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AUGUST CAZALET, a retired merchant of Assumption,
was born in France on Christmas Day of 1828. He spent his youth and grew to manhood in his native country, where
he received fair school privileges. He then served an apprenticeship at the stone mason's trade, which he followed
for some years, after which he engaged in contracting and building for a few years.
Ere leaving the land of his birth, Mr. Cazalet
was married to Miss Julia Galliac, a most estimable young lady. Their union was celebrated in 1853, and for five
years they continued in France, our subject being engaged in contracting and building from that time until 1858,
when with his wife he emigrated to the New World, taking passage from Havre on a Westward-bound sailing-vessel,
which at length dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, in the month of December,
and the young couple found themselves in the New World.
Mr. Cazalet at once came to Illinois, and
made a location in Ottawa, La Salle County, where he established
a stoneyard and engaged in contracting and building for three years. On the expiration of that period, in 1862,
he removed to El Paso, Woodford County, where he engaged
in merchandising in connection with his brother, under the firm name of Cazalet Bros. They continued in the dry-goods
business at that place, enjoying a good trade, until 1865, when our subject sold out his interest and came to Assumption.
Here he built a storeroom and embarked in general merchandising. For about fifteen years he was actively engaged
in business and then sold out.
During that time he purchased land at various
intervals and opened up several farms. Since disposing of his mercantile interests, he has purchased more land
from time to time and now owns ten farms, one in Shelby County and the others in Christian County. His landed possessions aggregate about one thousand acres, the
greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. These properties yield to the owner
a good income. Mr. Cazalet has also done much toward improving the town of Assumption, and has built fourteen business
houses in the place, five of them being good brick structures. He has also built two residences. In 1881 he engaged
in the grain and lumber business, and was actively connected with that industry for ten years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cazalet have been born
two children. Leona is the wife of Joseph H. Stapleton, a prominent grain-dealer and business man of Assumption;
and Leon is a leading farmer, who is connected with his father as a dealer in fine imported horses.
In 1887 Mr. Cazalet made a trip to France
and visited his boyhood friends and the scenes of his youth, spending about three months in his native land. While
on the way he made a purchase of a number of Percheron
and French Coach horses. The following year he again crossed the Atlantic to purchase more horses, and he and his
son have since been engaged in importing and dealing in live stock. In 1892 he made a third trip, spending about
three months.
Since his residence here, Mr. Cazalet has
been one of the most active, enterprising and successful business men, and probably has done more for the upbuilding
of Assumption than any other of her citizens. His aid is never solicited in vain for the promotion of worthy enterprises,
and his support and co-operation are heartily given for the benefit all public improvement.
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