Simon Casady
Simon Casady | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | March 25, 1928 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Founder of Des Moines Bank; president of Des Moines Savings Bank and Central State Bank; vice president of Iowa National Bank; treasurer of Bankers Life Association |
Simon Casady (June 16, 1852 – March 25, 1928) was a distinguished banker from Iowa, recognized for founding the Des Moines Bank, which later evolved into the Des Moines Savings Bank. He held leadership roles including president of both the Des Moines Savings Bank and Central State Bank, vice president at the Iowa National Bank, and treasurer for the Bankers Life Association. Frequently referred to as "the dean of Iowa bankers," Casady was a member of the influential Casady family, known for their significant involvement in Iowa’s banking, political, agricultural, and landowning sectors.
Life
Simon Casady was born in Des Moines in 1852 at 314 Fifth Street, the location that would eventually house Central State Bank. He was the son of Phineas M. Casady, a state senator and judge who played a pivotal role as an early settler and political leader in Iowa, and Wilhelmina Augusta Grimmel. On June 1, 1880, Simon wed Sarah Conarroe Griffiths in what was recorded as the first marriage between native-born residents of Des Moines at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul. A legal dispute over inheritance with his brother Frank escalated to the Iowa Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in Simon's favor.
The Casadys resided at Rosebrae on Prospect Boulevard. In 1920, they commemorated their 40th wedding anniversary with a family reunion that included relatives such as Thomas Casady. Simon was affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and served as the founding treasurer of the Des Moines Club, now known as the Des Moines Embassy Club.
In 1916, Sarah Casady led efforts against women's suffrage as president of Iowa’s National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, representing predominantly middle- and upper-class Christian homemakers. Throughout his life, Simon advocated for prohibition initiatives.
He passed away at age 76 following a prolonged illness attributed to heart complications. At the time of his death, he ranked among Des Moines’s most affluent individuals. His business achievements were publicly honored by Governor John Hammill, Mayor Fred H. Hunter, and other prominent community figures.
Legacy
Constructed in 1905, the Simon Casady Residence still stands at 715 Hickman Road in Des Moines (formerly known as 715 Prospect Road). His descendants maintained significant roles within Iowa’s banking and agricultural industries. Notably, his son Simon Casady Jr. co-established Pioneer Hi Bred International, while his grandson Simon Wheeler Casady III served on Pioneer’s board as director and secretary and held a position on Central National Bancshares’ board.