JAMES M. CASSADY was one of Camden's most civic-minded residents of the 19th Century. He served in many roles during the 59 years he lived in Camden after coming to the city... which was still just a town, charter-wise... in 1838 as a 17 year-old apprentice to pharmacist Joseph de la Cour. The James M. Cassady School at North 3rd and State Streets in North Camden, which thousands of students passed through during the 59 years it existed was named in his memory. 

Born in the Southwark section Philadelphia in 1821, James M. Cassady, upon reaching the age of legal majority, opened up a stationary shop at 128 Federal Street. He resided at that address the rest of his days. He took interest in politics held many different government posts throughout his life time. He was elected Justice of the Peace as a Democrat in 1846, a position that he held for 50 years. He also held a Federal position as a United States Commissioner. He became Camden County's first coroner after it 

was organized in 1844, and conducted the County's first murder inquest. Other positions that James M. Cassady filled included service for at least twenty-four years as a member of the Board of Education, including being its president in 1876, twelve years as district court clerk, State prison inspector, and he also was a member of the city police commission. 

James M. Cassady also served the city as a volunteer fireman in the days prior to the founding of the professional department in 1869, joining the Niagara Fire Company in 1838. Fellow Fairmount members included John Laning, Josiah Atkinson, Samuel Jenkins, William Hanna and James W. Ayers. The Niagara Company reorganized as the Weccacoe Fire Company No. 2. in 1848. 

In 1852 the company was incorporated as the Weccacoe Fire Company, No. 2, by John Laning, James M. Cassady, Isaac Shreeve, Wesley P. Murray, Joseph F. Murray, Joshua S. Porter, Daniel B. McCully, Richard G. Camp, James Doughten, Stone H. Stow, Charles H. Thorne, Matthew Miller, Jr., and James W. Ayers. Ayers was president of the Niagara in 1845, continued as such except in 1854, when he was absent from the city, held the office until the company was disbanded. Richard G. Camp was the secretary and Charles Thompson treasurer until 1854, and Joseph L. Bright was his successor until the end. Efficiency and good order were the characteristics of the Weccacoe from the beginning to the ending of their career as firemen. 

James M. Cassady's home at 128 Federal Street came close to destruction on July 18, 1867 but was saved due to the efforts of the volunteer fire companies.

James M. Cassady was very involved in real estate, building and loan societies and insurance. He was involved in the publication of the Camden Democrat, a weekly newspaper for a short time in the 1850s, and again in the 1870s.

In 1856 the Washington Market Company was incorporated, with John S. Read, Ralph Lee, James M. Cassady, Isaac W. Mickle, Lewis Seal, Matthew Miller, John Ross, John K. Cowperthwaite, Henry Fredericks, Joseph T. Rowand and William P. Tatem as the company. The design was to build a market-house on the west side of Third Street, between Arch and Federal, the structure to be about one hundred feet square, but the erection of the market-sheds on Third Street, by the city, caused the company to abandon the project.

James M. Cassady joined the First Methodist Episcopal Church as a boy. This church was knows as the Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church from 1869 to June of 1893. While with the church he served as a trustee, on the building committee, and as a Sunday School superintendent at different times. He was very much involved in the founding and promoting of Pitman Grove in Gloucester County, which was conceived as a summer retreat where camp meetings of the Methodist church could be held. James M. Cassady kept a summer cottage there.

Outside of church and business, James M. Cassady was active fraternally, politically and in other aspects of Camden's civic life. He was a long-time member of Camden Lodge No. 15, Free & Accepted Masons, and served as the lodge's secretary for 45 years. He was a founding member of Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 29, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served a term is its Grand Master. He also was involved with the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, and the Sons of Temperance.

In the years before the Civil War, when no National Guard existed James M. Cassady took up a military role. For seventeen years Camden was without any military company, when, November 23, 1855, the Camden Light Artillery was organized with a muster-roll of forty men. The following was the roster of officers: 

Captain Isaac W. Mickle; First Lieutenant, James W. H. Stickney ; Second Lieutenant, Jesse E. Huston ; Third Lieutenant, Joseph J. Bender ; First Sergeant, Ephraim C. Ware ; Second Sergeant, Richard H. Lee ; Third Sergeant, John R. Cunningham ; Fourth Sergeant, Samuel H. Carles ; Quartermaster, James M. Cassady; First Corporal, Philip M. Armington; Second Corporal, William W. Sheed; Third Corporal, Remington Ackley ; Fourth Corporal, James B. Shields. 

The secretary was William J. Miller and the treasurer Martin E. Harmstead. The armory was in the Starr building, on Bridge Avenue below Second Street. The Light Artillery was a “crack” company, their uniform being very showy, with “ shakos ” that gave them a formidable appearance. Captain Mickle had seen service in Mexico. Ephraim C. Ware succeeded in command of the company; when the Civil War broke out thirty out of the thirty-six entered the service under their old commander. 

Demanding a swift response to the Confederate States of America's firing cannons on Fort Sumter, on April 16, 1861 the first war meeting was held in Camden. James M. Cassady was one of the signatories to the  letter to President Lincoln. 

George Reeser Prowell, in his History of Camden County, New Jersey, wrote the following about what happened after the letter was sent.

In response to a call, on the 18th of April an enthusiastic meeting was held in the county court-house, which was formed of a large collection of prominent citizens. The court-room was decorated with flags and mottos. John W. Mickle was chosen president and Samuel C. Harbert and Thomas G. Rowand secretaries. The president addressed the meeting first and Rev. Mr. Monroe offered a prayer. Hon. Thomas P. Carpenter, Thomas B. Atkinson (mayor) and Joseph Painter were appointed a committee on resolutions. Judge Philip J. Grey addressed the meeting, after which the committee adopted a long series of patriotic resolutions. The Washington Grays, Stockton Cadets and the Zouaves marched into the room and were received with cheers, Samuel Hufty read a resolution which was signed by many persons, who immediately formed the Home Brigade. David M. Chambers, Captain Stafford, Benjamin M. Braker, John H. Jones and E. A. Acton each addressed the meeting. James M. Scovel was then called upon and responded in eloquent terms and with patriotic energy. S. H. Grey offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the City Council and the  Freeholders of the county be requested to appropriate money for the equipment of persons who may volunteer in defense of the country, and S. H. Grey, James M. Cassady and Joseph Painter were appointed a committee to look after the interests of the resolution. The meeting continued in session until eleven p.m.

In 1862 James M. Cassady ran for Mayor as a Democrat but was defeated by Paul Budd, American-Republican, Cassady receiving 716 votes to Budd's 987.

After the Civil War James M Cassady continued his many works in business, government, and civic affairs.

Prowell wrote the following: 

In 1870 a company was formed as the “Camden Democratic Co-Operative Association,” the incorporators being Thomas McKeen, Isaiah Woolston, James M. Cassady, Chalkley Albertson, Cooper P. Browning, John Clement, William Sexton, Richard S. Jenkins, Henry Fredericks and James S. Henry. John H. Jones, editor of the American Banner , the organ of Native Americanism in Philadelphia, was appointed editor, and Lyman B. Cole, manager. Financially, the business of the office was not a success, but Jones was a man of unpolished power, talking to the people in language and of subjects they understood, and with an earnestness which carried conviction to those appealed to. He was a large-hearted man, and an earnest advocate of the cause of the laboring classes. Under his regime the Democrat became quite popular, and wielded its old-time influence in the community. In 1874 Jones was elected mayor, but did not live to serve his term out, his death taking place in 1876. The paper was then conducted for a time by Dr. Thomas Westcott and Charles G. Dickinson, stock-owners in the company, and, in 1878, was sold to Messrs. Wills & Semple, the former at that time as now publisher of the Mount Holly Herald.

James M. Cassady was involved with a building and loan association known as The City, which organized May 2, 1874, and in 1885 had two hundred and five members. In 1885 officers of the City were James M. Cassady, president; Edmund E. Read, Jr., vice-president; Volney G. Bennett, treasurer; E. K. Fortiner, secretary.

In 1886 James M. Cassady served as Notary Public for the Camden Safe Deposit & Trust Company bank, later known as the Camden Trust.

A public servant until very late in life, James Cassady, a Democrat, continued to win re-election as Justice of the Peace in a mostly Republican district for 50 years, losing the election in 1896 to Jehu Evans.

James M. Cassady was married to Caroline Paul, who bore him at least five children, two known sons and three known daughters. Son Hugh William Cassady died in a drowning accident at Pitman Grove in 1883. Mrs. Cassady passed away in February of 1888. Afflicted with nephritis, referred to in his time as Bright's Disease, James M. Cassady passed away on August 8, 1897.

Named in his honor, in November of 1897, the James M. Cassady School at North 3rd and State Street accepted its first pupils. The school served the children of North Camden until the spring if 1966.