The Amsterdam family of Caldwells are descendants of Scotch and Dutch forebears. The Veeders, with whom they intermarried, trace to an early date in the Mohawk valley, while the Caldwells follow through Ireland to early days in Scotland. The Irish branch of the family settled in Londonderry, Ireland, before the famous siege of that city.
(I) James Caldwell married in Ireland and came to America in 1785, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, settling in New York. Children:
- Barry, born in Londonderry, Ireland, November 12, 1784.
- Amelia, born in Lansingburg, Rensselaer county, New York, May 5, 1786, died August 29, 1869; married Dr. George Coggswell, of Ephratah, New York, where they died.
- James (2), see forward.
- Elizabeth, born January 17, 1790, near Johnstown, New York; married Edward Hardin and reared two children, Elizabeth and Lyman.
- Sarah, born September 1, 1792, near Johnstown; married Lyman Sessions and left Amelia, Emily and Lyman.
- Paul, born September 11, 1795, in Johnstown; he was a farmer; married Catherine Thumm, and had Joseph, Bessie, Charlotte and James.
(II) James (2), son of James (1) Caldwell, the founder, was born near Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, died at Ephratah, New York, June 15, 1856. He learned the trade of millwright, at which he worked all his active years, in connection with carpentering, of which he had a good knowledge, both of house and boat building. He married Jane Smith, born 1790, died about 1867. They were members of the Lutheran church. Children:
- Jane, born February, 1817, died January 17, 1899; married Alexander Erckenbrack, proprietor of a store at Ephratah; children: Oscar, Ellen, Stephen, John, Mary and Loretta.
- James (3), see forward.
- Harriet, married Frederick Branninger; both are deceased, leaving no issue.
- Hamilton, died unmarried; he was a well known character in the county where he lived. He was a stair builder, surveyor and school teacher.
(III) James (3), son of James (2) and Jane (Smith) Caldwell, was born November 18, 1819, died at his home in Amsterdam, New York, September 15, 1897. He learned the carpenter and millwright's trades under the direction of his father, following them until middle life, when he entered the Sanford carpet mills as a machinist, becoming later master mechanic. He did a great deal of public building, including the Port Jackson dry docks, on which he was a foreman. He was prominent and well known in the city. He was a Democrat, and served for many years as justice of the peace. He was a member of the Reformed church. He married, in Fonda, New York, Amanda Veeder, born June 26, 1821. She has been a most remarkable woman, and at the age of eighty-eight years resides with her son in Amsterdam (1910). Child, Veeder; see forward.
(IV) Veeder, only child of James (3) and Amanda (Veeder) Caldwell, was born in Ephratah, New York, February 25, 1848. He learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of William Hawk, worked as a journeyman several years, became a contractor and builder, later master machinist in the loom mill of the Stephen Sanford carpet mills at Amsterdam, where he has been since 1893. He married, in Canajoharie, New York, August 26, 1868, Mary, daughter of Levi and Nancy (Gray) Spoar; both her parents were natives of Fulton county, and both are deceased, leaving children: Stephen, John, Mary (Mrs. Veeder Caldwell), Calvin, Charles and Helen; all except Charles married and are heads of families. Children of Veeder and Mary (Spoar) Caldwell:
- L. J., born June 19, 1870; graduate of Colgate College, form er professor of mathematics in Bleese's Military Academy in Macon, Missouri, now (1910) principal of the East Orange high school, East Orange, New Jersey. He married May L. Thorn, a teacher, and has a son Guy Thorn, born June 19, 1906.
- Guy, January 10, 1872; received a musical education under Professor Jansen, of Amsterdam, New York, finishing under special instruction at Leipsic, Germany. He is an instructor in music and director of the band at Muskegon, Michigan. He married Jessie Prussien, who is also a musician and a graduate of Haben conservatory of music, of Amsterdam, New York.
(The Veeder Line)
(I) Johannes Veeder, born in Holland about the middle of the eighteenth century, emigrated to the American colonies and settled in the Mohawk valley, near Fonda, where he obtained a tract of one thousand acres of land. Children:
- General Abram Veeder, a soldier of the revolution, and a prominent man in the Mohawk valley.
- Volkert, for six years a representative in the state assembly from Montgomery county.
- Simon, see forward.
- John, a native and lifelong resident of Montgomery county.
(II) Simon, son of Johannes Veeder, was a farmer of Mohawk. He was county judge of Montgomery and Fulton counties for fifteen years. He died at the age of eighty-nine years. When a young man he visited the family home in Holland, returning with a wife, Margaret Terwilliger. Children: Harmonus, (see forward), Volkert, John, Abraham, Solomon, Simon (2), Maggie, Kate, Magdalene and Elizabeth.
(III) Harmonus, eldest child of Simon and Margaret (Terwilliger) Veeder, was born September 30, 1779, died March 6, 1849. He was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Dockstader, born in Montgomery county, 1781, died February 29, 1856. Children: Maria, Margaret, Simon (3), Frederick, Magdalena, Catherine, James, Eliza, Lydia, Rachel, Caroline, Amanda, see forward, and Gertrude.
(IV) Amanda, twelfth child of Harmonus and Elizabeth (Dockstader) Veeder, married James Caldwell. (See Caldwell III.)