From: Jersey Co. History page 334, F177 (Family177)
Chappell Family
The Chappell Reunion, from Jersey County Democrat, March 10, 1898.

The farewell reunion of brothers and sisters of John B. Chappell, late of Poplar Grove, Ill. was held at the residence of their sister-in-law, Mrs. Minerva Chappell. Mr. Chappell is 91 years of age and is on his way to Riverside, California to pass his remaining days with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Jack Dougal. All of the surviving members of the family were present except Mrs. Mahala Buckles of Newbern, aged 68, who lives upon the Chappell homestead and who has been an invalid for several years. John B. Chappell is 91, Lucinda Lofton of Ladonnia, Mo. is 76, Solomon Chappell of Bunker Hill is 75, Isreal Chappell of Carinville is 73, Mrs. Thirza Noble is 69.

The hostess, assisted by her daughters, Mesdames Will and Prentis Noble, and her niece, Mrs. Theodore Dodson, made the day a joyful one for the venerable guests. The guest of honor was led to the dinning room by his grand-niece, Fay Noble, a fairhaired little girl of 8 years. At each plate was laid a bunch of violets and a pretty souvenir in the form of a booklet in which a character sketch of the person named. A quartet of little girls, grand-nieces of the guests, Theo Dodson, Pearl, Merle and Fay Noble, sang sweetly the Doxology, and grace was signed as follows: Bartholomew Chappell was born February &, 1783; Grace Green, his second wife born in 1790. Seven children were born to them, five of whom are living. There are 42 grandchildren and 78 great-grandchildren. Of Grandfather's first family I know little, but from the family Bible record I find there were six children. Of these, John is the only one living. Of the second family, Ephraim and Richard are absent in body, but perhaps present in spirit.

As a memorial to this reunion, I have prepared a souvenir for each one that in years to come it may bring to you pleasant memories of today. You have been seperated so many years and some have lived so far away, you can scarce believe you were all rocked in the same crib, fed, clothed, petted and paddled by the same loved parents. John has always lived farther from home than any of the others and as the old saying goes, the Bird must try its wings to leave the home nest. So Uncle John now thinks to take the advice of Horace Greeley to "go west and grow with the country."

The Chappell homestead, situated in this county, comprises 400 acres, which was still in the family's possession. The land was bought by Bartholomew Chappell in 1833, soon after his arrival in this country from England. It was bequeathed by him to his daughter, Mrs. John Buckles and his Youngest son, Richard Chappell, husband of Minerva Chappell.
Prairie Schooner, Jersey County Historical Society