CALDWELL, HON. ISAAC, Lawyer, was born January 30, 1824, near Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky. His parents, William and Anne Caldwell, were Virginians, the fathers of both having served in the War of the Revolution. They were both persons of great breadth of character, possessing many intrinsic virtues, which they endeavored to impress upon their children. His mother’s maiden name was Trabue, of French-Huguenot descent. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and, after removing to Adair County, became Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, continuing to hold the latter office for forty years, declining to run for the office under the new Constitution. He was a systematic, intelligent, and thorough business man ; and under him he received the greater part of his most valuable education.
He remained in school till his fourteenth year, and, after writing some time in his father’s office, spent three years in Georgetown College, at Georgetown, Kentucky. He selected the law for a profession, and at once entered upon its study; was admitted to the bar, and immediately began practice at Columbia, Kentucky, having received great assistance in his legal preparation from Judge Z. Wheat, of Columbia. In 1848, he became a partner of Judge Wheat, practicing in that connection for several years. In 1851, he became associated with his brother, Hon. George A. Caldwell, continuing to practice with great success till the death of his brother, in 1866. In 1852, they removed their office to Louisville, where he has since resided. He rose rapidly into favor among the members of the bar, and acquired a wide-spread reputation for learning and talent, and soon took a position as one of the most able and successful lawyers of Louisville. He is known as one of the first criminal lawyers of the State, and probably has few superiors in any branch of his profession. He is an indomitable worker, an exhaustive thinker, and a man of cool judgment; prepares his cases with consummate tact, and presents himself in the advocacy of his causes with a dignity and force which command respect and secure success; and is unflinchingly honorable in his practice, scorning fraud and hypocrisy. Without a great ambition to attain eminence, he has risen step by step to a position not only of great distinction in his profession, but also as one of the most public-spirited, influential, and valuable men in his community. In 1870, he took a prominent part in the contest before the Legislature on the provisions of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, acquitting himself with great credit. In the same year he was engaged as attorney for the State, in the discussions of the Civil Rights Bill of 1866; and he has conducted some of the most important cases before the highest courts of his State, and also the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1875, his friends in the Legislature announced him as their candidate for the United States Senate, but he withdrew from the contest. In 1876, he was made Elector for the State at large on the Democratic ticket. In politics he has always been a Democrat, having taken an active interest in the local organizations and affairs of that party. He is President of the University of Louisville, an institution in which he has taken a great interest. He is a man of fine social qualities, of great physical, and mental vigor, and yet takes life with all the ardor of youth.
Mr. Caldwell was married, January 20, 1837, to Miss Kate Smith, of Louisville. They have six living children.
