Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Chapman, George H. 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 25, 2019, 9:08 pm

Source: Alden, Ogle & Co.
Author: See Below

    GEORGE H. CHAPMAN, harness dealer, and one of Litchfield’s substantial business
men, is a native of Birmingham, England, born January 27, 1844, but came to the
United States in July, 1856. His parents were John and Susan (Crump) Chapman. His
father, John Chapman, first came to America in 1848, and later took up government
land where Portage City now stands. He lived for a year or so at Fort Winnebago,
Jeff Davis at that time being one of the commanding officers of the fort. On his
first trip Mr. Chapman had brought with him one son and a daughter, and, after his
first few years in the new world, he decided to locate at Mt. Morris, Waushara
county, Wis. He accordingly sent for the balance of his family, who arrived in July,
1856, as stated. John Chapman was a tailor by trade, and he followed that in
Wisconsin until the spring of 1857, when he again took up his westward march, and,
taking with him a stock of goods, he started for Nebraska. He went by the way of St.
Louis, and took a boat up the Missouri river, but the boat foundered and Mr. Chapman
lost all he had. He remained in Nebraska about four years, when he Returned to
Berlin, Wis., where the family had been living in the meantime. His death occurred
at Berlin in about the year 1866.

   George H. Chapman remained with his father’s family until he had reached the age
of fifteen, when he began life on his own account, and began learning the
harness-maker’s trade at Berlin, Wis. He remained at that until November, 1861, when
he enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Wisconsin Infantry, for three years’ service. A
short time later he was transferred to Company C, Thirty-Eighth Wisconsin Infantry,
and remained with that regiment until the close of the war. His first battle was
that of Shiloh, in April, 1862, and he afterward participated in the battles of
Corinth, Miss., in June, 1862; Cold Harbor, Va., in May, 1864; in front of
Petersburg, June 16, 1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., in August, 1864; Pebel’s farm, in
September, 1864; again at Petersburg, during the winter of 1864-5; and was in the
final charge on Sunday, April 2, 1865, being with the brigade that captured Ft.
Mahone and followed Lee up the south side of the railroad. He was near Appomattox at
the surrender of Lee. During all of his eventful and active service Mr. Chapman was
neither wounded nor taken prisoner, and was only in the hospital for a few days. He
was on guard at Washington during the trial of the conspirators against Lincoln, and
saw the gallows where they were executed and the graves of the criminals. He was
finally mustered out in August, 1865, and returned to the old home in Berlin, Wis. 
In 1867 he settled at Rochester, Minn., and a few years later removed to Wabasha,
where he lived for a time, and then decided to come to Litchfield, Meeker county,
and accordingly, in May, 1870, he opened the harness and saddlery business, which he
has successfully carried on ever since. Mr. Chapman is an active member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and was one of the charter members of Frank Daggett Post, in
which he has almost constantly held some office since its organization. He was also
a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Litchfield, and has held
at different times all the offices in the gift of the local lodge. In political
matters he is a staunch republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for
President, while a soldier.

  Mr. Chapman was married on the 2d of December, 1868, to Miss Ellen Agnew, of
Preston, Fillmore Co., Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of seven children,
as follows— Emma Glencora Susan, horn September 23, 1870, died January 2, 1887;
Leslie H., born July 14, 1872; Sybal May, born November 9, 1874, died March 24,
1881; Bessie Pearl, born January 30, 1877; Lillian G., born September 14, 1879;
George Walter, born February 22, 1884; and Willie Royal, born March 5,1888.

  Our subject and his estimable wife are devout and zealous members of the Episcopal
Church, and exemplary Christian people.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


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