Addison Caldwell

Caldwell hiked as much as 28 miles[2] through today's Jefferson National Forest in the Allegheny Mountains from Sinking Creek, Craig County to Blacksburg, Va. to enroll as the school's first student on October 1, 1872.

Addison's father, George and grandfather, Archibald Caldwell were both farmers and lived in a 2-story home at the base of Sinking Creek Mountain, where they raised their families.

Addison Caldwell most likely attended one of the many small schools located near the family farm, or was taught by an instructor at home.

[5] The brothers hiked from Sinking Creek, Craig County to Blacksburg, Va., located 26 miles southwest of the Caldwell farm on the far side of Gap Mountain.

Addison enrolled as the school's first student on October 1, 1872, at the Preston and Olin Building to officially mark the beginning of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College.

[11][6] In a letter to General Joseph R. Anderson, a member of the school's Board of Visitors, President Minor wrote: "We have now thirty students matriculated, ... our beginning is to be smaller than had been expected."

In 1872, cadets were assigned to either A or B company and wore standard uniforms of gray pants, jackets and hats with black trim.

In 1898, Caldwell moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and worked as a salesman for several large wholesale firms on the wharf, including the Stove Company, Mr. W.B.

[3][6] In Caldwell's absence, his parents, brother, Mic, and sisters, Grace and Nell sold the farm in Sinking Creek and moved to Radford, Virginia.

In a letter to his niece, Caldwell wrote that it was "a fine place" but he would prefer to be in Radford and couldn't tell if the salt air was helpful or not.

He died on June 29, 1910, in a hospital in Wilmington and was buried in the Caldwell family cemetery in Radford, VA On July 1, 1910.