Marcus B. Chapman

Notes:

He was born eight months after his father died.

BIRTH RECORD: Liber B, page 71: Marcus B. Chapman b 9-6-1875 in Odessa Twp, to Samuel B. Chapman, bpl NY, residence "dead" & Mary (middle initial A. or W.) Chapman, bpl MI, res Odessa.
DEATH RECORD; MI State File No. 5-30674 (copy made): Marcus B. Chapman d Ionia Co Hospital May 4, 1959, b Odessa Twp Sept 6, 1875 to Samuel and Mary Ann (maiden name unknown) Chapman, deceased wife's name Ida, occup Building Mover (retired), age 83, buried Lakeside Cem, Lake Odessa, MI. Informant for death record information was "Bureau Social Aid Records, Ionia". Social Security #368-26-5671.

IONIA DAILY SENTINEL-STANDARD, Tues., May 5, 1959 (copy made): "Deaths - Lake Odessa - Marcus B. Chapman, 83, died at about 4 p.m. Monday at Ionia County Memorial hospital where he had been a patient at Eckert's nursing home since last fall. Mr. Chapman was born September 6, 1875, the son of Samuel and Mary Ann Chapman. He was a retired farmer and building mover. His wife, the former Ida Welch (sic), died in 1935. He has no immediate survivors. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Pickens funeral home with burial in Lakeside cemetery."

THE LAKE ODESSA WAVE, MI; Thursday, May 7, 1959, front page: "Marcus Chapman Died Monday- -Marcus B. Chapman, 83, lifelong resident of Odessa township, passed away Monday afternoon at the Ionia County Memorial hospital where he was a patient about a week. Mr. Chapman was a farmer and in his early life was a building mover. He lived in his small farm home on Musgrove Hwy until taken to the Eckert Nursing Home at Ionia last fall. There are no immediate survivors. His wife, the former Ida Welch (sic) passed away in 1935. Funeral services were held Thursday (today) at 10 am at the Pickens funeral chapel with burial in Lakeside Cemetery."

(All of the above courtesy of LaVonne Bennett)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 U.S. Federal Census
Michigan, Ionia, Odessa, District 28
#84-84
Chapman, Marcus Michigan Canada-English New York M W 54 M 46 Farmer
Chapman, Ida Michigan New York York F W 64 M 19

(Medical):Chronic myocarditis (1 month), Intestinal Obstruction (3 days)

Marcus married Ida Soules on 3 Mar 1922 in Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan. Ida was born about 1872 in Mulliken, Eaton County, Michigan; died about 1935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Chapman, Marcus B. The marriage license indicated that he was 46 years of age, had not been married previously, was a resident of Lake Odessa, born in Lake Odessa. His occupation was farming, his parents Samuel Chapman and Mary A. WELCH. marr 3-3-1922 at Lake Odessa His bride was listed as Ida Dunham, with a second name listed: Ida Soules. She was 50, of Lake Odessa, bpl Mulliken, MI (east of Lake Odessa), occupation housekeeper. Her parents were Nathaniel Soules and Mary A. Miller. She was shown as previosuly married (IOCO2-67#6156)(Courtesy of LaVonne Bennett)

Notes:

He is shown on the Murray-Snead-Barbee-Jones-Bishop-Mastroni-Raddeman-Kirtley-Workman tree on Ancestry.com as a son of Peter Chapman and Mercy Keeler.

Benjamin Dwight--in Volume II (p. 1005) of "The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong of Northampton, Mass."--described him as, "a farmer at Odessa, Mich (since 1851)...he is a supervisor of the town."

According the "History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties Michigan with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers" by John S. Schenck, Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & Co. 1881, the first framed house in Odessa was built by Emory Russell after 1842. Other early settlers in and near the Russell neighborhood were Nelson Merrill, Emanuel Cramer, S.B. CHAPMAN, A.A. Haskins, A.J. Clark, P.S. Lapham, David Crapo, John D. Hight, Reuben Haight, George E. Kelly, James N. Galloway, and Asa Houghton. For some years the settlements in Odessa concentrated about the Russell neighborhood. In the year 1852 there were but four settlers in the western half of the town. These four were Solomon Foght, S.B. CHAPMAN, Joseph Houseman and Eber Rush, located respectively on sections 21 and 33 (p. 315).

Jurors for 1847 included Samuel Chapman

Voters in Odessa in 1848 and 1849 included Samuel B. Chapman

Samuel B. Chapman was elected Supervisor of Odessa Township in 1852; Treasurer in 1855; and Supervisor in 1856-1857

LaVonne Bennett, a Ionia county genealogist, kindly provided the following information relating to the probate of the Chapman estate.

Ionia County Probate Court, Probated Will #611 (New Series), Samuel B. Chapman: The first item in the file was an unsigned 8-26-1925 letter to W. C. McCartney, giving him license to sell real estate of Samuel B. Chapman.

The seconnd item was an 8-21-1925 letter from Lake Odessa State Savings Bank to Judge of Probate, Ionia County, stating lots 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in block 21 of village of Lake Odessa owned by Samuel B. Chapman were sold 4-3-1877.

Samuel B. Chapman died on Sunday, 1-31-1875, leaving no will. Widow was Mary A. Chapman, petitioner for appointment of adminstrator of estate. It was a $7,500 valued estate. Other heirs were: Emma June Chapman, daughter of deceased (dodc); Theressa T. Partello, dodc, of Barry County; Martin Chapman, son; Ella Chapman, dodc; Eva Chapman, dodc; Samuel D. (sic s/b L.), son. Residence of all but Theressa was Ionia County. [Note, Mary was still pregnant with his youngest son, Marcus, who was born in September 1875].

Publication in Lake Odessa Wave-Times 2-12-1875. James Leek, Administrator. Inventory of goods, properties, crops, $150 of household furniture. Among the list of creditors: Mary Ward, $3.65; Jas. J. Brown, $22.05; Martin Chapman, $35.00.

10-7-1871 document: Dower rights to Mary A. Chapman for east 3/4 of north east 1/4 of Section 33, and north east 1/4 of south east 1/4 of Section 32, all in Twp 5N, Range 7W.

In James Leak's 3-23-1875 petition to be named the administrator of Samuel's will, he states: ".....for the following among other reasons the widow is not able to work or take charge of her interest in said estate and the heirs are of them three minors and under Guardianship and those who are of age are not in circumstances to carry on to advantage of the whole of said real estate and further the estate has a large part of said land under a crop of wheat down by said deceased in his lifetime which will require the same care and attention necessary to protect crops on the whole of said lands."

11-14-1876: List of above children, with addition of Marchus B. Chapman. Paid to Mary A. Chapman: $550 for support of minor heirs under age 7 years, $145 distribution of shares, from Samuel Chapman estate, for Samuel Lee and Marcus B. Chapman, minor heirs.

11-15-1876: $150 to Mary A. Chapman. 11-28-1876: Martin Chapman petitioned to sell real estate; heirs Maria T. Partello, Emma Chapman, Ella L. Chapman, Martin Chapman, all residing in Odessa, Evelyn D. Chapman residing in Saranac, Ionia Co, MI; Marcus B. and Samuel L. Chapman, both in Odessa.

$3375 was paid by Abe Bywater for the Dower rights of Mary A. Chapman. $487.50 was paid to Martin L. Chapman."

It seems an assessment of real estate was made, with the recommendation that sale, and subsequent division of the property, would devalue it. The file was very hard to read and I couldn't decipher all that took place, regarding the real estate, but it did appear Martin forced the sale.

Oh, when I looked up Samuel B. Chapman's property in my plat book here, it turned out to be the whole west side of Lake Odessa's main street. I'm snail-mailing you copies showing location of his---and also B. Franklin Smith's---property. I also made copies of Ida and Mary's obituaries, which I'll send along, too.

I (LaVonne) don't know why the first 2 items dated 1925 were in this file, unless someone filed quit claim deeds on property that was once owned by Samuel B., or something technical like that. Maybe they were cleaning up Mary Ann's 1921 estate yet.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Odessa Township, Ionia County, Michigan
#188-185
Chapman Samuel 39 M NY
Elisa 38 F NY
Marris C? 10 F NY
Martin 8 M Mich
Ella 18/12 F Mich
Emma ?? F Mich


1870 Census
Odessa Township, Ionia County, Michigan
#67-66
Chapman Sm P 49 M W Farmer 5000 13
" Eliza 47 F W Keeping House
E??? 22 F W at home MI
Theresia 20 F W at home NY
Martin 18 M W Farm laborer MI attended school
Ella 11 F W MI attended scho
Evaline 9 F W MI attended school

Samuel married Mary Ann Welch on 7 Oct 1871 in Ionia County, Michigan. Mary (daughter of William Welch and Anna Brown) was born on 28 Dec 1840 in Michigan; died on 19 Jul 1921 in Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan; was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The death certificates of Mary's two oldest sons have seemingly conflicting information as to the name of their mother. LaVonne Bennett, an Ionia County researcher, emailed me that while at the Eaton County Courthouse, she "learned from death records of Wm Bert and Elmer that papa's name was Frank/Franklin Smith, and that mama's was either Mary (Ann?) ELVERT b in Ionia or (Mary?) Ann WELCH b Canada!" However, although William Bert Smith's death certificate shows his mother as Mary Elvert, his marriage license lists his mother as Mary Welch. Additionally, Marcus's marriage certificate list his mother as Mary Ann Welch. Samuel Lee Chapman's death certificate, a son by Mary Ann's second marriage, also lists his mother as Mary Ann WELCH. Only Marcus Chapman's death certificate shows his mother's maiden name as unknown. It was filed by the "Bureau Social Aid Records, Ionia," however, and not a relative.

In looking at a transcription of the Ionia, MI 1850 Federal Census, I discovered that a Mary Ann WELCH and William WELCH were living with the ELEVERT family. It appears likely that 30 year old Ann Elvert is their mother, the former Anna BROWN. Anna Brown appears to have first married William WELCH, and later remarried William ELVERT. It is also possible that Mary Ann and William may have been orphaned or otherwise abandoned, and were living with the Elvert family at the time of that census.

Mary did not have an easy life. At 38, she had been twice widowed, and had charge of four young sons: Elmer Smith, Bert Smith, Samuel Lee Chapman, and Marcus Chapman. Marcus was a newborn. Additionally, she had five older stepchildren, who may not have been particularly happy to have both lost their father and gained a stepmother in a relatively brief period of time.



In James Leak's 3-23-1875 petition to be named the administrator of Samuel's will, he states: ".....for the following among other reasons the widow is not able to work or take charge of her interest in said estate and the heirs are of them three minors and under Guardianship and those who are of age are not in circumstances to carry on to advantage of the whole of said real estate and further the estate has a large part of said land under a crop of wheat down by said deceased in his lifetime which will require the same care and attention necessary to protect crops on the whole of said lands."

LaVonne Bennett also located the following obituaries and will for Mary Ann:

(There was) only this very brief mention in the Grand Ledge (newspaper): "THE GRAND LEDGE INDEPENDENT, MI, Friday, July 22, 1921, front page: MRS. MARY CHAPMAN, mother of W. B, Smith of this city, who has been ill with paralysis since the latter part of May, passed away at her home near Lake Odessa, July 16, at the age of 84 years. She also leaves two other sons, Elmer Smith and Marcus Chapman, at home."

In THE WAVE-TIMES, Lake Odessa, MI, pg 5, July 22, 1921: "Woodland (News items) - FRANK SMITH and his sister Miss GERTIE SMITH were in Odessa Tuesday afternoon attending the funeral of their aunt Mrs. Mary Chapman who died Saturday from a paralytic stroke."

Probated Will #8880, Ionia County, MI, filed 8-15-1921. Mary Ann Chapman's real estate was valued at $6500; personal estate at $100. Administrator Marcus B. Chapman of Lake Odessa was also one of the heirs, along with: Elmer Smith, son, age 5(6?), of Lake Odessa; W. B. Smith, 53, Grand Ledge; Clair Chapman, nephew, 19, Grand Ledge; Herbert Chapman, nephew, 21, of Montana [in another section of the papers, they were referred to as grandchildren]; and Marcus, 46, Lake Odessa.

From her will (barely readable) made 11-14-1906: ".....to Francis Elmer Smith, son, she wanted him to have property of the east 1/2 of the south east 1/4 of Section 22, Tpw 5N, Range 7W. If he predeceased her and had no heirs, the land was to go to Marcus B., Herbert and Clare, and ______ (all the preceding were Chapmans. To William B. Smith, son, she willed the west 1/2 of the above property.

Marcus was to receive his choice of her household furniture, as was Francis Elmer. She bequeathed $100 to (Daniel or Samuel) Lee Chapman, son of Herbert.

Addendum: W. B. Smith of Grand Ledge was appointed Guardian of Clare Chapman, minor. Herbert Chapman (legalee?) NR (no record?)

Detail of Death Certificate: Mary A. Chapman, Female, White, Widdow, Date of Birth Dec 28, Age 84 Yrs, 6 Mos, 16 Days, Birthplace Canada, Name of Father Wm. Welch born England, Name of Mother Anna Brown born England Informant Marcus Chapman Lake Odessa (son) Date of Death 16 July 1921 Filed 19 July 1921

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Federal Census, Michigan, Ionia County, Berlin Township

33 65 68 Elvert William 49 M Farmer 300 Ireland
34 65 68 Elvert Ann 30 F Ireland
35 65 68 Helch (sic) William 11 M Upper Canada
36 65 68 Helch (sic) Mary A. 10 M (sic) Mich
37 65 68 Elvert James 8 M Mich
38 65 68 Elvert Cornelius 5 M Mich
39 65 68 Elvert Julia 3 F Mich
40 65 68 Elvert Emily 1 F Mich

This Census was transcribed by Beth Wills and proofread by Pat Billings, Hope Farris, Kathy Laux for the USGenWeb Census Project, http://www.usgenweb.org/census

1860 Federal Census
Michigan, Ionia County, Berlin Township (21 Sept 1860)
#2718-2616
Wm. ELVERT 63 M Farmer 1000 500 Ireland
Ann ELVERT 48 F Ireland
Cornelius 15 M Michigan
Julia 13 F Michigan
Harry 11 M Michigan
John 9 M Michigan
Elizabeth 6 F Michigan
Ellen 4 F Michigan
James 18 M Michigan
Mary WELCH 21 F Teacher

Furthermore, it appears that Ann and William Elvert divorced in 1869. Maybe this accounts for the 16 year old Elizabeth Elvert living, Mary's half sister, living with Mary in 1870?

1869 Elvert Ann vs. William 673

Ionia County Divorce Index http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~camprowl/divorce%20index.txt

1870 Ionia County, Odessa Township
129-128
Smith, Mary 30 F W Farming and Keeping House 2500 475 Mich Father/Mother Foreign Birth
Smith, Elmer F 4 M W Michigan
Smith, William B 1 M W
Elvert**, Elizabeth 16 F W Michigan Attended School Father and Mother of Foreign Birth

1880 Ionia County, Odessa Township (1 June 1880) #21-23
Chapman, Mary A W F 40 Widow Keeping House Mich Ireland Ireland
" Elmer WM 14 Son School Mich Mich US? (last name SMITH)
" Burtis WM 11 Son School Mich Mich " (last name SMITH)
" Lee WM 7 Son Mich Mich "
" Marquis WM 5 Son Mich Mich "


1900 Ionia County, Odessa Township
ED #21
39-40
Chapman, Mary A Head Dec 1840 58 Mich Ireland Ireland Farmer
Smith, Elmer Son Mar 1866 Mich NY NY Laborer
Chapman, Marcus Son Sep 1878 Mich NY Mich Laborer 39-41
Chapman, Lee Head July 1875 Mich NY Mich Teaching School
Chapman, Marion Wife Mar 1876 Mich Mich Mich
Chapman, Lee Son May 1900 Mich Mich Mich

Notes:

Married:
Samuel B. Chapman and Mary Ann Smith [nee Welch, the widow of Franklin Smith] were married 10-7-1871 (IOCOC72#1071). (Courtesy LaVonne Bennett)

Notes:

It was reported by Marcus Chapman, on the death certificate of his mother, Mary Ann Welch, that her parents were William Welch and Anna Brown, born in England. It appears that Mary Ann's parents were actually both born in Ireland.

At the time of the 1850 Ionia County, Michigan census, a 9 year old Mary Ann Welch and 11 year old William Welch were living in the home of William and Ann Elvert of Berlin Township, both born in Ireland. Based on circumstantial evidence, it appears that Ann Elvert may have been the widowed mother of Mary Ann and William, the former Ann (Brown) Welch. If so, she was born circa 1820 in Ireland, and married and gave birth to her son William prior to age 19. And as 11 year old William was listed as being born in U(pper) Canada, and 9 year old Mary Ann as being born in Michigan, the Welch's appear to have immigrated to Michigan circa 1840 via Canada. In reading the section devoted to Berlin Township in the 1881 HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES MICHIGAN, no listing is found for William Welch. There is a Simeon Welch that is listed as voting in an election in 1846. At the time of the 1850 census, there was a Simpson Welch, age 45 and born in Kentucky, living in Berlin Township (#43-45). A Simon Welch, age 39, is listed in the 1850 Ionia County census in Easton Township (#275-283) as well. He and his wife Nancy were both born in New York.

Neighbors of the Elvert's at the time of the 1850 census were the McLaughlin's and the Humphries. Both of these men were born in Ireland, and both their wives in Novia Scotia. Perhaps Ann and William Welch came to Ionia via the same route. In 1860, Mary Welch, age 21, was still listed as a member of the Elvert household.

On the 1870 census, Mary Ann Welch reported that both her parents were "foreign born." On the 1880 census, she reports that they were both born in Ireland. Mary Ann herself reports in both 1870 and 1880 that she was born in Michigan. However, when he filed her death certificate, her son Marcus Chapman reports her as being born in Canada. This is incorrect, as Mary appears to have been born in Michigan very shortly after they immigrated from Canada.

Another possiblity are the following families listed in the Montreal Emigrant Society Passage Book of 1832 (Reel H-962, Vol 46) has two seperate references to a William Welch. The passage book is a record of poor and destitute immigrants from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forwarded and relieved by the Montreal Emigrant Society from 12 May to 5 November 183

(Line 604) On July 13th, 1832 a Wm. Welch and his wife were listed as being from Kerry (?). One of them was over the age of 40, and the other between the age of 20 and 40. They had three children, one an infant with the other two being under the age of 7. They were sent to Prescott.

(Line 994) On July 28, 1832 a Wm. Welch and his wife, both over between the ages of 40 and 60, were listed as the parents of five children, three over the ages of 14, one between 7 and 14, and the youngest under the age of 7. The location where they were from was left blank. Others arriving that day all appeared to be from various counties in Ireland. They also were sent to Prescott.

At the present time, it is not known if the two Wm. Welch's listed above are related to each other, or if either or both are related to the Wm. Welch who is the father of Mary Ann Welch. It appears, however, that if Ann Elvert, born ca 1820 in Ireland, was the widow of William Welch, then she is too young to be the wife shown in either family. These could be the parents of her husband, however.

I Found a Wm. Welch in Lyons Township, Ionia County in 1870, at #362-360, 49 years old, born MD. Also in household, Richard E. 30 born PA and Sarah J 73 born MD, widow. I also looked at Lyons Township on the 1860 film, and Wm. Welch was listed as 35, Sarah as 62? Richard 25, with Ida Green age 4, Mary age 2. Birthplaces of the Green girls was MI, the birthplaces for all the others the same as was listed on the 1860 census. This does not appear to be a good match for the Wm. Welch who was the father or the brother of Mary Ann Welch, for she quite clearly notes that both of her parents were born outside of the United States, both on the 1870 and 1880 census. In 1880, she shows that her parents were both born in Irelan

William married Anna Brown before 1837. Anna was born about 1816 in Ireland; died on 12 Oct 1888 in Ionia County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anna Brown appears to have married (1) William Welch and (2) William Elvert.

This appears to be her cemetery record?

SAINTS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CEMETERY (also known at Mt. Olivet Cemetery) Fourth Street - Ionia Township - Ionia County, Michigan

Copyright ? 1997 by Beth Ellen Wills. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~camprowl/peter.txt

Elvert, Anna 72 yrs. 10-12-1888

And this appears to be the youngest daughter?

Elvert, Margaret 53 yrs. 06-21-1913

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Federal Census
Michigan, Ionia County, Berlin Township
65 68
Elvert William 49 M Farmer 300 Ireland
Elvert Ann 30 F Ireland
Helch (sic) William 11 M U Canada
Helch (sic) Mary A. 10 M (sic) Mich
Elvert James 8 M Mich
Elvert Cornelius 5 M Mich
Elvert Julia 3 F Mich
Elvert Emily 1 F Mich

This Census was transcribed by Beth Wills and proofread by Pat Billings, Hope Farris, Kathy Laux for the USGenWeb Census Project, http://www.usgenweb.org/census

1860 Federal Census
Michigan, Ionia County, Berlin Township
21 Sept 1860
#2718-2616
Wm. Elvert 63 M Farmer 1000 500 Ireland
Ann Elvert 48 F Ireland
Cornelius 15 M Michigan
Julia 13 F Michigan
Harry 11 M Michigan
John 9 M Michigan
Elizabeth 6 F Michigan
Ellen 4 F Michigan
James 18 M Michigan
Mary Welch 21 F Teacher

At the time of the 1870 Ionia County census, Wm. Elvert was listed as a 71 year old farm laborer, born in Ireland, living in the home of Charles and Henrietta Fullington (both born in New York). They lived in Berlin Township (#127-127). The next household in the census was that of his ex-wife, Ann Elvert.

1870 Federal Census
Michigan, Ionia County, Berlin Township Berlin Township
#128-128
Elvert, Ann 55 Keeping House Ireland
Elvert, Julia 22 Works on Farm Michigan
Humphreys, Francis 72 Farmer Ireland
Humphreys, Susan 65 Keeping House Novia Scotia
Humphreys, Francis 23 Farm Laborer Michigan
Cain, Edward 29 Wagon Maker Isle of Man
Cain, Susan 23 Keeping House Michigan
Cain, Anna 1 F Michigan

(Note: The Humphreys and Elvert's were also neighbors at the time of the 1850 census)

1880 Federal Census
Michigan
Ann ELVERT Self W Female W 68 IRE Keeping House IRE IRE
Julia ELVERT Dau S Female W 33 MI IRE IRE
Source Information:
Census Place Berlin, Ionia, Michigan
Family History Library Film 1254584
NA Film Number T9-0584
Page Number 264A