John Henry Caldwell

For other people with the same name, see John Caldwell (disambiguation).

John Henry Caldwell (April 4, 1826 – September 4, 1902) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.

John Henry Caldwell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 5th district
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by	Peter M. Dox
Succeeded by	Robert F. Ligon
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1857-1858
Personal details
Born	John Henry Caldwell (1826-04-04)April 4, 1826 Huntsville, Alabama
Died	September 4, 1902(1902-09-04) (aged 76) Jacksonville, Alabama
Political party	Democratic

Early life and education

Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Caldwell attended the common schools of Huntsville and Bacon College, Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Teaching career

He taught school in Limestone County, Alabama, four years. He moved to Jacksonville, Alabama, in 1848. He was principal of the Jacksonville Female Academy 1848-1852 and of the Jacksonville Male Academy 1853-1857. Caldwell edited the Jacksonville Republican in 1851 and 1852 and assumed the editorship of the Sunny South in 1855. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1857 and 1858.

Legal career

He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice in Jacksonville, Alabama.

American Civil War

During the Civil War enlisted in the Confederate States Army and organized Company A of the Tenth Alabama Regiment, from St. Clair and Calhoun Counties, and served throughout the war. He was promoted to major and then to lieutenant colonel. He served in the Army of Virginia.

Political career

Caldwell was elected solicitor for the tenth judicial circuit in 1863 but was deposed by the Provisional Governor in 1865. He was reelected the same year, and in 1867 was removed from office for refusing to obey military orders.

Caldwell was first elected to congress on November 5, 1872 as a fusion candidate of the Liberal Republican and Democratic parties. He received 62.62% of the vote. He was elected to represent Alabama's 5th congressional district, which at the time encompassed the most north-eastern part of Alabama.

He was re-elected in 1874 as a straight Democrat with 59.19% of the vote. Caldwell was a member of the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877). He served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture (Forty-fourth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1876.

Later life and death

He resumed the practice of law. He died in Jacksonville, Alabama, September 4, 1902. He was interred in Jacksonville Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "John Henry Caldwell (id: C000035)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Dubin, Michael J. "United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results". McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Jefferson, North Carolina. 1998.
• The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress