W. M. DAVIS — MEMORIAL 0¥ J. II. CHAPIN. 407 



descendant in the eighth generation of .Samuel Chapin, who came from 

 Wales to Dorchester, Massachusetts,, in 1636 or 1637, moving to the out- 

 lying settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1842. II is father was 

 Gustavus W. Chapin, of Cooperstown, New York ; his mother, Mary 

 McNanghton, of Ohio. One of the family of nine children of a hard- 

 working farmer, Dr Chapin showed a characteristic American spirit, 

 being a self-supporting student in his youth and an active worker in 

 varied directions during his maturity. He was graduated at Lombard 

 college, Galesburg, Illinois, in 1857, and spent a time there in teaching 

 mathematics and natural science; but he soon turned toward the minis- 

 try and occupied Universalist pulpits in Illinois for several years. In 

 L857 he married Helen M. Weaver, who died in 1871, leaving a daugh- 

 ter. During the later years of the rebellion he was actively and suc- 

 cessfully engaged in California in raising funds for the Sanitary Com- 

 mission. 



It is not until 1871 that Dr Chapin's attention was especially directed 

 toward geology. It had been previously a subject of general interest to 

 him, but on accepting the chair of geology and mineralogy in the St. 

 Lawrence University in northern New York his thoughts were more 

 turned toward our science. Detween 1873 and 1885 he also held the 

 pastorate of the Universalist church at Meriden, Connecticut, where he 

 resided the greater part of the time, his duties at the St. Lawrence 

 University requiring but the smaller part of the year. In 1875 he was 

 called to the presidency of his alma mater at Galesberg, Illinois, but felt 

 unable to accept the position. 



At Meriden, in 1878, he married Kate A. Lewis, daughter of Honorable 

 Isaac C. Lewis, prominently connected with the business development 

 of that busy city. His travels abroad and his lectures at home during 

 the past twenty years led to the publication of several volumes of gen- 

 eral interest. In 1889 he was elected to the Connecticut legislature, 

 where he was active in introducing a bill for a state topographic survey 

 similar to the surveys previously established in Massachusetts and 

 Rhode Island. He was appointed one of the three commissioners to 

 superintend the prosecution of the survey, and through his interest in 

 the work he made it widely known to the people of the state. The 

 schools of Meriden had his close attention, and the high school was 

 his particular care. He was closely identified with the Meriden Scien- 

 tific Association, an active local institution, of which he has been presi- 

 dent. He frequently took part in its meetings and excursions, his 

 interest being aroused in particular by the ancient volcanic phenomena, 

 of the district. His death was deeply felt by the community in which 

 he was so actively engaged. 



