My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE KAPPEL, merchant, Pittsburgh, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 9, 1847. His parents, Valentine and Dorothea Juliana (Ewald) Kappel, were born and reared near the city of Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America soon after their marriage, in 1846. Next year they settled in Pittsburgh, Mr. Kappel being employed for a short time as gardener by a manufacturer, who soon placed him in the iron-warehouse. Here he remained through four changes in ownership, and many years before his death had charge of all supplies for the Kensington mills. He was many years secretary of the board of trustees of the Lutheran Church. He died Jan. 31, 1880. His widow and daughters, Emma Juliana and Amelia Rachel, now reside on Fifth avenue. Charles, the second child, died when three years old. George, the eldest, attended the public school till thirteen years of age, when he was employed for about a year by a manufacturer of tin cartridge boxes for the Union army. In the spring of 1862 he was errand-boy in the music store of which he is now proprietor. He afterward became bookkeeper and salesman, and in 1878 he purchased the department of sheet-music and small instruments. Nov. 22, 1877, Mr. Kappel married Maria Alice Bockstoce, and bought his present residence at Edgewood eight years later. Mrs. Kappel was born at Mount Lebanon, this county, a daughter of Henry and Margaretta Bockstoce, of German and Scotch ancestry, respectively. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kappel are Howard Bockstoce, George Valentine, Marguerite and Norman Willard. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kappel is an independent democrat.