James N. Caldwell
Major James N. Caldwell, of Carthage, was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, November 17, 1817. His father, Samuel Caldwell, was a master builder in Philadelphia, from which place he moved to Cincinnati in 1794, and settled at North Bend. He afterwards kept a dry goods store in Cincinnati; but moved to Franklin in 1808, where he died in 1848. He was a prominent man, holding the offices of judge of the common pleas court, was a member of the legislature, also a State senator. J. N. Caldwell received a good, liberal education at the college of Hanover, Indiana. Was a cadet at the West Point academy from 1836 to 1840, graduating at that time and promoted to brevet second lieutenancy, and from there served in the Florida war -- 1840 as second lieutenant, and on frontier duty from 1841 to 1845; then in the recruiting service, one year after which he was placed at different posts in Texas, and promoted to the positions of first lieutenant and then to that of captain. In 1861 he entered the service as commander of the barracks at Key West, Florida, and was promoted to major of infantry February 27, 1862, his corps operating principally in Tennessee and Kentucky. December 31, 1862, for gallantry and meritorious services at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonelcy. In 1863, on account of ill health and disability, he retired from the service, and was for one year -- 1866-7 -- member of the executive board of candidates for promotion in the army at Louisville, Kentucky. January 1, 1866, per special order No. 198, A. G. O., he was detailed as professor of military science at Louisville, Kentucky, and at his own request relieved in 1869, since which time he has lived on his farm at Carthage.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881