John Capron

John Willard Capron (February 14, 1797, at Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts – December 25, 1878, at Uxbridge) was an American military officer in the infantry, state legislator, and textile manufacturer.

The Capron mill, built by John Capron Sr. and his sons Effingham, and John, circa 1820, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The mill manufactured the first satinets, used the first power looms for woolens in America, and made US military uniforms for over 140 years.

Early life, family

gravestone of Revolutionary war soldier, John Capron Sr. at Prosepct Hill Cemetery, overlooking the mill that he and his sons, John and Effingham began in 1820 at Uxbridge, Massachusetts

John Willard Capron was the son of a Revolutionary War soldier, John Capron, Sr. John Capron, Sr. was born on July 3, 1756 at Cumberland, Rhode Island and died in 1836 at Uxbridge. John Capron, Sr. had at least two sons. They were, John Willard Capron, of this article, and his sibling, Effingham Capron. John Willard Capron grew up in Uxbridge and graduated from Uxbridge Academy. Uxbridge Academy graduated a number of prominent men in the early 19th century. John Capron, Sr. their father started a very historic textile mill in 1820. John's father was a "clothier" who had migrated here from Grovsvenordale, CT, circa 1790.

Family Heritages

It is certainly possible that the Capron name had some Italian heritage as well, from the family name of Caproni, though this is not really known. The family in New England descended from Banfield Capron who immigrated from England to Attleboro, MA in the 17th century. Another branch of the Banfield Capron family, Erastus Capron, participated in the Mexican War. He was a hero of that war, settled in FL and participated in the Seminole Indian wars, and Fort Capron at Indian River county, was named for him. There is also a town of Capron Illinois, and a book on the Capron family, see the end footnote to this paragraph. John C Capron and John Willard Capron are descendents of Banfield Capron, the first American Capron immigrant.^[1]

Family business

John Willard Capron helped his father John, Sr. and his brother Effingham, to establish one of the earliest textile mills in the historic mill town of Uxbridge.^[2] The Carpon Mill was started by John, John W. and Effingham's father, circa 1820. The three Capron men later entered into a partnership for the business. The mill became known as the Capron Mill. John Capron, Sr., John W. Capron's father, sited the mill on the Mumford River, in the town center, also known as Uxbridge center. The mill used water power from the river, a renewable source of power. John Capron had purchased the Colonel Seth Read estate, and water mill on the Mumford River when he first came to Uxbridge around 1790. Colonel John Capron, John Sr.'s son, was a prominent citizen in this community. The community is known for some of the earliest beginnings of America's Industrial Revolution. It is part of the historic Blackstone River Valley and National Heritage Corridor of the National Park Service. The mill was the first mill to use power looms for the woolen industry. The first power looms for woolens were introduced at the Capron Mills.^[3] These were made in a machine shop at Cumberland, Rhode Island.^[3] These were reportedly the first power looms ever made for woolens.^[3] The first manufacture of "satinet" was at this mill. Uxbridge became famous for its Cashmere wool. The town of Uxbridge was a business incubator for the cashmere wool industry, satinets, and power looms in the textile industry of America. Effingham Capron, John Capron Sr. and Colonel John W. Capron were pioneers in textile manufacturing in America. John Willard Capron also served multiple roles in the community. He was Postmaster, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Notary, and served in the state legislature.^[2]

Capron Mill in U.S. history

The Capron Mill, started by John Capron, the father, was made famous for military uniforms which were made here from at least the Civil War period, up through World War II, and including "the first U.S. Air Force uniform" which became known as the "Uxbridge Blue"^[4] During John Capron's tenure, the mills of Uxbridge including Capron Mills ran 24/7 during the American Civil War producing military uniforms.^[5] This mill later became the Bernat Mill known for yarns in the later 20th Century, and was the third largest yarn factory in the U.S. On 21 July 2007, this historic mill, begun by Colonel Capron's family, was nearly totally destroyed, in the 10 alarm Bernat Mill Fire at Uxbridge. The oldest part of the historic mill, the original Capron Mill, made of wood, was virtually completely saved from the fire, by the efforts of 66 fire departments and a two state response. The fire burned 400,000 square feet (37,000 m²) of the more modern brick and steel complex at Mendon and Depot Streets. Mill owners plan to rebuild.

Further information: Bernat Mill

Death and afterward, Capron Park

Colonel John W. Capron died December 25, 1878, at the age of 81, at Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts. A historic park, "Capron Park", alongside the Mumford River, in Uxbridge center, today commemorates John Capron, the father, Colonel John Capron, his son, and Effingham Capron, and the Historic Mill, known as the Capron Mill which was a pacesetter in the textile industry of the United States. This family is descended from Banfield Capron of Attleboro, MA. There is an entire book on the Capron family in America. The Capron Park will be dedicated sometime in the next year with recognition by the Massachusetts legislature.

See also

• List of Registered Historic Places in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
• Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

External links

• Bernat Mill fire video
• photo, Help Uxbridge

Notes

1. ^ Genealogy of Banfield Capron
2. ^ ^{a b} Chapin, Judge Henry (1881). Address Delivered at the Unitarian Church in Uxbridge, 1864. Worcester, MA: Charles Hamilton Press (Harvard Library; from Google Books). pp. 165, 137–169. http://books.google.com/books?id=ua-pgcKRY2QC&pg=RA1-PA172&lpg=RA1-PA172&dq=address+delivered+at+unitarian+church+chapin+henry+first+woman+voter&source=web&ots=7ee5DY_fWW&sig=zwP9Z01uzpEadUVGB_b9XeA0QTw. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Uxbridge; Report Date: 1984 Associated Regional Report: Central Massachusetts;" (PDF). Massachusetts Historical Commission;. 1984. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/Town%20reports/Cent-Mass/uxb.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-20. 
4. ^ "Getting the Blues, by Tech. Sgt. Pat McKenna". Air Force Link. http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/duds.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24. 
5. ^ "Walking tours - Uxbridge". Blackstone Daily. http://www.blackstonedaily.com/Outdoors&Nature/WTuxbridge.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-23. 

Persondata
Name	Capron, John
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 14, 1797
Place of birth
Date of death	December 25, 1878
Place of death