Mrs Sylvia Mae Caldwell (née Harbaugh)

Mrs Albert Francis (Sylvia Mae Harbaugh), 26, was born on July 23, 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of Chambers C. and Sylvia Harris Harbaugh.

She attended Park College in Missouri, whilst there she met Albert Francis Caldwell they married in 1909, shortly after their graduation. In 1911 Sylvia gave birth to a son, Alden Gates Caldwell.

For some time the couple had been working in Siam (now Thailand.) where they taught at the Bangkok Christian College for Boys in Bangkok.

(© Charles Caldwell, USA)

They booked passage home on the Titanic, boarding in Southampton as second class passengers. The family were traveling to Biggsville, Illinois.

On the evening of the disaster, the family made their way to the boat deck. Mrs Caldwell got into lifeboat 13, Alden was tossed to Steward Frederick Ray in the stern and Mr Caldwell stepped into the bow as the boat was lowered.

On 21 December, 1914 a second son, Raymond M. Caldwell, was born.

Albert and Sylvia were divorced in 1930.

Sylvia moved to Bloomington and eventually she met, and on 8th January, 1944 married, George J. Mecherle. Mr Mecherle died in 1951 at the age of 73.

Mrs Mecherle was a member of the second Presbyterian Church, Chapter 50 of Order of the Eastern Star; a life member of the Bloomington Country Club and Bloomington-Normal Art Association, a member of the Brokaw Hospital League and an active participant for years in the work of the Community Players.

Towards the end of her life, Mrs Mecherle lived at 305 Grant Road, Bloomington, IL. She died on 14th January, 1965.

Notes

Raymond M. Caldwell died 28th April, 1990 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

References and Sources

Pittsburgh Post, April 18 1912, Article
Unidentifed Newspaper (Bloomington, Ill), Obituary 15th January, 1965
State of Illinois Medical Certificate of Death (#65-002227)
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

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