Caban was born on 28 August 1915 in Łaszew, Poland. His parents, and education, is unknown. Before the outbreak of World War II, Caban was active in the National Party (near Wieluń). In 1937, he was in economic exile in the Third Reich. From March 1938, he performed his basic military service in the 78th Infantry Regiment. During the Invasion of Poland, he fought in the Battle of Mława and in the Siege of Warsaw, during which he was wounded in action. After the defeat in September, he was taken prisoner by the Germans, from which he escaped. He spent the German occupation in the poviat Wieluń, where he started gainful employment and was active in the Home Army. In 1945, he left for the Regained Territories, where as a military settler he settled in the Postomino Commune.