Cappon Children
Isaac Cappon, Jr.
The grave of Isaac Cappon, Jr.
Isaac Cappon, Jr., born August 8th, 1872, to Cappon and his first wife Caterina, is the forgotten Cappon child, practically erased from the family narrative due to his “mental incompetence”. Disabilities were incredibly misunderstood during this time in history, and most people with a disability were hidden away or sent to asylums. All that was known of Isaac Jr. was that he passed away at some “undisclosed Michigan hospital”. Records from the Lapeer State Home and Training School, which at the time was known as the Michigan Home for the Feeble Minded & Epileptic, show that Isaac Jr. was a patient there from 1902 until his death on August 13th, 1911. He passed away at 39 years old due to gastro enteritis, inflation of the stomach and intestines, most often resulting from either bacterial toxins or viral infections. The 1910 census from the hospital lists this information with Isaac’s name: “pg.5B, Cottage E., Cappon, Isaac, M, White, 37, inmate”.
Although he was separated from his family, Isaac Jr. appears to have been cared for by his father. The first item listed in Isaac Cappon Sr.'s will is preparations for the care and keeping of his son, Isaac Jr. His last will and testament states: “FIRST. After the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses I give and bequeath to my son John J. Cappon, as trustee, the sum of seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00) to be invested and reinvested by him from time to time in safe interest bearing securities for the use and benefit of my mentally incompetent son Isaac Cappon, and hereby direct that he shall use so much of the income of said money as may be necessary for the proper support, maintenance and comfort of my said son Isaac during the entire period of his natural life, and if at any time a greater amount than the income of said seven thousand dollars shall be necessary for the comfortable support, maintenance and comfort of my said son Isaac, I hereby authorize my said son John J, Cappon, as such trustee, to use so much of the principal sum hereby bequeathed as he may deem necessary and proper."
(Johanna) Lavina Cappon
Lavina Cappon
(Johanna) Lavina Cappon was the second child of Isaac and his second wife, Jacoba. Born on May 19, 1894. Lavina attended Holland Public Schools and Hope Preparatory School and then went on to Michigan State Normal College (known today as Eastern Michigan). Though she did not receive the best of grades there, she continued to the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in Home Economics Education.
After graduation, Lavina began teaching home economics at Holland High School in the fall of 1916, returning to the Cappon home where she would live the rest of her life. Lavina is well known in the community for her work with Holland's annual Tulip Time Festival. Lavina’s lasting contributions to Tulip Time (established in 1928) was her orchestration of Klompen dancing costumes based on authentic, traditional Dutch clothing. Today, Klompen dancing costumes still follow strict rules and designs developed by Lavina Cappon to ensure authenticity.
Upon her death in 1978, Lavina donated the Cappon House to the city with the intention of it becoming a museum. Today the site is run by the Holland Museum.
The Grave of Lavina Cappon
Cappon House
