The story of Leicester Chapman cont... Continued from page 12


“Turkey Creek Partnership: The undersigned have this


day opened a co-partnership in the mercantile business, under the style of Chapman & Carpenter, and will continue to do business as heretofore. They will keep on hand a full supply of all descriptions of Goods, suited to the market; and respectfully solicit a con- tinuance of the patronage so liberally bestowed theretofore. Leicester Chapman”


Post Office records reveal that


Leicester Chapman was postmas- ter at Turkey Creek from March 1, 1852 until Oct. 30, 1856. Car- penter was Postmaster from April 17, 1866 until July 31, 1876. Car- penter and his wife, Harriett, are buried in the Episcopal Cemetery on Alexander Road in Leicester. Also buried there are his broth-


er Shepherd Carpenter and his cousin George R. Jones. The township of Leicester was


incorporated on Feb. 9, 1874. Some records show 1891 and the final act of incorporation was re- pealed March 2, 1905. In 1860, Chapman and his


family temporarily rented a home where the Thomas Wolfe Audi- torium now stands in Asheville. There they waited for the birth of a child (Rosanna Frances) before beginning a move to New York where they felt their children could be better educated. They had shipped their be-


longings ahead in anticipation of the move, but the Civil War began before they could leave. Their personal possessions were never seen again. After moving his wife and their children back


to Turkey Creek, Chapman went to work for the Confederacy as a salt commissioner in Saltville, Va.


In 1870, practically all of their


holdings were sold, and Chap- man built a large brick house on South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Years later this prop- erty was the site for Aston Park Hospital. Chapman placed an ad in the


North Carolina Citizen news- paper on July 16,1874. The ad, which is on microfilm at the Asheville Public Library, reads as follows:


“LEICESTER CHAPMAN


is now receiving a supply of MERCHANDIZE with the object of establishing a Fam- ily Grocery Store and General Provision Trade, in connec- tion with Staple Dry Goods, etc and the desire to keep sup- plied with all kinds of Coun- try Produce, for which he will give market prices on liberal terms. To be found at HIS OLD STAND, on the Public Square. I beg to return thanks for


past favors, both at this place and Leicester and soliciting a continuance of this much es- teemed patronage, I remain, Most Respectfully, L. Chap- man.”


While residing in Asheville,


Chapman and his family were members of Trinity Episcopal Church. A stained glass window in the church has a plate under- neath it in memory of Leicester and Sarah Chapman. Records reveal that Leicester Chapman was born Dec. 7, 1818


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in Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire, Eng- land and died Aug. 5, 1895, in Asheville. His wife Sarah Hand- field Carpenter was born 1825 in Ireland and died Feb. 7, 1892 in Asheville. They are buried in Riverside Cemetery in Asheville. Their children were Anna,


born 1845, who married the Rev. Daniel Atkins, born Aug. 28, 1846 Grayson Co, Va. Anna was a teacher and Atkins was at one time president of Weaverville College, among other colleges; Johnnie who died at age 4; Rich- ard, born 1851, married Jennie


Corbin. In 1880 they were resid- ing in Sherman, Grayson, Texas; Elizabeth (Lillie), born Dec. 30,1856; Charles, born 1858; Rosanna Francis, born 1860; Shepherd French (Frank), born Jan. 17, 1865 and Sidney B, born 1870.


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