James Seymour Capen was born in Cayuga County, New York, October 18, 1852.

Mr. Capen was a graduate of State Normal University of Bloomington, Illinois.   He came to Winter Park in 1884 at the invitation of a classmate, Loring Augustus Chase who is one of Winter Park's founders.   He assisted Mr. Chase in his office until Chase sold his interest to F. B. Knowles.   Until the "Big Freeze" in 1894, Mr. Capen was secretary of the Winter Park Company.   After the freeze, Mr. Capen moved up North to Detroit where he remained until 1925.

In August 1925, James Seymour Capen returned to Winter Park and lived here until he died August 5, 1931.