CHAPMAN, John O.

CHAPMAN, MARTINSON

Posted By: Administrator
Date: 10/2/2001 at 20:24:01

From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879) Pages 669-697
Biographical Sketches of Clinton Residents

John O. Chapman, Master Mechanic of the Iowa Division of the Chicago Division of the Chicago & North-Western R. R.; is a native of Hartford, Conn., and was born Aug. 19, 1832. He learned the trade of machinist; after serving an apprenticeship of five years, he ran a locomotive for some years; he held the position of Master Mechanic of the Hartford & New Haven Railroad, and also held the position of Superintendent of the Woodruff Iron Works. He has letters from the management of both of these corporations, testifying to his superior ability as a mechanical engineer. He came West and accepted the position of Chief Engineer of the famous Calumet and Hecla Copper Mine at Lake Superior, Mich., and the first heavy machinery in that mine was placed there under his direction. He became connected with the North-Western Railroad in February, 1877, for one year having charge of the shops at Boone, and the following year was transferred to Clinton as general Master Mechanic of the Iowa Division of the C. & N. W. R. R. He is a self-made man, and has earned his position by his own efforts. He married Miss Louisa Martinson, a native of the city of New York, June 13, 1857; they have three sons and two daughters.