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John Caldwell (Michigan representative)

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John Caldwell, Jr
Born(1849-07-04)4 July 1849
Ridgeway, New York
Died7 March 1916(1916-03-07) (aged 66)
Manton, Michigan
EducationLitchfield School
Occupation(s)Farmer, timberman,
state representative
Political partyRepublican
Parent(s)John and Jane Caldwell

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. He was associated with different agricultural societies, including the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.

He involved himself with community matters, and was at one time or another a highway commissioner, school superintendent, township clerk, township treasurer, justice of the peace, and township supervisor. He was the county treasurer of Missaukee County for four years, and their supervisor for ten years. He had close ties with Escanaba, Lake City, Cadillac and Manton, Michigan.

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. He was an authority on property tax assessment, especially for northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. He was involved with developing various laws for the state of Michigan. He was employed by the state of Michigan as a tax assessor for land and property taxation on sawmills in various counties, including Missaukee County in the Lower Peninsula and Delta County in the Upper Peninsula.

Early life

Birth record showing given name of George Washington[1]

Caldwell's parents, John Caldwell Sr. and Jane (Thompson) Caldwell, immigrated from Ireland and arrived separately in the state of New York in the early part of the nineteenth century. They were married in 1840.[2] John Caldwell was born at Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, on July 4, 1849.[1] He was initially given the name George Washington Caldwell, as he was born on the anniversary of national independence.[1] A year later, his parents decided to change it to John Jr., after his father's name. He was the fifth in a family with eight boys and one girl; his naming was in contrast to the contemporary Irish tradition of the first-born son receiving the father's name (since this name change was an afterthought). He was the third surviving son, however, so inherited the name 'John' and suffix by default. The third and fourth sons of the family died before they were 10 years old.

Caldwell came with his parents to Litchfield Township, in Hillsdale County in 1856.[3] He worked on his father's farm in the summertime; during the winter, he attended the local public school for children.[4] While his older brothers, and his father, served in the Civil War, he was too young to enlist for its duration. When he was seventeen years old (in 1866 or 1867), he went to the woods of Tuscola County, in the thumb area of Michigan, for his first employment; this would last for about four years.[4] It was the beginning of his timber career, and he began to learn the industry. In November 1869, he traveled to Missaukee county in northern Michigan,[5] where he would be employed for years as a land agent for George A. Mitchell and the Mitchell Brothers Company, buying and selling timber lands for development in Michigan[6] and New Mexico.[7]

Mid life

Caldwell's wife

In 1875, Caldwell obtained a homestead of 101 acres (0.41 km2) of government land in Michigan; this property was in Section 4 of Caldwell Township, in Missaukee County.[4][8] He later purchased an adjacent 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land, and a nearby 80-acre (320,000 m2) parcel.[2][3] These all contained old growth white pine timber, which was of considerable value for the development of Michigan.[9] Much of it was used in the construction of Lake City, Manton, Cadillac and other northern Michigan towns.[10] Caldwell, and his older brother Thomas (1843–1882), were among the first settlers in Missaukee County,[2] and both were deeply involved in developing northern Michigan in the later part of the nineteenth century.[2] The township of Caldwell, in Missaukee County, is named in honor of them.[11][A][12] Thomas was the second son in the family, after James. Following the Irish naming practice, his middle name was Thompson (their mother's maiden name). Other Caldwell siblings were William, George, Charlie and Mary Jane.[10]

Caldwell's father died in Big Rapids (in Mecosta County), in 1870, at the age of 65.[2] His mother, Jane, died in Jonesville (in Hillsdale County) in 1886, also at the age of 65,[2] as is revealed on her tombstone in the Jonesville cemetery. She was able to receive a Civil War pension due to her eldest son (Caldwell's brother) being killed in the Civil War, as well as her husband (Caldwell's father) having served in the Civil War.[13] Caldwell married Martha E. Babcock of Missaukee County, on June 29, 1873.[6]

Political career

In 1897, Caldwell was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, on the Republican ticket,[4] representing Wexford County, Missaukee County and Clare County.[4] Two years later, he was reelected to the legislature.[14][15] Caldwell received 3,173 votes, defeating the Democratic People's Union candidate Joseph Yarnell (who received 1,888 votes).[B][C] Caldwell's personal Michigan legislative handbook shows the Representative members, and what districts they represented, in 1897.[16][17]

  • Legislative Handbook
    Legislative Handbook
  • Legislative members of 1897
    Legislative members of 1897
  • Alphabetical list of Representatives
    Alphabetical list of Representatives

The Escanaba Tribune reports in an article of June 1900:

The state representative John Caldwell is in Escanaba in the interest of Tax Commission. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the present house of representatives, serving his second term from the Wexford district and is one of best known timbermen of the lower peninsula. John Caldwell of Manton, Michigan, who is employed by the state Tax Commission to inspect the timber industries of the Upper Peninsula arrived in the city yesterday afternoon and will meet with the county board of supervisors at their special session next Tuesday to adjust the taxation of the various mill properties of Delta county.[18]

The article further explains the authority he has from the state of Michigan:

His authority for this work is given in a signed letter from the tax commissioners which is as follows:

Lansing, Michigan, March 28, 1900. To Whom it may concern: This is to certify that Mr. John Caldwell is in the employ of the Board of State Tax commissioners for the state of Michigan, and he has authority to confer with the supervisors and assessing offers respecting their duties regarding assessments made or contemplated, of logs, timber and other forest products and saw mill plants and lumber or timber manufactured therein. Respectfully, Milo D. Campbell, A.F. Freeman, Robert Oakman; Board of State Tax commissioners.[18]

Caldwell gave an assessment of Missaukee County in 1900 to the state of Michigan legislature, saying: "I think that Missaukee County is and has been valued higher than it should be, as compared to other counties. You are aware that this county's principal value has been in the pine timber which formed unbroken forests over the greater part of its area. All this timber has been removed, with the exception of 8,747 acres (35.40 km2), principally in the township of Norwick." He then summarized the forest products and acreage involved with each of these products; the total was 339,097 acres (1,372.28 km2).[19]

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.[3] He was involved with the township's educational interests, and at times filled the school offices. Caldwell was the county treasurer of Missaukee County for four years, and supervisor for ten years.[4] He was also involved with various laws in certain townships concerning hunting deer in Michigan.[20]

Farming endeavors

Caldwell and his wife were members of Missaukee Grange #918, of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.[21] He was also the Master of Pomona Grange #56 of Missaukee County in 1903, when it was organized.[22][23] Caldwell originally acquired a homestead of 101 acres (0.41 km2) of government land in Caldwell Township of Missaukee County in 1875.[4][8][24] He later added an adjacent 40 acres (160,000 m2). From this, he cleared 80 acres (320,000 m2) of timber, after which the land was worked in an agriculture enterprise.[4] Caldwell had a successful diversified system of farming, with multiple substantial buildings for his goods and commodities.[2]

Retirement and death

Caldwell home at 206 Main Street in Manton, Michigan, circa 1913
John Caldwell's tombstone

Caldwell retired in 1909, and lived the last seven years of his life in Manton. He built a house 2 blocks east of downtown Manton at 206 Main Street, which still exists over a hundred years later.[25] His daughter Leona, and her husband, took over the ownership of his homestead in Missaukee County, which they continued to farm for many years.[26] Caldwell was president of the village of Manton for one term. He often took walks downtown to associate with the locals during his retirement.[27] He died 7 March 1916, at his home,[27] and is buried at the Caldwell cemetery.[28]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The township was previously called Quilna and changed by Michigan law no. 308 to "Caldwell" on 14 March 1873. General Acts and Joint and Concurrent Resolutions of the Legislature of Michigan State, published 1873 by Michigan state, pp. 20, 44, 202, 212. The bill to change the name of Quilna Township to Caldwell was introduced by State Senator William H. C. Mitchell. Original at University of Michigan.
  2. ^ According to the "Michigan Manual" published in 1899 by the State of Michigan, John Caldwell served as state representative for Wexford. He was elected to the House of 1897–1898, and reelected to the house of 1899–1900. He was a Republican and a farmer. According to the "Michigan Manual" of 1895–1896, he was preceded by H. Frank Campbell, a Republican. According to the "Michigan Manual" of 1901, he was succeeded by Dennis Orville, a Republican. Originals are at the University of Michigan.
  3. ^ According to the "Michigan Manual" of 1899–1900, John Caldwell served as state representative for the Wexford district. He was elected to the House of 1897-1898 and then re-elected to the house of 1899–1900. The original of the "Michigan Manual" is at the Capital Area District Library, in Lansing, and at the Library of Michigan.

Endnotes

  1. ^ a b c "Orleans County Vital Statistics". Town of Ridgeway, New York. Retrieved 15 July 2021. Town of Ridgeway;CALDWELL, George Washington;Born: 4 Jul 1849; Son of John CALDWELL & Jane
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bowen 1905, p. 685.
  3. ^ a b c Bingham 1924, p. 140.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Michigan State (1899). "John Caldwell". Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory: 633. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. ^ United States Supreme Court 1917, pp. 58, 59.
  6. ^ a b "Obituary". Cadillac Evening News. Cadillac, Michigan. 13 March 1916. p. 4.
  7. ^ "New Industry / Largest Sawmilling Plant in the Southwest to be Erected Here". Weekly Journal-Miner. Prescott, Arizona. 11 December 1901. p. 2. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ a b 101.47 acres, document no. 22451, application number 3763. Issued on 20 October 1875, and signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. The township was at the time called Quilna.
  9. ^ McGinnis 2005, pp. 21–22.
  10. ^ a b Blenz 1989, p. 201.
  11. ^ Romig 1986, p. 93.
  12. ^ "What's in a Name / How Michigan areas were christened". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. 12 January 1950. p. 8. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  13. ^ yhistory.org/civilwar/1883Pension/results.asp?s_keyword=Caldwell List of Civil War Pensioners in 1883 Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "What's in a Name / How Michigan Areas Were Christened". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. 12 January 1950. p. 8. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ "Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, Volume 1" of 1899, page 5 Archived 12 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Michigan. Legislature. House of Representatives 1897 (pages 3-5)". 1897. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Michigan Manual, 1900 (pages 629-663) Extended biographies of the members of the House of Representatives". 1899. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  18. ^ a b "The Tax Detective Here. Representative John Caldwell visits Escanaba in the interest of the Tax Commission". Escanaba Tribune. Escanaba, Michigan. 15 June 1900.
  19. ^ Michigan State Tax Commission (1900). "Missaukee County". Proceedings: 74. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  20. ^ Franz C. Kuhn (1911). "April 14, 1911". Annual Report of the Attorney General of the State of Michigan for the Year Ending: 277. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  21. ^ Bowen 1905, p. 686.
  22. ^ Per Michigan State Grange history records. Roland G. Winter, Historian of Missaukee County Grange.
  23. ^ Record at Secretary of National Grange in Washington, D.C. "Patrons of Husbandry" Michigan Grange, Missaukee County Pomona Grange # 56, organized November 28, 1903.
  24. ^ Final Certificate No. 2245, Homestead Application No. 3768 recorded at the Land office in Traverse City, Michigan, 18 August 1875. Sec 4, Township 23N, Range 8W
  25. ^ County Recorder of Wexford County, Michigan, record of Deeds shows he purchased the lot in 1908. Records show it took a year to build the house.
  26. ^ Census for 1920 enumerated on 3 January, county of Missaukee, township of Caldwell, shows the Mows owning the homestead. Frank owned the 80-acre (320,000 m2) parcel.
  27. ^ a b Newspaper article in the Cadillac Evening News on 7 March 1916 WELL KNOWN MANTON MAN DIES SUDDENLY
  28. ^ Caldwell Township Cemetery, Missaukee County, MI By Cadillac Area Genealogical Society by Kinseeker Publishers 1996, ISBN 0-940133-90-3

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Caldwell.
Preceded by
H Frank Campbell
 Michigan State Representative of District of Wexford for Wexford, Missaukee and Clare Counties
1897– 1900 		Succeeded by
Dennis Orville
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