adapted to successfully fill the position. His residence is located at No. 86 Charleston street. |
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