 |
 |
|
Seth Capron
(l) and Eunice
Mann Capron (r).
Photos courtesy Banfield Capron |
|
|
|
|
Horace Capron was born
August 31, 1804 in Attleboro, Massachusetts
He was the son of
Revolutionary War veteran Seth Capron and Eunice
Mann Capron
The family moved to New
York state, where Seth became a prosperous wool
and cotton manufacturer.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Marquis de
Lafayette |
|
As a young man Horace's
family connections gave him a front row seat to
major events in America during his youth.
He met the Marquis de
Lafayette in 1824 at West Point. Lafayette
at the time was making a grand tour of the
United States, and everyplace he stopped became
a major social event.
"I...had the honor
of shaking hands with the Hero"
Horace Capron Autobiography
|
|
 |
|
The Erie
Canal |
|
He was there at the
opening of the Erie Canal.
"...the grand
opening of the Erie Canal...I also witnessed."
Horace Capron Autobiography p. 87
Family financial
setbacks kept Horace from college. He also
failed to get a desired appointment to West
Point (which one of his brothers had attended.)
He decided to go into the family business, and
went to work in a family mill.
|
|
|
Coming to Maryland 1829
|
|
 |
 |
| Warren Maryland circa
1922.The site is now under water and can no
longer be seen.(Click to enlarge.) |
Savage
Mill. Note that the Bollman Bridge was
built after Horace Capron's time as
manager. (Click to enlarge.) |
|
He was soon hired to
run a large mill in Warren, Maryland on the
Gunpowder River. Unfortunately, the mill burned.
A new opportunity
quickly arose.
"I accepted an offer
from the Messrs Williams of Baltimore to take
charge of their works on the little Patuxent
river,...called the Savage factory, at a largely
increased salary. Horace Capron
Autobiography p. 40.
Capron was an employee
at Savage Mill
Savage Mill
from approximately 1832-1834/35.
|
|
|
 |
| Riots between
Fardowns (Ulsterman) and Corkians
(Southern) Irish workers resulted in
deaths, and property destruction in and
around Laurel during the building of the
B&O Railroad.
(Image records a later, 1877 Riot) |
back to top
|
While there he helped
quell labor riots during construction of the
Washington Branch of the B&O railroad-- which
ran through Laurel beginning in 1835.
"Under my command a
March was commenced for the capture of the
murderers of the poor fellow..the bugle sounded
the charge, and we rode down upon them shouting
and firing.." Horace Capron
Autobiography p. 44.
As a result of these
actions, Capron received a commission from
Governor Thomas to the Maryland Militia, first
as a Major, then Colonel. These were his
first military commissions.
His efforts also took
him to Montpelier, the area's largest
plantation, to consult with the prominent
Snowden family about the situation.
|
