Biography
[JAC - From Lucy Lucille Caldwell Stotts]

Graduated from High School at Allerton, Iowa and Simpson College, Indianola, iowa. Studied at Cedar Falls, Iowa and University of Chicago, Illinios.

He was Superintendent of Schools in Montezuma, Iowa when his son, Lynton Keith and daughter Margaret were born. Then was in Monmouth, Illinios at the time his third child, a girl, was born. From there they moved to Hammond, Indiana where he was Superintendent of Schools for 37 years. The Lee L. Caldwell school there was named in his honor, with his picture and a bronze plaque.

"Lee L. Caldwell Dies" were the front page headlines on the Hammond Times - East Chicago, Ind., Tuesday, June 2, 1959. Followed by, "Head of Hammond's Schools Since 1922 Succumbs at 75.

Lee L. Caldwell, superintendent of Hammond schools for 37 years, died unexpectedly late Monday night in St. Margaret Hospital. He was 75. Died: June 1, 1959.

Mr. Caldwell had been admitted to the hospital Friday for observation. He had been away from his desk for about a week. Doctors said his death was due to congestive heart failure.

Public memorial services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the First Methodist Church, 6635 Hohman Ave., with the Rev. Eugene R. Balsley. Cremated and buried in Hammond, Ind. cemetery.

Note: His sister Ruth (Caldwell) and husband Leonard C. Fisher of Humeston, Iowa attended. I was in Milwaukee, Wis., at home of my daughter Mary Lucille (Mrs. R.O.) Nieman, because of sickness, so could not attend his funeral.

Lee had a beautiful garden at his home and took great pride in raising flowers and shrubs not native to the midwest. He never ceased to astound acquaintances and friends with his ability to remember names and he was able to call nearly every member of the school faculty by name.

He was a trustee and member of the First Methodist Church and his stewardship included 35 years of teaching a Men's Sunday School class. Rev. Eugene Balsley said, "He served both his community and his church with distinction and fidelity. He lived a good, productive, useful life, dedicated to the glory of God and man. His characteristics were discipline, work, integrity."

Speaking for the approximately 300 faculty members, nearly all of whom Mr. Caldwell personally knew by name, Lucille Parre had high praise for him as an administrator.

"He had a sublime faith in humanity", she said in describing him as a person who looked for the good in his fellow man, and one who never held a grudge. "He had the unusal ability of being kind when kindness was called for and of being firm when firmness was needed. The world id a better place because he walked its path."

He suffered a stroke little more than a year ago, but he quickly recovered and returned to his duties which he carried out with his customary vigor. He complained of "feeling under the weather" last week and was ordered to the hospital for a checkup.

Mr. Caldwell earned his under-graduate degree at Simpson College and Iowa State Teachers Coolege. He received a master's degree from the University of Iowa and took additional post-graduate study at the University of Chicago.

many sought to replace him as superintendent, but none succeeded. Many of those who tried ened up as close friends and joined those who credited him with creating in Hammond one of the best school systems in the nation.

A few exerpts taken from the paper in his honor.
Facts
  • 1 Jul 1883 - Birth - ; Lewisburg, Iowa
Ancestors
   
Nicholas Caldwell
10 Jul 1824 - 17 Sep 1898
 
 
Lewis N Caldwell
19 Jun 1860 - 24 Apr 1929
  
  
  
 
Lee L Caldwell
1 Jul 1883 -
  
 
  
 
 
Lucy E. Surbaugh
27 Feb 1863 - 31 Jul 1945
  
  
  
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) Lewis N Caldwell
Birth19 Jun 1860Lewisburg, Iowa
Death24 Apr 1929 Corydon, Iowa
Marriage28 Dec 1880to Lucy E. Surbaugh at Lewisburg, Iowa
FatherNicholas Caldwell
MotherAbigail J. Curtis
PARENT (F) Lucy E. Surbaugh
Birth27 Feb 1863Lewisburg, Iowa
Death31 Jul 1945 Ottumwa, Iowa
Marriage28 Dec 1880to Lewis N Caldwell at Lewisburg, Iowa
FatherJohn Henry Surbaugh
MotherElizabeth Gwinn
CHILDREN
MLee L Caldwell
Birth1 Jul 1883Lewisburg, Iowa
Death
Marriage30 Mar 1904to Alberta Mace at Allerton, Iowa
MHarry C Caldwell
Birth26 Jan 1885Lewisburg, Iowa
Death8 Feb 1943Des Moines, Iowa
Marriage8 May 1907to Beatrice Littell at Corydon, Iowa
MDon Henry Caldwell
Birth25 Nov 1891Lewisburg, Iowa
Death19 Feb 1894Lewisburg, Iowa
FSyvlia Harriett Caldwell
Birth5 Dec 1886Lewisburg, Iowa
Death2 May 1955Hugo, Colorado
Marriage10 Jan 1911to Cyrus Benton Pettigrew
MNicholas John Caldwell
Birth4 Mar 1890Lewisburg, Iowa
Death
Marriage1 Sep 1909to Anita King
Marriage9 Mar 1935to Bertha Bell Scott
FRuth Florence Caldwell
Birth23 Sep 1899Lewisburg, Iowa
Death
Marriage30 Jun 1918to Leonard Charles Fisher at Humeston, Iowa
FLucy Lucille Caldwell
Birth6 May 1897Lewisburg, Iowa
Death
Marriage18 Sep 1922to Harry Claude Stotts at Des Moines, Iowa
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Lee L Caldwell
Birth1 Jul 1883Lewisburg, Iowa
Death
Marriage30 Mar 1904to Alberta Mace at Allerton, Iowa
FatherLewis N Caldwell
MotherLucy E. Surbaugh
PARENT (F) Alberta Mace
Birth22 Nov 1883Allerton, Iowa
Death
Marriage30 Mar 1904to Lee L Caldwell at Allerton, Iowa
FatherEdwin A. Mace
MotherClara I. Alewel
CHILDREN
FLIVING
Birth
Death
Marriageto LIVING
FLIVING
Birth
Death
Marriageto LIVING
MLIVING
Birth
Death
Marriageto LIVING
Descendancy Chart
Lee L Caldwell b: 1 Jul 1883
Alberta Mace b: 22 Nov 1883