William Caswell

WILLIAM CASWELL  1841-1915   

1841	Ireland	birth
1848	Ontario	Spent childhood
1872	Drew, Arkansas	marriage
1873	Michigan	Irene born
1879	California	Belle born
1879-1880	Sacramento	employed by Central Pacific Railway
1880	Sacramento	possibly wife Nina lists herself as single in the census
1880		cannot find Will and children in any census
1887		Irene in Iowa, William in California
1890		cannot find Will and children in any census
1908- 1911	Sacramento	Will employed by Central Pacific Railway
1915	Sacramento	William passes away

     William Caswell, forth of the children of Andrew and Mary Jane, was born 11^th October 1841, in Ireland.  William married Vanneila Wilson in 1872 in Drew, Arkansas. Their first child, Irene, was born in 1873 in Michigan; the second Jennie Isabel, known as “Belle’’, was born in 1879 in California.  

     In an interview John had with granddaughter Blanche, she had no recollection of her grandmother or what happened to her.  I believe I found her in the 1880 census in Sacramento, “Vanela Caswell, dressmaker, single”.  I’m sure there is a story. 

     Will quit his railway job May 29^th, 1880, my assumption is that “Nina” left Will not long after the birth of their second daughter.  Will returned to one of his brothers, possibly Tom in Iowa as Tom did not move to California until 1903.  Not sure what happened to the wife after the 1880 census, nor can I find William and children anywhere in the 1880 or 1890 census.

     In a letter from Ruth Smith (mother-in-law of John J. Caswell) dated 27 July 1887, Cherokee, Iowa, she wrote to her daughter telling how she raised the money to go from Cherokee to “misouri’’ to visit relatives.  “I took Bell Caswell to board and saved all the money and kept a little boy 10 weeks took in some sewing so when the vacation came I had the money we left Tuesday morning.  Got there Wednesday noon I enjoyed my visit ever so much...”

     William Caswell sent for the girls the 10^th of May.  “We had a letter three weeks ago, they are keeping house and getting along nicely. Irene wrote to her aunt, she says that her and Belle go to school.  Papa buys their bread. She likes the place so well they are smart girls, if he keeps them to school for a while he will have a better home than he had before.’’ This was the next mention of Will, sounds like he returned to California looking for work.

     William was employed by the Southern Pacific Railway from 29 July 1879 to 29 May 1880. He returned June 1886; pay rates raised in 1906 and 1907. Raised from Car Builder to gang foreman March 1, 1907. Re-employed July 6, 1908, pensioned Oct. 31, 1911.  He lived for a few years in Williams, California where some of the Caswells had settled for a time.  He owned some farm land in Ceres which was rented out and after his death was sold to a school. 

     Albert Caswell told the story of going up to Sacramento and driving a car Will had brought out to his farm.  Will got into it and drove into the side of the barn.  “Seems to me, Will was shouting whoa!”

     When William came to Sacramento he was first living at 29th & D Street, then moved to 19^th and F Street, where he was at the time of his death, Oct 20, 1915.  Will’s estate was valued at $7500 and left to his two daughters.

CASWELL-Entered into rest, in this city, October 20, 1915, William Caswell, loving father of Mrs. Irene Woods and Mrs. Belle Le May; grandfather of William H. Woods, Wallace E. Trefry and Blanche Le May; a native of Canada, aged 75 years. Friends are welcome at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Belle Le May, 20081/2 F Street, between the hours of 1 and 3:30 pm tomorrow (Friday). Funeral and interment strictly private.

     Will’s two daughters both married, Irene raised a young son by herself and Belle had three marriages.

     Irene Caswell was born in 1873, in Michigan.  She married Thomas Woods, probably in Sacramento.  They had one son, William “Harold” Woods born in 1894.  By the 1900 census, Irene lists herself as a widow, and is living with her father, sister, nephew and son in Williams house at 2919 8^th Street in Sacramento.  Harold was in the service during WW1 as an entertainer and did shows. He worked in San Francisco for the Fireman’s Fund where he was Northern California Manager.  Harold, in turn had one son, William Elliott who served in WW2 and was last known to be living in San Francisco.   

     Irene worked in department stores and for a long time was a fitter in the ladies’ department of Nathan’s in Sacramento.  Irene Woods was buried in Eastlawn Cemetery, Sacramento in 1945.

     Jennie Isabel “Belle’’ Caswell was born in 1879, in California. She married first, Will C. Trefry in 1897, Wallace Elbert Trefry was the one child of this marriage. Wallace died in Sacramento in 1951 in Sacramento.  After Belle and Will divorced, she married Harry Paul LeMay in 1903, a cellist who later played in the San Francisco Symphony. The one child of that marriage was Blanche LeMay, born in 1904. “Belle’’ and Harry LeMay were separated for many years. She finally divorced him and married Edward O. Ellison. He had a restaurant in Sacramento which he sold to Frank Fat. “Belle’’ died in 1966 and Ellison in 1968.