Knox County TN Archives Biographies.....Caswell, Col. William M. 1846 - 1926
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Martha M. Marble http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00022.html#0005285 March 12, 2014, 12:07 pm

Source: Metro Pulse
Author: Metro Pulse

Colonel William M. Caswell, 1846-1926

The Colonel Caswell House is located on the northwest corner of North 4th and 
north 5th streets, or what was originally the intersection of North 5th and 
Caswell Street. As early as 1890 this was called the Caswell addition, named 
after Colonel William M. Caswell who developed this area on the near northeast 
side of Knoxville. In the 1890 Knoxville City Directory, William M. Caswell is 
listed as the president of Knoxville Savings and Development Company, with 
offices at 161 North 4th Avenue.

In 1915, Colonel Caswell built the large, two story massed plan brick house at 
what was then 903 N. 5th Avenue. The house is a classic vernacular form of the 
Prairie style, characterized by a low pitched roof with widely overhanging 
eaves, one story wings or porches, details emphasizing horizontal lines, and 
often with massive square porch supports. The Prairie style originated in 
Chicago, and vernacular examples spread widely by pattern books and popular 
magazines. Most were built between 1905 and 1915, the style quickly fading from 
fashion after World War I. 

The Prairie or American Foursquare as it is sometimes called, is one of the few 
indigenous American house styles. It was developed by a group of Chicago 
architects who have come to be known as the Prairie School. Frank Lloyd Wright 
is the acknowledged master of the Prairie style.

William M. Caswell was born on June 26, 1846 in Russellville, Tennessee, the 
youngest child of General William Richard Caswell and Elizabeth Carter 
Gillespie. The Caswells were one of the most prominent pioneer families of upper 
East Tennessee. Colonel Caswell's father was the great-grandson of General 
Richard Caswell, first governor of North Carolina, and his mother was the great-
granddaughter of General Landon Carter, son of Colonel John Carter who was the 
head of the Wautauga Association.Moving to Knoxville just before the Civil War, 
Colonel Caswell's father was appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate Army 
by Governor Isham Harris and young William served near his father as a courier. 
After the war, William attended Edgehill Military School in Princeton, N. J. and 
also went to Washington and Lee University in Virginia. Although he served in 
the Civil War and attended military school, it is likely that "Colonel" was an 
honorary title.

The Caswell farm or "plantation" was located east of Knoxville where the John 
Sevier railroad yards are now located. After leaving the farm and moving to 
Knoxville, William married Miss Elizabeth Wilson Boyd on May 4, 1871. They had 
no children. At the time, William was working as a clerk in a shoe store, but he 
soon became a partner in a furniture store known as Boyd and Caswell. During his 
illustrious career he also served on the staffs of three governors, was an 
alderman from the 4th ward, and was chairman of the city finance committee. 
After he retired from the furniture business, Colonel Caswell became a real 
estate developer, and built houses on the 60 acre tract known as Caswell 
Addition. He donated part of this development to the city as Caswell Park. He 
also owned many other commercial and residential properties in town. 

In his later years, the Colonel invested in citrus farms in Florida and owned 
hundreds of acres of orange and grapefruit groves. He spent the winters in 
Florida until just a couple of years before his death. 

Colonel William Caswell died on August 11, 1926 in his 80th year. He is buried 
in Greenwood Cemetery. A lengthy obituary of this prominent Knoxvillian is 
published in the August 12, 1926 edition of the Knoxville Sentinel.

Charles M. Faulkner
Department of Anthropology
UT Knoxville

Additional Comments:
Source: Malinda Taylor, Elder Law of East Tennessee
Metro Pulse, 9 Sep 1999

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