Biographical Sketches
PHILIP E. CHAPPELL
A retired banker and one of Kansas City's capitalists, has for many years been prominently connected with the business and political history of Missouri, and his name is an honored one in commercial and social circles. The fitting reward of every well-spent life is an honored retirement from business care. When an individual has devoted the best efforts of his manhood to a chosen calling and by his honorable dealing gained the confidence of the public and a liberal competence, he should have a season of rest in which to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. The career of this gentleman has been a worthy one, and he ranks foremost among the prominent business men of his native state.
When William the Conqueror, in 1066, sailed from Normandy to England and succeeded in subjugating that isle, there was numbered among his followers one Chapelle, who became the founder of the family in that country. The name was afterward anglicized by dropping the final �e�. History tells of Robert Chappell, who lived in England about 1550, and his son, William. The latter was a profound scholar, becoming a bishop of the church of England, and was stationed over the diocese of Cork, Ireland. William lived about 1580. Another son, Captain John Chapell, became a sailor and commanded the ship Speedwell, a trading vessel, sailing between England and the colony of Virginia. On one of his voyages he was accompanied by his son Thomas, a native of Southhampton, England. The son took up his residence in Warwick county, Virginia, at the mouth of the James River, where they landed May 28, 1635. He became the father of 3 sons - Robert, Thomas and Samuel. The last named is numbered among the direct ancestors of our subject. He became the father of Thomas Chappell, who lived in Charles City county, Virginia, from 1660 until about 1710. Then about 1690 was born his son Thomas, who, having attained his majority, removed across the river to Prince George county and settled in the city of Petersburg, where he was engaged in business as an Indian trader, from about 1720 until 1740. He married Sarah, daughter of John Jones, and they had a family of 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters. This number included John Chapell, who was born in Amelia county, Virginia, in 1722, and died in that county in March, 1775. He was an extensive tobacco planter and became a wealthy man. He married Prudence Tucker, who belonged to a renowned family.
It was their son, John, who was the paternal grandfather of our subject. He was born in Amelia county, Virginia, in 1752, and removed to Halifax county in 1782, carrying on business there as a farmer and tobacco planter, becoming very wealthy. He was twice married and had a large family. His death occurred in 1812, when he was aged 60 years. The father of our subject also bore the name of John Chapell and was a native of the Old Dominion, a farmer and planter. In 1836 he removed from Virginia to Missouri, locating in Callaway county, where he developed a fine farm and became an extensive land owner. He was joined in wedlock with Mary F. Adams, daughter of Philip Adams, a native of Virginia and a granddaughter of John Adams, who had three sons - John, Philip and Sylvester, who located in Fluvanna and Pittsylvania counties, Virginia, about 1740. John Adams emigrated from Wales to America in the early part of the 18th century and spent his remaining days there. As before stated, his sons removed to Virginia, but John is the only one who had a family. He became the father of 6 sons and 2 daughters - William, Richard, Sylvester, John, Philip, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Martha. Their descendants are scattered throughout the South and West. The grandfather of our subject, Philip Adams, was an extensive tobacco planter and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His family numbered 4 children.
Mr. & Mrs. John Chappell had 5 children - 2 sons and 3 daughters, namely: Sarah, wife of Dr. Lenoir, of Columbia, Missouri; Philip E.; Henry, deceased; Fannie W., wife of Judge J. L. Smith, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Martha, wife of Colonel Henry W. Ewing, of Jefferson City, Missouri. The father was a man of considerable prominence in Virginia, serving for many years as county surveyor and also as collector of revenue. He died on his farm in Callaway county, Missouri, in 1860, at age 73 years, and his wife passed away in 1869, at the age of 58. They were both members of the Methodist church, South.
Philip E. Chappell, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Callaway county, Missouri, August 18, 1837, and under the parental roof spent his boyhood days. He acquired his education in the University of Missouri, at Columbia, and afterward engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi river until the breaking out of the civil war. About 1865 he embarked in the banking business in Jefferson City, Missouri, and for 20 years was connected with one of the leading financial institutions of that section of the state, -- the National Exchange Bank. In 1872 he was elected mayor of Jefferson City, and its interests were materially promoted during his administration of the municipal affairs of that city. In 1881 he entered upon a four-year term as state treasurer, and in 1885 retired from office as he had entered it, with the good will, confidence and regard of the general public. Immediately afterward he removed to Kansas City and accepted the presidency of the Citizens' National bank, serving in that position until 1891, when he resigned. He now owns extensive cattle interests and much valuable property. He served as a member of the first board of public works of Kansas City, and has given an active and liberal support to the various interests that have had for their object the advancement of the community.
On the 3rd of July, 1861, Mr. Chappell married Miss Teresa E. Tarlton, daughter of Colonel M. R. and Mary (Locke) Tarlton. They have had 5 children - 2 sons and 3 daughters - namely: Claudia, who became the wife of L. C. Krauthoff, and died leaving one son, Philip Chappell; Logan, who is engaged in farming and cattle raising, and married Rena Corder, by whom he has 2 children, Teresa and Hazel; Mary, wife of Hal Gaylord, by whom she has one child, Claudia; John, deceased; and Alice, at home.
In politics Mr. Chappell is a democrat, and in his social relations is a Mason.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.