Israel Chappell, one of the prominent retired farmers of
Macoupin County, Illinois, the owner of 340 acres of fine land in section 4,
Honey Point township, and sections 33 and 21, Shaw's Point township, has
been a resident of the county since 1852. He was born February 5, 1825, in
Devonshire, England, and was a son of Bartholomew and Grace (Green)
Chappell.
Bartholomew Chappell was born in Devonshire, England and
died in Jersey County, Illinois, at the age of 86 years. He came to Illinois
in 1833, one of the early pioneers, and settled in Jersey County, where he
owned at one time 1,000 acres of land. He entered two half-sections in Honey
Point township, Macoupin County. In politics he affiliated with the
Republican party upon its formation. In religious belief he was a Methodist.
Bartholomew Chappell was twice married, our subject being the third member
of the family born to his second union, the others being: Mrs. Lucinda
Lofton, of Audrain County, Missouri; Solomon, of Macoupin County; Ephraini,
deceased; Mrs. Thirza Noble, deceased; Mrs. Mahala Buckles, a resident of
the old homestead in Jersey County; and Richard, deceased.
Israel
Chappell was seven years old when he accompanied his parents to America, and
he was reared in Greene (now Jersey) County, Illinois. In 1848 he entered
160 acres of land in Honey Point township, Macoupin County, but did not
settle on it until 1852. In the spring of 1850 he made the trip across the
plains to California, in company with eight companions, with a team of
mules. The journey which now requires but three of four days, then consumed
four months. Mr. Chappell remained in the gold mines some two years, being
fairly successful. Upon his return he settled on his farm in Macoupin
County, which was then unbroken prairie, and here he has been engaged in
agricultural pursuits for over a half century. He has become the owner of a
large amount of land both in Honey Point and Shaw's Point townships,
aggregating 340 acres, thus divided: 160 acres in section 33, Shaw's Point
township, and 20 additional acres of timber in section 21, and 160 acres in
section 4, Honey Point township. He has engaged very successfully in general
farming and the raising of first class stock. For some time he has not been
actively engaged, his sons and son-in-law managing the property and
relieving him of all care.
On March 30, 1854, Mr. Chappell was
married in Genesee County, New York, to Sophia Hunt, who was born in
Devonshire, England, and removed with her parents to New York State in 1849.
Seven children were born to this marriage, of whom the following are living:
Israel Watson, who has two children living and one deceased; George M., of
Shaw's Point township, who has three children living and one deceased; Mrs.
Sophia Grace Dugger, of Shaw's Point township, who has three children living
and four deceased; James Richard, of Boone County, Illinois, who has two
children; and Mrs. Cora Mae Groves, who has two children. Mr. and Mrs.
Groves reside on the home farm which Mr. Groves manages.
In his
early political life, Mr. Chappell was a Whig, but has been identified with
the Republican party ever since its formation and still upholds its
principles. His first vote for President was cast for Gen. Zachary Taylor.
He has long been a consistent member and liberal supporter of the Methodist
Church. Until he began to feel the weight of years, he was active in the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Chappell has lived a long and useful
life and has in every way in his power contributed to the development and
betterment of his locality. He is widely known and universally esteemed. On
March 30, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Chappell celebrated their golden wedding in
their spacious home, where were gathered most of the children and
grandchildren, besides a large number of their neighbors and acquaintances.
They were the recipients of many valuable and useful presents. Mr. Chappell
made each of his children a present of a handsome gold ring on this
occasion. They were recently made from gold that he dug in California while
there in 1850-52. In addition Mrs. Chappell made her eldest daughter a
present of a gold ring which has been an heirloom in her family for over 200
years.
Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 145-147.
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