History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 121 - 122

SAMUEL J. CASSETY

The next best thing to being a native of the state of Michigan is to have lived in the commonwealth the greater part of one's life. Michigan is a great commonwealth, a rich and productive state, and of all of her eightyfive counties there are not many superior to Wexford county as a place of abode. Samuel J. Cassety, a resident of Colfax township and the subject of this biography, has been a resident of Michigan for more than half a century, and of Wexford county during all of the years of its existence as a county and for two years prior thereto. Only a child of seven years when his parents brought him to the state, from that time to the present he has made it his home. Samuel J. Cassety was born in the state of Ohio, Seneca county, Reed township, September 2, 1845. His parents were Franklin and Charity (Gilbert) Cassety, the father a native of the state of New York, and the mother of Ohio, who made that commonwealth their home until 1852, when they moved to Muskegon county, Michigan,. settling on a farm in Casnovia township, where they continued to reside until their death, which occurred many years ago. They were tie parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, the subject being the second child of the family. The other surviving members of his parents' family are Eliza, the wife of Dexter Fields, a gardener at Salem, Oregon; Hannah, wife of William Folston, a ranchman of Oregon. and Alice, the wife of Amos Cobleigh, a farmer also of Oregon. On the farm of his father in Casnovia township, Muskegon county, Samuel J. Cassety was reared and grew to manhood. The educational facilities of the state during his youth were not all that could be desired, nevertheless he managed to secure a good education in all of the common school branches, which has been supplemented by extensive reading on many subjects. There are few men in Wexford county possessed of more general information than is the subject. Farming has been the occupation of his life and he began his lessons in agriculture at a very early age. That they were thoroughly learned is amply attested by the success he has attained. He remained a member of the parental household until he attained the age of twenty-three years, most of the time being occupied in the labors of the farm. April 25, 1868, Samuel J. Cassety was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Field, a native of Ohio, born in Summit county, February 19, 1846. Her parents are Austin and Sarah A. (Compton) Field, the former being, a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Ohio. She died in Ottawa county, Michigan, at the age of forty-six years, being the mother of eight children, of whom Mrs. Cassety was the seventh, the other survivors of the family being Cordelia, the widow of Luther P. Doane, now resides in Conklin, Michigan; Aurelia is the wife of Theron Emmons, of Conklin; Dexter lives in Salem, Oregon, and Lester, who married Lucy Doane and resides in Kalkaska, Michigan. After the death of his wife Mr. Field moved to Oregon, where he died at the age of seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cassety three children have been born, one of whom died in infancy. The others are Arthur S. and Hugh. Arthur S., who is a merchant at Elton, Michigan, married.Anna Gregg and they have one son., Delos C., and Hugh, who is a farmer in Colfax township, married Mamie Hunt, who was formerly a teacher. Mrs. Cassety was prior to her marriage a successful teacher, four years in Ottawa county and one year in Wexford county. The first three years after his marriage the subject resided upon and cultivated the old homestead. In 1871 he came with his family to Wexford county and took up a homestead of eighty acres in what is now Colfax township. On this land the family have continued to reside up to the present lime. This modest little farm he cleared, improved and cultivated, adding to it piece by piece as he was able and the opportunity offered until at one time he owned two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and seventy-six of which was under cultivation. Later he presented one hundred and twenty acres to his son, so that his present place comprises only one hundred and twenty acres, which he finds quite sufficient to occupy his time and attention. The buildings upon the place, residence, barns, stables, etc., are all that could be desired and their neat and well-kept appearance contributes to the general air of comfort and thrift which characterizes this model rural home. Even the most casual glance at the farm and appurtenances will convince a visitor that the owner and occupant of the place is no common husbandman. In politics Mr. Cassety is a Republican, and although he has frequently labored zealously in the interests of his party, he has never aspired to public position. His fellow citizens have, however, honored him by electing him to a number of local offices, such as school inspector, school director and overseer of highways, and he is at present serving as one of the county superintendents of the poor. His standing in the community has always been of the very best and he might have been elected to places of trust and profit in the county had he cared to be a candidate, but his ambition to manage well his own private affairs precluded the possibility of giving any time for holding public positions. Although never having belonged to any religious order, society or church, he is imbued with much veneration for Christianity and there are few, even amongst church members, who contribute more liberally to the spread of the gospel than he does. Mr. and Mrs. Cassety are among the oldest and best known residents of Wexford county and all who are favored with their acquaintance speak in the highest terms of their many sterling qualities of head and heart. They have lived long and well, have done their duty without fear or favor and the future awaits them with abundant rewards.