BIOGRAPHY: Isaac C. Chapman; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

***********************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm
***********************************************************************

Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

ISAAC C. CHAPMAN. Noted for its beautiful homes, Newburgh has few prettier
residences than the one at No. 164 Grand Street, where the subject of this
sketch resides. Mr. Chapman is the owner of a large wholesale and retail drug
business at No. i i i Water Street, and is one of the successful business men
of the city, having accumulated a large amount of property through his energy,
excellent judgment and financial ability.

The ancestral history of the Chapman family extends, in this country, hack to
the year 1635. The father of our subject, Paddock Chapman, was born in the
southeastern part of Putnam County, near the Connecticut line, the year of his
birth being 1790. Grandfather Thomas Chapman was born in the same place, May
5, 1760, and died in 1827. His wife bore the maiden name of Deborah Close.
Great-grandfather Isaac Chapman was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1721, and in
1740 settled in the southeastern part of Putnam County, N. Y., where he died
about 178o. His marriage united him with Miss Mary Paddock, who was born in
Dennis, Mass., in 1724.

Tracing the lineage back one generation, we find that the father of Isaac was
Isaac, Sr., who was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1692, and died in 1776. The
father of the latter, whose name was the same as his own, was born in
Marshfield, Mass., in 1647, and died at Dennis in 1737. He was a son of Ralph
Chapman, the progenitor of the family in this country, who was born in
Southwark, Surrey County, England, and in 1635 emigrated to America, being
then twenty years of age. He settled in Marshfield, Mass., where his death
occurred in 1671. His wife, Lydia Willis, bore him six children, of whom Isaac
was the third child and eldest son. The latter learned the blacksmith's trade
under Col. James Leonard, who had a forge at Rochester, Mass., and whose
daughter, Rebecca, became his wife.

About 1810 the father of our subject came to Newburgh, where he embarked in
business as a baker and grocer on Water Street. For fifty-five years he
carried on business, and by his honesty and uprightness in every transaction
he gained the good-will of the people. In religious faith he was a
Presbyterian, and he worshiped in that church until his death, April 2, 1865.
His marriage in 1820 united him with Mary, daughter of Joseph Hoffman, a
native of New York City, and of Holland-Dutch descent. His birth occurred
about 1773, and in 1793 he came to Newburgh in the employ of Adolph de Grove,
but subsequently, in company with his brother John, he purchased the
establishment from Mrs. de Grove, and this he continued as a bakery and
confectionery. He remained with his brother until 1804, when he erected a
building for himself, and continued business until his death. In religious
be-lief he was a Lutheran in early years, but there being no organization of
that kind in Newburgh, he identified himself with St. George's Churchat the
time of its organization, in 1805, and was one of its active and prominent
members until his death. For several terms he served as a mem-ber of the Board
of Trustees of the village of Newburgh, and was also one of the Trustees of
the Glebe. It is said of him that he was a man who possessed a thorough
appreciation of right and justice, and one whose life was governed by the
highest principles of honor. His marriage united him with Maria, daughter of
Abraham W. Van Deusen, of New York, and they were the parents of eleven
children. Of these, Mary, the mother of Isaac C. Chapman, was next to the
eldest. Joseph Hoffman died November 16, 1852, aged seventy-nine years, and
his wife passed away June 4, 1869, when in her ninety-fourth year. Mary
Hoffman was born in Newburgh, and died in this city in 1866, aged sixty-six
years. Of her twelve children, all but one attained years of maturity and
eight are living, one in Indiana, another in Brooklyn, and the others in
Newburgh.

The subject of this sketch, who was the eldest of the family, was born in
Newburgh July 31, 1833, and was graduated from Newburgh Academy at fifteen
years of age. He then went to New York City, where from 1848 until 1851 he was
with Dr. James Syme, later was with Dr. Cleve-land in Charleston, S. C., and
still later with Dr. James Syme in New Orleans. In 1853 he re-turned to New
York, and two years later came to Newburgh, where he purchased the druggist's
stock and business of Henry O. Heustis, and to this he added, in 186o, the
stock and business of Isaac Sebring Fowler, then at the store which he has
ever since occupied. He occupies an entire building, four stories with
basement, and 20x100 feet in dimensions. The building is furnished with good
improvements, including an elevator. The first floor is utilized for offices
and the retail business, while the balance is devoted to whole-sale and
storage purposes.

In Newburgh, in 1856, Mr. Chapman married Miss Letitia Kennedy, a native of
this city, and daughter of Washington Kennedy, who was a carpenter and builder
here: They have one son, John H., of whom mention is made on another
page. While Mr. Chapman has been obliged to give his attention mainly to his
business affairs, he also takes an intelligent interest in public affairs and
is well informed on current topics. Be-sides his other enterprises, he served
as a Director of the Warwick Valley Railroad, in place of Robert Forsythe,
deceased, but resigned when a change was made in the road. Since 1862 he has
been a Director of the Newburgh Saving Bank, and since 1882 has been its
Secretary. In 1886 he became a Director of The National Bank of Newburgh,
which position he still retains. For twenty years he has been a member of the
Board of Trustees of the Union Presbyterian Church.

In connection with his business, the name of Mr. Chapman has become widely
known among others of the same occupation. He is. now Vice-President of the
New York State Pharmaceutical Association, and is a member of the American
Pharmaceutical Association. In Masonry he is identified with Hudson River
Lodge, F. & A. M.; Highland Chapter No. 52, R. A. M.; and Hudson River
Commandery No. 35, K. T. Politically he has always adhered to Democratic
doctrines. In 1857-59 he was Clerk of the old town of New-burgh. In 1873 he
was chosen Supervisor for the Third Ward, a fact which indicates his
popularity, as that ward was strongly Republican. As a member of the fire
department he has been active and influential, and for six years he was
Secretary of the old hook and ladder company.