Page 23 - 2015_Cabin Days curriculum booklet

First People to Live in St. Joseph County: Horatio Chapin

Horatio Chapin was born in Massachusetts in 1803. When he was 19, he moved to
Detroit, Michigan, and stayed there for nine years. He then decided to move to South
Bend. At that time, South Bend was a small settlement with a few hundred people.
Horatio rode an Indian pony and followed an Indian trail to South Bend.

Horatio brought a stock of goods with him from Detroit. He opened a general store
on Michigan Street near Water Street now named LaSalle Street. Mr. Chapin was the
first person to ship a cargo of wheat down the St. Joseph River on its way to the city of
Buffalo, New York.

Mr. Chapin was very interest in organizing a Sunday school. He had some problem
organizing it at first, but soon was successful. Horatio became known as the “Pioneer
of the Sunday School in St. Joseph County.”

In 1838, Mr. Chapin became manager and cashier of a South Bend bank. While
working at the bank, he noticed Mr. Coquillard had land for sale at a good price. He
bought 400 acres for $900.00. This land became known as Chapin Park. In 1855, he
built a four gabled castle in the middle of his land near a stream, with a crooked private-
way or driveway that led to his house.

In 1871, Mr. Chapin died and his land was divided. All of the land east of the
private-way was given to his daughter, Mary Chapin Anderson. Edward P. Chapin, his
son, received the land to the west.

Mr. Chapin’s house still stands today. It has been moved 200 feet to the corner of
Navarre Avenue and Park Avenue. Chapin Street was named in his honor.