Biography
From Family Records;

James Caldwell - farmer, resided on sect. 17, Clay Township, born 28 Jan 1829 in Portage Co., OH. Son of John Caldwell, grandson of John T Caldwell, greatgrandson of Joseph Caldwell.

James was the father of 9 children of whom 8 survived. James was reared on a farm in his native state, receiving his education in the rude, log-cabin subscription schools. Married 4 July 1851 to Merriam Downs.

James & family came to Clay Township in 1855, settling on the section mentioned above. For several weeks resided in their wagon, then moved into their house which consisted of forks driven into the ground and sided w/ rough boards, the roof being covered w/ prarie hay and the floor dirt covered w/ prarie grass. Their furniture consisted princably of a bench, trunk, packing box and a bedstead fastened to the wall.

Here they experienced many hardships incident to pioneer life. As time passed their lives became much more comfortable by their combined industry & frugality.


*******************

James Caldwell, farmer, residing on section 17, Clay Township, was born in Portage County, Ohio, January 28, 1829, a son of John Caldwell, and a grandson of John Caldwell, a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The latter was one of three sons of Joseph Caldwell, and was the father of thirteen children, most of whom were sons, whose descendants are scattered over various parts of the United States.

John Caldwell, father of our subject, was also a native of Westmoreland County, but when quite young he removed with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared and married, remaining there till his death.

James Caldwell, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on a farm in his native State, receiving his education in the rude log-cabin subscription schools. He was married July 4, 1851, to Mariam Downs, daughter of William Downs, deceased. Nine children have been born to them, of whom eight survive--G. Clinton, Lillian E., Willard W., Barbara L., Clara Belle, Eveline M., James L., and Cora E. Mr. Caldwell came to this county with his wife in the spring of 1855, settling on the section where he has since resided. For several weeks after coming here they lived in their wagons.

They then moved into their house, which consisted of forks driven into the ground, and sided up with rough boards, the roof being covered over with prairie hay, the floor of earth being carpeted with prairie grass. Their furniture was of the rudest kind, it principally consisting of a bench, trunk, packing box and a bedstead fastened to the wall. Here they experienced many hardships incident to pioneer life, but are today in comfortable circumstances, which has been acquired by their combined industry and frugality.

Both Mr. and Mrs.Caldwell are members of the Christian church at Humeston.

Typed as written from page 332 The Biographical and Historical Record of Wayne and Appanoose Counties Iowa.

Inter-State Publishing Company

113 Adams Street, Chicago

1886

James died of stomache trouble. Years later his daughter Evaline, who was a doctor, wondered if it was cancer.
Facts
  • 28 Jan 1829 - Birth - ; Edinburg, Portage County, OH
  • 19 Jan 1887 - Death - ; Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Ancestors
   
John T Caldwell
3 Apr 1776 - 3 Sep 1847
 
 
John Caldwell
16 Jan 1801 - 15 Mar 1870
  
  
  
Elizabeth Eackler
6 Mar 1782 - 24 Oct 1859
 
James Caldwell
28 Jan 1829 - 19 Jan 1887
  
 
  
?
 
 
Barbry Simons
12 Jan 1801 - 3 Jan 1873
  
  
  
?
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) John Caldwell
Birth16 Jan 1801Westmoreland County, PA
Death15 Mar 1870 Edinburg Township, Portage County, Ohio
Marriage30 Nov 1819to Barbry Simons at Portage, Ohio
FatherJohn T Caldwell
MotherElizabeth Eackler
PARENT (F) Barbry Simons
Birth12 Jan 1801
Death3 Jan 1873 Berrian Springs, MI
Marriage30 Nov 1819to John Caldwell at Portage, Ohio
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
FSusan Caldwell
Birth17 Mar 1831Palmyra, Portage, Ohio
Death27 Feb 1907Charlestown, Portage, Ohio
Marriage7 May 1850to Jacob Phile
FPolly Harriet Caldwell
Birth4 Nov 1834
Death17 Jul 1879
Marriageto Ira Gilbert
FPatience B. Caldwell
Birth2 Nov 1836
Death19 May 1908
Marriageto Harlow Vinton
FHannah M. Caldwell
Birth6 Apr 1839
Death30 Oct 1918
Marriage8 Jul 1854to Apolis D. Stowe at Paris, Ohio
FMelinda Jane Caldwell
Birth23 Sep 1841
Death2 Feb 1920
Marriage25 Jul 1858to George Kennedy
FNancy Caldwell
Birth7 Dec 1820
Death29 Oct 1895Berrien Springs, MI
Marriage6 Dec 1836to Joseph Fisher at Portage County, Ohio
MLevi Caldwell
Birth23 Oct 1822Portage County, OH
Death11 Aug 1892Lewisburg, IA
Marriage25 Oct 1843to Louisa M Curtis at Portage Co., OH
MJohn Caldwell
Birth16 Jan 1826
Death30 Jun 1833Suppose Ohio
MNicholas Caldwell
Birth10 Jul 1824
Death17 Sep 1898
Marriage2 Dec 1846to Abigail J. Curtis
FBesty A. Caldwell
Birth26 Jun 1828
Death22 Oct 1854
Marriage19 Jan 1851to William Chadwick
MJames Caldwell
Birth28 Jan 1829Edinburg, Portage County, OH
Death19 Jan 1887Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Marriage4 Jul 1851to Merriam Elizabeth Downs at Lima, Stark County, OH
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) James Caldwell
Birth28 Jan 1829Edinburg, Portage County, OH
Death19 Jan 1887 Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Marriage4 Jul 1851to Merriam Elizabeth Downs at Lima, Stark County, OH
FatherJohn Caldwell
MotherBarbry Simons
PARENT (F) Merriam Elizabeth Downs
Birth12 Dec 1833Stark County, OH
Death Leon, IA
Marriage4 Jul 1851to James Caldwell at Lima, Stark County, OH
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
MGilmon Clinton Caldwell
Birth9 Jul 1852Berrien County, MI
Death6 May 1921Denver, CO
Marriage24 Dec 1872to Martha Ellen Cherrington
FLillian Elnora Caldwell
Birth11 Jun 1854Berrien County, MI
Death4 Aug 1919
Marriage3 May 1871to Ambrose S. Vanderbeek
MWillard Wilson Caldwell
Birth14 Jul 1856Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death13 Sep 1930Witchita, Kansas
Marriage1878to Jemina Jane McKinney at Linville, Iowa
FBarbara Leora Caldwell
Birth28 Aug 1858Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death21 Jan 1938Leon, Iowa
Marriage25 Oct 1882to Edward Harlan Alexander at Lewisburg, Iowa
UClara Belle Caldwell
Birth27 Nov 1860Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
DeathMar 1887Lewisburg, Iowa
FEvaline Merriam Caldwell
Birth7 Jan 1866Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death28 Apr 1951Garden Grove, iowa
Marriage29 May 1886to Carleton Monroe McGuire at Lewisburg, Iowa
MJames Lennon Caldwell
Birth6 Jun 1869Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death6 Mar 1951Moline, IL
Marriage12 Dec 1888to Hattie Francis Surbaugh at Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Marriage31 Oct 1898to Mary Matilda "Molly" Berry
FCora Etta Caldwell
Birth31 May 1872Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death8 Jul 1943Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Marriage16 Jul 1889to Lewis James Gwinn at Lewisburg, Iowa
UJoseph Nicholas Caldwell
Birth16 Aug 1874Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Death4 Apr 1876Lewisburg, Wayne County, IA
Descendancy Chart
James Caldwell b: 28 Jan 1829 d: 19 Jan 1887
Merriam Elizabeth Downs b: 12 Dec 1833
Gilmon Clinton Caldwell b: 9 Jul 1852 d: 6 May 1921
Martha Ellen Cherrington b: 29 Jun 1852 d: 21 Jul 1893
Myrtie Evaline Caldwell b: 6 Aug 1880 d: 24 Oct 1950
Ottie Virgil Wilmot b: 3 Apr 1870 d: 25 Jan 1943
Elsie Ellen Wilmot b: 16 Aug 1900
Earl W. Davis b: 21 Dec 1884
?
Homer Wilmot b: 12 Nov 1898
Esther Myrtie Wilmot b: 6 Jun 1902
W. R. Henley b: 9 May 1890
Leora B. Caldwell b: 8 Oct 1873 d: 24 Oct 1873
Merriam Viola Caldwell b: 24 Oct 1874 d: 1876
J. Cecil Caldwell b: 9 Mar 1877 d: 5 Sep 1903
Infant Caldwell b: 9 Jan 1879 d: 9 Jan 1879
Lillian Gertrude Caldwell b: 17 Sep 1882 d: 15 Jul 1950
James Roscoe Bremer b: 2 Oct 1901 d: 17 Dec 1918
Lloyd Cecil Bremer b: 24 Mar 1903 d: 2 May 1971
?
Luther Worden Bremer b: 5 Sep 1905 d: 6 Jul 1906
Samuel E. Burke b: 23 Jan 1883
Samuel Edward Burke b: 12 Jul 1921 d: 26 May 1980
Edward Virgil Caldwell b: 24 Sep 1884 d: 13 Feb 1949
Carlton Willard Caldwell b: 12 Jul 1886 d: 10 Apr 1966
Gilmon Clinton Jr. Caldwell b: 19 Jul 1890 d: 4 Apr 1959
Marie Catherine Caldwell b: 22 Jul 1919 d: 25 Sep 1986
Chancey Harrison Caldwell b: 20 Dec 1888 d: 8 Apr 1966
Lorenzo Caldwell b: 25 Jan 1914 d: 10 Nov 1974
Harold Clinton Caldwell b: 16 May 1915 d: 15 Oct 1985
Harold DeWayne Caldwell b: 15 Sep 1939 d: 18 Oct 1959
Violet Blanche Caldwell b: 2 Feb 1918 d: 1998
Leslie Clayborn Caldwell b: 13 Apr 1920 d: 14 Sep 1989
Leland J. D. Caldwell b: 12 Oct 1923 d: 1943
Lillian Elnora Caldwell b: 11 Jun 1854 d: 4 Aug 1919
Ambrose S. Vanderbeek b: 15 Feb 1850 d: 11 Nov 1934
Arthur Eugene Vanderbeek b: 20 Feb 1872 d: 24 Mar 1954
May Agnes Fisher b: 16 Nov 1872
Lillian Emma Vanderbeek b: 9 Feb 1894
Ethel Merriam Vanderbeek b: 7 Aug 1896
Guy R. Zessin b: 28 Mar 1897
Ardath Ruth Zessin b: 1 Sep 1939 d: 1 Dec 1946
Grace Olive Vanderbeek b: 29 Jul 1898
Edward Thomas Nelson b: 30 Apr 1903
Edith Ellen Vanderbeek b: 11 Sep 1900
Irma May Vanderbeek b: 24 Feb 1903
Ambrose Fred Vanderbeek b: 5 Feb 1905 d: 8 Mar 1905
Edith B. Vanderbeek b: 5 Mar 1874 d: 12 Aug 1924
William Henry McVey b: 5 Apr 1871
Jacob Ambrose McVey b: 21 Jul 1893
Adah LeVaugh d: 12 Apr 1937
Pearl McVey b: 20 May 1895 d: 28 May 1895
Madge Nellie McVey b: 28 Apr 1896
Frank Melvin Bond b: 1 Aug 1892
Henry Floyd McVey b: 4 Jul 1898
Ralph McKinley McVey b: 9 Sep 1900 d: 14 Sep 1910
DeArcy Elizabeth McVey b: 27 Apr 1903
Merriam D. Vanderbeek b: 6 May 1876 d: 28 Jan 1877
Ruben D. Vanderbeek b: 21 Aug 1878
Clara McElhaney b: 7 Jun 1882
William Vanderbeek b: 17 Jan 1881 d: 25 Jul 1881
James Carleton Vanderbeek b: 13 Aug 1882 d: 13 Jul 1937
Minnie M. Lott b: 10 Aug 1880
Lillian Hitzmann b: 15 Oct 1892
Ambrose C. Vanderbeek b: 16 Aug 1889 d: 22 Jun 1933
Anna Elizabeth Hoschler b: 18 Nov 1892 d: 22 Oct 1934
Perry Bertrand Vanderbeek b: 5 May 1892
Charles Lester Vanderbeek b: 3 Jun 1896
Nellie Pattison b: 23 Sep 1897
Fayette Jean Layman b: 4 Apr 1951 d: Mar 1954
Dewey Dean Vanderbeek b: 1 Sep 1898
Sadie Loretta Dunnigan b: Mar 1898
Willard Wilson Caldwell b: 14 Jul 1856 d: 13 Sep 1930
Jemina Jane McKinney d: Apr 1920
Barbara Leora Caldwell b: 28 Aug 1858 d: 21 Jan 1938
Edward Harlan Alexander b: 11 Feb 1860 d: 29 Dec 1916
Clara Belle Caldwell b: 27 Nov 1860 d: Mar 1887
Evaline Merriam Caldwell b: 7 Jan 1866 d: 28 Apr 1951
Carleton Monroe McGuire b: 22 Jan 1863 d: 27 Mar 1932
James Lennon Caldwell b: 6 Jun 1869 d: 6 Mar 1951
Hattie Francis Surbaugh b: 30 Oct 1868 d: 8 Jan 1892
Lester Earl Caldwell b: 19 Dec 1889
Fleeta Maie Gibbs b: 15 Nov 1888
Sandra Jean Lovett b: 28 Mar 1939 d: 30 Dec 1939
Mary Matilda "Molly" Berry b: 9 Aug 1878 d: 1 Oct 1943
Edward Berry Caldwell b: 23 Feb 1900 d: 17 Dec 1966
Luella Adeline Anderson b: 20 Aug 1902 d: 1 Aug 1988
Robert Edward Caldwell b: 21 Aug 1931 d: 22 Nov 2000
Elizabeth Norwood Cunningham b: 19 Oct 1931 d: 4 Jul 1996
Donald Eugene Caldwell b: 13 Mar 1936 d: 25 Feb 1985
Clive Eugene Caldwell b: 13 Mar 1902 d: 2 May 1918
James Lennon Jr. Caldwell b: 10 Feb 1911 d: 28 Feb 2002
Fay E. Bladel b: 12 Jul 1909 d: 20 Jan 1999
Cora Etta Caldwell b: 31 May 1872 d: 8 Jul 1943
Lewis James Gwinn b: 28 Oct 1867
Leo Jay Gwinn b: 11 Mar 1890 d: 8 Mar 1960
Olive Belle Gwinn b: 22 Nov 1891 d: 2 Feb 1973
Henrietta Gwinn b: 18 Sep 1893
Vernon Amos Weaver b: 19 Jul 1889
?
?
Merriam Lovicy Gwinn b: 27 May 1895
Charles Rheintgen b: 6 Jan 1885 d: 6 Jun 1935
Charles Edward Rheintgen b: 20 May 1916 d: 14 Jun 1957
Cora Etta Rheintgen b: 30 Jan 1919 d: 2 Feb 1919
Evelyn Merriam Rheintgen b: 11 Mar 1924 d: 13 Mar 1924
Barbara Leora Gwinn b: 29 Nov 1896
David Henry Holden b: 12 Sep 1886
James Mathew Gwinn b: 9 Nov 1898 d: 23 Oct 1918
Milo Willard Gwinn b: 9 Oct 1900 d: 23 Jul 1905
Cora Evaline Gwinn b: 2 Feb 1904 d: 6 Jul 1905
Albert Joseph Terry b: 10 Jul 1901
Selma Coretta Terry b: 24 Apr 1928 d: 26 Apr 1928
Joseph Nicholas Caldwell b: 16 Aug 1874 d: 4 Apr 1876