Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-26
Rodney 8. capen.

The death of Professor r. B. Capen
hich took place at 6 20 Sunday evening,
will be the occasion of general sadness among
an unusually large circle of warm and de-
voted friends. During the years that he
has resided in our city be has been promi-
nently identified with every prominent
movement in the direction of good govern
ment and municipal progress. He was a
man of wonderful versatility, excelling in
many different things; clear-headed,
Christian gentleman; devoted husband
and father; warm friend; an oblising
neighbor, and public-spirited citizen.
As principal of Djrigo Business College,
it was his fortune to come in close contact
with many young men and women just en-
tering uponthe threshold of life's active
work; and the stimulating effect of the
strong influence for good, the lessons of
industry which he was able to impart to
them, cannot be estimated. The value of
such an association with man of his
character and ability will perhaps. never be
realized, much less appreciated.
Mr.. Capen was bornin Stoughton, Mass. +,
forty-five years ago. and received his edu-
cation in the common schools of that town.
He was for several years superintendent of
schools in Norwood, Mass, and subsequent
ly served for few years as principal of
Dowse Academy, Sherbourne, Mass. He
resigned thi, position and came to
Maine to enter the employment of
the Singer Sewing Machine Co. He
and gentleman, named Fuller were
appointed State agents for this COM
pany, with headquarters at Lewiston, Maine.
Mr.. Capen sold out his interest in this bus
mess to take charge of the Dirigo Business
College, which he purch .sed from d. w.
Waite, September 6, 1880.
He possessed wonderful powers Of appli-
cation, and when once he set himself about
any branch of work, be never fdiled to
master it. He was good civil ngineer, a
work which always had for Linn strong
fascination, and in which he made his &C
complishments do good service for the city
of Augusta, having served as its city en-
gineer for several years past.
Mr.. Capen has bean prominently ideLti-
fed with the work of Odd Fellowship in
this city and State. He becoming MEM
Der of Asylum lodge on the night of its il :
stitution on the 18th of April, 1873, and 10
the day of bis fatal illness remained loysl
and enthusiastic in the work. He became
past grand in the early history of the
lodge, and entered the Grand lodge, of
which he has since been a constant at
tendant, and where he has always taken an
active interest in the proceedings OF that
body. He was elected grand warden in
1888, deputy grand master the following
year, and in 1885 he was elected
to its highest office, the position of grand
master. During his administration sew
eral new lodges were instituted, and the'or-
der signally strengthened. In 1886 he was
elected representative to the Sovereign
Grand Lodge for two years, and at its ses-
sions in 1888, at Denver, Col, he was
placed on the committee on legislation, one
of the most important in this body, the rul-
ing tribunal of the order throughout the
world.
In 1886 the degree staff of Asylum lodge
was organized and Mr.. Capen was placed
at its head and remained as its manager
until his death. Later the orchestra was
another feature introduced very largely
through his efforts.
Asylum Lodge has long been recognized
as one of the best in the Stite in point Of
influence and work, and this is due in no
small degree to the uniting de-
votion and love which Mr.. Ca
pen had manifested. He was also
prominent in the A. o. U. W. and Knights
of Honor.
A wife and two children survive him, one
of whom, Miss Bertha Capen, has been for
some time instructor of stenogrsphy and
typewriting at the Dirigo Business College.
1t is seldom that one citizen touches the
life of community in more Of its phases
than did Mr.. Capen; and his untimely death
will cause profound sorrow among the pec-
pie of this city who knew and respected him
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