Jefferson P. Casady was born September 1, 1828 in Connersville, Ohio. After an early life of farming he decided to study law. In 1852 he was in Des Moines, Iowa and was admitted to the bar. The next year he was in Council Bluffs practicing law. He dealt mainly in civil law, specializing in real estate.
In 1856 he married Hannah Joiner. Hannah was born in 1839 in Ohio and came to Council Bluffs in 1850 with her father Timothy Joiner.
Hannah and Jefferson had 5 children together. Only 3 survived to adulthood, Ida, Thomas and Albert.
While Jefferson’s primary business was real estate, he was also a county judge, member of the state senate and director of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad. He was a life-long Democrat and attended several state and national conventions. Jefferson was also an active member of the International Order of Odd Fellows.
Hannah and Jefferson were also active members of the First Presbyterian Church. Hannah hosted many church socials at her home.
Hannah Jefferson died of pneumonia on May 6, 1882, she was 44 years old.
On September 5, 1884 Jefferson Casady married Rhoda M Osborne, the widow of Henry Osborne, a local doctor. This second marriage may not have been a happy one. In September 1889 the following notice appeared in the Nonpareil:
All persons are warned against selling any goods on my credit to my wife, Rhoda M. Casady, or extending her any credit on my account. J. P. Casady
Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sept. 5, 1889.
It’s unknown whether Jefferson and Rhoda ever divorced or just separated, but by 1892 Rhoda was back to using Osborne as her surname. This second marriage was not mentioned in either of their obituaries.
Jefferson Casady died April 27, 1892. Both he and Hannah are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
