Alden Gates Caldwell (1911 - 1992)

Born 10 Jun 1911 in Bangkok, Siam

Ancestors

Died 18 Dec 1992 at age 81 in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida, USA

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Titanic Passenger and Crew Summary: Name: Master Alden Gates Caldwell Titanic Survivor Born: Saturday 10th June 1911 Age: 10 months and 5 days. (Male) Last Residence: in Bangkok Siam 2nd Class Passengers First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912 Ticket No. 248738 , £29 Destination: Roseville Illinois United States Rescued (boat 13) Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912 Died: Friday 18th December 1992 Cause of Death: Cause Not Disclosed

Travelling Companions (on same ticket): Mr Albert Francis Caldwell Mrs Sylvia Mae Caldwell

Biography

Alden Caldwell was aboard the RMS Titanic.

Alden's mother got into lifeboat 13 and then Alden, who was wrapped in a blanket, was tossed to Steward Frederick Ray in the stern. Mr Caldwell stepped into the bow as the boat was lowered.

Alden Caldwell was the baby that Lawrence Beesley spoke of as crying incessantly in his lifeboat until someone noticed his feet were exposed. As soon as the feet were covered the crying ceased.

Alden Gates Caldwell graduated from the University of Illinois, class of 1934, and received a Masters Degree in chemical engineering. He never married and lived most of his life in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was a chemical engineer and worked for the Leigh-Portland Cement Company for almost 33 years. He spent much time trying to prove his citizenship status in preparation for his retirement in order to receive social security benefits.

Alden retired to Largo, Florida in 1977 (after his father's death) and spent the remainder of his life travelling between his winter home in Florida and summer cottage in Stone Lake, Wisconsin. He loved to golf and fish.

Many remembered Alden as a reclusive and unfriendly man. When he died in 1992 some of his nearest neighbours did not even know his name and had never spoken to him. But others remember him as extremely kind and amiable. He freely spoke about what his parents told him about the sinking. He admitted that while the story of the Titanic held no interest for him (unlike his parents), he didn't mind speaking about it.

He apparently grew a long, unkept white beard in his last years that was unmistakable. His memories were preserved on audio tape in 1986, and in 1987, and are in the archives of the Titanic International Society. It is the only known interview that Alden gave about his experiences on the Titanic.

According to both Frank Aks and Alden Caldwell: At the time of Albert Caldwell's passing in 1977, survivor Frank Aks attended Albert's funeral. Both had met several years earlier. It was at the funeral that Mr Aks met Alden for the first time. Until that time, Mr Aks believed that he had been the youngest survivor, his birthdate being 7th June, 1911. Alden jokingly told him after the funeral that he was born on 10th June, 1911 - thus making him at least the younger of the two. Mr Aks eventually did meet the youngest survivor of the Titanic, Millvina Dean, at a reunion of survivors in 1988. Mr Caldwell was invited to attend the affair but chose not to.

He died on 18th December, 1992 in Largo, Florida

References and Sources Pittsburgh Post, April 18 1912, Article The St. Petersburg Times (Florida), December 23, 1992 State of Florida Certificate of Death (#92-141137) Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279]) New York Herald, April 19, 1912 The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC), April 12, 1998 Albert Caldwell (1965) They said that the Titanic could not Sink

Credits Charles Caldwell, USA Michael A. Findlay, USA Phillip Gowan, USA

Census

"United States Census, 1920,"^[1]

Albert F Caldwell Head Male 34 Iowa

Sylvia M Caldwell Wife Female 33 Pennsylvania

Alden G Caldwell Son Male 8 Siam

Raymond M Caldwell Son Male 5 Iowa

• Fact: Burial East Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum , Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, USA

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFK8-JFM : accessed 25 August 2019), Albert F Caldwell, Richland Center, Richland, Wisconsin, United States; citing ED 205, sheet 36B, line 55, family 41, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 2013; FHL microfilm 1,822,013.

• Alden Gates Caldwell (1911-1992) on Find A Grave: Memorial #63445236 retrieved 12 July 2019
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