John Robert Chappell Jr

John Robert Chappell Jr was born on 17 June 1898 at Sussex County, Virginia, Birth month, year and state listed in the 1910, 1920 census records. Full birth date listed in the WW1 draft registration and on his death certificate.

His birth certificate is not available because birth certificates were not kept in Virginia from 1896 until 1913. I wrote Sussex County to see if they would have it, but they did not.^1,2,3,4,5 He was the son of John Robert Chappell Sr and Emroy Temperance Mitchell. John Robert Chappell Jr was also known as Chap Chappell.

John Robert Chappell Jr appeared in the 1900 census as a son of John Robert Chappell Sr in Stony Creek, Sussex County, Virginia, on 15 June 1900. He was listed as John R. Mitchell [should be Chappell], born June 1898 in Virginia, age 12.¹ [should be 2]

John Robert Chappell Jr appeared in the 1910 census as a son of John Robert Chappell Sr on 11 May 1910 in Stony Creek, Sussex County, Virginia. He was listed as John R Chappell, age 11, with occupation as laborer on the home farm.⁴

John Robert Chappell Jr registered for the World War 1 Draft between 1917 and 1918. His nearest relative was his father, John Robert Chappell Sr. He was listed as John Robert Chappell, Jr, age 20, born June 17, 1898, with his current occupation listed as farmer, #45-1-57C stamped on the second page, serial number 710, order number 9972.⁶

John Robert Chappell Jr graduated from Jarratt High School in June 1917 at Jarratt, Virginia. Alice Chappell Poole, his sister, gave me a copy of the valedictorian speech he gave upon graduation from high school (or college, I don't remember which). See folder for full text. (3 pages typed).⁷

John Robert Chappell Jr appeared in the 1920 census as a son of John Robert Chappell Sr on 9 March 1920 in Stony Creek, Sussex County, Virginia. He was listed as John Chappell, age 21, single, with occupation as farm laborer on home farm.⁵

John Robert Chappell Jr graduated from William & Mary College on 9 June 1920 at Williamsburg, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts.⁸
John Robert Chappell Jr's transcript read as follows:

Original Photo with modifications taken in 1922 at Richmond, Virginia, named chappell1922chap001crop.psd. The following people appeared in the picture: John Robert Chappell Jr.⁹

Original Photo with modifications taken in 1922. The following people appeared in the picture: John Robert Chappell Jr.

A family picture was taken in 1924 with the following people: Nancy Allen Eppes Davis, John Robert Chappell Jr, William Lee Davis Jr, William Lee Davis Sr, Lauretta Tilledge Davis, Mary Eppes Davis, Nancy Allen Davis, Edward Mitchell Eppes Sr and Mary Shubrick Horry Eppes.¹⁰

John Robert Chappell Jr married Mary Horry Eppes, daughter of Edward Mitchell Eppes Sr and Mary Shubrick Horry, on 2 February 1924 at 206-A North Shepard Street, Richmond, Virginia. He was 25 at the time. His parents were listed as John Robert Chappell Sr and Emroy Temperance Mitchell. Her parents were listed as Edward Mitchell Eppes Sr and Mary Shubrick Horry. They were married by Rev. William Cox at 206A North Shepard Street, Richmond, VA. He is listed as 25 and single; she, as 22 and single. His address at time of marriage was 206-A Sheppard St, Richmond, VA. His occupation was insurance, and his birthplace was listed as Sussex County. Her birthplace and residence was listed as Richmond, VA.¹¹

A family picture was taken in February 1924 at Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida, while Mary Horry Eppes Chappell and John Robert Chappell Jr were on their honeymoon with the following people: Mary Horry Eppes Chappell, John Robert Chappell Jr, Abner Whatley Lamar Jr.¹⁰

John Robert Chappell Jr had a four-generation, family picture taken on 1926 at 4117 Stewart Road, Stony Creek, Sussex County, Virginia, 23867. The following people appeared in the picture: Susan Bolling Stewart, John Robert Chappell Sr and Nancy Heyward Chappell, as well as John Robert Chappell Jr.

John Robert Chappell Jr appeared in the 1930 census as the head of household on 7 April 1930 at 1503 Bellevue Avenue, Richmond, Virginia. Also living in the house was his wife, Mary Horry Eppes Chappell, his son, John Robert Chappell III, his daughter, Nancy Heyward Chappell, his mother-in-law, Mary Shubrick Horry Eppes. He was listed as John R. Chappell, age 32, owning his home, worth $9,000. He was 27 when he first married. He was employed as an insurance agent with Casualty First Insurance company.¹²

His mother, Emroy Temperance Mitchell Chappell, died on 4 April 1940 at Sussex County, Virginia, at age 64.¹³

When he was 43, his father, John Robert Chappell Sr, died on 14 January 1942 at Richmond, Virginia, at age 68 of bronco pneumonia & myocarditus, a heart attack.¹⁴

John Robert Chappell Sr's obituary appeared in the newspaper in Richmond, Virginia, on 17 January 1942. It listed John Robert Chappell Jr as surviving him. He was listed as his son, John R Chappell Jr of Richmond.¹⁵

John Robert Chappell Sr's obituary read: ¹⁵

John Robert Chappell Sr left no will on 14 May 1942 at Sussex County, Virginia, but John Robert Chappell Jr was part of the settling of his estate . He was the executor of the list of heirs and was listed at J. R. Chappell Jr, son, age 43, of Richmond, Virginia.¹⁶ The probate document read as follows: ¹⁶

A deed was recorded on 20 June 1945 between John Robert Chappell Jr of the first part, Mabel Eudora Chappell of the second part, and Alice Louise Chappell Pooleof the third part . Mabel received 75 acres, and Alice recieved 137 acres. This was the same property converyed to John R Chappell Sr by Nannie P Chappell by deed recorded 12 Dec 1912, Deed Book 21, page 533 and plat of James Fields, Surveyor, in Plat Book 1, page 58 in Sussex County, Virginia. This deed was recorded 25 Sep 1945. The plat can be found in Plat Book 6, page 66.¹⁷

John Robert Chappell Jr and John Robert Chappell III appeared in a picture together taken on 1948 during a father & son golf tornament.

He appeared in a news article about golf titled "Jack Chappells, III and Jr., Check Cards at Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, on 2 July 1948.¹⁸

He appeared in a news article about bridge at Richmond, Virginia, on 30 December 1950, with accompanying picture, titled "Charles H. Goren, Bridge Master, Plays in Richmond. With him are Clarence M. Wyatt, J.R. Chappell, Jr., and Robert C. ."¹⁹

Clifford Burnice Chappell Sr's obituary appeared in the newspaper on 8 June 1955. It listed John Robert Chappell Jr as surviving him.

Clifford Burnice Chappell Sr's obituary read:

C. B. Chappell - Clifford Burnice Chappell, 51, of Douglass Street Extension, Florence, died 2:32 am Tuesday in a local hospital after a critical illness of three days. He had been in declining health for the past two years.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 am Thursday in the Waters Funeral Home by Dr. E. E. Colvin, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, and the Rev William Howard, pastor of Five Points Baptist Church. Burial will be in in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Mr. Chappell, a resident of Florence for 30 years, was born June 24, 1904, in Jarratt, Va., a son of the late John Robert and Emma Mitchell Chappell both of Jarratt, VA. He was employed as a messenger for the Railway Express Agency for 1 years and for several years was employed as salesman for the American Bakeries.

He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church; a Mason and member of Hampton Lodge 204 A.FM; the Daughters Of America and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks. Freight Handlers, and Express and Station Employees. He was a graduate of Jarratt High School of Jarratt, Va.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. C. B. Chappell, of Florence, who is the former Miss Mary Louise Luhrs; one daughter, Mrs. William B. Finklea, of Florence; one son, Clifford B. Chappell Jr. of Florence; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Poole, of Jarratt,Va., and Mrs. Mell Powell of Danville, Va; three brothers, John R. Chappell of Richmond, Va., Otho Chappell, of Jarratt, Va., and Thornton Chappell, of Arlington, Va., and two grandsons.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Ernest allen, W. A. McClellan, Aubrey Turner, Cecil M. Camlin, Edwin K. turner, and Frank Hunter.

Clifford Burnice Chappell Sr's obituary appeared in the newspaper in Richmond, Virginia, on 8 June 1955. It listed John Robert Chappell Jr as surviving him. He was listed as his brother, John R. Chappell Jr, of Richmond.²⁰

Clifford Burnice Chappell Sr's obituary read:

Clifford B. Chappell - Florence, SC, June 7 - Clifford Burnice Chappell of Florence, died Tuesday in a local hospital. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 AM Thursday at water Funeral Home with burial in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Chappell, a resident of Florence for 30 years, was born June 24, 1904, in Jarratt. He was a graduate of Jarratt High School. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. C. B. Chappell, of Forence, who is the former Miss Mary Louise Luhrs; one daughter, Mrs. William B. Finklea, of Florence; one son, Clifford B. Chappell, Jr., of Florence; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Poole, of Jarratt, and Mrs. Mell Powell of Danville; three brothers, John R. Chappell, Jr., of Richmond; Otho Chappell, of Jarratt, and Thornton Chappell, of Arlington, and two grandsons.

²⁰ John Robert Chappell Jr also appeared in a news article about their wedding at Danville, Virginia, on 27 April 1956 with John Robert Chappell III and Pattie Old Ribble.²¹

John Robert Chappell III's news article read as follows:

Patti Old Ribble, J. R. Chappell III, To Wed in Richmond

Miss Patti Old Ribble, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Watkins Leigh Rible, of Richmond, and John Robert Chappell III, will be married tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock in Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. A reception will follow in the parrish house. Mr Chappell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Chappell Jr., of Richmond and nephew of Mrs. H. Melvin Powell, of Locust Lane, Danville

²¹ John Robert Chappell Jr was sent a letter about the recent golf competition, with accompanying team picture, on 29 May 1956 . The picture was taken by John G Hemmer, in Pinehurst, North Carolina.⁹ He wrote his last will on 22 April 1958 at Richmond, Virginia, . He still had 3 more grandchildren yet to be born.²²

He appeared in a news article about golf at Richmond, Virginia, on 8 June 1962 titled "Senior Winners" with a picture showing three men, with him being the low gross winner in the the 57-63 age group.²³

Alice Louise Chappell held a reunion on 5 August 1962 at Old Hickory, Sussex County, Virginia, and he attended.²⁴ At the time of his death in 1968, John Robert Chappell Jr and Mary Horry Eppes Chappell were residing at 3615-A Brook Road in Richmond, Virginia, 23227.

John Robert Chappell Jr died on 27 December 1968 at Richmond Memorial Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, at age 70 of a heart attack. John was survived by his wife, Mary Horry Eppes, and his children, Nancy Heyward Chappell Walters and John Robert Chappell III.^25,26 The death certificate read as follows:

Died at 11:05 am Dec 27, 1968 in Richmond Memorial Hospital, 1200 Westwood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227. Age: 70. SSN: 229-38-5551. Occupation: Owner, Insurance Agency.

Cause of death listed as Bronchopneumonia due to Congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease. Verified thru autopsy.

Address at date of death: 3615-A Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227.

Mother listed as Emma Stuart. Father listed as John Robert Chappell. Spouse listed as Mary Eppes Chappell. Birth date listed: June 17, 1898. Informant on death certificate: Mary H. Chappell (wife).

Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, VA by Joseph W. Bliley Co.

John's obituary read:

John Robert Chappell Jr., chairman of the board and founder of the John R. Chappell Agency, Inc., died here Friday. He was 70.

Mr. Chappell, of 3615-A Brook Road, established the insurance agency in December 1925.

He was the first president of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Agents of the Virginia-District of Columbia Mutual Agents' Association and of the Richmond Mutual Agents' Association.

He was also a director of the Southern Bank and Trust Co. and the Peoples Finance Service. He was a former member of the Richmond School Board.

He was a native of Sussex County and a 1920 graduate of the College of William and Mary.

Mr. Chappell was also a member of the Southern Seniors Golf Association, the Virginia Senior Golf Association, the Kiwanis Club of Richmond and the Country Club of Virginia.

He was also a member of the Hermitage Country Club, the Commonwealth Club, and Acca Temple Shrine. He was a contract bridge life master.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Horry Chappell; one daughter, Mrs. Nancy C. Walters of Richmond; one son, John R. Chappell III of Richmond; two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Powell of Danville and Mrs. Alice Poole of Jarratt, and two brothers, Otho Chappell of Jarratt and A. T. Chappell of Arlington.

A funeral service will be held at 3 pm Saturday at the Joseph W. Bliley Funeral Home with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the child care center of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

²⁷

On 29 December 1968, John's obituary appeared in the newspaper in Richmond, Virginia. It listed Mary Horry Eppes, Nancy Heyward Chappell, John Robert Chappell III, Mabel Eudora Chappell, Alice Louise Chappell, Otho William Chappell and Amos Thornton Chappell as surviving him.²⁷ John Robert Chappell Jr was buried on 04 Jan 1969 in Forest Lawn Cemetery, located at 4000 Pilots Lane, Henrico, Henrico County, Virginia, aged 70.^28,2,29 Reference: See file folder for a map of Forest Lawn Cemetery, marking where John Robert Chappell, Jr and Mary Horry Eppes Chappell are buried.

John Robert Chappell Jr left a will at Richmond, Virginia. Mentioned in the will were Mary Horry Eppes, Nancy Heyward Chappell and John Robert Chappell III.²²

His wife, Mary Horry Eppes Chappell, was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery at 4000 Pilots Lane, Henrico, Henrico County, Virginia, aged 70.^30,31

John Robert Chappell, Jr.

While he is one of the more recent recruits to the ranks of insurance men of Richmond, John Robert Chappell, Jr., has already made a favorable impression in his chosen avenue of activity, and as manager of the Virginia department of the Security Mutual Casualty Company of Chicago is building up a steadily-increasing and desirable business.

Mr. Chappell is a native Virginian, born in Sussex County June 17, 1898, a son of John Robert and Emma Roy (Mitchell) Chappell. Mr. Chappell is connected with the Rolfe, Randolph, and Bowling families, all old and distinguished ones of the Old Dominion, and through the Chappells is descended from an English ancestor who immigrated to Virginia in Colonial times. His paternal grandfather, John Robert Chappell the first, was born in 1844, in Sussex County, Virgina, where he spent his entire life and died in 1899. A school teacher by vocation, he made his home near Jarratt, and was widely and favorably known for his educational labors, his personal integrity and his good citizenship. During the war between the states he served in the 113th Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Malone, and was at the siege of Petersburg, at the Wilderness, and in various other engagements from Manassas to Appomattox. He was wounded on several occasions, at one time receiving a severe wound in the shoulder, from which he never fully recovered. He married Nannie Stewart, who was born in 1845, in Sussex County, where she still survives him, and they reared a family of six sons and two daughters: John Chappell; Markham H., who resides in Sussex County, where he operates the old homestead farm; Harvey, who is engaged in the tinning and plumbing business at Petersburg; Andrew, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sussex County; Richard, also a farmer of Sussex County; Willie, who follows the same line of work in that locality; Laura, who is unmarried and makes her home with her mother in Sussex County; and Mrs. Nannie Tucker, who died at Petersburg.

John Robert Chappell, the father of John R. Chappell of this review, was born in Sussex County, where he has passed his entire life in the pursuits of the soil, his home being located near the town of Jarratt. A man of sound abilities and great industry, he has so directed his operations that he has made a success, and his fertile and productive property is improved with modern buildings and cultivated by the latest machinery. He is a democrat in politics, but while a man of some influence in his community, is not a seeker
for public office. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Chappell married Miss Emma Roy Mitchell, who was born in 1875, in Sussex County, and they are the parents of seven children: John Robert, Jr., Thomas, a traveling salesman, residing at Wilmington, North Carolina; Clifford, a student of the high school in Sussex County; Mabel, a student of the Jarratt High School; and Alice, Otho and Thornton, who attend the graded school.

John Robert Chappell attended the public schools of Sussex County and graduated from the Jarratt High School as a member of the class of 1917. He then entered William and Mary College, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts as a member of the graduating class of 1920, and while attending college was admitted to membership in the Sigma Nu Greek letter fraternity. In 1920, Mr. Chappell came to Richmond and accepted a position as claim adjuster for the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, Limited, of London, England, a position which he held until August, 1921, when he resigned and became superintendent of the Integrity Mutual Casualty Company of Virginia. On January 1, 1922, Mr. Chappell assumed his present duties as manager of the Virginia department of the Security Mutual Casualty Company of Chicago, Illinois. He maintains offices in Room 609 Virginia Railway and Power Building, and has built up a large and representative patronage. At this writing Mr. Chappell is attending night classes at the University of Richmond, law department, and is a member of the Delta Theta Phi Greek letter legal fraternity. He belongs also to Edwards Lodge No. 308, A.F. and A.M., Sussex County, and to Concord Methodist Episcopal Church, South. During the late war he was a member of the Students' Army Training Corps at William and Mary College. Mr. Chappell is not married, and his legal residence is the home of his parents at Jarratt, Sussex County.

³²