John W. Caldwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Milliken |
| Succeeded by | John Edward Halsell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 15, 1837 Russellville, Kentucky |
| Died | July 4, 1903 (aged 66) Russellville, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Maple Grove Cemetery, Russellville, Kentucky |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sallie J. Barclay |
| Alma mater | Bethel College University of Louisville |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Rank |
Colonel |
| Unit | 9th Kentucky Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John William Caldwell (January 15, 1837 – July 4, 1903) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
Early life and family
John W. Caldwell was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1837. [1] He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. [2] Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. [3] With the duties of caring for his father's estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan and Christian Counties until age fourteen. [3] In 1850, he moved with his uncle, Dr. Robert Peyton Harrison, to Texas, where he worked on a farm, as a clerk, and as a surveyor. [1] [3]
At age nineteen, Caldwell returned to Kentucky. [3] He studied law with William Morton, a well-known lawyer in his family. [3] In 1856, he matriculated to the University of Louisville School of Law, completing a junior year course of study with honors. [3] He graduated from the university in 1857, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and commenced practice in Russellville, Kentucky. [1] [3]
Caldwell married Sallie J. Barclay, and the couple had one son and two daughters. [3]
Civil War service
Although he opposed secession, Caldwell volunteered as a private in the Confederate States Army in 1861. [3] He was immediately elected captain of the "Logan Grays", a Confederate company being recruited in Logan County. [3] When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell led the Grays to Bowling Green, where they became Company A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry under John C. Breckinridge. [3] After Albert Sidney Johnson's retreat from Bowling Green, Caldwell commanded the 9th Kentucky until relieved by Colonel Thomas H. Hunt on his return from New Orleans, Louisiana. [3]
At the Battle of Shiloh, Caldwell received several wounds, including a badly broken left arm. [3] Sixty-five percent of his company was killed or wounded in the battle. [3] Following the battle, he was promoted to major, and when the 9th Kentucky was reorganized six weeks later, he was elected its lieutenant colonel. [3] Thomas H. Hunt resigned his commission in 1863, and Caldwell was promoted to colonel and given command. [3] He sometimes also commanded the Orphan Brigade. [4]
Caldwell again broke his left arm at the Battle of Chickamauga. [3] Because of this, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia, two weeks later. [3] At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia, and was paroled as a prisoner of war on May 6, 1865. [3]
Political career
Caldwell resumed the practice of law in Russellville. [1] He was elected judge of the Logan County Court in August 1866 and reelected in 1870, serving eight years. [1] [3] Two years after his retirement from the bench, he was elected as a Democrat to represent the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. [3] He served in the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883). [1] He was known as an advocate of home rule, tariff reform, hard money, and conservatism in public expenditures. [4] Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat. [4]
Later life and death
After his time in Congress, Caldwell did not return to his legal practice, but became president of the Logan County Bank. [4] He died in Russellville on July 4, 1903, and was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery. [1]
References
Bibliography
- Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Chicago, Illinois: J.M. Gresham Company. 1896.
- United States Congress. "John W. Caldwell (id: C000036)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
John W. Caldwell | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Milliken |
| Succeeded by | John Edward Halsell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 15, 1837 Russellville, Kentucky |
| Died | July 4, 1903 (aged 66) Russellville, Kentucky |
| Resting place | Maple Grove Cemetery, Russellville, Kentucky |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sallie J. Barclay |
| Alma mater | Bethel College University of Louisville |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Rank |
Colonel |
| Unit | 9th Kentucky Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John William Caldwell (January 15, 1837 – July 4, 1903) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
Early life and family
John W. Caldwell was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1837. [1] He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. [2] Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. [3] With the duties of caring for his father's estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan and Christian Counties until age fourteen. [3] In 1850, he moved with his uncle, Dr. Robert Peyton Harrison, to Texas, where he worked on a farm, as a clerk, and as a surveyor. [1] [3]
At age nineteen, Caldwell returned to Kentucky. [3] He studied law with William Morton, a well-known lawyer in his family. [3] In 1856, he matriculated to the University of Louisville School of Law, completing a junior year course of study with honors. [3] He graduated from the university in 1857, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and commenced practice in Russellville, Kentucky. [1] [3]
Caldwell married Sallie J. Barclay, and the couple had one son and two daughters. [3]
Civil War service
Although he opposed secession, Caldwell volunteered as a private in the Confederate States Army in 1861. [3] He was immediately elected captain of the "Logan Grays", a Confederate company being recruited in Logan County. [3] When Confederate forces under Simon Bolivar Buckner entered Kentucky, Caldwell led the Grays to Bowling Green, where they became Company A of the 9th Kentucky Infantry under John C. Breckinridge. [3] After Albert Sidney Johnson's retreat from Bowling Green, Caldwell commanded the 9th Kentucky until relieved by Colonel Thomas H. Hunt on his return from New Orleans, Louisiana. [3]
At the Battle of Shiloh, Caldwell received several wounds, including a badly broken left arm. [3] Sixty-five percent of his company was killed or wounded in the battle. [3] Following the battle, he was promoted to major, and when the 9th Kentucky was reorganized six weeks later, he was elected its lieutenant colonel. [3] Thomas H. Hunt resigned his commission in 1863, and Caldwell was promoted to colonel and given command. [3] He sometimes also commanded the Orphan Brigade. [4]
Caldwell again broke his left arm at the Battle of Chickamauga. [3] Because of this, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia, two weeks later. [3] At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia, and was paroled as a prisoner of war on May 6, 1865. [3]
Political career
Caldwell resumed the practice of law in Russellville. [1] He was elected judge of the Logan County Court in August 1866 and reelected in 1870, serving eight years. [1] [3] Two years after his retirement from the bench, he was elected as a Democrat to represent the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. [3] He served in the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883). [1] He was known as an advocate of home rule, tariff reform, hard money, and conservatism in public expenditures. [4] Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat. [4]
Later life and death
After his time in Congress, Caldwell did not return to his legal practice, but became president of the Logan County Bank. [4] He died in Russellville on July 4, 1903, and was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery. [1]
References
Bibliography
- Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Chicago, Illinois: J.M. Gresham Company. 1896.
- United States Congress. "John W. Caldwell (id: C000036)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |