Louisiana AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Thomas J. Caldwell
Thomas J. Caldwell is a merchant and planter, residing in Ward
5, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, but his native birthplace is
Conecuh County, Louisiana, where he first saw the light of day
in 1835. His parents are Andrew and Elizabeth (McNeel) Caldwell,
the birth of the former occurring in Jones County, Georgia, in
1803. His father was James Caldwell, probably a Georgian, and
his grandfather was Andrew Caldwell, who was born in Ireland,
and came to America at an early day. Andrew Caldwell, the father
of Thomas J., was in the war with the Creek Indians, in 1835. He
and his wife became the parents of the following family: James
(now a resident of Central Arkansas, near Camden), William (of
Bienville Parish, Louisiana), Mary (wife of Z. Tilly, of
Bienville Parish), Andrew (died in infancy), Thomas J., Columbus
C. (now a resident of Claiborne Parish), George (died in
infancy), Elizabeth (wife of George Crowley, of Bienville
Parish), Lucinda (lived with Thomas J., died. October 28, 1890),
John D. (who resides near Liberty Hill, Bienville Parish,
Louisiana), Alec H. (a resident of Ward 5, of Claiborne Parish),
and Andrew J. (who died in Arcadia, in 1886).
Thomas J. Caldwell remained in the State of Alabama until he was
sixteen years of age, then came to Louisiana with his parents,
but his early education was obtained in the former State. Upon
the opening of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, of the
Twenty-seventh Louisiana Infantry, under Capt. E. W. Campbell,
and the first engagement, in which he took part was at
Vicksburg. He served three years, at the end of which time be
returned home, without having received a wound.
The year following the close of the war he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa J. Leatherman, a daughter of Thomas Leatherman, and unto them a family of ten children has been born, six of whom are living: Tucker W. (died at the age of fourteen years), Louella (died when three years of age), Thomas J., James E., Elmore, Edna (died at the age of three years), Maggie L., Bee, Nina and Lizzie M. Mr. Caldwell comes of a line of Wigs, but is, himself, an active advocate of Democracy.
He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and are substantial and honored residents of the locality in which they are residing. Mr. Caldwell does a general merchandising business, at Old Athens, besides managing his plantation, which consists of about 1,800 acres, of which some 500 acres are under cultivation, excellently adapted to raising all the products of the South, there being about 100 bales of cotton raised annually.
Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890
