Biographies
Jonathan M. Caldwell, farmer of Spring City, Rhea Co., Tenn., was born in that city May 11, 1819, and is the son of David and Elizabeth (Givens) Caldwell. The father came to Rhea County about 1818, was a farmer by occupation, and a Democrat in politics. The mother was born in Blount County, Tenn., and both died in Rhea County. Three children are now living of the twelve born to this union, our subject being the eldest. He secured his education in the home schools, and remained at home until his thirtieth year, when he was elected sheriff for three terms; he also collected taxes one or two years; he then purchased land near Spring City, and here he has since remained. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic faternity, and an excellent citizen. In 1858 he married Miss Victoria Darwin, a native of Rhea County, born about 1839. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children; Nettie, Walter A., Nancy A., James A., Vesta, Eva, Jessie, Kittie, Cecil and Edwin; Calla died when six years of age. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company B, Twenty-sixth Tennessee Infantry, was made lieutenant, and was in the service until failure of health.
James P. Collins, an enterprising farmer of the Fifth Civil District of Rhea County, Tenn., was born in Sevier County, the same State, January 6, 1811, a son of Henry and Rebecca (Pierce) Collins. John Collins, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native Virginian, and died in Jefferson County, East. Tenn., when Henry, the father of our subject, was about fourteen years of age. Henry Collins was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1783, and died at the residence of his son, our subject, in 1848. In 1797 the Collins family moved to Jefferson County, Tenn. Henry moved to Sevier County, Tenn., and from there to Rhea County, in 1813, and was among the first settlers of the latter county. He was in the war of 1812, was a sergeant three months, and then came back home and took a team and wagon, and was afterward with Gen. Jackson's army; he was in several battles and numerous skirmishes. He was a Jackson Democrat and a Clay Whig. The mother of our subject was born near Greeneville College, Greene Co., Tenn., in 1783, and died in DeKalb County, Ala., in 1847, while her husband was making that his home. They had ten children, our subject being the only one living. His advantages for an education were poor, but, by improving his time and opportunity, is considered a well-informed man. He lived with his parents until January 13, 1842, when he married Miss Susan H. Darwin, a native of either Jackson or Rhea County, born March 26, 1822, and died July 30, 1866. She was the daughter of James A., and Bethia Darwin, and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. There were seven children left to mourn her loss: James D., Henry C., William G., Alfred S., Elizabeth B., Millard F., and Thomas C.; all now living. Ann E. died just two days before the death of her mother, and was about four years old at the time. Our subject at the time of his marriage purchased 200 acres of land, and a tanyard of his father; he has since improved and purchased, but has quit the tannery business, after working at it for fifteen years. Just after the war he was appointed by the chancery court to serve as clerk and master of Rhea County, has held the office for six years, adn since that time has been justice of the peace. In 1836 he was in the Cherokee service, and assisted in removing the Indians from the Hiwasse and Ocoee Purchases. He is a mason and a Republican.
Thomas N. L. Cunnyngham, an eminent barrister of Dayton, is a native of Rhea County, Tenn., born six miles north of Dayton, August 30, 1840. His parents, Wiley H. and Elvina (Locke) Cunnyngham, were both of Scotch-Irish descent, and natives of Tennessee. The father was born in Monroe County, Tenn., about 1810 and died in Rhea County, September 22, 1862. The mother was born February 6, 1817, is still living, and is a resisdent of Rhea County. They were married in Rhea County, near Washington, about 1836, and since 1844 Rhea County has been their permanent home. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits, was justice of the peace the greater part of his life, and was a tax collector of Rhea County several terms. He was an old line Whig, and a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The mother came of a distinguished family in Rhea County. Her parents were John and Jane Locke. The father was one of the pioneers of Rhea County, and filled the office of circuit court clerk of Rhea County for a number of years. He died in 1840, his wife having died previous to this. Judge Locke, for many years an eminent lawyer and judge of Rhea County, was a brother to the mother of Thomas N. L. Our subject is one of nine children. He secured a liberal education and farming had been his chief occupation up to 1867, at which time he commenced the study of law under Capt. S. J. Frazier and Judge Frank Locke. He obtained his license to practive in the latter part of 1868, and since that date his name has been on the roll of Tennessee attorneys. Previous to this, September 29, 1859, he had married Miss Lorinda J. Smith, a native of Rhea County, Tenn., born April 25, 1842. She died February 26, 1883. October 11, 1883, Mr. Cunnyngham married Miss Kittie J. Coulter, daughter of Gen. T. J. Coulter. By the first union our subject became the father of seven children - four sons and three daughters - one son deceased. To the last marriage were born two daughters, one deceased. In 1884 he came to Dayton. Since the latter part of 1885 he has been a member of the United States Law Association. He has been quite successful in the practice of his profession, and is now associated in the practice of law with R. A. Smith. He is a decided Democrat, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, serving the church as ruling elder over fifteen years. His present wife is a member of the same church, as was also his first wife. Mr. Cunnyngham drew up the charter to incorporate the town of Dayton, in April, 1885, and served as mayor from April, 1885 to April, 1886. He then served one year as recorder and treasurer, and was also at the same time tax collector of said town.
Robert C. M. Cunnyngham, a prominent attorney of Spring City, Rhea Co., Tenn., was born in that county, February 25, 1848, and is the son of Wiley H. and Elvina (Locke) Cunnyngham. The father died in Rhea County, Tenn., in 1862, at the age of fifty-two. He was a farmer and merchant, and, the latter part of his life, was tax collector of Rhea County. He had a good education, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a Whig in politics. The mother's ancestors were from Ireland, and her father came to Rhea County, and was one of the first settlers of that region. He was a farmer, trader and blacksmith, and before his death had accumulated considerable property. The mother of our subject was born in Rhea County, about 1817. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Of their eight, children, all are now living. Our subject received a liberal education. He taught school in Bledsoe County, and then went to Saline County, Ark., where he continued teaching. He afterward went to Texas, and traveled extensively over the State, and then came back to Rhea County. While in Arkansas, he began to read law with Judge W. L. McKinley. After coming back to Rhea County, he completed his course with Judge F. Locke. In 1874 he was admitted to the bar in Washington, Rhea County, and practiced his profession there for two years, after which he went to Rhea Springs. Four years later he moved to Spring City, where he has built up a good practice. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, is a Mason, both Master and Chapter, and is a Democrat. May 30, 1876, Miss Julia B. Blevins, a native of Meigs County, born in 1850, became his wife. To them have been born five children. Those living are John W. C., Nora A., Robert L. C. and Jennie. Ortho J. died in infancy.
Capt. William P. Darwin, an enterprising merchant of Darwin Station, Rhea County, Tenn., was born at his present location, February 22, 1830; son of James A. and Bethia W. (Clements) Darwin, both of Dutch descent. The father was born in Virginia, in 1798, and died in Rhea County, at Darwin Station, in September, 1872. The mother was born in Jackson County, Tenn., in 1816, where they lived four years, then came to Rhea County and settled where our subject now lives, and here remained the balance of their days. The station finally took its name from this family. The father was a farmer, an old line Whig, and last a Democrat, and a worthy member of the Christian Church. The mother was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject is one of fourteen children. He secured a good academic education, and has been engaged in farming all his life, in connection with merchandising. In 1853 he engaged in the mercantile business at Washington, Rhea County, with W. E. Colville, with whom he continued three years, then with H. C. Collins two years, then in the firm of Darwin, Bean & Co., up to the late war. In 1862 he entered the Confederate Army, enlisting as captain of Company C, Sixteenth Battalion of Tennessee Cavalry, and remained captain of that company until the close of the war. He served in both the western and eastern army and was paroled at Athens, Ga., in 1865. For two years after the termination of the war he was in no special business except settling up his father-in-law's (R. N. Gillespie's) estate, having been made executor of the same. In 1860, previous to the war, he married Miss Adelia Gillespie, a native of Rhea County, born July 11, 1839, and to them were born a large family of children. In 1868, he, in connection with H. A. Crawford, engaged in merchandising at Washington, Rhea County, and continued up to 1870, at which time they moved their stock of goods to Orm's store, Bledsoe County, and here remained until about 1878. In 1881 he opened a general merchandise store in Darwin, the firm being Darwin, Crawford & Co. He soon bought out Crawford's interest, and the firm then became Darwin & Son. In 1883 it was changed to Darwin, Allen & Co., and in 1885 it was again changed back to Darwin & Son. Mr. Darwin is a Democrat, and he and wife and five children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Maj. George C. Dodge, a prominent attorney of Spring City, Rhea Co., Tenn., and the son of George C. and Lucy (Burton) Dodge, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 20, 1845. He was educated at the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and at the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio. About this time the war broke out, and at the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company D, Forty-first Ohio Infantry. He went in as orderly sergeant and came out as captain, with the rant of brevet-major. He was attached to the army of the Cumberland and was at all the battles from Shiloh to Nashville, and at Chickamauga received a wound. He was the youngest commissioned officer in the State of Ohio. In December, 1868, he led to the altar Miss Laura J. Gedge, daughter of W. H. Gedge, president at that time of the Kentucky Central Railroad. This union resulted in the birth of two children, one son and one daughter. In 1876 our subject was admitted to the bar and began practicing that year in Cleveland, where he remained until September 19, 1881, when he came to his present location and continued the practice of his profession. Maj. Dodge was secretary of the board of education, and was one of the members of the board.