15th State Treasurer: 1881-1885
Phillip Edward Chappell (Democrat), the 15th State Treasurer, was born Aug. 18, 1837, near Barkersville in Callaway County, Mo. to John and Mary (Adams) Chappell. He grew up on a
tobacco farm near a steamboat landing on the north side of the Missouri River. He first worked as a mercantile clerk in Jefferson City at the age of 15.
From 1853 to 1856, he attended Kemper School in Boonville and the University of Missouri-Columbia. While at home in August 1854, Chappell was an eyewitness to the Steamer Timour #2 explosion just outside Jefferson City.
From 1855-1860, Chappell was the clerk for the E.A. Ogden, a sidewheel packet, which sunk above Jefferson City February 22, 1860. In 1857, he partnered with Logan Dameron, George Davis and Moses Hillard
to build the freighter John D. Perry. The ship called the Phil. E. Chappell was built in 1877 and operated on the Missouri and Red rivers until 1886. Having a lifelong love with the water, Chappell
published The History of Steamboating on the Missouri River in 1905.
From then until after the Civil War, Chappell took over the family tobacco farm. He also partnered with C.W. Samuel to operate a general store and warehouse in Cedar City 1861 until 1873.
In July 1861, Chappell married Teresa Ellen Tarlton. Their children included Claudia (born 1862); Logan (born 1864); Mary (born 1867); John (born 1837), who died at age 6; and Alice (born 1874). Chappell
sold the farm, finding tobacco farming no longer profitable, and moved to Jefferson City in 1869. He served 1869 to 1884 as president of the Jefferson City Savings Bank, the oldest in the
city, which became Exchange Bank and now Hawthorn Bank. He was also connected with the Jefferson City Ferry and the Jefferson City Gas Company.
Politically, he was elected to the city board of aldermen in 1870 and mayor in 1872. Chappell was appointed to the state board for the State Insane Asylum in 1877.There he stayed until
elected state treasurer in 1880. At a salary of $3,000 per year, Chappell employed one clerk. During 1881-1882, he was allowed $1,500 for contingent expenses, of which, "not to exceed $500 shall
be used to purchase time lock for treasurer's safe." In 1883-84, he received the same apportionment, except "not to exceed $300 shall be used for putting iron bars in windows of Treasurer's office."
In 1885, he moved to Kansas City where he became president of the Citizens National Bank until 1892. At that time, he organized the Safe Deposit Company of Kansas City, serving as president until his
death in February 23, 1908. Chappell also was president and general manager 17 years of Hesperian Cattle Company, based at a ranch in western Texas.
