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SIGEL CAPEL.
A lawyer by profession, Sigel Capel, of Harrisburg, has won a high place for himself at the Saline county bar, and by reason of his untiring industry and comprehensive knowledge of the law and its application has built up a substantial patronage. A son of John I. Capel, he was born September 8, 1870, in Saline county, on the home farm about eight miles west of Harrisburg.
Born in Wilson county, Tennessee, in February, 1845, John I. Capel was left fatherless when a small child, and as a lad of fourteen years came with his widowed mother to Illinois, living first for a short time in Wayne county, from there coming to Saline county. During the progress of the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served as corporal of the company until the close of the conflict, at times having command of the men in his company. He subsequently bought land in Saline county, and has since been actively and profitably engaged in tilling the soil on the farm which he improved from its wildness. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and a very active and enthusiastic worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, having been very influential in the building of the New Ebenezer church of that denomination. He married, just previous to his enlistment in the Civil war, Mary E. Nolan, who was born in Tennessee, and came to Saline county, Illinois, as a child with her parents.
Brought up on the home farm, Sigel Capel acquired his rudimentary education in the rural schools of his district, after which he attended Hayward College two terms. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching school, and at the same time made such good use of his leisure moments in reading law that in 1893 he was admitted to the bar. Since that time Mr. Capel has been constantly engaged in the practice of his profession in Harrisburg. Elected state attorney in 1896, he served his constituents ably for four years in that capacity, and was later appointed by Governor Yates to a position in the state insurance department, with which he was officially connected for three years. Mr. Capel is widely known as a skilful and able lawyer, and is enjoying a large
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and lucrative practice, while in private life he is held in high esteem by all who know him.
Mr. Capel married, in June, 1893, Jennie Parks, who was born in Harrisburg, and into their home three children have been born, namely: Hobart; Gwendola; and Leonore, who died in infancy. Mrs. Capel is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church; and Mr. Capel is identified with various fraternal organizations, including the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.