Emanuel M. Capurro 1864 - ?

E. M. CAPURRO. The manager of the Madera Electric Light Company and the Madera Water Company was born in Stockton, this state, April 22, 1864, and is a son of Emanuel and Pauline (Sopania) Capurro1, natives respectively of Genoa, Italy and Mazatlan, Mexico. His father, who was captain of a vessel in Italy, came to California during the great mining excitement of 1849, but did not himself become directly interested in seeking for gold. Instead he took up the freighting business as offering a more certain income and with his pack trains traveled all through the mountains and into the mining camps, building up a large business in the sale of merchandise to mining camps, building up a large business in the sale of merchandise to miners. Much of his profits he invested in farm lands, the value of which constantly increased, thus yielding him gratifying returns. For years he made his home in Stockton. On his retirement from business he spent some time in Italy, visiting the friends of his youth and such relatives as remained near Genoa. His death occurred in Stockton in 1888 when he was eight-two year of age.

In a family of two daughters and one son the youngest, was E. M. Capurro, who was educated in the grammar and high schools of Stockton. While still a mere boy he gave evidence of mechanical ability. At the age of nineteen he was apprenticed to the machinist’s trade in the machine shop of Farrington & Hyatt, with whom he remained for four years. He then went to Modesto to erect a planing mill for Gilbert & Bennett, and after completing the plant he remained for two years as its superintendent. During the following three years he was master mechanic for the Second Street Cable Company in Los Angeles and superintended the building of their cable road. For about a year afterward he acted as chief engineer of the San Diego cable road, and from there went to Sam Francisco as superintendent of the plant of D. Block & Co., trunk manufacturers. Later he was made chief engineer of the electric street railway in Oakland, and was next with the Oman Engine Manufactory in the construction and setting up of is machines and engines.

Coming to Madera in 1894, as master mechanic of the Krogh Manufacturing Company, Mr. Capurro completed the electric plant and has since been its manager, meanwhile enlarging it from time to time as the increase business demands. The plant is an exceptionally fine one carefully, and substantially constructed and thoroughly equipped. It has a capacity of one thousand incandescent lights and fifty arc lights. In addition Mr. Capurro is manager of the Water Company, whose works he constructed. The plant comprises four wells, respectively three hundred and eighty, two hundred and ten, one hundred and ten and six hundred feet deep; also two triple action Krogh pumps with a capacity of eighteen thousand gallons per hour for each pump, one Warrington duplex of steam pump with a capacity thirty-six thousand gallons per hour; with one hundred and ten pounds pressure for fire purposes, and two tandem compounds of sixty horse-power each, oil being used for fuel. The plants are locate on E and Fifth streets. To Aid in his work Mr. Capurro has invented a number of devices one of these being a system of alarm by electricity which starts the pumps. Besides his other positions he acts as manager of the Sunset Telephone Company at Madera. He is a member of the National Association of Marine Engineers of San Francisco and maintains a deep interest in everything pertaining to his chosen field of activity. Politically he is a Republican, while in fraternal matters he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Foresters at Madera and San Diego Parlor, N. S. G. W.

Guinn, J. M. History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California, (Chicago: Chapman Publishing, 1905), p. 1278.

Emanuel M. Capurro was married twice. First in 1891 to Lina E. Capurro (born in Massachusettes in Sep 1856). According to the 1900 census they had six children. His second wife was Maude Barnett, 21 years his junior. They were married in Madera on January 17, 1905 by Judge Conley in his chambers (Madera Mercury Jan 21, 1905). Emanuel M. had two sisters, Carmelitta Capurro, who was born 1851 in Stockton, California, and died 1929 in Stockton. She married John J. Gambetta on 10 April 1872; and Rose.

1 Emanuel Capurro was born in Italy in 1820, and died in 1886. He married Apolenia Sopena in 1849 in California. Apolonia (Apolenia) Sopena was born in Mazatlan, Mexico, and died in 1904. They are buried in the Stockton Rural Cemetery, Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA.

Emanuel Capurro (Emanuel M. Capurro's father).

When Emanuel Capurro passed away in 1885, San Joaquin County lost one of its oldest and most esteemed citizens, for he spent thirty-seven years within the county, and they were busy and useful ones. He was an Italian by birth, and while still a boy went to sea, which he followed until he settled in California. When he left his native land for the new world he was the captain of the sailing vessel that came via Cape Horn, a year being consumed in the voyage. Arriving in the San Francisco harbor in 1848 he went direct to Stockton when that now thriving city was a group of tents. He established a general store on the waterfront and supplied the Southern mines with merchandise of every kind, transported by pack-mules to the mines, which he followed for many years.

The marriage of Mr. Capurro occurred after reaching California and united him with Miss Apolinia Sopena, a native of Mazatlan, Mexico. They were the parents of three children: Emanuel, Mrs. Carmelitta Gambetta, and Mrs. Rose Capurro, all natives of Stockton. Mrs. Gambetta, the oldest daughter, is the oldest living native daughter in San Joaquin County. Mr. Capurro performed his part in the establishment of the great commonwealth of California under conditions by no means pleasant at all times, but his true western spirit was shown by his courage and determination to accomplish what he set out to do. He led an industrious and useful life and was held in high esteem in the city where he had resided so many years.

History of San Joaquin County, California (Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923) p 1508 .