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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, JOHN, was born Dec. 16, 1810, in London, Eng. Came to America with his mother, brothers and sisters, arriving at Springfield, Ill., in Nov., 1830. He was married there Sept. 5, 1833, to Nancy Clements, who was born Oct. 2, 1817, in Lincoln county, Ky. (She is a cousin of Mrs. Mathew Cloyd.) Mr. and Mrs. John Capps had five children in Springfield, and in 1844 moved to Mt. Pulaski, where they had four, and about 1855 moved to Decatur, where they had three; thence to Illiopolis, Sangamon county. Of their twelve children two died young--

MARY M., born Oct. 6, 1834, was married Jan. 19, 1853, to James Sims. They have six children, ADA, JOHN F., ELLA, HATTIE, RALPH LINCOLN and FANNIE, and live in Mt. Pulaski.

THOMAS W., born Dec. 26, 1838, in Springfield, enlisted in 1862 for three months, in Co. I, 68th Ill. Vol. Inf.; served full term, and enlisted in the United States Navy. He was married Dec. 29, 1869, to Nellie Van Hise, in Mt. Pulaski. They had one child, EARL, Mrs. Nellie Capps died, Oct. 23, 1873. Mr. T. W. Capps lives in Mt. Pulaski.

CHARLES R., born March 11, 1841, in Springfield, was married in Mt. Pulaski, May 29, 1862, to Lizzie Lushbaugh. They have four children, LOUIE E., ??LMER LINCOLN, FRANK and ??ABEL, and live in Mt. Pulaski.

ALEXANDER S., born May 2, 1843, in Springfield, enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, for three years, in Co. B, 106th Ill. Vol. Inf., served until Aug. 1, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was married Sept. 3, 1867, to Maggie Ishmael. They have one child, KATIE E., and live in Illiopolis.

JABEZ M., born Aug. 19, 1845, in Mt. Pulaski, enlisted in 1863 for one hundred days, in Co. D, 145th Ill. Inf., served more than full time, and was honorably discharged. He was married June 17, 1867, to Sallie Bechtel. They have three living children, LONE, PEARL and GERTRUDE. J. M. Capps is engaged in milling at Mt. Pulaski, and lives there.

ANN S., born Jan. 22, 1848, in Mt. Pulaski, was married May 5, 1868, to James W. McGuffin. She died in Illiopolis, April 7, 1874, leaving three children, BENJAMIN F., WALTER and JOHN C.

BENJAMIN F., born July 21, 1850, in Mt. Pulaski, was married Aug. 12, 1870, to Fannie S. Cantrall. She was killed Oct. 8, 1870, near Illiopolis. She was mounting a horse, when it took fright, drew the rein in a noose around her hand, and dragged her until she was dead. B. F. Capps married Emma Snyder. They live at Mt. Pulaski.

ALBERT B., JOHN C. and BUNN, live with their parents. John C. had a twin mate, who died young.

John Capps and family reside one and a half miles west of Illiopolis.




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