This historical marker is located on a corner not far from downtown Statesville near a gas station…read moreand a lovely church. The marker points out a local newspaperman and his background.
It reads, "J.P. Caldwell. Editor of Statesville "Landmark" (1880-92), Charlotte "Observer" (1892-1909). His home was two blocks north."
Online, there is more information. "At the age of fourteen, Caldwell took an apprenticeship in the office of the Iredell Express, Statesville's first newspaper, under the tutelage of E. B. Drake. Drake's newspaper was renamed the Statesville American shortly after the end of the Civil War. Drake became a Republican in 1872, and a rival, Democratic newspaper, the Statesville Intelligencer, appeared in the northern part of Iredell County, published by Charles R. Jones. Jones soon enticed Caldwell away from Drake by offering to raise his pay one dollar a week."
"Caldwell continued his journalistic pursuits, eventually becoming an editor of the Charlotte Observer. In January 1880 he purchased the rights to the Statesville Landmark, the successor to the Intelligencer. From 1880 to 1892 Caldwell published the Landmark before buying the Charlotte Chronicle, the successor to the weekly Charlotte Observer. He soon moved to Charlotte, renamed the Chronicle the Observer, and actively managed it into one of the state's most notable and well respected newspapers."
"In 1877 Caldwell married Maggie Spratt. Together they had five children, only three of whom lived to maturity. Maggie died soon after Caldwell purchased the Chronicle, and he subsequently remarried to Addie Williams, who bore him a daughter. Caldwell edited the Charlotte Observer until March 8, 1909, when he suffered a stroke that paralyzed him. Transferred to Broughton Hospital at Morganton, Caldwell died there on November 22, 1911."
I read the Observer often. Thank you, Mister Caldwell, for your efforts!
[Review 14537 overall, 35 of 2021, number 2778 in North Carolina.]