Notes for: Launa Capitola Bowyer

The likely origin of Launa Capitola Bowyer's middle name was the popular culture of that time. Capitola "Black Cap" Black was the spunky, cross-dressing heroine of "The Hidden Hand: Or, Capitola the Madcap" (serialized 1859, published in book form 1888) by Mrs. E.D.E.N. [Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte] Southworth (1819-1899). Searchable census indexes for 1860 and 1870 bring up 202 and 595 Capitolas respectively, suggesting the popularity of serial fiction in general, and of this novel in particular. Towns in California (www.capitola.net) and Texas (extinct) were named for this heroine. [Source: The Daily Genealogist blog at AmericanAncestors.org]
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