Cumberland County, Maine - Hon. Charles Jarvis Chapman ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Hon. Charles Jarvis Chapman Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 266-268 Hon. Charles Jarvis Chapman, merchant, banker, and ex-Mayor of Portland, was born in Bethel, among the hills of Oxford County, Me., January 29, 1848. He is the son of Robert A. and Frances (Carter) Chapman, the former a native of Gilead, Me., the latter of Massachusetts. He attended the public schools and Gould's Academy in his native town, then took a course at Gorham Academy, and, entering Bowdoin College in 1864, was graduated in the class of 1868, with the degree of A.B. He was an enthusiastic student, and in his Senior year won the first prize for excellence in English composition; but he applied himself so closely to his books during his college course that his health became impaired, and after his graduation he took a trip to Minnesota. He was there employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, which was then in its earlier period of construction in that State, and remained two years, making the acquaintance of many prominent railroad men. In 1870, his health being improved, he returned to Maine and entered actively upon the business career which eventually proved so brilliant, becoming a member of the flour and grain commission house of Norton, Chapman & Co., in Portland. There have been several changes in this firm during the past quarter of a century; but Mr. Chapman has remained through them all and is now the principal owner in the company, which he recently had incorporated under the name it had borne so long, and is Treasurer and Manager, having disposed of enough shares of stock to equip it with the necessary officers. It is recognized as the leading house in Maine in the flour and grain trade, and represents some of the largest and best-known mills of the West whose products stand high in public favor, including the celebrated Pillsbury Washburn Mills of Minneapolis. An able financier, Mr. Chapman has devoted a portion of his time to banking, establishing in 1890, in connection with his brothers, Cullen C. and Robert Chapman, the well-known and successful banking company whose establishment was located on Middle Street, Portland. The business increased so rapidly that it was decided to incorporate it as a national bank; and, accordingly, the Chapman National Bank opened its doors for business October 9, 1893, and has been very successful in its operations. Mr. Chapman has also done a great deal for the financial betterment of the city of Portland. A Republican in politics, he served on the Common Council from 1877 to 1879, being President of that body the last term; and at the time the Portland & Rochester Road was sold, by preventing undue haste he brought to the city treasurer seventy-five thousand dollars more than it would otherwise have realized. From 1880 to 1881 he was on the Board of Aldermen, serving as Chairman the second year. In 1886 he was elected Mayor of the city, and was subsequently reelected by increasing majorities, serving three years. The Back Bay improvements date from that time, and also the lease of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, in which the city had large interests, to the Maine Central, which has resulted in not only making the investment of the city remunerative, but also in securing permanently to Portland the commercial advantages for which the Portland & Ogdensburg was constructed. During his Mayoralty the new reservoir on Munjoy Hill was built; the new public library building, the munificent gift of the Hon. J. P. Baxter, was accepted by the city, Mayor Chapman making a graceful and appropriate speech; and the Longfellow statue on State Street Square was presented to the city by the Longfellow Association, which erected it in commemoration of the gifted poet. The great celebration of Portland's centennial was inaugurated and carried to a successful consummation largely through Mayor Chapman's influence and untiring efforts; and he was one of the commissioners from the State on the occasion of the National Centennial in New York City in 1888. That same year he was an alternate delegate at large to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, which nominated President Harrison. During the past two or three years he has declined public office, and has occupied his time chiefly with commercial and banking interests, acting also as trustee for different estates, besides being employed on committees for the reorganization of different corporations. The universal confidence in his ability and integrity is shown by the names and standing of some of the companies whose affairs he has been called upon to adjust. Many of the matters intrusted to him have required much time and good judgment. In addition to other work, he has found time to act as director and manager in several business and manufacturing corporations. He served several years as Director of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad and as an officer of the Board of Trade, and is now President of the Diamond Island Association, President of the Portland Sprinkling Company, Director of the Portland Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Director of the Maine Auxiliary Fire Alarm Company, Vice-President of Chapman National Bank, and is connected officially and otherwise with various other important corporations. Mr. Chapman was a trustee of the public library and a member of the School Committee for years, but resigned from both offices as he felt his time inadequate to properly discharge such duties. Through his entire business course his career has been one of straightforward honesty, and he has won the confidence of all with whom he has had dealings. Mr. Chapman belongs to several fraternal associations, being a member of the Portland Club, the Athletic Club, the Portland Medical Science Club, and other literary and political organizations. He has been identified with the Bowdoin Club and also with the Portland Athletic Clubs since they were organized. Appreciating the beauty and value of Casco Bay as a summer resort, in 1892 he erected a handsome residence on the highest point of Diamond Island, and helped in the reconstruction and maintenance of the new Ottawa Hotel, thus bringing the advantages of the bay within the knowledge and enjoyment of visitors. September 15, 1875, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Anna Dow Hinds, daughter of Benjamin F. Hinds, a gentleman now more than twenty-five years connected with the Portland custom-house. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, namely : Marion Carter, a student at Smith College; Robert Franklin, a student at the Portland High School ; Charles Jarvis, Jr., Philip Freeland, and Harrison Carter, promising boys, who are yet attending school. His family, with the exception of the youngest boy, are all professing members of the Williston Congregational Church ; and Mr. Chapman has been moderator of the church since its organization. He has a beautiful home at the corner of Spring and Neal Streets, where he has resided for ten years, and which, remodelled and beautified, possesses an added interest as having been the original residence in Portland of Governor Washburn.