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1.) Isaac Cappon (1830-1902)
Terms: 1867-1868, 1870-1871, 1874-1875, 1879-1880
Isaac Cappon was born in Terhofstede near Retranchment,
Zeeland, the Netherlands, on 13 January 1830, the son of Johannes Cappon and Magdalena
Kallewaard. He departed the Netherlands at the age of 17 and worked his passage to the
United States as a cook's helper aboard the Kroonprinz Von Hanover. The ship departed
Antwerp on April 29, 1847 and arrived in New York Harbor June 6, 1847. He left the next
day by steamboat to Albany, New York. After arriving in Albany he took a canal boat drawn
by horses to Rochester, New York on the Erie Canal. This trip involved two weeks of
travel.
Cappon worked as a farm hand in the Rochester, New York
area for approximately one year where other relatives, the Cappon and Clicquennei's, were
already living. The following family members departed from Amsterdam aboard the ship
Angelique which arrived in New York harbor on May 29, 1848: his father Johannes, age 70;
his mother Magdalena Kalleevaart (ship's list spelling), age 50; her brothers Jannes, age
37 and Jacob, age 47. The group continued from New York to Rochester, where they joined
Isaac. Unfortunately two of the group died of the cholera epidemic, which was raging at
that time. First his uncle Jannes passed away on 29 June 29, 1848, and then Johannes
followed on July 1,1848. Both were buried in a common grave in Rochester.
After this family tragedy, Isaac, his mother, and his uncle
Jacob traveled to Holland, Michigan. Cappon was one of Holland's early leading citizens,
instrumental in the industrial development of the city. He was also very active in civic
service and his church.
The Cappon and Bertsch Leather Company was formed in 1857
and expanded enormously during the Civil War due to government contracts. After the
company burned down during the Holland fire of 1871, Isaac insisted that it be rebuilt in
Holland against the advice of his partner. It became the largest employer in the Holland
area for many years.
The first civic appointment for Cappon was to the Holland
Harbor Commission in 1861. After Holland's incorporation as a city in 1867, Cappon was
elected the first mayor, and was later elected for three other terms (1870-1871,
1874-1875, 1879-1880). He was also elected the first president of the newly reorganized
school board in 1874. His last public commitment was to serve on the Committee for the
Semi-Centennial Celebration.
Cappon became a charter member of the Third Reformed Church
in 1867 and was one of the first deacons of the church. He served as the Sunday School
Superintendent until 1891 when he stepped down due to his controversial second marriage.
Cappon also played an active role on the building committee responsible for rebuilding the
Third Reformed Church after the Holland fire in 1871.
Cappon married Catarina De Boe in 1857 and they had eleven
children: Magdalena (Helen), Cornelia (1), Elizabeth, Johannes, Jacobus, Cornelia (2),
Jacomina (Minnie), Sara, Isaac, Jr., Suze (Sue), Abraham. Catarina died of cancer in 1887.
In 1891 Cappon married again, this time to Jacoba De Kok, his housekeeper and a woman 38
years younger. They had five children together: Ida, Lavina, Edith, Christina and
Franklin.
Cappon, who was very suspicious of doctors after his first
wife died, passed away on Friday January 23, 1902, after having refused treatment for
gallstones for some time. The day of his death the Common Council held a special meeting
resolutions were passed requesting businesses to close their doors during the times of the
funeral services the following Monday, which the majority were observed to do. The flags
on public and private buildings were also lowered to half-mast.
From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Cappon home was opened for
mourners to view the body, as was common at that time. During this time a steady stream of
Holland residents had their last look at their first mayor. At 2:00 p.m. short services
were held at the home and thirty minutes later the funeral was begun at Third Reformed
Church. Afterwards his body was transported by horse drawn hearse to Pilgrim Home Cemetery
for internment.
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