William Caswell

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PIONEER RESIDENT OF GRAND FORKS

Death of William Caswell at His Residence Early Sunday Morning of Paralysis.

Sustaining a stroke of paralysis on Nov. 25 last (1909), and ever since lingering between life and death, William Caswell, one of Grand Forks’ pioneer residents and most esteemed citizens for almost a third of a century, passed away at an early hour on Sunday morning (February 27, 1910) at the family residence on North Third street, where he had lived since Grand Forks was but a mere hamlet.  He had been failing steadily for several days before his demise and the end was not unexpected.  He was a native of Lynn, Ontario, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Caswell.  He began his business career in early manhood at Ogdensburg, N. Y., remaining there for a number of years.  Removing to Duluth, Minn., he took an active part in the early development of the city and was prominent in business and social circles.  The financial crash which overwhelmed Duluth and its aspirations just then left him with no resource but to begin life all over again.  Shortly thereafter he removed to Winnipeg, where he remained about one year.  He then came to Grand Forks and resided here ever since.

While living in Duluth Mr. Caswell was married to Miss Charlotte Atkinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, of Detroit, Mich.  One son, born to them at Duluth, William Atkinson Caswell, is now in business at Qu’ Appelle, Sask.  He arrived here, accompanied by his wife, just a few days before his father’s death.  A second son, born to Mr. and Mrs. Caswell, died in infancy.  Besides the bereaved widow and son, the deceased is survived by two brothers, Charles Stephen Caswell of Chicago, and James Caswell of Qu’ Appelle, Sask., and one sister, Mrs. Augusta McIntyre of St. Thomas, Ont.

Of a modest and retiring disposition, Mr. Caswell’s life in Grand Forks has been a lesson in uprightness and integrity.  He had been a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal church since its foundation and had been constant in his efforts for the uplift of mankind.

The funeral will take place from St. Paul’s Episcopal church at 2 p. m. on Wednesday.  The remains may be viewed at the family home from 9 to 12:30 Wednesday.

Source:
Grand Forks Daily Herald
Tuesday Morning, March 1, 1910
Volume XXIX, Number 103, Page 7

Born:  November 20, 1838, location unknown

Died:  February 27, 1910 in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Spouse:  Charlotte Atkinson

Children:  William Atkinson Caswell

Other:

• Partnered with William H. Davy at Duluth, Minnesota, in the mid 1870s.
• Messrs. Caswell & Davie, late of Kingston, Canada [Ontario], have leased the upper part of the Pendleton building, nearly opposite the Clark House, where they will, the first of July, open an Art Gallery. Judging from specimens of their work examined by us, we can introduce them as first-class artists. Look out for their advertisement in next week’s issue. (The Duluth Minnesotian, June 4, 1870, Page 3)
• The Ira W. Pendelton Block. …But this we do say: that P.’s is the tallest block in town, showing a three-story front, and that it is divided up stairs into a series of eight convenient offices which cannot fail to be in demand by renters. The special roof arrangements to light the Daguerian Gallery of Messrs. Caswell & Davy, are as good as we ever saw. The Store-rooms are each 23 by 60 feet, their ceilings 13 feet high, with capacious glass fronts. (The Duluth Minnesotian, July 23, 1870, Page 3)
• We paid a visit to the new photograph gallery of Caswell & Davy, in Pendleton’s Block, opposite the Clarke House, on Monday last, and were agreeably surprised to find an establishment so perfect in all its departments. These gentlemen occupy the entire third or “attic” apartments. First – the reception room, which is nicely carpeted and furnished, and walls tastily decorated with specimens of their own handiwork, intermixed with views of Minnesota scenery by other artists, and plenty of specimens in their show case for the examination of visitors. The next room is, we believe, the best “working room” in the State – it is certainly superior to any in St. Paul. They have light enough, even on cloudy days – so don’t stay away on account of the weather. Their cameras are of the most approved kind, and there seemed to be no lack of them for any kind of work, form a 12×18 picture down to a common photograph. The view from the back window of this room is a grand one, embracing all of Minnesota Point, Duluth Bay, the Elevator, Railroad Docks, Passenger Depot, Rice’s Point and beyond; and last, but not least, as much of the old Lake as can be seen by the naked eye. A large telescope, which will enable a person to discern an object at a distance of sixty miles, has been ordered, and is now on the way from London. As both the proprietors are good natured young men, our citizens as well as visitors will have a splendid opportunity to witness the beauties of nature and the works of man – as seen from their standpoint – when this instrument arrives. Adjoining their room is a finishing room which presented a decidedly business-like appearance. Negatives, cards, and frames for pictures of all sizes, were being “finished” in styles to suit their customers. The “dark room” was too “dark” even for the searching gaze of a newspaper reporter, and we passed back into the reception room, where were displayed to our view some of the most beautiful, distinct and complete views and photographs it has been our pleasure to examine for a long time. They are just now making a specialty of large views, and have already finished several, including a view of the north side of Superior Street East, Clarke House, and Dock and Bay views. Both Mr. Caswell and Mr. Davy accompanied the eastern excursionists from this city to St. Paul last week, and took three splendid negatives of the entire party at Rush City Station House, from which they are now printing large numbers of views. They have contracts to take large views of each of the high trestle bridges in the Dalles and other principal points of interest along the Road. After these contracts are filled they propose to get up a full view of Duluth, to be 2×4 feet, which will no doubt have a great demand at home and abroad. Messrs. Caswell and Davy are young men from Ogdensburg, New York, where they were formerly in business, and came here early last spring. Finding no vacant building suitable for their business, and not being content to remain idle, they went to Superior and “set up business,” where they remained until their present capacious quarters were ready for them, about three weeks since. May their present success in business always attend them. (The Duluth Minnesotian, September 3, 1870, Page 3)
• The pictures taken by Davy of the High Joint Financial Commission of the N. P. R. R., were very satisfactory indeed to all “phizzed.” The Clark House photo. on a large scale, was also a success. (The Duluth Minnesotian, August 26, 1871, Page 3)
• The [railroad] cars being able to run out on the Dyke about two-thirds of the distance across, on yesterday morning Caswell & Davy took a Photograph view of the scene – the Bay, Duluth, the Dyke and the Cars. (The Duluth Minnesotian, March 9, 1872, Page 3)
• Married. Caswell-Atkinson. At the residence of the bride’s parents, at Romeo, Mich., on Monday, Nov. 11th, by Rev. Mr. Smart, Mr. Wm. Caswell, of Duluth, to Miss Lotta Atkinson. Mr. Caswell and bride reached Duluth on Saturday evening, and he has ever since been receiving the congratulations of his friends of both sex, and we hereby extend ours, William. May you live long and happy, enjoy your new life, be a good husband, &c, &c. (The Duluth Minnesotian, December 14, 1872, Page 3)
• H. Davie, of the firm Caswell & Davie, came down Thursday evening from Moorhead, as he says, to stay with the Centennial. He brought with him the finest and largest set of elk horns we ever saw. He had to “shake” so often, that he was in danger of getting no supper. (The Duluth Minnesotian, July 3, 1875, Page 4)
• Caswell returned from Brainerd last night, where he has been making stereoscopic negatives of the wreck of the bridge. (The Duluth Minnesotian, July 31, 1875, Page 3)
• In our issue of two weeks ago, we noticed the departure of Messrs. Hatch, Davy, Ely, Green, Wm., and C. Ed. Eyster, on a fishing excursion down to Thunder Bay [Ontario, Canada] and return. They were accompanied by Wm. Caswell, who took his camera with him, and on arriving at Prince Arthur’s Landing, went to work making stereoscopic views of that place, Fort William and surrounding country. After skimming the cream of the views around town, Fort, and Canadian Pacific R. R., our Duluthians chartered two large birch canoe, and proceeded up the Kamministiqua River, some 30 miles, to its great falls. The river is navigable, for ten miles, for large vessels, being from 150 to 200 yards wide; but the balance of the voyage, 30 miles, being a succession of quiet stretches, alternating with swift, foaming, plunging, roaring rapids, up which the Indians, standing up in their crank, fragile crafts, poled the canoes with great skill and physical exertion, the perspiration running down their faces like rain; avoiding a sunken boulder here, a whirlpool there, and if they touched a rock, shouting like – like Indians – making their passengers feel queer, if nothing else. At the close of the day they arrived at the great fall of the Kamministiqua, which is perhaps the finest water fall of the Lake Superior water shed, being a 120 feet perpendicular fall of a river twice the size of our St. Louis River. It is another Niagara on a small scale. The water, after falling, flows off by two channels, separated by a small island which is so drenched with spray that Caswell was not able to get any negatives of the fall from it, but obtained several fine ones from the top. After spending a day at the falls and enjoying the beautiful scenery, they came back to the Landing, the return being even more exciting than the upward voyage. Mr. Caswell came up on last Saturday, on the Quebec, having had a good time and secured over 40 fine Stereoscopic negatives. The rest of the party will return during next week. (The Duluth Minnesotian, July 31, 1875, Page 4)
• We were shown by Caswell some very excellent stereoscopic views of his late trips to the Kaministaqua, also some of his views of the wreck of the Brainerd bridge, across the Mississippi River. Those who wish to form an idea of the wreck or of the North Shore Scenery cannot do better than to procure some of these choice specimens of the Photographic Art. (The Duluth Minnesotian, August 7, 1875, Page 4)
• Caswell & Davy have just made a 11×14 photograph of Mayor Dean which is a very fine specimen of the Photographic Art, both in softness and delicacy of lighting, at the same time being perfectly sharp. This portrait will compare favorably with any work of its kind in the State. (The Duluth Minnesotian, August 28, 1875, Page 4)
• The firm of Caswell & Davy, Photographers, dissolved partnership by mutual consent Wednesday. The business will be continued by Mr. Caswell. Mr. Davy will leave our place some time during the month [later in Moorhead, MN]. (The Duluth Minnesotian, September 4, 1875, Page 4)
• Partnered with Simon Duffin at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in the late 1870s.
• Photographed the historic 1882 Red River Flood, including the steamboat Selkirk docked on Third street (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Sunday, April 23, 1882, Page 1)
• Photographed city views for the New York Daily Graphic (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Thursday, October 5, 1882, Page 1)
• $80,000 GONE UP IN SMOKE IN A FEW SHORT HOURS.  Twelve Fine Stores in the Heart of the City Laid to Ashes.  The fire was first discovered (after 11 p.m., December 18, 1882), after it had gained considerable headway, issuing from the roof of Caswell & Blackburn’s photograph gallery, over the Ottawa saloon.  Mr. Blackburn left a fire at five o’clock and went home.  On returning after supper he found it had gone out.  He believes it must have originated from the red-hot pipe (from the saloon below) coming in contact with woodwork in the floor.  Caswell & Blackburn, photographers, Loss $1,200, insured for $600, in the German, of Newport, Ill.  (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Tuesday, December 19, 1882, Page 1)
• W. Caswell has returned from his farm and will re-open a photograph gallery over the Ontario Store, on 3rd Street and DeMers avenue, where he will be pleased to see all his old friends and new ones.  (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Saturday, January 20, 1883, Page 1)
• New Art Gallery.  A visit to the new art gallery of Mr. W. Caswell, over the Ontario store, corner of DeMers avenue and Third street, Grand Forks, is sure to invite repetition with pleasure and profit.  Mr. Caswell is the pioneer of photography in Grand Forks, having come here six years ago and passed the vicissitudes of growth and the ordeal of fire, coming out always at the front of enterprise.  His new gallery gives every evidence of convenience, taste and excellence in the art of picture making in all its departments.  His instruments are of the best make, with patent instantaneous shutter, the skylight very favorable, and he is prepared to make all styles and sizes of photos at the most reasonable figures.  The waiting room is nicely furnished and comfortable, and will be arrayed like a veritable art gallery.  It is convenient to the business portion of the city and easy of access.  If you want artistic photographs, or pictures of any kind, call on Caswell.  (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Saturday Evening, November 15, 1884, Volume 7, Number 13, Page 1)
• Caswell’s Grove Burned Down.  The lurid sky off to the northwest of the city last night, was caused by a ruthless prairie fire which consumed Artist Caswell’s ten acre grove of beautiful trees, his hay stack, stable and some of the farm machinery, entailing a heavy loss.  The barn was not worth more $100, but the trees were quite valuable, having attained a height of from 10 to 15 feet and they constituted a beautiful grove, affording shelter from the wind.  His farm is about 7 miles from the city.  It was his intention to go out Monday and commence spring operations.  Naturally he feels the loss very keenly.  He says he would not have taken $1,000 for the trees.  It seems that the fire crept up from the west.  There had been a fire break plowed around, but he supposes that the wind had scattered wisps of hay from the stack and the fire communicated from one to another, until it got into the dead grass of the grove.  (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Wednesday, April 20, 1887, Page 1)