John C. Capps
Dempsey Capps, the grandfather of this subject, came to Ohio from Virginia in an early day, settling first on the Ohio River, and afterward removing to Highland County, where he raised a large family. Among these were William, James, Elijah, Rhoda, and Elizabeth, besides sons and daughters whose names are lost.
William and Margaret (Pope) Capps were married in Highland County, about the year 1812. They were the parents of the following-named children: Sidney, Polly Ann, Elmira, John C, Elizabeth, Elijah, Cerilda, Curtis H., Jane, Adeline, Eliza, William, and James.
John C. Capps was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 23, 1820, and is a farmer by occupation. He spent several years of his early life in Indiana and Illinois. He was married. May 28, 1847, to Jane Anderson, of Fayette County. She is the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Rowe) Anderson, and was born August 5, 1824. The Andersons and Rowes were Virginians, but emigrated to Ohio early in the nineteenth century, settling on the Little Wabash, where some of their descendants still live. The children of Robert and Sarah Anderson were Isaac, Mathew, Jane, and John.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Capps : Sarah E., born May 31, 1848; married Robert Todhunter, October 8, 1866; has three children ; liven near New Martinsburg. Margaret Elmira, born May 14,1851; married Levi Bryan, October 13, 1870; husband died October 18, 1877; has two living children. Mary Jane, born January 25, 1853; married Henry Johnson, January 8, 1870; lives in Green Township. Robert William, born November 28, 1855; married Anna A. White in November, 1875; died February 24, 1881; was a favorite child, a promising young man, and much beloved; leaves one son, Virgil Leroy, born July 17, 1877.
Mr. Capps came to Ohio from Illinois, in the year 1844, and in 1859 bought of John Merchant the farm on which he now resides. The farm comprises one hundred and forty-five acres, and shows signs of careful culture. His wife and himself are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been, from early life, consistent and useful Christians.
Jesse Rowe, the grandfather of Mrs. Capps, was an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a power for good in his day and generation. He is said to have been the founder of the first society or class of Methodists on the Little Wabash, and was the builder of "Rowe's C'hapel," one of the first houses of worship in Perry Township. He used to tell, in his eccentric way, that "all the swarms came from his hive." He established a Sabbath-school in his barn, about the year 1826. Who can tell the value of one good man in a community?
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
One of the pleasant homes in Perry Township, Fayette County, is that of Mr. Capps, which is jointly presided over by Mr. Capps and his daughter, Mrs. Todhunter. Our subject is the son of William Capps, who was born in Virginia in 1792, and was a son of Humphrey Capps, who hailed from North Carolina and served seven years in the Revolutionary War. William Capps was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Margaret Pope. She was born in Virginia in 1799 and was the daughter of William Pope. Both parents came to the Buckeye State with their respective families when quite young, Mr. Capps coming as early as 1800. They were married in Highland County, where they made their home for a number of years, removing to Indiana in 1826. They made Morgan County, that State, their home for a period and then tried their fortunes in Vermillion County. Later they settled on a farm in Fulton County, Ill., removing thence to Knox County, the same State, where they passed their last days, the father dying in June, 1875, and the mother passing away a year of two before.
The parental family of our subject included thirteen children, five of whom are living. One son, Curtis H., enlisted during the Civil War in the Union army and died soon after in Knox County, III. Mr. and Mrs. William Capps were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, in politics, the father was first a Democrat, later a Whig and, finally, a Republican.
John C. Capps was born April 23, 1820, in Highland County, this State. He received a limited education in the district schools and began for himself when attaining twenty years of age. He was married May 27, 1817, to Jane, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Rowe) Anderson, early settlers of the Buckeye State and natives of Virginia. Robert Anderson, who was a very zealous Christian and exhorter, established the first Methodist Episcopal Church in this section. Mrs. Capps was one of a family of six children, and was born in 1824, in Fayette County, where she received a fair education.
After marriage, our subject located upon the farm given him by his father-in-law, in Green Township, this county, which he cleared and placed under good cultivation. Thirty-three years ago, he moved to his present farm, which ranks among the best in the township. Mrs. Jane Capps died August 12, 1885, after having borne her husband four children, one of whom is deceased. Sallie is the wife of Robert Todhunter and has had three children, one of whom is deceased. Margaret married Levi Bryan, who is deceased, and also has had three children, one of whom is deceased. She later married William Eyre and resides in this township. Mary Jane married Henry Johnson, has had nine children, of whom one is deceased, and makes her home in Green Township. Robert became the husband of Anna White and died February 24, 1881. They had one child.
Mr. Capps of this sketch is a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which society he is Steward and Trustee. He is very liberal in contributing of his means to its support and, indeed, is interested in all measures that elevate the standard of society in his community. In politics, he is a Republican and his interest in school matters has placed him on the Board. He did very effective work for his township as Supervisor, and is highly esteemed for his honest and upright character by all who know him. Mr. Johnson began in life empty-handed and at the present time is the owner of one hundred and fifty-one acres of land, which his industry has placed in a very productive condition. His present position in the farming community has been attained largely through the good advice and economy of his late wife, to whom he accords all due praise.
From BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]