Person:John Calder (6)

According to John's death certificate, he had been in the United States 61 years, 5 months and 19 days. If that time is correct, he must have come to American about the middle of January, 1817. It also states he had been in Illinis for 25 years, 9 months, which means he must have come in October 1852. His sons Thomas and William were married in Ohio in 1849 but his daughter Jane was married in Livingston Co., Illinois in March, 1853. His cause of death was a chronic inflammationof the stomach and his occupation was a farmer. He died at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Jane and William Applegate. John and his wife are buried in the Calder Cemetery, Newtown Township, Livingston County, Illinois. Buried close to them is Elma Calder, probably their daughter. Her stone is broken and there is no other information on it.

The Calder monument is 7 to 8 feet tall and in the middle of the front row. It has a square base, the upper two-thirds is a round column and has a round knob on top.

On the monument are the following inscriptions:

John Calder, born in Sterling Co., Scotland Died July 7, 1878 Aged 93 yrs, 2 mos, 18 days

Marg't Carleton wife of John Calder Born in County Down, Ireland Died Sept. 2, 1881 Aged 86 yrs.

There is also a Masonic emblem on the monument indicating that John Calder must have been a Mason.

Calder Cemetery is in Section 36, Township 30 North, Range 4 East in Livingston County. Go South of Streator to the 4 mile corner at Ill. Hwy. 23 and Ill. Hwy. 17. Turn east on Ill. 17 and go approx. 7 miles to County Road 1200E and turn south on the county road. Go approx. 2 1/2 miles (you will be between County Roads 2800N and 2700N) The cemetery is on a hill to your right in the field about 1/4 mile west of the road.

9/17/94 Note:

We have received a death certificate for John Calder from the Livingston County Clerk in Pontiac, IL stating that he died at William Applegate's, his daughter and son-in-law, in Newtown Township, Livingston County, IL. Cause of death was a chronic inflammation of the stomach. His occupation is stated to be a farmer. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland (must be in Sterling County). The certificate states that he had been in the United States 61 years, 5 months and 19 days. If that time is correct, he must have come tothe United States about the middle of January (21st) in 1817. It also states he had been in Illinois for 25 yrs., 9 mos. which means he must have come in October, 1852. He was buried in the James Calder graveyard on July 9, 1878 in Newtown Township.

1. ↑ World Family Tree, Ancestry.com.