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.
Caldwell's parents, John Caldwell Sr. and Jane (Thompson) Caldwell, immigrated from Ireland and arrived in the state of New York in the early part of the nineteenth century. They were married in 1840.[1] John Caldwell was born in Orleans County, New York, on July 4, 1849.[2] The family moved in 1856 to Litchfield Township, in Hillsdale County, Michigan,[3] where Caldwell worked on the family farm.[2] As a teenager, he started working in the woods of Tuscola County.[2]
Caldwell was employed by the Mitchell Brothers Company, buying and selling timber lands.[4][5]
Mid life
Caldwell's wifeCaldwell home at 206 Main Street in Manton, Michigan, circa 1913
John Caldwell's tombstone
In 1875, Caldwell obtained a homestead.[2] He later purchased an adjacent 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land.[1] Caldwell and his older brother Thomas, were some of the earliest settlers in Missaukee County.[1]
In 1897, Caldwell was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, on the Republican ticket,[2] representing Wexford County, Missaukee County and Clare County.[2] Two years later, he was reelected to the legislature.[6][7]
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 served as county treasurer and supervisor of Missaukee County.[2]
^ abcdefg"John Caldwell". Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory: 633. 1899. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
