Samuel L. Caldwell, a prominent merchant in Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on November 26, 1849, to Allen and Ellen J. Caldwell. Allen Caldwell, a pioneer in Ohio, was born on March 24, 1816, and was the son of Crawford Caldwell, an Irish immigrant. Samuel spent his early years on his father’s farm and later pursued education at the National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio. He taught school and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1879. Samuel moved to Auburn in 1884, where he became a school principal and later a police judge. In 1887, he married Mary A. Wood, who successfully ran a millinery and dry goods store in Auburn. Samuel Caldwell was active in community service, notably as an Odd Fellow, and served multiple terms as a police judge.
Samuel L. Caldwell, a merchant of Auburn, Nebraska, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on November 26, 1849, a member of one of the pioneer families of that state. His father, Allen Caldwell, was born there on March 24, 1816, son of Crawford Caldwell, a native of the north of Ireland, born about 1792. Crawford Caldwell, at the age of seven years, was brought to this country, was reared in New York state, and in early life became one of the pioneer farmers of Ross County, Ohio. He married a Miss McClure, and to them were given three sons and four daughters. One son died in infancy. William died unmarried at the old homestead at the age of thirty-three years. The daughters all married, had families, and lived to old age. Nancy, wife of John Bruce, of Highland County, Ohio, died in the spring of 1903, at the age of eighty-one years. The youngest, Mrs. Katie Nixon, is now in her seventy-fifth year. Grandmother Caldwell passed away in 1859 at the age of sixty years, and grandfather Caldwell died in 1872. By industry and good management in their frontier home, they accumulated a competency and in their later years had all the comforts of life. Both were consistent and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Allen Caldwell married, in 1838 in Ross County, Miss Ellen J. Winegar, who was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, near the famous Natural Bridge, on December 27, 1822, daughter of John Winegar, born at that place about 1776. Mr. Winegar was a farmer. In the year 1830, he moved to Ohio, where his last days were spent. His family of four sons and three daughters all married and reared families. Ellen J. was the youngest. The only survivor of the seven at this writing is Walter Winegar, seventy-five years of age, a resident of Highland County, Ohio. By trade, Allen Caldwell was a wagon-maker, but early in life, he turned his attention to farming and was thus occupied for many years. Politically he was a Whig. For twenty years he was a justice of the peace. He was well posted on general subjects and had rare legal ability, and his opinion was often sought and always valued. By word and act, he strongly opposed slavery. Like his parents before him, both he and his wife were active supporters of the Methodist church. Physically he was of fine proportions, six feet and one inch high, weighing two hundred and twenty pounds in his prime. He died on December 23, 1896, and was laid to rest on Christmas day. He left to his children a good estate and what was far better than money and lands—a good name. The devoted wife and loving mother survived him until April 17, 1903, when her death occurred at the age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of fourteen children: John C., a farmer and stock dealer of Highland County, Ohio, is one of the most prominent men in that county, where he has served seven consecutive years as county commissioner, elected on the Republican ticket; he has been twice married and is the father of fourteen children. William H. is also a respected farmer of Highland County, Ohio; James E., a farmer and shoe merchant, died December 23, 1872, at the age of thirty years, leaving one daughter; Noble B., a retired farmer of Des Moines, Iowa, has three sons and four daughters; Sarah Ellen, wife of Washington Arnott, died in Ohio in 1895, leaving four children; Nancy, wife of J. C. Town, an Ohio farmer, has nine children; Samuel L. is the direct subject of this sketch; Walter W., a merchant, died in Ohio in 1897 at the age of forty-five years, leaving seven children; Maggie J., widow of James M. Hughey, resides in Greenfield, Ohio; David A., a farmer in Ohio; Abigail, wife of Cary A. Cowman, an Ohio farmer, has two children; Joseph L., an attorney of Greenfield, Ohio; Frank S., an Ohio farmer, has two sons; and O. D., chief of police in Greenfield, Ohio.
Samuel L. Caldwell spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm. During the Civil War, he was not old enough to enlist in the service of his country, as did other members of the family, but he made a hand on the farm, and thus it was that being detained at home to work, it was not until after he was sixteen years old that he was able to obtain much schooling. Then he went to the town schools and later to the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He completed the scientific course in the normal at Lebanon in 1880. Meanwhile, he taught school and studied law, and in 1879 was admitted to the bar in Washington Court House, Ohio. After this, he was engaged in teaching high school. Two years he was principal of the high school at Prairie City, Iowa. In the fall of 1884, he came to Auburn to accept the principalship of the schools at this place, a position which he filled for two years. During this time he was elected the first police judge of Auburn, which office he resigned, after two and a half years of service, in order to accept the position of principal in the South Omaha schools. That was in the fall of 1886.
In Auburn, June 8, 1887, Mr. Caldwell married Miss Mary A. Wood, a native of Greencastle, Indiana, born in 1860, daughter of Willis P. and Eliza (Moore) Wood, natives of Putnam County, Indiana. In the Wood family are two sons and two daughters, Mrs. Caldwell being the eldest. Her brothers are Frank and Nelson, the former a resident of Kansas, the latter of Indiana. Her sister Millie J. is the wife of Edward F. Stone, of Greencastle.
In March 1893, Mrs. Caldwell opened a millinery store in Auburn, and was so successful in the venture that from time to time the establishment was enlarged. In September 1902, a full line of well-selected dry goods was added and another room occupied. The business is conducted under the firm name of Caldwell & Caldwell, and their two adjoining, well-stocked rooms form one of the best stores in the town. Mrs. Caldwell attended DePauw University and previous to her marriage was a teacher in Indiana. In Auburn, she is popular in both business and social circles. She is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both she and Mr. Caldwell are members, and in the Rebekah degree branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows she has been honored with high official position, being president of the state organization. Her fraternity work takes her to various towns and cities in Nebraska, at all of which places her pleasant speech and her gracious manner have won for her the high esteem of her sisters and brothers of the order. Mr. Caldwell is an Odd Fellow. Politically he may be classed as a Populist who has come from the Republican ranks. He served as clerk of the district court of Nemaha County for one year. Recently he has retired from his fourth term in the office of police judge, having served in all nine years in that office.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company, A Biographical and Genealogical History of Southeastern Nebraska, 2 volumes, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904.