Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Chapman, Franz S. September 11, 1861 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net December 14, 2005, 11:03 am Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Born near Hannibal, Missouri, on September 11, 1861, when that section of the country was thrilling with the early agony of the Civil war, and had for years before been in the straits incident to a desperate and wasting border strife, which, while its acts of violence may not have been witnessed just there, had its depressing effect on all industries and aspirations of the people even remotely connected with it, reared with limited educational advantages, and turning his hand to mechanical labor at the age of fifteen, it would not have been surprising if the adverse conditions of his youth had made Franz S. Chapman, of near Pinnacle, Routt county, only an ordinary man, dampening his ardor and emasculating his ambition to a commonplace expression; and this they would have done but for his native force and determination, and his systematic industry and fortitude, which prepared him for usefulness under almost any circumstances and gave him the power to triumph over the difficulties of his later life, which were often more arduous than even those of his young manhood. He is the son of Hugh and Cordelia C. (Scarlet) Chapman, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Virginia. They lived in Ohio until 1859, then in Missouri until 1882. In that year they moved to Colorado and located at Denver, where they remained until 1887. From Denver they changed their residence to Pueblo, and in 1893 to Leadville. The father was a railway coach builder and worked at his trade in these various localities. He and his wife now live near Pinnacle, Routt county, and are engaged in ranching and raising cattle. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally a Knight of Pythias. The family comprised four children, one of whom, William A., died in 1858, and another is also dead. Two are living, David M. and Franz S. The latter, at the age of fifteen, left home and began learning the trade of his father, building coaches for railroad travel, and afterward he followed it until 1886. He had acquired some skill as a craftsman in wood before leaving home by assisting his parents through working in saw-mills on the Mississippi. He was employed at his trade at Denver until 1882, at Brainerd, Minnesota, until 1883, at St. Paul six months, and finally at Hannibal, Missouri, until 1886. In the spring of that year he made a second trip to Colorado, and during the next two years was occupied in house building at Denver, working under contract. In 1888 he became a resident of Routt county, locating a pre-emption claim at Pinnacle, the first settler at that place. His land was covered with wild sage and buck brush, and a man less resolute would have been depressed by its unpromising appearance. But he had faith in the possibilities of the region and his own ability to call them forth to his advantage, and so he went to work improving his place and preparing it to minister to his wants by expanding and systematic productiveness. Some time after his arrival he bought an addition of one hundred and seventy-five acres to his ranch, and he has put this into good farming condition also, having now three hundred of his three hundred and thirty-five acres under cultivation. Cattle and hay are his principal productions, but he also raises first-rate crops of grain. His only possessions when he came to this region were a team and wagon, and he had from time to time unexpected difficulties to contend with, being often snowed in for long periods in the winter, and frequently suffering from the want of moisture in his land in summer. But the abundance of wild game furnished meat for his table, and his spirits never flagged in the hope of ultimate triumphs over all obstacles. The results of his persistent industry amply justify his faith, and from the hard conditions of his beginning he has won a substantial estate. He is also well established in the regard of his people here, and since 1900 he has served them well as the postmaster at Pinnacle. He is a stanch supporter of the principles and candidates of the Republican party, and given proof of his loyalty to it in all its contests. On June 24, 1885, he was married to Miss Mary P. O’Connor, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, reared at Hannibal, Missouri. They have five children, Ora M., Hugh M., Walter N., Arthur S. and Margaret L. Mr. Chapman has shown his deep and abiding interest in the stock industry of his section by introducing a line of thoroughbred cattle for its improvement, which has been of substantial advantage to the interest. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/chapman58gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb