My Genealogy Hound

James L. Caldwell is a native of Tennessee and a son of William and Amanda (Christan) Caldwell, who came originally from South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. William Caldwell was born in 1811 and was reared on a farm, removing to Bedford County, Tenn., when a young man, where he was married in 1844 to the mother of our subject. In 1861 they came to this county, and here the father engaged in farming and also in the milling business, in which he was occupied until his death, in 1865. He was a prominent citizen of his county, a member of the Masonic order and of the I. O. O. F., and belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and at one time, while a resident of Bedford County, Tenn., represented that county in the State legislature. Mrs. Caldwell was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in February, 1816, and died in April, 1888. James L. Caldwell also first saw the light in Bedford County, his natal day being March 23, 1846, and when a young man he took charge of his father’s mill, continuing it until 1864. Then he enlisted in a company raised by C. M. Biscoe, which formed a part of McGee’s regiment (the Fifth Arkansas Cavalry), was elected second lieutenant, and a short time after promoted first lieutenant. After the war he returned home and engaged in merchandising for over a year, subsequently entering into the saw-mill business, which he followed in this and Cross Counties until selling out to his brother in 1887. He erected a mill two miles west of Caldwell, and also took a contract for building ten miles of the Bald Knob Railroad which he completed in that year. Mr. Caldwell has built and owned fourteen different mills in St. Francis and Crittenden Counties, and now owns the mill near Caldwell and a half interest in a mill in the last-named county; besides this he has and operates several farms in these two counties and Cross County, in all about 1,800 acres, with over 100 acres under cultivation, the rest being fine timberland. He aided largely in putting in most of the bridges in St. Francis and Crittenden Counties, and now has taken the contract for the erection of the buildings for the Little Rock Oil Company. He was married November 20, 1874, to Miss Annie Halbert, a daughter of John Halbert, a native of Missouri. They are the parents of six children: Willie J., Lillie A., Mary Ann, Henry H., Tennie and James L. Mr. Caldwell was justice of the peace of Johnson Township for six years, and is one of the prominent men of his county. He is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the County Wheel, being made vice-president at its organization here.