Alexander Caldwell (March 1, 1830May 19, 1917) was a

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and power ...

from

Kansas Kansas () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its Capital city, capital is Topeka, Kansas, Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita, Kansas, Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebras ...

Early years

Born in Drakes Ferry, Pennsylvania, he attended public schools, and in 1847 enlisted as a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

to serve in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the ...

. He moved to

Columbia, Pennsylvania Columbia, formerly Wright's Ferry, is a borough (town) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 10,222. It is southeast of Harrisburg, on the east (left) bank of the Susquehanna River, ac ...

, in 1848, where he was employed in a bank and subsequently went into business for himself. He then moved to

Leavenworth, Kansas Leavenworth () is the county seat and largest city of Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 37,351. It is located on the west bank of t ...

, in 1861 and engaged in the transportation of military supplies to the various posts on the plains. He then worked building railroads, especially the Missouri River and Kansas Central Railroad.

Politics

Caldwell was elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

to the U.S. Senate and had served just two years, from March 4, 1871, to March 24, 1873, when he resigned in the face of a movement to expel him for bribery and corruption. It was claimed that he had bribed his political opponents not to run, leaving the field clear for himself. Senatorial candidate Thomas Carney (and former Governor of Kansas), admitted that he had accepted $15,000 from Caldwell to leave the race and thereby assist in Caldwell's election in 1871.

Later years

From 1877 to 1897, he manufactured wagons and carriages, and from 1897 to 1915 he was president of the First National Bank of Leavenworth. In the 1880s, Caldwell was the president of the Idaho and Oregon Land Improvement Company, which purchased acreage next to the tracks of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. The city of

Caldwell Caldwell may refer to: People * Caldwell (surname) * Caldwell (given name) * Caldwell First Nation, a federally recognized Indian band in southern Ontario, Canada Places Great Britain * Caldwell, Derbyshire, a hamlet * Caldwell, Eas ...

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Idaho Idaho ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Monta ...

is named after him.''Idaho for the Curious'', by Cort Conley, 1982, , p.387 Caldwell died in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the List of United States cities by populat ...

in 1917, and is interred at Mount Muncie Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.

References

External links

State Library of Kansas: Alexander Caldwell
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Caldwell, Alexander 1830 births 1917 deaths 19th-century American politicians Kansas Republicans People from Columbia, Pennsylvania People from Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania Republican Party United States senators from Kansas

Early years

Politics

Later years

See also

References

External links