California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


B. A. CHAPEL.  Was born in Chenango County, New York, July 10, 1831. When nineteen years of age he 
went to Illinois, and in March, 1854, started for California. He came by steamer, and arrived at San 
Francisco, May 19th, of the above year. The following two years were spent in the mines of Placer 
County. He then went to Nevada County and engaged in milling for about four years. We next find him 
once more in Placer County, where he followed different occupations until 1868, when he sold all his 
interest in Placer County and went to San Jose, where he engaged in hotel-keeping. In 1869 he sold 
out and moved to San Diego, where he followed carpentering about fifteen months. He then went to 
Colusa, where he remained a short time. In April, 1871, he went to Olympia, Washington Territory, 
where he remained until the fall of the same year, when he returned to California, and resided at 
Healdsburg, Sonoma County, until July, 1872; then moved to Oakland, and after a short time went to 
Sacramento. Here he remained six years, and then returned to Oakland, and from there he came to 
Napa County, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming. Since Mr. Chapel's advent into 
California he was in the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and Contract and Finance 
Company, until he located in Napa County. He married, April 1,1863, Mrs. Ellen Vincent, a native of 
Quincy, Illinois.