William was born on 22 Sep 1890 in Powellton, Hancock County, Georgia, and grew up in Warren County, Georgia.
He married Archie June Williams on 27 Jan 1915 (this portrait was taken around that year) in Union Point, Baldwin County, Georgia, and they resided there until after 1930. They resided in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia between 1935-1940.
From the US Census, World War I Draft Registration, and his death certificate, we find his occupations included:
- messenger for the Express Railroad, 1910
- flagman for the Georgia Railroad, 1917
- conductor for a steam railroad, 1930
- laborer for the W.P.A., 1940
- worked for the Southern Railway, 1947
His father, Grady, was an engineer with the Georgia Railroad.
William and Archie were residing in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina when he died on 10 Jun 1947 at the age of 56. His death certificate lists the cause of death as “cardiac failure immediately after induction of anesthesia due to unknown cause.” He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville.
William Grady Chapman (1890-1947) is 2nd great-grandfather of MKS in the Knight branch.
References:
[1] KMS Family Genealogy Digital Archive, Jacqueline Anne Knight Spratlin collection (photograph).