Pioneer Woman of Idaho Passes Away

Mrs. Maria Caldwell, Early Resident of Lewiston, Dies at Son's Home; Married Here In 1871.

Mrs. Marie Caldwell, 85, who came to Lewiston when it was a town of a few hundred inhabitants and witnessed its growth to a city of commercial importance among cities of the northwest, died yesterday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Sol Caldwell, 415 Second avenue. Death was caused by hardening of the arteries.

Born in Ontario in 1849, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Reddy, she was educated in Canada and at the age of 21 came to Lewiston with her parents, and her residence in Nez Perce county since was continuous excepting for several winters she spent in California.

Husband came in Sixties.

Mrs. Caldwell's husband, the late William A. Caldwell, was among the earliest settlers of Nez Perce county. He came here in the early '60s and after spending a year or so at mining in the newly discovered fields of central Idaho, returned to Lewiston and at one time operated a pack train to the mines at Pierce. Their marriage occurred in July, 1871, in Lewiston.

Mrs. Caldwell lived at Culdesac before the town was established, her husband conducting a hotel there. It was then known as Caldwell's stage station. Later her husband acquired the original Craig donation claim of 640 acres between Sweetwater and Jacques spur, now owned by Henry Thiessen and farmed as a stock ranch. There the family lived for many years. She was closely identified with the early history and development of Nez Perce county and of Lewiston. After the sale of the farm near Sweetwater, Mrs. Caldwell came here to make her home with her son and sister, Mrs. Elizabeth White.

Mrs. Caldwell was the eldest of six sisters and was the first one to pass away.

Leaves Four Sons.

She is survived by four sons, Sol Caldwell, Lewiston; Fred Caldwell, Oakland, Calif., who came here several days ago with his wife to be with his mother; William A. Caldwell, Gem, Alta., and Mose Caldwell, St. Xavier, Mont., and the following sisters: Mrs. Elizabeth White, Lewiston; Mrs. Sarah Elliott, Genesee; Mrs. Catherine Cole, Seattle; Mrs. Jennie Parker, Salem, Ore., and Mrs. Margaret Vennigerholz, Moscow.