Notes by James Seymour Capen

              Notes by Seymour Capen (Detroit, Mich.) from a letter dated May 16, 1925 written to WP Com. Of the Allied Ats. 




My mother (Mrs. L.W. Capen), my cousin S.S. Capen, wife son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ches. M. Capen, Mrs. J.S. Capen (my wife), Miss Louise Capen (my daughter), and myself, arrived in W.P. Oct. 1880.  We were all from Bloomington, Ill. and had been brought there through Mr. L.A. Chase, a long time friend of all of us.  I remember the appearance of our family on the platform in front of Mr. England’s grocery on our first Sunday.



The only church was held over the store and was called the Union Church.  Dr. Hooker was the Pastor and the choir was Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Chapman, my wife, and Deacon Larrabee.  We were met on the platform by Cey M. Lane and some others.  After introductions Mr. Lane asked me to identify the various Mrs. Capens.  At that time the residents of the place were Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Chapman and son Ollie, Mr. L.A. Chase, Mr. and Mrs. John Ergaod, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. White and brother Fred White, Mrs. Spring and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Petey Peckham and daughter, Dick Batchelor, son and sister, Miss DeHaven, Deacon Larrabee,  the Coan Bros. and their families, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers of the Rogers House and their son Albert.  In the lawn.  And around the lower: Sen. French, Judge Mizell and family, Henry S. Chubb and family. Chris H. Ward and family; Dr. Geer and Mice, Miss St. John, Mr. Phelps and family, Mr. Guild and family, Mr. Kelney and family, Mr. and Mrs. Stovin, Col. Livingston, Miss Brown and Miss McClure, they’re school teachers from Evanston, Ill.  with the aid of “Johnnie Brown” had built a comfortable home, near where Mr. Ward now lives; Mr. Lane and family, Mr. Clark and family, Mr. and Mrs. Switzer. Winter Park regular white residents were: Col. And Mrs. Fairbanks, Mr. and Mrs. Morse, Mr. and Mrs. Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis H.