In 1850, a visitor described Caldwell as stretching about six miles along the river bank, with houses up to a quarter mile apart. Local farms were highly productive, in part due to the rich and moist riverbank soil. The town was already divided between Upper and Lower Caldwell.
In 1867, the local St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was noted as having been “kept open regularly and supplied with religious services.” St. Peter’s operated two outreach missions, one in New Georgia and Virginia. In 1881, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lower Caldwell was incorporated. Named officials were Horatio B. Capehart (pastor), Isaac Lawrence (trustee), Francis T. Clark, Jr. (trustee), C.R. Sims (trustee), A.F. Travis (steward), Zeal Prichard (trustee) and James Bunyan (trustee).
Footnote: J. W. Lugenbeel, “Sketches of Liberia – No. 2,” African Repository, July 1850, p. 207; “Religious Services in Mesurado County, African Repository, Nov. 1867, p. 343; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1881, p. 11-12.
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