EDWARD CHAPPELL, retired farmer, Platteville; was born in November, 1813, in Camborne, Cornwall, England, where his younger days were spent at mining. In 1839, he came with his family to America, and spent a number of years in the coal and iron mines of Pennsylvania. Later, he was one of the owners of a Greencastle, Pennsylvania, foundry, and, still later, interested himself in farming. In 1856, he sold his farm, and came West, purchasing of J. C. Wright the splendid 270-acre farm, which he still owns. It was a prairie farm, under improvement, though Mr. Chappell has since erected a new house upon it, and is located partly in Smelser and partly in Elk Grove. Since 1876, he has been a resident of Platteville. His wife was formerly Eliza Pearce, of Illogen Parish, Cornwall. They have eleven children - Edward, born in England, Mary J. (Mrs. James Ivey), John M., William C., Ann E. (Mrs. John Rogers), Sarah (Mrs. Abel Gill), Gilbert, Alfred P., James R., Thomas L. and Anna M. Eight of the children were born in Pennsylvania, and the two youngest on the Elk Grove homestead. The eldest daughter resides near Parkersburg, Iowa, and six of the others are on farms of their own in Taylor Co., Iowa. Edward is farming in Elk Grove, and Thomas is on the old farm. John M. is also a farmer in that town. The children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Chappell number about sixty. Mr. Chappell is a Democrat, and served five terms as Chairman of Elk Grove. Is a member, with his wife and most of his children, of the M. E. Church.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.