Cooley S. Chapin was one of the Park Commissioners appointed in May, 1872 when the Board was reorganized in accordance with revised state enabling law. He served a six year term.
Cooley Sturges Chapin was born in Gilbertsville, which is in Otsego county, New York, on 21 Jan 1816. At the age of 18 he relocated to Buffalo, where he rose to be one of the city’s most prominent contractors and builders.
He was responsible for the construction of several public schools in the city, of the public markets, and of the New York State Normal School in Buffalo. He constructed the Erie railroad shops and roundhouse, and built the Church of the Messiah. He built the eponymously named Chapin Block, wherein he located his own offices among other notable tenants. He also built a number of local residences. He was also selected as Superintendent for the construction of City and County Hall. One of his last large projects was the construction of the New York State Soldiers’ Home at Bath, New York.
It should be noted that Cooley S. Chapin was not related to Civil War Gen. Edward Payson Chapin, from whom Chapin Parkway and the Chapin Place, the original designation of what was redesigned as Gates Circle, derived their names.
Mr. Chapin married Maria Hannah Caswell at Buffalo on 18 March 1838; the couple had two children. Mrs. Chapin died in 1853, and his daughter Florine two years after. He was remarried on 22 November 1855, also at Buffalo, to Harriet Cursons. He and Harriet had seven children, one of which died as an infant. Mr. Chapin was also prominent in Buffalo Masonry.
Cooley Chapin died at Buffalo on 5 October 1888 after a lengthy illness. His wife and seven sons survived him. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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