My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH CALDWELL. Among the worthy men who came to this country from England, bringing with them the sturdy characteristics of the British yeomanry, none was more esteemed in Berrien County, Mich., than the gentleman whose name we have now given; and his death, which occurred in 1872, when about sixty-eight years of age, was felt as a great loss to the community. He was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1804, and came to America about 1823.

Mr. Caldwell first located in the State of New York, but ten years later came to White Pigeon, Mich., in the spring of 1832. He drove a team of three yoke of oxen, hitched to a wagon, down an Indian trail, which was the second team and wagon driven into St. Joseph, Berrien County. In 1834 he selected a piece of land on the Paw Paw River, and in 1835 built a house on the place and commenced clearing and developing the land. In 1850 he took the California “gold fever,” rented his farm, and was in California about eighteen months. He then returned to the farm and remained there until his death. His first wife died in Berrien County at an early day, and his second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Bury, daughter of John D. Bury, who was also one of the earliest settlers.

All of the six children born to this union grew to mature years and became prominent citizens. They were in the order of their births as follows: Joseph; John, who graduated at Hillsdale, and later entered Eastman’s Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where his death occurred; Josiah, of Hagar Township, Berrien County; Martha, wife of C. H. Burrous, of Michigan; Elizabeth, of Benton Township; and George, of Hagar Township. The father of these children was a most worthy citizen, and although his active life has ceased on earth, his influence extends still and will continue to extend among all who knew him. He was well known for his integrity and honesty, and was pre-eminently a kind father and husband. Mr. Caldwell was engaged in farming, and at the time of his decease he left his family a fine estate and, what was much better, an untarnished and honorable name. The Caldwell family has ever been, and is now, one of the most prominent ones of the county, and its members have exerted a wonderful influence over the progress and development of the same. When Mr. Caldwell first settled in Michigan he had no means worth speaking about, but at the time of his death owned about six hundred acres in Hagar and Benton Townships, Berrien County. What he accumulated was the result of years of hard labor, for he was in no sense a speculator. In politics, he was an old-time Democrat, but all his sons, with the exception of one, are Republicans.

Joseph Caldwell, the eldest of the above-mentioned children, was born in 1851, on the farm where he now resides, there grew to manhood, and attended the common schools, in which he secured a good practical education. March 10, 1883, he married Miss Mary Logan, a pleasant, agreeable lady, and he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of the home place. Wide-awake and thorough-going, progressive and enterprising, he is classed among the best farmers of his section.

Josiah, the third in order of birth of the above-mentioned children, was born in Benton Township, this county, in 1855, and is now one of the representative farmers and fruit-growers of Hagar Township. Like his brother, he grew up with a farm experience and received a district-school education. Naturally he selected agricultural pursuits as his chosen occupation, and settled on his portion of his father’s estate, one hundred and twenty-four acres in Hagar Township, which he has cleared and developed. He has excellent buildings on his farm, and in connection with farming he is engaged in fruit-growing, having about fourteen acres covered with berries. His house is beautifully located on the lake and is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Lora Culver, whom he married in 1878, and who is the daughter of W. D. Culver, a resident of Benton Harbor. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell are the parents of one child, Ethel, a bright, intelligent little girl. In the spring of 1893, Mr. Caldwell was elected Supervisor of Hagar Township. He is a Democrat in politics, and socially is a Mason.