Résumé

Capitain worked as an architect in Saint Louis, MO, between 1870 and 1871, although it is not known for whom. He was not listed in the Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1871 architects' classified listings as operating his own firm. There were several other German-American architects operating practices in Saint Louis at the time, however.

Partner, Capitain and [Henry] Switzer, Architects, Saint Louis, MO, 1872- 1873. In 1872, Capitain and Switzer had offices at 305 ½ Olive Street. (See Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1872, p. 149.)

Principal, Frank J. Capitain, Architect, Saint Louis, MO, 1874-1881. Capitain continued leasing office space at 305 ½ Olive Street in 1874 and 1878. (See Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1874, p. 1004 and Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1878, p. 1022.) Capitain moved his office to 719 Chestnut Street by 1880. (See Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1880, p. 1140.) Capitain was not listed in the architects's classified listing of the Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1881, (p. 1230), but was listed as in the city directory portion. He was not listed in the directory of the following year.

Partner, Capitain and Burton, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1888-1889. Capitain and Burton had their office at 13 West 2nd Street in Los Angeles in 1888. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1888, p. 768.) They were no longer partners by 1890. This pair got an early plum commission to design the Los Angeles Theatre #1 in 1888.

Principal, Frank J. Capitain, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1890. In 1890, Capitain had an office in Room #1 of the Phillips Building, on the corner of North Spring Street and Franklin Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1890, p. 183.)

Partner, Capitaln and [J.P.] Krempel, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1895-1896. In 1896, Capitain and Krempel had their architectural office in the Phillips Block #1, Rooms #63-64, at 13 North Spring Street. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles Directory, 1896, p. 353.)

Secretary, Bixby Land Company, Los Angeles, CA, 1897- . Capitain transitioned into real estate by 1897, working for the large landholding Bixby Family. His name was listed among stockholders in the Bixby Investement Company when it formed in 1895. He had an office in Rooms #308-310 of the Byrne Building, 253 South Broadway, in 1897. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 196.)

Relocation

Franz Joseph Capitain was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on 02/18/1846, and baptised in the Evangelische Kirche in that city on 03/08/1846. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Custodian: Evangelisches Kirchenbuchamt Hannover; Film Number: 341770; Page Number: 90;91, accessed 01/21/2021.)

He entered the US aboard the S.S. Schmidt sailing from the port of Bremen, Germany, to New York, NY. He arrived on 05/21/1870. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 16; List Number: 410, accessed 01/21/2021.)

The US Census of 1870 taken on 08/20/1870 noted that Capitain lived in Saint Louis, MO, with his wife and her father John Watson Ringrose (born c. 1819 in Ireland), a land speculator, Catherine A. Ringrose (born c. 1847 in Ireland), perhaps J. Watson's young wife, and another young woman Ada L. Ryan (born c. 1856 in WI). His in-laws were quite well-to-do, living in a costly neighborhood surrounded by a banker, rural landowner, two brewery owners, and merchants. J. Watson Ringrose was quite successful, owning $75,000 worth of land and possessing savings of $35,000. Sophia herself owned land worth $20,000 according to the census.

In this year of his arrival, 1870, Capitain was naturalized in a circuit court in Saint Louis, MO, according to voting records of 1890. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 977994, accessed 01/22/2021.)

A year later, in 1871, Capitain lived at 1600 Papin Street near Lafayette Park in Saint Louis. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 977994, accessed 01/21/2021.)

In 1880, Capitain continued to dwell with his family in Saint Louis, MO, where he worked as an architect. At this time, Capitain was prosperous enough to afford a 19-year-old servant, Noah Ferguson (born c. 1861 in IN) and had a house guest, Michael Lutz, a farmer, (born c. 1828 in Wittenberg, Germany). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Central, St Louis, Missouri; Roll: 715; Family History Film: 1254715; Page: 77A; Enumeration District: 174; Image: 0574, accessed 04/03/2017.) By 1881, the architect lived on Sutter Avenue at Olive Road in the city's University City neighborhood. (See Saint Louis, Missouri, City Directory, 1881, p. 225.)

The architect resided at 514 West Washington Street near Flower Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1890, p. 183 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 977994, accessed 01/22/2021.)

He resided at 1202 Grand Avenue in Los Angeles between 1892 and 1897. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929, accessed 04/03/2017 and Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 196.)

It is likely that Capitain spent less time in Los Angeles after 1895 or so. He met a young woman, Nellie Wallace, with whom he had an affair, that degenerated into a breach of promise lawsuit by 1899. Publicity around the affair prompted his wife Delphine to initially file for divorce, but this was averted. She took most of his money, which derived from her real estate wealth, in a separation settlement.

Capitain seems to have left Los Angeles by 1900, as he was not listed in that year's city directory. He moved to Colorado to start a resort hotel there, the Valley Hotel, but seems to have developed mental problems. He had his daughter Mannette with him in Colorado, as she was going to be the head of housekeeping at the new hotel. According to a newspaper report: “Mr. Capitain has been interested in the building of a large hotel by the Valley Hotel company of Colorado, and Mrs. Loring [Mannette Capitain] was to have been the head housekeeper. The night of the grand opening he became frantic and tried to shoot his daughter without provocation. The bullet inflicted only a slight wound, but thinking he had killed his daughter, Capitain then shot himself. A fatal result of his wound was not anticipated, but he was taken to jail to await examination as to his sanity. There serious complications ensued and his remaining daughter was summoned from California. C. Leonardt, an old friend, who was in Denver, has also gone to Rocky Ford, to render any assistance in his power.” (See “Frank J. Capitain Dying,” Los Angeles Evening Express, 09/28/1901, p. 9.) Carl H. Leonardt worked as a building contractor in Los Angeles, a prominent member of the city's German-American community.

He was likely transferred to the Colorado State Insane Asylum located on the west side of Martin Street between 11th and 15th Streets in Pueblo, CO, where he likely died. He was buried in an unpretentious grave at the Roselawn Cemetery there.

Parents

His father was Adam Capitain (born 09/20/1814 in Germany-d. 03.16/1890 in Frankfurt, Germany). He wed Christine Aumann Pauli (born 03/20/1813 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany) on 04/26/1841.

Frank Capitain had at least three sisters, Caroline Johanna Ludovika Capitain (born 12/29/1850 in Frankfurt, Germany) and Aloÿse Emilie Josephine Capitain (born 12/31/1852 in Frankfurt, Germany). Another sister, Elisabetha Walparga Rizza Josepha Capitain (born 06/16/1842 in Frankfurt, Germany-d. 11/30/1843 in Frankfurt, Germany), died early in life. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Germany, Select Deaths and Burials, 1582-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 01/22/2021.)

Spouse

He married Sophie Watson Ringrose (born c. 1846 in MO) on 10/06/1869 in Saint Louis, MO.

The Capitain Family became embroiled in a long and very complex legal battle over the sale of real estate held in trust for Sophia and her heirs. Sophia's father Ringrose Watson set aside 33 acres of Saint Louis County land in a real estate trust for her use and that of her heirs in 1869. Frank J. Capitain served as the trust's trustee from 1879 until 1889, when he and his family moved from Saint Louis to Los Angeles. The court appointed a man named John G. Priest to be trustee in Saint Louis. In about 1890, Sophia became mentally ill, and some of the estate was spent on her medical care. The Southwestern Reporter stated: "...that under the orders of the said circuit court the said [John G.] Priest had incumbered a part of such real estate for the support and maintenance of the said Sophia; that said incumbrance was due as well as other charges upon said real estate; that the rents and profits from said real estate were insufficient to discharge said liens; that the said Sophia and her children were without mean of support; that there was then due for medical attention to the said Sophia the sum of $4,000." In 1892, the real estate in the trust was sold for $48,000 and some of the proceeds ($35,000), after paying off creditors, were reinvested by the trustee. Problems with the land titles resulted in several court cases that did not get fully resolved until 1917.

Sophia recovered her sanity in 1905, but passed away in 1908, nine years before legal settlement of the estate among the children, Priest and a subsequent trustee, the Mississippi Valley Trust Company, and companies involved in the original and subsequent Saint Louis land sales. (See Priest v. Capitain, 236 Mo. 446, 139 S.W. 204; Capitain v. Trust Co., 240 Mo. 484, 144 S.W. 466; Capitain v. Trust Co., 177 S.W. 628; Priest v. Capitain, 197 S.W. 83.)

After Frank's death, Sophie was forced to move frequently. She lived at 241 West 23rd Street in 1903 (see Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 247),308 West 12th Street in Los Angeles in 1904 (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1904, p. 252.),646 Koehler a year later. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1905, p. 267), and 1122 East 33rd Street (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 271.)

Children

In 1880, he and Sophie had two daughters--Mannette Capitain Raab (born c. 1871 in MO-d. 1910) and Isabelle Mary Capitain Clemons (born c. 1879 in MO-d. 1973)--and one son Ringrose John Capitain (born 10/29/1876 in MO-d. 1942 in Los Angeles, CA). "Ringrose" was her family's surname.

In 1896, Mannette lived with Frank and his family at 1202 Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles Directory, 1896, p. 353.

Ringrose worked as a carpenter for Carl Leonardt and lived at 1608 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles in 1904. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1904, p. 252.)Ringrose worked as a clerk for Louis Roeder, Jr., and resided at 231 West 15th Street in Los Angeles in 1905. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1905, p. 267.) He again was listed as a carpenter in 1907, living at 1510 South Grand Avenue. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 271.)

In 09/1918, Ringrose worked as a draftsman for Globe Mills in Los Angeles, and was married to Rose P. Capitain, who lived at 1121 West 17th Street in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530896; Draft Board: 11, accessed 04/03/2017.)

Biographical Notes

Capitain was born in Germany and his name was originally "Franz Joseph Capitain." (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 01/22/2021.)

At age 46, the architect stood 5-feet, 9-inches tall, with a light complexion, blue eyes and light hair, according to Los Angeles County voting records. The records indicated that, in 1892, he had an affidavit that attested to his loss of citizenship papers. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929, accessed 04/03/2017.)

Member, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE).

• Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse Germany (Architect's Birth)
  Frankfurt-am-Main, Hesse Germany

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