“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

CHARLES D. KANADY is one of the pioneers of Dallas county, and the following 
space will be devoted to a brief sketch of his career.  He is a native of the State 
of New York, born in 1836, and is a son of R. E. Kanady, a native of New York 
State and a tinner by trade.  His mother’s maiden name was Manley, and she, 
too, was born in New York.  Charles D. grew to be a lad of thirteen years, when 
he quietly took leave of his home, and wandered all over New England.  He 
stopped in Maine long enough to master his father’s trade, and in 1853 he took 
passage at Thomaston, Maine, for the South.  It was the trial trip of a new vessel, 
and landed at New Orleans.  Thence he journeyed into Alabama and Mississippi, 
working at his trade.  In 1858 he came to Galveston, Texas, and in 1859 he 
embarked in business at Waxahachie, Texas.  When the war broke out between 
the North and South, he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and enlisted in 
Company C., Nineteenth Texas Cavalry.  After a brief service in the field he was 
transferred, on account of his special fitness for the work, to the Quartermaster’s 
department, and remained there until near the close of the war, under Captain 
Alexander Howard.  After the surrender he came to Dallas county and located in 
Lancaster, engaging in the hardware trade until 1868.  In that year he came to 
Dallas city, which was then a village struggling for an existence.  He opened a 
stock of hardware, and soon was encouraged to erect a large store-building on 
Jefferson street.  He carried on his business in these quarters until 1872, and 
then disposed of his interests, and retired to a plantation.  He tried farming for 
eight years, but the life was not congenial to him, so he returned to his old 
occupation in 1880, which he has since continued.  There are few men more 
widely and favorably known in Dallas county than Mr. Kanady.  He is of a genial 
disposition, generous to a fault, and irreproachable in his principles.

In 1861, before he went to war, Mr. Kanady was united in married to Miss Jennie 
Miller, a daughter of W. B. Miller, who emigrated to the State of Texas in 1844.  
Mrs. Kanady was then a child of four years, and has passed all her life here.  She 
is a consistent member of the Christian Church, and is a woman greatly admired 
for her many excellent traits of character.  Three sons have been born to our 
subject and his wife, and all reside in Dallas.  They are young men of good 
business qualifications and honor to their parents.   The father is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, and is a stalwart Democrat.

Submitted by: L. Pingel