Maria's parents, Richard and Elizabeth Williams Lair had a total of 12 children, (according to her obituary in 1921) however, I have only been able to document 7 daughters and 2 sons of which only 4 were living in 1921. After Richard Lair died in 1887, Elizabeth remarried William McLean.

Maria A Lair was the oldest child of Richard and Elizabeth, born December 1857 in Santa Cruz, California.
She married Minor Vincent Caldwell Aug 15, 1874 in Seaside, New Years Point, California. She died in 1895, (in childbirth, per family history) at the age of 38 years and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Santa Cruz, CA.
Minor Vincent Caldwell, b. Feb 9, 1846 Cass County, Indiana; d. April 21, 1920, age 74, Santa Cruz, California; son of David Caldwell and Elizabeth Stanley. Minor Vincent Caldwell is buried in the Santa Cruz Memorial Park (IOOF Cemetery), Santa Cruz, California.
Following the marriage of Maria Lair and Minor Vincent Caldwell, the family moved to Oregon, and then Washington. They returned to Santa Cruz by 1884 when they filed their first homestead claim, the old Last Chance ranch behind Swanton, Santa Cruz County, CA.

3/23/1887, Santa Cruz, California Newspaper:
Homeless
Sunday afternoon, Miner Caldwell, who lives near General Sims’ place above Davenport’s Landing, left his home to go down to Ambrose Genoni’s to procure some household supplies which had been ordered through Mr. Genoni. During his absence his house caught fire from some cause unknown and was totally destroyed. Mrs. Caldwell fought the fire frantically to save the home or a portion of its contents and in the effort narrowly escaped with her life, her hair being entirely burned from her head. The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell and six children who are homeless and almost naked. As the situation is reported, the matter is one deserving the attention of the charitable.

4/5/1887 – Santa Cruz Surf, Santa Cruz, California:
House Burned
The residence of Henry R. Waldo, situated near Waddell Creek, was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon with nearly all its contents, a sewing machine and the furniture out of one room only being saved. Mrs. Waldo is a sister of Mrs. Minor Caldwell, and it is a remarkable coincidence that the homes of both were burned on Sunday afternoon at the same hour within exactly two weeks.

By 1892 Minor acquired more land. Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office – Minor Vincent Caldwell:
Homestead Patent 4604, issued 9/27/1892, Santa Cruz County, California,
Issued on behalf of Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States 120 acres
Township 9S, Range 4W Section 25 NE1/4 NE1/4 Mount Diablo Prime Meridian
Township 9S Range 4W Section 25 W1/2 NE1/4 Mount Diablo Prime Meridian

Sixteen years after the death of his wife, Maria A Lair Calwell, he became engaged to Mrs. Alma Elizabeth Hale.
4/12/1911 - Santa Cruz Evening News, Santa Cruz, California:
The engagement of Mrs. Alma E. Hale and Minor V. Caldwell is announced, the wedding is to take place in the near future. Both are well-known people of Santa Cruz and Boulder Creek, having resided for many years in this county. This is a piece of interesting news to their many friends in Santa Cruz and Boulder Creek.
Minor Vincent Caldwell m. 2nd Alma Elizabeth Hobday Hale in 1911.

Alma Elizabeth Hobday, b. Sept 12, 1869 England; d. Jan 26, 1939 Santa Cruz, California; emigrated 1872; m. 1st Fred Eugene Hale; (divorced); m. 2nd Minor Vincent Caldwell 1911 Santa Cruz, California. She is buried in the Old Holy Cross Cemetery, Santa Cruz, California, with her son Robert Eugene Hobday Hale.

Brief history compiled by Deborah King Medina for the direct descendants of Maria A Lair and Minor Vincent Caldwell, many of whom still reside in Santa Cruz County, CA.