First Woolen Mill - Jacksonville, IL - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

County of marker: Morgan County
Location of marker: W. Lafayette Ave & Church St., Jacksonville
Marker erected: September 16, 1939
Marker erected by: Employees of J. Capps & Sons, LTD and A.C.W.A Local 199

Marker Text:

"A direct descendant of the William Capps who came from London to Virginia [Elizabeth City] in 1609 with Thomas Gates & Somers. William Capps is known in Virginia as an 'Original Planter'. Joseph was born in Kentucky to Caleb and Martha Williams Capps. About age 16 [1827] he began to learn the machinist's trade. Ten years later he made his way to Illinois [1837]. In 1838 we find Joseph in Jacksonville, Illinois. Here he built and maintained a business that would last about 150 years. That business was the Capps & Sons Woolen Mills. It began as a fulling mill; then, later evolved to a facility that actually produced finished woolen goods. Examples of products produced by that mill include Indian Blankets [the kind described by '(number of)fingers'] and 'Bullet Proof Suits' for Secret Service or FBI! I still wear a Capps & Sons sport coat in wintertime. Joseph married Sarah Ann Higgins Reid in 1837. They had seven children" - Find-A-Grave

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