David Carpenter CHAPMAN

Other Events:

• _UID: D7F5280E7779425DA19D3EDEAB69EEE5D216

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1920 United States Census
Name: David C Chapman
Gender: Male
Age: 43
Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Home in 1920: Civil District 14, Knox, Tennessee
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Own or Rent: Own
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household: 119
Household Members:
David C Chapman 43
Sue Chapman 39

1930 United States Census
Name: David Chapman
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Birth Year: abt 1877
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1930: District 14, Knox, Tennessee
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household: 110
Household Members:
David Chapman 53
Sue Chapman 49

1940 United States Federal Census
Name: David C Chapman
Age: 63
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Brother-in-law
Home in 1940: Knox, Tennessee
Street: Topside Road
Inferred Residence in 1935: Knox, Tennessee
Residence in 1935: Same House
Occupation: President, Wholesale drug Co.
Highest Grade Completed: College, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44
Class of Worker: Employer
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Household Members:
Janie J Saunders 63
David C Chapman 63
Sue J Chapman 59

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Prominent Knoxville businessman, famous for being instrumental in establishing the Smoky Mountain National Park. Chapman Highway from Knoxville to Gatlinburg is named in his honor.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Chapman#Personal_life

He was an American soldier, politician, and business leader from Knoxville, Tennessee who led the effort to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1920s and 1930s. Mount Chapman (in the park) and Chapman Highway (the section of U.S. Route 441 in South Knoxville), are named in his honor.

Chapman was born in Knoxville to John Ellis and Alice Young Chapman. He attended the University of Tennessee from 1895 to 1897, but did not graduate. Despite not graduating, Chapman did play football for Tennessee.

In the Spanish-American War, Chapman served as a Second Lieutenant in the Third Tennessee Volunteer Infantry and was the Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier General L.W. Colby. When the United States entered World War I, Governor Thomas Clark Rye selected Chapman to reorganize East Tennessee National Guard, now part of the Tennessee Military Department. Chapman later became Colonel in the Fifth Tennessee Regiment, later renamed to Fourth Tennessee Regiment, before resigning on 20 November 1918.

Chapman's father, John, began a wholesale drug company in Knoxville which David took over after his father's death. In 1910 and 1911, Knoxville hosted the Appalachian Expositions, in which Chapman served on the Board of Directors for both events. The purpose of both expositions was to raise awareness of natural resources of the Southern Appalachian region in the United States. Chapman, as a leader of the "Appalachian Club" (a recreational society for people with summer homes in Elkmont), became involved in the effort to create a national park in the Great Smoky Mountains. Additionally, Chapman was also active in various social clubs, civic clubs, and fraternal organizations in the Knoxville area.

In 1925, Tennessee Governor Austin Peay appointed Chapman as East Tennessee representative to the Tennessee State Park & Forestry Commission, an appointment that came with the urging of the Smoky Mountains Conservation Association. The association voted to add the word "Great" to their name, giving rise to Great Smoky Mountains as the official and full name of the mountain range where the park would be located. Negotiations started as early as 1925, which was estimated to cost $10 million and involve 6,000 private property owners, including large timber companies that owned most of the land. Chapman did most of the negotiations for the land purchases, even as he raised money to buy more parcels of the park. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. was even persuaded by Chapman and National Park Service Assistant Director Arno Cammerer to donate $5 million to ensure the park's success. This land was then turned over to the United States federal government for use as a national park. Chapman was appointed the first commissioner, serving until 1932. The park was officially established on 15 June 1934. President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the park on 2 September 1940 with Chapman, the "Father of the Park", in attendance. Mount Champman, a 6,340 ft peak in the park is named in his honor. A stretch of US 441 in South Knoxville is also named in Chapman's honor as Chapman Highway.




Buried:
Grave location and portrait:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=CHAP&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=45&GScntry=4&GSsr=361&GRid=76480245&

Died:
Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955
Name: David C. Chapman
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 26 Jul 1944
Event Place: Knox, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Age: 67
Birth Date: 09 Aug 1876
Birthplace: Knoxville, Tenn.
Spouse's Name: Sue J. Chapman
Father's Name: John E. Chapman
Father's Birthplace: Unknown
Mother's Name: Alice Young
Mother's Birthplace: Anderson/Tenn.
Occupation: Wholesale Druggist
Address: Topside Pike
Residence Place: Knox Co., Tenn.
Cemetery: Highland Memorial
Burial Place: Knoxville
Burial Date: 28 Jul 1944

David married Susan Ayers (Sue) JOHNSTON 04 Nov 1911, Knox County, TN. Susan (daughter of John Yates JOHNSTON and Susan (Susie) AYRES) was born Nov 1880, Knoxville, Knox Co. Tn. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Tennessee, Marriages, 1796-1950
Name: David C. Chapman
Birth Date: 1876
Birthplace:
Age: 35
Spouse's Name: Sue A. Johnston
Spouse's Birth Date: 1882
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age: 29
Event Date: 04 Nov 1911
Event Place: Knox, Tennessee

David married Anna Augusta McKeldin 27 Feb 1906, Knox County, TN. Anna died 26 Jan 1908, Knoxville, Knox Co. TN. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Tennessee, Marriages, 1796-1950
Name: David Carpenter Chapman
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Age:
Spouse's Name: Anna Augusta Mckeldin
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age:
Event Date: 27 Feb 1906
Event Place: Knox, Tennessee