My Genealogy Hound

Hon. George M. Chapline, clerk of the county of Lonoke, whose private life and public record are alike untarnished, was also born in Greenville, S. C., November 16, 1849, being the third of two sons and three daughters, in the family of George M. and Wilhelmena (Chick) Chapline. [For sketch of parents see biography of J. B. Chapline.] The father died when George was a lad of sixteen years, and he remained at home until he became of age, receiving all the advantages for a good education. Following his primary course of study, he entered the university at Greenville, where he remained for four years, and also read medicine for some time, but about 1869, he entered upon the reading of law at Greenville, under the supervision of George Wells, a prominent attorney of that place. In 1871 he took a course of lectures at the University of South Carolina, at Columbia, and in the same year removed to Arkansas, locating at Little Rock. In 1873 Mr. Chapline was appointed by Gov. Baxter to the position of clerk of Lonoke County, upon the organization of the county. In 1875 he was licensed by the Supreme Court to practice before the bar of this State, and in 1881 was elected to represent Lonoke County, in the General Assembly of the State. In 1886 he was elected clerk of Lonoke County, and re-elected in 1888. Previous to this Mr. Chapline had turned his pleadings in another direction from the bar, and did not plead in vain, for in 1875 he led to the hymeneal altar Miss Minnie Owens, a native of South Carolina, and a daughter of Dr. John A. Owens, surgeon of Baykin’s regiment, who died at Atlanta during the war. To this union have been born four daughters, bright and interesting girls. Mr. Chapline and family worship at the Baptist Church, in which he is clerk. He has held with great credit various positions on the municipal board, and served as recorder and mayor. In politics he is a Democrat, and in societies he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor.