# John Caldwell (Michigan representative)

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 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, and held several county and town positions in local government.

## Early life

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. John Caldwell was born in Orleans County, New York, on July 4, 1849. The family moved in 1856 to Litchfield Township, in Hillsdale County, Michigan, where Caldwell worked on the family farm. As a teenager, he started working in the woods of Tuscola County.
Caldwell was employed by the Mitchell Brothers Company, buying and selling timber lands.

## Mid life

In 1875, Caldwell obtained a homestead. He later purchased an adjacent 40 acres (160,000 m$^2$) of land. Caldwell and his older brother Thomas, were some of the earliest settlers in Missaukee County.
Caldwell was a member of National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry and had a successful diversified system of farming.

## Political career

In 1897, Caldwell was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, on the Republican ticket, representing Wexford County, Missaukee County and Clare County. Two years later, he was reelected to the legislature.
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. He served as county treasurer and supervisor of Missaukee County.

## Endnotes

* 1 2 3 4 5 Bowen 1905, pp. 685–686.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "John Caldwell". Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory: 633. 1899. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
* 1 2 Bingham 1924, p. 140.
* ↑ "Obituary". Cadillac Evening News. Cadillac, Michigan. 13 March 1916. p. 4.
* ↑ "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 .
* ↑ "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.
* ↑ "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

## Sources

* Bingham, Stephen D. (1924). Michigan Biographies, Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Volume 1. Michigana historical commission. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
* Bowen, B. F. (1905). Biographical History of Northern Michigan containing Biographies of Prominent Citizens. Chicago, Illinois: Brookhaven Press. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.