Columbus Caldwell (September 25, 1830 – December 18, 1908) was an American farmer and politician. Born in

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

, Chautauqua County, New York, Caldwell moved with his parents to

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belmont was ...

in 1836. Caldwell settled first in

Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha () is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the seat of Kenosha County. Per the 2020 census, the population was 99,986 which made it the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Kenos ...

and then

Rochester, Wisconsin Rochester is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,785 at the 2020 census. The village is located within the former Town of Rochester. On November 4, 2008, the village of Rochester voted to consolidate with ...

. In 1849, Caldwell finally settled in Lind, Wisconsin. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, Caldwell enlisted in the

1st Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry Regiment The 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment is most notable as one of two cavalry regiments credited with the final capture of Confederate preside ...

as a private. Caldwell served in the Lind Town Board and served as chairman of the town board. He also served as Waupaca County register of deeds and was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. In 1873 and 1874, Caldwell served in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

. He was appointed the first commandant of the soldiers house at

Waupaca, Wisconsin Waupaca is a city in and the county seat of Waupaca County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 6,282 at the 2020 census. The city is located mostly within the Town of Waupaca, and it is politically independent of the town. A p ...

. Caldwell died in Waupaca, Wisconsin.'Capt. Columbus Caldwell,' Waukesha Freeman, January 14, 1909, pg. 4

Notes

1830 births 1908 deaths People from Charlotte, New York People from Waupaca County, Wisconsin People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Farmers from Wisconsin County officials in Wisconsin Wisconsin city council members Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly People from Kenosha, Wisconsin People from Rochester, Wisconsin 19th-century American politicians {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Republican-1830s-stub