WILLIAM THOMAS CAPLE
(Originally spelled (Capel) - somewhere down the line spelling was
changed to Caple.)
William Thomas Caple was born in South Carolina in 1802. He was of
Scotch-Irish descent. Accompanied by his wife, the former Elizabeth
Hogue, and family, he came to Arkansas in 1840,
traveling with oxen and wagon. he settled on Old Lost Creek, on the
line between Grant and Saline Counties. There with the aid of his
sons - he erected his home where he lived the remainder of his life.
As time permitted, William Caple and his sons cleared the land and
cultivated it. Their house was built of logs hewn with a broad ax.
The logs were chinked and dobbed with clay. the building withstood all
kinds of weather, until it was destroyed by fire in 1890.
Patience was one of William Caple's characteristics and it served him
well in realizing the accomplishments of his dreams with the crude and
limited implements of work. He tanned his own leather and made pegs of
maplewood with which he made all the shoes for the family. He
maintained a livelihood at first upon the bountiful wildlife of the
forest, killing bear, panther, deer and wolfs with an old fashioned
muzzle-loading flint rifle, which he brought with him from South
Carolina.
Later he raised sheep, goats, cattle and hogs on the open range in
addition to his farming and planting. Mrs. Elizabeth Caple spun the
thread and wove the cloth for garments for the entire family. It was
with great pride that William Thomas Caple gave his support to the
founding and erection of the Old Lost Creek Methodist Church. He was
one of the Charter members. His home was always the home of the
Methodist Ministers and their frequent visits were a delight to him.
William Thomas Caple was courageous, honest, self-possessed, deeply
religious and temperate in all things.
He prospered greatly and became a very well-to-do pioneer man,
refusing to own slaves because of his tenacious convictions upon the
matter.
Never-the less, he suffered great losses as a result of the war
between the States.
The same spirit of conquest that inspired William Thomas Caple to
journey toward Arkansas in 1840 remained with him though out his life
and when he was past 85 years of age, he went hunting and camped with
a group of friends during Christmas week. The party stopped near the
location of the former Shrine Country Club and bagged a 6 point buck.
It was on this trip that he contracted pneumonia, which caused his
death. He was buried in the cemetery at Old Lost Creek in 1887.
William Thomas Caple and his wife (Elizabeth) reared a family of 10
children, who were: Daniel, James, Thomas, John and twin daughters-
Annie, who became Mrs. T.M. Tull; and Nancy, Julia, who became Mrs.
James Gilkerson; Lucretia, who became Mrs. Seth Burnett; and Adeline,
who became Mrs. James Steed.
The two sons, James and Thomas Caple and three sons-in-laws, James
Gilkerson, Seth Burnett and James Steed. were solders through out the
Civil War. All returned with the exception of James Steed, who
drowned in the Mississippi River. In addition to rearing his own
large family, William Thomas Caple opened his home to two of his
daughters when they became widows and assisted them with providing for
their children. Partly because of his influence, a son of Eliza Caple
Burnett, became a Methodist Minister. He was the Rev. Seth K. Burnett.
Many descendants of William Thomas Caple live in Arkansas, Including
professional business men. Gus Caple, former Pulaski County Sheriff,
Dr. G.H. Bell, Dentist of Benton, E.H. Neely, former Postmaster
of Benton and others.
Mr. William Thomas Caple's son, Thomas W. Caple was my Great-
Grandfather. He married Sarah Sophia Edwards, October 22, 1868. They
raised six sons and one daughter-Danial Aurther Caple, William T.
Caple, Robert H. Caple, Marvin Caple, Samual Watson Caple, Burt Caple
and Laura Ruth Caple who married Bird Kerr.
Byrd and Laura Ruth (Caple) Kerr were my Grandparents. They raised 9
children. Ora Beatrice, Maude Eunice, Thomas Alfed, Lydia Ellen, Linda
Euldean, Herman Carlee, Omar Burton, Patricia Louise, and Maurice L.B.
Kerr. Omar Burtin was my father.
Daniel Aurther Caple's children were, Claude, Inez, Eva, Jack,
Lennie, Willie, and Havis Caple.
William T. Caple children were, Jeff, Frank, Albert, Nilley, Onie,
Minnie, Webb, Myrtle and Lillie Caple. T
To my knowledge, Robert H. Caple never married., Marvin Caple's
children were, Cora, Dan, Madie, Mae, and Glennie. Samuaal Watson
Caple's children were, Radford, Clifford, Waldon, Herman, Roselee, and
Dolly Caple.
Burt Caple's children were, Alvin, Odie, Eldridge, Milton, Earl and
Mary Sue Caple.
My Great-Great- Great Grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. (Elizabeth) William Thomas
Caple, my Great-Great grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Caple and Robert H.
Caple were buried at Old Lost Creek cemetery in Grant County, Arkansas. All
others, Great Aunts and Uncles are buried at Socciaal Hill Cemetery in Benton,
except Burt Caple who is buried in bauxite Cemetery. My Grand parents Laura
Ruth (Caple) Kerr and Byrd Kerr are buried at Social Hill Cemetery
Millie Kerr