by Matthew Urtz
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Madison County Courthouse featured a number of courthouse paintings of prominent judges and attorneys that practiced in the county. During a renovation of the present courthouse in the 1960s the portraits were removed from public view and memory. Recovered portraits are being repaired when possible for permanent display after the future courthouse renovations are completed. However, all will be displayed as part of our 2016 Archives Day on this fall. Over the course of the next few months we will feature articles on each of the judges whose images will be displayed. Today we will speak about Judge Benjamin Franklin Chapman.
The son of Colonel Stephen Chapman and Keturah (Palmer) Chapman, Benjamin Franklin Chapman was born March 24, 1817 in Clockville, NY. Chapman commonly referred to as “Frank” by his peers, entered Stockbridge Academy in 1834 and followed Professor Ostrander to the new Hudson River Seminary in the spring of 1835 to continue an education in mathematics. In the fall of 1835 Chapman moved on to Fayetteville Academy to study languages before entering Hamilton College in 1836. He graduated from Hamilton in 1839, where he received the honor of delivering the “Philosophical Oration” and was only the second student to graduate with a “clean page,” meaning he did not have a single demerit mark during his time there.
Upon his graduation, Chapman entered the law office of his father in Clockville and was admitted to the practice of law in 1841. Chapman married Miss Huldah Wilcox of Clockville in November of 1841. Chapman and Huldah had three children, though only two lived to adulthood. He soon became one of the leaders of the Madison County Bar. On top of his duties as a lawyer Chapman held many positions, including School Inspector, Commissioner, Town Superintendent, Town Supervisor, District Attorney and Postmaster for Clockville. He also had a prominent reputation as an engineer and surveyor, a number of his maps are still on file at the county. In 1880 he moved to Oneida on what would today be the corner Broad Street and Washington Avenue (then Cherry Street)
On January 24, 1883 he was appointed County Judge and Surrogate of Madison County by Governor Cleveland to fill the term of the Honorable Charles L. Kennedy, who died unexpectedly. After failing in his bid to keep the seat, Chapman continued to work in his law office. Despite his busy schedule Chapman also found time to publish several letters, including “Harper’s Ferry,” “Washington and its Defences,” and the very popular “Salem Witchcraft.” He retired from law in 1887 and died on March 29, 1892.
Archives Day 2016 will be on October 11th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Madison County Office Building #4. Besides the portraits, court cases, notes and other items from the men in the paintings will be on display. For more information about Madison County history my contact me via phone is 315-366-2453 or email matthew.urtz@madisoncounty.ny.gov. Don’t forget to like Madison County, NY History on Facebook and visit our website www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/historian/home. Matthew Urtz is the Madison County Historian.
Editor’s note: Matthew Urtz is Madison County historian. He can be reached at 315.366.2453 or email matthew.urtz@madisoncounty.ny.gov. Like “Madison County, NY History” on Facebook and visit madisoncountynyhistory.com. Works Cited: “Death of Judge B. Franklin Chapman.” Oneida Semi-Weekly Democratic Union. 30 March, 1892. “Death of Judge Chapman.” The Canastota Bee. 2 April 1892. “B. Franklin Chapman.” Oneida Post. 2 April 1892. Tompkins, Brownell Fitch. 1806-1906 Biographical Sketches of the Madison County Bench and Bar. Madison County Historical Society. 1911. Biographical Review of Madison County and its Residents. 1894