O. E. Chapman, Walnut, was born in Medina County, Ohio, March 27, 1832. His ancestors were of the old New England stock having come to this country at least before 1760. His father, Sceva Chapman, was a native of Cavendish, Vt., born February 10, 1793; he was a soldier in the war of 1812; his wife, Azuba Marsh, was born in Wilmington, Vt., October 7, 1802. At an early date they immigrated to Ohio, going down Lake Erie before there were any steamboats on the lakes. Sceva Chapman died in Medina County, Ohio, in January, 1881; his widow still resides there. Of their family of six children, two sons and two daughters are still living.
O. E. Chapman was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native state. He was married in Medina County, Ohio, September 6, 1853, to Miss Sarah L. Beeman, who was born in the same county, May 6, 1833.
In 1854 they came to Bureau County and lived in Princeton till the fall of 1857, Mr. Chapman being engaged in carpenter and joiner’s work, at which he had also worked in Ohio.
In 1857 he settled on his present farm of 160 acres in northwest quarter of Section 29, Walnut Township, which was then entirely unimproved. He has since given his attention exclusively to farming.
Mr and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of five children, viz.: Willard E. born March 27, 1855, died January 9, 1873; Clarence B., born January 1, 1857, an attorney at Ottawa, Ill.; Ozias S., born August 30, 1859, a student at Ottawa, Ill., a teacher by profession; Milan E., born July 18, 1861, engaged in teaching in Bureau County; Herman L., born March 28, 1866.
Mrs. Chapman is the daughter of Milan and Anthy (Monger) Beeman. The father was born in Litchfield, Conn., February 24, 1799, and his wife February 24, 1802. She died February 16, 1839, and he April 15, 1879. Mr. Beeman was twice married and had eight children by his first wife and four by the second. Of the family seven are living. Mr. Beeman’s father, Daniel Beeman, was a Revolutionary soldier and the family was among the early New England settlers.
In politics Mr. Chapman was an Abolitionist, and is now Republican. He has served three terms as Supervisor of Walnut Township. He and his wife are Congregational in religious belief.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885