My Genealogy Hound

Thomas J. Caulder. A history of Nevada County and its prominent citizens would be in complete without a brief mention of Mr. Caulder, who has for fifteen years been identified with the material interests of this county, as brick manufacturer, mill owner and farmer. He first opened his eyes to the light of this world in Hardin County, Tenn., August 23, 1831. His father was born in Scotland, and while a child, was brought to this country, and was reared in Charleston, S. C, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age, and then going to Savannah, Ga., where he remained several years; then moved to Alabama, where he was married to Miss Narcissus Walker, a native of that State. Soon after his marriage he moved to Hardin County, Tenn., where the subject of this sketch was born, and when he had reached his eighth year, his parents moved to Tishomingo County, Miss., remaining there until 1847, when they came to Arkansas, first settling in Bradley County, and later, in 1852, in Calhoun County, the father dying in Hampton, in 1861, in his sixty-fifth year. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. In his younger days he was engaged in selling goods, later engaged in school teaching, and at the time of his death, was selling goods in Hampton. While in Calhoun County, he served as Justice of the Peace. Politically he was a Whig, and socially a member of the Masonic order. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Caulder died in Hampton, in 1865. There were born to their marriage eight children, the subject of this sketch being the fourth in order of birth, and the only one now living. He spent his youthful days in Mississippi, where he received his education, and at the age of fifteen years, divided his time between hunting and farming. In 1850 he commenced to farm for himself, in Bradley County, which he continued until the fall of 1861. He then joined the Fourth Arkansas Infantry, serving in that regiment until August 19, 1862, when he was wounded at Jackson, Miss., being struck in the right thigh by a minie-ball, and returned to his home. Upon recovering from this wound, he joined Col. Thompson’s Independent Cavalry, afterward known as Thompson’s Regiment, and served in the regiment until the close of the war. Among the principal battles in which he participated may be mentioned the battles of Jackson, Miss., Perryville, Chickamauga, besides many skirmishes. Near Pine Bluff he was wounded by a Confederate man, by mistake. While at home he was taken prisoner by the Federals, and was taken to Little Rock for three months, but at the close of the war, upon taking the oath of allegiance, he was released, and returned to his home. While near Frankfort, Ky., he was taken prisoner, paroled, was soon exchanged, and immediately rejoined his command. For two years after the war he engaged in farming, and in 1867 engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Red Hill, Ouachita County, continuing until 1875, and since that date has been a resident of this county. Immediately after his arrival in this county he engaged in farming and manufacturing bricks, and is now the owner of 260 acres of good land, with 100 acres under cultivation, and has manufactured the bulk of brick used in Prescott. In 1886 he engaged in the mill business, continuing for two years, and in all these enterprises has been fairly successful. Soon after his arrival in Bradley County, Ark., he formed the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Lafferty, daughter of Benjamin Lafferty, a native of Texas, born in 1836, and in 1850 they were wedded. This union was blessed by the birth of nine children, three of whom are still living, viz.: Thomas B. (a farmer of this county), James L. and Albert B. (both living at home), Laura A. (wife of William Winstead, died in this county), Jennie (married James Horn, and died at her father’s residence), William, Franklin, Robert, and Mary Jane (died in childhood). Mr. and Mrs. Caulder are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the former serving as steward. He is a member of the Alliance, and votes the Union Labor ticket.