Biography - Edward A. Cardiff
Edward A. Cardiff is a general farmer on section 2, Lynn township, and has
been in this vicinity since December 1865. He was born in Fulton County,
Pennsylvania on 7 July 1845, and his father, William F., was also a native of
that state and county. William F. Cardiff was a merchant by vocation, and was
married in Fulton County, Pennsylvania to Catherine Sipes (see sketch of J.M.
Sipes). They came to Illinois, in April 1864, locating near Galva where the
mother died in March 1869. The father is still living in Galva. In politics he
is a Republican, and in religion a Methodist.
The subject of our sketch lived at home up to the time he enlisted as a soldier,
going from Fulton County, Pennsylvania on 28 February 1864, into the 22nd
Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary, Company H, under the command of Captain Jolly.
He took an active part in the engagements under General Seridan, through the
Shenandoah Valley and at the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar
Creek, besides the Western Virginia campaign and others; his horse was shot out
from under him at Cedar Creek, Virginia. He was never excused from duty on
account of sickness and participated in every engagement of his regiment - 24 in
all - and was honorably discharged at the end of the war at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania on 15 November 1865.
Shortly after the close of the war Mr. Cardiff came to Illinois, where his
parents had arrived the year before. His father was Captain of Company B, 3rd
Maryland Volunteer Infantry. He was out two and one half years and at no time
wounded but was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry. He held his commission during
the whole time, being paroled when captured and was honorably discharged. This
was before he came to Illinois.
Mr.Cardiff was married on 13 March 1872, at Lynn Township, to Miss Latrode R.
Sellon, born in Lynn Township, on 6 August 1849. Her parents are both dead. Her
father was for many years a minister of the Protestant Methodist Church and
lived on his farm. They came from England to this country prior to their
marriage and made settlement at an early day in Knox County. The father, whose
name was Edward Sellon, departed this life on 23 December 1883 in Galva, and the
mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Charles, died 3 October 1873. Mrs.
Cardiff lived at home until her marriage with our subject. She is the mother of
five children - Ira D., Bessie C., Ada J., Nellie I., and William E.
Mr. Cardiff has lived at his present residence since 1874. He and his wife are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Galva, attending it when
convenient. Mr. Cardiff is Republican in politics.
From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical
Publishing Company, Chicago, page 726.
