CALDWELL, WILLIAM, was born Dec. 15, 1779, in Nansemond county, Va. His father, Thomas Caldwell, was born in Ireland, and married there to Betsy Harris, a Welch lady. They emigrated to America, and landed at Charleston, South Carolina, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Virginia. At the time of Thomas Caldwell's death, he and his wife had a home in the family of the son William. John C. Calhoun was related on the side of his mother to the Caldwell family, and there is the source from which that distinguished statesman obtained his middle name: John Caldwell Calhoun. When William Caldwell was a youth, his parents left Virginia and moved to Jessamine county, Ky. Nancy Roberts was born Sept. 24, 1782, in Goochland county, Va., and when young, went to Jessamine county, Ky. William Caldwell and Nancy Roberts were married Feb. 7, 1804. They had six living children in Jessamine county, and the family moved to Green county, Ill., in 1831, and in 1836 moved to Sangamon county, Ill., and settled in what is now Auburn township. Of their children--

GEORGE L., born Dec. 6, 1804, in Kentucky, married Sept. 10, 1829, to Polly Roberts. She inherited two negro slaves (a man and woman) from the estate of her father. On May 7, 1830, they took advantage of the absence of Mr. Caldwell, who was Sheriff of the county at the time, and strangled his wife to death with a small cord. They then placed her in a natural position in bed, bandaged her head, and placed such medicines on a stand, within her reach, as she would have been likely to use if she had been indisposed, and left her until it was discovered by other members of the family. The bruises on the neck excited suspicion, and the blacks being charged with the crime, confessed that they had taken her life, hoping by that means to be sent to their former home. The man was an old, trusted carriage servant, and forced the woman to assist him. They were tried, and, upon their own confession, convicted and hung. George L. Caldwell was married Sept. 27, 1831, to Eliza McDowell. They had one son, and Mrs. Caldwell died June 18, 1839, and Mr. Caldwell died Sept. 30, 1840. Neither of them ever came to Sangamon county. Their son GEORGE M. CALDWELL is the extensive stock-raiser near Williamsville, in this county.

JOHN, born Jan. 21, 1807, in Kentucky, came to Carrollton, Ill., in 1827. He was married there Jan. 23, 1834, to Mary J. Davis. She was born near Danville, Ky., Jan. 16, 1815. When a young lady, she rode on horseback from Danville, Ky., to Tallahassee, Florida, and returned to Danville, and after a short visit, continued her journey to Carrollton, Ill., a distance of at least two thousand miles. John Caldwell and wife had five children, namely: WILLIAM C., born March 15, 1835, married Jan. 14, 1864, to Sarah C. Baucom, who was born Nov. 16, 1840, in Sangamon county, They reside eight miles southwest of Springfield. JANE Y. died in her eleventh year; BETSY in her seventh year; HENRY died in infancy. BENJAMIN F., born Aug. 2, 1848, in Greene county, Ill., was married May 27, 1873, to Julia F. Cloyd, who was born March 7, 1856, in the southeast corner of Curran township, Sangamon county. Immediately after their marriage they left for New York, via Detroit and Suspension Bridge. At New York took steamer (June 4th) for Queenstown, Ireland, where they landed June 14th. Passed through Ireland to Belfast; thence to Scotland, down through the centre of England to London; from there through Holland, Belgium and smaller German States, to Berlin, in Prussia; thence to Vienna Exposition, across the Alps into Italy, meeting with the unexpected pleasure of an audience with Pius the IX. Returning, passed through Mt. Cenis tunnel, thence by Geneva to Paris; from Paris back to London, thence to Liverpool, taking steamer for Boston, where they arrived Oct. 6th, same year. Distance traveled in round trip, 14,000 miles. Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Caldwell have one child, MARY JANE, who was born March 20, 1874. They reside near Chatham, Sangamon county, Ill. John Caldwell died of heart disease, Aug. 1, 1863, after a painful illness, and his widow resides eight and a half miles southwest of Springfield, and one and a half miles north of Chatham.

JANE R., born April 15, 1809, married in Kentucky to Minor T. Young. Came to Illinois, and she died Jan. 21, 1844, in Curran township.

ELIZABETH, born Aug. 17, 1812, married Jan. 12, 1831, to Albert G. Talbott. She died April 29, 1838, leaving three children in Kentucky, namely: MARY A. married Dr. William Tomlinson. The sons are WILLIAM P. and ALBERT G., Jun.

CHARLES H., born March 18, 1818, in Kentucky, died May 24, 1833, at Jacksonville, Ill., while a student at Illinois College.

WILLIAM, Jun., born Aug. 14, 1820, in Kentucky, married Sept. 30, 1842, in Mercer county, Ky., to Mary J. Campbell. Mr. Caldwell died June 29, 1844. His widow married Mr. (???) Moore, and resides at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Mo.

William Caldwell, Sen., died Aug. 1, 1844, and his widow died Dec. 19, 1858, both at the southeast corner of Curran township.

When he moved from Auburn to Curran township, in 1841, there was not a place for holding religious worship near him. In order to afford temporary accommodations, he constructed his residence in such a manner that it could be used for that purpose. It consisted of a large central room, with three other large rooms opening into it. Plans were laid, before his death, for building a church, and on his death bed he requested that it be called Bethel, which was done, as the Christian Church near where he lived bears that name. Mr. Caldwell was a man of great public spirit all his life. He was Captain of a company from Jessamine county, Ky., in the war of 1812. A younger brother was a member of his company, and was taken prisoner at the battle of the river Raisin. He came near freezing to death while confined in a rail pen in Canada. William Caldwell was Sheriff of Jessamine county, Ky., and represented the county several times in the State Legislature. He represented Sangamon county two terms in the Legislature of Illinois.