John C. Caldwell

[I’ll update this page when I have time, but I wanted this information available to people online for now.]

John Charles Caldwell, the son of Robert Caldwell and Linna Jebold, was born April 21, 1829 in Haywood Co., NC, and died January 25, 1895 at New Burnside, Johnson Co., IL. He married Martha Ann Pittman in Calloway County, KY on November 02, 1848. Martha A. Pittman is the daughter of William Pittman and Margaret Parks. Some references to his place of birth state TN, but I feel it was NC, due to the 1860 Census and his Pension File for the Civil War, which contains his official discharge and states he was born in NC. For most of his life John C. Caldwell was a farmer, although at some point after the Civil War, he apparently operated a small mercantile business for a period of several years.

The parents of Linna Jebold, John C. Caldwell’s mother, remain a mystery. The surname is almost non-existent in all records suggesting a critical examination of the spelling, and possible phonetic alternatives might be the only possible way to determine her origins.

Here is an entry on John C. Caldwell sent to me by a cousin. It appeared in an 1893 Biographical Review, and I don't know where it might have been posted online, or if it was in a later publication and then transcribed when sent to me.

Source: "The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope & Hardin Counties, Illinois"

Published in 1893

Submitted by Rick Girtman May 15, 2002

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page 390 & 391

JOHN C. CALDWELL, who has been a merchant of New Burnside for the past eighteen years, was born in Haywood County, N. C., April 21, 1829. His father was Robert Caldwell, a native of the same State, a farmer, who came with his wife and family to Illinois in 1849. He was in moderate circumstances at that time, and upon reaching Illinois first located in Williamson County, taking up eighty acres of timber-land belonging to the Government. They lived in a rude log cabin several years, and then sold out and bought forty acres of land, upon which they lived some time. After several moves they finally came to Johnson County, about 1853, where they lived with their children until their death, the mother dying about one month before the father, he dying April 4, 1864, in his sixty-third year. They buried two daughters, one of whom died in infancy, and Jane, the first-born, wife of Thomas Mount.

Since the death of Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, a son, A. J., has also died in Johnson County past middle age, leaving a widow and seven children. The other members of this family are: William, who died in Kentucky in June, 1888, aged sixty-two years, leaving eight children; Mary Ann, wife of B. S. Smith, who died in Vienna Township in December, 1862, in middle age, leaving one son; Eunice E., wife of H. T. Taylor, who died in Johnson County in June, 1889, aged about forty years, leaving eight children; and Elizabeth, wife of Solomon White, who died at Creal Springs, Williamson County, in February, 1892, aged fifty-four years, leaving three children. Those living are: John C,, sixty-three years of age; Robert Caldwell, sixty seven years old, who is a farmer of West Plains, Howell County, Mo.; C. H. Caldwell, a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church in Burnside Township; and Caroline, widow of James Smith, living in Arkansas. John C. Caldwell had no schooling in his youth, and in his twentieth year married Martha Pittman, of Calloway County, Ky., a daughter of William and Peggy (Parks) Pittman. Her parents were farmers, and came to Illinois in 1849, settling in Williamson County, where they lived most of their lives. The farm which they bought upon coming to Illinois was sold some time afterward, and the family removed to Indiana, but after two years' residence in that State, they returned to Illinois, where the mother died in March, 1874, aged sixty-two years. The father died in 1877, aged sixty-six. They had two sons and five daughters, of whom there are now five living.

Jobn C. Caldwell began domestic life in Williamson County on Government land, upon which he made some improvement, but sold out afterward. He then bought and sold deeded land until 1854, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Williamson County under the graduation act. Upon this farm he lived twenty years, improving it very much, and clearing up one hundred acres. In 1874 he sold out and removed to New Burnside, then just starting. In August, 1862, Mr. Caldwell enlisted as a private soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry, but he was discharged August 17, 1863, on account of disability caused by chronic diarrhea. He came home expecting to die, but recovered, though never since having had good health, and it was for this reason that in 1874 he left the farm and moved into town. Upon removing to New Burnside he bought a store and lot, upon which he built a house, and opened a general store conducting it for ten or eleven years. After a time he sold out and bought a farm, upon which he lived three years, when this tract .was sold, and our subject removed to New Burnside, where he entered the mercantile business, buying out the business of Richard Bushings. In February, 1892, he was one of the large sufferers by the fire which swept the little village, his loss amounting to $1,000 more than his insurance. In the following April he again began merchandising in the new store erected on the site of the old one, and is now in company with his son, J. D., with whom he is doing a fine and prosperous business. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell buried one infant son, and have nine children living, namely; Robert W., who is a farmer on the old home farm, where he was reared, and has a wife and seven children; Andrew Jackson, who has a wife and seven children; Willis A., a farmer of Williamson County, who has a wife and five children; John C., a farmer with a wife and five children; J.D., in business with his father, who has a wife and one son; California, wife of J. E. Miscelle [Mizell], who has five children; John Ann, born June 22, 1863, when her father was in the army, who is still living at home, and was named for both her father and mother; Mary Magdalene, wife of S. S. Misell [Mizell]; and Tinna Belle, a young woman of eighteen years, living at home. These children have all been well educated, especially the younger members of the family.

Mr. Caldwell has been School Director much of his life, and appreciates the value of education. He is a Master Mason, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he takes great interest, and is happy that all his children but one have embraced the same faith that he entertains. He and his son are doing a fair amount of business, and have won the confidence of the people of this vicinity by fair dealing and courteous manners. There is not a saloon in New Burnside, nor is any intoxicating liquor sold within its limits.

John C. Caldwell and Martha Ann Pittman were the parents of Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Caldwell, who married my GGgrandfather, Samuel "Sam" Smithwick Mizell. Sam's older brother, John Elza Mizell, married Maggie's older sister, California "Callie" Caldwell.

Adjacent to him in this census is his brother, Robert Caldwell, who married the sister of Martha Pittman, Jane Elizabeth Pittman, and two households away are Martha Pittman’s parents:

There is a large amount of information on the latter portion of John C. Caldwell’s life contained in his Pension File from his service in the Civil War. This file details his enlistment in Company “I” of the 120^th Illinois Volunteer Infantry on August 13, 1862 and his subsequent accident on January 1, 1863 which caused his discharge on July 26, 1863.

John C. Caldwell a Private of Captain ____ Company I of the One hundred & Twentieth Regiment of United States Vol Inftry was enlisted by James J Bridges of the 120^th Regiment of Ills Vol Inftry at Vienna Illinois on the thirteenth day of August 1862, to serve three years; he was born in Haywood Co in the State of North Carolina is Thirty Three years of age, Six feet ½ inches high, Dark complexion, blue eyes, Dark hair, and by occupation when enlisted a Farmer. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty Sixty days. He accidintley (sic) cut off his 2^nd & 3^rd fingers of his left hand on the 1^st day of January 183. Since that time he has done no duty with or in his Company.

I certify, that I have carefully examined the said John C. Caldwell of Captain Bridges Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of the loss of the 2^nd & 3^rd finger of the left hand producing a total loss of the whole arm,__ it was accidentally done with a hatchet while in camp at Fort Pickering Tenn. The 1^st day of January 1863, he has been in the Hospital and under treatment in camp ever since – and now has chronic Diarrhea and is very much reduced – degree of Disability – ¼

Discharged, this 26^th day of July 1863, at Lake Providence, La. Geo W. M. Keaig, Colonel Commanding the Reg’t.

The Pension file also contains an affidavit of marriage from Calloway Co., KY, which reads as follows:

I Edmund H. Curd Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do certify that Bond with security has been executed in my office according to law for a License for a Marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between Mr. John Caldwell and Miss Martha Ann Pittman. These are therefore to license and permit you to join in the holy and honourable seal of Matrimony the said John Caldwell & Martha Ann Pittman according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church to which you belong – Given under my hand this 2^nd day of November 1848.

To any Gospel or Justice of the Peace legally authorized to solemnize the rites of Matrimony in this County

“I do certify that I solemnized the rites of Matrimony between the within named parties the 2^nd Nov 1848.

Clerk of the County Court in and for the State and County aforesaid do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the License for the Marriage of John Caldwell and Martha Ann Pittman and a true copy of the return of F. U. Dodds J.P. thereon as appears from the original on file in my office.

Numerous additional facts regarding family, friends, neighbors and other soldiers, can be gleaned from the many affidavits of death, marriage, and other testimony regarding John C. Caldwell’s various pension applications, and then the applications of his widow, Martha Ann Pittman Caldwell, after John Caldwell’s death.

“Nancy E. Farrow, Citizen of the town of Burnside County of Johnson State of Illinois, who is personally known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who, being by me duly sworn, declares as follows: that I am a sister to Claimant and that I knew John C. Caldwell and Martha A Pittman Before they was married to each other and Know that John C. Caldwell is the Identical person who was married to Martha A Pittman in the name of John Caldwell and my Knowledge of Knowing said facks is by knowing them when they was married and having Known them Living together Evry since to Date of John C. Caldwell Death and I have Lived in same town with them about fourteen years of said time and my age is sixty years and my Post office is New Burnside Johnson County Illinois. And that the foregoing affidavit was all written in my presence by R. H. Wise, and only from my oral statement then made to said R. H. Wise, at New Burnside, Ill., on the 28^th day of February 1895…

On this 27^th day of April A.D. One thousand eight hundred and ninety one personally appeared before me, a notary Public in and for the aforesaid county and State, John C. Caldwell, aged 62 yrs. A resident of New Burnside, Ill, hose Post Office address is New Burnside, Johnson Co., Ill. And who being by me duly sworn upon his oath makes the following statement: That he is the identical John C. Caldwell who was a private in C. “I” 120^th Regt. Of Ill. Vol. Inf. And a pensioner of the United States holding pension certificate No. 139662; has in the month of November 1889 he filed an application for an increase of pension and on May10th or thereabout he was examined on said application by the board of Medical examiners at Vienna in the county of Johnson and State of Illinois which said application was rejected March 7^th 1891 on the ground that his present rate of pension $12.00 per month was fully commensurate with the then existing degree of disability from pensioners cause, as shown by the evidence on file. He further swears that he has reasons to believe and does believe that he did not get justice in said examination by said board suffering with rheumatism and disease of heart as alleged in his said rejected claim and had been so suffering for several years prior to his said examination; That he has all reasons to believe from his own observations and symptoms of his diseases and from diagnosis made by physicians of re? and standing that his said rheumatism and heart disease are the direct results of the disabilities for which he is pensioned, as set forth in the declaration in his aforesaid rejected claim and refers you to the evidence now on file and the evidence of physicians herewith appended; He therefore asks that his said rejected claim be reopened and that he be granted another medical examination on said claim by some other board of medical examiners other than the said board at Vienna Johnson Co. Ill.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27^th day of April .D. 1891 and I hereby certify that the contents of the foregoing affidavit was fully made known and explained to affiant before swearing and that affiant is respectable and entitled to credit and that I am in no way interested in the prosecution of this claim.