Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-02
GEORGE S. CAPELLE
SO YEARS OLD TODAY
One of City's Respected Bank
crs Celebrating Event
Quietly.

George s. CapeIie, chairman OF the
board of directors of the Wilmington
Trust Go. and prominent in other insti-
tlItlons, attained the age Of s3 wears today.
lie did not formally celebrate the ami
vcrsarv, but spent the day in the Will
mlngton Trust Co.'S branch bank, at
Second and Market streets, where he was
congratulated by many friends When
interviewed by q representative of Every
Evening he talked interestingly about
past and current events and reviewed hls
notable career.
George s. Carellc is of French descent.
His grandfather, Joseph Eugene Capcllc,
4 surgeon, came from France TO the
United States with General LAFAYETTE. lie
was born February ,. 1885. EIls parents,
Marcus T.. and Katharine A. Capolle.
resided IN Red Lion hundred, where his
fatherwas farmer
At the death of his father. in iS4o.
and at the age Of II wears he came to
Wilmington and became a student Of the
friends School, Fourth and West streets
Three years later he entered the store of
John \. Duncan, to learn the hardware
business, and in 1860 purchased the inter
est Of his master and established the firm of
Capelle & Duncan, which continued until
1868, when Richard b. Duncan withdrew
from the partnership and Mr.. Capeile
took his brother INTO the business and
the firm name was changed To George \
& A A. Capclle. Subsequently the
Capellc Hardware Go. was incorporated,
and That corporation stlll exists, with
William H. kenworthy as president
Joseph W. Reybold WIS vice-president of
the company at the time of his death.
Mr. Capelle continued at the head of the
concern until 1881, when be sold out to
the gentlemen who now control the bust
ness. Thereafter he never engaged In any
mercantile pursuits, but held many offices
Of trust, financial, industrial and charl-
table For some years he was vIce-pres.-
dent of the Wilmington Coal Gas Co,
N which he took an active part during
the long light with John Edward Addicks,
and In 1905 he negotiated the sale 10 the
Dobsons at 81 ,450,0O0
BECAME BANKER.
In 1858 he became director Of the
National Bank of Wilmington Il Brandy
vine and IN 1888 president continuing
until 1912, when the bank and the VII
mirgton Trust Go. consolidated lie was
director continuously for Ii years aud
president for 2i years. When the VII
mington Trust Co, the First National
Bank and the National Bank of Whining
ton and Brandywine merged he was
elected chairman of the board Of directors
Of the Wilmington Trust Co. which po-
sition he still holds For some years he
was president OF the Wilmington Clearing
House Association, also president OF the
Delaware Fire Insurance Co, which dis
continued business in 1888.
lie is one of the charter members of the
Artisans Savings Bank Association aud
for many years was vice-presldent, taking
an active part in its growth and manage
mrnt. and when it and the First National
Bank built the Clayton House tafterward
the clearinghouse Corporation) he be-
came president and served as such for
some wears. until he retired from both in
stitutions. He was one OF the organizers
and directors Of the Electric Hose and
Rubber Co, which has become a large
corporation, and since 1914 has been
president of the company
TRUSTED BY FELLOW CITIZENS.
Besides these activities he has settled
some important estates, including the
Iarob Siney. a large estate IN bankruptcy
UD(ieE INC Dlt ttdIihAA AA'b AaHt tliS isOhStH
& Dure Car Co in liquidation and the
Randolph Peters estate. At the death of
his friend, Job IL Jackson he became
president OF the jackson & Sharp Co in
jjollidation. Judge Bradford appointed
him receiver of the Arlington Mills Co.
He has always manifested great in
terest in charities, being director of the
Home for Friendless and Destitute Chill
dren and the Ferris Industrial School for
many wears. He also served rs a director
OF the Young Men S Christian Association.
For some years be was president Of the
Wilmington Board of Trade.
He has held few public Offices The
Delaware Legislature made him an cleo
ton commissioners, and be served two
terms of three years each. Governor
Tunnel in 1899 appointed him a member
of lie board Of trustees Of the Delaware
State Hospital for the Insane, and after
Is wears service he declined reappoint-
ment. He was elected president of the
board in 1916.