John Caplice – Never Learned To Say No
John Caplice – 1903
John Caplice who died in Butte last Saturday was a remarkable man. He lived beyond the anointed age of man, passing away at seventy-four. His was an eventful career, and in all his long life he gained and held the esteem of his fellow men in all he did. In business enterprises he was successful and unsuccessful. In several instances he barely escaped becoming a millionaire. Keen in trade, anxious to make a dollar, he was yet more anxious to give it away; for that reason he did not pile up wealth as colder blooded men would have done with his opportunities. The astounding information is given that on his books there is an outstanding indebtedness of over $500,000. John Caplice turned no man away. Worthy and unworthy were treated alike by him. In good times and hard times, John Caplice refused no customer credit. It wasn’t business but it was John Caplice. He built for himself a monument in the hearts of the people more enduring than a million-dollar mausoleum; he established a record upon which there are no stains; he could look the world in the face.
Born in County Tipperary, Ireland, 1829, John Caplice was left an orphan at twelve years of age. He came to America when 21, landing in Philadelphia. Four years later he went to Illinois, then to Iowa, then to Colorado, coming to Montana in 1864.
He was an enterprising man. He seemed to know intuitively what to do to make money. He made money at Bannack, at Henderson gulch, at Emmetsburg and McClellan. He did an immense business in Missoula and Philipsburg but quit loser. He went to Butte in 1878 and remained there until his death. He met with success and failure. But he was never cast down, never despondent for any length of time. His was a buoyant nature. The active nature of the man had to find outlets for his tremendous energy and it did in trade. He cared nothing for money except the good he could do with it. He took in with one hand and gave with the other. Gen. Charles S. Warren’s tribute to Mr. Caplice expresses in a few words the general opinion of the man. He says:
He was one of the fairest and squarest men I ever knew and no man ever went to him in distress who did not have his appeal answered. He was always a money-maker, but not a spender, as the world goes. He practically gave all his earnings for the last forty years to charity. He never learned how to say no, otherwise, he would have been counted one of the wealthiest men of the state. He staked hundreds of miners and prospectors all through western Montana.
Few among us could be called honorable and upright Christians, but John Caplice was surely one. I do not think he knowingly did a wrong in his life to a fellowman. He led an honest and upright career and goes to his reward with a conscience as pure as a child’s and with the satisfaction that his life was stainless and as pure as the driven snow.
He was always a leader in any community with which he cast his lot and no man did more in his way for the upbuilding of the state.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on October 20, 1903.
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