My Genealogy Hound

JOHN CASHMAN, an able lawyer of Sedalia, has an extensive and lucrative practice in the State and Federal Courts, and stands abreast with the foremost members of his profession. He was City Attorney of Sedalia from April, 1890, to April, 1894, four of the most progressive years of the city’s history. During this time he drafted and secured the enactment of the law now governing cities of the third class in Missouri. He also revised the ordinances of his city to conform to the new law, so that on his retirement from office he left one of the most complete codes in the state for municipal regulation. In 1886 our subject was elected to the City Council, where he was kept by his constituents until he saw fit to resign. While in the Council he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Lighting, and the present fine electric-light and railway systems of Sedalia were mainly procured through his efforts. He is a Democrat in politics and holds a high place in the ranks of his party locally, receiving the nomination for Prosecuting Attorney in 1894 without opposition; but, for the first time, was defeated, with the balance of the county ticket, on account of the immense Republican majorities then common throughout the United States.

Mr. Cashman, who was born in Jefferson City, Mo., December 1, 1857, settled with his father in Pettis County when nine years of age, and has lived here ever since. His common-school education was supplemented by a collegiate course of three years at Osage Mission, Kan. He was but a mere boy when he formed the determination to enter the legal profession, and from the time he was fifteen years of age he has read and studied law at intervals. After years of private study at home on the farm, and while at school, he entered the office of an eminent law firm to complete his studies, and was admitted to the Bar September 11, 1883, in Sedalia, Mo. He was for a short time a law partner of Capt. L. L. Bridges, but like many beginners in his profession lacked means to sustain him while building up a practice, and was forced to seek employment assuring a positive income. He was made Deputy Circuit Clerk under T. A. Fowler in 1887, where he was put in full charge of all matters pertaining to the Circuit and Criminal Courts. This place he held until elected City Attorney in April, 1890, and although this city was strongly Republican he received a majority of four hundred and eighty-seven votes, and was re-elected in 1892, again leading his ticket.

Patrick Cashman, the father of our subject, was born near Listowel, Ireland, where he received a classical education, coming to America about 1850. He went first to New Orleans, La., thence to Ohio, and finally came to Missouri in the early ‘50s, residing a short time in Jefferson City. In 1860 he began farming in Cooper County, near Boonville, but at the close of the war moved to Pettis County, where he still resides. He was married to Miss Deborah Cain just before leaving his native country. There were born to them eleven children, five of whom are living.

November 15, 1883, John Cashman married Miss Mary E. Gilker, who was born in St. Louis County, Mo., and who is a daughter of William Gilker, a farmer. There have been born to them three children, namely: Alma, Mary and Blanche.