Handy and Cady
Frank W. Handy and Jeremiah K. Cady (Handy & Cady)
By Sarah Gowa
The Men
Frank W. Handy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 18, 1847, to Edward James Handy and Martha E. Wright. In the Cincinnati census from 1850, Frank’s name is listed as Francis. This is the only census record that writes his name as Francis. On August 20, 1878, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, Handy married Ella Chadwick Haven, who was born in November 1853. In the 1900 census, he and his family were living in Evanston, Chicago. He and his wife appeared to be living in Florida according to the 1920 census. The couple had three daughters, Helen, Ruth, and Rena, along with one son, Edward. Helen was born in July 1879, Ruth was born in August 1883, Rena was born in June 1885, and Edward was born in August 1888. Frank W. Handy must have moved to Chicago sometime between 1890 and 1900, since the 1900 census record is shown in Cook County, Chicago, whereas all earlier census records took place in Ohio. They are listed as living at 2010 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Chicago, and he is listed as an architect
On November 11, 1929, Handy passed away at the age of 82 in his residence at 245 E. Michigan Street in De Land, Volusia, Florida. According to his death certificate, his main cause of death was uremia, with prostatism and suprapubic cystostomy as the contributing causes. He was laid to rest in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ella H. Handy passed away on July 5, 1946, in Tennessee. She was laid to rest with her husband in Spring Grove Cemetery.
Jeremiah Kiersted Cady was born to Charles Warner and Abigail Aikman (Kiersted) Cady on June 30, 1855. In 1876, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Cornell University. The Book of Chicagoans (1911) describes him as an Episcopalian who enjoyed playing golf and going on walks. In the 1880 census, Cady’s occupation is officially listed as an architect, and he is living with his uncle. About 7 years later, Cady moved to Chicago from Indianapolis, Indiana, and was employed as a draftsman at Burnham and Root Architects in 1883. In 1885, he left his job and went to Europe. According to the passport application issued on January 21, 1886, he specified traveling abroad to Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. He also included that he was going to Africa. Interestingly, Frank W. Handy’s passport application is listed right after Jeremiah K. Cady’s. He wrote that he was also traveling to Europe and Africa. In Handy’s passport, he indicates that he is acquainted with Cady, and vice versa on Cady’s passport as well. Unfortunately, it is not clear why the two traveled to Europe and Africa together. It could be that they were possibly doing field work and/or studying building construction.
He returned to Burnham and Root Architects a year later as head of the drafting room and left the company after a year (May 1, 1886–May 1, 1887). In 1888, Cady joined forces with Frank W. Handy, and created a joint architectural business.
On October 8, 1891, Cady married Paget Daniels, born in April 1865 and from Evansville, Indiana. The wedding took place in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin. The pair had a child together, Jessica, born in March 1893. In the 1892 business directory, Cady’s office is listed at 32 Metropolitan. According to the 1900 census, the family lived at 425 (currently 1245) N. State Street. In the 1910 census, the pair had a son named Pagen, born in July 1894, and they were listed as living at 1217 (formerly 17) Astor Street. In the 1920 census, he is listed as living at 1216 (formerly 16) Astor Street. The Book of Chicagoans shows his office at 179 (currently 740) W. Washington Street. In the 1900 Business Directory, however, Handy & Cady’s office is located at 172 (currently 733) Washington, or what is known as the Teutonic Building, which was designed by them. In the Chicago Central Business and Office Directory in 1922, the name was changed to the Roosevelt building.
Cady’s wife, Paget, passed away on April 13, 1914, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. Cady passed away on November 15, 1924, at the age of 69, ten years after his wife’s passing. His cause of death was a duodenal ulcer and colitis. He was buried at Graceland Cemetery with his late wife.
Their Work
The Economist shows that Handy & Cady were designing and building primarily in Wisconsin. In the 1898-1914 American Contractor database, Handy & Cady are listed to have designed 24 buildings in the Chicagoland area; however, none of the buildings listed appear to be in Edgewater. It seems as though most of the buildings designed by the two are located in Evanston and Winnetka.
Jeremiah K. Cady’s name alone brings an additional 10 buildings designed by him. The date of issue for these buildings is between 1910-1912, and again, none of these buildings are in Edgewater. It is possible that the Handy & Cady partnership may have split sometime in 1910, since Jeremiah K. Cady’s name is listed separately. Unfortunately, Frank W. Handy’s name alone does not pull up any information.
Handy & Cady designed Kenmore av. 2912 - 2914 (currently 6133-33) for A.J. Vyse on May 27, 1905.
There were interesting finds in the Inland Architect and the Chicago Tribune, particularly from 1885 and 1886. During this time, developer J.L. Cochran began promoting his Edgewater subdivisions, building houses that were substantial but more affordable than those closer to the lake. From 1885 to 1896, he sold lots and also built houses on speculation, often commissioning multiple designs at once. Handy & Cady were commissioned by Cochran two times. In 1885, the pair built a two-story and basement residence (29 by 67 feet in size) in Kenmore Avenue, costing $10,000. Inland Architect described the structure as “of pressed brick for the first story and frame above, with hardwood interior finish, mantels and sideboards, gas and electric fixtures, heating, etc.” In 1886, they designed another two-story residence (30 by 60 feet in size) in Winthrop Avenue, Edgewater. This two-story residence was “to be of frame construction with exterior of plaster and shingles; the interior to be finished in oak for the first story and the rest of hard pine; will put in all the plumbing specialties, mantels, gas fixtures, heating, etc.”
Although there is, unfortunately, limited information available about Handy & Cady’s work in Edgewater, their architectural ambitions played a part in Chicago’s rapid growth at the turn of the twentieth century. The Edgewater buildings they designed, commissioned by Cochran, offer a glimpse of their style and skill during a transformational moment in the neighborhood’s development and urban expansion.
Sources:
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Chicago City Directory (1900)
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Federal Census (1850, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920)
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United States, Passport Applications, 1795-1925
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1898-1912 American Contractor Database
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Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1948
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Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939
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Chicagology website (
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Inland Architect (1895: Vol 25 Supplement; 1896: Vol 26 Iss 6)
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Chicago Tribune (1895)
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AIA Guide to Chicago (2022)
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Book of Chicagoans (1911)