George Caldwell was one of the early settlers of South Dakota and is yet remembered by many of the pioneers notwithstanding the fact that more than a quarter of a century has come and gone since he passed away on the 29th of September, 1887. He was born at South Bend, Indiana, December 18, 1841. The Caldwell family is of Scotch-Irish descent, the first representative of the family in America being, so far as is known, George Caldwell, who left Ireland in the eighteenth century. He was the father of John Caldwell, who lived and died in Indiana and who in turn was the father of George Caldwell of this review.

The last named when twelve or fourteen years of age went to Wisconsin and located in Sauk county, there remaining until 1863, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union and he enlisted for active duty at the front in Company D, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, with which he went forth to the defense of his country. He served in Virginia and Alabama for about fifteen months and upon the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Wisconsin, where he took up the occupation of farming. He was there busily engaged in tilling the soil until 1875, when he removed to Sioux Falls. Soon afterward he located upon a farm about six miles west of the town and still later he took up a homestead near Hartford, South Dakota, proved up on it, developed it and there resided to the time of his. death. He was killed by a wild bull which belonged to a neighbor and which had gotten into Mr. Caldwell's field and attacked him. He was found dead in the field.

Mr. Cahdwell was twice married. In Wisconsin, soon after his return from the war, he wedded Miss Mary Rhine and to them were born two children: Augustus, deceased; and Willard M., a resident of Minnehaha county. The mother died and was laid to rest in Wisconsin. In 1876 Mr. Caldwell was again married, Miss Mary E. Draper, of Wisconsin, becoming his wife. She was born March 4, 1857, a daughter of Clinton D. and Harriet (Vertner) Draper, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, formerly of Henry county, Illinois, where he owned a farm upon which his daughter, Mrs. Caldwell, was born. Mr. Draper has passed away but his widow now resides in Minnesota. To George and Mary Caldwell were born three children: Clarence C., the present attorney general of South Dakota, residing at Howard; Charles Vertner, who is state's attorney of Minnehaha county; and Harlan L., a civil engineer residing at Jacksonville, Illinois. The widow of George Caldwell has married again and is now Mrs. J. R. Wilder, of Hartford, South Dakota.

During the years of his residence in this state Mr. Caldwell took an active interest in promoting public progress along lines leading to the state's material, intellectual and political development and upbuilding and he was one of the worthy citizens who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which the present progress and prosperity of the county have been built.