Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan Record Publishing Company, Chicago - 1895 -127- EDGAR B. CASWELL has a plumbing, steam and gas fitting office at No. 316 South James Street, Ludington. He is a practical and skilled workman, and reaps a goodly share of the local custom. It is now about fifteen years since he located at his present stand and embarked in business for himself. A veteran of the late war, he deserves credit for his brave and meritorious de- fense of the Stars and Stripes. He served from August, 1862, until after Lee's surrender, and had the notable honor of tak- ing part in the Grand Review at Washington, a sight which has never been duplicated in this, or perhaps in any other, land. A native of St. Lawrence County, N.Y., Mr. CASWELL was born February 7, 1840, and is a son of BURR and HANNAH (GREEN) CAS- WELL. The former was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., and about 1845 came to Michigan. He spent a winter at Duck Lake, and in the summer of 1847 went to Pere Marquette, where, with two exceptions, his family was the only white one in the district, the others being a Norwegian family of the name of NORBURG, and a family having the name of DAGGETT. BURR CASWELL brought his family here on the sailing-vessel "Eagle," en route for Manistee. There being no convenient stopping place, the vessel did not deviate from its course, but the cattle belonging to Mr. CASWELL were dropped overboard and forced to swim ashore. The family was rowed to land in a small boat. The creek leading from Pere Marquette Lake to Lake Michi- gan was then but a small stream, and there was no entrance where the harbor now is. Mr. CASWELL was employed in getting out shingle-bolts for some time, shipping them to Chicago in a small boat which would not carry over twenty cords, and which was styled the "Ranger." This small vessel was owned by a Norwegian of the name of RYERSON, later Captain of the propellor "Mears." The CASWELL shanty stood on the south side of the lake, near where the Butter & Peters Mill has since been erected. Later a better home was constructed from lumber picked up on the beach. In 1849 a small mill, with one upright saw, was put up where the Pere Marquette Lumber Company's mills now stand. BURR CASWELL remained in the shingle business for a couple of years, and then got out logs for the mill. Entering land from the Government on Lake Marquette, he improved a farm. He was light housekeeping for four or five years at Big Point Sable. Afterward he went to Dakota, and though now eighty-seven years of age, is still engaged in running a hotel at Mitchell. His wife died in 1870. E. B. CASWELL is one of four children, and the youngest of the family. One sister, ELLEN, is the wife of SEWELL MOULTON, of this city; GEORGE, who died in 1868, was Captain of a tug; and MARY, who died a few years ago, was the wife of RICHARD HATFIELD, an old pioneer of Pere Marquette Township. When two years old, E. B. CASWELL was taken by his parents to Barrington Station, Lake County, Ill. There were no railroads in that section at the time, and his boyhood passed uneventfully on the farm. After coming to Michigan he had true pioneer ex- periences, and learned to endure privations and hardships innum- erable. For several years he was engaged in fishing with his brother ----------------------------------------------------------------- -128- GEORGE. They used gill nets, and would go from four to eight miles out into the lake. In August, 1862, young CASWELL enlisted in Company C, Twenty-sixth Michigan Infantry, and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of the Second Army Corps. He took part in Gettysburg, and in nearly all the Virginia campaigns. In a skirmish after the battle of Petersburg, April 9, 1865, he was wounded by a shell in the left arm and was in the hospital thirty days. Rejoining his regiment, he returned with them to receive his final discharge, after taking part in the review at Washington. Soon after he embarked in his present business and has been prospered. He makes a specialty of putting in the Drive Filter Well. A Republican, he is interested in politics, but has never been an office-seeker. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and to the Masonic society. December 22, 1871, Mr. CASWELL married JULIA GENIA, of Grand Rapids. Their only daughter, ROSE M., is engaged in keeping the books in her father's business. The family residence is at No. 404 North Charles Street. ==========================================================================