Marvin Cappel, M.D., Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
********************************************** 

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.

NOTE:  The referenced source contains a black and white photograph 
of the subject with his/her autograph.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 215, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and 
New York, 1925.