LORENZO CHAPMAN, a well-known farmer and a highly-respected and prominent citizen of Tyrone township, Kent county, was born near Odessa, Schuyler county, N. Y., October 2, 1837, and is the fourteenth of the fifteen children ---twelve sons and three daughters-that, constituted the family of John and Sallie (Pierce) Chapman; of which children eight sons and one daughter, besides Lorenzo, are still living, to-wit: Manuel, who crossed the Rocky mountains with Col. John C. Fremont, about 1834, and is now living in retirement at Catherine, Schuyler county, N. Y.; Anthony, a farmer in Croton township, Newaygo county, Mich.; Chauncey, a resident of New York; William, a farmer residing at Sheridan, Ore., to the site of which city he donated forty acres; his wife's father and mother, in the early days of settlement of that far-west country, were among the unfortunate pioneers who were burned at the stake by the savages; Gilbert, a resident of Catherine, N. Y.; James, residing in Odessa, N. Y.; Charles, a farmer of Sparta township, Kent county, Mich.; and Lavina, wife of Lafayette Keeney, of the town of Croton, Newaygo county, Mich. John Chapman, father of the family above alluded to, was born in Litchfield county,. Conn., April 8, I792, was reared a farmer and at maturity removed to Schuyler county, N. Y., where he entered land from the government, on which he lived until about 1873, when he came to Michigan and settled in Newaygo county. He was a minute man of 'the war of I812, and took part in the blowing up of Fort Niagara, adhered to the whig party until the formation of the republican party, and died in the faith of the Methodist church about I879. His wife, who was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., August 4, 1795, died October I5, 1873, also in the Methodist faith. Lorenzo Chapman, whose name opens this sketch, has been a tiller of the soil since boyhood, was educated in the common schools, and gave his services to his parents until he reached his majority, after which he worked for them two years, at $I50 per year, and saved more money than most young men now-a-days save at $20 per month. December 24, I860, he married Miss Frances Ophelia Lyon, and of the two sons and four daughters born to their marriage five are still living, viz: Amelia, who was educated in the common schools and the Sparta high school, and is now the wife of Milo T. Jeffrey, a carpenter of Grand Rapids, but formerly a farmer; Lu Bertha, who received a common school education and instruction in vocal and instrumental music, and is married to Charles R. Barrett, a farmer of Tyrone township; L. J., who was educated in the Kent City schools, married Miss Floretta Irene Woodin, and at present is residing on the home farm; Jessie M., who was educated in the common schools, and is married to August Johnson, a farmer, and Inez, who is in the fifth grade at school. Mrs. Frances 0. Chapman was born in Catherine, Schuyler county, N. Y., May 6, 1844, and is a daughter of John M. and Clarilda (Mitchell) Lyon, who were the parents of one son and four daughters, of whom only Mrs. Chapman and Nancy V., a widow of Frank R. Jackson, are now living. Mrs. Jackson is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Chapman. John M. Lyon was born in Schuyler county, N. Y., about I821, and was a farmer by occupation. He was a stanch republican, a strong Lincoln man, held several positions of trust and honor, and was quite prominent in his township, where his influence was used with great effect in raising recruits during the Civil war. His death took place in his native county October I9, 1870. His wife was born in the same county November 14, I814, and her death occurred September 6, 1875. The Lyon family came from Connecticut and were among the first white settlers in New York state, where they cherished the friendship of the Indians. Mrs. Chapman's maternal great-grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, took part in several battles, and it is related of him that once, in fleeing from a party of Indians, he crawled into a hollow log, and that, immediately afterward, a large yellow spider wove its web over the aperture. The Indians tracked Mr. Mitchell to his hiding-place, but as they were afraid of spiders, they did not disturb this one, yet cut into the log, but missed the spot in which Mr. Mitchell was concealed, and so went on their way. After that, Mr. Mitchell never allowed his children to kill a spider. His son, Jesse, served in the war of 1812. Lorenzo Chapman and wife came to Kent county, Mich., in October, I864, and purchased forty acres of improved land in Sparta township. He shortly afterward enlisted in company K, Sixteenth Michigan infantry, and was assigned to the army of the Potomac. When his regiment came to within a day and a half's march of Appomattox Court House, news reached it that Lee had surrendered, consequently Mr. Chapman was honorably discharged July 8, I865, at Jeffersonville, Ind., returned to New York for his wife (who had gone home in the meantime), and came back to Michigan in September, I865, lived in Alpine township one year, then came to Tyrone township and purchased eighty acres of land, I of which twelve acres had been cleared, and improved with a log barn and frame dwelling, I6 x 24 feet ground plan, and eight feet high, and in this they lived until 1894, when Mr. Chapman erected his present modern residence, which has a fine cellar and the upper part neatly finished in hard wood. He has also put up substantial barns and stables, and now owns 280 acres of as fine land as there is in Tyrone township, all gained through his industry and good management as a farmer and stock raiser, and the aid of his estimable wife. Mr. Chapman cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, but is now a solid free silver democrat, and a strong believer in bi-matellism. He has preferred to devote his time and attention to the cultivation of his farm rather than to political affairs, and has therefore never sought public office. Fraternally, he is a member of Fighting Dick post, No. 243, G. A. R., at Sparta. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman hold a high social position in the township, owe no man anything, and live strictly up to the Golden Rule. Their farm is situated four and one-quarter miles from Sparta and three and three-quarter miles from Kent City, and its neat appearance and prosperous condition make it a credit, not only to its owner but to the township.