Chester William Chapin was a businessman and United States. Representative from Massachusetts.
Background
Chester W. Chapin, six generations removed from the family"s pilgrim immigrant forebear, Deacon Samuel Chapin, was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts to Ephriam and Mary Chapin, the youngest of seven children. The family moved to Chicopee and in 1806 his father died, leaving Chester and his brothers to maintain the family and work their farm.
Education
He attended common schools and Westfield Academy, Westfield, Massachusetts.
Career
One of his first paying jobs was when local cotton mills were being built, when he earned $1.50 a day. He quickly went into business for himself, opening a store, and in 1822 was appointed town tax collector, for which he received $80. Around 1826 he bought an interest in the stage line from Hartford, Connecticut to Brattleboro, Vermont, soon holding extensive mail and stage contracts.
In 1831, when steamboats first began to run on the river between Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts he bought an interest, soon became sole proprietor, and for about 15 years controlled all the passenger traffic on that route.
He also became a large or principal owner of the steamship lines between New York City, Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. He was one of the earliest advocates of a bridge over the Hudson River at Albany, New New York
Chapin was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877), and served on the Committee of Ways And Means. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress.
He died in Springfield on June 10, 1883 and was interred in Springfield Cemetery.
Chapin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Membership
He served as member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1853, president and director of the Western Railroad Corporation from 1854 to 1867, president of the Boston and Albany Railroad from 1868 to 1878, and a director until 1880.