Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Chapman, Fred A. 1938 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net September 12, 2018, 6:33 pm Ionia Sentinel Standard, 18 Oct 1938 Fred Chapman Rites to be Held Friday Body of Prominent Ionian Is Found by Searchers in Garage Early Tuesday Morning – Discharged Shotgun at His Side. The pajama-clad body of Fred A. Chapman, 60, former Ionia mayor, was found shortly before 5 o’clock Tuesday morning in the two-car garage in rear of the Chapman home, 326 East Washington street. By his side lay a discharged automatic 12-guage shotgun containing an empty shell. A charge from the gun had entered his forehead and death had been instantaneous. The body was found by Mrs. Mamie Garvey, who accompanied by G.L. Yates, next-door neighbor went to the garage after she noticed the garage door a little ajar and had heard a report as of a gunshot. Mr. Chapman’s body was partially reclining on the garage floor between two automobiles, from one of which he had apparently taken the shot-gun, as the door of the automobile was open. Mrs. Garvey, sister-in-law of Mr. Chapman summoned by Mrs. Chapman when she found that Mr. Chapman had not returned to bed after arising, sought him through the house before looking outside. Advised to Rest. Mr. Chapman had returned from Grand Rapids late Monday evening after spending part of the day there on business connected with the Western Michigan Fall festival which he has been arranging. Because of ill-health he was very restless and was visited shortly after midnight by his family physician, Dr. J.J. McCann. Mr. Chapman had been advised, friends said, to take a period of rest and treatment. Coroner Harry Myers and Sheriff Herbert A. Ross were called and stated after that there would be no inquest. The body will rest at the Boynton Funeral chapel until Wednesday evening when it will be removed to the home. Funeral services for Mr. Chapman will be attended at 9 o’clock Friday morning from SS. Peter and Paul church with interment at Mt. Olivet cemetery. Requiem High Mass will be sung with Rev. Fr. Ralph J. Kelly officiating. The Rosary Society and the Daughters of Isabella will meet Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock and the Holy Name society and the Knights of Columbus will meet Thursday evening at 8 o’clock, both at the home 326 East Washington street. Mr. Chapman was born October 16, 1878, at North Leeds, England, the son of Enoch and Anna Chapman. With his parents he came to the United States in October, 1893, and they made their home in Detroit. He was married to Miss Thecla Denk in Detroit, July 10, 1900, who preceded him in death August 2, 1926. April 19, 1928, he was married to Miss Aurelia Denk, a sister of the first Mrs. Chapman. Surviving are his wife, three children, Mrs. Edward B. Finley, jr., of Grand Rapids, Frederick A. Chapman, jr., and Aurelia Catherine Chapman, 5; a sister, Mrs. Fred Gausman of Toledo, and two brothers, Frank Chapman of Kansas City, Missouri, and Alex Chapman. He is also survived by his mother, whose home is in Toledo. His Health Failing In recent months Mr. Chapman has kept himself busied with numerous important duties connected with various activities in which he was deeply interested. Not only has business occupied him but he has been working hard on arrangements for the coming Grand Rapids fall festival and had been making elaborate plans for the 25th anniversary of the Ionia free fair next summer, an observance upon which he had set his heart. Friends state that recently he had appeared ill and that his condition has given them so much concern that they have advised him to spare himself and take what they deemed necessary precautions to protect his health. Bur despite their solicitous advice he continued at the tasks he had set himself. Tribute of Friends For more than 30 years Fred A. Chapman has been a vital force in the community of Ionia, and none had more friends or was more highly thought of than he. His interests have ranged through the church, fraternal, business, industrial, political and community activities of the city and county. He had a widespread acquaintance and was honored far beyond Ionia, through Michigan and beyond. In all of the activities with which he was connected he was an important and motivating force. The Ypsilanti Reed Furniture company through its nearly 35 years of existence here, the Ionia Free Fair, the city and county of Ionia, and the numerous community groups and projects with which he has been identified have known the steadying influence and the sturdy loyalty of his cooperation. No more eloquent tribute could be paid to him than the low-voiced conversations in Ionia’s homes and public places which followed word of his tragic death. Friends in groups Tuesday discussed his death in shocked undertones, and put off until another day matters of important business which they had previously scheduled. Active in Fairs Chapman is credited with 40 cumulative years of service in fair and entertainment projects. He had been an officer or director of county, state and international fair groups and was recognized as an authority on fair attractions and entertainment features. He had made a hobby of it until he had become familiar the width and breadth of the country among the fraternity. It was Mr. Chapman and Fred W. Green who founded the Ionia free fair association and carried out the idea of the first fair at which no admission charge was made. he had been secretary of the Ionia association since it was founded in 1915 and at the time of his death was making plans for the silver anniversary exhibition next August. Chapman was named president of the Michigan fair association 13 years ago and served as its head since. He was secretary of the Michigan state fair in 1928 and served until 1932. His appointment at that time came from the then governor, Fred W. Green. An Arduous Task Early this year he was appointed managing director of the newly-formed Michigan festival association, sponsor of the Michigan farm festival which is to make its initial showing at Grand Rapids November 14-17. In this capacity Chapman was in complete charge of the entertainment and has spent much time planning the programs. In 1936 he was president of the International Association of Fairs holding office for one year. For 15 years the Ionia Free Fair association has been a member of this association. From 1927, when he took office upon the election of Mayor Fred W. Green to the governorship, until 1931, Mr. Chapman was mayor of Ionia. Prior to that time he had served the fourth ward as alderman on the city council. Since 1927 he had been a member of the Ionia County Road commission and since September 26, 1935 he had been chairman of that body. He was a director of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce. He was director of the Ionia County National bank of Ionia, and its predecessor, the First National bank of Ionia, which institutions he had served for many years. He was treasurer and a director of the Grand Rapids Varnish company, and had been president, vice-president and a director of the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture company of Ionia. At the time of his death he was vice-president and a director of the Ionia company. Comes to Ionia In 1901 Mr. Chapman was one of the founders of the Phoenix Reed company and was named its president. That year the company moved from the east to Ypsilanti and changed it to the name of Ypsilanti Reed Furniture company. In December of that year Mr. Chapman became associated with Fred W. Green who served as attorney for the firm. The firm shortly thereafter came to Ionia where it had obtained the contract from the state to manufacture its product at the Michigan reformatory, and from that time on, while he was actively interested in the industry, he was the manager of production. In 1913 following a disastrous fire at the reformatory which destroyed the factory buildings the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture company occupied its down town factory, and grew and prospered with Ionia. Mr. Chapman was popular and active in fraternal circles. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, a past Grand Knight of the Ionia chapter, a member of the Holy Name society, a Past Exalted Ruler of Ionia Lodge No. 548 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and had been prominent in district and state circles of the orders. For more than a year he served the state of Michigan as warden of the Michigan reformatory receiving his appointment from the then governor, Frank D. Fitzgerald, April 1, 1936. He continued in that capacity until August 31, 1937. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/chapman8261gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb