Biography of Thomas B Caldwell, Fulton Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown <michael@grnco.net>
        Date: 26 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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page 273

Thomas B. Caldwell is possessed of those advanced ideas and
progressive principles regarding agricultural life which seem to be among the
chief characteristics of the average native Missourian. He was born in Franklin
County of that State on the 16th of October, 1840, and is a son of James Patten
and Ann (Caldwell) Caldwell, the former of Irish descent, born in the State of
Missouri, in the year 1816. He was a well known agriculturist of his region,
and died in Fulton County, Ark., in 1863. His wife was also born in Missouri,
and died when her son, Thomas B., was about seven years of age, her demise
occurring in Franklin County. The paternal grandparents were Andrew and Nancy
(Farrow) Caldwell, the former being a native Kentuckian. He moved to Franklin
County, Mo., during the early history of that country, and died there at his
son's home in 1847. His wife, Nancy, died there also. The [p.273] paternal
great-grandfather, Kincaid Caldwell, was born in the “Emerald Isle.” The
maternal grandfather also bore the name of Andrew Caldwell, but the two
families were not related. Thomas B. Caldwell is one of two surviving members
of a family of five children, the other being a sister residing on the Iron
Mountain Railroad in Missouri. He was reared in his native State, but never
received any educational advantages in youth, being compelled to assist his
father in tilling the home farm; but by contact with the world and by self-
application he has become a well posted man. He was twenty years of age when he
enlisted in the army, and was a member of Capt. B. B. Bray's Seventh Division
of Missouri Volunteers. He participated in the engagements at Mansfield,
Pleasant Hill, and in numerous skirmishes. He was second sergeant of artillery
for about twelve months prior to the close of the war. On the 9th of March,
1862, he was captured at Mountain Grove, Mo., and was sent to St. Louis, thence
to Alton, Ill., and from there to Vicksburg, Miss., where he was exchanged on
the 22d of September, of the same year. Nearly ever since the close of the war
he has been a resident of Fulton County, Ark., and has been actively engaged in
tilling the soil. On the 5th of March, 1865, he was married to Miss Lucintha M.
Smith, who was born in South Carolina in 1842, a daughter of Inman and Mary A.
Smith. The father died in the “Palmetto State,” but the mother is still living
and resides in Fulton County, Ark., the wife of a Mr. Hutchesson. To Mr.
Caldwell and his wife the following children have been born: James Henry,
Benjamin H., Thomas J. (deceased), John H., Mary A. (deceased), Ruthie J. and
Joannah. The greater part of Mr. Caldwell's time has been occupied in farming,
and he is now the owner of 310 acres of land, with about eighty acres under
cultivation. He is a Democrat, his first presidential vote being cast for
Douglas, and he was elected on that ticket to the office of deputy sheriff and
constable. He and wife are connected with the Christian Church, and he is a
Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Caldwell is a man universally
respected, and to know him is to have a high admiration for him, for he is
possessed of those sterling principles which make a true man and a valuable
citizen.