Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-22
ALBERT CHAPMAN.

by contact with men and books, a Just,
devout and generous spirit,-these were
some of the characteristics that were
to all who knew him. 1t is
sad to think hat his familiar face and
form will no longer be seen ON the
streets of Middlebuiy; that he will no
longer be found in the office of the Yer
mont Merino Sheep Breeders associa-
ton that his influence will no longer be
felt by the committee of ways and
means in the national congress In behalf
of the Woolgrowing industry of our
nation; that no longer in church con.
ventiUns and OH boards Of trustees will
his cuunsels be heard; that no longer
his pen will be employed in behalf of the
agricultural and stuck-raising interests
of Vermont.
Those Who knew him best loved him
most. The bi"grapher may relate his
public aud official acts. He may recount
the occupations he had been engaged
ia, the positions lac had held, the articles
he had written, the books he had edited.
He may tell something of his domestic
life-hOw full of rich tenderness and
sympathetic devotion to his loved aud
cherished wife, so many ears an invalid;
how careful In the training of his boys;
but his biographer can know nothing OF
his private ana inner life. which is mid
with Christ in God" That is manifest
to Gods recording angel only.
How can one attempt even brlef
sketch of Mr.. Chapman life in the space
which can be given here.
Albert Chapman was born at Wey-
bridge, VT, April Is, 1923, in the house
there with his father, Wightman Chap
man, until after his marriage, in 1851,
TO Miss Matilda Grace Mulchahey. at
st. Marks church, Warren, r. |. His
education was of the cOmmon-school
kind, but by no means ended when he
left school. His parents were connected
with st. Stephens church, Middlebury,
and there he received his religious i'll
structlon. He was. interested in do
nestle animals from boyhOUd, more par
ticularly in sheep. and had entire charge
of his fathers flock when they bred the
pure SaXonys. He sometimes, in recent
years, told of his experience, in the
early days before the railroads, in driv-
ing a large flock of sheep out into the
State of Kentucky from the vicinity of
Middlebury.
After he left the farm in Weybridge
he was occupied III various ways in
making a living, in Forestdale and Sud-
bury, VT, and finally went TO Pikesville,
Md. When the war broke out he was
IN danger through his union sentiments,
and removed tor a time to Washington.
He enlisted, but was rejected as physi-
cally disqualified for service. From
Washington he came North ard was for
several years located at Troy, n. Y.
] His life during these years was pro-
longed struggle in the midst of the con-
? / nf "
sickness of his children.
Sometime after his return to Vermont
he came to be recognized as an authority
on certain questions touching agricul-
ture and stock-raising and was appoint
ed member of the State board of ag-
riculture.
In the Miscellaneous Works of Dayid
Humphreys. published in 1901, there is
"A "DissertatiOn on the Breed of Spanish
Sheep called Merino', written in 1902, the
year after he brought to America the
first flock of these famous sheep. So
clearly does Mr.. Humphreys set forth
there the prospective value and impor-
lance of these iine-wOOl sheep and in
general way the method of their care
and breeding that it seems as if Hum
phreys' purposes had been carried out by
the founder and organizer of the Yer
mont Merino Sheep Breeders assOcia-
ton. Whatever led to it, Albert Chap
man was the founder; and from it:
organization, In 1876. until his death
October %, 1893. he was the secretary
of the Vermont Merino sheep Breeders
association.
He was for years regular contribu
tor to the National Live Stock journal
was secretary of the National Wool
~ faf of no M
his death president of the Sheep Regis
ter association. He was also for a long
time agricultural editor of the Middle
bury REGISTER.
One is struck in reading the introduc
tory matter to the published volumes o.
the Sheep Breeders associations "Regis
ter" by the amazing interest his worl
there indicates in everything relating tC
sheep, their history, breeding etc., anC
by the care which he took with regarC
to his statements, founding his opinions
on original documents, on microscopic
measurements of wool, making widely
eXlended comparisons and generally
bringing every means to bear to insure
accuracy of information on every point
Noone was farther than lie from "gues
sing" that thing was true When he haC
IA public statement to make with regarC
Ia il, and this love for the truth charac
terized him in all his dealings in tn,
association and was the rock on whicl
his success was built.
AT the close of life and when he wa
suffering keenly from the death of thu
companion of years and the light o
his home and other trials so difficult t
bear with patience, he was asked to TAX,
charge of the sheep and wool eXhibi
from Vermont at the Columbian eXposi
ton at Chicago. He accepted and die
the work. but the strain was too great
lie reached home sick. and it is likel,
thar chronic heart trouble combined
with his weakened state TO cause hi
death. He long had the conviction tina
he should not lose his faculties. bu
should die at his work, and this wa
permitted him. lie was buried iron
ST. Stephens church.
] knew him best in his domestic ant
churchly relations. knew the Christian
prayerful spirit that pervaded the HON
life. knew him in some of his tende
and sympathetic feelings. | knew hoy
charitable and generous he was. Their