Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, Illinois) November 17, 1911.
MATTOON - Postmaster Robert N. Chapman of Charleston died from the effects of chloroform he took by mistake.
Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) Tuesday, November 14, 1911
DEATH OF R. N. CHAPMAN
CHARLESTON POSTMASTER SUCCUMBS TODAY TO CHLOROFORM POISON.
TAKEN BY ACCIDENT
Sudden Demise of Well Known Citizen Causes Shock to Numerous Friends Throughout County.
Special to Journal-Gazette
Charleston, Ill., Nov. 14.
Robert N. Chapman, postmaster of Charleston since July 1, 1897, died at his home, 1114 Monroe street, at 12:50 o’clock this afternoon from chloroform poisoning, having been taken on Monday morning by mistake.
Mr. Chapmen had been afflicted with a nervous trouble for several years and had been in the habit on morning of taking a nerve tonic. On Monday morning he arose at the usual hour, and, going to the medicine cabinet, reached in and brought forth what he believed to be the medicine he desired, but which in reality was a bottle of chloroform, which stood beside the medicine bottle in the cabinet. Pouring out a teaspoonful of the deadly drug, Mr. Chapman swallowed it.
In a few minutes the drug began its deadly work, and Mrs. Chapmen, becoming alarmed, called in the family physician. Then the mistake was discovered. Mr. Chapman was in a serious condition for a few hours, but in the afternoon of Monday it was given out that while he had had a close call his condition was such that his early recovery was assured.
This morning, unknown to the general public, Mr. Chapman’s condition took a change for the worse, and when the end came at 12:50 this afternoon it was as a shock to the community generally.
The mistake made by Mr. Chapmen is easily seen when it is understood that the nerve tonic and the bottle containing chloroform stood side by side and each bore a red label. Mr. Chapman had not yet put on his glasses, and beyond looking at the label, he could not have discerned the difference in the writing. The chloroform had been used for cleaning purposes
Native of Charleston.
Mr. Chapman was a native of Charleston, having been born in this city on April 28, 1848. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus H. Chapman, early residents of Coles county. His mother is a third cousin of Abraham Lincoln and a granddaughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln, the stepmother of the martyred president.
Hotel Clerk in Mattoon.
From 1868 to 1870 Mr. Chapman was assistant revenue assessor, and in 1871 he became clerk in the Essex House in Mattoon and later similarly employed in the Dole House in that city. He also was employed as chief clerk in the LaClede and Everett hotels in St. Louis. For several years Mr. Chapman was engaged in the business of abstractor of titles in this city. For a short time he was deputy county clerk of Coles county, which position he resigned to accept the postmastership, a position which he had creditably filled ever since his first appointment on July 1, 1897, receiving his appointment at the hands of President McKinley.
Mr. Chapman had always been a Republican in politics, and for forty years he had been more or less active in the politics of Coles county. He was known to all the prominent politicians and prominent men generally throughout the state.
Mr. Chapman had remained a bachelor until November 12, 1905, when he took for his bride Mrs. John Briscoe of this city. Besides the widow, there survive the aged mother-Mrs. Harriett Chapman, who lives in this city; a sister-Mrs. Albert Cunningham of New Orleans, and a brother-John Chapman, who is in the employ of the government in Chicago.
Funeral Thursday.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the First Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Charles S. Pier. Burial will be made in Mound cemetery.
MATTOON - Postmaster Robert N. Chapman of Charleston died from the effects of chloroform he took by mistake.
Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) Tuesday, November 14, 1911
DEATH OF R. N. CHAPMAN
CHARLESTON POSTMASTER SUCCUMBS TODAY TO CHLOROFORM POISON.
TAKEN BY ACCIDENT
Sudden Demise of Well Known Citizen Causes Shock to Numerous Friends Throughout County.
Special to Journal-Gazette
Charleston, Ill., Nov. 14.
Robert N. Chapman, postmaster of Charleston since July 1, 1897, died at his home, 1114 Monroe street, at 12:50 o’clock this afternoon from chloroform poisoning, having been taken on Monday morning by mistake.
Mr. Chapmen had been afflicted with a nervous trouble for several years and had been in the habit on morning of taking a nerve tonic. On Monday morning he arose at the usual hour, and, going to the medicine cabinet, reached in and brought forth what he believed to be the medicine he desired, but which in reality was a bottle of chloroform, which stood beside the medicine bottle in the cabinet. Pouring out a teaspoonful of the deadly drug, Mr. Chapman swallowed it.
In a few minutes the drug began its deadly work, and Mrs. Chapmen, becoming alarmed, called in the family physician. Then the mistake was discovered. Mr. Chapman was in a serious condition for a few hours, but in the afternoon of Monday it was given out that while he had had a close call his condition was such that his early recovery was assured.
This morning, unknown to the general public, Mr. Chapman’s condition took a change for the worse, and when the end came at 12:50 this afternoon it was as a shock to the community generally.
The mistake made by Mr. Chapmen is easily seen when it is understood that the nerve tonic and the bottle containing chloroform stood side by side and each bore a red label. Mr. Chapman had not yet put on his glasses, and beyond looking at the label, he could not have discerned the difference in the writing. The chloroform had been used for cleaning purposes
Native of Charleston.
Mr. Chapman was a native of Charleston, having been born in this city on April 28, 1848. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus H. Chapman, early residents of Coles county. His mother is a third cousin of Abraham Lincoln and a granddaughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln, the stepmother of the martyred president.
Hotel Clerk in Mattoon.
From 1868 to 1870 Mr. Chapman was assistant revenue assessor, and in 1871 he became clerk in the Essex House in Mattoon and later similarly employed in the Dole House in that city. He also was employed as chief clerk in the LaClede and Everett hotels in St. Louis. For several years Mr. Chapman was engaged in the business of abstractor of titles in this city. For a short time he was deputy county clerk of Coles county, which position he resigned to accept the postmastership, a position which he had creditably filled ever since his first appointment on July 1, 1897, receiving his appointment at the hands of President McKinley.
Mr. Chapman had always been a Republican in politics, and for forty years he had been more or less active in the politics of Coles county. He was known to all the prominent politicians and prominent men generally throughout the state.
Mr. Chapman had remained a bachelor until November 12, 1905, when he took for his bride Mrs. John Briscoe of this city. Besides the widow, there survive the aged mother-Mrs. Harriett Chapman, who lives in this city; a sister-Mrs. Albert Cunningham of New Orleans, and a brother-John Chapman, who is in the employ of the government in Chicago.
Funeral Thursday.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the First Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Charles S. Pier. Burial will be made in Mound cemetery.
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, Illinois) November 17, 1911.
MATTOON - Postmaster Robert N. Chapman of Charleston died from the effects of chloroform he took by mistake.
Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) Tuesday, November 14, 1911
DEATH OF R. N. CHAPMAN
CHARLESTON POSTMASTER SUCCUMBS TODAY TO CHLOROFORM POISON.
TAKEN BY ACCIDENT
Sudden Demise of Well Known Citizen Causes Shock to Numerous Friends Throughout County.
Special to Journal-Gazette
Charleston, Ill., Nov. 14.
Robert N. Chapman, postmaster of Charleston since July 1, 1897, died at his home, 1114 Monroe street, at 12:50 o’clock this afternoon from chloroform poisoning, having been taken on Monday morning by mistake.
Mr. Chapmen had been afflicted with a nervous trouble for several years and had been in the habit on morning of taking a nerve tonic. On Monday morning he arose at the usual hour, and, going to the medicine cabinet, reached in and brought forth what he believed to be the medicine he desired, but which in reality was a bottle of chloroform, which stood beside the medicine bottle in the cabinet. Pouring out a teaspoonful of the deadly drug, Mr. Chapman swallowed it.
In a few minutes the drug began its deadly work, and Mrs. Chapmen, becoming alarmed, called in the family physician. Then the mistake was discovered. Mr. Chapman was in a serious condition for a few hours, but in the afternoon of Monday it was given out that while he had had a close call his condition was such that his early recovery was assured.
This morning, unknown to the general public, Mr. Chapman’s condition took a change for the worse, and when the end came at 12:50 this afternoon it was as a shock to the community generally.
The mistake made by Mr. Chapmen is easily seen when it is understood that the nerve tonic and the bottle containing chloroform stood side by side and each bore a red label. Mr. Chapman had not yet put on his glasses, and beyond looking at the label, he could not have discerned the difference in the writing. The chloroform had been used for cleaning purposes
Native of Charleston.
Mr. Chapman was a native of Charleston, having been born in this city on April 28, 1848. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus H. Chapman, early residents of Coles county. His mother is a third cousin of Abraham Lincoln and a granddaughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln, the stepmother of the martyred president.
Hotel Clerk in Mattoon.
From 1868 to 1870 Mr. Chapman was assistant revenue assessor, and in 1871 he became clerk in the Essex House in Mattoon and later similarly employed in the Dole House in that city. He also was employed as chief clerk in the LaClede and Everett hotels in St. Louis. For several years Mr. Chapman was engaged in the business of abstractor of titles in this city. For a short time he was deputy county clerk of Coles county, which position he resigned to accept the postmastership, a position which he had creditably filled ever since his first appointment on July 1, 1897, receiving his appointment at the hands of President McKinley.
Mr. Chapman had always been a Republican in politics, and for forty years he had been more or less active in the politics of Coles county. He was known to all the prominent politicians and prominent men generally throughout the state.
Mr. Chapman had remained a bachelor until November 12, 1905, when he took for his bride Mrs. John Briscoe of this city. Besides the widow, there survive the aged mother-Mrs. Harriett Chapman, who lives in this city; a sister-Mrs. Albert Cunningham of New Orleans, and a brother-John Chapman, who is in the employ of the government in Chicago.
Funeral Thursday.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the First Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Charles S. Pier. Burial will be made in Mound cemetery.
MATTOON - Postmaster Robert N. Chapman of Charleston died from the effects of chloroform he took by mistake.
Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) Tuesday, November 14, 1911
DEATH OF R. N. CHAPMAN
CHARLESTON POSTMASTER SUCCUMBS TODAY TO CHLOROFORM POISON.
TAKEN BY ACCIDENT
Sudden Demise of Well Known Citizen Causes Shock to Numerous Friends Throughout County.
Special to Journal-Gazette
Charleston, Ill., Nov. 14.
Robert N. Chapman, postmaster of Charleston since July 1, 1897, died at his home, 1114 Monroe street, at 12:50 o’clock this afternoon from chloroform poisoning, having been taken on Monday morning by mistake.
Mr. Chapmen had been afflicted with a nervous trouble for several years and had been in the habit on morning of taking a nerve tonic. On Monday morning he arose at the usual hour, and, going to the medicine cabinet, reached in and brought forth what he believed to be the medicine he desired, but which in reality was a bottle of chloroform, which stood beside the medicine bottle in the cabinet. Pouring out a teaspoonful of the deadly drug, Mr. Chapman swallowed it.
In a few minutes the drug began its deadly work, and Mrs. Chapmen, becoming alarmed, called in the family physician. Then the mistake was discovered. Mr. Chapman was in a serious condition for a few hours, but in the afternoon of Monday it was given out that while he had had a close call his condition was such that his early recovery was assured.
This morning, unknown to the general public, Mr. Chapman’s condition took a change for the worse, and when the end came at 12:50 this afternoon it was as a shock to the community generally.
The mistake made by Mr. Chapmen is easily seen when it is understood that the nerve tonic and the bottle containing chloroform stood side by side and each bore a red label. Mr. Chapman had not yet put on his glasses, and beyond looking at the label, he could not have discerned the difference in the writing. The chloroform had been used for cleaning purposes
Native of Charleston.
Mr. Chapman was a native of Charleston, having been born in this city on April 28, 1848. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus H. Chapman, early residents of Coles county. His mother is a third cousin of Abraham Lincoln and a granddaughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln, the stepmother of the martyred president.
Hotel Clerk in Mattoon.
From 1868 to 1870 Mr. Chapman was assistant revenue assessor, and in 1871 he became clerk in the Essex House in Mattoon and later similarly employed in the Dole House in that city. He also was employed as chief clerk in the LaClede and Everett hotels in St. Louis. For several years Mr. Chapman was engaged in the business of abstractor of titles in this city. For a short time he was deputy county clerk of Coles county, which position he resigned to accept the postmastership, a position which he had creditably filled ever since his first appointment on July 1, 1897, receiving his appointment at the hands of President McKinley.
Mr. Chapman had always been a Republican in politics, and for forty years he had been more or less active in the politics of Coles county. He was known to all the prominent politicians and prominent men generally throughout the state.
Mr. Chapman had remained a bachelor until November 12, 1905, when he took for his bride Mrs. John Briscoe of this city. Besides the widow, there survive the aged mother-Mrs. Harriett Chapman, who lives in this city; a sister-Mrs. Albert Cunningham of New Orleans, and a brother-John Chapman, who is in the employ of the government in Chicago.
Funeral Thursday.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two o’clock from the First Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. Charles S. Pier. Burial will be made in Mound cemetery.
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