John Chapman

As printed in 1902

JOHN CHAPMAN.

John Chapman is a partner in an enterprise of magnitude in Springfield, being a member of the firm of Wickham, Chapman & Company, manufacturers of piano plates. - He has been a representative of business in- _terests of the city since 1877and since 1889 has been associated with Mr. Wickham in the conduct of their present industry, which has grown in volume until its importance in the manufacturing circles of the city is widely acknowledged.

Mr. Chapman was born in Ontario, Canada, March 1, 1854, and comes of a family noted for longevity. His father, George B. Chapman, reached the age ol eighty-seven years, while his mother, Mrs. Belinda Chapman, died at the age ot sevenadvanced ty-seven years and was buried in Ferncliff cemetery. Their last days were spent in Springfield. In their family were five children, of whom three are living: Robert W., a resident of Newark, New Jersey; Elizabeth, the wife of Theodore Cox, of Springheld; and John. The family comes of Irish ancestry.

In his early boyhood John Chapman accompanied his parents on their removal from Canada to New Jersey, the family settling in Newark, where he pursued his education in the public schools. At the age of thirteen he began to learn the trade of a decorator in decorative japanning and when he had mastered the business he was employed as journeyman and afterward as a foreman, while later he carried on business on his own account as a contractor. In 1877 he removed to Springfield and became associated with the St. John Sewing Machine Company as a contractor in the line of japanning, doing their work in that line until 1889, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Wickham in the establishment of the business which they have since continued. They manufacture piano places of a high grade and also piano hardware and the products of their factory are shipped to all portions of this country and Canada. Their factory is now the largest of its kind in the world and constantly increasing and the industry is of value to the city, as employment is furnished to four hundred workmen.

In 1896, in Springfield, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage to Miss Kittie Gale, who was born in Springfield, a daughter of Otho B. Gale, and they now have one daughter, Kathryn B. Their home is at No. 133°

North Plum street, and they attend the services of the Congregational church, Mr. Chapman contributing freely to its support.

In politics he is a Republican, but has never had any desire for political honors, as he is pre-eminently a business man, devoting his whole time and energies to the development and control of the enterprise which he established in connection with Mr. Wickham thirteen years ago. He has watched with interest the growth of the city since 1877 and has seen its population increased two and one-half times what it was when he took up his residence here. While there has been in his career no exciting chapters, there is in his life history that which commands the respect and attention of business men, who realize that force of character, diligence and keen discrimination are the elements which count in commercial and industrial circles.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.