Avoyelles-Rapides County Louisiana Archives Biographies.....Cappel, Marvin October 9, 1889 - 

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Mike Miller http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000912 September 24, 2006, 11:04 am

Author: Henry E Chambers

Marvin Cappel, M. D.  Surely no other profession than that of medicine, in 
itself, presents so great an opportunity to exercise those higher virtues that 
adorn and dignify humanity, and in the long history of the human race, where 
else have been found truer exemplars of them than in the ranks of medical men?  
In peace and in war they have been distinguished not only b their professional 
knowledge and skill, but by their unselfishness and patriotism.  Among the 
heroes of the World war, there were some who may not have carried a musket, but 
under shot, shell and gas won marvelous victories, in the salvage of life and 
bodily reparation.  Alexandria, Louisiana, has a quiet, unostentatious hero of 
this class in Dr. Marvin Cappel, coroner of Rapides Parish.

Mr. Marvin Cappel belongs to Louisiana by birth, parentage and choice.  He was  
born October 9, 1889, in Avoyelles Parish, son of Samuel C. and Martha 
(Thompson) Cappel, the former a native of Avoyelles and the latter of St. 
Landry Parish, Louisiana.  In early business life the father of Dr. Cappel was 
a merchant but later became a well-known contractor, engaging in this line of 
work in Avoyelles, St. Landry and Rapides parishes until the close of his 
life.  Of the family of fourteen children, twelve survive their parents.  Dr. 
Cappel has three brothers residing at Alexandria:  Marshall, a dental 
practitioner;  J. T., a physician; and  P. B., a medical student.  The other 
members of the family are:  J. J., who is a dentist at Bunkie, Louisiana;  J. 
0., who is a druggist at Port Arthur, Texas;  S. C., who is a lawyer at El 
Campo, Texas;  C. D., who is in the lumber business at New Orleans;  L. K., who 
is in business at Orange, Texas;  Rodney, who is connected with the Clyde 
Steamship Company, at Orlando, Florida;  Mrs. Savant, who is a resident of 
Shreveport; and  Mrs. Lattimer, whose home is at Osteen, Volusia County, 
Florida.

After completing his course in the State High School at Evergreen, Louisiana, 
he entered the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky, from which 
he was graduated in 1911, returning from 1912-1913 for post graduate work, and 
from 1913 to 1914 served as an interne in the Presbyterian Hospital in New 
Orleans.  In the latter year he established himself in medical practice at 
Alexandria which city has been his home ever since.  He is a general 
practitioner, making a specialty of surgical cases, and in every branch of his 
profession commands the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.

When the United States became involved in the World war, the Cappel family 
proved a very loyal one, several members enlisting immediately, five of the 
sons being ultimately called to service, and three of the sons spent two years 
overseas, Dr. Marvin Cappel being one of these.  Commissioned major in 1918, he 
became regimental surgeon of the Ninth infantry, United States Army.  He was 
honorably discharged from military service in May, 1919.  His life was one of 
continuous activity under dangerous conditions.  Unlike many of his 
professional associates, he by no means escaped injury, being wounded on one 
occasion, not so remarkable, perhaps, when it is remembered that on two 
occasions, because of valor, he received the decoration of the Distinguished 
Service Cross, twice received the Croix de Guerre, with palms and with star, 
and has in his possession three United States citations for unusual bravery.  
Dr. Cappel is very modest in mentioning any of these.

Upon his return to Alexandria he resumed the practice of his profession and 
some time afterward consented to serve out the unexpired term as coroner of Dr. 
Stafford, since then being twice elected to the office and serving in the same 
at the present time.  In political sentiment he has always been a democrat, but 
this has been the only political office he has ever accepted.  He is a member 
of the Louisiana State Medical Society, of which he is vice president, and a 
member of the Rapides Medical Society, of which he was formerly president and 
is now president, and has Connections more or less interesting and important 
with various scientific organizations.

Dr. Cappel was married in 1921 to Miss Eulalia Sentell, who was born in the 
City of New Orleans, but was educated at Bunkie, in Avoyelles Parish, 
Louisiana, and they have one son, now two years old, who bears his father's 
distinguished name.  Dr. and Mrs. Cappel are member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and the Doctor is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner.

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