I found this on my 2nd great grandfather. It kind of puts into question
who I have as his father. I was wondering if anyone may have any
Chapmans in Stockton or Durham Co. England?
Dennis
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Daily Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri) 16 Dec 1872 page 3
First and last Railroad Engine.
We had a call on Monday from Mr. Thomas Chapman, an old citizen of
Rocheport, who came to Boone county in 1841. During our interview he
mentioned that he had seen the first and last rrilroad engine--the first
in 1830 or 1831, at Stockton, England and the last at the depot at
Columbia, that day. Mr. Chapman is a native of Stockton, and when quite
a boy saw the first train of carrying coal from the coal pits in Derham
county to Stockton on the Tees. The road was first constructed for horse
cars; but at the time named a rude steam engine was made and attached to
a coal train of 18 or 20 coal wagons, the train traveling at the rate of
only about two miles an hour.
What wonderful progress Mr. Chapman has witnessed in his time in steam
engines for railroads -- Columbian Stateman(?)
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