Harry Alfred Chapin

AKA ALKALI AL BOHNENKAMP, BLAIR, VARNER, SNOOK, ANDERSON

Posted By: Dick Onken (email)
Date: 11/9/2006 at 11:35:04

Taken from the Glidden Archives of the Woman's Club. Bound Volume made for Glidden Centennial.

H.A. CHAPIN 1866-1952
Harry Alfred Chapin was born in Grundy Co. Missouri, on Nov. 30, 1866, to Isaac M. and Sarah Chapin, and died, following a heart attack at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R.J. Bohnenkamp, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday, May 18, 1952, at the age of 86 years. He is interred in the Westlawn Cemetery, Glidden, Iowa. He was the last surviving member of the family of Isaac and Sarah Chapin. At an early age, Mr. Chapin moved with his family to Iowa and settled in Carroll County, where he lived for the most part of his life. He was married in 1892 to Nettie Blair, and to this union were born eleven children. Mrs. Chapin and five of their children preceded him in death.
Mr. Chapin was engaged in farming for many years in Carroll Co., until he became Town Marshall for the city of Glidden, a position which he served for many years. He is well remembered for the time he spent as the town marshal, and his avocation of poetic efforts, where he acclaimed a good bit of local and state attention. He liked to use the pen name of "Alkali Al", and under this name wrote many political as well as local interest ballads. At the time of Mr. Chapin's death, he was survived by two sons, Archie R. and James. And four daughters: Mrs. Harmon Varner; Mrs.R. J. Bohnenkamp; Mrs. Harry Snook and Mrs. Harold Anderson.