Types of Successful Men of Texas
Charles G. Caldwell

Austin.

Charles Gallion Caldwell is the son of John and L. W. Caldwell. He is a native Texan; and was born in Bastrop, during the days of the Republic. He received a good English education at Rutersville and Bastrop Military College, taking a general course.

On the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he had just grown up, he promptly volunteered as a private in the Confederate army. He served six months in Kirby's battalion, and during the balance of the war in the Eighth Texas cavalry, known as "Terry's Rangers," except the time lost by sickness and disability. He was with the army up to, and after the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, and took part as a private in that memorable engagement. He was at Goldsborough with General Johnston at the time of his surrender, and leaving soon after arrived at his home in Bastrop, in August 1865.

Just before the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Mr. Caldwell was discharged from the army, temporarily unfit for military duty. Being of a delicate physical organization, he was unequal to the demands made upon the powers of endurance of the average Confederate soldier, but as long as he could put a foot forward or "tote a musket" he never flinched; he performed faithfully every duty of the soldier, in camp, in battle and on the weary exhausting marches so long as his physical powers enabled him to do so, and having broken down in the attempt to do a soldier's full duty, he accepted reluctantly the discharge which his friends had procured for him, and sadly turned his back upon his brave companions in arms. He carried with him, however, back to his home, not only a consciousness of having done his best, but pleasing memories of camp life and of companions. It is a singular fact in our make up, that taking a retrospective glance at our Confederate experiences-the painful and disagreeable memories, which, the Lord knows, largely predominated,--are toned down and appear but dimly in the back ground, while every pleasant feature, every episode of fun, frolic or jest, everything agreeable in the past experience seems focused to the front and stands out with a magnified reality. That has been the experience of most of the Confederates. It seems a wise provision of Providence, and is not unlike that other mercy whereby, in time of great grief, the sufferer never realizes the full force of the affliction, but seems to be in a daze or half-dream. It is thus that "the wind is tempered" to the human "shorn lamb."

Mr. Caldwell did not recuperate rapidly. His system was so shattered by the hardships and exposure that his friends feared his health was destroyed. He went to Mississippi by their advice, in the hope of a more speedy restoration of his health, but in this was only partly successful; but notwithstanding he was still far from being well, he yearned to be again with his comrades, and to feel that he was doing his share toward the cause to which he in common with most Southerners, was so devoted. Accordingly, despite the best advices, he returned to the army. He reached the command in Tennessee, on the day the battle of Hoover's Gap was fought (June, 1863), in time to take an active part in the engagement. As his friends had anticipated, he could not stand it; his health soon gave way again, and as before he had, reluctantly, to come home. He arrived at Bastrop in September, 1863. This experience was repeated for the third time, so anxious was he to be though at least, doing his duty. He could not brook the restraint put upon him; and again he tried to "rough it with the boys." The third trial was in June, 1864. He remained with the regiment then till the close of the war.

On the restoration of peace, he turned his attention to farming. Like thousands of others, he had nothing, and had to go to work. This he did with the same courage and determination that characterized him as a soldier, and although not accustomed to manual labor, he went to farming with a hearty good will and determination. This he followed in 1866-7. Then he engaged in the business of merchandising, and running a saw mill in connection therewith. This business engaged him exclusively during the years 1868 and 1873, and in 1880 he removed to Austin.

Since his residence here Mr. Caldwell's course as a citizen has been characterized by a high mindedness, and a fairness and courtesy in social and business intercourse. He has always taken an active interest in all public matters, and is regarded as one of the most enlightened and progressive men of the day.

He is a Democrat and "believes in free government." He represented his ward in the City Council three years as Alderman, and gave abundant satisfaction to his constituents, as well as evidence of no ordinary ability as an administrative and executive officer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Knights Templar. In this relation, as in all others, to his fellow citizens, he is eminently respected. He belongs also to several other orders, benevolent and charitable. He is a self-made man, and a man of great independence of character. When the alternative was presented to him to contribute labor, or its equivalent in money, to keep up the couty roads-he, unlike his friens-chose the former, and it is to-day a boast with him that "he helped work on the road."

Physically he is spare built, and five feet, eight and three-fourths inches in height; has dark hair and eyes, and from arduous service in the Confederate army, as we have seen, and as might be expected, he is much disabled. He is a man of great modesty; and in reply to the question of his biographer, "Are there any incidents of interest in your private or public life?" says: "Go ask my neighbors."

His wife was Mrs. Mary R. Burleson, whose maiden name was Hill. They were married in Bastrop county, April 13, 1871. They had four children. J. O. and C. B. Caldwell, the two elder, are living. J. O., was born May 4, 1873, and Charles B., on 12th of June, 1875, both in Bastrop. Mary R., who was born in Bastrop 12th of July, 1877, died at Austin 22d January, 1886, between eight and nine years of age, and Taylor H., born July 9, 1881, at Austin, died April 5, 1882. Mrs. Caldwell died February 6, 1883, and her husband, true to her memory, has never remarried.

At present he is engaged in farming and stock-feeding. Upon the organization of the G. B. and Feeders' Association of Travis county, in 1889, Mr. Caldwell, who had been largely instrumental in bringing it about, was chosen Secretary of the Association.

Quiet and unassuming in his manner, but polite and courteous in all his intercourse, few men enjoy more fully the confidence and respect of their fellow citizens than he. He is a good friend, a kind neighbor, an affectionate father, and withal an upright and conscientious citizen.

Daniell, L. E. Types of Successful Men of Texas. Published by author, Austin, Texas 1890. Page 532-535.