Adelaide Advertiser, 3 November 1909: DEATH OF MR. ROBERT CALDWELL - A USEFUL CITIZEN. There were few men better known in this community than Mr. Robert Caldwell, whose death occurred at midnight on Monday at his residence, near Woodside. He had been ill for some time, but it was not until the last few days that a fatal result was anticipated. Mr. Caldwell had lived in South Australia for the greater part of his long and useful life. Indeed, he had just celebrated the 60th anniversary of his arrival in the State when death removed him. Like so many other valuable citizens, he first saw the light in Scotland, his birthplace being Ayrshire. Although he waa but six years old when he arrived in South Australia, he retained to the last, not only his love for Scotland and Scottish institutions, but also, to some extent, the Scotch accent and the habits of frugality and industry which are so characteristic of the yeomanry of the Land of Cakes, he was always a great admirer of the national poet. Burns, whose works he knew by heart. It was the influence of that great singer which compelled Mr. Caldwell himself to break forth into rhyme on many occasions. He could say as one of the sweetest poets of modera times has said: "I do but sing, because I must, And pipe but as tho linnet sings." A few years ago no public event of importance, and few occasions when death removed a prominent citizen, were left un recorded in Mr. CardweII'a verse, "of which half a dozen volumes have been published. But there was a practical, as well as a poetical side to his nature, and he always took a deep interest in everything which affected the welfare of the community. He was bom and bred a farmer, and his father was one of the earliest settlers on the Alma Plains. Mr Caldwell was never too busy to give the benefit of his knowledge and experience to others, and. apart from the work he did in Parliament, he busied himself on many occasions in connection with the Agricultural Bureau, the Council of Agriculture, the school boards of advice, district councils and Royal Commissions, with the object of benefiting those about him. He wrote largely on agricultural matters, on the wisdom of a vigorous afforestation policy, on the need for more energetic development of the mineral resources of the community, and on questions affecting climate and meteorology generally. Mr. Caldwell read largely, and always sought to make his reading valuable to others as well as to himself. When he delivered a speech in Parliament it was invariably prepared with the greatest care and although he did not always command the support of his colleagues what he said had invariably the ring of earnestness and sincerity about it. Mr. Caldwell was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and was a most acceptable local preacher. He went in and out among all classes of the community, and constantly travelled through the country from one end to the other, so that he knew both South Australia and its people as thoroughly perhaps as any other member of the community. His political views were strictly Conservative, and as he grew older this trait became so pronounced that to an extent he lost touch with the majority of the people. This fact accounted for his inability to secure a seat in the Federal Senate when last he wooed the elcctorate. although personally he was everywhere and by everyone held in the highest regard. He had a capacity and a taste for public life, and during his membership of the House of Assembly no one was more conscientious than he in the performance of legislative duties. Mr. Caldwell was born in 1843, and was thus in his 67th year. He arrived in South Australia in 1810, and as a boy resided first with his parents at Alma Plains, where the family were amongst the earliest settlers. Subsequently he resided at Mount Templeton, and on Yorke Peninsula, and afterwards at Woodside, where he formed his last home, and where his death took place on Monday night. The deceased at an early age identified himself with the interests of the soil, and as a student of agriculture and dairying pllaced. from time to time, all the knowledge he had acquired on agricultural subjects at the disposai of his fellow South Australians. For many years he was looked up to as an expert on dairying matters, in which department of industry his advice was frequently sought. In recognition of the services he rendered in this connection he was appointed chairman of the Dairy Board, and subsequently when that bodv was merged in 1902 into a State Council of Agriculture he was elected the first chairman by the unanimous vote of his colleagues. In his association with the Dairv Board he had always the welfare of the industry at heart, and performed for it yeoman service. Mr. Caldwell developed early a taste for local and natonal politics and in 1881 was returned by the electors of Yorke|Peninsula as one of their representatives for the House of Assembly. His colleague at the times was the late Mr. W. H. Beaglehole. At the elections in 1887 he was again returned for the constituency, but three years later, after he had taken up his residence at Woodside, he resigned his first love, and offered his services to the district of Onkaparinga. They were accented, and at the.contest in 1890 he was returned at the head of the poll. He continued to represent Onkaparinga until 1902, when he was rejected by the electors after a perod of service extending over 17 years. During portion of his term as a member for the hills constituency he had as colleague the late Mr. J. C. F. Johnson. As a resident of Woodside Mr. Caldwell took a deep interest in local affairs, and was one of the first presidents of the Woodside Institute and, chairman of the local branch of the Agricultural Bureau. In Parlament he was for a time secretary to the Opposition, and was also instrumental in securing the appointment of several. Commisions to enquire into matters of importance to the agricultural iudustry. Since his retirenent from public life he had been living quietly at his home at Woodside. The deceased left a widow and eight sons (Messrs. Robert. Felix. William, and Norman Caldwell, of Adelaide: David Caldwell, of Sydney; Oliver Caldwell, of Western Australia; James Caldwell, of Iron Knob; and Peter Caldwell, of Woodside.