Biography of James Chapman, pages 458/459/460.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



James Chapman



	Of those who have seen the wonderful development of northeastern 
Indiana from the swamps and primeval forests and who have played well 
their parts in the great undertaking, none deserve special mention in a 
historical work better then James Chapman, whose conversation is at 
once instructive and interesting as he recalls the pioneer days, the 
times when there were only log school houses, with puncheon floors and 
greased paper for window panes, the long miles of endless woods, large 
numbers of deer and other wild animals which haunted the forests at 
that remote period, and of the days when civilization first attempted 
to reclaim these lands, turning them into fine farms. Where plenty and 
happiness now abound.

	Mr. Chapman was born on March 23, 1827, in Stark county, Ohio, 
and is a son of John and Eunice (Boyle) Chapman. John Chapman was born 
probably near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and Eunice Boyle, who also 
was a native of the Keystone state, was of Irish parentage.  She and 
John Chapman were married in their native state and subsequently moved 
to Stark county, Ohio, locating near Massillon. When James Chapman was 
about seven years old they moved to that part of Richland county, which 
afterwards became Ashland county, Ohio, where the parents lived for 
many years and reared their family.  In October, 1852, the moved to 
Allen county, Indiana, locating three miles southeast of Huntertown, 
where the parents spent the rest of their lives, and where John Chapman 
successfully followed farming pursuits.  James Chapman lived on the 
home farm until eighteen years of age and then gave his attention to 
carpenter work in which he became an expert and in which he was 
successful.  His father not only conducted the home farm but gave 
considerable attention to veterinary work and was very successful in 
the treatment of dumb animals, especially horses.  In addition to 
carpenter work James Chapman engaged in the buying and selling of all 
kinds of live stock and also handled grain, wool and other commodities 
in large amounts.  An idea of the extent of his operations may be 
gained from the statement that in one year he bought and sold over one 
hundred and twenty thousand pounds of wool, and in one year sheared 
twenty-five hundred sheep which he had bought, shipping the wool to New 
York and Philadelphia.  In 1884 Mr. Chapman came to Waterloo and bought 
a farm in the northeast quarter of the southeastern section of 
Smithfield township, and here he carried on farming and made his home 
for about twenty years, at the same time dealing in livestock.  About 
1903 Mr. Chapman moved into the town of Waterloo, where he has since 
resided, and about 1909, at the age of eighty-two years, he retired 
from active business and has since been living quietly in his beautiful 
and attractive home here.  Politically Mr. Chapman was in early life a 
Democrat, but after the organization of the Republican party, or rather 
the first Lincoln campaign, he has been allied with the latter party 
and has been ardent in its support.  His life has been a busy one and 
he has been closely identified in many ways with important business 
interest, having carried on many and diverse lines of business at the 
same time. He was an honest and energetic man and at all times 
commanded the respect of all with whom he had dealings.  His last 
active work was to superintend the erection of the very pleasant and 
modern house in which he now resides, the place being provided with all 
up-to-date conveniences, and being a pleasant and comfortable home.  
Mr. Chapman is now the oldest man living in Waterloo and until he 
suffered from an attack of la grippe three years ago, he was remarkably 
active for his age, and even now at the age of eighty-six years his 
eyesight and hearing are only slightly impaired and his memory very 
good.

	On October 28, 1852, Mr. Chapman married Nancy Johnson, whose 
father, Robert Johnson, came from county Cork, Ireland, being of 
Scotch-Irish descent.  Nancy Johnson was born and reared in Richland, 
afterward Ashland county, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage and 
for a short time afterward. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapman were born five 
children: Eunice Josephine, the wife of Robert Underwood, a veteran of 
the Civil war, and she now lives at Denver, Colorado; she has a 
daughter, Mrs. W.J. Railey, of Denver, who has one son, Robert Martin 
Railey; Laura, who remains unmarried, lives with her father in Waterloo 
and has charge of the home and assists her father in the management of 
his affairs; Emma Elizabeth is the wife of Marshall Lewis and lives in 
Franklin township, five miles for Waterloo; she is the mother of two 
children, Fred and Iva, the latter being the wife of Milton Wiler and 
the mother of three children, Esther, Alfred and Bert Lewis; George 
Wilbur died a the age of nineteen yeas and Robert died in infancy. Mrs. 
Chapman died in October, 1904, just twenty-four days prior to the 
fifty-second anniversary of their marriage.  She was a woman of many 
gracious qualities of head and heart and was beloved by the entire 
community in which she had spent so many active and happy years.  Mr. 
Chapman is widely known for his kindly qualities and hospitality, no 
worthy person ever having left his door unfed and his high standing 
among the people of this locality show how well his life has been 
spent, for he is appreciated for his fine personal qualities and for 
the active part he has taken in the upbuilding and development of the 
various communities in which he has lived.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com