Maj. Fletcher H. Chapman, one of the best known
citizens of Carlinville, ranks among the leading attorneys and business men
of Macoupin County and is held in high esteem by the people of his
community. He was born April 15, 1828, in Macoupin County, Illinois, and is
a son of Richard and Celia (Davenport) Chapman.
Richard Chapman was
a native of North Carolina, as was also his wife, our subject's mother, and
came to Illinois in 1818, being a pioneer of the State. He first located in
St. Clair County, where he remained one year and in the following year
(1819) he removed to Macoupin County and remained here until 1824 when he
removed from Dorchester to what is now called Staunton township and remained
there until 1857. Celia (Davenport) Chapman, mother of our subject, died
five years previous to the removal of our subject's father from Staunton
township. They were the parents of 12 children, of whom our subject was the
youngest son.
Our subject received his education in the district
schools of Macoupin County, and engaged as a school teacher and so continued
until 24 years of age, during which time he spent his leisure hours in the
study of the law. In the fall of 1852 he engaged in land surveying and
meeting with success at that enterprise was elected county surveyor and was
later reelected and held that office until 1859 when he resumed his study of
the law, in which he continued until the Civil War broke out. He then
enlisted as a private in the 14th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and remained in
the service until July 14, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. In 1862
he was detached from his regiment and took command of Company L (artillery)
as captain and in April his company was consolidated with Company D, 2d
Illinois Light Artillery, and he was promoted to the rank of senior 1st
lieutenant and in 1863 was promoted to be captain of his company. In 1865 he
was brevetted major for meritorious services rendered during the war.
Major Chapman is a stanch Republican and is a leading politician of his
county and State. During his political career he has filled several high
positions. He began his political record as a candidate for county judge
upon his return from the war but was defeated by a small majority. Later he
was a candidate for police magistrate and was elected; he filled this
position so efficiently and with so much capability that in 1869 he was
elected county superintendent of schools, which position he filled until
1873, when he began the practice of the law, having been admitted to the bar
in 1869. Meeting with deserved success and attaining a high rank in the
legal profession, his practice increased to such an extent that he chose a
partnership with the late Governor John M. Palmer. Our subject still
practices law and is also engaged in land surveying. He holds a high
position among the leading men of his county and is held in high esteem by
all who know him. He is at present serving as justice of the peace.
Major Chapman was married to Sarah McCreery in 1854. At her decease a few
years later, he was left with two children. In 1862 he was married to
Cecelia C. Burns; one child has been born to them, — Charlotte E. Mrs.
Chapman is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Major is a
member of Dan Messick Post, No. 339, G. A. R.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 201-207.
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