GEORGE H. CHAPPELL, M. D., ex a soldier, an eclectic physician and surgeon at No. 182 Stocking street, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of Lockport, Niagara county, N.Y., and was born August 9, 1841. Peter H. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Chappell, parents of the doctor, were respectively born in Vermont and England, and were married in the state of New York. The father was a graduate from Yale college, and was very prominent in Masonry. He was a farmer and lumberman by calling, and later a justice of the peace at Berlin, Ottawa county, Mich., and also for one term served as sheriff of Niagara county. He was an upright and honorable and useful citizen, and died in Berlin, at the age of sixty-five years, and in Berlin his widow still resides, at the age of eighty-five. Of the children born to this couple, beside the doctor, three sons and one daughter still survive, viz: Richard, aged sixty-two years, a retired merchant and a justice of the peace at Berlin; Frank is a physician at Granite Falls, Wash., and also a merchant and dealer in lumber; Charles E. is a physician at Berlin; and Mattie is a teacher in the academy at Charlotte, Mich.

Dr. George H. Chappell was reared to manhood in his native town, but was primarily educated in the public schools of Rockport, and also attended Wilson college one year prior to his enlistment, August 12, 1862, in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth New York volunteer infantry, but was afterward transferred to the Eighth heavy artillery. His regiment was assigned to the army of the Potomac, and for two years he did duty in the fortifications in an near Baltimore, Md. He was sent to the front just after the battle of the Wildnerness, and his first general engagement was at Spottslyvania, Va., as a member of the Second army corps, under Gen. V. S. Hancock. This was a severe initiation, as a pine tree, eighteen inches in diameter, was literally cut down by the enemy's musket balls; his next engagement, that of Cold Harbor, was also one of the severest of the war, as no other battle had shown a greater number of casualties for the length of time and number of men engaged.

But the following brief record will give the career of the doctor's company in a nutshell: 1864 -- May 23-26, battle at North Anna river; 27-28, at Tolopatomy creek; June 3, Cold Harbor (previously mentioned); 16 and 22, before Petersburg; July 26-29, Strawberry Plains; August 13-20, operations at Deep Bottom; 25, Ream's Station; October 27, Hatcher's Run. 1865 -- February 5-7, second Hatcher's Run; March 29 to April 3, operations at Crow House redoubt April 3-9, pursuit of Rebel Army of northern Virginia, ending at Appomattox; May 22, grand review at Washington, D.C.; June 5, muster out of United States service at Bailey's Cross Roads, Va.; June 22, muster out of state service at Rochester, N.Y. The original muster-roll of the regiment numbered 1,000 names, which were increased to 2,200 by consolidation and recruiting; the casualties were --- killed, 233; wounded, 682; missing, 255 -- total, 1,170.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, young Chappell returned to Lockport, N.Y., but shortly afterward came to Michigan and rejoined his parents, who had come hither while he was in the service of his country. He located at Berlin and engaged in general merchandizing, and while thus employed engaged in the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. Dayton and Dr. Hyde for four years. He then located at Paris and opened a drug store, and at the same time entered upon the practice of medicine. A year later he transferred his business to Reed City, Osceola county, Mich., and started the first drug store of that place. Shortly afterward he again sold out, being employed by the G. R. & I. R. R. company to attend professionally to its employees, who were mostly Swedes and were engaged in grading. He next passed two years in Morley, Mich., and then, in 1873, located in Cedar Springs, Kent county, and engaged in general practice for twenty years. While there he also served fifteen years as a member of the city council, was health officer for two townships, and twice served as coroner of Kent county, in 1876 and 1878, as a democrat.

In 1893 Dr. Chappell came to Grand Rapids and again engaged in the drug business and practice of medicine, but his success in the latter was so abundant that in 1896 he disposed of his stock of drugs and has since confined himself to his extensive professional practice. He is a member of the Northwestern Association of Physicians and Surgeons, of which he is likewise treasurer, and is also a member of the staff at St. Luke's hospital at Niles, Mich., and is greatly respected by his brother practitioners. He was a charter member of the G. A. R. post at Cedar Springs, and was its commander for two years, and was the organizer of the Innis Camp, Union Veterans' Union, and has been very prominent in the work of these associations, having been commander of the Veterans the first two years of the existence of the camp and now a major on the staff. For twenty years he has been an Odd Fellow, a past grand, was the organizer of an encampment of the Knights of the Golden Eagle at Grand Rapids, and served as its treasurer.

The first marriage of Dr. Chappell took place in Ottawa county, Mich., in 1867, when he wedded Miss Etta Anderson, who bore him one son, Lewis Edward, November 13, 1873. This young man is a pharmaceutist by profession, having graduated before the state board. He is also a professional musician and a leader of the string and brass instrument associations. He married Miss Irene McDaniels, a native of Woodstock, Iowa, and a daughter of a banker. The second marriage of Dr. Chappell occurred in 1885, to Miss Ada Davis, a native of Kent county, and this union has been blessed with two children -- Hazel, now aged nine years, and George, aged four. Mrs. Ada Chappell has also passed away, dying October 28, 1898. Dr. Chappell has all his life been a Methodist in religion, and since his residence in Grand Rapids has been a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which he liberally contributes. As a citizen he is greatly respected, and professionally he is a leading practitioner, who enjoys the full confidence of the public.