Friday, March 6, 2009

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN NICHOLAS CAPPS - Generations 2, 3, and 4



JOHN NICHOLAS CAPPS - Generation No. 2

JOHN NICHOLAS CAPPS (MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born on Sunday, December 23, 1888, in Clifty, Madison County, Arkansas. He was the seventh child and fifth son of Marshal and Mary [Davenport] Capps.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

John married ETTA BERNETTA HAMON [b. Saturday, March 4, 1891, in Oak Grove, Carroll County, Arkansas], daughter of SPENCER HAMON, SR., and EVALINE CAUDILL, on Sunday, March 20, 1910, in Carroll County, Arkansas.

Etta was named for her father’s infant sister, Etta Bernetta Hamon, who was just 8 months old at her death in 1890--just 5 months before our Etta’s birth.

Hamon Ancestry. Etta’s paternal grandparents, William and Isabelle [Combs] Hamon, each descend from well-researched families. William’s line descends from Robert Hamon [b. 1524] and Agnes Penton [b. 1528], both born in Scarning, County Norfolk, England.

Isabelle descends from Archdale Combs [b. 1625 in Rappahannock County, Virginia] and Elizabeth Butler [b. 1625 in Old Lancaster County, Virginia]. There’s a strong possibility that this line continues back to John Combe [b. 1563/4 in St. Antholin Parish] and Margaret Archdale [b. 1569], both born in Budge Row, London, England. Josiah Combs documents this connection in his book The Combses Genealogy; other researchers are doubtful of the connection, at least as documented in this book. As always, there’s more research to be done.

Etta’s maternal grandparents, Abner Caudill and Mary Naoma Hammonds, also descend from well-researched families. Abner’s line descends from Stephen Caudill [b. ~1680] and Mary Elizabeth Fields [b. 1698], both born in Scotland. Stephen arrived in America ~1700 and settled in Virginia. Mary Hammonds descends from Robert Hamon and Agnes Penton, as does Etta’s father Spencer Hamon.

Evaline [Caudill] Hamon died in 1909.
Spencer married (2) Laura Page, who has been described to this researcher as a “mail order bride.” Laura was reportedly quite a lady - very refined. She forbade her stepdaughters, Etta and Rozetta, from marrying in to the Capps family, whom she felt to be of a lower social standing than the Hamons. Luckily for this researcher — at least where Etta is concerned — the girls ignored their stepmother and married their Capps boys.

Children of JOHN CAPPS and ETTA HAMON are:

i. LESTER EVERETT CAPPS, b. March 30, 1911, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. January 3, 2004, in Manteca, San Joaquin County, California.

ii. ALBERT CAPPS, b. June 8, 1913, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. October 26, 1989, in Linn County, Oregon.

iii. RALPH CAPPS, b. June 7, 1916, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. March 17, 2005, in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California.

iv. ANDY MARSHAL CAPPS, b. October 23, 1918, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. January 28, 1981, in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California.

v. AMOS CHARLES CAPPS, b. September 12, 1921, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. April 1, 1975, in California.

vi. FLOYD DAVID (BILL) CAPPS, b. February 29, 1924, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. April 29, 1992, in Modesto, Stanislaus County, California.

vii. MARY GENEVA (GENEVA) CAPPS, b. January 3, 1927, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas; d. March 3, 2006, in Washington.

viii. LIVING CAPPS.

ix. LIVING CAPPS.

THE HOMESTEAD ACT

John purchased 40 acres in Madison County, Arkansas, at Township 19 North/Range 27 West, Section 23, on May 19, 1916 (see the facsimile of the original document).

MILITARY DRAFTS

John registered for the WWI draft sometime in 1917 or 1918 in Madison County, Arkansas; however, he never served in the military.

THE DUST BOWL

In the 1930s, drought and over-farming led to environmental disaster in the Great Plains of the United States. Windstorms blew away the overworked topsoil and the region came to be known as the Dust Bowl. Families abandoned their farms and fled west looking for work. Many became migrant workers on California farms. Laborers on these farms performed backbreaking work for little pay, and lived in poor conditions in migrant worker camps.

About 1938-39, John and Etta - both nearing their 50s - migrated west from Arkansas with their son and daughter-in-law, Lester and Bessie [Hobbs] Capps, and made their homes in California’s fertile Central Valley, settling in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California.

Why did so many of the refugees pin their hopes for a better life on California? One reason was that the State’s mild climate allowed for a long growing season and a diversity of crops with staggered planting and harvesting cycles. For people whose lives had revolved around farming, this seemed like an ideal place to look for work.

California was emphatically not the Promised Land of the migrants’ dreams. Although the weather was comparatively balmy and farmers’ fields were bountiful with produce, Californians also felt the effects of the Depression.

John built a Pentecostal church on Larch Road in north Tracy, where he ministered to a growing congregation. His son, Lester, continued in his place, eventually passing on the ministry to John’s grandson.

PASSAGES

Etta passed away 1 month shy of her 64th birthday on Friday, February 4, 1955, in French Camp, San Joaquin County, California, preceding her husband in death by 16 years. The cause of her death was liver cancer. She's interred at Tracy Public Cemetery in Tracy.

John Nicholas Capps (a.k.a. “Grandpa John”) passed away at the age of 82 years on Monday, March 15, 1971, also in Manteca. He was interned at Tracy Public Cemetery on Friday, March 19, 1971, where he rests by his wife of more than 44 years. John was survived by 9 children, 27 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

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LESTER EVERETT CAPPS - Generation No. 3

LESTER EVERETT CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Saturday, March 30, 1911, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

MARRIAGES/PARTNERS AND CHILDREN

Lester was close to his older cousin, Dave Prickett (ANNA FRANCES, MARSHAL PINKNEY) who was married to Lela [Bennett] Prickett. Dave had a life-long affair with his wife’s younger sister, Verda Bennett. When Verda became pregnant with Dave's child, he convinced Lester to marry her without disclosing their affair or the pregnancy.

Lester married (1) VERDA L. BENNETT [b. July 19, 1916 in Clifty, Carroll County, Arkansas], daughter of THOMAS J. BENNETT and DELLA PRESLEY, in Arkansas.

Child born to VERDA BENNETT during this marriage is:

LIVING CAPPS.

This marriage was obviously doomed from the start, and the couple soon separated. A blood test later proved that Lester was not the biological father of Verda's child, and the marriage was annulled. Verda and Dave continued their clandestine relationship, which also produced a second child. (See David Mason Prickett, son of Anna Frances Prickett.)

Lester married (2) BESSIE MAY HOBBS [b. Friday, March 21, 1919, in Toronto, Woodson County, Kansas], daughter of FREDERICK HOBBS and EDNA BLEVINS, on Thursday, July 26, 1934, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

Hobbs Ancestry. Bessie’s paternal ancestors are well researched and documented, having been traced to Nathaniel Hobbs (~1675-1727) of Kirtling, County Cambridgeshire, England. Vincent Hobbs, Sr. (1720-~1808), grandson of Nathaniel, was the first in this line to come to America. Vincent, 15, and his brothers arrived in the U.S. in 1735 through the Port of Dover, Delaware, and settled in Washington County, Virginia.

Bessie’s maternal ancestors can be traced to her fifth great-grandparents, Daniel Blevins, Sr. (1710-~1771) and Sarah Belcher. Daniel was born in Rhode Island and relocated to Virginia. The family migrated from Virginia into Kentucky and Kansas.

Children of LESTER CAPPS and BESSIE HOBBS are:

i. LIVING CAPPS.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

iii. LIVING CAPPS.

iv. LIVING CAPPS.

THE DUST BOWL

According to Lester, the family left Kansas during the Dust Bowl. Thirteen adults and children piled in to a Model-A Ford pickup truck (four in front, nine in back) along with all of their belongings!
They made their home in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley.

PASSAGES

On Saturday, June 1, 1978, Bessie passed away at the age of 59 years, 2 months and 11 days, due to complications of pneumonia after a long battle with an undiagnosed illness in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. Because she died in a hospital, no autopsy was performed to determine the exact nature of her mysterious illness. Bessie and Lester had been married for nearly 44 years at the time of her death. Bessie was laid to rest at Tracy Public Cemetery in Tracy.

New Beginnings. Lester married (2) GERTRUDE MARIE (GERTIE) RICE [b. Sunday, June 8, 1913 in Halsey, Linn County, Oregon] on Tuesday, September 26, 1978, in Tijuana, Mexico. This was also Gertie’s second marriage, her first husband having passed away. The couple made their home at Gertie’s small ranch in Manteca, San Joaquin County, California.
Gertie passed away Saturday, November 6, 1993, in Manteca. Lester and Gertie had been married for 15 years.

Lester passed away Saturday, January 3, 2004, in Manteca at 92 years old. He was interred next to his beloved Bessie at Tracy Public Cemetery.

Having never remarried, Lester’s first wife Verda [Bennett] Capps passed away on December 6, 2006 in Arkansas at the age of 90 years old.

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ALBERT CAPPS - Generation No. 3

ALBERT CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Sunday, June 8, 1913, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Albert married CLARICE EVELYN BRISCO, daughter of JAMES ARTHUR BRISCO and ESTELLA BROWN, on Saturday, June 19, 1937, in Eureka Springs.

Brisco Ancestry. Clarice’s family can be traced to Joseph Brisco and Mary Jane Ford of Missouri, both born ~1845-1850. Their son, George Washington Brisco [b. ~1868 in Christian County, Missouri] married Darcus Adeline Ewin [b. ~1869 in Arkansas], daughter of Owin Ewin and Rhoda Vaughan, both born ~1845.

Children of ALBERT CAPPS and CLARICE BRISCO are:

i. LIVING CAPPS.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

iii. LIVING CAPPS.

PASSAGES

Albert passed away Thursday, October 26, 1989, in Halsey, Linn County, Oregon, after 52 years of marriage. Clarice passed nearly 20 years later on March 27, 2009, in Lane County, Oregon.

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RALPH CAPPS - Generation No. 3

RALPH CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Wednesday, June 7, 1916, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Ralph married VESTA ESTELLA MAUDE (MAUDE) FISHER [b: Wednesday, December 17, 1919, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas], daughter of WILLIAM BATES FISHER and SUSAN OLAH POPPLEWELL, on Sunday, June 20, 1937, in Eureka Springs.

Maude’s Ancestry. Maude’s family is well researched. Her Popplewell line extends to ~1725 from Hack Popplewell and Judith Flint, daughter of John Flint, to Gholson Popplewell (1832-1911) whose son, William Compton Popplewell (1856-1822) was married to Minnie Olah Carlock (1866-1922) – the parents of Susan (Carlock) Popplewell – Maude’s mother. The Carlock family has been traced to Hans von Gerlach and Anna Kummir, both born ~1655 in Germany.

Children of RALPH CAPPS and MAUDE FISHER are:

i. DOLORES MAURINE CAPPS, b. January 24, 1939, in French Camp, San Joaquin County, California.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

PASSAGES

After more than 60 years of marriage, Maude passed away on Wednesday, May 19, 1999, in Sacramento. Services were held Saturday morning, May 22, 1999. Ralph passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2005, in Sacramento.

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DOLORES MAURINE CAPPS - Generation No. 4

DOLORES MAURINE CAPPS (RALPH, JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Tuesday, January 24, 1939, in French Camp, San Joaquin County, California.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Dolores married MARK DELBERT GILLMAN, JR. [b: Tuesday, September 15, 1942, in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California], son of MARK DELBERT GILLMAN, SR., and FLORENCE BROWN, on Sunday, September 20, 1964, in North Highlands, Sacramento County, California.

Children of DOLORES CAPPS and MARK GILLMAN are:

i. LIVING GILLMAN.

ii. LIVING GILLMAN.

PASSAGES


Mark passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2000, after two children and more than 35 years of marriage.
Dolores passed away due to surgery-related kidney failure more than 6 years later on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. Services were held for Dolores on Saturday, November 18, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the Abundant Life Assembly, 6861 24th Street, Sacramento.

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ANDY MARSHALL CAPPS - Generation No. 3

ANDY MARSHALL CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Wednesday, October 23, 1918, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Andy married HELEN MARIE STOPPEL [b. Tuesday, November 21, 1922, in Arkansas] on Tuesday, February 27, 1945, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

Andy and Helen had no children.

PASSAGES

Andy passed away Wednesday, January 28, 1981, in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California.

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AMOS CHARLES CAPPS - Generation No. 3

AMOS CHARLES CAPPS
(JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Monday, September 12, 1921, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

EARLY YEARS

According to his WWII enlistment record, Amos only attended school through grammar school.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Amos married BERTHA MARJORIE FIEZ [b: Saturday, May 24, 1924, in Stanislaus County, California], the daughter of HENRY FIEZ and MARJORIE A. SAXBY, in California. Henry was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and Marjorie was the adopted daughter of Joseph Frank Saxby and Addie A. Lyman.

Children of AMOS CAPPS and BERTHA FIEZ are:

i. LIVING CAPPS.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

iii. LIVING CAPPS.

iv. LIVING CAPPS.

v. LIVING CAPPS.

WWII

Amos enlisted in the Army on Friday, August 14, 1942, and served as an automobile serviceman. At that time, he was listed as “single with dependents.” A slight man, he was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed just 127 pounds.

PASSAGES


After five children and more than 27 years of marriage, Amos passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 1975, in Monterey County, California. He was just 53 years old.
Bertha never remarried. She passed away 31 years later on Friday, March 31, 2006, in Susanville, Lassen County, California, just 2 months shy of her 82nd birthday.

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FLOYD DAVID (BILL) CAPPS - Generation No. 3

FLOYD DAVID (BILL) CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Friday, February 29, 1924, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

EARLY YEARS

As a boy, Floyd worked for a man who didn’t think he looked like a “Floyd.” The man decided to call him Bill, and the name stuck.

MARRIAGES and CHILDREN

Bill married CHRISTINE BELLE SISSON [b. Tuesday, December 25, 1928, in Oklahoma], daughter of ARTHUR LULEN SISSON and EMMA BELL HUSONG, in April 1946.

Sission Ancestry. Christine’s family is well researched and has been traced to her 8th great-grandfather, Thomas Sisson (~1590), a haberdasher (a dealer in men’s clothing and accessories) from London Towne, England. He was the first Sisson to migrate to the United States and arrived in Virginia by 1622.

Children of FLOYD CAPPS and CHRISTINE SISSON are:

i. LIVING CAPPS.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

iii. LIVING CAPPS.

PASSAGES

After 38 years of marriage and three children, Christine passed away on Sunday, December 30, 1984, in Marin County, California.
Bill passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 1992, in Modesto, Stanislaus County, California.

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MARY GENEVA CAPPS - Generation No. 3

MARY GENEVA (GENEVA) CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Monday, January 3, 1927, in Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas.

MARRIAGE and CHILDREN

Geneva married LIVING DEES.

Children of GENEVA CAPPS and LIVING DEES are:

i. RONALD EDWIN (RONNY) DEES, b. March 4, 1945, in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California; d. January 15, 1994, in Napa, Napa County, California.

ii. LIVING CAPPS

PASSAGES

Geneva passed away Friday, March 3, 2006, in Washington State after nearly 62 years of marriage.

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RONALD EDWIN (RONNY) DEES - Generation No. 4

RONALD EDWIN (RONNY) DEES (MARY GENEVA CAPPS, JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born Sunday, March 4, 1945, in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California.

MARRIAGES and CHILDREN

Ronny married LIVING GERMAN.

Children of RONALD DEES and LIVING GERMAN are:

i. LIVING DEES.

ii. LIVING DEES.

PASSAGES

Ronny died on Saturday, January 15, 1994, at the age of 38 years in Napa, Napa County, California.

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LIVING CAPPS - Generation No. 3

LIVING CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born.

MARRIAGES/PARTNERS and CHILDREN

Living married (1) GERALD TAYLOR.

Child of LIVING CAPPS and GERALD TAYLOR is:

i. LIVING TAYLOR

This marriage ended in divorce.

She married (2) MONROE COOK.

Children of LIVING CAPPS and MONROE COOK are:

ii. LIVING COOK

iii. LIVING COOK

PASSAGES

Monroe Cook passed away on Monday, May 14, 2001.

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LIVING CAPPS - Generation No. 3

LIVING CAPPS (JOHN NICHOLAS, MARSHAL PINKNEY) was born.

MARRIAGES/PARTNERS and CHILDREN

Living married (1) LIVING FREEMAN.

Children of LIVING CAPPS and LIVING FREEMAN are:

i. LIVING CAPPS.

ii. LIVING CAPPS.

iii. LIVING CAPPS.

This marriage ended in divorce.

New Beginnings. Living married (2) LIVING LAWSON.

Child of LIVING CAPPS and LIVING LAWSON is:

iv. LIVING CAPPS.

3 comments:

  1. Clarice Brisco, Albert's wife, passed away 03/27/2009 at the age of 89.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wonder if anyone has told my dad yet; he usually tells me when someone in the family passes on. Thanks so much for letting me know.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My father Larry Charles Capps is the first child of Amos and Birtha Capps and I am the 2nd grandchild, I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren

    ReplyDelete