BIOGRAPHIES

Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Combination atlas map of Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Strasburg, Ohio: Gordon Print., 1875, 359 pgs. L H Everts

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MAJOR HENRY KALDENBAUGH.  Among Tuscarawas County’s most sagacious and enterprising business men stands prominent the one whose name appears as the caption of this narrative.  He was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, Aug. 20, 1836; his father, Jacob Kaldenbaugh, having emigrated to that County, from Germany, in the year 18__.  His childhood and youth were passed in the village of Canal Dover, where for a number of years he was employed at the German Hotel, as servant boy and boot-black.  When a mere lad, by his polite demeanor, promptness, and industry, he attracted the attention of Robert Reilly, Esq., a leading merchant of Cleveland, and at his solicitation young Kaldenbaugh repaired to that city and engaged in Mr. Reilly’s wholesale grocery establishment.  Here he rapidly rose in the confidence and esteem of his employer, and frequently accompanied him in his trips to New York and New Orleans, that he might become more fully initiated into the business.  Mr. Reilly intended that his new clerk should finally take his place in the traveling department, and himself remain at home.
     Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Kaldenbaugh was occupying a lucrative position in New York City, which he at once resigned, and enlisted as a private in the gallant 51^st O. V. I., commanded by Colonel Stanley Matthews.  His commanding personal appearance, and faithfulness in the discharge of duty, soon promoted him through the intermediate position to that of Captain and Aid-de-camp on the staff of General Stanley Matthews, and subsequently upon that of General Crittenden, and still later he was made Captain and Provost Marshal on the staff of General O. O. Howard.
     While serving on staff duty he received repeated commendations for gallant and meritorious services.  The boys of the 35^th Indiana and of the 51^st Ohio will well remember Mr. Kaldenbaugh at the engagement of Dobbin’s Ford, Tennessee; he at that time was serving as Sergeant-Major, and, in the absence of all the other regimental staff officers, he bravely took the lead of the men, about five thousand in number, in the desperate attack upon the rebel works at that place.
     At the expiration of the “three years’ service,”  Mr. Kaldenbaugh enlisted as “veteran,” and was on the staff of Major-General Stanley in the famous “Atlanta campaign” of General Sherman, an also in the victorious “march to the sea;” and at the close of the war returned home, wearing the laurels of an efficient and valiant service for his country.
     Very shortly afterwards he was tendered a position as Secretary to the American Consul at Amsterdam, Holland, which he accepted, sailing June 20, 1865.  After a yar’s absence he returned home to accept a co-partnership in the banking business with Andrw Patrick, Esq., of New Philadelphia.  This arrangement continued for six years, during which time these gentlemen acquired an enviable reputation for honorable and impartial dealing.  In 1872, at the solicitation of a number of capitalists, the bank was changed to the “Citizens’ National Bank of New Philadelphia,” of which institution Major Kaldenbaugh became a Director and the Cashier.
     In 1863 he was married to Miss Amanda Forbes, daughter of James Forbes, Esq., of New Philadelphia.  He has one son, James Kaldenbaugh.
     During his business connection with the community, Mr. Kaldenbaugh has evinced a lively interest in all matters of public enterprise, and has been largely instrumental in the building up of the place.  His history is a striking example of what industry and perseverance, combined with inflexible integrity, can accomplish, even in a poor boy early thrown upon his own resources.  He was never ashamed to work, but in early childhood eagerly seized upon every opportunity to earn an honest penny, even though the service performed might be regarded by some of his associates as quite menial.  Scores of times, as the biographer has learned, has he blacked the boots of a gentleman who, for some nine years, has been his honorable competitor in business.  He ever believed in an acted upon the sentiment, -

“Honor and fame from no condition rise;
Act well your part, - there after the honor lies!”
His example is well worthy of emulation by all young men who would
lay the foundation for a successful and honorable business career.  Appropriate
here are the inimitable lines of Longfellow:
“Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.”
Source: Combination Atlas Map of Tuscarawas County, Ohio by L. H. Everts & Co. – Philadelphia – 1875 ~ Page 14