Geneva Herald. The following article was in the 7 Apr 1904 issue, p. 1.
It is part of continued research for the Limberlost State Historic Site.
The Alex Bolds farm in this article is now part of the Limberlost
Swamp Wetland Preserve. It sits about where the Deacon’s Trail is
located in Section 32. Even though this area was ditched and drained
it would still flood just as it does today. Terri Gorney
Plunges Into the Water to Rescue Neighbors
C. L. Caldwell, living two and a half miles southwest of Geneva on the Fred Bimel farm, at the risk of his own life went to the rescue of a neighbor, a Mr. Ward, who lives on the Alex Bolds farm, in the famous Loblolly district, who awakened Saturday morning, March 26 th , to find his house surrounded by water from five to six feet deep and twenty six inches on the floor. Caldwell worked heroically from 7 in the morning until 5 o’clock in the evening, in water two to six feet deep and the waves at times rolling two feet high, and with ice froze about his neck and shoulders. The only thing he had near him to depend upon to help him in his struggle against the water and peril to which he was exposed was a box wagon bed which was used for a boat at times, and in this he started to take the wife of Mr. Ward, but striking a stump, he capsized, whereupon he took Mrs. Ward upon his back and waded out with her, a distance of forty rods and at times the waves rolling about his neck.
By the unceasing efforts of Caldwell and the arrival of two men from Geneva in a boat, about 4 o’clock the imperiled family were all rescued, and most of his stock also landed out of the water, but so near drowned that all perished except one horse, Mr. Ward losing three cows and two horses.
We dare say few men have the nerve and strength of Caldwell, the rescuer.
EYE WITNESS