Henry Caldwell was reared in Huntingdon County, but was married in Westmoreland County to Ann Smith. She was born in Maryland, and came of Irish parents, of Scotch descent. Her father, a farmer by occupation, was Thomas Smith, who married in Maryland, Jane Patterson. They were both born in the North of Ireland, and came to the United States before their marriage. They spent the remainder of their lives in Westmoreland County. They possessed strong religious views, and became ultra Presbyterians, or Seceders, as they were then termed.

Henry Caldwell was married in the fall of 1814, and the following spring went to Wayne County, Ohio. He and his wife took up their abode in the timber lands, and there lived the balance of their days, the father dying in 1849, aged fifty-six years, and the mother in 1840, aged about forty-nine years. They also were seceding Presbyterians. The father was formerly a Whig and a strong antislavery man and Free-soiler, and suffered much in support of his views, when it cost something to be an Abolitionist.

Henry Caldwell and wife had ten children, three of whom are deceased: Sarah, Jane and Margaret are now living with our subject, Mr. Samuel I. Caldwell; Thomas died when four years old, and Nancy died in 1869, aged forty-six years; Mary is the widow of Park Hutchinson, and lives in Pawnee County, Neb.; Eliza is the wife of farmer Moses Erwin, of Pawnee County, Neb.; Henry died of exhaustion and a congestive chill incurred while fighting the battle of Vicksburg. He was in Co. E, 59th Ind. Regt., and participated in some very severe engagements; Robert S. is farming in Tuscola County, Mich.; he took to wife Miss Mary A. Taylor, of Holmes County, Ohio.

After Mr. Caldwell, of whom we write, grew to manhood, he was married in Wayne County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Deppen. Mrs. C. was born in Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio when a girl of ten years with her parents. Later they moved farther west, and the father, Alexander Deppen, died near Cedarville, in this county, in 1883, aged sixty-nine years. The mother, Susanna Deppen, nee Heckard, is still living near Cedarville, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Mary A. Caldwell died at her home in Rock Run Township, Feb. 18, 1871, leaving five children, one of whom died in infancy. They were named respectively, Anna M., Alexander D., Lizzie B. and Mary E. Those living are at home, and the three eldest have completed their studies at Monmouth College, this State. Mrs. Caldwell was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years.

The second marriage of Mr. Caldwell occurred in Greene County, Ind., on Nov. 25, 1875. The lady of his choice was Miss Margaret E. Rankin, daughter of Aaron B. and Margarie (Lockhart) Rankin, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Caldwell was born Dec. 15, 1847, and went to Greene County, Ind., with her father in 1856, where the latter subsequently died, May 15, 1884, aged sixty-six years. He was a farmer by occupation, and had been an honest, upright man. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Republican. The mother is yet living with her son, Nathan H., in Greene County, Ind., aged sixty-seven years. They had eight children, one of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Caldwell was the third child, and the other members of the family are Mary J., Thomas B., Harriet M., N. Hood, John H. and Oliver S.

Mrs. Caldwell in her childhood manifested a love for knowledge, and early in life became a teacher. She was thus engaged when she met Mr. Caldwell. She is the mother of one child, Emma J. Mr. Caldwell came to Illinois in March, 1866, and settled at once in Lancaster Township. After living there one year he purchased land in Rock Run Township, 260 acres on section 7. He came to Dakota Township in November, 1886, and here owns two lots, upon which he has built an elegant residence, and fitted it up with all the comforts and conveniences of a modern home. It is beautiful to the eye, as will be seen from the fine lithographic view presented elsewhere.

Mr. Caldwell enlisted in the three months' service at the call of President Lincoln in the early days of the war in Co. F, 166th Ohio Regt., but saw no active service, and after four months of army life received his discharge. He is a Prohibitionist, and in 1886 voted the Republican ticket. His wife and children have been members of the United Presbyterian Church for some years.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 694