CHAPMAN, F. I.

CHAPMAN, ROBINSON, PRESTON, BURGESS, PATTERSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/18/2004 at 13:08:13

Biography reproduced from page 568 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

F. I. Chapman has for nineteen years been conducting a blacksmith shop in Luverne, and during a large portion of that time he has been more or less actively identified with local political affairs. He was born in Lesueur county, Minnesota, on the 23d of June, 1870, and is a son of Lovell and Elizabeth (Robinson) Chapman. The parents were born, reared and married in Boston, Massachusetts, whence they removed to Minnesota. The mother passed away in Portland, Oregon, while on a health seeking trip in 1905, but the father is living and now makes his home in Portland, Oregon. He has always been identified with either agricultural pursuits or the lumber business. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman numbers nine, all of whom are living with the exception of the youngest, who died in infancy. Etta, who is the widow of J. M. Preston, of Walnut, Illinois; Waldo, who is a resident of Portland, Oregon; Ernest, who makes his home in Waterville, Minnesota; Charles, a resident of Oklahoma; F. I., our subject; Marshall, who is living in Clarkesville, Iowa; Myrtle, the wife of Frank Burgess; and Minnie, of Portland, Oregon.

The early boyhood of F. I. Chapman was passed in his native state where he began his education, but when a lad of nine years he came to Luverne with a brother-in-law, with whom he thereafter made his home. He continued to attend the public schools until he had completed his course of study and when not engaged with his lessons assisted his brother-in-law, who was a blacksmith, in his shop. They were associated together until 1893, when Mr. Chapman established a shop and engaged in business for himself. He does general blacksmithing and also repairs automobiles, wagons and other vehicles, and as he is a good mechanic and is thoroughly trustworthy and reliable he has built up a good trade. In 1910 he decided to extend the scope of his activities and on February 1, of that year, he opened a hardware store in connection with which he also maintains a tin shop. This has also proven to be a profitable undertaking and he is enjoying a good patronage. Mr. Chapman deserves much credit for his achievements as he began with nothing and is now the owner not only of a profitable business but of some good property. He has four lots with a frontage of one hundred and fourteen and a half feet where his store is located, in addition to which he owns two lots and a very comfortable residence in the east part of town. The front part of the building his store now occupies was on the lot when he bought it, but he subsequently built on in the rear and he later added a new shop, using the old one for implements.

In 1894, Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Emma Patterson, a native of Delaware county, Iowa, and to them have been born two sons, Irvin H. and Leo C., both of whom are attending the public school.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally Mr. Chapman is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows of Luverne, and the Encampment of Algona, while both he and Mrs. Chapman are members of the Rebekahs. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has one several occasions been called to public office. For twelve years he was a member of the town council and for five or six he has been on the school board. Mr. Chapman is highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen, as in both his business transactions and the discharge of his official duties he has maintained a standard of conduct that has left his integrity and honor above question.