History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 39-40

Caleb CROSWELL, who in 1849 bought out Mr. POWELL, the pioneer partner of D. C. REED in his mill project, was one of the early settlers who later left the village and made a name fore himself in the realm of bigger things. We have an incident in his early residence here which is worthy of record.

Caleb CROSWELL and another man were out with a team after supplies, and when some twenty families from home, they felt the need of water and halted at a spot where traces of water existed. leaving the team in charge of his companion, Caleb went on a prospecting tour among the hills. Finding himself unsuccessful, he concluded to return, but on endeavoring to do so, realized that he was lost. He was so bewildered that he wandered round and round, occasionally coming upon his own tracks. The man in charge of the team waited until the next day, when he returned to Reedsburg with the news that Caleb was missing.

Fear and suspicion at once seized the minds of the inhabitants, and imagination soon made them wild with apprehension. The women began baking and continued it for hours until sufficient food for a long hunt was ready. Mrs. SEELEY's adopted child was dying, but she bade her husband go, saying she would watch with it alone. Every man in the village went. Poor Caleb had wandered three days without food and, discouraged, had lain down to die when the sound of a cowbell fell upon his ears. What sweet music it was! It told of life, of friends, and home. Hope made him strong. He got up, traced out the animal, kept near it, and finally came to a house. There he told his story, and the good settlers carefully attended to his wants. There the Reedsburg posse found him weak from four days' fast and wandering - but alive and safe.

That same fall, 1850, he was elected to the assembly. Afterwards he was a consul in Russia. Upon his return from abroad he resided in Chicago.
Submitted by Carol