Biography:

Dr. Charles Garfield Chapin was born near Waterford (Norfolk County), Ontario on the 21st of March, 1883.   Dr. Chapin was the only child of Elam Chapin and the former Mary Amelia McCool and his parents were farmers.

Dr. Chapin graduated M.B. from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1906.  He registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 27th of June, 1907.

Dr. Chapin married Violet Greenway on the 8th of August, 1907 in Orillia, Ontario.  Mrs. Chapin was born on the 11th of February, 1884 in the Armour and Ryerson Township of Muskoka, Ontario.  She was the youngest of 6 children born to James Greenway and the former Matilda “Linnie” Roadhouse.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Helen, Emma, Anna, Hannah and Arthur.  Mrs. Chapin’s mother died when she was a child.

Dr. Chapin practiced medicine in Wallaceburg as early as 1908.  His name appears on numerous birth and death records as he tended to his patients not only in Wallaceburg, but in Chatham Township and Dover Township (Chatham-Kent).

Sometime prior to 1910, Dr. and Mrs. Chapin moved to 282 Bain Ave., in Toronto.  There first child a son, was still born on the 8th of October, 1910.  Their daughter, Margaret Amelia Evangeline Chapin was born on the 14th of July, 1912, but sadly she died less than 2 weeks later of pneumonia on the 22nd of July, 1912.  A son, Garfield Joseph Greenway Chapin was born on the 11th of December, 1913 at the family home located at 282 Bain Avenue in Toronto.  A daughter Anna Loemma Chapin was born in Timmins in 1916 and a son John A. Chapin was born in 1921.  According to the 1921 census, Dr. and Mrs. Chapin were living at 2 Tennis Court in Toronto with their children; Garfield, Anna and John.  According to the 1922 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Chapin’s office was located at 485 Danforth Ave., in Toronto.

Dr. Chapin died on the 25th of September, 1938.  At the time of his death he resided at 109 Darling Street in Brantford.  Mrs. Chapin died on the 16th of October, 1964.  Dr. and Mrs. Chapin were buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Waterford (Norfolk County).  Also buried in the family plot are Dr. Chapin’s parents.

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.