Mrs. Elvira C. Chapman Biography, Tuscola Co., Michigan This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1049-1050 This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. *********************************************************************** ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb *********************************************************************** MRS. ELVIRA C. CHAPMAN. We here present a sketch of one of the prominent women of Millington Township, Tuscola County, who is active in all good works and who, with her sons, is carrying on an extensive and prosperous farm. She is a daughter of William Rice, who was born in Massachusetts, and early emigrated from the East to Ohio where he spent the remainder of his days, and where he carried on a prosperous farm. He was married after coming to Ohio, in Hicksville, to Ruth Edgerton, who, like himself, was a native of the old Bay State, and to them were granted six children, four daughters and two sons. These children were early left fatherless and their mother was a second time married. By her marriage with Mr. Thomas Rowan she was the mother of one daughter. Elvira Rice was married in Ohio on the 30th of November, 1849, to William Richardson, and to them were born the following children: Hiram, Ella M., George L., Sarah M., Cora J. and Chester V. Mr. Richardson, who was a man of exceptional character and proved a most kind and generous husband and father, was born March 20, 1824. He was reared in Ohio but as he lost his mother when quite young he was obliged to make his own way in the world. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson came to Tuscola County and settled on a farm of eighty acres, which is now in possession of our subject. This noble lady made an offering upon her country's altar such as was made by many during the dark days of the Civil War. She sent her husband to the front, and he, like many of the best and bravest men of that day never returned to brighten his home. It was in 1862 that he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and he died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., in 1864. Mrs. Richardson was subsequently married to Mr. Simson Chapman, and to them was born one child to whom has been given the name of Inez E. The sons of this lady are truly helpful to her in the management of the farm and they work together in a harmonious family, their home being one of the pleasantest in Millington Township. j