Asahel Chapin, a well known and highly respected citizen of McGregor, is an attorney-at-law in this place, and is a man of wide reading and general information. He has been engaged in legal work as an active member of the Bar for nearly a quarter of a century, and has built up an admirable reputation as a man of unusual acumen and good judgment on all matters pertaining to the profession.

Our subject bares the same Christian name as his father, who was a native of New England, having been born in Massachusetts. Hie came to the west in 1851, making his home in Galena, Ill., and later removing to Dubuque. He was a minister in the Baptist Church, having been for four years pastor of the First Baptist Congregation in Galena. He then moved to Benton County, Iowa, locating on a farm, where he remained about six years. After he came to Dubuque, he was a minister in the First Baptist Church at that place for ten years, and always took a great interest in educational matters. He was always a staunch Republican and did campaign work, in company with Owen Lovejoy, in Illinois. After a long and useful life he was called from his labors in Freeport, Ill., in 1892, at the age of eighty-eight years.

The Chapin family were originally from England, and early settled in Massachusetts. It is known that one Samuel Chapin, from which our subject is a direct descendant, emigrated from England, locating near the place where Springfield, Mass., now stands, and there a large statue modeled by St. Gaudens, the celebrated sculptor, has been erected to his memory. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Steven Chapin, whose birth occurred in the Bay state, and who was an extensive manufacturer of boots and shoes. His mother was Catherine ( Suthland ) Chapin, of Jamestown, N. Y., and daughter of Judson Suthland.

Like his forefathers on the paternal side, Asahel Chapin, of this sketch, was born in Massachusetts, Holyoke being the place of his nativity, which occurred January 13, 1846. When five years old he was brought to Iowa by his parents, where he was reared to man's estate on a farm, receiving practical experience in agricultural affairs. Until nineteenth years of age his education was mainly, acquired in the district school, but at that time he entered State University, at Iowa City, where he pursued his studies until reaching the junior year. He then began reading law in the office of Wilson & Doud, at that time a prominent law firm of Dubuque, where his father was then located. After pursuing his legal studies for two years, he passed the necessary examinations, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar at Dubuque, where he began his active career, practicing for one year.

In 1873 Mr. Chapin formed a partnership with Platt Smith and H. B. Foulk, under the firm name of Smith, Folk & Chapin, which continued as such for a period of three years. It was in 1875 that Mr. Chapin came to McGregor and entered into partnership with J. T. Stoneham & Chapin continued in general practice until 1880, when it was dissolved, and since that time, a period of fourteen years, Mr. Chapin has been conducting business for himself.

Our subject was married in 1877 to Miss Maggie Stoneman. Her father, J. T. Stoneman, was one of the pioneers and early settlers of McGregor. To our subject and his wife were born two daughters, Florence and Esther, and they have a very pleasant and hospitable home.

As a member of the School Board and in other effective ways, Mr. Chapin has shown his interest in educational matters. Socially, he belongs to Duncan Lodge No. 36, K. P., being a charter member of the same. He uses his right member of the same. He uses his right of franchise in favor of nominees of the Republican Party, and is an earnest and ardent supporter of the principles set forth by that organization. He is a man who bears an enviable reputation in this locality for integrity and uprightness of character, and his many friends will be pleased to peruse the history of so worthy a citizen.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 452-453
~transcribed by Suzanne Terrell