Biographical Sketch of Joseph W. Caldwell, Johnson County, Missouri, Post Oak Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Joseph W. Caldwell, who is now deceased, was for several years county assessor of Johnson county, Missouri. He was born in Kentucky in 1842, son of William and Jane Caldwell and when a child five years of age, he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Johnson county on a farm in Post Oak township in 1847. He was reared and educated in John- son county and during the Civil War, Mr. Caldwell enlisted with the Confederate army. He was a faithful soldier, always alert and ready at his post, and his many pleasing personal qualities made him a favorite with his comrades and esteemed by all the officers. After the war had ended, Mr. Caldwell returned to his home in Johnson county and engaged in the pursuits of agriculture, becoming a well known and prosperous farmer and stockman, the owner of 480 acres of the best farm land in Johnson county. In 1872, Joseph W. Caldwell was united in marriage with Martha Ann Townsley, daughter of James and Sarah Townsley, who were noble and brave pioneers of Missouri, coming to this county many years prior to the Civil War. To Joseph W. and Martha Ann Caldwell were born five children: Mrs. Mary F. Wall, Quanah, Texas; G. T., Leeton, Mo.; Mrs. Sarah J. Powers, Chilhowee, Mo.; Joseph W., Jr., Leeton, Mo.; and James Samuel, Leeton, Mo. Mr. Caldwell was a valued and worthy member of the Harmony Baptist church, as is also Mrs. Caldwell. Mrs. Caldwell was born January 18, 1850 in Post Oak Township. She has ten grand- children. James Samuel, lives on the home place, married Anna E. Walker, of Leeton, and they have two children: Leora Lee and Lenora May. Mrs. Caldwell has lived in Johnson county 67 years and has witnessed many changes during the past half century. In her girlhood, practic- ally all the country was open prairie, the land covered with tall, coarse grass, over which trails were made by the settlers, driving a yoke of oxen dragging a large, heavy log. There were no roads and where there were no trails, the people were obliged to trace their way by their sense of direction. All stock had unlimited range and no one thought of keeping the cattle within certain bounds. The few little towns usually consisted of one store and a blacksmith's shop. There was plenty of meat to be obtained by hunting, for wild game of all kinds could be found in abundance. Supplies, which could not be secur- ed by their own labor, the pioneers were obliged to haul from towns many miles distant. There were no free schools in Missouri before the Civil War and Mrs. Caldwell attended the old fashioned "subscription school," which was taught by Jeff Wright and later, by Mr. Lowery. The school was held in a log house, having a puncheon floor and puncheon benches. Blackboards and chalk were unheard of and when the older boys and girls wished to write, they wrote upon a shelf, which was placed on one side of the room, made of a split board and just high enough for them, as little children were not taught to write until after they had learned all the words in the speller. Spelling was the principal sub- ject and "spelling bees" were frequently held, arousing much intense interest and excitement. People came on horseback from long distances to attend. To go to church was considered a great privilege and pleasure and the settlers would take their dinner with them and spend the day. The young people would ride on horseback or walk to church and many families came in wagons, each drawn by a yoke of oxen. The pioneer preacher was an honored member of the community and one of the earliest and most beloved was "Uncle Billy" Caldwell, father of Joseph W. Caldwell. There was probably no happier or more contented family in Missouri than the Caldwell family, when the terrible tragedy occurred, like a bolt from a clear sky, which struck down in the strength of his matured manhood the loved father and husband. February 13, 1903, Joseph W. Caldwell accidentally shot himself and without a moment's warning the voice, ever so full of hope and cheer was hushed in death. The message of the untimely death brought sadness and heartache to countless homes in Johnson county, for to know Joseph W. Caldwell was to love him. He was a man of winning personality, noble minded, and pure hearted, whose life was not lived in vain, for it has ever been a source of inspiration to all with whom he came in contact. Why he should have been cut down in his prime, we can no know. "On earth the hollow arcs are found, in heaven the perfect round." ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================