HENRY CHAPMAN. Among the successful agriculturists and business men of Washington county none stands higher in the estimation of the intelligent members of the community than the gentleman whose name here appears. He comes of rugged, loyal Scotch-Irish ancestry, his grandfather, Richard Chapman, Sr., having been born in County Monaghan, Ireland, where he married Sarah Patterson, also a native of that county, and where six children came to brighten their home, an humble one indeed, for they were poor but honest small farm tenants. Having now so many mouths to fill, and little ones to clothe besides themselves, the parents decided on seeking a new home in America, "where children are blessings, and he who hath most, hath aid for his fortune, and riches to boast." Accordingly they took passage for themselves and six children on a vessel sailing from Belfast, and as they gazed from the deck, with tear-bedimmed eyes, on the now fast receding isle of their birth and childhood, their hearts were buoyed with hope for a bright and happy future, the hope that ever "springs eternal in the human breast." But, alas! they had not proceeded far on the briny deep ere misfortune befell the little family circle. The vessel was overcrowded, water was scarce, the weather tempestuous, and as a consequence sickness came among them a sickness so fatal that all the children of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman succumbed, sank to the "dreamless rest that lulls the dead," and were buried at sea. With resolute purpose and stout hearts the bereaved parents, after landing in Philadelphia, strangers in a strange land, and possessing but little of this world's goods, started out, for the then "Far West," with no small difficulty ultimately succeeding in reaching Washington county, Penn., where they made a settlement in Mount Pleasant township. Here they built them a log cabin, and here they experienced all the hardships and encountered the many dangers incident to pioneer life. Six children, four sons and two daughters, were born to them in this, their new home, the following being a brief record of them: Robert moved to Ohio, becoming an early settler in Holmes county, where he died; Mary married James McNinch, and lived and died in West Finley township; Andrew was a farmer in Donegal township, where he died; Alexander died in Claysville, this county, where he kept store; Jane married Joel Lamborn, and died in Washington county, where she had passed her entire life; Richard, Jr., will have special mention presently. The father of this family died in Mount Pleasant township, near Hickory, May 26, 1803, the mother passing away December 17, 1826, in Pittsburgh, Penn., while visiting friends. Richard Chapman, Jr., was born May 15, 1794, on the old homestead in Mount Pleasant township, and received but a meager education at the primitive subscription schools of the day. When he was yet a boy his father died, and his mother then conducted a roadside inn near the town of Hickory, which tavern enjoyed considerable patronage from the traveling public, particularly emigrants moving westward. At this time Richard's spare hours from school were spent in assisting his mother, and so continued until his marriage, when he settled on a farm in the same township, where he followed agriculture up to the time of his death. On February 3, 1815, he was married to Catherine Updegraff, a member of an old Washington county family, who was born December 22, 1795. The children born to this union were as follows: Patterson, born November 15, 1815, a physician, who died in Belmont county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-two years; John, born April 20, 1817, died when ten years of age; Andrew, born December 10, 1818, died at the age of thirty-one years; Richard, born October 22, 1820, died aged fifty-five years in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he was practicing medicine; Margaret, born July 31, 1822, died unmarried; Henry, the subject of our biographical narrative; Julia, born July 15, 1826, deceased wife of A. C. Chapman; Eliza Jane, born September 29, 1828, wife of Benjamin Bungard, of Greene county, Penn.; Alexander, born September 5, 1831, died aged fifty; Hiram J., born June 4, 1833, resides in Guernsey county, Ohio, where he is a physician; Barzillai, born October 2, 1835, is a physician in Bakersville, Coshocton Co., Ohio, where he now resides; Robert U., born July 24, 1837, is practicing medicine in Des Moines, Iowa; and Minerva, born June 2, 1839, died in infancy. The father of this large family was called from earth June 6, 1861, in Greene county, Penn., whither he had moved. He was a member of the Disciple Church at Hickory, as was also his widow. In politics he was a strong Democrat, a prominent figure in the party. For seventeen years he was constable of the township, and was a widely known and very popular man in the community. His widow survived him a few years, dying suddenly December 25, 1866, of heart disease, while on a visit to her sons in Ohio. Henry Chapman was born September 1, 1824, in Hickory, Mount Pleasant township, Washington Co., Penn., his education (which was most limited, as he had to commence working for himself very early in life) being secured at the common schools of the district. At the age of twelve years he left home, and for some time worked for James Ross, a farmer in the same township, after which he worked at various other places until 1847, when he went to Belmont county, Ohio, whence in 1850 he returned to Washington county, settling on a farm on Buck run, in Donegal township, where he has since resided, and which property he purchased in 1875. This highly improved piece of land is situated about two miles southwest of Atchison, and is equipped with some of the finest farm buildings in the township. On February 24, 1848, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Susan Botkins, a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in 1832, a daughter of Col. R. C. Botkins, of that locality. Col. Botkins was born in Fayette county, Penn. He was married April 16, 1818, to Rachel Vernon, of same county, and three children were there born to them. After moving to Ohio the Colonel was engaged in farming, and he and his wife passed the rest of their days there, the former dying in 1864 at the age of sixty-seven years, the latter in 1846 at about the age of fifty years. Col. Botkins was a school teacher for a time, in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, and Mrs. Chapman has in her possession some of the books he used. The arithmetic is written in a neat, legible hand, showing much care and proficiency. He was active in the cause of education, and in military matters he took much interest, rising to the rank of colonel. Ten children were born to him and his wife, nine of whom attained adult age, four of them being yet alive, viz.: Benjamin V. (in Adams county, Iowa); Elma Ann (widow of David Bell, and residing in Iowa); Susan (Mrs. Henry Chapman), and Isaac Harry (in Bates county, Mo.). Eleven children have come to bless our subject and wife: Frank, a farmer in Baylor county, Tex.; Maria, deceased in infancy; Eber, died at the age of twenty-four years; Margaret, living with her parents; Henry, a resident of Lincoln, Kas.; Ella, wife of Edward Kinyon, in Nebraska; Rachel, at home with her parents; Clara, who died at the age of fourteen years; Eva, wife of Frank Linville, of Donegal township; Cora, a school teacher, living with her parents; and A. Campbell, also at the paternal home. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are consistent members of the Dutch Fork Disciple Church, and in politics he is a lifelong Democrat. His fine farm comprises 200 acres of prime land, and he raises pure-bred Spanish Merino sheep, of which he has a flock of 350; also Devonshire and Jersey cattle. He has in his possession a church "letter" over 100 years old from the Seceder Church in Monaghan, Ireland, to the church here, which letter was brought by his grandfather from across the ocean. Mr. Chapman is a highly respected citizen, justly honored and admired for his many noble traits of character. He is a typical self-made man, one who has fought his way unaided through life, his weapons a stout heart and willing hand; his watchword and battle-cry "Excelsior."

Text taken from page 997 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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