[CHAPMAN-L] Margarite Gurley CHAPMAN
by Brad Chapman & Lisa Lawrence
Just in case any one is interested. Found this while doing some
research. It is from the Massena Observer (newspaper for Massena, St.
Lawrence County, NY). The date of the article is 3 July 1969 and it was
from page 15.
Mrs. Chapman Dies at 70
Services for Mrs. Margarite Chapman, 70, who died Friday at the Potsdam
Hospital after a long illness were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Seymour
Funeral Home.
The Reverend Max Coots, pastor of the Canton United Universalist Church,
officiated. Burial was made in Bayside Cemetery, Potsdam.
Donations may be made to the Potsdam Rescue Squad or the Heart
Fund. Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Chapman was born in Potsdam, the daughter of William and Etta MacGowan
Gurley. She graduated from Potsdam Normal School in 1909 and from St.
Lawrence University in 1912. She married William Chapman in 1921, in
Skaneateles. The couple moved to Potsdam in 1924. Mrs. Chapman taught in
Springfield, Massachusetts and in Ithaca schools.
She was the past regent of the Nehanawate Chapter of the DAR, which was
founded in 1924 and of which she wrote the history in 1968. She was a past
president of the Hospital Guild, president of the Potsdam Museum beginning
in 1940 to 1968, trustee emeritus and member of the St. Lawrence Historical
Association, a former president of the Bayside Cemetery Association, and a
former president of the Potsdam Library Board and trustee.
In 1956 Mrs. Chapman wrote the book, "Early History of Potsdam," and was
recently working on a revised edition of that book. She also wrote, "The
Clarkson Family of Potsdam," in 1958. Mrs. Chapman helped to choose names
from local history to be given to several new buildings at Potsdam State
University.