MERIC E. CADY resides at Camden, and is numbered among the respected pioneers of Schuyler county. He was born in Tolland county, Connecticut, January 22, 1828, being a son of Isaac F. and Sarah (Chapman) Cady, natives of Connecticut. Isaac F. Cady in early life learned the trade of a carpenter, and, being a natural mechanic, also worked at the blacksmith trade. He could make anything in iron or other work in his line.
He first married Clarissa Hunt, who died, leaving seven children, five girls and two boys. He then married Sarah Chapman, and after two children had been born, he with his family came to Illinois, in 1835, via canal, Lake Erie and canal, to the Ohio river, where he purchased a boat, and came to Quincy, Illinois, and in the fall of 1835 he settled in Camden township, where he entered several hundred acres of land, and resided there till his death, which occurred in 1847, aged seventy-two years, six months and two days.
By his first marriage there were seven children, namely: Isaac G., H. H. Franklin, Angeline, Caroline, Emaline, Adaline and Mary Ann. By his second marriage, he had Francis E. and Meric E. The mother of our subject, by former marriage to I. A. Jones, had five children: Austin, Alonzo, Revilo, Charles W., and one died young. All the children were born in Connecticut, and the parents and fifteen children came to Illinois. The mother of our subject died aged eighty-one years.
Meric E. Cady was reared on the farm, and being a natural mechanic he worked somewhat in that line, In 1850, he crossed the plains to California, where he worked in the mines for one year, and then went on a ranch. In 1853, he came home via the Isthmus and New Orleans, and took 124 head of cattle and thirteen head of horses across the plains to California, and remained there till 1855, when he returned home via New York.
He was successful while in California, and on his return home he resumed farming, till 1882, becoming the owner of 268 acres, on which he made many improvements. When he removed to Camden village, he built a store, and with his son engaged in general mercantile business, and so continued ten years; since then he has lived a retired life. He sold his farm in 1891, and purchased another of 130 acres, in Camden township.
In March, 1856, he married Eliza A. Melvin. She was born in Maine, in the town of Reidfield, 1835, daughter of John and Eunice Melvin, who settled in Schuyler county, in 1851. Our subject continued farming till 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. Cady have three children living, and one dead. Everett F. is a farmer in Camden township; Charles W. died at the age of nineteen years; Eugenia and Addie. In politics, Mr. Cady is a Democrat, and has held local offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Cady are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Cady is a Royal Arch Mason, being the Master of the Camden Lodge, No. 648, A.F.&A.M., a position he has held for several terms.