| Notes |
- The Evening Bulletin
Decatur, Illinois
April 2, 1896
ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS.
Death of Jabez Capps, the oldest man Central Illinois died at 10:56 a.m. Wednesday at his home in Mt.Pulaski. Had he lived until September he would have been 100 years of age. Some time ago, however, he was afflicted with a gangrenous affection which cut short his life. His death has been expected for several days. Mr. Capps came of a long lived family. He was born in London, England, on September 8, 1796 and was one of the oldest of ten children. His father died in London at the age of 60 years and his mother died in 1857 at she age of 87 years. He has four brothers surviving him and they are aged 75, 81, 83, and 87. Of his own family he has six children living, thirty-nine grand children, and twenty-seven great grand children.
He left his home in Londeon at the age of 21 years, embarking in the clippership, Mary Ann, for Liverpool, sailing from there to Boston. His objective point was Philadelphia, but he first went to New York and afterwards, with only seven dollars in money, he walked to Philadelphia.That place did not suit him and he walked to Pittsburg. About 1817 he embarked there in a flat boat and went to Cincinnati, where he was joined by his brother, Ebenezer, and together they went into the shoe business. Then they moved on to St.Louis, where they worked for a shoeman. and in 1819 they came to Sangamon County, where Mr. Capps taught in one of the first schools. In the spring of 1819 the brothers went to Calhoun, a small town near Springfield, and there they opened a second hand store. The deceased taught the first school in Springfield and one of his pupils, Prudie Ann Stafford became his first wife. She died in 1836 he then married Elizabeth Baker, who died in 1887.
At one time in Springfield he owned much of what is now the most valuable real estate there including the site of the state capitol. That land involved him in a lawsuit and Abraham Lincoln was his attorney. In 1833 he paid his first visit to Chicago. Accompanied by his wife and two sons he drove through from Springfield by way of Peoria. Chicago was then known as Fort Dearborn. It took a week to make the journey. His last visit to that city was in 1893 when he was a honored guest at the dedication of the White City. In 1836 with Dr.Barton Robinson and E.W. Turley he laid out the village of Mt. Pulaski. Lincoln always stopped with Mr. Capps when he visited the town, and one of the deceased most valued treasures was a daguerreo-type of the martyred president which was given him by Lincoln himself.
The funeral will be held Thurday at the residence in Mt Pulaski and the interrment will be in the cemetery there.
1796 and was one of the oldest of ten children. His father died in London at the age of 60 years and his mother died in 1857 at she age of 87 years. He has four brothers surviving him and they are aged 75, 81, 83, and 87. Of his own family he has six children living, thirty-nine grand children, and twenty-seven great grand children.
He left his home in Londeon at the age of 21 years, embarking in the clippership, Mary Ann, for Liverpool, sailing from there to Boston. His objective point was Philadelphia, but he first west to New York and afterwards, with only seven dollars in money, he walked to Philadelphia.That place did not suit him and he walked to Pittsburg. About 1817 he embarked there in a flat boat and went to Cincinnati, where he was joined by his brother, Ebenezer, and together they went into the shoe business. Then they moved on to St.Louis, where they worked for a shoeman. and in 1819 they came to Sangamon County, where Mr. Capps taught one of the first school. In the spring of 1819 the brothers went to Calhoun. a small town near Springfield, and there they opened a second hand store. The deceased taught the first school in Springfield and one of his pupils, Prudie ann Stafford became his first wife She died in 1836 he then married Elizabeth Baker, who died in 1887.
At one time in Springfield he owned much of what is now the most valuable real estate there including the site of the state capitol. That land involved him in a lawsuit and Abraham Lincoln was his attorney. In 1833 he paid his first visit to Chicago. Accompanied by his wife and two sons he drove through from Springfield by way of Peoria. Chicago was then known as Fort Dearborn. It took a week to make the journe. His last visit to that city was in 1893 when he was a honored guest at the dedication of the White City. In 1836 with Dr.Barton Robinson and E.W. Turley he laid out the village of Mt. Pulaski. Lincoln always stopped with Mr. Capps when he visited the town, and one of the deceased most valued treasures was a daguerreo-type of the martyred president which was given him by Lincoln himself.
The funeral will be held Thurday at the residence in Mt Pulaski and the interrment will be in the cemetery there.
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1796 - 1896 (99 years)
