Joseph A. Caldwell

CALDWELL, LOYD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/21/2007 at 22:37:43

Source: Monona County History 1890
Chicago National Pub

Joseph A. Caldwell, whose pleasant residence is upon his well-situated and fertile farm on section 10, St Clair Township, although not one of the county’s pioneer settlers, is by no means, behind the best in those qualities essential to a successful career and financial prosperity. He came to Monona County in the fall of 1871, on a tour of investigation, and after a few days returned to Marion County, Iowa, from which, the following spring, he came by team to this section, and located on a rented farm in St. Clair Township. For two years he tried single blessedness, keeping house in a dug-out cabin, but the third year boarded with E. A. Stapelton of whom he rented a piece of land. In 1875 he squatted upon the land now occupied by the town site of Ute, and built him a sod house, in which he lived and kept bachelor’s hall until January, 1877. Again renting a farm, he there made his home for two years, at the expiration of which he purchased his present place, upon which there was no other improvement than a small shanty. Here he resided, breaking up the land and bringing it into cultivation, until the fall of 1882, when he put up his present residence. There were but few settlers in this part of the county at the time of his coming here, and few, if any, frame houses, most every-thing in the way of houses being dug-outs or sod cabins.
Mr. Caldwell, a native of Marion County, Iowa, was born November 18, 1850. Reared upon a farm, remained with his parents, James and Maria E. Caldwell, until attaining his twenty third year, when he came to Monona County. January 11, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine N. Loyd, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Loyd, and a sister of George e. Loyd, a well-known resident of St. Clair Township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, Mrs. Caldwell was born in Davis County, Iowa, November 22, 1853, and when a child removed with her parents to Appanoose County. IN 1873 she came to Monona County, and made her home with her brother George until her marriage. She is the mother of two children, Claud A., born October 14, 1877, and Dwight R., born July 5, 1883.