J.D. Caldwell

Jefferson Davis “J.D.” Caldwell (1882-1960) was an Oneida businessman who served as the town’s mayor from 1947 to 1949, and again from 1955 to 1999.

See Also: Mayors of Oneida
Preceded By: C. Lee Smith • Succeeded By: C. Lee Smith
Preceded By: C. Lee Smith • Succeeded By: John Lee West

Early Life

J.D. Caldwell was born Feb. 14, 1882. He married Elda Ruffner, the daughter of a Swiss immigrant to the United States who lived in Morgan County. They had three children, sons Earnest Lee, Everett “Ray” and Lawrence.

Business Contributions

J.D. and Elda Caldwell owned and operated the Commercial Hotel in downtown Oneida for many years. The hotel was originally built by Ezekiel Hembree in 1914 and was Oneida’s first motel. It was located on Main Street.

Mayor of Oneida

Caldwell was one of only two Oneida mayors to serve two different stints as mayor. He was first elected in 1947, replacing C. Lee Smith, who had served three terms as mayor from 1941 to 1947. Smith was elected again in 1949 and served three more terms until 1955. Caldwell was elected a second time in 1955 and served two terms before leaving office in 1959, less than two months before his death.

Death

Caldwell died Jan. 7, 1960 at the age of 77. A funeral service was held two days later at the First Methodist Church of Oneida, with Rev. D. Carmack Morris officiating. Caldwell was buried at Hazel Valley, where his wife would also later be buried.