THOMAS H. CALDWELL

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 580-582.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 24 November 2004

THOMAS H. CALDWELL, farmer, is a worthy representive of that old and highly respected family of Callaway county whose name he bears, and for whose founder in this county, Thomas Caldwell, his father, Caldwell township was named.

Thomas Caldwell, the father, was born in Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 20th of June, 1792, and was reared in the famous Blue Grass Region of that State. In early manhood on the 29th of June, 1813, he was married to Miss Eleanor Boyd of that county, but originally of North Carolina, born January 19, 1788, and a daughter of Thomas and Grizella Boyd. Thomas Caldwell (Sr.) was brought up to a farmer's life and also learned the potter's trade in Kentucky, an important industry in those days, as, indeed, it still is.

He remained in the Blue Grass State for thirteen years after his marriage and then removed to Missouri. A man of intelligence, industry and enterprise, by this time he had made a substantial start in life, in a property point of view. Coming to Missouri in 1826, he immediately settled in Callaway county, locating in what was then a part of Round Prairie township where he bought and entered large bodies of land, aggregating in all nearly 1,000 acres. An experienced and successful potter, as well as a good farmer, he bought his land with a view to the pottery business and at once set up a large factory of that kind. He is believed to have established the first pottery ever set up in this State. This he carried on successfully and also conducted a farm for nearly forty-five years, until his death, which occurred near the close of his seventy-eighth year, on the 5th of January, 1870.

The prominence of the pottery business in the industrial economy of the people in the early days of the country can hardly be realized by those of the present generation. Then steam had not wrought its wonderful revolution in the field of manufactures it has since brought about. Nearly every thing was made at home, that is, in each locality or section of the country. The writer of this, now an old man, very well remembers the condition of things in the good old days when every neighborhood, almost, had its tannery, its pottery, its horse mill, its distillery and all that sort of things. Then, too, we had our big camp-meetings, our house raisings, and our barbecues on the Fourth of July; and then for the young folks, there were the corn -shuckings, and it must be confessed, the dances and horse races. All in all there never will be seen in this country days as happy as those. We all worked hard-the women carded and spun and wove, and the men cleared land, made rails and plowed with a wooden mould-board, but we were strong and happy and multiplied on the earth wonderfully. It almost brings thetears [sic] to these dim old eyes when they look back and see that happy sight now fast fading, fading away. Already most of those of that happy time are now in their graves; the rest soon will be.

Thomas Caldwell Sr. is dead. No better man sleeps beneath the sod. He did the full measure of his duty by the world; only flowers can spring from his grave; there was nothing in his honest heart to bring forth thistles. His wife, a noble, good woman, went before him to light his pathway on to God. She had been his light and hope here; she became the polar star of his destiny in the constellation of heaven. She died October 24, 1863, seven years before he crossed the samesilent [sic] river. Both were life-long members of the Old School Presbyterian church.

They left six children: Robert A., now of Sebastian county, Arkansas; James R., now of Benton county, Missouri; Grisella, now Mrs. John G. Bratton, of Washington county, Arkansas; Thomas H., the subject of this sketch; John B., of this county, and Newton G., carrying on the pottery at Caldwell, established by his father in 1826. Thomas H. Caldwell was born eight years before his parents came to this county, in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 27th of June, 1818. He was, therefore, principally reared in Callaway county, and has continued to reside here from boyhood. On the 8th of October, 1845, he was married to Miss Kittie A. Elley, then of this county, but originally of Culpepper county, Virginia, born December 17, 1821, and a daughter of Henry and Mary F. Elley, who emigrated from Virginia to Callaway county in 1835. Her parents had six other children: Mary F., died the wife of James M. Davis; Benjamin F., of Boone county; George, of this county; Sarah, now Mrs. L. H. Gibbs, of Boone county; Harriet E., died the wife of her cousin, James Elley; and James H.

One year after his marriage Mr. Caldwell settled on the farm where he now resides, and has been engaged in farming here ever since. He has 210 acres of good land, and has his place substantially improved. It is devoted mainly to hay and stock raising, he having fine meadows and a good grade of stock. Mr. Caldwell has recently erected a large pottery building, having a fine deposit of clay, and is preparing to engage in the manufacture of pottery, stoneware, etc., on a large scale. He also has an excellent coal vein on his farm, from which he took out over 2,000 bushels last year. He has another place of over 100 acres not far distant.

Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have raised a family of six children: Rev. George M. Caldwell, a graduate from Westminster College, Missouri, Hamilton College, New York, and Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, and now pastor of the First Presbyterian church, at Warrensburg, Missouri; Benjamin F., educated at Westminster College, Mary E., graduate of the Synodical Female College, and a teacher by profession, Joseph E., now a student at Westminster College, James C., also a student at Westminster, and Zella A., a student at the Synodical Female College. Three are deceased: Henry N., the eldest, an unusually intellectual youth, Edward F. and Robert W., in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell and six of their children are members of the Presbyterian church. This is one of the most highly respected families in the county.

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