Uriah Calvin Chapin biography
Uriah Calvin Chapin
Uriah Calvin Chapin, son of Robert Park Chapin and Elizabeth Farmer Chapin, was born 24 Jan 1836 near Gallipolis, Ohio. He moved with his parents about 1847 to Clyde, Ohio, and again in 1850 into the southwestern part of Michigan where they farmed. They were here only one year, and then moved to Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, where his father bought thirteen acres of land. Soon after this his father, Robert Park, passed away on 6 Feb 1851, and was buried at that place. The following season the farm was sold and the family returned to Clyde, Ohio in 1852. Uriah was a strong husky boy. His hair was heavy and black even to his death.
Uriah had a large family of brothers and sisters, namely: Mary Isabel born 7 Dec 1834; then Uriah; Margaret Ann born 22 July 1837; Eliza Pamelia born 30 Jan 1839; Robert Park, Jr. born 19 Aug 1840; Elizabeth Loretta born 25 Nov 1843; Nancy Selina born 13 Aug 1845; Mary Jane (twin) born 14 Apr 1847; and Martha Susan (twin) born 14 Apr 1847.
The Eastern and New England States have many, many Chapin relatives. Uriah�s 7th great-grandfather and grandmother, Samuel and Cicely Penny Chapin, came from England in the early 1600�s settling in Massachusettes, [sic] and helped organize and build up Springfield, Mass[achusetts]. Here a larger than life size monument of Deacon Samuel Chapin was erected in his honor in the middle of town. However, these early people who came to Massachusettes [sic] had many struggles and war with the Indians and many of them lost their lives.
Uriah was the only one who came West and joined the Church, because on 11 Mar 1854 he left his mother and her family at Clyde, Ohio, and started for Utah driving a team for his neighbor, Mr. Bartlett Brown.
At the time of the Fourth of July celebration in 1854 he was in Green River, Wyoming, coming on to Salt Lake City, Utah, arriving about 15 July 1854. He located at Centerville, Utah, where in the spring of 1855 he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In the spring of 1856 he went with Henry Dalton to Carson, Nevada, returning to Centerville the following year. On 22 Mar 1864 he moved to Bear Lake Valley, Idaho, and came back to Sevier County, Utah the following year, and in 1865 he moved to Morgan, Utah.
It was here that he met and married Ann Richardson on 9 October 1866, with Heber C. Kimball officiating in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah. Ann was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Robson Richardson. She was born 25 Aug 1850 in Cramlington, North Umberland, England and was baptized a member of the Latter-day Saint Church there on 20 April 1861, and in two day on 22 Apr 1861, she and her parents and her sister Mary left Liverpool for America, on the ship Underwriter.
Uriah and Ann were the parents of five daughters and one son: Elizabeth Ann born 1 Nov 1868, Mary Jane born 13 Jan 1871, Ellen Loretta born 7 Mar 1873, Joanna Upion born 29 Mar 1875, Eliza Selina born 11 Dec 1883, and Robert Calvin born 8 Aug 1887. Their posterity now (in 1959) number 31 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and 54 great-great grandchildren. Eleven served honorable LDS missions.
He was a farmer by trade, and their house for a number of years was on a farm down by the Creek, and each spring high water would drive them from their home, yet their many friends were generous and gave them lodging.
He showed his trust in God by his faithful work until death came on 4 May 1917 after retiring for the night and while sleeping he died peacefully. He was buried in the South Morgan Cemetery.
Written by Mae Chapin Butters, granddaughter, in 1959.