Biography of Lemuel N. Chapman, pages 882/883/884. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. Lemuel N. Chapman It is proper to judge of the success of a man’s life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public question, observe the operation of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are, therefore, competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been said, “actions speak louder than words.” In this connection it is not too much to say that the subject of this sketch has passed a life of unusual honor, that he has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have the pleasure of his friendship. Lemuel N. Chapman, and honored citizen and industrious farmer of Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born in that township on January 22, 1867, and is the son of Lewis and Mary (Duncan) Chapman. Lewis Chapman was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on July 17, 1832, the son of Lemuel and Ruth (Harding) Chapman. The Chapman family is of English ancestry, the progenitors of the family having first settled it Pennsylvania, where they married into Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Lemuel Chapman, the paternal grandfather, became a prominent man in his day, being known as General Chapman in Ohio and commander of the state militia. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his death occurred in 1837. He was a man of many accomplishments, being a fine penman and well educated, as well as being powerful physically. Lewis Chapman was reared in Ohio, attending high school, and some time before the Civil war he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land north of the east part of Waterloo. He also taught school during two winters. In 1861 he married Mary C. Duncan, who was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1832, the daughter of George J. and Mary (Baxter) Duncan. When two years old her parents moved to Holmes county, Ohio, and later to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1852 the family moved to DeKalb county, locating a short distance from where the Barker Methodist Episcopal church is now located in Smithfield township, where her parents built a home and lived the rest of their lives. George J. Duncan was both a shoemaker and a farmer, but his sons mostly followed farming. Mary Duncan lived on the home farm until her marriage, and some time prior thereto had taught school at the Center school and other schools in Smithfield township, and it is related that at one time when she went to the Center school house she saw six deer standing in the school yard, who, after looking at her for a moment, ran into the woods. For about fifteen years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chapman lived northeast of Waterloo, when they sold that farm and bought a tract south of Summit, and there lived until in old age, though during the past twelve yeas they had given up active farm work and lived with their children. Lewis Chapman died on December 14, 1913, and Mary Chapman on December 17, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have been hard workers all their lives and have richly earned the prosperity, which has resulted from their efforts. They reared seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, married and have children of their own. These children are as follows: May, widow of Albert Gramling, now deceased, lives one mile west of Summit, and is the mother of six children living, four sons and two daughters; Jennie is the wife of Jay Shaffer, of Smithfield township, and they have two children; Lemuel N. lives in the northeastern part of Smithfield township and is the immediate subject of this biographical review; Margaret, who is the wife of George Corbin, of the northeastern part of Smithfield township, has a daughter; Georgia is the wife of Isaac Barker, of Smithfield township ; William H. lives in Manly, Iowa, where he is a successful carpenter and contractor, and is married and the father of four children; L. Edward,, who lives at Grand Island, Nebraska, is married and the father of two children. Of the sisters of Lemual N. Chapman, it is noteworthy that three of them have taught school, Jennie, Maggie and Georgia. The subject of this sketch, being the oldest son, was compelled to remain at home to assist his father, but benefited by that because he there learned how to work to advantage and imbibed those traits of character which have been instrumental in his later successes. He did much pioneer work, such as clearing land and draining, and, in the broadest sense of the term, he is self-made. He remained with his parents until twenty-six years of age and then engaged in farming his mother-in-law’s place for twenty years. About 1904 Mr. Chapman bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and so well did he manage this tract that in four years he made enough on it to pay for the tract. It is a good farm in every respect and is handled to the best advantage, Mr. Chapman adopting up-to-date methods in its cultivation and exercising personal supervision over every detail of its operation. It adjoins the Kegerreis farm, and he still lives there and operates both tracts. He has worked diligently and steadily at his vocation, losing no time and overlooking no opportunity to improve the farm and to turn things to the best advantage. In 1893 Mr. Chapman married Sarah May Kegerreis, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (James) Kegerreis, who are mentioned elsewhere in this sketch, and to them have been born three children, namely: Inez, who is now in the last year of high school at Ashley, having attended three terms at Waterloo; Madge, who is in the second year of high school, and Maude, four years old. The mother of these children died on July 23, 1912, and was buried July 25th, her birthday anniversary. She was a faithful and earnest member of the Barker Methodist Episcopal church and active in its various avenues of usefulness from the childhood, living close to the teachings of the Bible all her life and proving a good wife and faithful and loving mother. Mr. Chapman has also for many years been an active and faithful member of the Barker Methodist Episcopal church, contributing of his means to its support and giving his attention to all its interests. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in every avenue of life’s earned the high regard in which he is universally held throughout the community. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com