Charles Ward Chappelle (1872 - 1941)

Born 11 Jul 1872 in Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia, United States

Died 28 Feb 1941 at age 68 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Charles Chappelle is Notable.

Charles Chappelle was an American engineer, architect, inventor and businessman.^[1]

Charles Chappelle was born to parents George W. Chappelle, a minister, and Anna Johnson Chapelle on July 11, 1872, in Eatonton, Georgia.

In 1880^[2], Charles (7) lived with his parents in Decatur, Georgia, George (48) and Anna (31), and his siblings Henry (5) and Arthur (0).

On October 2, 1894^[3], Charles married Nita Blackwell in Catoosa, Georgia. His father ordained the wedding.

In 1897, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[4] They stayed through 1910^[5], he (35) was living on Howard Street working as an electrician and lodging with the family of William Jeffries.

Shortly after that enumeration, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he worked as an architect.^[6] There, he presented at the First Industrial Auto Show in January 1911. He was the only African-American to participate, and showcased his invention; an airplane he designed to travel safely across long distances. He then helped create the first African American airline company, and briefly worked in Ghana as a chief engineer with Alfred C. Sam's Akim Trading Company. He also founded the African Union Company in Ghana to facilitate trade of Gold Coast resources internationally. He worked as the company's president, traveling back and forth^[7][8][9], until 1924 when he moved back permanently, to the United States. He stayed with the company until it disbanded in 1930.

While he was in Ghana^[10], he married Maria Amonoo née Ferguson on August 21, 1920 in Accra.

In 1930^[11], Charles (57) had returned to Pittsburgh, lodging with the James family. He was the owner of a local printing shop.

In 1940^[12], Charles (65) continued to live with the James family, and worked for the city of Pittsburgh as a painter.

He passed away on February 28, 1941 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh of diabetes at about 68 years old^[13][14]. While his census information reported him as single, his death certificate lists him as widowed, with his first wife reported on the certificate. He was buried at Uniondale Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Chappelle
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8LG-XZX : 13 January 2022), Charlie Chappel in household of George W. Chappel, Decatur, DeKalb, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
3. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWW5-1P5 : 7 February 2020), C. W. Chappel and Neta Blackwell, 2 Oct 1894; citing Marriage, Catoosa, Georgia, United States, Georgia Department of Archives and History, Morrow, FHL microfilm 1,299,215.
4. ↑ https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/chappelle-charles-1872-1941/
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGD7-QL8 : accessed 27 September 2022), Charles W Chappel in household of William Jeffries, Pittsburgh Ward 5, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 341, sheet 17B, family 387, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1300; FHL microfilm 1,375,313.
6. ↑ https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/chappelle-charles-1872-1941/
7. ↑ * "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J66X-SJH : 2 March 2021), Charles Ward Chappelle, 1920.
8. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6FN-9ZF : 2 March 2021), Charles Ward Chappelle, 1920.
9. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JN2S-QMJ : 2 March 2021), Charles Ward Chappelle, 1923.
10. ↑ "Ghana, Accra, Marriages, 1863-2003," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLS9-NX8Y : 28 April 2017), Charles Ward Chapelle and Maria Amonoo, 21 Aug 1920; citing entry 182, Public Records and Archives Administration Department, Accra; FamilySearch digital folder 004938474.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCCD-FQH : accessed 27 September 2022), Charles W Chappelle in household of David A James, Pittsburgh (Districts 1-250), Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 206, sheet 18B, line 92, family 337, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1976; FHL microfilm 2,341,710.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQZ3-JKC : 7 January 2021), Charles W Chappelle, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 69-339, sheet 9A, line 33, family 205, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3661.
13. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #233774553 (accessed 27 October 2022)
    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233774553/charles-w-chappelle Memorial page for Charles W. Chappelle (1875-28 Feb 1941), citing Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA (plot: Div 3, Sec M, Range 2); Maintained by LostGeneration (contributor 47096186).
14. ↑ Death': "Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1968"
    Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 013401-016250
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5164 #3220227 (accessed 10 October 2022)
    Charles Chappelle death 28 Feb 1941 (born 11 Jul 1876), son of George W Chappelle & Anna Johnson, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA.

• 1920 Passport Application: "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925"
  National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Volume #: Volume 172: Great Britain
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1174 #2063903 (accessed 10 October 2022)
  Name: Charles W Chappelle; Gender: Male; Age: 48; Birth Date: 11 Jul 1872; Birth Place: Eatonton; Residence Place: 3324 Camp Street, Schenley Heights, Pennsylvania; Passport Issue Date: 19 Nov 1920; Father: George W Chappelle; Has Photo: Yes.

• Freemason Membership: "England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921"
  Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: Country Q 3689-4385; Reel Number: 68
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60620 #540581 (accessed 10 October 2022)
  Name: Charles Ward Chappelle; Gender: Male; Initiation Age: 48; Birth Year: abt 1872; Initiation Date: 10 Jan 1920; First Payment Year on Register: 1920; Year range: 1910-1921; Profession: General Manager; Lodge: The St. George's Lodge (Seccondee); Lodge Location: Sekondi Gold Coast; Lodge Number: 3851; Folio Number: 139.

• "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXL3-14J : 2 March 2021), Charles W Chappelle, 1927; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).