FRANKLIN MARION CHAPIN. This prominent citizen of Winona, Missouri, owes his nativity to Overton County, Tennessee, where he first saw the light in 1837, his parents being Paul Stillman and Sarah (Harrison) Chapin (for parents’ history see sketch of John A. Chapin and John W. Garrett). He was the tenth of twelve children born to them, the other members of the family being: Mary (Garrett), of Howell County; Hiram, who died in Los Angeles, Cal.; Paul Stillman, who died in Hopkins County, Tex.; Elias H., who died in Howell County; Martha, who died in Overton County, Tennessee; John A., of Howell County; Josiah, who died in Randolph County, Arkansas; Silas J., a resident of Platt County, Missouri; Sarah, the twin sister of Silas, died in childhood; and Alsie A. and Catherine, of Howell County.
The subject of this sketch received the rearing and education of the average farmer’s boy of his day; that is, he labored early and late on the farm and received very meager educational advantages, but later in life, when opportunity offered, he applied himself to his books and became a fair scholar. In 1851, at the age of thirteen, he removed to what is now Howell County, Missouri, and at the age of sixteen he began farming on his own responsibility. On the 19th of August, 1860, he was married in Greene County, Missouri, to Miss Emeline, daughter of Ephraim and Hester Daniel, natives of Indiana, from which State they removed to Iowa, and about 1852 to Greene County, Missouri, where Mr. Daniel was eventually called from life, his wife’s death occurring in Howell County. Mrs. Chapin was born in the Hoosier State, and her union with Mr. Chapin has resulted in the birth of the following children: Alsie J., wife of N. 0. Randall, of Willow Springs; Lucy Hester, widow of Al Ward; John W.; Mary E., wife of William Chambers; Hugh J.; Silas B.; Laura, wife of William Welch; Viola M., Catherine and Melzie Blaine.
Mr. Chapin lived in Howell County, Missouri, until the opening of the Civil War, from which time until 1867 Greene County was his home. He then returned to Howell County, where he resided until 1888, and the two following years was a resident of Platt County, since which time his home has been at Winona, where he has been engaged in teaming for the Ozark Lumber Company, controlling eight or ten teams. Formerly he was for some years engaged in railroading, labored on other public works and also carried on farming to some extent, until recently, when he sold his farm. Several of his brothers and sisters were among the first settlers of Howell County, Missouri, of which section they are among the foremost citizens. Mr. Chapin has led an honest, upright and industrious life, is well known in this county and has the respect of everybody. He served for about one year in the Missouri State Militia during the Civil War, was in the engagement at Springfield, and other places, and was wounded in the hand in that engagement. He was reared a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Franklin Pierce in 1852, and in 1860 he voted for Douglas. He has always been an active worker for his party, and in all matters of common interest has been public spirited and an active supporter of worthy causes. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
