Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-04-11
Biographical 5lsetfbes.
REV. JAMES CALDWELL.

loved and beautiful wife. caused the most
thrilling sensation throughout the State
of New jersey, towards the close of the
Revolution, was one of those men whose
vital energy and enthusiastic temperament
never allow them to do things by halves
Descended from the Huguenots, the story
of their wrongs and suHerings awakened
III his bosom, while yet STRIPPING, the
most intense hatred of tyranny and op-
preston, In whatever shape. aud when
Great Britain, in her arrogance and pre-
sumption, undertook to raise revenue to
pay her debts by taxing her American
Colonies. he ranged himself on the side of
those who determined to resist, even to
force Of arms.
He had early distinguished himself for
his high mental attainments, having grad
uated at Princeton College at the age of
eighteen. Ere he reached his twentieth
year, be was ordained pastor of the first
Presbyterian church at Eliza1ethtown
and his fine natural ability, together with
his pleasing address and warm, generous
feelings, endeared him to his congregation
In such a manner. as to win their unboun-
ded confidence and esteem Not long af-
ter his settlement as their pastor, he was
married to Miss Hannah Ogden, of New
ark, who was fair among ten thousand,
and altogether lovely" She was all that
a wife should be, and that is by no means
faint praise To faultless face and per-
son, she added all those feminine charms
and accomplishments which attract to
their possessor the hearts and sympathetic
feelings of all, both high and low, rich and
poor During the seventeen years Of her
welded life, she discharged the duties de-
volring upon pastors wife with all the
dignity, ease and grace. which throw a
halo of beauty around the character, and
attract the most unthinking and careless
by their magnetic influence. = And when
her husband was called upon to suffer
persecution and hatred on account of his
patriotic principles, she, by her fortitude
and cheerful piety, sustained and encour
aged him in the trials and Affections he
was destined to endure
When the news of the Battle of Lexing-
ton and Bunker Hill awoke the American
people to a sense of the reality Of the con-
test upon which they were about to enter,
and when there were many who yet leaned
to the side Of loyalty, and who still enter
tanned such an overawing respect for the
Divine right Of kings" that they could
not look upon the coming struggle but
with horror, Mr. Caldwell did not hesitate
to throw the whole weight of his charac-
ter. reputation and influence into the scale.
( Aud such was the effect Of his soul-stirring
appeals, and so earnestly and eloquently
4 did be point out the true course to be pur-
sued by every patriot in the existing cri-
sis. that not one of his large congregation
was found arrayed against his country s
cause. Not satisfied with the limited
sphere, however, he exerted his energies
/ throughout the eastern portion of the
State, and such was the esteem for his
character. the confidence in his integrity.
and the effect of his eloquence. that be
was instrumental in recalling the waver-
ing to their allegiance, in stirring up the
sluggish to action, and in strengthening
the determination Of those who only wait
ed the opportunity of taking up arms in
their country's behalf To set the exam
pie in his own person, ne joined the army
as chaplain, and acted in that capacity tc
the various bodies Of American troops
who were,.a different times. stationed il
the State In that capacity, be accompa
MED the Jersey Brigade to the Northern
lines, and after the surrender of BurgOyne
and upon his return home. be was appoint
ed Commissary So highly was he esteem
ed by Washington, whose personal anC
intimate friend he was. that nothing but
his profession prevented his elevation tt
higher Office So enthusiastic was lie il
the cause. that his church was given up tc
be used as hospital, It's steeple was made
a watch tower. and its bell was the first tC
ring out the alarm of approaching danger
AS might naturally be expected. those
qualities which endeared him to his coun
trymen. rendered him obnoxious to then
enemies. and he was marked cut for spe
cial vengeance by the minions of the Brit
ish king His proximity to New J orf
and Staten Island, where the English haC
a post, exposed him in a peculiar manner
to ANNOYANCE and attack. His church wat
fred by Tory refugee named Hetfield
and his life was threatened and attempted
Under these circumstances. he removed
his family to Connecticut farms, some -four
or five miles inland, where be continued
to reside until the day of his death Hi
hopes. however. that this would, prove
place of safety TO his wife and children
were destined to be destroyed in the mos
cruel manner
In June, 1880, Knyphausen, who wa
temporarily in command at New York
) sent about FIVE thousand troops on an in
cursion into New Jersey Their way Ia,
: through Connecticut Farms, and wit
their usual spite. they burned it to th'
ground the inhabitants, who had fed
saved nothing but what they could carr,
off in the most hasty manner. Mrs. Cald
well was one of the few who remained, an
she paid for her temerity with her life
,, 4 soldier left the ranks, and shot her thrc
: the window. as she was sitting on the sid
of the bed with an infant in her arms
Her body was dragged cut into the street
,, where it lay for several hours exposed t
the rays Of the sun, until removed to th
house of Captain Moses Wade, which. be
ling of stone. was not burned. Mr. Cald
| we'll, who was with the army at Spring
: field at the time, was fearfully alarmed 70
the safety Of his family, and at the earl