John W. Caldwell

John William Caldwell (January 15, 1837 – July 4, 1903) was a U.S. representative from Kentucky.

Early life and family John W. Caldwell was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on January 15, 1837. He was the son of Austin and Louisa (Harrison) Caldwell. Austin Caldwell died in 1843, leaving John Caldwell as his only living child. With the duties of caring for his father's estate, Caldwell was only able to attend the common schools of Logan and Christian Counties until age fourteen.

Caldwell again broke his left arm at the Battle of Chickamauga. Because of this, the Board of Army Surgeons offered him a medical retirement, but he declined, rejoining his regiment in Dalton, Georgia, two weeks later. At the end of the war, he surrendered his forces at Washington, Georgia, and was paroled as a prisoner of war on May 6, 1865.

Political career Caldwell resumed the practice of law in Russellville. He was elected judge of the Logan County Court in August 1866 and reelected in 1870, serving eight years. Two years after his retirement from the bench, he was elected as a Democrat to represent the Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883). He was known as an advocate of home rule, tariff reform, hard money, and conservatism in public expenditures. Due to ill health, he declined to be a candidate for reelection although he faced no Republican opposition for the seat.

Later life and death After his time in Congress, Caldwell did not return to his legal practice, but became president of the Logan County Bank. He died in Russellville on July 4, 1903, and was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery.