Waller C. Caldwell

Waller C. Caldwell (May 14, 1849 – December 23, 1924) was a Tennessee lawyer and judge who served as a justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1886 to 1902.

Early life, education, and career Caldwell was born in Obion County, Tennessee. His father died when he was three years old, and Caldwell eventually supported his widowed mother and his own education. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi.

Following his graduation, Caldwell practiced law at Trenton, Tennessee, until 1883, when he was appointed a member of the Commission of Referees for the middle division of the state. receiving on the call of the roll a larger vote than was cast for any other candidate. A contemporaneous biography of Caldwell in The Green Bag stated:

He was noted for expertise in two areas of law in particular, those being the law of common carriers and of taxation.

Caldwell was reelected 1894, serving as a member of the court until 1902, when he voluntarily retired and resumed the practice of law. He retired from active practice some years before his death.

Personal life and death On October 22, 1874, Caldwell married Ella Green, daughter of Cumberland Chancellor Nathan Green Jr. and granddaughter of former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Nathan Green Sr. Caldwell was thereby the brother-in-law of Grafton Green, who later served as chief justice of the same court. With Ella, Caldwell had a son and two daughters.

Caldwell died at his family's winter home at Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 75. His body was transported to Trenton, Tennessee, the following day, where he funeral was held the next day after that.