John Edward Cassidy, Sr. (January 31, 1896 – March 25, 1984) was an American lawyer. Born in

Ottawa, Illinois Ottawa is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the confluence of the navigable Fox River (Illinois River tributary), Fox River and Illinois River, the latter being a conduit for river barges and ...

, Cassidy received his law degree from the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

in 1917 and was admitted to the Illinois bar the same year. Cassidy served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

in Europe during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In 1920, Cassidy moved to

Peoria, Illinois Peoria ( ) is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Illinois River, the city had a population of 113,150 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Ill ...

to head the legal department of Aetna Life Insurance Company. In 1921, he set up his own law firm in Peoria. Cassidy was involved with the Democratic Party. In

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

, he ran unsuccessfully for the party's nomination for

lieutenant governor of Illinois The lieutenant governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket and are directly elected by popular vote. Gubernatorial candidates select their ...

. Cassidy was appointed

Illinois Attorney General The Illinois attorney general is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, the attorney general ...

in 1938 and served until 1941. In 1947, Illinois Governor Dwight Green appointed Cassidy to be chairman of a citizens committee to investigate the March 25, 1947 mine disaster in

Centralia, Illinois Centralia is a city in Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Illinois with the largest portion in Marion County. The city is the largest in three counties, Clinton, Marion, and Washington, but it is not a ...

. Cassidy died in a hospital in Peoria, Illinois.Cassidy & Mueller Law Firm-History
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Notes

1896 births 1984 deaths Politicians from Peoria, Illinois People from Ottawa, Illinois Notre Dame Law School alumni Illinois lawyers Illinois Democrats Illinois attorneys general 20th-century Illinois politicians {{Illinois-politician-stub