One of the public-spirited citizens of the Rock City, as Little Falls, New York, is called, is Frank E. Carden, coal dealer, for he gives his cooperation to every movement which tends to promote the material welfare of the city in which he resides. He was born on December 5, 1866, at Little Falls, his parents being John A. and Mary (Florida) Carden. John A. Carden was born in Ireland in 1833, and came to America as a young man, settling in Little Falls, where he died on September 10, 1886. He was connected with the Benton House, where the Richmond Hotel now stands, for a period of thirty years and was well known and well liked by the traveling public. He had his own conveyance and would meet the trains and carry the people to the hotel and about town. He was called "Johnny Bentonhouse" as a nickname, as travelers always associated him with the hotel by that name. His parents remained in Ireland and died there. Mary (Florida) Carden, mother of Frank E. of this review, was born in Little Falls and died here.
Frank E. Carden was educated in the public schools of Little Falls, and at the age of sixteen became associated with the New York Central Railroad as fireman and remained for five years, then went into business for himself, bottling soft drinks in Little Falls. He and his brothers were in business together as Carden Brothers for twenty-three years. In 1912 he bought out the South Side Coal Company of which he has been proprietor since that time.
On May 10, 1911, in Little Falls, Mr. Carden was united in marriage to Mrs. Carrie R. (Thelan) Casler, widow of Samuel Casler. She was born in Utica, and is the daughter of Peter and Mary (Evans) Thelan. Peter Thelan was born and died in Rome, New York. Mr. Carden is a member of the First Baptist church of Little Falls. Three children were born to Mrs. Carden by her first husband: Miss Ada Casler was born in Little Falls, on December 15, 1895, and was educated in the Little Falls high school. She was united in marriage to Walter Sweatman, son of Richard Sweatman of Oneida, New York, on October 8, 1919. His business is that of an auto bodymaker and he is in the employ of the Pierce Arrow Auto Company of Buffalo. They have two children: Joan and Shirley Sweatman. George H. Casler was born in Little Falls, on June 29, 1899, and was educated in the Little Falls high school. He was married to Anna Cavanough, daughter of Andrew Cavanough of Little Falls, on June 17, 1924, and is associated in business with the South Side Coal Company. Miss Edna M. Casler was born in Little Falls on July 24, 1903, was educated in Little Falls high school and is now associated with the Bell Telephone Company of Little Falls.
Mr. Carden has been a member of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 414, I. O. O. F., for twenty-six years, and he is also a member of Little Falls Grange. He is affiliated with the democratic party but is an independent voter. For diversion Mr. Carden enjoys automobiling. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment and his business management has brought him a large degree of success.