Life History

Notes

• 1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 14 July, Precinct 3, page 69,Hse/Fam #625
  Chappell, James  W M 24 Husband Farmer GA GA MS
  Chappell, Rebecca W F 21 Wife Keep House TX GA SC
  
  One source reports Rebecca's middle name as Mauldin.  But manygenealogies report her as Rebecca Madeline. This latter name is alsothe name on a Texas Death record that may be for this same Rebecca.Several attach the following death report to James Jonathan Chappell'swife.
  
  Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
  Certificate #20767
  Rebecca Madaline Chapel
  Death 5 Mar 1949 Panola County
  
  But this may be a different person.  Her husband is reported by somegenealogies as James John (which could be a variation of Jonathan),who was born and married in Arkansas and died in 1922.  But Rebecca'shusband died before 1900, since she is a widow in that census.  Thesegenealogies also follow the Texas Death Index report of her death asabove, in Panola County, Texas, in 1949.  Could the fact that thesegenealogies have all linked James Jonathan to James John who died in1922 indicate that instead of being Widowed Rebecca was Divorced?This seems unlikely, since for three censuses running, over a periodof 30 years, it was reported consistently that she was a Widow.
  
  Our Rebecca was in Choctaw County, Oklahoma with her son Oliver andhis family for the 1910 census, but they moved back to Cass County,Texas, before the 1920 census.  Panola County, Texas, is about threecounties south of Cass, so this could be the same Rebecca and this mayindicate she may have moved farther south before she died.  Perhapsthe name Mauldin was misreported or miswritten as Madaline in theDeath Index record.  Or perhaps the form Mauldin was the incorrectone.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas, 77 June, Justice Precinct6, District 22, page 6B, Hs/Fam #93
  Chappel, Rebkka  Head W F Oct 1858 41 Widow 3 children/3 living TX TXTX Farm Laborer [No ownership status]
  Chappel, Oliver Son W M Oct 1882 17 Single TX GA IL
  Chappel, Annie Dau W F Mch 1885 15 TX GA TX
  
  There is a puzzle in this 1900 census enumeration, in the birth statesof the parents of Oliver.  Note that his parents are reported as beingborn in Georgia and Illinois.  James J Chappel was born in Georgia,according to other sources.  But note that here Rebecca is notreported born in Illinois but Texas.  (But in 1880 some read the birthstate of her mother as an abbreviation of Illinois, while some see itas SC, similar to other entries of SC on teh page.  In 1920 and 1930Rebecca's mother is again reported born in Illinois.)
  
  Does this mean that James was married with one son before he andRebecca married?  This does not seem likely, since in 1880 they havejust been married, and no children are yet in the household.  Familygenealogies report they were married in March 1880.  Why would Rebeccabe reported here as born in Texas and yet the mother of Oliverreported as born in Illinois?  Note that in 1910, Oliver's brith statereports are all Texas.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Choctaw County, Oklahoma, 3 May, Wilson Township,District 69, page 7B, Hse #125, Fam #136
  Chapel, Oliver Head M W  27  Married 4 yrs TX TX TX Farmer Rents
  Chapel, Nora Wife  F W  21  Married 4 yrs 2 children/2 living LA TX TX
  Chapel, Roy Son  M W 3  Single TX TX LA
  Chapel, Ruby K Dau  F W 11mos Single OK TX LA
  Chapel, Rebecca Mother F W 52  Widowed TX TX GA
  
  1920 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 20 January, Justice Precinct3, District 37, page 7B, Marietta and Bryans Mill Rd, Hse #118, Fam#122
  Chappel, Oliver Head Rents M W  37 TX TX TX Farmer
  Chappel, Nora Wife  F W  31 TX TX TX
  Chappel, Roy Son  M W  13 Single TX TX TX
  Chappel, Ruby K Dau F W  10 OK TX TX
  Chappel, Flosy Dau F W  7 OK TX TX
  Chappel, Frank Son  M W  4 Single OK TX TX
  Chappel, Coy Son  M W  1 Single TX TX TX
  Chappel, Rebecca Mother F W  63 Widow TX AL IL
  
  1930 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 22 April, Justice Precinct 3,District 12, page 8A, Douglasville-Naples Rd, Hse #139, Fam #144
  Chapel, Oliver  Head Rents M W  47 Married First married at age 23 TXTX TX Farmer [b abt 1863]
  Chapel, Rebecca Mother F W  71 Widow First married at age 21 TX AL IL[b abt 1859]
  Chapel, Flossie Dau F W 16 Single OK TX TX [b abt March 1914]
  Chapel, Frank Son M W 14 Single OK TX TX [b abt March 1916]
  Chapel, Coy Son M W 12 Single TX TX TX [b abt March 1918]
  Chapel, Mary Dau F W 8 Single TX TX TX [b abt March 1922]
  Chapel, R A Son M W 3yrs6mos Single TX TX TX [b abt March 1926]
  
  Even though Oliver is reported here as married, Nora is not reportedin this family.

Sources

• 1. 1900 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas
  • 7 June, Justice Precinct 6, District 22, page 6B, Hs/Fam #93
• 2. 1910 Federal Census, Choctaw County, Oklahoma
  • 3 May, Wilson Township, District 69, page 7B, Hse #125, Fam #136
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 20 January, Justice Precinct 3, District 37, page 7B, Marietta and
• 4. 1930 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 22 April, Justice Precinct 3, District 12, page 8A,
• 5. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
  • Certificate #20767
• 6. J Epperson Genealogy
• 7. 1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
  • 14 July, Precinct 3, page 69, Hse/Fam #625
• 8. Cass County, Texas, Marriage Records
  • Book 4, p 429