Married on Dec 24, 18890 in Jefferson, Arkansas.
Creed Caldwell, Sr.
SERVICES TO BE HELD THURS. FOR SEN. CALDWELL
Veteran Legislator Passes Away at Home of His Daughter
Funeral services for Senator Creed Caldwell, veteran Arkansas lawmaker who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Whyte, 1522 Pine Street last night about 11 o'clock, will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whyte tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock. Services will be conducted by Dr. Francis A. Buddin, pastor of the First Methodist Church.
Sen. Caldwell, 71, had been ill for several weeks and had been confined to his bed for some time. His breakdown closely followed the death of his wife which occurred last September.
One of the most colorful characters in Arkansas politics for more than 30 years, Sen. Caldwell was recognized as one of the best informed men on legislative matters in Arkansas and it was said by those familiar with such things, that he could analyze a piece of legislation quicker and better than any other man in state legislative circles.
His friends here and those from other sections of the state knew that he was deeply interested in his home county, Jefferson, and that he would fight to the limit for any legislation that would help this county and against any bill which his active mind discovered was against the interests of a majority of Jefferson County citizens.
Creed Caldwell was born in the portly old Caldwell home near Double Wells, 10 miles West of Pine Bluff. His father, Matthew Caldwell, had been married the second time before he left the old Caldwell community at Marietta, Ga., and immigrated to Arkansas. There were three children by his first marriage, and three by his second wife, Harriett Stribling. Creed was the youngest of the six children. He was only 20 days old when General Marmaduke's forces marched in front of his father's house on the old Princeton Road, in route to Pine Bluff in an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the city from General Powell Clayton's Federals.
He Civil war wiped out the Caldwell family, from a standpoint of personal property. The end of the war found the elder Caldwell with only his house, some of his furniture, his farm, and one yoke of oxen. But if he was broken in possessions, he was far from broken in spirits, and with what little he had, he immediately launched into a new start.
Because of his poor financial condition, the elder Caldwell was not able to give his youngest son the educational benefits he had bestowed upon his other children, but this in no manner curbed the young son's desire for success. He attended the school at Double Wells, three semesters, and because of his diligent studying at night, he ranked at the head of all his classes, but he realized he could make much better progress than the other students and it bothered him.
The next year an itinerant educator named Brantley opened a subscription school in a little log cabin four miles from the Caldwell home. Hearing Professor Brantley was offering some advanced courses, young Creed enrolled in this institution of learning.
And even at Professor Brantley's school he found in a short time that he was far ahead of the other students in their books, and he asked permission to be placed in a class by himself, but the instructor, aware as he was of the industrious nature of his pupil, was unable to grant the request because of lack of time and space in his school room. Young Creed solved the problem, however, by suggesting that the solo class be conducted during the noon hour, pointing out to the professor that he spent the hour in the classroom anyway.
The elder Caldwell was a progressive and systematical farmer, and he introduced the growing of wheat on a large scale in his vicinity. He purchased a portable thresher and each season he and his young son went about from farm to farm threshing grain. Each farmer, the Caldwells included, grew more than enough wheat needed for the household and there was always some left over to be sent to markets. On these rounds with his father young Creed heard about the deeds of different lawyers and he determined this was the profession he would follow. He told his father of his ambitions, and they conferred with others and in a general discussion a program of education subjects best fitted to such a career were agreed upon.
But before the young farmer boy could get very far with his plans, his father died, leaving his 12-year-old son with a mother and two sisters to care for. But this father, who 12 years ago had been on the verge of destitution at the close of the war, had restored his estate to such an extent that now he was lending money to various neighbors. But even in this condition, the estate was not one that could continue without management, and the ambitious young farmer took over its operation. He continued, too, with the same success that had been his father's. It was long, tedious work, and the farm labors and his endeavors to continue his educational career almost taxed his capacity.
Before his father's death young Creed had net one of his closest friends, D. Westall, a native of Indiana. It a coincident that Mr. Westall had been a soldier in Clayton's forces defending the city of Pine Bluff when young Creed was a mere infant. Mr. Westall had acquired a large estate from his army savings and had married Miss Millie Edwards of Pine Bluff. He established a general mercantile business on West Sixth Avenue between Oak and Poplar Streets in Pine Bluff, then on the outskirts of the city. Time after time he had asked young Creed Caldwell to come to Pine Bluff and work in the store with him, but his services on the farm were far more essential.
In 1899 Creed Caldwell entered state politics for the first time, being elected to the House of Representatives. His agues from Jefferson County that year were H. K. Toney and R. F. Foster. In 1901 he was elected to the senate, and re-elected in 1903. He retired from politics then until 1917, when he was elected to the senate again, and he retained that position until 1932, when Senator Sam M. Levine of Pine Bluff was elected to succeed him.
During his 20 years as a state legislator, Senator Caldwell sponsored countless legislative measures, but none of them ranked as high in importance, in his estimation, as the act providing for control of public service corporation rates. He also aided in passage of the law creating the state corporation commission. He took unusual interest in the various state institutions and is due much credit for the development of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal school for Negroes, at Pine Bluff. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Boys School board at the time of his death.
The Arkansas Society for Crippled Children was another institution which he supported unfailingly and it was largely through his efforts that the legislature in 1929 created the state Crippled Children's commission.
During his more than two score years as a lawyer Senator Caldwell participated in some of the most sensational and some of the most complicated cases ever tried in either civil or criminal divisions of Arkansas courts. The number of victories he achieved far outweighs the small percentage of losses credited to him.
He was in partnerships with various lawyers of Pine Bluff during his residence here. One of his earliest partners was E. W. Brockman the present prosecuting attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He also was in the firm of Caldwell, Triplett, and Ross.
The death of Mrs. Caldwell in September, 1934, was a severe blow to Senator Caldwell.
Three children were born to them. All survive him; Mrs. Charles Whyte and Met L. Caldwell, both of Pine Bluff, and Creed Caldwell, Jr. of Hamburg.
Members of the Pine Bluff Bar Association met in memorial session at the call of President Sam M. Levine and Secretary A. R. Cooper this morning.
The meeting was held in Circuit Judge T. G. Parham's offices and tribute was paid to Sen. Caldwell by the following members of the bar: Sen. Levine, Henry Smith, Jordan Monk, John A. McLeod, Jr., and J. M. Shaw.
President Levine named Attorneys E. W. Brockman, Arthur F. Triplett and Eric M. Ross, all former law partners of the late senator to draft memorial resolutions for the bar association.
The bar will attend the funeral in a body.
Arrangements for funeral will be in charge of Holderness Funeral Home and the following will serve as pallbearers:
Active-Garland Brewster, L. T. Sallee, Charles A. Gordon, Galbraith Could, R. Bly Wagner, J. B. Peers, W. A. Lewis, and E. W. Brockman.
Honorary-Judge R. H. Williams, Judge T. G. Parham, Chancery Judge Harvey R. Lucas, F. G. Bridges Sr., N. J. Gantt Jr., A. F. Triplett, sam F. Vaulx, Sam Levine, H. K Toney, Dr. O. G. Blackwell, W. N. Trulock Sr., Henry W. Smith, John Reeves, Jo Nichol, H. C. Couch, Jake McNulty, Russell Hollis, W. C. Hudson, J. L. McBurnett, V. L. Massey, (Hamburg) Pinchback Taylor, and J. R. Core, Sr.
All offices in the Jefferson County court house will be closed from 10 to 12 o'clock tomorrow and there will be no session of the municipal court at 10 o'clock.
All officers of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and officers of other state institutions will attend the funeral.
Pine Bluff Commercial
December 12, 1934
Page 1-2
Creed Caldwell, Sr.
SERVICES TO BE HELD THURS. FOR SEN. CALDWELL
Veteran Legislator Passes Away at Home of His Daughter
Funeral services for Senator Creed Caldwell, veteran Arkansas lawmaker who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Whyte, 1522 Pine Street last night about 11 o'clock, will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whyte tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock. Services will be conducted by Dr. Francis A. Buddin, pastor of the First Methodist Church.
Sen. Caldwell, 71, had been ill for several weeks and had been confined to his bed for some time. His breakdown closely followed the death of his wife which occurred last September.
One of the most colorful characters in Arkansas politics for more than 30 years, Sen. Caldwell was recognized as one of the best informed men on legislative matters in Arkansas and it was said by those familiar with such things, that he could analyze a piece of legislation quicker and better than any other man in state legislative circles.
His friends here and those from other sections of the state knew that he was deeply interested in his home county, Jefferson, and that he would fight to the limit for any legislation that would help this county and against any bill which his active mind discovered was against the interests of a majority of Jefferson County citizens.
Creed Caldwell was born in the portly old Caldwell home near Double Wells, 10 miles West of Pine Bluff. His father, Matthew Caldwell, had been married the second time before he left the old Caldwell community at Marietta, Ga., and immigrated to Arkansas. There were three children by his first marriage, and three by his second wife, Harriett Stribling. Creed was the youngest of the six children. He was only 20 days old when General Marmaduke's forces marched in front of his father's house on the old Princeton Road, in route to Pine Bluff in an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the city from General Powell Clayton's Federals.
He Civil war wiped out the Caldwell family, from a standpoint of personal property. The end of the war found the elder Caldwell with only his house, some of his furniture, his farm, and one yoke of oxen. But if he was broken in possessions, he was far from broken in spirits, and with what little he had, he immediately launched into a new start.
Because of his poor financial condition, the elder Caldwell was not able to give his youngest son the educational benefits he had bestowed upon his other children, but this in no manner curbed the young son's desire for success. He attended the school at Double Wells, three semesters, and because of his diligent studying at night, he ranked at the head of all his classes, but he realized he could make much better progress than the other students and it bothered him.
The next year an itinerant educator named Brantley opened a subscription school in a little log cabin four miles from the Caldwell home. Hearing Professor Brantley was offering some advanced courses, young Creed enrolled in this institution of learning.
And even at Professor Brantley's school he found in a short time that he was far ahead of the other students in their books, and he asked permission to be placed in a class by himself, but the instructor, aware as he was of the industrious nature of his pupil, was unable to grant the request because of lack of time and space in his school room. Young Creed solved the problem, however, by suggesting that the solo class be conducted during the noon hour, pointing out to the professor that he spent the hour in the classroom anyway.
The elder Caldwell was a progressive and systematical farmer, and he introduced the growing of wheat on a large scale in his vicinity. He purchased a portable thresher and each season he and his young son went about from farm to farm threshing grain. Each farmer, the Caldwells included, grew more than enough wheat needed for the household and there was always some left over to be sent to markets. On these rounds with his father young Creed heard about the deeds of different lawyers and he determined this was the profession he would follow. He told his father of his ambitions, and they conferred with others and in a general discussion a program of education subjects best fitted to such a career were agreed upon.
But before the young farmer boy could get very far with his plans, his father died, leaving his 12-year-old son with a mother and two sisters to care for. But this father, who 12 years ago had been on the verge of destitution at the close of the war, had restored his estate to such an extent that now he was lending money to various neighbors. But even in this condition, the estate was not one that could continue without management, and the ambitious young farmer took over its operation. He continued, too, with the same success that had been his father's. It was long, tedious work, and the farm labors and his endeavors to continue his educational career almost taxed his capacity.
Before his father's death young Creed had net one of his closest friends, D. Westall, a native of Indiana. It a coincident that Mr. Westall had been a soldier in Clayton's forces defending the city of Pine Bluff when young Creed was a mere infant. Mr. Westall had acquired a large estate from his army savings and had married Miss Millie Edwards of Pine Bluff. He established a general mercantile business on West Sixth Avenue between Oak and Poplar Streets in Pine Bluff, then on the outskirts of the city. Time after time he had asked young Creed Caldwell to come to Pine Bluff and work in the store with him, but his services on the farm were far more essential.
In 1899 Creed Caldwell entered state politics for the first time, being elected to the House of Representatives. His agues from Jefferson County that year were H. K. Toney and R. F. Foster. In 1901 he was elected to the senate, and re-elected in 1903. He retired from politics then until 1917, when he was elected to the senate again, and he retained that position until 1932, when Senator Sam M. Levine of Pine Bluff was elected to succeed him.
During his 20 years as a state legislator, Senator Caldwell sponsored countless legislative measures, but none of them ranked as high in importance, in his estimation, as the act providing for control of public service corporation rates. He also aided in passage of the law creating the state corporation commission. He took unusual interest in the various state institutions and is due much credit for the development of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal school for Negroes, at Pine Bluff. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Boys School board at the time of his death.
The Arkansas Society for Crippled Children was another institution which he supported unfailingly and it was largely through his efforts that the legislature in 1929 created the state Crippled Children's commission.
During his more than two score years as a lawyer Senator Caldwell participated in some of the most sensational and some of the most complicated cases ever tried in either civil or criminal divisions of Arkansas courts. The number of victories he achieved far outweighs the small percentage of losses credited to him.
He was in partnerships with various lawyers of Pine Bluff during his residence here. One of his earliest partners was E. W. Brockman the present prosecuting attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He also was in the firm of Caldwell, Triplett, and Ross.
The death of Mrs. Caldwell in September, 1934, was a severe blow to Senator Caldwell.
Three children were born to them. All survive him; Mrs. Charles Whyte and Met L. Caldwell, both of Pine Bluff, and Creed Caldwell, Jr. of Hamburg.
Members of the Pine Bluff Bar Association met in memorial session at the call of President Sam M. Levine and Secretary A. R. Cooper this morning.
The meeting was held in Circuit Judge T. G. Parham's offices and tribute was paid to Sen. Caldwell by the following members of the bar: Sen. Levine, Henry Smith, Jordan Monk, John A. McLeod, Jr., and J. M. Shaw.
President Levine named Attorneys E. W. Brockman, Arthur F. Triplett and Eric M. Ross, all former law partners of the late senator to draft memorial resolutions for the bar association.
The bar will attend the funeral in a body.
Arrangements for funeral will be in charge of Holderness Funeral Home and the following will serve as pallbearers:
Active-Garland Brewster, L. T. Sallee, Charles A. Gordon, Galbraith Could, R. Bly Wagner, J. B. Peers, W. A. Lewis, and E. W. Brockman.
Honorary-Judge R. H. Williams, Judge T. G. Parham, Chancery Judge Harvey R. Lucas, F. G. Bridges Sr., N. J. Gantt Jr., A. F. Triplett, sam F. Vaulx, Sam Levine, H. K Toney, Dr. O. G. Blackwell, W. N. Trulock Sr., Henry W. Smith, John Reeves, Jo Nichol, H. C. Couch, Jake McNulty, Russell Hollis, W. C. Hudson, J. L. McBurnett, V. L. Massey, (Hamburg) Pinchback Taylor, and J. R. Core, Sr.
All offices in the Jefferson County court house will be closed from 10 to 12 o'clock tomorrow and there will be no session of the municipal court at 10 o'clock.
All officers of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and officers of other state institutions will attend the funeral.
Pine Bluff Commercial
December 12, 1934
Page 1-2
Married on Dec 24, 18890 in Jefferson, Arkansas.
Creed Caldwell, Sr.
SERVICES TO BE HELD THURS. FOR SEN. CALDWELL
Veteran Legislator Passes Away at Home of His Daughter
Funeral services for Senator Creed Caldwell, veteran Arkansas lawmaker who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Whyte, 1522 Pine Street last night about 11 o'clock, will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whyte tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock. Services will be conducted by Dr. Francis A. Buddin, pastor of the First Methodist Church.
Sen. Caldwell, 71, had been ill for several weeks and had been confined to his bed for some time. His breakdown closely followed the death of his wife which occurred last September.
One of the most colorful characters in Arkansas politics for more than 30 years, Sen. Caldwell was recognized as one of the best informed men on legislative matters in Arkansas and it was said by those familiar with such things, that he could analyze a piece of legislation quicker and better than any other man in state legislative circles.
His friends here and those from other sections of the state knew that he was deeply interested in his home county, Jefferson, and that he would fight to the limit for any legislation that would help this county and against any bill which his active mind discovered was against the interests of a majority of Jefferson County citizens.
Creed Caldwell was born in the portly old Caldwell home near Double Wells, 10 miles West of Pine Bluff. His father, Matthew Caldwell, had been married the second time before he left the old Caldwell community at Marietta, Ga., and immigrated to Arkansas. There were three children by his first marriage, and three by his second wife, Harriett Stribling. Creed was the youngest of the six children. He was only 20 days old when General Marmaduke's forces marched in front of his father's house on the old Princeton Road, in route to Pine Bluff in an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the city from General Powell Clayton's Federals.
He Civil war wiped out the Caldwell family, from a standpoint of personal property. The end of the war found the elder Caldwell with only his house, some of his furniture, his farm, and one yoke of oxen. But if he was broken in possessions, he was far from broken in spirits, and with what little he had, he immediately launched into a new start.
Because of his poor financial condition, the elder Caldwell was not able to give his youngest son the educational benefits he had bestowed upon his other children, but this in no manner curbed the young son's desire for success. He attended the school at Double Wells, three semesters, and because of his diligent studying at night, he ranked at the head of all his classes, but he realized he could make much better progress than the other students and it bothered him.
The next year an itinerant educator named Brantley opened a subscription school in a little log cabin four miles from the Caldwell home. Hearing Professor Brantley was offering some advanced courses, young Creed enrolled in this institution of learning.
And even at Professor Brantley's school he found in a short time that he was far ahead of the other students in their books, and he asked permission to be placed in a class by himself, but the instructor, aware as he was of the industrious nature of his pupil, was unable to grant the request because of lack of time and space in his school room. Young Creed solved the problem, however, by suggesting that the solo class be conducted during the noon hour, pointing out to the professor that he spent the hour in the classroom anyway.
The elder Caldwell was a progressive and systematical farmer, and he introduced the growing of wheat on a large scale in his vicinity. He purchased a portable thresher and each season he and his young son went about from farm to farm threshing grain. Each farmer, the Caldwells included, grew more than enough wheat needed for the household and there was always some left over to be sent to markets. On these rounds with his father young Creed heard about the deeds of different lawyers and he determined this was the profession he would follow. He told his father of his ambitions, and they conferred with others and in a general discussion a program of education subjects best fitted to such a career were agreed upon.
But before the young farmer boy could get very far with his plans, his father died, leaving his 12-year-old son with a mother and two sisters to care for. But this father, who 12 years ago had been on the verge of destitution at the close of the war, had restored his estate to such an extent that now he was lending money to various neighbors. But even in this condition, the estate was not one that could continue without management, and the ambitious young farmer took over its operation. He continued, too, with the same success that had been his father's. It was long, tedious work, and the farm labors and his endeavors to continue his educational career almost taxed his capacity.
Before his father's death young Creed had net one of his closest friends, D. Westall, a native of Indiana. It a coincident that Mr. Westall had been a soldier in Clayton's forces defending the city of Pine Bluff when young Creed was a mere infant. Mr. Westall had acquired a large estate from his army savings and had married Miss Millie Edwards of Pine Bluff. He established a general mercantile business on West Sixth Avenue between Oak and Poplar Streets in Pine Bluff, then on the outskirts of the city. Time after time he had asked young Creed Caldwell to come to Pine Bluff and work in the store with him, but his services on the farm were far more essential.
In 1899 Creed Caldwell entered state politics for the first time, being elected to the House of Representatives. His agues from Jefferson County that year were H. K. Toney and R. F. Foster. In 1901 he was elected to the senate, and re-elected in 1903. He retired from politics then until 1917, when he was elected to the senate again, and he retained that position until 1932, when Senator Sam M. Levine of Pine Bluff was elected to succeed him.
During his 20 years as a state legislator, Senator Caldwell sponsored countless legislative measures, but none of them ranked as high in importance, in his estimation, as the act providing for control of public service corporation rates. He also aided in passage of the law creating the state corporation commission. He took unusual interest in the various state institutions and is due much credit for the development of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal school for Negroes, at Pine Bluff. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Boys School board at the time of his death.
The Arkansas Society for Crippled Children was another institution which he supported unfailingly and it was largely through his efforts that the legislature in 1929 created the state Crippled Children's commission.
During his more than two score years as a lawyer Senator Caldwell participated in some of the most sensational and some of the most complicated cases ever tried in either civil or criminal divisions of Arkansas courts. The number of victories he achieved far outweighs the small percentage of losses credited to him.
He was in partnerships with various lawyers of Pine Bluff during his residence here. One of his earliest partners was E. W. Brockman the present prosecuting attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He also was in the firm of Caldwell, Triplett, and Ross.
The death of Mrs. Caldwell in September, 1934, was a severe blow to Senator Caldwell.
Three children were born to them. All survive him; Mrs. Charles Whyte and Met L. Caldwell, both of Pine Bluff, and Creed Caldwell, Jr. of Hamburg.
Members of the Pine Bluff Bar Association met in memorial session at the call of President Sam M. Levine and Secretary A. R. Cooper this morning.
The meeting was held in Circuit Judge T. G. Parham's offices and tribute was paid to Sen. Caldwell by the following members of the bar: Sen. Levine, Henry Smith, Jordan Monk, John A. McLeod, Jr., and J. M. Shaw.
President Levine named Attorneys E. W. Brockman, Arthur F. Triplett and Eric M. Ross, all former law partners of the late senator to draft memorial resolutions for the bar association.
The bar will attend the funeral in a body.
Arrangements for funeral will be in charge of Holderness Funeral Home and the following will serve as pallbearers:
Active-Garland Brewster, L. T. Sallee, Charles A. Gordon, Galbraith Could, R. Bly Wagner, J. B. Peers, W. A. Lewis, and E. W. Brockman.
Honorary-Judge R. H. Williams, Judge T. G. Parham, Chancery Judge Harvey R. Lucas, F. G. Bridges Sr., N. J. Gantt Jr., A. F. Triplett, sam F. Vaulx, Sam Levine, H. K Toney, Dr. O. G. Blackwell, W. N. Trulock Sr., Henry W. Smith, John Reeves, Jo Nichol, H. C. Couch, Jake McNulty, Russell Hollis, W. C. Hudson, J. L. McBurnett, V. L. Massey, (Hamburg) Pinchback Taylor, and J. R. Core, Sr.
All offices in the Jefferson County court house will be closed from 10 to 12 o'clock tomorrow and there will be no session of the municipal court at 10 o'clock.
All officers of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and officers of other state institutions will attend the funeral.
Pine Bluff Commercial
December 12, 1934
Page 1-2
Creed Caldwell, Sr.
SERVICES TO BE HELD THURS. FOR SEN. CALDWELL
Veteran Legislator Passes Away at Home of His Daughter
Funeral services for Senator Creed Caldwell, veteran Arkansas lawmaker who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Whyte, 1522 Pine Street last night about 11 o'clock, will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Whyte tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock. Services will be conducted by Dr. Francis A. Buddin, pastor of the First Methodist Church.
Sen. Caldwell, 71, had been ill for several weeks and had been confined to his bed for some time. His breakdown closely followed the death of his wife which occurred last September.
One of the most colorful characters in Arkansas politics for more than 30 years, Sen. Caldwell was recognized as one of the best informed men on legislative matters in Arkansas and it was said by those familiar with such things, that he could analyze a piece of legislation quicker and better than any other man in state legislative circles.
His friends here and those from other sections of the state knew that he was deeply interested in his home county, Jefferson, and that he would fight to the limit for any legislation that would help this county and against any bill which his active mind discovered was against the interests of a majority of Jefferson County citizens.
Creed Caldwell was born in the portly old Caldwell home near Double Wells, 10 miles West of Pine Bluff. His father, Matthew Caldwell, had been married the second time before he left the old Caldwell community at Marietta, Ga., and immigrated to Arkansas. There were three children by his first marriage, and three by his second wife, Harriett Stribling. Creed was the youngest of the six children. He was only 20 days old when General Marmaduke's forces marched in front of his father's house on the old Princeton Road, in route to Pine Bluff in an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the city from General Powell Clayton's Federals.
He Civil war wiped out the Caldwell family, from a standpoint of personal property. The end of the war found the elder Caldwell with only his house, some of his furniture, his farm, and one yoke of oxen. But if he was broken in possessions, he was far from broken in spirits, and with what little he had, he immediately launched into a new start.
Because of his poor financial condition, the elder Caldwell was not able to give his youngest son the educational benefits he had bestowed upon his other children, but this in no manner curbed the young son's desire for success. He attended the school at Double Wells, three semesters, and because of his diligent studying at night, he ranked at the head of all his classes, but he realized he could make much better progress than the other students and it bothered him.
The next year an itinerant educator named Brantley opened a subscription school in a little log cabin four miles from the Caldwell home. Hearing Professor Brantley was offering some advanced courses, young Creed enrolled in this institution of learning.
And even at Professor Brantley's school he found in a short time that he was far ahead of the other students in their books, and he asked permission to be placed in a class by himself, but the instructor, aware as he was of the industrious nature of his pupil, was unable to grant the request because of lack of time and space in his school room. Young Creed solved the problem, however, by suggesting that the solo class be conducted during the noon hour, pointing out to the professor that he spent the hour in the classroom anyway.
The elder Caldwell was a progressive and systematical farmer, and he introduced the growing of wheat on a large scale in his vicinity. He purchased a portable thresher and each season he and his young son went about from farm to farm threshing grain. Each farmer, the Caldwells included, grew more than enough wheat needed for the household and there was always some left over to be sent to markets. On these rounds with his father young Creed heard about the deeds of different lawyers and he determined this was the profession he would follow. He told his father of his ambitions, and they conferred with others and in a general discussion a program of education subjects best fitted to such a career were agreed upon.
But before the young farmer boy could get very far with his plans, his father died, leaving his 12-year-old son with a mother and two sisters to care for. But this father, who 12 years ago had been on the verge of destitution at the close of the war, had restored his estate to such an extent that now he was lending money to various neighbors. But even in this condition, the estate was not one that could continue without management, and the ambitious young farmer took over its operation. He continued, too, with the same success that had been his father's. It was long, tedious work, and the farm labors and his endeavors to continue his educational career almost taxed his capacity.
Before his father's death young Creed had net one of his closest friends, D. Westall, a native of Indiana. It a coincident that Mr. Westall had been a soldier in Clayton's forces defending the city of Pine Bluff when young Creed was a mere infant. Mr. Westall had acquired a large estate from his army savings and had married Miss Millie Edwards of Pine Bluff. He established a general mercantile business on West Sixth Avenue between Oak and Poplar Streets in Pine Bluff, then on the outskirts of the city. Time after time he had asked young Creed Caldwell to come to Pine Bluff and work in the store with him, but his services on the farm were far more essential.
In 1899 Creed Caldwell entered state politics for the first time, being elected to the House of Representatives. His agues from Jefferson County that year were H. K. Toney and R. F. Foster. In 1901 he was elected to the senate, and re-elected in 1903. He retired from politics then until 1917, when he was elected to the senate again, and he retained that position until 1932, when Senator Sam M. Levine of Pine Bluff was elected to succeed him.
During his 20 years as a state legislator, Senator Caldwell sponsored countless legislative measures, but none of them ranked as high in importance, in his estimation, as the act providing for control of public service corporation rates. He also aided in passage of the law creating the state corporation commission. He took unusual interest in the various state institutions and is due much credit for the development of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal school for Negroes, at Pine Bluff. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Boys School board at the time of his death.
The Arkansas Society for Crippled Children was another institution which he supported unfailingly and it was largely through his efforts that the legislature in 1929 created the state Crippled Children's commission.
During his more than two score years as a lawyer Senator Caldwell participated in some of the most sensational and some of the most complicated cases ever tried in either civil or criminal divisions of Arkansas courts. The number of victories he achieved far outweighs the small percentage of losses credited to him.
He was in partnerships with various lawyers of Pine Bluff during his residence here. One of his earliest partners was E. W. Brockman the present prosecuting attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He also was in the firm of Caldwell, Triplett, and Ross.
The death of Mrs. Caldwell in September, 1934, was a severe blow to Senator Caldwell.
Three children were born to them. All survive him; Mrs. Charles Whyte and Met L. Caldwell, both of Pine Bluff, and Creed Caldwell, Jr. of Hamburg.
Members of the Pine Bluff Bar Association met in memorial session at the call of President Sam M. Levine and Secretary A. R. Cooper this morning.
The meeting was held in Circuit Judge T. G. Parham's offices and tribute was paid to Sen. Caldwell by the following members of the bar: Sen. Levine, Henry Smith, Jordan Monk, John A. McLeod, Jr., and J. M. Shaw.
President Levine named Attorneys E. W. Brockman, Arthur F. Triplett and Eric M. Ross, all former law partners of the late senator to draft memorial resolutions for the bar association.
The bar will attend the funeral in a body.
Arrangements for funeral will be in charge of Holderness Funeral Home and the following will serve as pallbearers:
Active-Garland Brewster, L. T. Sallee, Charles A. Gordon, Galbraith Could, R. Bly Wagner, J. B. Peers, W. A. Lewis, and E. W. Brockman.
Honorary-Judge R. H. Williams, Judge T. G. Parham, Chancery Judge Harvey R. Lucas, F. G. Bridges Sr., N. J. Gantt Jr., A. F. Triplett, sam F. Vaulx, Sam Levine, H. K Toney, Dr. O. G. Blackwell, W. N. Trulock Sr., Henry W. Smith, John Reeves, Jo Nichol, H. C. Couch, Jake McNulty, Russell Hollis, W. C. Hudson, J. L. McBurnett, V. L. Massey, (Hamburg) Pinchback Taylor, and J. R. Core, Sr.
All offices in the Jefferson County court house will be closed from 10 to 12 o'clock tomorrow and there will be no session of the municipal court at 10 o'clock.
All officers of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School and officers of other state institutions will attend the funeral.
Pine Bluff Commercial
December 12, 1934
Page 1-2
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