[JAC - This is a verbatim transcription of the works of Lucy Lucille Caldwell Stotts b. 1879]

Lewis Napolean Caldwell was born on the farm in Clay Township, Wayne County, Lewisburg, Iowa. that his father and mother, Nicholas Caldwell and Abigail Jane (Curtis) Caldwell settled on, in the spring of the year 1855. Lewis N. had a twin sister Louise Matilda (who died in infancy and buried in the Lewisburg, Iowa, cemetary). Lewis N., was reared on the farm, and attended the Lewisburg school. (That School House is still standing at this writing Dec. 17, 1935 and 2nd writing of March 6, 1964). School not held there now but Masonic Lodge purchased the building and hold regular meetings there in 1964. Lewis also attended school in Hastings, Nebraska, for a short time, making his home with his sister, Mrs Curtis L. Alexander.

He married Lucy Ellen Surbaugh, also of Lewisburg, Iowa, and for a few years they made their home in with his father and mother. After the birth of Sylvia Harriett their third child, they moved across the road north into thier own home, and later his father and mother deeded the west eighty acres to him. As time went on Lewis eventually bought the rest of the farm from his father and mother, paying $18.50 an acre for timber land and $25.00 an acre for the rest. I have pictures of the house that was built on the forty acres on north side of road.

Seven children were born to this union and all of them but one lived to manhood and womanhood and in the following pages will be listed with their families. All of those seven children went to school in the same school at Lewisburg, that their father and mother attended before them. All of them finished High School either at Corydon, Iowa, or Allerton, Ia. but Lucille and she was ill and did not graduate from High School. Lee Linton went on to college at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, graduated there. Harry C. went into business. Nicholas J., graduated from Central College, Pella, Iowa. Sylvia H., studied music in Indianola, Iowa. Lucille L., went to Capitol City Commercial College, Des Moines, Ia., and graduated there. Ruth F., taught school at the home school, as did Lee L., and Nicholas J.

Lewis N., and wife Lucy Ellen belonged to the Unity Baptist Church, one and one-half miles east, and one and one-half miles north of the home farm. Later when moving to Corydon, Iowa, they had their membership transferred to the Baptist Church of that town, and remained members until their deaths. Lewis was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and both of them were members of the Eastern Star Lodge of Corydon, Iowa.

Died from Cancer.