His headstone has his birth date as 1861 but his family Bible says August 31, 1860.

His mother was Huldah Ann Holmes. She was apparently married to "Tom" Chappell in Talladega, AL, about 1860. I have no other information on him. The marriage record to William Waldron lists her as H. A. Chappell.

From his obituary in the Monroe News-Star, Wednesday, January 17, 1940:
West Monroe Leader Dies
J.T. Chappell, 79, retired businessman who was prominent in affairs of Monroe and West Monroe several years ago, died last night at 8 o'clock at his home, after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Chappell, a native of Alabama, came to Louisiana as a youth and had lived most of his life here.
He was a charter member of the Peoples Homestead and Savings association and was a member of the board of directors of that organization for 25 years. Leaving the association he became affiliated in the old partnership known as the Westside Lumber company. He retired from active business life in 1922.
In addition to being a charter member of the Peoples Homestead and Savings association he was also a charter member of the First Baptist Church of West Monroe, a lifetime member of the Western Star lodge No. 24, the Shriners and other Masonic branches. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World.
Surviving relatives are his wife; two sons, J.T. Chappell, Jr. of Baton Rouge and F.H. Chappell of Chicago, IL; three daughters, Mrs. E.W. Cruse of Monroe, Mrs. R.C. Wright of Clarksdale, MS, and Mrs. William Wilkerson of West Monroe; two grandchildren, Billy Green Chappell and Clowe Benard Smith; and three half brothers, Jim Waldron of Waskom, TX, Dick Waldron of Simsboro, and Wood Waldron of Ruston.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock at the family residence with Dr. A.E. Prince, pastor of the First Baptist church of West Monroe officiating, assisted by Rev. H.L. Driskell, former pastor of the church.
Masonic rites will also be held with interment following in Hasley cemetery. Peters Funeral service of Monroe has charge of the arrangements.
Active pallbearers will be C.A. Hatchell, X. Holt, Decker Moore, G.L. Morgan, Walter Fisher, B.A. Gentry, Harry Williams, H.C. Ray, Paul Newman and L.H. Carter.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jonas Selig, J.S. Aswell, Bob Hines, J.O. Fleming, Travis Oliver, Albert Marx, Frank Farmer, H.A. Brownlee, J.G. Durrell, Herman McGuire, W.R. Hatchell, F.U. Collie, Dr. A.G. McHenry, Frank Masling, Fred MItchell, E.B. Howell, E.O. Smith, Dr. Byron Vaughan, W.A. Burt, H.A. McDonald, A.B. Myatt, C.E. Bynum, Sr., R.J. Downs, Jr., and his many other friends.
The members of Western Star lodge will meet at the Masonic temple in Monroe at 9:30 o'clock tomorrow morning and proceed in a body to the Chappell residence for the last rites.