From "HISTORY OF WHEELING and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens."  Edited & Compiled by Hon. Gibson Lamb 
Cranmer.  Biographical Publishing, 1902; pgs. 606-609. 

HENRY C. CALDWELL

     Henry C. Caldwell, a retired real estate dealer of Wheeling, 
Ohio county, West Virginia, comes from one of the oldest and most 
honorable families of our country, and is himself well known as a 
good and worthy citizen.  He is a son of Joseph and Catherine Ross 
(Thompson) Caldwell, and was born February 25, 1832.
     Joseph Caldwell was one of the most useful and industrious men 
of his time.  He first saw the light of day August 8, 1777, in 
Pennsylvania, and came to Wheeling with his parents when but six 
weeks old.  He served as captain in the War of 1812 with honor, and 
received a grant of land for services rendered.  At different times 
he was a sheriff, merchant, banker, and county justice.  Joseph 
Caldwell was thrice married.  His first wife was Mary Yarnell before 
marriage.  She bore him six children, all of whom are deceased.  They 
were, - Ann M. (Moyston); Caroline M. Wilson; Mary (Merritt); Aquilla 
Bolton (Caldwell); James; and Phebe (Pierce).  The mother of these 
children died February 16, 1819.  On June 22, 1820, Joseph Caldwell 
married the mother of Henry C., whose maiden name was Catherine Ross 
Thompson.  She was descended from one of the most prominent families 
in the East, and her mother opened the ball at Washington's 
inauguration.  Gen. Robert Cadwalader, James Wilson, George Ross, and 
George Reed were all her uncles.  The last three were signers of the 
Declaration of Independence.  In addition to the half-brother and 
sisters above mentioned, Henry C. Caldwell has four own brothers and 
three own sisters, the former being as follows:  George Edward; 
Joseph T.; Alexander J., a prosperous planter in Texas; and S. B., a 
traveling dentist, who now resides at Wheeling. The three sisters 
died in infancy.  The mother of these children was born in 1801, and 
died July 6, 1856.  She was reared in the Protestant Episcopal church 
and was an active member all her life.  Joseph Caldwell lived to the 
good old age of eighty-seven years and died in 1864.
     Henry C. Caldwell received his early mental training at West 
Alexander, Pennsylvania, there attending an academy under the 
auspices of the state presbytery.  After the termination of his 
school days, Mr. Caldwell found employment in steamboating on the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries.  He continued in 
this for twenty-three years, serving at various times as clerk and 
captain.  Some time afterward, he became secretary of the Wheeling 
Lime & Cement Company's plant, of which he was part owner, but which 
is not in operation at the present time.  Mr. Caldwell finally 
engaged in the real estate business, and, although retired at the 
present time, he still does some active business in real estate.
     Mr. Caldwell was united in marriage April 25, 1867, with Alice 
B. Hughes, who was born in Wheeling, and attended school at Weston, 
West Virginia.  Six children have blessed this union, namely;  Harry, 
deceased; Elizabeth; Frank C.; Alice M.; William E. H.; and George E.  
Elizabeth married James Stephens, is a resident of Chicago, Illinois, 
and has two children, - Henry C. and Mary G. Frank C. is engaged in 
the feed business on Twenty-ninth street and has served as councilman 
one term. Alice M. is  at home.  William E. H. is a student in the 
Northwestern University Dental School at Chicago, in the class of 
1902.  George E. is a graduate of Linsly Institute in the class of 
1901.
     In religious views, the preference is given by the family to the 
Protestant Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Caldwell is an active 
working member.  In fraternal circles Mr. Caldwell is a member of the 
Masonic order.  In politics he is a Democrat, although quite 
independent, and for six years, or three terms, he was a member of 
the first branch of the Wheeling council.        
         
       
(Linda Fluharty)