| Dallas County, TXGenWeb

SOLOMON W. CALDWELL is another one of the venerable pioneers of Texas. He came here in 1841, when he was twenty--three years of age, working his way by driving a team for a man who was traveling to this State. Here he found employment as a farm hand and worked in this way until he was able to -buy a piece of land. He had many difficulties to meet and overcome, as did all the early settlers. When he first camped on the little creek where he now lives, Mr. Caldwell had to go four miles for water. On one occasion, while lie was gone for water and his wife was getting supper, a panther approached, attracted by the odor of the meat she was cooking. She threw it the pan of meat, and when it had eaten the morsel it went away satisfied. Bears were also troublesome and frequently made raids on their hogs. Worse to be dreaded than the wild animals were the savage Indians.

Mr. Caldwell was born in the Territory of Illinois in 1818, on the 26th day of March.

His father, Matthew Caldwell, was born in Union district, South Carolina, in 1783. He was first married in South Carolina and moved to Kentucky when that State was a Territory. There he reared a family of six children: Curtis; John; Isaac; Christian, wife of John Couch; Sallie, wife of Thomas Cowsert; and Pollie, wife of a Mr. Williams. Of the children by his father's first wife Mr. Caldwell knows nothing, having lost trace of them years ago. After the death of his wife in Kentucky, Matthew Caldwell was married, in that State, to Nancy White, who was born in North Carolina in 1785, their marriage occurring in 1803. About 1817 they moved to Illinois.

By his second wife he had five children, namely: Meron, wife of John Eads; Matthew H.; George H.; Solomon W.; and Hugh C. The subject of our sketch is the fourth-born in this family and is the only survivor. His father died in 1826, at the age of sixty-three years, and his mother in 1837, aged fifty- three.

When he came to Texas Mr. Caldwell first located in Red River county. In 1842 he was there married to Miss Leona Crownover, who was born June 3, 1820. After twelve years of wedded life she died, in 1854, aged thirty- four years, leaving no children.

Mr. Caldwell had taken a headright of 320 acres. He sold that and moved to Dallas County in 1850. Here he pre-empted 160 acres and bought ninety-nine acres more, making in all 259 acres, his present farm. September 5, 1855, he, Caldwell was united in marriage with Miss Martha Ann Coats who was born January 1, 1837. Samuel Coats, her father, was a native of South Carolina, born in 1802, and her- mother, nee Nancy Jones, was born in 1800. Mr. Coats moved to Texas in 1844 and settled in Dallas county. His death occurred in 1874, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife died in 1872, aged seventy-two. They were the parents of eleven children, viz.: John J.; Thomas D.; Fannie, wife of J. P. Lawrence; Elizabeth, wife of E. C. Browder; James A.; Nancy; Martha A. and Marion A. (twins); John W.; Sarah M.. wife of Bennett Manning; Pernicia, wife of Ballis Johnson. Of this numerous family only three are living; Mrs. Caldwell, Mrs. Lawrence and Marion A. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have had six children, namely: Nancy E., wife of W. H. Coyle; Samuel B., who married Virginia Singletery; James A., who married Mary May; John D., who married Sallie McNeal; Mary J., deceased; and Mattie, wife of William White. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Mr. Caldwell served in the Mexican war, and is now a Mexican pensioner, drawing $8 per month.

ADDITIONAL NOTES; Soloman Caldwell s first wife, Elizabeth Leona Crownover was the first person buried at what became Long Creek Cemetery, Sunnyvale, Texas.

Mr. Caldwell was a member of Scyene Lodge #295, Scyene, Dallas County, Texas.

Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas, pages 551-552 (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892)
Transcribed by Robert Bennett

Dallas County, TXGenWeb

Solomon W. Caldwell

March 26, 1818 - Feb 1894