Chapman, John - Macoupin County Illinois
©2012
In 2009, almost by accident, I stumbled across the obituary of my great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Chapman while browsing the internet. I spent a number of hours exploring other information that was available for free on line and learned a great deal about my Chapman ancestors. I kept some notes but did not organize them as well as I should have. Now, three years later, I have done more work, clarified a few points, and uncovered a few more points that need further research. So I am going to try to document what I have learned along with references for anyone who wants to try to uncover more information. I am going to take the family tree as far as my grandparents, John Wesley Chapman and Dora Goodpasture Chapman. I am not a genealogist and not even attempting to follow the common genealogical formats. I have put this information together in bits and pieces at various times so it will likely be somewhat disjointed.
Here is the bare Chapman family tree going back as far as I have been able to trace it. I will then go in reverse chronological order to fill out more information, document resources, and highlight the points on which there is some doubt. Any information followed with a question mark indicates that I have some conflicting information which makes me less than certain of that information.
Richard Chapman DOB approximately 1700 in Va, DOD 1792 in NC.
Married Joanna or Johanna Last name?? DOB ?? DOD after Richard’s death.
Joseph Chapman (son of Richard) DOB 1745-1750? in NC DOD 27OCT1798 in NC
Married in 1771 or 1781? Jemima Caswell DOB ?? DOD 1800-1810?
Richard Chapman (son of Joseph) DOB 22DEC1782 in NC DOD 15FEB1872 in IL
Married 10NOV1808 Celia Ann Davenport DOB 12FEB1792 DOD 11JUL 1852 in IL
Samuel H. Chapman (son of Richard) DOB 1811 in NC DOD 17MAR1881 in IL
Married 25DEC1831 Maranda Grant DOB Unknown DOD Unknown
Thomas J. Chapman (son of Samuel) DOB 1SEP1836 in IL DOD 11FEB1926 in IL
Married 9SEP1859 Mary (Polly) Best DOB 1DEC1845 DOD 6JUN1942 in IL
John Wesley Chapman (son of Thomas) DOB 16SEP1863 DOD 15OCT1910 in IL
Married 14Jan 1885 Dora Goodpasture DOB 25Feb1870 in IL DOD 18Apr1961 in MO
John Wesley Chapman DOB 16SEP1863 DOD 15OCT1910
Married 14Jan 1885 Dora Goodpasture DOB 25Feb1870 in IL DOD 18Apr1961 in Mo
John & Dora were married January 14, 1885 in Madison County, IL. (source marriage records)
Their children were:
Vera Mae (Died in infancy)
Charles Frederick (Fred) DOB 13FEB1887
Hazel Fern (Fern) DOB 12MAY1888
Mary Myrtle (Mert) DOB 21AUG1891
Daniel Ray DOB 9AUG1898
David Harrison (Harry) DOB 10AUG1901
Helen Marie DOB 5JUN1908
John Wesley DOB 4FEB1911 (my father)
A 1900 census lists the people living at their residence as John W. (36), Dora A. (31), Charles F. (13), Hazel F. (11), Mary M (8), Daniel R (1), Thomas J. (64) and Polly (54). The census lists John’s occupation as a carpenter. John was often known by his middle name, Wesley (Wes).
John died in October 1910, four months before the birth of his youngest son who was named for his deceased father. John’s obituary is appendix 1. He was buried in Staunton, IL cemetery and a picture of his tombstone is appendix 2. An interesting phrase in the obituary is that he was “honest to a degree”. My interpretation of this comment is that he was less than completely honest which is unexpected considering that the obituary was likely written by his immediate family.
Dora Alice Goodpasture was the daughter of Daniel Goodpasture and Martha (Mary?) Phipps. The 1880 census lists the household members as Daniel (41), Sabra Ann (13), Dora A. (10) , Nancy E. (9), Mary F. (6), Kate E. (4), E. Ann McCants (38) and William W. McCants (14). Kate, I knew as Aunt Kate and she was alive at the time of Dora’s death in 1961. The absence of Martha, the mother, suggests that she died prior to this time. Daniel married Mrs. Elizabeth A. McCants on January 16, 1889 in Montgomery County, IL
A few years after John’s death, on 09DEC1914, Dora remarried to Frank Kenner in Mongomery County, IL. Frank was born 31AUG1877 in Kentucky. Frank and Dora moved to Jefferson City, Missouri sometime in the 1930’s. Frank died 06JUN1950 in Jefferson City, MO and is buried in the Staunton Cemetery. Dora died near Jefferson City on 18APR1961 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Jefferson City near her oldest son, Fred and his family. In the 1920 census, Helen and John are listed with the last name Kenner but to the best of my knowledge, they never used Kenner as their last name.
Thomas J. Chapman DOB 01SEP1836 in IL DOD 05FEB1926 in IL
Married 9SEP1859 Mary (Polly) Best DOB 1DEC1845 DOD 22JUN1942
Thomas and Polly had two children, William and John Wesley. William died in infancy but I do not know which of the children was born first.
Appendix 3 is Thomas’s obituary. There is an error in the obituary regarding the date of marriage of Thomas and Polly. The obituary list their marriage as October, 1857 but I have found the marriage record and it is September 9, 1859 The obituary lists the cause of death as senility which would likely be recognized today as Alzheimer’s. This agrees with a story related by my father that “Grandpa Tom” was suffering from some form of dementia in his last days and would make the remark “My first wife, Polly was a good woman but I cannot stand this bitch I am married to now.” Of course he was still married to Polly and had been for 60 years.
Mary (Polly) Best Chapman was the daughter of Jordan Best. She had a sister, Fanny who was 2 years older than her. Polly lived to be 96 years old and is buried with Thomas in Staunton Cemetery.
Samuel H. Chapman DOB 1811 (NC) DOD 17MAR1881 (IL)
Married 25DEC1831 Maranda Grant DOB Approx 09OCT1813 DOD Unknown
Samuel H. Chapman was born in 1811 in Tyrrell County, North Carolina the son of Richard Chapman and Celia Ann Davenport. He moved with his family to St. Clair County, IL in 1818. In 1819 they relocated to near Staunton in a portion of Macoupin County that was then within Madison County. Per marriage records, Samuel H. Chapman married Maranda Grant on 25DEC1831. 1850 Census records have the entry of Samuel H. Chapman 39M NC, Maranda 36F SC, Hester Ann 16F IL, G. W. 14M IL, T. J. 14M IL, Sarah 10F IL, Mary 8F IL. G. W. was George Washington Chapman who was the twin of Thomas Jefferson Chapman.
Maranda Grant Chapman was the daughter of Thomas Grant Sr. and Sarah Smith. Thomas Grant is listed on the same page of the 1830 census as Richard Chapman which, I believe, indicates they lived near one another. This census indicates the Grants had nine children with Maranda being second oldest. Family legend is that there was a connection with President Grant. If that is accurate, it is likely through Maranda Grant Chapman. Maranda’s family moved to Illionis from South Carolina prior to Maranda’s birth. Did President Grant have South Carolina connections?
Samuel H. Chapman died in Macoupin County March 17, 1881. I cannot find anything regarding Maranda’s death.
Note: I have found a record in the Macoupin County marriages that states that Samuel H. Chapman married Maranda Garret on 25Dec1831. I am confident that is an error made in transcribing the records and the correct name is Maranda Grant.
Richard Chapman (Samuel’s Father) DOB 12 DEC 1782 (NC) DOD 15 FEB 1872 (IL) Married 10 NOV 1808 Celia Davenport DOB 12 FEB 1792 (NC) DOD 11JUL1852(IL)
There is a lot information regarding Richard Chapman. From this point some of my information comes from a genealogical study that I found on line that was done by a Chapman who now lives in Oregon. This will hereafter be referred to as the Chapman Investment
Reference.
http://www.chapmaninvestments.com/Ancestry/Ancestry Family Tree/Web/descendan/aqwg0
http://www.chapmaninvestments.com/Ancestry/Ancestry%20Family%20Tree/Web/descendan/aqwg04.htm
There is another source that appears to be independent of the first This will hereafter be referred to as the Doze Reference.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/chapman/messages/2019.html
Richard Chapman was born 22DEC1782 in Tyrell Co, NC the son of Joseph Chapman. He should not be confused with his grandfather whose name was also Richard but was born circa 1700 in Virginia. He married Celia Ann Davenport, DOB 12FEB1792 in November, 1808.
They had 12 children
Winifred B. 1809
Samuel H. 1811
Joseph 1813
Isaac 1815
John Russell 1817 (His descendant’s are the Chapman Investment reference)
Jesse 1819
Nancy 1821
Marian 1823
James Fisher 1826 (His descendant’s are the Doze Reference)
Fletcher Harris 1827 or 1828? (the Maj. Fletcher Chapman bio person)
Anna Davenport 1829
Polly Ann 1830
When they moved to Illinois in 1818, they had the five oldest children with them.
Richard Chapman was one of the earliest pioneers of Macoupin County, Illinois. The following is from the book History of Macoupin County published in 1911. The entire text can be found at the following website:
http://archive.org/details/historyofmacoupiv1walk
Pages 91&92
“Richard Chapman, a native of North Carolina, came to Illinois in 1818 and settled in St. Clair county, where he remained until December, 1819, at which time he settled in Macoupin county, in what is now known as Dorchester township. At that time his own and two other families were the only settlers in this part of the state. Later, in 1821, Mr.
Chapman settled in Staunton township and remained there until 1857.' His death occurred in 1872 at Carlinville, at the age of ninety. John D. Chapman came at the same time as Richard and the two families occupied one cabin with only one room until another could be built. In 1826 they left the timber and settled just east of what was known as the Sawyer place. In September, 1820, Jesse Chapman, a ship carpenter and sailor by trade,"squatted" near his brothers, where he built a cabin. He remained here but a year and went to Alabama ; his cabin was occupied by a Mr. Castile and later by Mr. Piper.
In 1821 several families arrived to swell the settlement and in 1824 Jesse Chapman returned. Among those who came in 1821 were James B. Cowell, a farmer. Mr. Cowell was a native of North Carolina but before coming to Illinois had lived some time in Tennessee. He first settled in Madison county and from there moved to Macoupin. He only stayed here a year, when he returned to Madison but in another year came back and took up a permanent settlement.”
Pg 118 – This is coming from reminiscent of Charles Walker who was likely the oldest resident at the time the book was written.
“Uncle "Dickey" Chapman, one of the early pioneers, settled on Cahokia Creek, during the year 1817 or 1818. He died leaving a family of boys and girls, among whom was our old friend, Major Fletcher H. Chapman of Carlinville, whom we knew as one of the very best of our citizens. He often held positions of responsibility and, having served in the Union army during the rebellion, came home with a record for bravery and efficiency that was not excelled by any other officer of that army. He died but a few years ago, leaving a small family, who have since resided in Chicago.”
The phrase “He died leaving a family of boys and girls…..” might suggest that Richard (Uncle Dickey) died at a young age which is not correct. Note that a similar phrase is applied to Fletcher Chapman who also lived to a ‘ripe old age’.
Pg 380
“In the spring of 1819 Telemachus Camp, who was a native of Georgia, also came here from Alabama and located on section 19. In November of the same year John D.
and Richard Chapman, who were natives of North Carolina, came here from Tennessee, the former settling on section 18, while the latter established his
home on section 24. In 1820 several families were added to this section, these being Jesse Chapman, who came from North Carolina and settled on section 1 7 :”
I believe there are some inaccuracies in this entry. I think we are here seeing confusion of John D. Chapman with another John Chapman (see appendix 5). I do not believe any of our ancestors came to Illinois from Tennesse . This same page notes that the first religious service in the area was held at the home of Richard Chapman. On page 382, it is noted that the first marriage in the area was Jesse Chapman and Comfort Alexander. Jesse Chapman proves to be an interesting sidebar (see Appendix 6).
Page 382 also states that the first white child born in the area was Benjamin Chapman born to John D. and Sarah Chapman in the spring of 1820. On this same page it is noted that “In the fall of 1820 Richard Chapman purchased a pair of millstones fitted up a band mill. Up until 1823 the settlers were dependent upon this mill for their bread stuffs.”
Richard is listed in the 1860 census in Montgomery County, IL. At that time he is living in the same dwelling with five people ranging from 5 to 18 years old whose last name is Sturges (George 18, Richard 15, Matilda 13, James 10, and Abna 5) and an 18 year old woman, Joanna Miller who is listed as a servant. I believe the Sturges children to be his grandchildren from his daughter Nancy who married Issac Sturgis. The Fletcher Chapman bio states that Richard lived out his last years with his daughter in Montgomery County but this census list the household under Richard’s name and lists only the children and Richard in the househould??? What has happened to the parents? Is Richard at the age of 78 caring for these kids with the help of the servant?
Celia died on 11JUL1852 and Richard died 15FEB1872. Both are buried in the Chapman Cemetery near Mt. Olive, IL.
Joseph Chapman DOB 1745-1750 (NC) DOD 27 OCT 1798 (NC)
Married in1771 or 1781 Jemima (Betsy?) Caswell DOB 1735??? DOD Unknown
Joseph Chapman was born about 1745-1750 in Tyrrell County, NC. He was the son of Richard Chapman (and also the father of Richard Chapman). Joseph Chapman married Jemima Caswell but it is unclear whether that occurred in 1771 or 1781. The Chapman Investment reference states in the notes that they were married prior to August 1771 but also says that they published a notice of marriage in 1781. A notice of marriage is from British Law and is made shortly prior to marriage. I assume, the notice of marriage carried over to this country. I do not understand a notice of marriage being 10 years after the marriage. I have found other references that support the 1781 date of marriage.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/c/d/Robin-Mcduffie-Snohomish/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0130.html
Per the Chapman Investment are descendents of Richard through his son John Russell Chapman. Joseph and Jemima had the following children but not necessarily in this sequence.
Richard (DOB 22Dec1782)
Jessica (Jesse)
Elizabeth (Betsy)
John
Polly
Meradith
Samuel
There is a lot of evidence that the child Jesse is a male not a female (see appendix 5). There is some questions regarding the number of children. The reference below says there were only five children and does not include Elizabeth nor Samuel. The 1790 census list the Joseph Chapman household as one male greater than 16, five males less than 16, and three females (age not categorized for the females.) This suggests seven children but five boys and two girls. Even correcting for Jesse being a male not a female, the seven children above would be four boys and three girls.
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CHAPMAN/1999-11/0942034558
The Chapman Investment reference also says that Jemima was born in 1735 making her at least ten years older than Joseph. This is pretty obviously incorrect. Even if married in 1771, Jemima would have given birth to five to seven children after age 36 and would have given birth to Richard at age 47. My guess is that Jemima’s birthdate is closer to that of Joseph and the marriage occurred in 1781. If that is the case, Joseph’s son Richard would have been the oldest or second oldest child in the family.
Finally, there is even some question regarding the name of Joseph’s wife. In the Fletcher Chapman biography it is said that his grandmother was Betsy Caswell. I find numerous references to Jemima Caswell so I have no doubt Joseph’s was married to Jemima. There is also considerable uncertainty regarding whether Joseph Chapman served in the American Revolution. The Fletcher Chapman bio is very specific that he did and even cites the battle in which he fought. Appendix 7 gives significant discussion which concludes that Joseph did not serve in the American Revolution .. A transcription of a WPA record in 2010 regarding Chapman Cemetery near Mt. Olive provides history of the cemetery as well as general history regarding the origin of the family who established the cemetery. (Appendix 8). This record supports the Fletcher Chapman bio information regarding his grandmother’s name being Betsy and his grandfather serving in the American Revolution but from the wording, it is obvious the information is taken from the Fletcher Chapman bio so it does not provide corroborating information. Fletcher Chapman never met his grandparents so his knowledge would have been based upon what he was told by his parents.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/c/d/Robin-Mcduffie-Snohomish/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0130.html
Richard Chapman (Joseph’s Father) DOB circa 1700 in VA DOD 1792 in NC
Married Joanna (Joannah) (last name unknown) DOB ??? DOD >1792
The information now gets very blurred. Richard was born about 1700 in Virginia. There are several sources that establish that Richard moved to Tyrrell County, NC from Virginia but I have been unable to learn anything regarding when the move was made nor where in Virginia he lived. Jasper Chapman was about the same age as Richard, lived in Tyrrell County about the same time so he may have been a brother to Richard. Richard married a woman named Joanna or Joannah but we know little of her.
I located Richard’s will which is attached as appendix 9. The will is dated 1792 and I believe Richard died shortly thereafter. The will indicates that at the time of his death, he had four surviving children, Joseph, Joanna, Ann, and Eleanor. The last names of his daughters were Collington (or Collins), Phelps, and Webster respectively. I have found some references that suggest there was one other son named Samuel. If Samuel existed, he must have died prior to Richard’s 1792 will. The will also establishes that Richard’s wife, Joanna survived him (or at least was alive at the time the will was written.)
Richard mentioned only two of his grandchildren in his will, Richard and Samuel. Samuel is named as co-executer which indicates that he is an adult in 1792. As previously noted, some references indicate that Joseph had a son named Samuel while others do not mention Samuel as a son of Joseph. If the grandson Samuel that Richard mentions in his will is Joseph and Jemima’s son, it would provide evidence they were married in 1771 not 1781 The 1800 Tyrrell county census list a Samuel Chapman who is between 26-44 years old. It is very likely this is the grandson Samuel in Richard’s will. Whether he is the son of Joseph and Jemima, the son of another of Richard’s children who died prior to 1792, or Joseph’s son by a previous marriage is unclear. It is noteworthy that Samuel has vanished from the census records by 1810 which is prior to Richard, John D, and Jesse moving to Illinois.
There is no mention in Richard’s will of John D or Jesse. Jesse married in 1805 and the 1830 census records in Illinois establish John was at least 40 years old and less than 50 years old at that time. This suggests that both John and Jesse were alive in 1792 when their grandfather wrote his will. So why were grandsons Samuel and Richard provided for in the will but grandsons John and Jesse ignored?
Appendix 1: Obituary John Wesley Chapman
Obituary of John Wesley CHAPMAN, Macoupin County Illinois © 2012 Submitted by Jarid Ott
Name of Deceased: CHAPMAN, John Wesley
Name of Newspaper: Staunton Star-Times
Date of Obituary: Thursday 20 Oct 1910
Obituary: Death of J. W. CHAPMAN
J. W. CHAPMAN passed away at 5 o'clock a.m. Saturday Oct. 15th aged 47 years, 1 mo and 5 days.
His death was caused by typhoid fever and his illness lasted over a period of several weeks.
The funeral was under the auspices of the M. W. A. lodge of this city of which he was a member, at 2 o'clock Monday Oct. 17th. J. W.
CHAPMAN was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas CHAPMAN and leaves his father, mother, wife and several children who mourn his death.
He was a man of steriing [sic] worth honest to a degree and hard working man. His friends join the relatives in their bereavement as was
shown by the floral tributes bestowed. A large concourse attended the funeral.
Note: See appendix 10 for more information regarding the help I received from Jarid Ott and Gloria Frazier.
Appendix 2: Tombstone of John W. Chapman in Staunton Cemetery.
Note: This photo was provided by Jarid Ott
Appendix 3: Obituary of Thomas Jefferson Chapman
Name of Deceased: CHAPMAN, Thomas Jefferson
Name of Newspaper: Staunton Star-Times
Date of Obituary: February 11, 1926
Obituary: Staunton Star-Times Vol. 20 No. 31 Thursday February 11, 1926 THOS. J. CHAPMAN DEPARTS THIS LIFE PASSED AWAY
FRIDAY MORNING AT HIS HOME HAVING ATTAINED RIPE OLD AGE. Thomas Jefferson Chapman, a life long resident of our community,
passed away Friday morning at 5:45 o'clock at his home on Alaska street in our city, having attained the ripe old age of 89 years, 5 months
and 5 days. Death was due to senility. Mr. Chapman was a son of Samuel Chapman and his wife and was born north of Staunton on Sept 1,
1836. He spent his entire life in our community and during his active years followed the vocation of a veterinarian. In October, 1857, he was
united in marriage with Miss Mary Best and of their union two sons were born. Both of these have preceded the father in death, one dying in
infancy* and the other, Wesley, passing away about 15 years ago. Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the
home of his grandson, Fred Chapman, on South Wood street, Rev. E. L. James officiating. Internment was at the Staunton City cemetery.
Those left to cherish the memory of Mr. Chapman are his venerable widow; one sister, Mrs. Sarah Rinker of Columbus, Kan., seven
grandchildren and six great grandchildren, besides a host of more distant relatives and friends. Mr. Chapman was a member of the Baptist
church. May he rest in peace after his long earthly pilgrimage.
*The infant’s name was William but I do not know when he was born or how long he lived.
Appendix 4: Portrait and Biographical Record of Macoupin County, Illinois – 1891 pg 656-657.
Fletcher Chapman is third youngest child of Richard and Cecilia .
Appendix 5: The Two John Chapmans in early Macoupin County
My investigation got off track for a time because I did not initially recognize that there were two different John Chapmans who settled in
Macoupin County, IL at about the same time. I found the bio below for John Chapman and believed it was for John D. Chapman the brother
of Richard Chapman who migrated to Illinois with or about the same time as Richard. I was totally confused when I was doing my research in
2009. When I returned to the subject this year (2012), I came to realize that John D. Chapman and the John Chapman of the bio below are
indeed different people. I contacted Gloria Frazier who works with the Macoupin County Genealogical Society and she confirmed that my
Chapman relatives were the “southern Macoupin County” Chapmans and this John Chapman was the “northern Macoupin County” Chapmans.
See Appendix 10 for more information on the help Gloria provided.
John D. Chapman, brother of Richard, was married to Sarah and they reported to have given birth to the first white child in the area, Benjamin
in 1820. The 1830 census lists both Richard and John with only a single entry between them. The data is by sex and by ages in five year
increments up to age 20 then in 10 year increments. This data list the male adult (Richard) is 40-50 and the female adult is 30-40. This
agrees with what we know of Richard and Celia. It lists 10 children in the household, 2 males and 1 female 0-5, 2 females 5-10, 2 males
10-15, and 3 males 15-20. This would all be compatible with other information on Richards family minus the oldest son who would have been
21 and presumably already gone and minus youngest daughter who was not born until 1830. This data indicates John is also 40-50, an adult
female (wife) is 30-40, and six daughters, 1 0-5 years, 3 5-10 years, 1 10-15 years and 1 15-20 years. This would indicate that, like
Richard and Anna, John D and Sarah had at least two children when they arrived in Illinois. There are no male youth listed which suggests
that Benjamin died prior to 1830. Richard Chapman would be 47-48 when this census is taken. I suspect but have no proof that John D. was
in his early 40’s .
In the 1830 census, the other John Chapman is listed several pages earlier and ages are for the adult male is 20-30 and the female adult
15-20 and an infant daughter age 0-5 which would fit for this John, wife Charity, and first child , also named Sarah. I suspect (but do not
know) that close location within the census record indicates close physical location of the households.
By the 1840 census, John D. Chapman and family no longer appear. Richard is still there although there are now young girls in the household
that would not be his children. Perhaps these are grandchildren? Also living nearby is Samuel H. Chapman (Richard’s son and my great-great
grandfather) with his young family. What happened to John D. Chapman and his family????
The “other” John Chapman
http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/macoupin/bios/chapman.txt
Biography: John Chapman - 1 Jan 1998 - Macoupin County Illinois
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives ©1997 Gloria Frazier
Descendants of John CHAPMAN
submitted by Gloria Frazier
A "First Family" of Macoupin County IL
John CHAPMAN was born April 01, 1807 in TN, and died December 26, 1890 in Macoupin
Appendix 5: The Two John Chapmans in early Macoupin County (continued)
Co IL. He married Charity C RICHARDS August 18, 1828 in Robertson Co TN, daughter
of Edmund RICHARDS and Sarah WARREN.
Children of John CHAPMAN and Charity RICHARDS are:
i. Sarah CHAPMAN, born Abt 1829. She married (1) John F BROWN. She married
(2)Patterson NEVINS September 04, 1851 in Macoupin Co IL.
ii. Daniel CHAPMAN, born October 08, 1830; died September 27, 1916 in Macoupin Co IL.
He married Lucrettia V RICE November 30, 1854 in Macoupin Co IL.
iii. Stewart CHAPMAN, born January 24, 1832; died February 20, 1859.
iv. George W CHAPMAN, born January 01, 1834; died April 01, 1881 in Macoupin Co IL.
He married Charlotte NEVINS November 20, 1857 in Macoupin Co IL.
v. Cynthia Ellen "Sina" CHAPMAN, born October 11, 1836; died March 13, 1875 in
Macoupin Co IL. She married Aaron HAYS January 02, 1853 in Macoupin Co IL.
vi. Franklin CHAPMAN, born March 17, 1838; died December 09, 1862.
vii. Thomas J CHAPMAN, born May 26, 1840 in IL; died June 18, 1863. He married
Elizabeth A ENGLAND September 11, 1861 in Macoupin Co IL.
viii. Edward A CHAPMAN, born April 23, 1842 in IL; died September 26, 1862. He married
Unknown.
ix. John Wesley CHAPMAN, born March 31, 1844 in IL; died September 11, 1849 in
MacoupinCoIL.
x. William B CHAPMAN, born November 09, 1846 in IL; died July 08, 1888 in Macoupin
Co IL. He married (1) Sarah A HENDERSON December 20, 1866 in Macoupin Co IL. He
married (2) Anna L GOLDSMITH Abt 1873.
xi. Mary Jane CHAPMAN, born December 29, 1848 in IL; died July 25, 1864 in Macoupin
Co IL.
xii. Amanda A CHAPMAN, born Aft 1850 in IL; died April 23, 1852 in Macoupin Co IL.
Appendix 5: The Two John Chapmans in early Macoupin County (continued)
xiii. Emily F CHAPMAN, born December 22, 1850 in IL; died June 08, 1912. She married
(1)Isaac N or M JOHNSTON September 17, 1867. She married (2) Isaac JOHNSON Abt
1897.
xiv. Enoch M CHAPMAN, born Abt 1856 in IL. He married Eliza G WYATT 1875 in
Macoupin Co IL.
NOTICE: This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities for educational and/or
research purposes as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic
pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation without
the permission of The Macoupin County Illinois USGenWeb Project.
(c)1997 The Macoupin County ILGenWeb Project
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for
profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to
use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof
of this consent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gloria Frazier
Appendix 6 - Jesse Chapman (Child of Joseph Chapman & sibling of Richard Chapman)
Jesse Chapman is an interesting side bar topic. The first question was whether Jesse was male or female. The Chapman Investment
reference says that Jesse was a female. There are a lot of other references to Jesse Chapman and all indicate the person to be a male.
On March 11, 1805, Jesse Chapman married Rodah (or Rhoda or Rhonda) Snell. One of the witnesses was Richard Chapman (Jesse’s
brother) and another was C. Spruill. All of these early records are handwritten and someone later transcribed them to the printed versions we
now have. We see the name Rodah, Rhonda, and Rhonda which I believe are all the same person and the difference due to illegible
handwriting. I believe that Rhonda or Rodah Snell was the daughter of James Snell and Mary Spruill who were married on September 12,
1783 in Tyrrell County, NC. Thus the C. Spruill who was the other witness at Jesse & Rodah’s wedding was likely a relative.
Per 1810 census, Jesse and wife were both at least 26 years old and had a boy and girl both 0-9 years old which makes sense based upon
their marriage in 1805. The 1820 census list the household under Rhoda Chapman but says there is both a man and woman between 16 and
25 and no children. The ages do not make sense but this could be as simple as checking the wrong box in the census. The next age bracket
is 26-44 years. If this is Jesse’s wife, this indicates that she is now the head of household. Jesse by now is in Illinois so is the adult man
Rhoda includes in the census Jesse who she expects (hopes) will return or someone else? Also what happened to the children?
The 1821 divorce record on the following page provides some insight. Rhonda Chapman has filed for divorce from Jesse Chapman the
record indicates Jesse is nowhere to be found. Rhonda/Rhoda/Rodah may not have known what we know now, that he was in Illinois with his
brothers Richard and John D. She almost certainly did not know that on May 29, 1820, Jesse married Comfort Alexander (reference History
of Macoupin County pg 381).
Appendix 6 - Jesse Chapman (continued)
(http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/tyrrell/vitals/divorces/chapman3ndv.txt
Tyrrell County NcArchives Divorce.....Chapman, Jesse - Chapman, Rhonda 1821
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com October 19, 2008, 11:06 pm
Edenton Gazzette - Oct. 1, 1821
State of North Carolina
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
Tyrrell County
Sept Term 1821
Rhonda Chapman
Vs.
Jesse Chapman
Petition for Divorce from bed & board, and the bonds of matrimony
In this case, it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that Jesse
Chapman, the defendant, cannot be found in this State, it is ordered by the
Court that publication be made for three months in the Edenton Gazette &
Raleigh Star that unless the defendant appear at the next term of the Tyrrell
Court at the Court House in Columbia on the first Monday in March next and
enter his pleas or answer, if any he has, a decree and judgment will be
entered up against him according to the prayer of the petitioner.
R. Wayne CSCT
File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/tyrrell/vitals/divorces/chapman3ndv.txt
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ncfiles/
File size: 1.3 Kb
Appendix 7 – Joseph Chapman and the American Revolution
Reference : http://files.usgwarchives.org/sc/pickens/wills/chapman.txt
Following is cut and pasted from the above reference.
The following is submitted to correct the DAR record which incorrectly
claims that Joseph Chapman who served in the American Revolution and filed for his pension as Capt. Joseph Chapman was the Joseph
Chapman who married Jemima Caswell and lived in Tyrrell County, NC. Many Chapman researchers have been confounded by the DAR
record. They have used the descendant names in the DAR files erroneously without question.
Joseph Chapman of Pickens County who filed for a Revolutionary War Pension in 1833 at Pickens Courthouse is not the same Joseph Chapman who lived, married and died in
Tyrrell County, NC.
Joseph Chapman of Tyrrell County died in 1798. His great great granddaughter was the celebrated author, Inglis Fletcher (1879-1969). Her
biographer (INGLIS FLETCHER OF BADEN PLANTATION by Richard Gaither Walser, Chapel Hill, NC, University of NC Library, UNC Library Publication series 17, v. 2)
detailed the family history that inspired Inglis Fletcher to write about Colonial North Carolina. The marriage of Joseph Chapman and Jemima Caswell and the settlement of
Joseph Chapman's estate in 1798 in Tyrrell County has been documented. No record of service in the Revolution has been found for this Joseph Chapman.
They had a son, Richard Chapman, who is the great grandfather of author, Inglis Fletcher. Richard Chapman married Celia
Davenport in Tyrrell County, NC. About 1818, the family moved to Illinois and settled first near Alton, IL. Richard died at the age of 94. This
was where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers met, only about a dozen miles from the old French fort of St. Louis. Their son, Joseph, had
been a little boy when they left NC and he carried with him memories of his old home. He revived his remembrances when he visited the
Albemarle area as a young man. He and his wife, Rachel, had twelve children -- one of whom was the novelist's mother, Flora Deane
Chapman.
The Joseph Chapman who filed the Revolutionary War Pension Application in 1833 obviously cannot be the Joseph Chapman who died in
Tyrrell County, NC in 1798 and who is the Joseph Chapman listed in the DAR file. The Pension
Application was filed in 1833 in Pickens Courthouse, Pickens, SC and was
witnessed by Bailey Barton and William Keith.
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery
WPA - Chapman Cemetery, Mt Olive Township,Macoupin County IL
http://macoupinctygenealogy.org/cemetery/wpa-chapman.html
A Transcription of the WPA Record in Macoupin County Archives, Carlinville, Illinois
by Mary McKenzie, 2010
The Macoupin County Archives has in its files, indexes/listings of many veterans buried in numerous Macoupin County cemeteries. WPA
workers compiled the indexes during the Depression Era (about 1939-1940). The cemeteries below were checked for veterans and although
not all of these cemeteries had veterans listed, there was a wealth of other information that a genealogist might find useful. I generally didn’t
copy the legal descriptions of the property if they were very long and drawn out. If you want that information, contact the Archives.
In previous issues of the Macoupin County Searcher I listed veterans’ information from both typed sheets and work sheets. The work sheets
are typed in bold and the typed sheets are typed in a normal font. At times the work sheet had additional or conflicting information from the
typed sheets.. The work sheets with soldier information stated to check these sources: burial plot, cemetery record, death certificate or burial
permit, patriotic organization (name), official U. S. records or other. These sources would probably be good sources to check still, today as
we have no way of knowing how thorough the WPA workers were. In these listings, as always, I tried to keep the spelling “as is”, even if it
appeared incorrect.
Chapman Cemetery
Mount Olive, Township 10-7-7
Macoupin County, Illinois
2 Miles Southwest of Mt. Olive
10/30/1939
The Chapman Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Mount Olive Township. This cemetery, then known as “Gods Acre”, was deeded for burial
purposes in 1853 although there were already a few graves on the plot of ground before the deed was made. Prior to 1872, Mount Olive
Township was not known but was all a part of Staunton Township.
In 1853, Richard Chapman deeded an acre of his land for a burial place for the people of that community. The deed transferring the title to
land to the trustees reads as follows: THIS INDENTURE, made this 26th day of July 1853, between Richard Chapman of the County of
Macoupin and State of Illinois of the first part and John R. Chapman and Ambrose Mitchell, trustees, and their successors in the office of the
aforesaid county and state, of the second part. WITNESSETH that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of $20.00 to him
paid by the said party of the second art, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has granted, bargained, sold released and conveyed
and by these presets does grant, bargain, sell, release and convey to the said party of the second part forever, all those certain pieces or
parcels of land situated, lying and being in the County of Macoupin and State of Illinois, and known, designated
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery (continued)
and described as follows, to-wit: (here is listed the long legal description which I am not giving here. Contact the Macoupin County Archives
for a complete copy of it). Signed: Richard Chapman.
This deed is dated July 26, 1853 and was recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Macoupin County, Illinois in Book “HH” at pages
243-244 and 245 on May 1, 1856.) (The ditch that runs along the side the cem. accounts for the cemetery being 3 feet shorter than the
description of the deed.)
This cemetery became very much neglected and the patrons decided that it be given some attention. In _______ the cemetery became a
part of Mount Olive Township through a grant and has been under its supervision ever since. Each year the Town Board levies an amount for
the expense incurred for the upkeep of the cemetery grounds.
In 1834, Mount Olive Township bought an additional 4 acres for the Chapman Cemetery. The deed conveying the title to the land over to the
Township reads as follows: Edward L. Hagen and Pauline Engleman Hazen, his wife, of the Township of Mount Olive, in the County of
Macoupin and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of $200.00 in hand paid, CONVEY and WARRANT to Mount Olive Township, County of
Macoupin and State of Illinois, the following described real-estate, to-wit: (a long legal description which can be found at the Macoupin
County Archives.)
This deed is dated September 13, 1934 and was recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds for Macoupin County, Illinois in Volume 370,
of Miscellaneous Records, at page 357 on December 4, 1934.)
The fenced in land is about 7 ft, shorter than the deed reads but that is due to the large ditch which runs on the north side and the fence was
not put to its edge.
The Chapman Cemetery is not incorporated at the present time. The trustees for the Chapman Cemetery are elected each year at the Town
Board meeting and they take care and are in charge of the cemetery grounds.
Fred King
Dempsey Voyles
Wm. Phillips
It had been a custom to gather each year for a memorial service in the Chapman Cemetery, but it
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery (continued)
was soon forgotten. In 1935 it was suggested by the Township Clerk, Henry Buskhol that this
custom be renewed and that the 4th Sunday of July of each year be set aside for a Memorial and Dedication service in The Chapman
Cemetery, as the original one acre plot was deeded by Richard Chapman on July 26, 1853 for a free burying ground. Upon motion by Jacob
Boyd, Township Road commissioner and a second by Curt Truetzschler this motion was passed and put on record.
The Chapman Cemetery is a public burying grounds. The lots are not sold but are given freely to any one from Mount Olive Township who
wishes to have the deceased members of his family buried in the cemetery. It is not a potters field.
Chapman Cemetery is a neat, clean cemetery. It is located about two miles Southwest of Mount Olive and has a good public road leading to
it. The burying grounds sets on a hill with a slope to the north, east and west which gives the land a good drainage. There is a good “U”
shaped drive leading in and out of the cemetery. Between the drives is a large concrete block measuring 3 feet by 40 feet imbedded on an
embankment at the front of the grounds, bearing the name “CHAPMAN” in large letters. The cemetery as a whole is in good condition and
shows care. Several graves need filling and leveling. About 14 tombstones need recutting. A woven wire fence surrounds the cemetery on
three sides. The East side which is the entrance is not fenced.
History
JOSEPH CHAPMAN was a Virginian by birth and moved to North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War. He settled in Tyrell County, of
which he was a pioneer and where he took up farming. There he met and married Miss Betsy Caswell who was also thought to be a native of
Tyrell County. Joseph Chapman served in the Revolution under General Green’s command at the Battle of Guilford Court House. He also
served in the war against the Indians. He passed his last years quietly working at his farm.
RICHARD CHAPMAN, son of Joseph Chapman and donor of the land for the Chapman Cemetery was born in North Carolina and was reared
in his native state. He was a natural mechanic and was equally skillful as a carpenter, wagon maker, cooper, tanner and a shoemaker; all of
which trades he followed at different times.
In 1818, Mr. Chapman and his wife and 5 children came to Illinois, making the journey overland and bringing with him his household goods. He
had two horses and a cart on which he packed his possessions. They started their journey westward in May and in August they landed in St.
Clair County. He rented a tract of land, raised a crop and in December of 1819 moved northward seeking another location. He came to
Macoupin County, which then was a part of Madison
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery (continued)
County and settled in what is now Dorchester Township. He was one of the earliest pioneers of this section of the state. This territory was
then practically uninhabited and was in its primitive condition with numerous deer, bears, wolves and panthers that often were troublesome to
the few settlers that had ventured within their haunts. There were no railways for years and St. Louis which was some 40 miles distant was
the principal market. St. Louis was then only a small city of a few thousand people. At the time that the Chapman family settled in the county,
the families of Telemacus Camp, Richard Wilhelm, Whitmill Harrington and Richard and John Chapman came also.
Richard Chapman settled on a tract of land from the government lying in Section 24 of Dorchester Township, built a log cabin for the shelter of
his family and at once began his hard pioneer task of clearing and developing a farm from the wilderness. He resided on this farm for 5 or 6
years and then traded his claim with a Mrs. Piper for a claim to a tract of prairie land on Section 29 of Staunton Township and later entered
another tract in the same township on Sections 4, 10 and 15 and built his home on Section 10. He improved a part of the land and resided on
it for several years.
Richard was married to Celia Davenport and became the proud parents of 7 sons and 5 daughters all of whom grew to maturity and married.
After Mrs. Chapman’s death, which occurred in 1852, he went to live with a daughter in Montgomery County and there his death occurred in
February 1872 in his ninetieth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chapman were both true Christians and ardent Methodists. The first meetings of that denomination in this county were
held at their house and for many years divine services were conducted in their home which was always a welcome abiding place for the
traveling preachers on their rounds. The first minister who preached in the Staunton Township was Parham Randle of the Methodist
Denomination at the residence of Richard Chapman in the autumn of 1820.
Mrs. Richard Chapman is buried in the Chapman Cemetery.
MAJOR FLETCHER H. CHAPMAN was the youngest of the sons in the family of Richard Chapman. He had spent his entire life in this county
with the exception of the years devoted to his country as a loyal and patriotic soldier. He gained the preliminaries of his education in the
pioneer schools of his early years. The first school in the neighborhood in which he born was taught in a log house with no floor. This
particular school was built by Abram Wyatt for a
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery (continued)
smoke house and it was located on Section 30 of Staunton Township. As soon as he was large
enough, Fletcher Chapman, began to assist his father in carrying on the farm. At the age of 20 he began to teach school in Cahokia Township
and after teaching there for 2 years he entered the school at Hillsboro as he was ambitious to extend his education. In 1853 he was elected
County Surveyor and served in that office for the ensuing six years. In 1858 he began to study law.
The breaking out of the Civil War found Fletcher H. Chapman, well equipped for the profession that he was about to enter. He cheerfully laid
aside his plans to help fight his country’s’ battles. In May, 1861 he enlisted in Company “C” of the 14th Illinois Infantry, but was transferred in
September of that same year to Light Artillery. He had the honor of being commissioned Captain of his company and commanded it until
February 1862 when it was consolidated with Company “D”, First Regiment Light Artillery. The company then became Company “B” of the
Second Illinois Light Artillery. F. H. Chapman was commissioned as Senior First Lieutenant, which position he held until March 1863 when he
was promoted to be Captain; his commission dating back to December 1862. He retained that rank until the end of the war. In the month of
June, 1864 he was appointed Provost Marshall and was stationed at Columbus, Kentucky. He acted in that capacity until July, 1865 and then
was honorably discharged with his company.
After his return to Carlinville from the South, Major Chapman was admitted to the bar and practiced law there continuously. His professional
life has been varied by the cares of public office as he had been called from time to time to fill responsible positions. He was Police
Magistrate from 1866 until 1869; County Superintendent of Schools for 4 years and was also appointed City Attorney. In his early life he was
a Democrat but he left the army a confirmed Republican. In 1890 he was a candidate of his party for Congress. Socially he was a valued
member of the “Dan Messick Post #339 G.A.R.” He was a man of strong character, unblemished reputation, wise and safe counselor and
was liberal and progressive in his views. He had been an honor to the citizenship of his native country and to such as he it owes its present
high standing among its sister countries.
Major Chapman had been married twice. In 1854 he was married to Miss Sarah McCreery, a native of Orange County, New York. This
marriage was but of brief duration as the young mother died in 1857 leaving two children. In 1862, Major Chapman married Miss Cecilia
Burns, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Their wedded life had been blessed by one child, Charlotte E.
Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are buried in the Chapman Cemetery.
The first mill in Staunton Township was the one purchased in the fall of 1820 by Richard Chapman. It consisted of a pair of small millstones
and fitted up a band mill where all the bread stuffs and grain was ground for the people of the settlement. Later others built more improved
mills.
Appendix 8 - Chapman Cemetery (continued)
The first marriage, of the parties living in the township in the early days was that of Jesse Chapman and Comfort Alexander on the 29th day of
May 1820.
The first white child born in the township was Benjamin Chapman, son of John D. and Sarah Chapman in the spring of 1820.
Name of Cemetery: Chapman
Oldest Grave: Harriet A. Mitchell, Sept. 15, 1844, 1 yr. 9 mo. 8 ds.
Number of lots: 66
Number of graves: 188
Number of graves to be filled: 12
Number of graves to be leveled: 16
Number of Veterans graves that need stones: 5
Number of stones in cemetery that need resetting: 14
Number of stones that need recutting: 16
Rods of Fence around cemetery: 111½
Condition of fence: fair
Rods of fence to be repaired: none
Rods of fence to be replaced: none
Number of people interviewed: 4
Appendix 9: Will of Richard Chapman 1792
http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/tyrrell/wills/chapmn01.txt
Tyrrell County, NC - Will of Richard Chapman, 1792
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the Name of God, I, Richard Chapman of the County of Tyrrell in the State
of North Carolina being in sound mind and memory. Thanks be to God for the
same and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make this
my last Will and Testament. That is to say first and princable I recommend
my soul to God, Who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a
Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter
mentioned and as to such wordly estates as it hath pleased God to bless one
with. I gave and dispose of in the manner and following that is to say
First, I gave and bequeath to my well beloved wife Joanna Chapman the use of
my House and plantation where on I now live to be divided as the path now
goes to the Roleing (spelling?) bridge during her natural life also I gave
to my well beloved wife Joanna Chapman all my movable estate except one
featherbed during her natural life.
Item I gave and bequeath to my grandson, Samuel Chapman, the land and
plantation where on I now live to the bounds above mentioned except one of
my houses at the death of my wife to be held five years.
Item I gave and bequeath to my three daughters, Joanna Collington, Ann
Phelps, and Eleanor Webster all my movable estates at the death of my wife
Joanna Chapman to be equally divided between them, the said Joanna, Ann,
and Eleanor, their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I gave and bequeath to my son, Joseph Chapman, all the remainder part
of my land from the bounds before mentioned to the eastward during his
natural life and at his death I gave and bequeath to my grandson, Richard
Chapman, the said land before mentioned to my son, Joseph Chapman, to him,
his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I gave and bequeath to my daughter, Ann Phelps one featherbed and
furniture to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I gave to my daughter, Eleanor Webster, one of my houses on my manor
plantation for the term of five years.
Item I gave to my grandson, Samuel Chapman, after the five years of my
daughter, Eleanor, be out, to him, his heirs and assigns forever the land
aforementioned to the aforesaid, Samuel Chapman.
Item I devise, constitute and ordain my well beloved wife, my friend,
Hezekiah Spruill, and my grandson, Samuel Chapman, to be whole and sole
executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do utterly disannull all
other Wills, gifts, and bequeaths before mentioned or bequeath in anywise
and do allow this to be my Last Will and Testament in witness, whereof, I
the said Richard Chapman have hereunto have set my hand and seal this 24
day of December in 1791.
Appendix 9: Will of Richard Chapman 1792 (Continued)
Richard (his mark) Chapman (seal attached)
Signed, sealed and pronounced and delivered in the presents of us,
Isaac Davenport
Ann Davenport
(their signatures)
Tyrrell County, April Term 1792 Personally appeared in Court, Isaac
Davenport and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, that he
saw that Richard Chapman above named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and
declare the above instrument of writing to be his last Will and Testament
& at that time he was of sound disposing mind & memory, & at the same time
he saw Ann Davenport a subscribing witness, sign her name thereunto & for
the same note.
(can't decipher) Mackey Clerk of Court
------
Note - in 1760, Richard and Joanna Chapman were witnesses on Joseph Spruill,
Sr.'s will. His son was Hezekiah Spruill who was named by Richard as his
friend to be one of the executors of his will in 1791.
Marriage bond of 17 Feb 1779 indicates Ann Chapman married Josiah Phelps.
The spelling in this will was so unusual as to make it unreadable so that I
had to make the spelling conform to modern spelling. Joanna's name was
spelled Jonnah in this will. But in 1760 was shown to be Joanna Chapman
when she witnessed Joseph Spruill, Sr's will. Worldly was spelled "werley",
decent was spelled "disant", natural was spelled "natrel", and daughters was
spelled "dafters" - to just name a few.
___________________________________________________________________
Copyright. All rights reserved.
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Sloan Crayton - sloanc@mindspring.com
Note added by Harry Chapman: The witnesses to this will, Isaac and Ann Davenport are the parents of Cecila Davenport who married
Richard Chapman (son of Joseph).
Appendix 10: Thanks to Gloria, Jarid and Kathleen– It’s a small world after all.
Earlier this year, I was running stuck on a couple of points. I had determined with about 95% certainty that there were two John Chapman’s in
the early years of Macoupin County but wanted to confirm that. The second problem was that I could find no information on my grandfather,
John W. Chapman other than the record of his marriage to Dora. I could not even find his date of birth or date of death. So I decided to try
to contact someone in Macoupin County and I sent an email to Gloria Frazier whose name was listed on the Macoupin County Genealogy
website. Gloria responded quickly and confirmed that there were two families of Chapmans in Macoupin County that she referred to as the
northern Chapmans and the southern Chapmans. Gloria is related to the northern Chapmans while our ancestors were the southern
Chapmans.
Gloria then forwarded my notes to Jarid Ott and Kathleen Mir. Within a couple of days, they had sent me 1900 census records, listing of
DOB’s of all of John and Dora’s children, and DOB and DOD for John. Jarid, located John’s 1910 obituary (appendix 1) and even went to the
cemetery and took a picture of his tombstone (appendix 2). I was so pleasantly surprised by three strangers going out of their way to help
me.
As Paul Harvey said, “now the rest of the story.” Jarid said that his mother who was born in 1917 talked about a couple of Chapman girls
named Helen and Dorothy and thought that she had maintained contact with Helen. I told Jarid that Helen was my aunt and Dorothy my oldest
cousin and gave him a brief bio of each of them including who they had married. He responded that Helen’s second husband, Herman (Hap)
Eilers was his grandmother’s youngest brother. So Uncle Hap was his great uncle Hap. He had met Helen but did not realize that she was
the Helen Chapman that his mother had mentioned. He also sent me a card signed “the Chapmans” that he thinks his mother had kept from
her wedding presents. That would have probably been Fred and family.
Later when Gloria learned where I lived, she mentioned that her relatives were from a nearby county and told me her maiden name. I play
golf with a friend of that name and Gloria quickly established that they were second cousins once removed.
I plan to visit Macoupin County and hope to meet Gloria, Jarid, and Kathleen.