Question

Seeking parents of John A Chapman born 1858 in Alabama, Married Dollie Fiveash Coleman Co TX, moved to Johhnson Co.

Answer 1

Hi Steve, I checked your profile for John and found a couple of problems. It shows his middle initial as "A." his birth year as 1888, and his marriage in 1882.

Every reference I have found, except the 1900 US Census, shows his middle initial as "H."

Texas marriage records show that J. H. Chapman and Dollie Fiveash were married in Erath County, Texas, on 29 May 1898.("Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-KC3M : accessed 12 June 2016), J H Chapman and Dollie Fiveash, 29 May 1898, Marriage; citing Erath, Texas, United States, Citing county clerk offices, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,026,026. Page 135).

The 1900 US Census, Justice Precinct 7, Erath, Texas, shows that J. A. Chapman, 42 b. AL Feb 1858, lived with his wife Dollie, 33 b. TX March 1867, and 6 children: Roy, 16 b. Dec 1883; Luke, 14 b. Aug 1886; Boyd, 12 b. Sept 1887; Woody, 10 b. Dec 1889; Verna, 4 b. April 1896; and Clarence, 1 b. May 1899. The children were all born in TX. John's parents were both born in Tennessee, while Dolly's father was born in Alabama and her mother in TX. The Census shows that the number of years that they have been married is unknown, but Dolly has had 1 child, and that that child is still living.  Where is shows Mariiage, M2 was entered for both J.A. and Dollie, but then it was crossed out.("United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GM-SMW : accessed 12 June 2016), J A Chapman, Justice Precinct 7 (excl. Thurber town), Erath, Texas, United States; citing sheet 9A, family 143, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,632.)

Given the 1898 marriage year for John and Dollie, Clarence is probably the only child of this marriage up to this time.  The other children are probably the children of an earlier marriage by John.

Answer 2

Another reason to believe that Dollie Fiveash was not John's first wife is the 1910 US Census:

In 1910, John H. Chapman (indexed as "Chopman") lived in Brogdon Twp., Johnston County, Oklahoma, with his wife Dollie and 6 children. John is 57, a farmer b. Alabama. Dollie is 42 b. TX.  John say this is his 2nd marriage and Dollie says it is her first. They have been married for 11 years, and Dollie has had 4 children, all still living. The children living with them are: Boyd, 22 b. TX; Wottie (Walter?), 21 b. TX; daughter Clorris, 10 b. TX; Perry, 8 b. TX; Eddie, 4 b. OK; and Chester, 3 b. OK. John's parents were both born in Tennessee.("United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLQN-C27 : accessed 12 June 2016), Dallie Chopman in household of John H Chopman, Brogdon, Johnston, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 119, sheet 2B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,267.)  Given the marriage date for John and Dollie and the number of children she has had, the youngest children should be hers, but Boyd and Wootie are children of an earlier marriage.

Answer 3

Here is another clue to finding more about the John Chapman's background. As seen on the 1900 US Census, John's daughter Verna Chapman was born in Texas in Aug 1896, so she was daughter of John and first wife.

in 1910, Verna was living in Justice Precinct 3, Palo Pinto, Texas, with Albert and Martha Guhl's family.  She is shown as a cousin.  Albert, 50, was born in Texas, but Martha was born in Arkansas.("United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M23Q-6HD : accessed 12 June 2016), Verna Chapman in household of Dora Guhl, Justice Precinct 3, Palo Pinto, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 185, sheet 14A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,596.) 

If you follow Martha Guhl forward to her death, you find that she died 12 June 1932 in Gordon, Palo Pinto, Texas. Her Death Certificate shows her name as Martha Dora Guhl. She was born in Arkansas and her father was Jim Chapman.(Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 [Ancestry.com.database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas Death Certificates, 1903–1982. iArchives, Orem, Utah. 1932; Palo Pinto Co., TX, #27128)

So, some how, John Chapman and Martha Dora (Chapman) Guhl are related.