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EARLY SETTLERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY - 1876
By John Carroll Power

These biographies were submitted by a researcher and evidently abstracted from the 1876 History of Sangamon County, IL. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.




CAPPS, JABEZ, born Sept. 9, 1796, in the city of London, England, came to America in the summer of 1817, arriving near what is now Springfield, Ill., in the spring of 1819, and is believed to have been the first school teacher in Sangamon county. He was married in 1828, near Rochester, to Prudence A. Stafford, who was born in Vermont. They had three living children, and Mrs. Capps died May 13, 1836. Jabez Capps was married near Rochester, Ill., Sept., 1836, to Elizabeth Baker. They had ten children, one of whom died young. Of all his children--

CHARLES S., born Jan. 31, 1830, in Springfield, was married May 3, 1854, to Eliza McGraw. They live in Mt. Pulaski.

EBENEZER S., born Feb. 15, 1834, in Springfield, was married in 1856 to Eliza Freeman, and live in Mt. Pulaski.

OLIVER T., born Feb. 13, 1836, in Springfield, was married in 1856 to Eliza Bush, and live in Mt. Pulaski.

By the second marriage--

JOHN H., born Nov. 15, 1839, in Mt. Pulaski, married Martha Pumpilly, and live in his native town.

PRUDY A., born Dec. 18, 1841, in Mt. Pulaski, was married March 8, 1860, to S. Linn Beidler, who was born June 23, 1837, at Mt. Joy, Lancaster county, Pa. Of their seven children, one died young. MONITOR C., FRANK X., JOHN LINN, SNOW FLAKE, IMO?? and RELL C., live with their parents the Mt. Pulaski, Ill. Mr. Beidler is a druggist, and with the exception of one year during President Johnson's administration, has been Post Master there since 1857.

MARY, born Oct. 8, 1844, in Mt. Pulaska, married Michael McNattin.

WILLIAM, BENJAMIN, JABEZ B., EDWARD, HARRIE B. and MAUD, all live with their parents.

Mr. Jabez Capps was a merchant in Springfield from 1827 to 1836, when he formed a company and laid out the town of Mt. Pulaski. Brought his goods from Springfield, and continued in business until 1870. He is now engaged with his son in the nursery business. Mr. Capps was Post Master at Mt. Pulaski for fifteen years, and County Recorder four years. He and his family reside in Mt. Pulaski.




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