John Caldwell (Michigan representative)
{{Short description|American politician (1849–1916)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = John Caldwell, Jr
| image = John Caldwell.jpg
| image_size = 175 px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1849|07|04}}
| birth_place = Ridgeway, New York
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1916|03|07|1849|07|04}}
| death_place = Manton, Michigan
| education = Litchfield School
| parents = John and Jane Caldwell
| occupation = Farmer, timberman,
state representative
| party = Republican
}}
John Caldwell (4 July 1849 – 7 March 1916) was a nineteenth-century farmer and timber man of northern Michigan, associated with Missaukee County, Michigan. He was employed for several years by the Mitchell Brothers Company, a land agent firm in several states, dealing with large tracts of timber for making lumber. He homesteaded 100 acres, and had a diversified system of farming that proved successful.
Caldwell was Republican member of the Michigan State House of Representatives for two terms, from 1897 through 1900. He represented the Wexford district, comprising the counties of Wexford, Missaukee and Clare, and held several county and town positions in local government.
Early life
Caldwell's parents, John Caldwell Sr. and Jane (Thompson) Caldwell, immigrated from Ireland and arrived in the state of New York in the early part of the nineteenth century. They were married in 1840.{{sfn|Bowen|1905|pp=685–686}} John Caldwell was born in Orleans County, New York, on July 4, 1849. The family moved in 1856 to Litchfield Township, in Hillsdale County, Michigan,{{sfn|Bingham|1924|page=140}} where Caldwell worked on the family farm.{{cite journal|date= 1899 |title= John Caldwell |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lo8LAQAAIAAJ&q=John%20Caldwell%20%22Representative%20from%20the%20Wexford%20district%22 |journal= Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory |page= 633 }} {{source attribution}} As a teenager, he started working in the woods of Tuscola County.
Caldwell was employed by the Mitchell Brothers Company, buying and selling timber lands.{{cite news |author= |title=Obituary|url= |work= Cadillac Evening News | page= 4 |location=Cadillac, Michigan|date= March 13, 1916}}{{cite news |author= |title= New Industry / Largest Sawmilling Plant in the Southwest to be Erected Here |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67859859/ |work= Weekly Journal-Miner |page= 2 |location= Prescott, Arizona |date= December 11, 1901 |via= Newspapers.com {{open access}} |access-date= 17 January 2021 |archive-date= 12 July 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210712205722/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67859859/weekly-journal-miner/ |url-status= live }}
Mid life
File:Caldwell Manton residence 1913.jpg
File:Father John tombstone.jpg
In 1875, Caldwell obtained a homestead. He later purchased an adjacent {{convert|40|acre|m2}} of land.{{sfn|Bowen|1905|pp=685–686}} Caldwell and his older brother Thomas, were some of the earliest settlers in Missaukee County.{{sfn|Bowen|1905|pp=685–686}}
Caldwell was a member of National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry{{sfn|Bowen|1905|pp=685–686}} and had a successful diversified system of farming.{{sfn|Bowen|1905|pp=685–686}}
Political career
In 1897, Caldwell was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, on the Republican ticket, representing Wexford County, Missaukee County and Clare County. Two years later, he was reelected to the legislature.{{cite news |title=What's in a Name / How Michigan Areas Were Christened |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42776352/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |page=8 |location=Lansing, Michigan |date=12 January 1950 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=22 January 2020 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712205725/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42776352/lansing-state-journal/ |url-status=live }} {{open access}}"Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, Volume 1" of 1899, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bV1OAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22John+Caldwell%22+representative+Manton+Missaukee&pg=PA5 page 5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712205731/https://books.google.com/books?id=bV1OAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=%22John+Caldwell%22+representative+Manton+Missaukee&source=bl&ots=BTcukHUeNr&sig=ACfU3U1mrTQItSvFoJLEcfpDkVZUdScOWw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr1fXJv5fnAhUbVc0KHXG-BPcQ6AEwAnoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22John%20Caldwell%22%20representative%20Manton%20Missaukee&f=false |date=12 July 2021 }}
Caldwell took an interest in public matters, and served Caldwell Township as highway commissioner, township clerk, township treasurer, justice of the peace, and township supervisor.{{sfn|Bingham|1924|page=140}} He served as county treasurer and supervisor of Missaukee County.
Endnotes
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book|last= Bingham|first= Stephen D. |title= Michigan Biographies, Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Volume 1 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nFx5AAAAMAAJ&dq=%22John+Caldwell%22+Representative+Michigan&pg=PA140 |date= 1924|publisher= Michigana historical commission}} {{source-attribution}}
- {{cite book|last= Bowen|first= B. F. |title= Biographical History of Northern Michigan containing Biographies of Prominent Citizens| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ljkaAQAAMAAJ&dq=HON+JOHN+CALDWELL+The+subject+of+this+brief+sketch+who+has+long+enjoyed+prestige+as+one+of+Missaukee+countys+leading+citizens+and+representative+men+and+who+now+resides+in+a+pleasant+and+comfortable+home+in+section+4+Caldwell+township+was+born+at+Medina+Orleans+county+New+York+on+the+anniversary+of&pg=PA685
|date= 1905|publisher= Brookhaven Press |location=Chicago, Illinois}} {{source-attribution}}
External links
{{Commons category|John Caldwell}}
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| before=H Frank Campbell| title=Michigan State Representative of District of Wexford for Wexford, Missaukee and Clare Counties| years=1897– 1900| after= Dennis Orville }}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caldwell, John}}
Category:People from Ridgeway, New York
Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:People from Litchfield, Michigan