Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/744

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\JR(i.\IA BIOGRAPHY

Samuel Cliapin. who was admitted a free- man of the Massachusetts Bay colony, June 2, 1641, was one of the founders of Sprmg- field. Massachusetts, and a man distin- guished in church and state during that early period of New England history.

From Deacon Samuel Chapin sprang Laertes Chapin, born August 21, 1778, died October 30. 1847, grandfather of Cornelius Colton Chapin. the prominent real .estate dealer, of Richmond. Virginia, senior mem- ber of the firm of (Chapin & Hinne. Laertes Chapin married Laura Colton, of Hartford, Connecticut, and left issue, including a son, Cornelius King Chapin. born July 10, 1828, a jeweler associated with the firm of Mit- chell & Tyler, of Richmond, X^irginia. He married Virginia Esther, daughter of John Evans. Children : Ellora Estelle, William Evans, Cornelius Colton, of whom further: X'irginia, deceased ; Belle, deceased.

Cornelius Colton Chapin, son of Cornelius King and Virginia Esther (Evans) Chapin, was born in Richmond. Virginia, ALiy 19, 1863. His education was obtained in Mc- Guire's and Norwood's University schools in Richmond. He early began business life as a bookkeeper, continuing until 1902, when he established his present business and firm, Chapin & Hume. The firm is a prosperous one, and in its real estate deal- ings has aided in the development of Rich- mond. Mr. Chapin is a member of All ."^aints Protestant Episcopal Church, was its >uperintendent for a number of years in the Sunday school, and interested in all that con- cerns the public good. He is a devotee of outdoor exercise and sports, particularly fond of hunting and fishing. While a young man temporarily residing in Birmingham, Alabama, he served in the Birmingham ( luards, a local military company, rising to the rank of second lieutenant.

lie married, October 13, 1892, Emma T. (laughter of John and X'irginia (Allen) Tyler, and granddaughter of John H. Tyler. Children: Cornelius Colton (2), Florence I .. William K., A. Lucius, and \'irginia Allen. The familv residence is No. 922 I'loyd avenue, Fvichmond, X'irginia.

W. Fred. Richardson. .Vfter enjoying educational advantages that prepared him for useful effort in numerous lines of en- deavor, W. Fred. Richardson made his choice of a career in the business world.

and since 1897 has been a business man of the city of Richmond, which city had pre- viously been the scene of his operations for a short time. Since July 7, 1897, ^^^ has been the head of the corporation bearing his name, and is connected wdth numerous of the institutions of the city.

His father, Frederick Richardson, born in Mathews county, Virginia, July 21, 1834, was employed in the United States revenue service until the outbreak of active hostili- ties between the sections, when he became a soldier in the Confederate army, bearing arms throughout the entire conflict. After the war he was variously employed until iiis death. In religion he was a believer in the Methodist Episcopal faith, his political l^elief being Democratic. He married Eliza- l)eth White, born in Mathews county, Vir- ginia, September 7, 1830, daughter of James and Lucy (Foster) White, and granddaugh- ter of James C. and Ann White. James White was a farmer and. a soldier in the war of 1 81 2. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Richardson had seven children, six of whom are living. Among the sons is W. Fred, of whom fur- ther.

X\'. Fred. Richardson was born in Mathews county, V^irginia. December 23, 1866. He first attended the graded schools of his native county, then entered the Me- chanics' Listitute, of Richmond, and there took a commercial course, and after study- ing under a private tutor purstied a course in anatomy and physiology in the Medical College of Mrginia. After a cotirse in the art and science of embalming, he attended the Sjjrague School of Journalism, subse- quently studying law in the University of Chicago. In 1886 he made his entry into the business world of Richmond, and six years later became manager for the firm o.f J. T. Morris & C((mpany, of Petersburg, X'ir- ginia. Later he engaged in the funeral busi- ness, having the most ex]:>ensive funeral equipment in the South. He began his pres- ent business, warehouse, July 7, 1897, under the name of W. Fred. Richardson, in 1912 taking out papers of incorporation under the same title. He has one-quarter of a million tu])ic feet of storage space, handles over si.x hundred thousand packages of freight annually, employs a large force of people, ha\ing correspondents in all parts of the country. He values his plant at $250,000. r.esides his interest in the corporation bear-