Not
often does it fall to the lot of a man, years before he has reached his
prime, to occupy such responsible positions of trust as Norman J. Cary has
held; but he has proved eminently worthy and capable of meeting every
requirement of his difficult offices. Ambitious to succeed, he was ready for
advancement when the opportunity presented itself, had faith in himself, and
by faithful, persistent labor has managed to carry out the plans of his
early manhood.
Norman J. Cary is proud of the fact that he is a
native son of Illinois, and that the major portion of his life has been
spent in LaSalle county, to whose, interests his own are wedded. A son of
Charles A. and Mary J. (Blakeslee) Cary, our subject was born in LaSalle,
Illinois, June 2, 1855. In 1868 he removed to Chicago with his parents, and
attended the schools of that city, his education being completed in Bryant &
Stratton's Business College. In 1872 he accepted a position in the office of
James Clark, then at the head of what was known as the Utica Cement
Association, in Chicago, and continued with that firm for a period of five
years, establishing his value, his fidelity and interest in his employer's
affairs. In 1878 he yielded to the advice of some of his friends and entered
the wholesale house of Marshall Field, of Chicago, remaining there but a
year, however, and then returning, in 1879, to the employ of Mr. Clark in
Utica. In 1883, when the Utica Hydraulic Cement Company was organized, Mr.
Cary became one of the stockholders and was chosen as secretary and
treasurer of the new concern. In 1898 he was given similar positions in the
Utica Cement Manufacturing Company, and in both of these now flourishing
enterprises he retains his original offices. In 1888. when the (James)
Clark's bank, of Utica, came into existence, Mr. Cary was chosen to serve as
its cashier, and is still acting in that capacity, Mrs. M. J. Clark being
president of the institution, as well as occupying the same office in the
Utica Hydraulic Cement Company, and also the Utica Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Cary is one of the directors in the bank, and to his judicious
management must be attributed a large share of the success which has
attended it from the first.
An important event in the life of our
subject was his marriage, March 24, 1885, to Miss Manda M. Collins, a
daughter of Cassius A. and Mary J. (Sanger) Collins, of Utica. The elder
child of Mr. and Mrs. Cary is Clarence C., born December 22, 1886, and now
attending the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. The younger
son, Clark B., born April 19, 1890, is a pupil in the public schools of
Utica.
Though not a politician in the sense of seeking or desiring
public office, Mr. Cary takes a lively interest in local and national
affairs, and uses his ballot and influence in favor of the Republican party.
In the fraternities he ranks deservedly high. In the Masonic order he has
taken the thirty-second degree, and is active in Acacia Lodge, No. 67, A. F.
and A. M.; Peru Chapter, No. 60, R. A. M.; Peru Council, No. 12, R. and S.
M., and St. John's Commandery, No. 26, K. T., of Peru; and in 1893 was
admitted to the Oriental Consistory, at Chicago. He is also a member of
Medina Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., also of Chicago. In these various
organizations he has occupied many of the important offices; was conductor
of the council from 1892 to 1893; and is at present thrice illustrious
master of the council; was the worshipful master of Acacia Lodge from 1895
to 1897; and was the eminent commander of St. John's Commandery from 1897 to
1898 inclusive. In all of his relations with his fellow men, whether in
business, society or the home circle, Mr. Cary is upright, true and just,
winning the esteem and admiration of all who know him.
Extracted 18 Aug 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 510-511.
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