Henry Clay Caldwell

Henry Clay Caldwell
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office June 16, 1891 – June 4, 1903
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 26 Stat. 826
Succeeded by	William Cather Hook
Judge of the United States Circuit Courts for the Eighth Circuit
In office March 4, 1890 – June 4, 1903
Appointed by	Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by	David Josiah Brewer
Succeeded by	William Cather Hook
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
In office June 20, 1864 – March 13, 1890
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Daniel Ringo
Succeeded by	John A. Williams
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office June 20, 1864 – March 3, 1871
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Daniel Ringo
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office 1859-1861
Personal details
Born	Henry Clay Caldwell (1832-09-04)September 4, 1832 Marshall County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	February 15, 1915(1915-02-15) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Read law
Signature

Henry Clay Caldwell (September 4, 1832 – February 15, 1915) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas and later was a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and of the United States Circuit Courts for the Eighth Circuit.

Education and career

Col. Henry Clay Caldwell of the 3rd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry

Born on September 4, 1832, in Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Caldwell read law in 1851. He entered private practice in Keosauqua, Iowa from 1852 to 1856. He was prosecutor for Van Buren County, Iowa from 1856 to 1858. He was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1859 to 1861. He served in the United States Army from 1861 to 1864, during the American Civil War. As a Colonel he commanded the 3rd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry Regiment that fought against Colonel Joseph C. Porter who was commanding the 1st Northeast Missouri Cavalry.

Federal judicial service

Caldwell was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on May 2, 1864, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas vacated by Judge Daniel Ringo. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 28, 1864, and received his commission on June 20, 1864. On March 3, 1871, Caldwell was reassigned by operation of law to serve only in the Eastern District. His service terminated on March 13, 1890, due to his elevation to the Eighth Circuit.

Caldwell was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison on February 27, 1890, to a seat on the United States Circuit Courts for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Judge David Josiah Brewer. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 4, 1890, and received his commission the same day. Caldwell was assigned by operation of law to additional and concurrent service on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on June 16, 1891, to a new seat authorized by 26 Stat. 826 (Evarts Act). His service terminated on June 4, 1903, due to his retirement.

Death

Caldwell died on February 15, 1915, in Los Angeles, California.

See also

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

Works

• "Railroad Receiverships in the Federal Courts of the United States: Remarks of the Hon. Henry C. Caldwell before the Greenleaf Club." St. Louis, 1896.
• "Trial by Judge and Jury." American Federationist, vol. 17 (May 1910), pp. 385–389.

Sources

• Henry Clay Caldwell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1888
• Harper's Weekly, January 1864
• Joseph A. Mudd, With Porter in Northeast Missouri (1909)
• Richard S. Arnold, George C. Freeman, III JUDGE HENRY CLAY CALDWELL 23 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 317 Winter, 2001
• "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Caldwell". politicalgraveyard.com.
• Scott, Henry Wilson (April 15, 1891). "Distinguished American Lawyers: With Their Struggles and Triumphs in the Forum ..." C.L. Webster. pp. 115–116 – via Google Books.

Further reading

• J.B. Follett, "A Just Judge: Being a Brief Sketch of Henry Clay Caldwell of the United States Circuit Court." The Arena, vol. 16, whole no. 80 (July 1896), pp. 177–185.
• Larry Winter Roeder, Judge Henry Clay Caldwell. Amazon: 2011.