BIOGRAPHY: Dr. William CALDWELL, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 479-80 ____________________________________________________________ DR. WILLIAM CALDWELL, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, son of William W. and Martha (George) Caldwell, was born June 28, 1828, in Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather was a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and located in the vicinity of old Fort Derry about 1797, where he followed blacksmithing and farming. The father of Dr. Caldwell was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Westmoreland county. He was married about 1812. In 1814 he removed to Indiana, Indiana county, where he died in 1856. By occupation he was a blacksmith and a farmer. He manufactured the nails used in building the first county jail of Indiana county. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, a Presbyterian, and an ardent whig, active in all political matters. His abilities as a man of affairs were recognized by the public, and he was twice entrusted with the responsible office of county treasurer of Indiana county. Eight children were born to them--four sons and four daughters, who grew to maturity, two children dying in infancy. Dr. Caldwell was educated in the common schools and the Indiana Academy, afterwards learning the printer's trade. For two years he edited the Appalachian at Blairsville. Abandoning journalism he took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Drs. Jackson and McKim, prominent physicians of Blairsville, Dr. Jackson being the founder of Cresson. He then entered Jefferson Medical college in Philadelphia, taking the usual course in that institution. He practiced his profession, first at New Florence, Westmoreland county, then at Blairsville, and in 1854 returned to Johnstown, where he has remained ever since. Preferring a business to a professional career, he was engaged for about thirty years in the mercantile business. In religion Dr. Caldwell is a Presbyterian. In his early life he identified himself with the Whig party and took an active part in the stirring political events that preceded the Civil War and the downfall of slavery. He carried a banner in the campaign of 1840, and later became a republican on the organization of that now historic party in 1856. He was chosen president of the first republican convention held in Cambria county. This convention sent Col. J. M. Campbell as a delegate to the National convention, in Philadelphia, that nominated Fremont for president. The doctor has always taken an active part in local politics, and has served twenty-five years as a member of Johnstown councils, and for one year after the flood was treasurer of Johnstown, and is assessor of the Fourth ward at the present time. He has been a member of Cambria Lodge, F. and A. M., of Johnstown since 1857, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest active member of the lodge. He is also a member of Council No. 401, Royal Arcanum. Dr. Caldwell was married to Susan Levergood (born June 22, 1832), on December 21, 1853. Seven children were born to them, of whom the eldest, Martha Jane, born October 9, 1856, was married to Rev. Charles Godsman, and for ten years a missionary of the Presbyterian church, now located at Rathdrum, Idaho; Lucy, born October 25, 1858, wife of William E. White, of the Fifth ward, Johnstown; Jacob L., born June 25, 1861, married Elizabeth Freed, of Armagh, Indiana county, superintendent of a furnace for the Johnson company, resides at New Castle; Bertha, born April 15, 1867, graduated from the Johnstown High school and Indiana State Normal, taught two years in Johnstown, went to Idaho as a missionary teacher for three years, studied medicine in the Woman's Medical college, Philadelphia, graduating in 1893, then took a post-graduate course in the Woman's and Jefferson colleges of the same city. September 19, 1894, she went to India, located one year at Lodiana, and then at Allahabad, where she has charge of a hospital for women and children in connection with missionary work. For four months during her vacation, while pursuing her medical studies, she had charge of the medical department of the Indian school, at Hampton, Virginia. She expects to remain in India for seven years. Agnes Belle, born March 25, 1871, a graduate of the Johnstown High school, and a teacher in that city. The doctor with all his family were in the disastrous flood of May 31, 1889, and escaped after considerable difficulty, -- Bertha having arrived home from Idaho but one week before the great calamity, and made a narrow escape from drowning. Mrs. Caldwell, however, lost her mother, two sisters, a nephew, a niece and niece's child in the flood. Peter Livergood, the grandfather of Mrs. Caldwell, was born May 27, 1785, and died in Cambria county on the 26th of July, 1860. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, came to Johnstown in 1811 and purchased "The Forge," in the centre of the city, counting from Franklin street to the Conemaugh Township line along the Stony creek. He later sold this large farm to Burrell & Brenizer and returned to Lancaster county, where he embarked in the hotel business. He lost his property by fire, but remained in Lancaster for a time. Owing to the failure of Burrell & Brenizer he was compelled, in order to save himself financially, to return to Johnstown and resume possession of the large tract he had sold them. Burrell & Brenizer had also purchased the Johns property, extending from what is now Franklin street to the "Point," and this also came into Mr. Livergood's possession. The family have been prominently identified with the growth of the city, and have contributed largely to its prosperity.