Calderwood, Andrew Robison

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 24 January 2003

transcribed from Frazer Wilson's History of Darke County, v. 2, 1914, pp 496-497.

ANDREW ROBISON CALDERWOOD.

The law as practiced and exemplified in person by the late Andrew Robison Calderwood, held its majesty. Profound respect, unfailing confidence and wholesome awe are vital necessities in the maintenance of order, and the services of such men as Mr. Calderwood in upholding the best dignities and traditions of the bar cannot be too highly valued. Possibly he will be remembered only by the older members of the profession in Darke County; yet his influence will continue to remain, and his probity, integrity and uncompromising fidelity to each and every duty should continue as watchwords for those who hope to attain not alone the rewards resulting from material success, but the honor that is granted to those whose lives are respected because they have been lived in a manner that merits respect.

Mr. Calderwood was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, September 14, 1818, a son of George and Margaret (Robison) Calderwood, natives of Huntington County, Pennsylvania, where they were married September 14, 1811. In the fall of 1817 the parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio and in 1832 removal was made to Darke County, Ohio, where the father died September 7, 1849. The mother survived until August 12, 1873. Although reared a farmer, Andrew R. Calderwood's aspirations led him into the field of law, and his assiduous, and well-applied study allowed him to be admitted to the bar in 1851. Three years later he was elected to the office of probate judge, and he was so serving when secession threatened the Union. Laying aside the ermine, he shouldered the musket in defense of his country and after serving for a time as second lieutenant was promoted to the rank of captain of Company I, Fortieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. It was his misfortune to meet a soldier's injury while in the service, being thrown from his horse, and was forced to resign, but when he regained his health again showed his willingness to go to the front, and by reason of his acknowledged ability was reinstated as captain of his old company, given him by Governor Todd. Six months later he was again incapacitated, this time by the loss of his voice, yet was loath to leave the service, and therefore was placed as recruiting officer, a capacity in which he served until the close of hostilities between the States.

Having proven himself an able, efficient and faithful soldier, Judge Calderwood took up the practice of law again and showed that he could serve with as much reliability and honor in the ranks of peace. His practice brought him into connection with newspaper men, and he was induced to become editor of the "Sunday Courier," a Republican newspaper, with which he continued to be connected throughout the remainder of his life. Although tempted by the journalistic field, Judge Calderwood never lost his love for the law, and among the older practitioners of the State he is remembered as a valuable associate and a worthy opponent. Had 101 first-degree murder cases and sentence was not pronounced on a single client. All men but one.

His three terms as mayor of Greenville brought forth his excellent executive and managerial ability, and it is remembered that this city has had no more popular official. He was not a politician in the generally accepted meaning of the word, but answered always the call of the people, and in 1868 allowed his name to be presented before the Republican Congressional Convention of the Fourth District, but, owing to political conditions at the time, met with defeat by a small margin of the delegate vote. In his death, in 1891, Darke county lost a man who had been true to every principle as he saw it, who had discharged life's duties conscientiously and fearlessly, who had asked no favor but who had granted many--a clean-lived, clean-spoken man among men; truly "one of God's own gentlemen."

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