Cashman, James, Sr., 1884-1962

James "Big Jim" Cashman was born to Benjamin Franklin Cashman and Ella Mary Stovall in Ladue, Missouri on December 16, 1884. Cashman moved to Searchlight, Nevada in 1904 and began working a variety of jobs until he opened an automobile garage in approximately 1910. Cashman later sold automobiles and operated in Searchlight until the mining boom halted around 1920. As a result, Cashman decided to move his business to the growing city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Cashman met his future wife, Leah Barker, in Las Vegas and they married in 1923.

In 1920 the voters of Clark County, Nevada elected Cashman to the position of county commissioner. During his time in office, Cashman operated a ferry service across the Colorado River, until the beginning of the Hoover Dam project. In 1931 Cashman sold six Caterpillar Inc. diesel tractors to Six Companies Inc., which made him as an official partner for the Hoover Dam project. After his time in office, Cashman continued to operate his automobile dealership until his retirement in 1955.

Cashman was an active in Las Vegas organizations such as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Las Vegas Rotary Club. Cashman died from a heart condition in 1962. Clark County named James Cashman Middle School in honor of Cashman and his contributions to the city of Las Vegas, and the Cashman family was inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2007.

Sources: "Big Jim Cashman." Cashman Equipment. Accessed December 31, 2019. https://www.cashmanequipment.com/about/cashman-history/big-jim

"Commissioner James Cashman." Clark County Nevada. Accessed December 31, 2019.http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/parks/Documents/centennial/commissioners/commissioner-j-cashman.pdf

Fechita, Bogdan. ""Big" Jim Cashman, Everything Started with 10¢." Casino Inside (Romania). Accessed December 31, 2019.https://www.casinoinside.ro/%E2%80%9Ebig-jim-cashman-totul-a-inceput-cu-10%C2%A2/?lang=en Genealogy files about "James Cashman." Accessed December 31, 2019. Accessed from Ancestry.com and FindaGrave.com.