Biography - Mary Chapman
MRS. MARY E. CHAPMAN, widow of D. C. Chapman, was born in Johnson County, and is a daughter of Pleasant Rose and Mary Ann Ellis, his wife. The former was a native of Pope County, ILL., and so also was his wife. The father of Pleasant Rose was Edmund Rose, of Virginia, who came to the Territory of Illinois prior to 1812, as Pleasant Rose was born here in that year. When Pleasant was seven years old his father died, in the prime of life, leaving his wife, this one son and one daughter. He was a farmer in comfortable circumstances. His widow lived to a good old age. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Chapman was from Ireland, as was also his wife. At first, on coming to the United States from their native land, they settled in North Carolina, and afterward, and while Illinois was still a Territory, came to Illinois. He died when yet comparatively a young man, but his widow lived to be very old.
Mrs. Chapman had but limited education, but it was the best the county schools afforded in her youth. She was married August 21, 1853, in her eighteenth year, her husband being then twenty-five years old. They at once settled on a farm which he had just purchased of one hundred and sixty acres, with small improvements on it, consisting of a log house and barn, and twenty-five acres cleared. In the course of ten years he bought of the Government three hundred and forty acres more, some at $1.25 per acre, and some at a "bit" per acre. Some of this land was sold off, and Mrs. Chapman now owns three hundred and ninety-six acres. Mr. Chapman died December 7, 1888, at the age of sixty years. They had buried one daughter, Sidney Ann, wife of Alonzo Benson, who died at the age of thirty years, leaving four children. Mrs. Chapman has seven children, viz: P. T., a banker of Vienna, who has three children; J. C., a farmer of Vienna, who has two children; D. L., a merchant of Vienna, who has one son; Mary E., wife of James N. Benson, a farmer of Tunnel Hill Township, and who has two children; Ida C., wife of D. W. Whittenberg; Estella B., a young lady at home; and Charles H., a youth of fifteen also at home. All these children have been well educated and some of them have attended college. P. T. is a graduate of McKendree College.
Mr. Chapman was Sheriff of the county two and a-half terms, being twice elected, and appointed once to fill a vacancy. He was a Republican and a Royal Arch Mason. He and his wife started out in life without means, and he left his family in comfortable circumstances. He served as teamster in the Mexican War, going out at nineteen years of age. He was for a few years engaged in merchandising and had a cotton press of his own on the present farm. Mrs. Chapman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and though Mr. Chapman was not a member of any church, yet be was a Christian and was well thought of by his neighbors and fellow-citizens. Mrs. Chapman is living on the farm, and with the aid of her sons is carrying on general farming. She is a most estimable lady, and enjoys the esteem of all.
Extracted 15 Apr 2002 by Rick Girtman from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 314-315
