Rochester Era [Rochester, Oakland, Michigan], May 23, 1946, p.1:

William C. Chapman Dies Monday

Industrialist, Developer, Factor in Village Growth

Public Spiritedness and Leadership For 34 Years Placed Him Foremost In Hearts of Those With Faith in Town

Early Monday morning, while asleep, death stilled the heart beats of one of Rochester's foremost industrialists and builders of a generation or more ago, when William Clark Chapman died at his home, 311 Walnut Boulevard, at the age of 80 years, following several weeks illness aggravated by old age.

Mr. Chapman, who was born March 11, 1866, at Proctorsville, Vermont, the son of Clark H. and Ellen Chapman, came to Detroit with his parents in 1880. After graduating from a business college he was a bookkeeper for W.C. Yawkey, a noted industrialist and real estate developer, for six years. He then engaged in the lumber business in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, for three years, when he sold out and returned to Detroit.

When the Western Knitting Mills were organized here in 1891, he came to Rochester as secretary treasurer of the company. His experience in Rochester, where his company was faced with the task of finding homes for several hundred workers at his knitting mills, was somewhat similar to that which greeted the Sugar Mill in 1899 and 1900, and too much like that which faces Rochester today -- great demand for homes, but no homes for those needing them. He visioned Rochester as the right place to invest money in real estate and building.

Became a Developer

He thereupon organized a real estate developing company and set out in an endeavor to provide a number of homes to meet the crying demand for same. He platted two additions to the village at the turn of the century and built many homes, also commercial buildings, a great many of which still are a part of his estate. His holdings weathered depressions and slumps to vindicate his judgment at the close of his life.

His enterprise and public spiritedness attracted the attention of the villagers who drafted him into the public service, electing him three times as village president, a position which he held with honor and dignity.

Mr. Chapman's connection with the Western Knitting Mills continued 34 years, employing several hundred workers and being the largest single factor in the industrial economy of the community during those years.

Despite his many business activities, Mr. Chapman found time to identify himself completely with the community. He was a member of the Rochester Lodge No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Rochester Chapter No. 137.

Surviving are his widow, Ada B.; one son, Carroll B., Sr., and three grandsons, William, Carroll, Jr., and Sherwin, all of Rochester.

The body was at T.E. Nichols funeral home from Monday until 10 a.m. Wednesday, when it was removed to the Chapman home where funeral services, with Rev. A.P. Rickard and William Hill Collycott officiating, were held at 1 p.m.

The body was shipped immediately to his native Vermont where burial will take place on Friday. Accompanying the body to Vermont were Mrs. Chapman and her son and family, the Carroll B. Chapmans.

William Clark Chapman

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