CHAPMAN, Tracy

CHAPMAN, VAN LOON, DUNHAM, RICHARDSON, SMITH, BRINK, MASON, MARTIN, DICKEY, NORTH

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 20:52:13

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

TRACY CHAPMAN, one of the prominent stockmen of Crawford County, was born at Sodus Bay, New York, February 4, 1834, a son of Harlow Chapman, a native of Connecticut. He was a manufacturer by occupation, was a man of small means, and his death occurred while he was yet in the prime of life. When his estate was settled but little remained for the widow and children, and our subject was then only two years of age. The mother, nee Catherine Van Loon, was a native of New York, of Holland ancestry. She died when Tracy was five years of age, leaving three daughters and two sons, and the former are all now deceased. The eldest son, William H., is a prominent and wealthy citizen of Sparta, Kent county, Michigan.

Tracy Chapman grew to manhood in his native State, and received only three
months schooling during the winter months. While a young man he worked for $10 per
month. Having read of the advantages received in the far West. He determined to come
here, and accordingly packed a small trunk, which a kind neighbor took to town, twenty
miles distant, on a load of wood, while he walked by the wagon. This was his start on the
road to the far West and to fortune. He came by the lakes and railroad via Chicago to
Freeport, Illinois, where he worked at farm labor two years, then came to Dubuque, Iowa
by stage to Iowa City, next to Des Moines, and then walked to Crawford county, arriving
in the spring of 1856. He spent a few days at Dunham's Grove, and then proceeded to
Mason's Grove, where he remained one year, working for wages as a farm laborer. His
first purchase of land was made in the summer of 1856, and consisted of 120 acres in
Milford township. In 1857 he located near his present home, and for thirty-five years has
been a respected resident of this immediate locality. He has devoted himself assiduously
to farming, and by industry and perseverance in this most noble occupation has been
unusually successful, and is to-day one of the leading agriculturists of the county. From
time to time, as his means would allow, he has added to his possessions until he now owns
1, 240 acres of rich and well-improved land, has from 200 to 300 head of cattle, 300 head
of swine, and a large number of horses. In one season he raised 10,000 bushels of corn on
his farm. Mr. Chapman has a fine herd of Durham cattle, whch are among the best in
Crawford county, and also has a number of good horses. He has a beautiful residence,
fine groves and orchard, and every thing about the place shows the thrift and prosperity of
the owner. He is an enterprising, progressive, intelligent man, who keeps himself well
informed on all the public questions of the day. He has always taken an active interest in
local affairs, leading his influence in be-half of everything for the advancement of the
public good. He has served as Justice of the Peace a number of years. Politically, he is a
Republican. In 1887, and again in 1891 he was a candidate for the Legislative Assembly,
but his party being largely in the minority, he suffered defeat with the other members of
his ticket.

Mr. Chapman was married in the fall of 1856 to Mrs. John A. Dunham, nee Celinda
Richardson, who was born at New Haven, Oswego county, New York, a daughter of
Rufus Richardson, a native of Vermont. The mother, formerly Marilda Smith, died when
Mrs. Chapman was three years of age. When the latter was nine years old her father came
to Scott county, Iowa, later to Clinton county, and his death occurred at Mason's Grove,
this county, at the age of eight-eight years. Mrs. Chapman was one of the first women to
reside in Crawford county when all was new and wild. John A. Dunham was born in
Illinois, a son of Cornelias Dunham, one of the first settlers in this part of the county, and
from whom Dunham's Grove derived its name. John Dunham died October 31, 1854,
leaving three children: Sylvanus C., of Dunlap, Iowa; Elsie L., wife of Giles A. Brink, of
Beatrice, Nebraska; and Alice, who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs.
Chapman have had nine children, namely: Phoebe, wife of Willis Mason, of Washington
county, Kansas; Huldah, wife of James Martin, of Omaha, Nebraska; Harlow, of Milford
township, Crawford county; Delia, wife of Frank Dickey, also of this county;
Celinda, wife of James North, of Milford township; Rhoda J. and Tracy H. at home. They lost two children by death: Louis and Jennie, who died at the ages of eighteen years and seven and a half months. Mr. Chapman is yet in the prime of life, is frank and genial in his manner, and is a popular citizen.