20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

FRANK B. CHAPIN,

[p. 980] a progressive and representative farmer of Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, comes of an old and respected family of the county. He was born in Wilmington Township, December 1, 1869, is a son of John W. and Margaret (West) Chapin, and a grandson of Andrus Chapin.

Andrus Chapin, the grandfather, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and was a son of John Chapin, who lived and died in that county. The family is of Scotch descent, two brothers coming to America during the seventeenth century and locating in the colonies of the East. Andrus Chapin received a common schooling and early in life took to farming, which he followed all his days. In 1835 he moved to Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, and settled on the farm now owned by Charles Ferver. In 1841 he located on a farm in Neshannock Township, which was heavily timbered. He cleared nearly all the land and successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. He was originally a Democrat in politics, later a "Know Nothing," and upon the organization of the Republican party became an enthusiastic supporter of its principles. He married Rebecca Stackhouse, who was born in Luzerne County, and was a daughter of James Stackhouse. They had seven children, two of whom are now living.

John W. Chapin was born on the homestead in Neshannock Township, April 4, 1841, and was there reared to maturity. At the time of his marriage his father gave him fifty acres of land where Eugene W. Chapin now resides, and there he made his home and farmed seven or eight years, when he was obliged to give up farm work because of the ague from which he suffered. After his father's death he bought the old homestead and lived there the remainder of his life. He was a Republican in politics, and served as school director, but although he was well informed on public affairs never was active in politics. He was joined in marriage with Margaret West, whose father, William West, was at one time a resident of Neshannock Township, but went to the gold fields of California in 1849, and, succeeding, remained there until his death. This union resulted in the birth of four children, two of whom grew up, namely: Eugene W., who was born February 21, 1863, and lives in Neshannock Township, and Frank B. Religiously they were members of the M. E. Church, of which he was steward and trustee.

Frank B. Chapin was educated in the schools of his native township, and then entered actively into business. He has for the past twelve years resided on the old homestead. Prior to that time he was for six years hay buyer for Charles Ferver, and in that capacity traveled as far west as Iowa and east to Massachusetts. He has a farm of 107 acres, fifty acres of which are in hay, ten acres being devoted to each of the following crops—corn, wheat and oats. He keeps about twenty head of cattle and horses, and for a period of five years followed dairying extensively, wholesaling the milk in New Castle. He is a successful farmer and an enterprising citizen. He is a Republican in politics, has served on the school board and election board, but is not a politician.

Mr. Chapin was united in marriage with Corinth Pomeroy, a daughter of Robert P. Pomeroy, of New Castle, and they have three children—Leonora Margaret, John Albert and Gertrude. Religiously he is a member and trustee of the M. E. Church, and serves as treasurer of the Sabbath school.


20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908

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Updated: 12 Feb 2002