T. Cuthell Calderwood, surrogate of Fulton county and practicing attorney of Johnstown, was born at West Galway in the town of Perth, Fulton county, October 13, 1881. His parents were likewise natives of that county. His father, Robert Calderwood, ran a farm for a number of years and later held a government position in Washington, D. C., under Presidents Harrison and McKinley. From Washington he went to Fort Edward, now known as Hudson Falls, on the docks of the canal, and eventually made his home at West Galway until his death on the 30th of August, 1900, at the age of sixty-nine. Mr. Calderwood's mother was Margaret Ann Donnan before her marriage to Robert Calderwood, the daughter of George Donnan, who for years operated a tannery and shoe shop at West Galway. In fact, the place was once called Donnan's Hollow. Mrs. Calderwood died on the 4th of March, 1922.
T. Cuthell Calderwood was reared in West Galway, where he attended the common schools. In 1900 he graduated from the Amsterdam high school and began reading law in the office of Judge Jeremiah Keck at Johnstown, on the 16th of the following October. While he was thus preparing for the law, he supplemented his education along commercial lines by taking courses in the Gloversville Business College in 1900 and 1901. In 1903 the young man began his acquaintance with the surrogate court as a clerk, to which position he was appointed under Judge Keck, and continued to serve the court in that capacity until he took the office of surrogate on the 1st of January, 1916. He was first elected to this office in the fall of 1915 and at the expiration of his term was chosen to succeed himself, in the fall elections of 1921. Meanwhile, in 1911, he had been admitted to the bar of the state and established himself in the practice of law in Johnstown, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice.
On the 21st of January, 1914, Mr. Calderwood was united in marriage to Miss Ora Meta Potter, daughter of the late John and Mary Corintha (Kimberly) Potter. Mr. Potter was in the restaurant business and was also a traveling salesman for a time. His widow, who was a native of Utica, resides in Johnstown with Mr. and Mrs. Calderwood. Judge Calderwood has one child: A daughter, Mary Corintha, born May 7, 1918.
Judge Calderwood has long been active in the club, fraternal and civic life of his community and is accounted a distinct asset by every organization to which he lends his support. He is past master of St. Patrick's Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the executive committee of the Past Masters Association of Fulton, Herkimer and Montgomery districts; past high priest of Johnstown Chapter, No. 78; R. A. M; also belongs to Johnstown Council, No. 72, R. & S. M.; and Holy Cross Commandery, No. 51, Knights Templar of Gloversville. He is also a member of Cayadutta Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F.; and Johnstown Encampment, No. 133, I. O. O. F. Judge Calderwood is commander of the James H. Parks Camp, No. 18, Sons of Veterans, for the 1924 term. He gained eligibility to this patriotic order through the distinguished Civil war services of his father, Robert Calderwood, who served throughout the war with the Seventy-ninth Highlanders. He enlisted in New York, on the 28th of May, 1861, early in the war, as a private and rose to the rank of lieutenant, which he was holding when he was honorably discharged. During the World war Judge Calderwood was very active in the work of the Red Cross as chairman of the Johnstown Chapter during the first year of its war work and rendered that great organization an invaluable service by aiding so efficiently in getting the machinery set in motion for its very effective service in this community. In politics the Judge is a republican and religiously he is identified with the United (Scotch) Presbyterian church of Johnstown, of which he has been one of the trustees for several years past. He has been a teacher in the Sunday school of that denomination for practically the entire period of his residence here. His clubs are the Colonial Club of Johnstown and the Eccentric Club of Gloversville. In connection with his professional work he maintains membership in the American, New York State, Fulton County and Johnstown Bar Associations, through which he comes into contact with other members of the legal fraternity and keeps well informed regarding events in the court rooms all over the country. A thorough student, well grounded in his profession, Judge Calderwood possesses those qualities that make for success in his chosen line of work. He is considered to be richly endowed with the "judicial temperament" which, combined with his long experience in the courtroom as a clerk, makes him eminently fitted to serve the people of Fulton county as surrogate.