KAPSCH, John

The Prescott Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, April 7, 1945 John Kapsch, Apache War Scout, Dies John Kapsch, who would have been 91 years old next month died in a local hospital yesterday. He was one of Arizona's pioneers, who was with General Crook in his Indian campaign. Born May 24, 1854, at Pensc Bele, Germany, Kapsch went to Colorado when he came to this country. A miner by occupation he visited Prescott in 1895 on his way to Alaska, where he worked for a short time and then came back to Prescott in 1897. He stayed here until 1931, when he did further mining work in Maricopa and Yuma counties. He returned to Prescott in 1934 and remained here until his death. When General Crook fought the Apaches, clearing the trails and mountains of the Indians who had set upon the white man in his journeys, he had his packers - hardy, seasoned, fighting men of the west with him. Kapsch was one of these packers, and took part with Crook in the campaigns. Crook won the devotion of his men, and of the Indians who his scouts. He was known as chief "who would not lie.” Every inch a soldier, his policy was "first justice, then the sword When he died in 1896, the Indians who had been his scouts sat down and wept. No relatives of John.Kapsch have yet been found. Funeral arrangements are in charge of the Lester Ruffner Funeral Home. Note: John is buried at the Rolling Hills Cemetery. No headstone has been found to mark his gravsite.