Person Page - 63

Benjamin Canaday had a small house near by (based on other text, I interpret this as just east of Henry Canaday), and during the winter of the deep snow, the snow so nearly covered it that one could not see the house till he got right to it. That winter the deer, and pretty much all the game, were destroyed by the snow. He was a tinner by trade, and made up a stock of tinware and traded it at Louisville for goods, which he brought back here and put into a building which he built for a store, on his farm just west of Vermilion on the Hickory Grove road. This accidental trade made a merchant of him. He sold goods here several years before going to Georgetown. He became the largest merchant there, and for many years the most successful one.⁸

Benjamin Canaday was one of the first to engage in mercantile business here, and continued for about forty years to sell goods in Georgetown. He came with his father to the little settlement west of Vermilion Grove Station, about 1822, but went back to Tennessee. He was a tinner bv trade, and after they came back here again from Tennessee he built a small log house, which he used for a dwelling and tinshop, and there made up a stock of tinware, which he took to Louisville and traded for goods. He brought these goods back and put up a store and turned merchant. He continued this kind of trade till 1830, when he was induced to come to Georgetown, and, with the Haworths, commenced the mercantile trade here. He afterward formed a partnership with Abraham Frazier, and soon sold the business and store to Dr. Gillaspie, who came here from Tennessee, and continued the business with Frazier awhile. Canaday and the Haworths belonged to the Society of Friends, and early instituted religious meetings here. Canaday lived in the house on the corner of the public square, where "William Alexander now has a store. It was a small one-story house, and has been enlarged since. He continued the leading merchant of Georgetown, and built the large brick store now occupied by his successors in business, Richie & Thompson. He amassed a comfortable fortune, and died a few years since, honored and respected. His latter years were largely given to making proper disposition of the accumulations of a busy life of frugal care, and was one of the principal donors to the beautiful church at Georgetown. He was the father of eight children. His two sons are dead, though the two daughters of one of them (John) are living: Mrs. Holloway, of Danville, and Mrs. Thompson, of Georgetown. Of his daughters, Mrs. J. P. Johnson lives in Kansas, Mrs. Dr. Morgan in Iowa, and Mrs. Richie lives at Georgetown ; Mrs. Morris and Mrs. McCowan are dead. Few men have left as a legacy to their children a more honored name or the example of a more useful and successful life.⁹

Benjamin Canaday was the first merchant in the southern part of the county. He, with his father and three brothers, came to the Little Vermilion to settle in the fall of 1821. He was a tinner by trade, and during the winter of the deep snow, made up a stock of tinware and took it to Louisville, where he traded it for goods. This stock of general merchandise he brought back with him and sold to the neighbors. In 1831 he went to Georgetown, and with the Haworths began the mencantile interests of that place. He became the man of largest mercantile interests in that prosperous village. This was in 1830. Mr. Canaday remained in business with Mr. Haworth for a time when he sold out and formed a partnership with Mr. Abraham Frazier. After a time, however, he sold the store to Dr. Gillaspie, who came from Tennessee, and Mr. Canaday remained in the store. He continued in the mercantile interests for a long time until he amassed a fortune. He was the leading merchant of Georgetown for many years. Mr. Canaday was a public-spirited man and was always found in all the enterprises tending to advance Georgetown. He built the brick store that was such a pride to the community and in which his successors in business were to be found during their term of mercantile life. Dr. Gillaspie continued in business for some time, but at last went west.¹⁰

John Canaday, another son of Henry's, lived on the farm on the State road, between Vermilion and Georgetown. He had a good farm and attended to it thoroughly. He had five sons and two daughters. Of these, Henry lives on the old homestead, Calvin went to Kansas, Benjamin lives in Champaign, John lives here, and William in the western part of the state. Mrs. Mahaley lives near Ash Grove, in Iroquois county.⁵

Frederick and William Canaday still live on the farms which they made when they came to the state.—the former just north and the other west of Vermilion station. His four sons, William, Henry. Isaac and John, live around him, worthy and honored men, who esteem it an honor to be able to cheer the declining years of him who led them in their youth in the line of an honorable life. Of his daughters. Mrs. Lawrence resides in Kansas, Mrs. Patterson in Bethel, and Mrs. Ankrum near where her father lives. William had four sons, three of whomreside in Champaign. His daughters. Mrs. Herrill and Mrs. Brown, live here, and Mrs. Dr. Morris in Rockville, Indiana. When young he had learned the saddler's trade. His father was a tanner and a blacksmith, and as soon as he could after coming here they got these various branches of business going. William for some years carried on harness-making and saddlery, but as soon as he could he gave it up to give better attention to his farm. He continues to carry on his large farm, but does not stick so close to the plow as he did when a few years younger. He keeps a hundred or more head of cattle. Looking back over the time which has elapsed since the first white man settled here, he can see the changes which have taken place, from the wilderness to the present condition of wealth and prosperity. Few people have it given them to see what William Canaday has seen. Fiftv-seven years upon the same farm ! There is the patent for his land direct from the President of the United States, with no transfers to note,—not even the modern decoration of a mortgage to cover it. An abstract of that title could be written up in "short meter." His life here spans the history of the county with "two laps."¹²

Frederick and William Canaday still live on the farms which they made when they came to the state.—the former just north and the other west of Vermilion station. His four sons, William, Henry. Isaac and John, live around him, worthy and honored men, who esteem it an honor to be able to cheer the declining years of him who led them in their youth in the line of an honorable life. Of his daughters. Mrs. Lawrence resides in Kansas, Mrs. Patterson in Bethel, and Mrs. Ankrum near where her father lives. William had four sons, three of whomreside in Champaign. His daughters. Mrs. Herrill and Mrs. Brown, live here, and Mrs. Dr. Morris in Rockville, Indiana. When young he had learned the saddler's trade. His father was a tanner and a blacksmith, and as soon as he could after coming here they got these various branches of business going. William for some years carried on harness-making and saddlery, but as soon as he could he gave it up to give better attention to his farm. He continues to carry on his large farm, but does not stick so close to the plow as he did when a few years younger. He keeps a hundred or more head of cattle. Looking back over the time which has elapsed since the first white man settled here, he can see the changes which have taken place, from the wilderness to the present condition of wealth and prosperity. Few people have it given them to see what William Canaday has seen. Fiftv-seven years upon the same farm ! There is the patent for his land direct from the President of the United States, with no transfers to note,—not even the modern decoration of a mortgage to cover it. An abstract of that title could be written up in "short meter." His life here spans the history of the county with "two laps."¹⁰