G. P. Chapman Biography, Lapeer County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 981-982


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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G. P. CHAPMAN. It is frequently remarked that the finest residence in 
Lapeer County is the large brick dwelling owned and occupied by this 
gentleman, and charmingly located on section 14, Lapeer Township. This 
beautiful home is not only attractive in its exterior, but is elegantly 
furnished within and contains all modern improvements, being heated 
with hot water and lighted with gas. The large barns and farm buildings 
are models of convenience, while fine stock may be seen in the 
pastures. A man of large business interests, Mr. Chapman has attained 
to his present high standing through his unaided exertions and justly 
is numbered among the most influential and representative farmers of 
the county.

   Simcoe Chapman, father of our subject, was a native of Bucks County, 
Pa., and followed the calling of a farmer. Phoebe (Park) Chapman, 
mother of our subject, was a native of Canada, born near Niagara Falls. 
The father was a man of great mechanical genius, and his son retains in 
his possession some fine specimens of his work. His death was caused by 
cholera, in 1854, while the mother survived until 1863. Five of their 
fourteen children are now living. Our subject was born June 13, 1884, 
in the township of Pelham, Canada, and began for himself at the age of 
seventeen years, having prior to that time received a good common-
school education. His first employment was secured on a farm, and he 
afterward worked in a sawmill for three years.

   For two years Mr. Chapman sojourned in York, Canada, and for seven 
years in Walsingham. In 1861 he came to Michigan and worked on his 
present farm, then the property of his wife's father. In 1862 he went 
to Saginaw and Bay Counties, where he engaged in lumbering until 1867. 
Thence he returned to his former home in Lapeer County, although he 
still retains large lumber interests. He was married in July, 1865, to 
Julia E. Higley, whose parents were natives of Shore-ham, Vt., and came 
to Michigan as early as 1832, settling in this county. Mr. Higley 
located where Higley's old mill now stands and built a flour, grist and 
saw mill, the latter being one of the first in the county. Mrs. Chapman 
was born September 15, 1846, and was the recipient of a good common-
school education.

   After his marriage our subject removed to what is now Arenac County, 
where he cleared one hundred acres of land in connection with 
lumbering. He made his permanent location on his present estate in 
1870. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of nine children, eight of 
whom are now living, as follows: Paul P., L. H., Jane May, F. S., Jay, 
George D., Susie and Edith J. The home farm comprises three hundred 
acres, and besides that Mr. Chapman owns about five hundred acres of 
farming land in Arenac County, and has about five thousand acres of 
yellow pine land in Tuscaloosa and Hale Counties, Ala., where he also 
has a planing mill and private railroad. On his homestead he makes a 
specialty of Jersey cows, Berkshire swine and Hambletonian horses. In 
his politics he is a Republican and has served as Supervisor and 
Treasurer of Lapeer Township, Highway Commissioner and Pathmaster. 
Socially he is a member of the Masonic order, Blue Lodge Chapter and 
Council, and Knights Templar.




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