Melville Douglas Chapman (1874-1924)

Born at Washington D.C., he was educated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York. He served as a Lieutenant with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Spanish-American War; and, as a Captain still with the U.S.M.C. in the First World War. He was vice-President and General Manager of the Virginia & Southwestern Railway and vice-President of Virginia Iron, Coal & Coke Co., as well as other large companies doing business in the South and Mexico. He was vice-President, treasurer and director of the Elverton Land Co.; secretary, treasurer and director of the Pennsylvania Railroad Tie Co.; secretary and director of the Darley Engineering Co.; and, director of the Alabama Iron & Steel Co., Elliott-Chapman Coal & Coke Co., Flatbush Gas Co., Jamaica Gas Light Co., Newton Gas Co., Orleans County Quarry Co., Richmond & Queen's County Gas Light Co., and the Woodlawn Gas Light Co. He was a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; American Society of Mining Engineers; Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York; Theta Xi Fraternity; Mason, and Member of Mecca Temple. He listed his recreations as automobiling, yachting and motor boating. He belonged to the following clubs: New York, New York Yacht, Lambs, Automobile of America, Army & Navy, Motorboat of America; and, Metropolitan (Washington D.C.). He was unmarried and lived at Great Neck, Long Island.