River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-07-27
OBITUARY

William A. Caldwell, of the town of
Clifton, died July II, 1916. He was
born in Potsdam, st. Lawrence coun-
ty, N. Y, July Is, 1852, and came to
Wisconsin in early boyhood. He was
married to Miss Della McIlroy of Cliff
ton, March 80, 1882, and had four
children, Leslie, assistant cashier of
the Bank of Ellsworth; Claude, hold
ing the same position in the Prescott
bank; Ethel, now the wife of Robert
Boles of Clifton, and a daughter who
died in infancy. His wife died July
%, 1892, and on November Is, 1894,
he married Ida Hammond of River
Falls, who survives him.
One of the noble instincts of man is
to speak reverently of the dead, with
out worldly distinction, and it is well.
1t is well, too, when a truly good man
dies to recall his virtues. When a
man like Will Caldwell, whose whole
life was beyond reproach, passes
away there is eulogy in all our hearts
and it's expression is natural and of
mutual comfort to all the living who
knew his worth. Still even those of us
who knew Will Caldwell best loved
him best and did not and could not
wholly realize the full beauty of his
life until it's labors were ended. This
is common phase of our natures. We
become accustomed to the daily min
istrations of friend and these blend
with and become a part of our own
lives and we only awaken to full
realization of their full value when
such ministrations cease. 1t is the
complete life that clears our vision.
Will Caldwell was not a demonstra-
tive man. He had only lofty notions
of an earthly mission, yet he fulfilled
one. He was free from selfish ambi-
tons. He loved the peace which ac-
companies and follows quiet life. He
would not have exchanged the COM
forts and privileges of his tranquil
home surroundings for a throne. The
companionship of old friends and a
few choice books were more to him
than the strenuous exactions of the So
called social world. There was not
grain of the artificial in his nature.
Most men of his intellectual grasp
are tempted into ambitious ways so
often destructive to
"That peace of mind dearer than ALL"
but he steadily refused proffers of po-
litical and other preferment on the
ground that he could not leave the old
home.
For more than quarter of a cen
fury he taught in the public schools of
this county, for the most part in his
home district, and many young men
and women in his and other communi-
ties are indebted to him for their first
inspirations leading to high ideals.
With excellent natural abilities,
broad, practical education, instructive
gentleness, candor of speech though
often touched by humor, loyalty to
friends and with gift Of imparting
thought, enhanced in value no doubt
by long years of pedagogic labor, he
was teacher to the last, friend to
be cherished, companion to be loved
and citizen to be admired and re-
membered for years to come.
The funeral services were from the
home he loved so we'll and took place
last Wednesday in the presence of his
neighbors and a host of other friends
who had gathered from River Falls,
Prescott, Ellsworth and Be 'denvilIe
and the surrounding country. Tender
songs were sung and a most befitting
discourse which touched every heart
came from the lips Of Rev. G. A. Bird
of River Falls. His coffin heaped with
flowers, the mortal remains of our
good friend were borne under the
beautiful skies of that July afternoon
to the Glass Valley Cemetery and
tenderly laid beside the mother Of his
children.
''Think of him still as the same, | say,
He is not dead, he is just away"
D. w. w.