A. B. CALDWELL. Washington county has possessed many prominent citizens; but in all their number can be found no one more truly representative, more widely and actively awake to the interests of the community at large than was the subject of this sketch. A self-made man in its truest and broadest sense, by his own energy and untiring efforts A. B. Caldwell, rose from the humble ranks of a poor farm boy, to the proud distinction of being one of the most universally respected and influential merchant citizens of Washington county. The Caldwell family are descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, who were among the pioneer settlers of Pennsylvania. The first of the family to settle in Washington county was Samuel Caldwell (grandfather of subject), who made his cabin home with the then scattered settlers of Buffalo township. Here, surrounded by the dangers of those early days, enduring the privations which none but a pioneer can know, his children were born. Of them James Caldwell (father of subject) was born in 1797. Upon reaching manhood he married Miss Esther McCracken, daughter of a neighboring pioneer. The young couple made their home in their native township, and began tilling the soil; but some years later, in connection with farming, he opened and kept, on the "Old West Pike," the "Caldwell Inn," within whose hospitable walls so many travelers have found food and shelter. The original inn, like its builders, has passed away, but in its place stands another hostelry, built on the same plan, in 1883, by the subject of this sketch. James and Esther Caldwell were the parents of the following named children: Samuel, who died in Missouri; John, who died in Illinois; Joseph, William, A. B. and Esther, who resided in Washington county, and of whom only Esther is now (1893) living. The father of this family died in 1839, aged forty-two years, the mother in 1875, at the age of seventy-five. A.B. Caldwell was born in 1828. He was but eleven years of age when his father died, thus throwing upon the mother the entire care and responsibility of the family, and necessitating that the children should early participate in the real battle of life, and contribute to their own support. a woman of sterling character herself, Mrs. Caldwell labored to keep her family together, and impress them with the principles of the strictest honesty. Ever entertaining for his mother the greatest reverence and affection, her son readily imbibed her teachings, that did much to mold his after life. At the age of sixteen he went to Claysville, Washington county, where he clerked for a time, and then formed a partnership with a Mr. Stillwagen. This partnership continued for three years, when, selling the interest to his partner, in January, 1852, Mr. Caldwell came to Washington, and took charge of William Smith's dry-goods store, where as manager he remained twelve years. In 1858 Mr. Caldwell was united in marriage with Miss Mary Lockert, a member of a most highly respected and prominent pioneer family of Washington, and of this union children have been born as follows: Minnie, George, Essie, charles and Kate. In 1865 he began business for himself in the room now occupied by Brown's dry-goods store. Under his efficient management his business steadily increased, and in 1873 he erected in Main street, opposite the courthouse, one of the finest blocks in Washington, which he immediately stocked with an extensive line of dry goods, carpets, clothing and merchant tailoring supplies. His business soon became the most extensive in the place, and his annual receipts averaged from $125,000 to $140,000. At the time of his death, which occurred October 27, 1892, he was the only citizen in Washington paying a license of over $100 a year, for general business. But, extensive as was his business interests in the line enumerated, his entire time was by no means absorbed, and he always found opportunity and disposition to take an active part in every enterprise tending to the social and business interests of his town and county. The bare probability that beneath the fertile fields of Washington county lay stores of buried wealth in the shape of oil and gas, was sufficient to arouse to activity in mr. Caldwell his innate spirit of leadership, and he became the pioneer in these industries, which have in their development so largely contributed to the prosperity of western Pennsylvania. He drilled quite extensively for oil, and ten producing wells in Buffalo township repaid his enterprise and investment. In 1891 he organized The Leader Refining Company, of which he was the owner, and built on the B. & O. R. R., seven miles west of Washington, a refinery with a capacity of 400 barrels per day. At the organization of the People's Light & Heat Company-a corporation which supplies the boroughs of Washington with those two essentials-he became the principal stockholder, and was elected its president, a position he held during the rest of his life. At the time of his death he was a director of the Washington County Fir Insurance Company. Mr. Caldwell was a man of wonderful push, pluck and perseverance, and it may truly be said that no man did more to advance the interests of Washington than he. And these very qualities, which contributed so largely to the advantage of the community at large, brought to him his own almost unparalleled success, and made him one of the wealthiest men of Washington county. One of his especially distinguishing chracteristics was his love of home. His wife and children were to him the dearest subjects of life, and his happiest moments were those spent by his own fireside surrounded by his loved ones. His residence on East Wheeling Street, Washington, one of the handsomest in the borough, improved and beautified to the highest degree, and surrounded by its broad and well-kept lawn, bespeaks the refined and cultured taste of the once owner. An ardent lover of nature, passionately fond of flowers, Mr. Caldwell found great comfort in the study of these "angels of the grass," and owned the largest private conservatory in western Pennsylvania. Gifted with an inquiring mind, he loved to investigate the mysteries of nature, of life and death. Surrounded by the conflict of creeds and theories, in the twilight of uncertainty he set his face toward the light and sought for Truth, and firmly stood by and fearlessly proclaimed the result of his investigation. While many of his friends and neighbors differed from him in religious opinions advanced, not one was found to question the sterling honesty of the advocate. Possessing a nature sympathetic, generous and just, he was moved by the sufferings or misfortunes of his fellow-man; the open hand of deserving charity found him ever a willing giver, and he was just to render unto every man his due. While interested in all questions of government and State, and a staunch Democrat in sentiment, yet he preferred the quiet of home life as a private citizen, to the turmoil of political struggles. On October 27,1892, after weeks of wasting illness, Mr. Caldwell passed from earth, and his remains now rest on the hillside in the beautiful Washington cemetery, which overlooks the town where most of his busy life was spent. Years and generations yet to be will feel the influence of the life of A. B. Caldwell.

Text taken from page 104 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Alexander S. Caldwell of Tulare, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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