Biography of John Chapman
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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Chapman, John- To the observant traveler who notes down in memory's pages the many beautiful scenes, the evidences
of thrift and enterprise, there is no better illustration than is offered by a short visit to the beautiful home
of John Chapman, situated in the southern part of the town of Northumberland, on the middle road between Grangerville
and Bacon Hill. The farm consists of over 135 acres in the highest state of cultivation; a fine dwelling, admirably
situated among shade trees, adds a charm to the well kept premises, with fine barns and sheds, dairy house and
orchards, proclaims John Chapman was born a fanner and not made, as is the common expression. The exact date when
this model husbandman was ushered into the world was January 17. 1823. He is the son of Samuel Chapman, a native
of Connecticut, and Sarah Hartwell Chapman. his wife, both deceased. His grandfather, Samuel Chapman, was a soldier
in the war of the Revolution, was captured at the battle of White Plains and conveyed a prisoner aboard a British
ship, where he endured the tortures of a long imprisonment, subsisting mostly on potatoes, and the hardship he
received so affected his health that he died a few months after being set at liberty, a victim to the cruelty practiced
by the British on Americans who fell into their hands. Of Mr. Chapman's three brothers, Francis was a merchant
in Sehuylerville, and is now deceased; Samuel was a graduate of Union College and became a druggist in Philadelphia,
but now resides in Maryland. Henry died a few months after receiving his degree from Union College. Of his five
sisters, three are living, Mary, wife of John Baker of Kansas City, Mo.; Sarah, widow of Asa Thompson of Minneapolis,
Minn., and Eliza Ann of Benton Harbor, Mich., wife of Dr. Albert Burger. In politics Mr. Chapman is a Republican,
and held the office of town town clerk in 1856-57. In 1852 he married Antoinette Marshall, and they had six children:
Charles M. of Schuylerville, John H. of Minneapolis, Minn., Samuel, who conducts the farm; Eliza A., who resides
at home; Sarah, wife of Myron Coleman of Troy, and Mary, wife of Charles McRea of Granville. Among the many features
of Mr. Chapman's model farm, conspicuous is his fine herd of cows. His dairy is complete, a cream separator and
other improvements being marked features. The butter made at Mr. Chapman's dairy finds a ready sale among the best
families of Saratoga Springs at top prices. The whole place is a tribute to the energy, thrift and foresight of
one who knows how to do and does it.
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