Bios: ELISHA ELBRIDGE CASWELL: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    ELISHA ELBRIDGE CASWELL,
    
    [p. 403] the subject of this biography, whose portrait appears on the
  opposite page, is a brick and stone contractor of New Castle, where he has
  made his home for the past thirty years, and where for over twenty years he
  has been identified with the building trades and industries. He was born in
  Richmond, Va., July 2, 1850, and is a, son of Elisha and Anne (Moss) Caswell.
    
    Our subject's mother was a daughter of George and Bessie Moss. George Moss
  brought his family, in which was his daughter Annie, to this country from
  Staffordshire, England, and after his arrival in the United States first
  worked at Haverstraw, N. Y., but went from there before the war to Richmond,
  Va., where commencing as a heater and roller in an iron furnace he rose by
  industry and superior ability to the position of superintendent of the iron
  works, and became a man of means. He lived to a good old age, and died in the
  South. Our subject's father was born in the State of Massachusetts, where for
  a number of years in his youth he worked as a bookkeeper. He afterwards
  learned the trade of a nail-maker, and became foreman in the Dago's Nail
  Works at Belle Isle, Richmond, Va. He built a mill at Manakin, Va., which he
  lost by fire with the savings of many years. He returned to Belle Isle after
  this financial reverse, and departed this life there in 1852.
    
    Elisha E. Caswell was reared in the city of Richmond, Va., and secured an
  education in the private schools of that place, attending whenever oportunity
  offered. At the age of nine years he began work in the nail mill, and for four
  years was thus employed, and also selling papers in the Confederate Army. In
  1863, he made his way from the rebel capital to Baltimore Md., and thence to
  Wilmington, Del., where he worked for three years. In the spring of 1867, he
  came to New Castle, where he worked in the nail mill until 1870, in which
  year he started to learn the trade of a brick and stone mason. Within a few
  years, with the enterprise and independence so characteristic of him, he
  worked as a journeyman and began contracting for himself, in which he has met
  with the most unqualified success. Many fine buildings and handsome structures
  in New Castle and the vicinity testify to his skill, taste and careful
  workmanship. This brief epitome of Mr. Caswell's life brings out the manly
  qualities of self-reliance and perseverance, that have enabled him to
  accomplish what he has; his life has been a steady advance from the age of
  nine years when he set out to support himself till the present time, when he
  occupies a recognized place in the community as one of its leading citizens.
    
    Mr. Caswell was married Nov. 6, 1873, to Emma A. Fisher, daughter of Henry
  and Catherine (Cummings) Fisher, the latter a daughter of James and Sarah
  (Burge) Cummings. Henry Fisher, a brick contractor of New Castle, was a son
  of Solomon and Polly (Stickle) Fisher, and grandson of George and Catherine
  (Haager) Fisher; the father of George Fisher was a native of Saxony, Germany.
  To Mr. Caswell and his wife had been given four children, as follows: Henry
  Guy; Bertha Althea: Emma Belle; and Annie Ellen. Mrs. Caswell died April 23,
  1897. Mr. Caswell is a member in good standing of the Disciples Church. In
  his political beliefs, he sides with the Republican party. Mr. Caswell is a
  friend of organized labor, and is a member of the Bricklayers' International
  Union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Caswell were members of the Protected Home Circle,
  New Castle Lodge, No. 6. He has a pleasant home on Spruce Street, where the
  family dispense their every-ready hospitality with lavish hand.
    
    On the outbreak of the Civil War, a brother of Mr. Caswell, who was at work
  in the Treadgear Iron Works at Richmond, was conscripted and forced to serve
  in the militia company, formed of the operatives of the works. At the first
  opportunity he deserted, and came to the North.