The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-01-08

AL Sscut Va more Lnan passing IN
terest to the people of this community
was the reunion of the family of Hon.
Joseph Capser on New Years day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cspser will have been
married SO years next May but as it
would be impossible for the children
to all get together at this time ar
engagements were made for the reun-
ion.
Mr.. and Mrs. Capser are the par
ents OF seven children and raised ev-
cry one of them. In turn they have
married and have raised children and
not a death has occurred in the fam
lily all these years.
Mr.. and Mrs. Capser senior are hale
and hearty, and bear every indication
of living for many years yet.
Mr.. Capser started the first store
proper in Sank Centre. 1t was locat-
ed on the outside of the stockade
which was built by the citizens in
1852 and was located at about what
is now Birch and Eighth streets of
the city. Prior to Mr.. Capser's COM
ing Mr.. Pendergas;t carried few it
ems If merchandise inside the stock
ade. Altar condaeting his business
near tle stoclads for year and !
half he ex,sted sfsre building on the
corner NJ pcc,ssssd BY the Merchants
NationaI Bank. Altogether Mr.. Cap
ser was in business in this city %
years.
C. N. Sprague another pioneer res
ident was for number of years con-
nected with Mr.. Capser in business,
first as an employee and later as a
partner.
Joseph Capser served his district in
the legislative halls of the state for
a number of years. In 1856 he was
a member of the senate presided ov-
er by Lieut.-Gov. Alonzo Barto. He
was elected to the house in 1878 and
again in 1891.
In politics Mr.. Capser is a DEM
ocrat and for seven years he was
chairman of the state democratic COM
mittee. He also served this district
as county commissioner for two terms
and was a member of the Sank Gen.
tire Board of health for 33 years.
Mr.. Capser completed his home
now occupied by himself and his es-
Unable wife in 1881.
Mr.. Capser is 83 years of age at
present and his wife will be II years
old next summer Mr.. Capser was
born in Bavaria, Germany, and came
to America in 1874, first Locating III.
st. Marys, Penn. He came to Min
nesota in 1857 and May 81, 1854 he
was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Ley at st. Joe, this county. They
resided on farm near st. Cloud un-
til they located in Sank Centre in the
fall of 1864.
Henry Capser, the eldest son, was
the first white child born in Sank Gen.
tire. He was born outside the stock
ade in wooden shack covered with
snow at the rear of the store. He has
for many years been a responsible
business man in st. Paul.
Mr.. Capser and his excellent wife
have always been highly respected
residents of this community. They
have raised an honorable family who
are credit to the city of their birth
not only in a business way but moral
ly. The children and their families
attending the reunion are: Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry c. Capser, Leo and Miss
Gertrude, st. Paul; Mr.. and Mrs. w.
w. Reyleck, Misses Veronica and
Grace and baby Winnifred, Grafton,
N. D.; Mr.. and Mrs. Jas. Hall, Verna
Edward, Winnifred, Genevieve and
Grin, Sank Centre; AL. Capser, St.
Paul; Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Capser,
little daughter Mary, Grafton, N. D.;
Geo. w. Capser and wife, st. Paul;
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph L. Capser,
Genevieve and Leroy, Melrose.
The old home was lastly decorated
in honor of the event. The tables