J. C. Caldwell, postmaster of Fairport, was born in Washington County, Penn., on November 3, 1853. He is the eldest of four children born to Samuel and Sarah (Chambers) Caldwell, the former of whom was born in Washington County, Penn., on February 12, 1819, and the latter in Richland County, Ohio, on February, 15, 1824. The father removed to Ohio about 1857, where he engaged in farming until 1871, when he immigrated to De Kalb County., Mo. He died on November 21, 1880. The mother is now living in California, having married Mr. Bohart. J. C. was reared on the farm in Ohio, and attended the district schools of his neighborhood and those of Chesterville, securing a fair education. He came to Missouri in the spring of 1876, and followed agricultural pursuits in Grant Township, De Kalb County, until about 1880, when he began clerking in Fairport. In 1884 he purchased a stock of hardware, and began business for himself. In December, 1886, he was appointed postmaster, and assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1887. On December 1, 1875, he was united in marriage with Celestial Stephens, who was born in Morrow County, Ohio, on November 25, 1852. She is the daughter of Abednego Stephens, of De Kalb County. One child has been born to them. Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 553.