Person Record
Images
Metadata
Imagefile |
People\Coady_John.jpg |
Name |
Coady, John |
Birth Date |
6/22/1837 |
Birthplace |
Tipperary, Ireland |
Deceased |
10/31/1916 |
Place of Death |
La Crosse, WI |
Mother |
Nancy Long Coady |
Father |
Martin Coady |
Spouse |
Bridget Daly Coady |
Children |
Two daughters |
Occupation |
La Crosse Police Night Watchman - 1858-1859 Varied occupations - 1859-1862 City Marshall - 1862-1865, 1866-1869 C.L. Colman Lumber Company - 1869-1884 La Crosse Police Patrolman - October 12, 1884 - July 1886 La Crosse Police Detective - July 1886 - August 31, 1908 |
Role |
Law |
Places of Residence |
Tipperary, Ireland New York City, NY Canada Burlington, VT Fort Dearborn/Chicago, IL La Crosse, WI |
Notes |
John Coady was born in Tipperary, Ireland to Nancy Long Coady and Martin Coady on June 22, 1837. Around the age of 5, his family immigrated to North America. They landed in New York City, and John was temporarily sent to Canada. His parents farmed for a while before the family moved to Burlington, Vermont. John began working on the land of a wealthy farmer at age 9, and the family moved again to Fort Dearborn, Illinois, now known as part of Chicago, IL. His father, Martin Coady, heard of an area of fertile farmland in western Wisconsin called Prairie de La Crosse, and moved his family to the settlement that would become modern-day La Crosse, WI in 1853. Traveling in an ox-team caravan, the family met many local Native Americans and experienced many hardships. Being the oldest at around age 15, John was responsible for helping his father with the most perilous parts of the journey north. When they finally arrived, the Coady family would become some of the first settlers of the city, and their first camp would be on the same land as what is now the Oak Grove Cemetery. On May 31, 1857, he married Bridget Daly, with whom he would have two daughters. In 1858, he became La Crosse's first night watchman and worked his beat until 1859. He followed several vocations until 1862, when he was elected city marshal. He held the office until 1865, when David Law was elected. In 1866, however, he was re-elected and held the position again until 1869, when Adam Jacobus was elected. In 1869, when the lumber industry was at its height in the area, he joined the C.L. Colman Lumber Company and worked with them until 1884, when he decided to return to police work. On October 12, 1884 he was appointed patrolman and earned his position as detective in July 1886. He continued to work as a police detective until August 31, 1908, shortly after celebrating his 50th anniversary with his wife Bridget in May 1907. After retiring, he became a widower on July 13, 1909 when Bridget passed away after a brief battle with illness. In the spring of 1916, John suffered a stroke. He recovered, however several months later, on October 31, 1916, he passed away due to heart trouble in the company of his two daughters. |
Image Caption |
Scanned from a styrofoam display |
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