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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MARY CALDWELL, deceased; daughter of Mathew Caldwell, Esq., who came from the State of Kentucky in 1806, and entered out of the land office a large tract of land upon which all that part of the city of Piqua is now situated west of and adjoining Wayne street. His family was composed of his wife Mary Pinkerton, sons Mathew, David, James and Samuel, and his daughters Mary (the subject of this sketch) and Sarah (who intermarried with Henry Kitchen, Esq., whose biography has been given). Mary married Stephen Johnston, in September, 1810, while he was chief clerk in the public store at Fort Wayne, Ind., and remained there until in August, 1812, when the Indians became insolent, and their alliance with the British in the war then declared was evident. She was sent into the settlement where her mother resided upon the farm, the old homestead, now occupied by James Hamilton, Esq., adjoining the city. About the time of her departure from Fort Wayne, the massacre of Chicago took place. Her husband remained at Fort Wayne until August 28, when, in attempting to go out of the fort with two other men, as messengers to meet Gen. Harrison, who was marching to the relief of Fort Wayne, he was killed by the Indians. She was the mother of three children; Eliza, who intermarried with Stephen Winans, and emigrated to California and died there; Stephen Johnston, Esq., who is still living in Piqua; Mary Matilda, daughter of Daniel M. Mitchell, who was married to her about ten years after the loss of her first husband. Her life was one of adventure. Born at Brian’s Station in Kentucky, in 1788, during the days that gave the State the name of the “dark and bloody ground,” when the Indians were frequently making raids, stealing horses and murdering the settlers, and being personally acquainted with Daniel Boone, then removing to Ohio in 1806, and then to Fort Wayne after her marriage, there to meet the red man of the forest, and seeing the noted Chief Tecumseh often at Fort Wayne, and finally to be compelled, in the last of her days to witness the organization of military forces to suppress the rebellion of 1861 —in August of that year she was called away to final rest. By the old settlers of Piqua, her life and example were highly appreciated, as a woman of extraordinary stability of mind, sound judgment, and highly respected for her broad charity and Christian virtues.

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This family biography is one of 964 biographies included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Miami County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Miami County, Ohio family biographies here: Miami County, Ohio Biographies

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