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Congratulations to Bob Byrge, the 1st to identify James Chappell

James F. Chappell Sr., founded Chappell's Dairy.  He was born and raised at Chappell, Kentucky in Leslie County.  His father had always wanted him to go into the dairy business and had trained him accordingly.  However, the business did not appeal to James at first.  He left Kentucky for the oil fields of Texas.  After several years out west he returned to Leslie County.  In 1930 he moved to Harlan where he started a dairy.  At first all Chappell's milk was produced in Harlan.  But several years later, James founded the Chappell Dairy Farm in Jonesville, Virginia.  He built up his dairy herds and started the famous Golden Guernsey strain in his breeding.  Just prior to the war, Chappell's began to expand into other territories.  Cumberland was among the first to sell their milk products.  By the end of World War II, and with the return from service of his two sons, James Jr., and Howard, Chappell's started to grow.  In 1946, the company opened up an office in Hazard which was managed by James's son, Howard Chappell.  The company sold dairy products all over East Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia.  Chappell's Dairy pioneered in offering many improvements in dairy products.  At first, Chappell's milk was sold in Hazard in small glass bottles.  Customers later received their milk in a cardboard pure-pak container.  By the 1950s the Jonesville operation consisted of two large dairy barns and 59 small leased barns.  Chappell's employed over 150 people and operated a fleet of 100 trucks. 

Chappell's Dairy float in front of Muncy's Service Station in Hazard (1954).
Many of you thought the Mystery Person could be Howard Chappell.  Carlene Shackelford, Elizabeth Duncan, Megan Turner, Ida Lee Hansel, Bob Byrge, Bobby Jones, and Mary Jo Gregory Edwards all voted for Howard.    Debbie in Hazard, KY., thought the Mystery Person could be Jerry Chappell.  Ann in Cornettsville, KY., put in a vote for David Chappell.

Who remembers the Chappell's Diary clocks that were in most classrooms at Roy G. Eversole Elementary and other schools?

Howard was John Carl's Sunday School  teacher when John Carl was about 7.  Howard  would give a quarter for correct answers about the lesson.  John Carl could not wait for Sunday to come.  Carlene Shackelford, Hazard, KY

I surely remember the clock.  I was in Mrs. Adams' room but we moved to Whitesburg when I was in the seventh grade. My Mom is Ida.  Sharon H. Sexton, Spartanburg, SC


Mystery #33     Mystery #32     Mystery #31     Mystery #29     

Mystery #28     Mystery #27     Mystery #26     Mystery #25     Mystery # 24 

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