Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-04
American Fork Utah. and the Chapman Family Grow Up Together

Nai'l-A heg teN We story ana guosn IL q
true. that teaoher IN one Of the Provo
public schools asked her class In geo
graphy.
what is the populauon Of America
Work7"
The answer. given BY 'the brightest boy
m The class" was Illuminating He said
bat am ahead Of my story.
Well have 70 go back a few centuries:
back to 1870, 70 be exact Those we're the
years OF religious and civil turmoil In Eng
land; the years Of renewed interest In the
problems OF human freedom; for mind
body and soul II was the year Of the COM
ing Of the Pilgrims 20 the shores Of New
England. And with them came John
Chapman, forebear TO the Chipmans OF this
country the common forefather OF those
who I've in Iowa. Kansas. Missouri, Ne
branska, Illinois and throughout all OF the
middle west. He was a dissenter from the
IDEALS Of those stuart DAYS and came 10
this country seeking the freedom OF unex-
plored lands. Years after. one OF his great
grandchildren was 20 DO the same. The
little genealogical history Of the Chapman
family here at American FORK relates how
sturdy a character was that OF John Chip
man. An earnest disciple OF untrammelled
thought political and religious, he was also
q devout believer In God and an earnest
Worshipper Of Divine mercy. Hair adven-
turer; with the temperament OF the daring
explorer; half preacher, John Chapman
soon wandered away from the folds OF New
England. HIS steps turning northward 10
the outposts Of English speaking oivIliza-
ton. Wherever he went he left memory
Of bis name; strong. stalwart, earnest his
character is that Of a man who walked
alone and feared not.
EARLY Joined the MOrmons.
Among those who we're the first to EN-
brace the belief Of the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter Lay Saints was Stephen
Chapman. then a resident Of Nauvoo. III
With the imigration OF the people OF that
belief from Illinois. Stephen Chapman. Ike
his great grandfather OF the days OF the
Restoration, was prominently identified
With the second BODY OF these pioneers he
left Illinois aud, making the six months
Journey overland. finally came upon Salt
Lake City, Utah in the spring OF 1s4s
With him came his four sons and two
daughters and the entire family later
located on tho American Fork river. less
than two miles from Utah lake, one Of the
most beautiful bodies Of fresh water IN all
the intermountain west.
According 70 the custom Of that time
now no longer practced, three OF these
sons had two or more wives. The daugh-
ters also married and thus q chain Of
postertty was established which has re-
suited IN a family numbering more than
300 Chipmans, the greater number OF whom
yet 1--we IN and around American Fork
The principal store in the town, the iarg-
est bank. the lumber and coal yard, the
flour MILL the electric Hight and power
plant are all owned by the Chipmans At
the head Of the family today IL stephen L,
Chapman, named for his grandfather, And
he is director IN the reservoir company
in the Brigham Young university, In the
Chapman Mercantile company ana also the
manager and treasurer OF this great de-
partment store. II has nine departments
and last year did a gross business Of
%sb'oQ This year he says II Will 10 over
the 100000 mark The bank OF which he
is a director had deposits exceeding $500 ooO
with almost 100000 In loans. He is presi-
dent OF the Utah County Light and Power
Co, Of the Cedar Valley Development com
pany, now farming 5000 acres Of land, aud
OF the Utah Lake Irrigation company. He
has been a county commissioner. q repre-
sentative from his district IN the state
legislature. city councilman and a school
trustee He is a great big man, broad
physically and Intellectually His various
affairs are so organized as not TO take all
his personal attention, but 10 leave him
time for his church work and his social
duties. He Is the president Of Alpine
stake Of the Mormon church. a high &C.
olesiastical position. And everything that
no takes hold Of has been and is a success.
what the BOY Answered.
What Is the population OF American
Fork?" asked the Provo school teacher
And the brightest boy in the class an
swered;
"Chipmans."
Stephen L. Chapman is 90 years OF age
and grandfather-twieel In the same place.
He has lived AZ American Fork his entire
NE save the time he was q student al the
Brigham Young university at Provo, the
third city IN the state OF Utah. He is a
country hoy pure and simple, sired Of
country boys from the time OF the Pilgrim
Fathers. lie is American In every
thought and act OF his being, alert, enter
prising, with an old-fashioned sense Of
honesty truth and right living. According
to tho tenets OF the church OF which he Is
an high exemplaF. he neither drinks aico-
hole liquors, tea nor coffee nor does he
smoke. II may be said that he does not
Know the taste OF any physical intoxioant.
The result is the most potent argument for
prohibition that may be adduced. His bust
ness Is managed with the acumen that
shedd gives 10 Marshall Field 4 Co, and
the comparison Is not half bad. He has no,
grey hair In his head and nervous
spells" are unknown to him. He Is one OF
the most ardent believers IN the future OF
Utah and Of American Fork that is 70 be
found In a days journey throughout the
whole OF this Mormon state.
UtHE Has Been Held Back.
Utah has never had It's share OF west.
ern development" said Mr.. Chapman
This has been due, partly to the prejudice
AGAINST living Ia and amid the Mormons
and partly to the conservatism OF our own
people. In the beginning Il was the in.
tenuon OF President Brigham Young to
found here an asylum; place Of refuge for
his people We had been driven from
pillar to post throughout Missouri and
Illinois, we had been prosecuted; driven
killed and slaughtered by people as fanatic
% say the least, In the practice OF theIr
religion as We were In ours. And when
President Brigham Young came here he
IN reported TO have said;
II they will give us ten years here
We will ask OF them no odds
this ~ 10