Joseph Chapman was born February 18, 1852 in Wellingborough, Northampton, England. He was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1872. His mother, Ann Denton, joined the church in 1848 and attended branch meetings in the town of Irchester, which is approximately 2 miles Southeast of Wellingborough. His mother passed away when Joseph was still just 4 years old.

After Ann's death, his father, William Chapman, remarried a lady named Bett Hobbs from the nearby city of Great Harrowden and the family settled in the hamlet of Wilby (2 miles to the West of Wellingborough). In the 1861 census, we find Joseph (age 9) living with his new family and his full sister Mary Jane (age 11, daughter of William and Ann Denton Chapman).

He lived with his Auntie Hooper (his mother's sister, Eliza Denton Hooper) on 3rd East in Salt Lake City until he married Caroline Coshell on July 17, 1871. Joseph and Caroline met in church in the 13th ward.

Joseph's line of work was as a contractor and mason, and his talents were many. He was extremely intelligent and he did demand strict obedience from his children. One night his sons, Ceb and Cabe, forgot to bring in coal for the fires. They had gone to bed when their father discovered the neglected chore. He woke them up and sent them out in the cold for the coal. They never forgot again.

Joseph had a green thumb and as a result of this had a beautiful garden.

Joseph's daughter Lillian remembers a humorous story about her father. She was the tenth child in the family, and her father would teasingly say to her that he was going to pay his tithing with her.

Joseph was a deep reader. He loved books. One of his favorite books was "Josephus" which is a history of the Jews. From this book he took the name Eusebius for one of his children.

He also loved music. Caroline and Joseph would sing beautiful duets together. Their home was literally filled with music. They also enjoyed attending the Salt Lake Theater for dramatic entertainment.

Joseph was homesick at times for his native England. He returned for visits twice, then when things did not go just right, he returned there to stay.

He appears to have remarried a woman named Elizabeth. At the time of the 1901 British Census, they were living in Coventry Southwest, England. The census record clearly shows that Joseph was born in Wellingborough.

Joseph Chapman died in the spring of 1913 of pneumonia. According to his death certficiate he was 61 years of age and listed as a "Bricklayer" by profession. The death certificate indicates that Elizabeth was with him at the time of his passing. His last known address was 21 Cook Street, Coventry.