BIOGRAPHY: Andrew L. CASSEY, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 554-555.

  ANDREW L. CASSEY, Mattawana, Mifflin county, Pa., was born near Florence, 
Italy, September 1, 1863.  He is a son of Donezio and Nancy (Gabrailli) Cassi, 
natives of Italy.  His father, a farmer and sculptor, came to America and bought 
a plantation in the southern part of Kentucky.  When the war of the Rebellion 
broke out, he sold his property and returned to Italy.  He had six children, all 
of whom, except Andrew, are living in Italy.  He and his wife are both living in 
their native country.
  Andrew L. Cassey was educated in the public and private schools of his native 
country.  He worked with his father on the farm and also learned from his father 
to work in plaster of Paris.  When he was twenty-two he emigrated to America and 
settled in Chicago, Ill., where he and several of his countrymen formed a 
partnership to make and sell plaster of Paris images.  In 1887 Mr. Andrew Cassey 
accepted the invitation of his uncle, and removed to Mattawana, Mifflin county.  
His uncle, L. Cassey, a prominent merchant of Mattawana, has been a soldier in 
the Confederate army.  For twelve years he was a stone-cutter in the quarries at 
Mattawana, but in 1875 he engaged in mercantile pursuits.  During the first two 
years of his life with his uncle, Mr. Andrew Cassey was employed as engineer in 
a saw-mill.  Having been proved by his uncle, he was appointed his confidential 
clerk, and two years later he bought an interest in the business, and took 
charge of the store until his uncle died, Mary 25, 1894.  He then resumed entire 
charge.  He is very successful as a general merchant, and has a wagon which 
travels through the country to deliver merchandise.  Mr. Andrew Cassey being 
energetic and enterprising is not content with his mercantile interests.  He 
owns and cultivates a farm of 108 acres in Oliver township, and a large tract of 
woodland in the same township, on which he has erected a saw-mill, stave-mill, 
heading-mill and planing-mill.  Moreover, he still retains his interest in the 
business in Chicago, which is very lucrative.  He is a member of the Democratic 
party, and an advocate of free silver.
  Andrew L. Cassey was married, February 6, 1895, to Mary L., daughter of Henry 
O. Espey, a native of Newport, Pa.  Her father is a tanner at Mattawana.  They 
have one child, Louis, born July 1, 1896.  Mr. Cassey is a member of the Roman 
Catholic church.