History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1482

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

of Flint as an educator. For twenty-five years he was superintendent
of the city schools, and during the greater part of his active career was
identified with educational work. It was during the latter decade of the
nineteenth century that he did his most important service, and in that
time was a progressive in educational affairs, at a time when progress
was less popular in schools than at the present time. While at Flint he
introduced many of the methods which are still employed and have the
sanction of twentieth-century educators. Not only in pedagogy was he
a leader, but he did much to upbuild the material facilities and systems
of education in that city. After his resignation from his office as school
superintendent, he became a traveling salesman in western territory, but
still makes Flint his home. He is now sixty-four years of age, and the
mother is fifty-eight. She was reared and educated in Flint. They had
only two children, the daughter is Mrs. Madge Holmes, of Flint.
Dr. Chapell, the older child, grew up in Flint, and was educated in
the public schools. For his medical education he entered the Michigan
College of Medicine at Detroit, where he was graduated M. D. in I904.
Moving to Cleveland, he practiced there for several years, and since 1907
has been established at Flint. Dr. Chapell has membership in the Genesee
County and the Michigan State Medical Societies, and the American
Medical Association.
In politics he is independent, and is affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and the Woodmen of the World. He was married November 3, I9IO, at Flint to Miss Elizabeth Carrol, a daughter of
Daniel and Jane Carrol, now deceased, and old settlers of this section of
Michigan.
FRANK E. THATCHER. Progressive merchandising is synonymous with
progressive citizenship, and both are conspicuous qualities of Frank E.
Thatcher, who less than twenty years ago became a local merchant at
Ravenna, and has steadily prospered in his own circumstances, and at the
same time, has done everything within his power to help along the community in its material, intellectual and moral growth.
Born at Coudersport, Pennsylvania, January I, I859, Frank E.
Thatcher is a son of Edwin and Catherine S. (Carpenter) Thatcher, the
former born in Pennsylvania in 1825, and the latter born the same year.
The parents were married in I848, and after a long and active career as
a teacher and farmer the father passed away in 1903. The mother is
still living, her home being in Harrisburg, Michigan. The family came
to Michigan in I866, settling in Ravenna. Edwin Thatcher taught school
the greater part of his life, served as superintendent of schools in Muskegon county, during 1872, 1873-74 and continued the profession as an
active member until he was about sixty-five years of age. He also owned
a farm. In politics before the war he was a strong abolitionist, upheld
the Republican principles until the Hayes-Tilden contest, after which he
supported the Democratic interests. He served for a number of years as
supervisor of his township, and in Pennsylvania was elected to the office
of county commissioner. During the Civil war he went out as a private
in the fifty-second regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and saw
a brief service in several campaigns. The first Thatcher to come to
America was Thomas Thatcher, whose arrival was in the year I632. He
was the first preacher in the Old South Church of Boston. From that
famous divine the line of descent is direct to the present family of
Thatcher. All of them were representative in the ministry, and many of
the name have been eloquent speakers and religious workers. Edwin
Thatcher was a son of John Thatcher, who was born in Massachusetts,
a son of John B., also a native of Massachusetts, and he in turn was a son