My Genealogy Hound

HON. RICHARD CHAPMAN, the well known ex-Member of the House of Assembly of Pennsylvania, is Superintendent of the Chapman Slate Quarries of Northampton County, one of the largest enterprises and paying industries of Moore Township. Mr. Chapman is a self-made man, and through his own able qualities has risen to his present condition of wealth and influence in the community. He is active in politics, and has acceptably served his constituents for two terms as their representative in the State Legislature.

The birth of our subject occurred in the County of Cornwall, England, April 21, 1840. His parents, William and Jane (Camps) Chapman, were also natives of England. The boyhood of our subject was passed in his native country, where he received a fair education in the common schools. He was confirmed in the Church of England, and adhered to that faith for a number of years during his early life. When sixteen years of age he left home and worked in the Harvey Foundry, in Cornwall, England, for some fifteen months. The succeeding five years of his life were passed on the high seas in the British merchant marine service, and during that time he visited Quebec twice.

It was in 1862 that Richard Chapman left his native land for America, sailing from Liverpool to New York. He proceeded direct to Northampton County, and became Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Slate Quarry, located at Wind Gap. In that neighborhood he continued to make his home for about three years, when he resigned that position to become Superintendent of the Chapman Quarries. Previous to taking this position he went to England, and was the means of securing about three hundred slate-workers, who on their arrival were assigned to different operators for working various quarries. Thirty years have elapsed since Mr. Chapman became Superintendent of the Chapman Quarries, and he has given the best of satisfaction in this difficult office. On the pay-roll of this concern there are now two hundred and twenty-five employes, and in former years many more were employed. The quarries supply roofing slate; flagging for steps, platforms and sidewalks; hearths, lintels, window-sills, copings, and building stone for general purposes. The slate manufactured by the company is of superior quality, and warranted to keep color.

The marriage of Mr. Chapman was celebrated in 1870, with Jane Edwards, of London, England. In 1881 he spent about four months traveling in Great Britain and other European countries, and visiting many points of interest and the historic cities of Europe. He is a man of general information and an interesting conversationalist.

For three terms our subject served as Justice of the Peace for the borough of Chapman Quarries, and is now serving as Burgess. Since 1867 he has been identified with the Masonic order and is a charter member of Monocacy Lodge No. 413, F. & A. M., at Bath, Pa., in which he held various official positions, and for twelve years has served as Treassurer of the lodge. He also belongs to Hugh DePayne Commandery No. 19. K. T., of Easton; the Knights of the Golden Eagle at Chapman Quarries; and Loppawinzoe Tribe No. 154, I. O. of R. M., at Bethlehem. From the year 1869 until the present time he has been the Treasurer of the Chapman Beneficial Society. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving the same for a number of years as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. In political and public measures he has been much interested, and has done all in his power for the welfare and the advancement of the county. Upright and honorable in his dealings, kind and courteous to all, he merits and receives in an eminent degree the respect, of his fellows.