Chaplin, William L.

CHAPLIN, ATWELL, PRANGLEY, YOUNG, FULLER, NESFIELD, CLARK, CHATFIELD

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/14/2005 at 18:22:46

William L. Chaplin, one of the extensive farmers, large land owners and prominent citizens of Black Hawk County, Iowa, is the owner of 800 acres of land in Barclay and Fox townships and lives in section 28 of the former. He was born January 1, 1847, in Cortland County, New York, and is a son of Aaron and Abbie (Atwell) Chaplin.

Aaron Chaplin was also born in Cortland County, and there followed the shoemaking trade until he moved to McDonough County, Illinois. After farming there for a season, he conveyed his family by team to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1836, settling in Barclay township, in section 11. He was one of the pioneers here.

In 1861, he purchased 160 acres more, in section 32, and on this place erected a frame shanty, and later a comfortable frame dwelling. Here he lived until 1891 when he went to Storm Lake, Iowa, later to Minnesota and still later to Brookings, South Dakota, where he died in 1900.

He was married in August, 1842. His wife ws born in Vermont in 1821 and died in 1898. They had four children: William L.; Emma, deceased, who married Ezra Prangley, of Barclay township; Delmer E., who is engaged in farming and dealing in real estate in Hitchcock, South Dakota; and Edward E., who is associated with Delmer E. The parents reared the family in the Methodist faith. Mr. Chaplin occasionally worked at his trade after he came to the West, but was mainly engaged in farming.

A Republican in politics, he served in several of the minor offices, and was a justice of the peace for some time.

William L. Chaplin owes little of his success in life to the educational advantages which he enjoyed youth, for they were of a very limited nature. The nearest school in Barclay township was three miles distant, and as the sessions were then held during the most inclement seasons, when farm work was impossible, his attendance was not very regular. In fact, he owes little to anything except his own industry, ability and good management.

He remained at home until he was 29 years old, and was then married, in December 1875, to Rose L. Chatfield, who was born in DuPage County, Illinois. They have had six children, as follows: Jay A., a farmer of South Dakota, who married Eva Young and has one son-Glen; Mabel, who married Burton Fuller, a farmer living near Hitchcock, South Dakota, and has three children; Genevieve, who is the wife of Charles Nesfield, a barber of La Porte City, and has one child,-Lefa R; George D., farming in Oklahoma, who married May Clark; and Arthur and Carrol, who are at home.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Chaplin settled on an 80-acre farm in section 28, Barclay township, which he had previously purchased. They lived there several years, and then moved to their present farm, which had been slightly improved. Mr. Chaplin has continued to add to his acreage until he now owns 800 acres in Barclay and Fox townships and also 800 acres in Beadle County, South Dakota, which his son looks after. Mr. Chaplin has this year about 150 acres of corn in his Barclay township farm, and 150 in oats; he rents a portion of his land. He has devoted much attention to the growing of fine stock and has not neglected dairy interests. He has taken much pardonable pride in the improvement and cultivation of his land, all of which has been acquired by himself, for he may truly be said to be a self-made man.

Mr. Chaplin takes an intelligent interest in politics and public matters, votes the Republican ticket, and declines official position. He is devoted to his home interests and to his family, and enjoys the esteem and friendship of all who knew him.

[ History of Black Hawk County and It's People,
1915 ]