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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  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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HENRY CALDWELL. There is not a finer farm throughout this portion of Missouri than that owned and occupied by the original of this sketch. It is over four hundred acres in extent and is pleasantly located on section 26, township 44, range 26, Johnson County. Mr. Caldwell was born in that part of Center County, Pa., now included in Clinton County, February 24, 1824. his parents being James and Deborah (Stover) Caldwell.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Scotchman, and after coming to America settled in the Keystone State, where his sons and daughters were born and reared. James Caldwell there passed his entire life, and during his mature years worked at his trade of a blacksmith. Henry, of this sketch, also learned that business, at which he began working when a lad of fifteen years. He continued to busy himself in his father’s shop until the death of the latter, in 1847.

When twenty-four years old our subject was married to Miss Esther Will, who was born in Clearfield County, Pa. In 1866 they took up the line of march to this state, being accompanied by a family of seven children. They first went to Pittsburg, where they took a boat which conveyed them down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to their destination, the journey occupying three weeks. The little party were landed at Boonville, where they made their home for about a year. There Mr. Caldwell followed the butcher’s trade, and at the expiration of that time he began farming on the land now comprised in his present estate. This he purchased in partnership with a friend, and for some time they very successfully farmed the four hundred and forty acres. When a division of the property was made our subject was given three hundred acres, to which he afterward added one hundred and twenty-seven.

Two years after locating here Mr. Caldwell’s house was blown down, killing his wife and one son. This disaster occurred at night, after all had retired. Mr. Caldwell and one of his children, with the bed on which they were sleeping, were blown into the yard, but the occupants escaped serious injury.

To Henry and Esther Caldwell there were born twelve children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. Mary Stone makes her home in this county; Adeline married William Medley, and lives in Post Oak Township; Elnora still resides at home; Griffin R. is also under the parental roof; Henry was engaged in traveling through the West when last heard from; Frank and Thomas live in Post Oak Township. Mr. Caldwell was a second time married. May 29, 1870, Miss Nancy Shafer, of Clinton County, Pa., becoming his wife. She was born in Bellefonte, Center County, that state, April 22, 1827, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of a daughter, Gertrude C., born July 2, 1871. During the late war Mr. Caldwell had five brothers in the Federal army. George was killed while at work tearing up a railroad in Georgia, but the other four returned home uninjured after their discharge. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, supporting the principles of that party ever since casting his first vote for Polk, in 1844. He is a man of prominence in his community and is held in the highest esteem by his neighbors for his uniform uprightness and integrity of word and deed. He is a member of the Christian Church and has been identified with this religious body for a period of thirty-five years.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Johnson County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Johnson County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Johnson County, Missouri family biographies here: Johnson County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Johnson County, Missouri here: Johnson County, Missouri Map

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