Stephen Cappa Biography


	This biography appears on page 598 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				STEPHEN CAPPA. 

	Stephen Cappa is the owner of a men's furnishing store in Lead 
which enjoys a large and profitable trade, drawing its patronage from 
the representative people of that city and district. He was born in 
Villa Castelnuovo, near Turin, Italy, in June, 1878, a son of Lawrence 
and Margaret Cappa, who were also natives of that place. The father, 
who was a farmer by occupation, has passed to his reward, as has also 
the mother. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject 
of this review is the youngest. 

	Stephen Cappa attended the public schools until the age of 
thirteen years and later a private night school for three years, 
working during the daytime. He assisted in the cultivation of the home 
farm until he was twenty years of age and then entered the Italian 
army, in which he served for two years. He advanced to the rank of 
corporal and for about fifteen months had charge of the books of his 
post. At the end of two years he received his honorable discharge and 
then went to Germany, but only remained there for a short period. after 
which he worked in Switzerland as timekeeper for a railroad 
construction company. He returned home for two weeks and then sailed 
for America. Crossing the country to Lead, South Dakota, he arrived 
there in December, 1901, and entered the employ of the Homestake Mining 
Company, working as a miner for six years. He then entered the retail 
shoe and men's furnishings business as a member of the Cappa-Rosio 
Company, but in February, 1912, bought out his partner and has since 
conducted the business alone. He carries a large stock which is well 
selected to meet the demands of his customers and his trade is 
increasing from year to year as his enterprise and honorable business 
methods become more widely known. In 1912 he was made Italian consular 
agent for North and South Dakota and is now the incumbent in that 
office. 

	Mr. Cappa was married in 1905 to Miss Frances Civretto, a native 
of Terraville, South Dakota, and to them have been born four sons, 
Lawrence, Peter, Arthur and an infant as yet unnamed. Mr. Cappa is a 
republican and takes a keen interest in everything relating to 
governmental affairs. He is a member of the council of Universal 
Liberty, Lodge No.342, of the American Federation of Human Rights, 
belongs to the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons under the Paris 
jurisdiction, to the Christopher Columbus Society, the Fraternal Order 
of Eagles and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is the 
fortunate possessor of a personality that wins friends easily and there 
is no more popular man in Lead than Stephen Cappa. He is also highly 
respected and all concede that his success is due entirely to his 
industry, wise management and fair dealing.