William Rogers Chapman was born August 4, 1855. His father was Rev. William Rogers Chapman, a Bethel native, and his mother was Emily Bishop Chapman of Haverhill, Mass. He married Emma Faulkner of Chicago. They lived in New Yor k City where he was a Professor of Music. "The History of Bethel, Maine", William Lapham. From the Bethel Journals: 1888 spending the summer with his sister, Mrs. Jacob Horton, of Mayville. 1889: his mother Mrs. Valentine, from New York, was stricken with paralysis while vacationing in Mayville. and her son, Prof. Wm C. Chapman of New York, is with her as well as her husband. 1890: Bethel; August: a midsummer benefit concert will be given at the Congregational Church will be under the direction of Prof. William R. Chapman of New York, formerly of Bethel. Mr. Chapman as organist, pianist and director will arrange a programme sure to give great pleasure to his many friends who are justly proud of his musical abilities and remarkable success as leader of the Rubenstein Club of New York and leader of other musical clubs of the highest artistic excellence. 1891: Entered trotters in Riverside Park trotting race, at his home in Mayville for the summer, purchased 30 acres of intervale land from Moses A. Mason. Pencil drawing by the author shows the Professor when he was 52 years old. 1892: Prof. Chapman acquired the reputation of being a flamboyant personality in Bethel. This item from the July 1892, Oxford Democrat explains why: "Prof. William R. Chapman and family of New York City, with friends, occupy their summer residence in Mayville. Their retinue of horses, Shetland ponies, carriages and dog carts, with their liveried servants, is quite an attraction on our streets."