H. A. CHAPIN, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine in his native city, has won desirable and gratifying success, and his life record sets at naught, therefore, the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country. The Doctor was born here in 1872, a son of Seneca D. Chapin, whose history is given at length on another page of this volume. His paternal grandfather, Abel J. Chapin, was born in New York in 1807 and died in the year 1894. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rhoda Hart, was born in New York in 1810 and died in 1885. His maternal grandfather was William Carr.
No event of special importance occurred during the youth of Dr. Chapin to vary the routine of the average American boy for him. He attended the public schools of White Hall until he mastered the branches there taught and then entered the Northern Illinois Normal School at Dixon. He is a graduate of the White Hall high school of the class of 1891 and in 1891-2 he engaged in teaching school in Pike county. He prepared for the practice of medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chicago, Illinois, where he remained for a year, and in the Baltimore Medical College, from which institution he was graduated on the completion of a three years' course in April, 1895. He then located in White Hall, where he began practice. In 1902 he pursued a special post-graduate course in the Illinois School of Electro-Therapeutics. His preparation for practice has been thorough and exhaustive and his success gratifying. He is very careful in the diagnosis of a case, rarely at fault in estimating the outcome of disease, and in his chosen life work has rendered valuable service to his fellowmen.
On the 25th of September, 1895, Mr. Chapin was united in marriage to Miss Grace Danforth, a native of Greene county and a daughter of George B. and Kate (Worcester) Danforth. She is a graduate of the high school of White Hall of the class of 1891, and is popular and prominent in this city. Dr. and Mrs. Chapin now have one child, Florence D., born October 17, 1901.
In his political affiliation Dr. Chapin is a Republican, deeply interested in the success of his party, yet never holding office or caring for political preferment. He belongs to the Baptist church, is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Eastern Star chapter and the Court of Honor. He is serving on the board of education. His energies, however, are concentrated largely on his professional duties and he is a popular and prominent young physician with a large and growing practice.