Wilford Caulkins

       
      Wilford Caulkins, A. M., late professor of ancient languages in Chattanooga University, is a son of John G. and Nancy (Lee) Caulkins, both natives of New York. The mother was a cousin of the noted philanthropist, George I. Seney, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and also a cousin of Mary Ingraham, wife of the late Bishop Gilbert Haven. After her marriage to Mr. Caulkins they lived in their native State until 1869, when they moved to Knox County, Tenn., where the mother died in 1877. For a livelihood the father followed merchandising and farming. He has been a life-long worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife.   He is now living in Knoxville, Tenn., and is seventy-four years of age. Their family consisted of six children. Dr. Douglas Caulkins, of Knoxville, is one of this family. Our subject was born July 30, 1852, in Duchess County, N. Y., and was the oldest child born to his parents. His preparatory education was received in a private school in his native State. At leisure hours he assisted his father in the store, and, after coming to Tennessee, he worked on the farm and was also clerk in a store in Knoxville for a number of years. He entered the East Tennessee Wesleyan University in 1876, from which institution he graduated in 1880 with the first honors of his class. Rev. Richard J. Cooke, D. D., author of a celebrated theological work on the "Doctrine of the Resurrection," was a member of the same class. While in college he was tutor in Latin and Greek, and after graduating was elected professor of Latin in his alma mater. Later he was also placed in charge of the department of Greek. In May, 1886, he resigned at that place to accept the chair of ancient languages in Chattanooga University. In January, 1887, after the inauguration of Gov. R. L. Taylor, Prof. Caulkins' name was urged for the position of State superintendent of public instruction by several of the leading journals of the State, including the Chattanooga Times, the Knoxville Journal, the Knoxville Tribune and the Athens Post. He was not, however, an applicant for the position and made no effort to secure it. In 1877 Miss Laura D. O'Brien, a native of Greenville, Tenn., became his wife, and to them were born three daughters. Both Prof. and Mrs. Caulkins are Methodists. The Professor is a man of superior endowments and culture and one whose services the university was considered fortunate in securing. His professional services were eminently satisfactory to the authorities of the university, but in March, 1887, finding himself not in harmony with the proposed policy of the institution in educating white and colored students together, he resigned his position. He is now conducting a private school in Chattanooga.
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887