Capps Family Stories

This gentleman has been a resident of this section since 1837, coming thither from St. Louis County, Mo., where he had settled in 1836. He was born in Mecklenburg County, N.C., February 2, 1820, in which State his parents, Richard and Rachel (Barnhill) Capps, were also born and reared. After their marriage they removed to Tennessee and made a good home for themselves in Grainger County, but in 1836 removed to Missouri, and the following year came to this section of Arkansas. The father became a prominent farmer of Newton County, but was called from life in Boone County in 1867, his wife having died in Alabama in 1828, after having borne him two children: William and Robert. Mr.Capps' second wife was Pricie Brady, who resides in Indian Territory. Two children resulted from this union. Mr. Capps was a Democrat in politics. The early life of Robert Capps was spent in his native State, and in the mountains of Newton County, Ark. Following in his father's footsteps he became quite a noted Nimrod in his youth, and, while the State was in a primative condition, he killed many bears and deer and on one occasion in one day killed four panthers. He had many thrilling experiences and many narrow escapes from death but his nerve and calmness carried him through safely on every occasion. He began doing for himself in 1837, and passed a every eventful life in the wilds of Newton County, a life he greatly enjoyed on account of its freedom and independence, notwithstanding the hardships which he was compelled to undergo. He was married in Newton County, in 1839, to Miss Elvira Woody, a daughter of John Woody, a soldier of the War of 1812, her birth having occurred in Tennessee. To them a good old-fashioned family of twelve children were given: William F., who resides in this county; Mary, who died after her marriage with Thomas Taylor; Richard, who is a farmer in this county, and was a soldier in the Civil War; Malinda is a resident of Texas and the wife of John Ingram; John farms in the vicinity of Harrison; Alvira is the wife of James Hankins of Boone County; George resides on a farm in Texas; James is also in Texas; Scott is farming in this county; and Henry resides in Idaho. Two children died in early childhood. William F., Richard and Robert, sons of Robert Capps, Sr., enlisted in Rabb's battery, Second Missouri Light Artillery, in 1862. Robert died in St. Louis in 1862, and the other two were mustered out of service at St. Louis. The mother of these children was called from this life in 1883, and in 1887 the father married Mary, the daughter of Samuel and Isabella (McConnell) Kennedy, the former of whom was a Virginian and removed to Tennessee, where he died. His father came from Ireland. The mother died in Boone County, Ark., in 1883, having emigrated to this section in 1852. Mrs. Capps was born in Polk County, Tenn., in 1837, a sister, Elizabeth, being a twin with her. Mr. Capps has been a resident of the section in which he now lives for nearly sixty years, has always tilled the soil, and besides the farm of fifty acres on which he resides, he is the owner of other valuable lands in Newton and Boone Counties. For the past two years he has resided at Elmwood, but continues to look after his farming and stockraising interests, having always given much attention to this branch of agriculture. He is a substantial and law-abiding citizen, was a strong Union man during the war, and while the great struggle was in progress, was a resident of Missouri. He lost heavily during that time, and his wife, her sister and their widowed mother had a hard struggle to keep the wolf from the door while the great conflict between the North and South was being waged. Mrs. Capps was one of the first teachers of Newton County, is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Capps has long been a Baptist. His a member of Bellefonte Lodge of the A.F.& A.M.

Dear Cousin Mary,

I thought I would try and write you a few lines to let you know we are well I drope you a card three or four weeks ago but I haven't heard from you since. I would have wrote sooner but the kids have been sick but they are some better. Things are looking a little bit better now in the way of work I got my old Job back Tuesday night a week ago have you heard about Mr. A.W. Vance of dayton died here about a month ago. I seen all the boys a few days ago. They are all well as far as I know. you aughty see my fliver now. I have painted under neath my finders red and she is looking good. And she sure does ride good. I seen in the paper about where they had a storm out west but I don't know whether It reach you or not but I have been uneassly about youll. If could be with youll I could tell you more than I could write in aweek. Sister have moved pretty close to me she lives 2006-ave D. Ensley Ala. Well I have wrote about all I know this time so write soon and a long letter.

Your cousin
Isaac Barnes
of 1506 - ave E.
Ensley
Ala.

Dear cousin Mary and all just recived your most wellcom Letter and shure was glad to hear from you all once moor i had Lost your address and i hav had so much truble withe my Dear wife so Long that i hav all most Loste my Sences in the Last 6 year i Dont no some aff the time how it past a way now it seemes to me you all have me mix up and hav taken me to Bee Jake Barnes this is Jim the one that you all come to See at afornant ala nex to will and i feel as if i hav nothing Left to Lev for But i am Still having good heth and working evey Day if i only had my home lik it was when you was at it my wife name was Minnie Barnes my Son Charlie is Marrid and i am Staying with him and if i and will Livs and nothing Dont happin to us we ame to tery git off aut thar By the first aff oct my sweet wife Died the 15 day aff Last oct will all the folkes hear as far as i no are well and gitting a Long all right except uncall Jim Cox is familig why man the Doctor Say has the TB and he Shure Das Lok Bad too uncall Jim Just got aff from Job and tucke him aut in the country to some Spring a week a go and i heard from him a feww Dazy a go the chang Like maid him pass aut uncall Said But he seem to Bee a Little Better now well cousin i Shure would Like See you all i could tell you moor then i can Bee gin to rite if we git out thar i want Bee Shur and See you all for i guess it will Bee my Last trip out thar Frank Barnes Livig at Bessemar ala i dont no his address only firnice quartery JC and i rofart Town i Dont no if that would git him ore not Jak Still Livig whear he Did when you all was hear at Shaddy Sid Ensley ala ike is Still one the Same Jobe But has moov out in the country he had Bought him a nice plca out thar and ed Barnes is Still in Dayton Tenn rout 4 and Box 5 well as i hav 3 moor Letter to rite i guess i will close with Best wushes to you and all

from James H Barnes

PS if we can See aur way clear to Start Soon we will rite you

well sis will anser your letter was glad to hear from you and to no you all was well this Leves us all well well mary it is a little cool hear to Day has Bin Rain a rite smart Last week and cool But i think it will warm up no well mary have you haerd from Johns [brother John W. Cox] They sure havin Hard luck we got a letter from them the other day and Zoniy [Arizona "Zonie" Looper Cox] had lost one of her eys she got one of hir eys hurt some say and Had to have it taken out and she was affel Bad when they wrote she had hir Eye taken out on the 5 of this month we wrote Rat Back to them and told them to write Rat Back and let us no How she was gittin along But hant heard from them yet so i dont no how she is gittin a long sure is to Bad well mary if you and ambros neds that money fore a while keep it fore i dont need it now fore a while the Plant is running good now i make from $34,38 to over $35,00 a week we all are working good time now well mary to day Easter is Joe luther Birth day and i got him a nice sute of clothes fore his Birth day and i got Pauline a nice dress to They sure was Proud mary when you get Redy to send. that money Just git a casher check at the Bank i ant in no Hurry Just when you have it to spair and want to send it well i dont no much to write so write soame