albert harris chapman
1887-1927
Life Story
Hickory, Newton County, Mississippi
Albert Chapman was born about May 15, 1887, in Hickory, Mississippi. He was the son of Josh Harris (1856–1923) and Scilla Anderson Harris (1863–1913), both members of long-established African American families in the Hickory and Bethel communities.
Early Life
In the 1900 federal census, Albert appeared under the name Albert Harris, living with his family and listed as a student, an important detail reflecting the value his family placed on education at a time when access to schooling for Black children was severely limited in rural Mississippi.
At some point in his early adulthood, Albert began using the surname Chapman rather than Harris. The reason for this surname change is not known—whether it reflected a personal choice, family connection, informal adoption, or a community association—but from the 1910s forward, he was known publicly and legally as Albert Chapman.
Occupation
Albert spent his adult life working in the labor-intensive industries that formed the backbone of Newton County’s Black working community. He was employed as a:
- Farmer, working the land to provide for his household, and
- Sawmill worker for L. N. Saddler, a prominent employer in the region, where many African American men found steady work during the early 1900s.
His ability to contribute to both agricultural and industrial labor shows the versatility required of rural Black men during this era.
Marriage
Albert married Lula Chapman, and together they made their home in the Hickory area. Though the full list of their children is not confirmed in available records, their household appears in local census and community documentation tied to the Bethel area.
Illness and Passing
Albert’s life was cut short when he passed away on September 18, 1927, at the age of about 40. His official cause of death was rheumatism, with nephritis listed as a secondary contributing factor. These conditions likely caused prolonged illness and physical hardship—common afflictions in a time before widespread access to medical care.
He was laid to rest in the historic Bethel Missionary Baptist Church graveyard in Hickory, Mississippi, where many of his relatives, neighbors, and community members are also buried.
Legacy
Although his life was brief, Albert Chapman’s story reflects the broader narrative of African American resilience in early-20th-century Newton County. Born a Harris, known in adulthood as Chapman, he moved between farming and sawmill labor, married, built a household, and left behind a history that continues to be honored through genealogical preservation.
Resting Place
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard – Hickory, Mississippi
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- U.S., WWI Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918
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