Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 416
GILES L. CHAPMAN

Giles L. CHAPMAN, a leading citizen, and an old settler of Harririson County, was born in New London County, Conn., November 19, 1845. He is the son of Joseph N. and Elizabeth A. (ROTH) CHAPMAN, both natives of Connecticut, but of English descent. The father, Joseph N., was the son of Joseph and Betsy CHAPMAN, and was born in October 1815, and the mother was born March 2, 1819, and was the daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (SHOALS) ROTH.

Joseph N. and Elizabeth CHAPMAN were married November 28, 1839, in Connecticut, where they remained until 1869, and then moved to Iowa, and settled in Douglas Township, Harrison County, on a farm, after first having spent one year in and around Dunlap. This farm is situated on section 5, and here they erected a fine frame residence, in 1870, and made other valuable improvements on the premises. They lived upon this place until 1880, and then moved to Dunlap, where they now reside. They have been associated with the Baptist Church for many years, having united early in life and have always been active, consistent members of that denomination. Mr. Chapman has been a Deacon in this church for some fifty years. Was Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for a number of years. His family consists of three children: Rosanna, wife of Lucius EGGLESTON, a resident of Dunlap; George N., deceased, at the age of thirty-three years; he was Principal of the Baltic schools at the time of his death and was in the Civil War four years and sixteen days; Giles L., our subject,. This venerable couple sailed over the changeable sea of life, reared a family of children, who do honor to their name. They were companions on the road until they had passed the fiftieth milestone of their married life, and in the month of October, 1889, when nature was putting on her robes of beauty, and the earlier leaves were falling to the ground, they celebrated their golden wedding and renewed the marriage covenant, that had been solemnized on a like day in 1839.

Giles L. CHAPMAN, the subject of this sketch, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1868. He was reared on his father's farm, educated at the public schools, and at the age of eighteen commenced teaching himself, and followed it for two years. May 30, 1866, he was married to Juliett YOUNG, who was born in Plainfield, Conn., June 24, 1843. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (WOOD) YOUNG, who were natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively, and died in the former State. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom died in infancy. The second year following the marriage of our subject, he located in Harrison County, Iowa, and took charge of the County Poor Farm for one year, and then removed to Douglas Township, where they purchased forty acres of land, built a house and made other necessary improvements, and lived there for twelve years. He added to his first purchase until he now owns one hundred acres. In 1880 he moved to Dunlap, where he lived four years engaged at various pursuits, including buying and selling property, and also in the butcher business. In 1885 he purchased the farm he now occupies on section 8, the same consisting of seventy acres, upon which he has erected a handsome residence which overlooks the Boyer Valley, presenting a most charming rural landscape, the scene extending for twelve miles. He turns his attention to farming, money-loaning and general brokerage business, and is looked upon as among the far-seeing business men of Harrison County. While he lived in Douglas Township he farmed summers and taught school winters, and was Assessor of the township for four years, and after moving to Harrison Township, was a member of the School Board.

Politically, Mr. CHAPMAN casts his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, belonging to Lodge No. 178, at Dunlap, and has passed all the Chairs in that Lodge. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having united in 1876, and are also active workers in the Sabbath-school cause. Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children: Nellie I., born in 1870; George N., in 1876; both of whom died and were buried the same day, December 3, 1879. The living children are: Bessie, born September 16, 1881, and Charles, August 1, 1882.

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