Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-25
DEATH OF MISS CAPwELL.
Salem Loses a Prominent Member OF
the Educational Profession.

1t was known yesterday that Miss
Olive M. Capwell, assistant principal Of
the Lincoln school Of this city, was to
have difficult surgical operation per
formed for removal Of tumor.
Her many friends lived through a
day Of greatest anxiety, ending in the
terrible shock caused by the news of
her death at half. past three. Drs.
Cartwright and Jessup, assisted by two
other Salem physicians had placed her
| under the influence of anesthetics short
ly before noon aud successfully removed
the tumor, which was large and serious.
ly attached, and the patient had not
strength enough to recover from the
| shock.
The news of Miss Capwell's death
soon spread over the city aud there
was a constant stream of inquiring
friends rendering sympathy to her Der.
eaved mother who only recently came
out from Iowa to make her home with
her. They had fitted up comfortable
cottage and were enjoying life together
in South Salem near her school work
when the rude messenger came 80 sud-
denly aud unexpectedly.
Miss Capwell had conducted her
school Friday last with her usual
bright and cheerful spirits, and it was
only Saturday that she was informed
that an operation would have to be per-
formed. AS soon as the surgeons dis
covered the nature of the growth they
realized that 1t was an unusual one and
could only be removed with the great
est difficulty but that it was their i'm
perative duty. She had slept very well
the night before, was brave, courageous
and hopeful to the moment of bidding
her mother and friends farewell, and
had made all her requests and business
arrangements before undergoing the
terrible ordeal. The physicians worked
with her for three hours but no resus-
citation seemed possible. Breathing
ceased long before the heart ceased to
beat and the patient had evidently
grown very much weaker in the last
few days of the development of the dis
ease. The little school children came
by scores and mournfully gathered
around the late home of their favorite
teacher, and it was a sad and most
gloomy day to the entire neighbor-
hood.
SKETCH OF MISS CAPwELL.
Olive M. Capwell was born in Wyo-
ming, Wyoming county, New York, in
1851, and at the age of years went to
Monroe, Wis.,, with her parents, where
she received her education and gradu-
ated at Milton college in 1870 and COM
menced her career as teacher in a pub
lie school at Stoughton, Wis. Three
Iowa, where she resumed her profession
in high school. In 1875 she accept, d
the position of principal Of the Iowa
soldiers orphan institute at d ivenport,
with six assistant teachers aud 400 pu-
pills, which position she held for four
years and was compelled to resign on
account of i'll health. In 1881 she &C
cepted position as teacher in the pub
lie schools of Boise, Idaho, and re-
mained there some time, and then be-
came principal at Canyon City. Before
completing her term there she was ap-
pointed to the position of superintend-
ent of the State Institute for the blind
at Salem, when she removed here and
has been resident eyer since.
Later she resigned the position and
became one of the teachers in the Salem
public schools. Miss Capwell was
chosen vice president of the Salem
Teachers Association, and from her
many years of experience and her high
standards In her chosen life work as a
teacher, she ranked among the leaders
of her profession in Oregon.
Olive Capwell was very conscen
tious teacher. Refined, intelligent and
kind hearted; her soul seemed adapted
to the work Of drawing out the chill
dren, bringing them close to her aud
making them love her. Under all cir
cumstances her spirits were sunny and
cheerful. While she has undoubtedly
suffered greatly for months, not even
her closest friends heard her complain
aud her duties were performed with
unflagging zeal and enthusiasm. Her
influence in the school work of this !
city will be long felt aud 1t will always
operate as an influence for good.
The funeral of Miss Capwell will |
probably take place Thursday, await |
Ing brother of deceased from Boise |
City who Is expected 20 arrive. There |
Is married sister in Iowa who cannot |
attend. Miss Julia Capwell of Port |
land Is already here. A service over
the remains will be conducted at the
residence by Rev. G. w. Grannis of
the First M. T.. church. The remains
will probably be taken to West Union,
Iowa, where her father Is hurled. Su.
Anderson aud the princi-
pals OF the Salem schools will act as
pa l-bearers.