Athens Weekly Review
Thursday, Sept. 27, 1928

Death Claims Veteran Citizen

W. R. (Uncle Billie) Caldwell, veteran citizen of the county, died at the family home
east of Athens at 8:00 o'clock this morning. Mr. Caldwell was taken suddenly ill
with acute indigestion after partaking of a hearty meal on Thursday noon. Dr. A. H.
Easterling was called and found that he was suffering from acute indigestion. His
condition grew more serious during the night, followed by a sinking spell this morning
and at 8 o'clock he passed away.

Funeral services was held Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock at Shelby Chapel, Rev. A. J.
Crawford, former pastor of the Presbyterian church here but now of Nacogdoches,
conducted the service. He was assisted by Rev. S. L. Terry, local pastor.

Mr. Caldwell was born in Polk county, Georgia on April 17th 1857 and was therefore
71 years of age on his last birthday. He came to Texas at the age of 19 and settled
on his present homesite three miles east of Athens on the Athens -m Tyler road. Mr.
Caldwell was married to Miss Texana Hall in November 1893, who with the following
children survive him: Thomas, Miss Laura and William Caldwell of Athens, Mrs. G. M.
Adams of Texhoma, Okla., and Royall of LaTeria. One son, John died at Ft. Sam Houston,
San Antonio, during the world war. He is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Newt Cox of
Merit, Texas.

Although not a participant in the Civil War, Mr. Caldwell, as a boy was frequently around
the Confederate soldier and his heart was thoroughly in sympathy with the Confederate
cause. He was an honorary member of the Howdy Martin Camp, Confederate Veterans
of this city.

"Uncle Billie" Caldwell as he was familiarly known, was a man who numbered his friends
by his acquaintances. He was a man of strong convictions, and while not seeking office
himself, he was active in all political campaigns. His friendship of ex-governor James E.
Ferguson began shortly after he entered politics and continued up until his death. Mr.
Ferguson was a frequent visitor in the Caldwell home and relied greatly on his political
judgment in all his campaigns.

W. R. Caldwell was a man of temperate habits, was frugal in his business as a farmer and
was a living example in this section of East Texas by using business methods on the farm.

Early in life he identified himself with the Methodist church and continued his membership
up until his death.

Athens Weekly Review
Thursday, Sept. 27, 1928

Two Funerals Sunday Largely Attended
Funeral services for *Mrs. S. L. Noble age 66, who died on Saturday at 12:45 was held
at the city cemetery Sunday at 1:00 o'clock with Rev. O. W. Hooper conducting the
service. A large concourse of friends gathered for the service and floral offering was
unusually large. Deceased had been ill for many months at her home in West Athens.
*I find no listing for Mrs. S. L. Noble in the Athens City Cemetery-bf

At 4:00 o'clock funeral services for the late W. R. Caldwell was held at the family home
in the Shelby Chapel community. Here another large crowd gathered to pay their
respect to the deceased. Rev. A. J. Crawford of Nacogdoches, held the service,
assisted by Rev. S. L. Terry. Many out-of-town people were in attendance at the
funeral.

Shelby Chapel Cemetery:

Thomas A. Caldwell Sept. 18, 1896- March 31, 1968
Laura Caldwell Wildon April 16, 1905-March 21, 1957
Texana Caldwell Oct 21 1873- Oct. 15, 1947
W. R. Caldwell April 17, 1857-Sept. 21, 1928
John B. Caldwell Sept. 23, 1894-Nov. 29, 1917

Transcribed by

Obituaries of Henderson Co., TX

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