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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Waller H. Caldwell, farmer, was born in Adair County, Tenn., February 5, 1817; one of three surviving members of thirteen children of William and Rebecca H. (Edmond) Caldwell. Both were born in Kentucky and married in Adair County. In the spring of 1823 they came to Henry County, Tenn., where they remained until 1840, when they came to Obion County, and resided by themselves until 1863, then spent the balance of their days with their children. The father died July 4, 1870, and the mother May 24, 1884. Our subject began doing for himself in the spring of 1838 and came to Obion County, where he worked as a general laborer until 1841, when he was appointed deputy surveyor of Obion County, and continued the same ten years. In 1842 he purchased a farm on which he resided until 1853. In 1857 he came into possession of his present farm and has resided on the same until the present, with the exception of two years spent in the tanning business at Trenton. His home place consists of 180 acres. Besides this he owns two other farms; one containing 250 acres and the other 100 acres. In1843 he married Elizabeth B. Morgan, and six children were the result of their union, three now living. Their mother died in 1864, and February 13, 1867, he married Elizabeth T. Owen, nee Humphrey, who bore him two children: Frank W. and Ora. Mrs. Caldwell died September 15, 1878, and in January, 1880, Mr. Caldwell married Elizabeth Evans, whose death occurred November 20, of the same year. His fourth and last wife was Elizabeth (Sterling) Reaves, whom he married May 17, 1881. They have one child, Mattie. Mr. Caldwell belongs to the Baptist Church and the F. & A. M. Mrs. Caldwell is a Presbyterian.

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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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