Bio: Torrison, Nicholas Casper “Cap”

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Torrison, McTrillion, Tonn

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Nicholas Casper Torrison, who changed his name to Nicholas Casper McTrillion was one of the colorful characters of early Curtiss. People knew him as "Cap". In the summer he operated a white washing service for the farmers. Cap was a friendly storyteller. He was known to do much reading and constantly was quoting from Shakespeare.

Cap could fix anything, which he proved in his job as a gunsmith and a millwright at the Curtiss Manufacturing Co. His home was in the building behind Tonn's Tavern.

Nicholas Casper sent an invention idea to the Navy Department during the war. He thought he had discovered a way to aid submarines when they submerged. Because of the fervor the war prompted, many other people were trying to patent inventions. His was returned unused. Cap also invented a contraption he called an engine moistener for automobiles.

Cap told many stories, lie claimed he had coasted from North Dakota to Minneapolis on his bicycle, he told how he worked for the world's champion woman parachutist, by folding her parachute. Then stated, the parachute was made from canvas. Cap hunted with Theodore Roosevelt while he was in Yellowstone Park. Cap claimed that Teddy didn't like it when he shot better at target practice than Teddy did.

Nicholas Casper Torrison said he had a whole barrel of buffalo nickels. So far, no one has found them. But he never did say where he kept them.

Submitted by: Inge Hawks