In 2019 I wrote about a 1909 bill from the Hotel Del Coronado that I purchased on ebay. I thought it would be interesting to see what I could find out about the people connected with the bill and I think it was. You can judge for yourself:
https://undereverytombstone.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-week-at-hotel-del-coronado-in-1909.html
Recently another vintage item from the Del showed up on ebay. It was a letter written in March of 1903 by Marion Chapman who was staying at the hotel, to her brother Philip who was back home in Brunswick, Maine recovering from a bout with smallpox. After reading the parts of the letter that were shown on ebay I thought the letter might make an interesting story for this blog. So, I purchased it and here is what is says:
Late Friday afternoon
March the 6th 1903
Dear boy Philip –
Sis did enjoy your letter so much – and hopes by this time that the small pox is distinctly better. Harrison had such a time in Mexico – The fleas – we call them fleas – but they come by night – and we are specimins (sic) – bit him so and poisoned him until he could scarcely see out of his eyes – and were awfully sore. He is beginning to look like himself now – but it was funny. I just loved Mexico and had a grand time. I am afraid I did not do it historically as my boy Philip would have – but I certainly got with the spirit of the place. You see, the doctor had three friends who live in a real Mexican hacienda
All built of adobe and only one story – huge big rooms – and always they eat on the porch. It is so big and roofed. The walls are so high that we forgot that there is an outside world. It is delightful and I never expect to have such good things to eat again. The same old-fashioned way of cooking and fascinating dishes – most of which are carried off with us as presents. Mexico is much like Cairo and we regret exceedingly that we did not buy more things there – I was so busy doing the social side that I did not get any time for shopping.
The bull fight was great – I’ll go to another if I could – we cannot look on where the horses are being butchered – it is too horrible. Now I would not believe that they took the poor beasts out, served them up and sent them back – but it is true. One would not think that human endurance would go so far. But when the men fight single handed with the bulls with sometimes not even the cape to protect themselves – it’s good.
We saw Reverti – the second best in the world – and he was one of the finest looking men I ever saw.
I got so excited I nearly threw my huge bunch of violets at him – Then younger Reverti – when the bull was fresh and fierce – took a big pole-like pole vaulting – rushed straight at him – met the bull coming at full speed for him – planted his pole – and went right over the length of his body – it’s a thing seldom attempted – and it was certainly pretty. Hope you are feeling better. I wish you could get some kind of a tonic - as the spring is coming and I suspect Dr. Ted will be able to fix you up – He was so sorry not to have realized about the connection so he could have fixed you up but probably you would not care to have lost any more time. I hope you can read this easily – Mama would send love if here and I send enough to make up - your big and loving sister Memi
I have with me all the time the dear card you sent with the carnations.
Here is the actual letter:
Now that we have taken a look at their correspondence, let's see what we can "dig up" about the sender of the letter: Marion Chapman. Next month we will look further into the recipient of the letter, her brother Philip Chapman.
Marion Carter Chapman was born June 29, 1876 in Portland, Maine. She was the eldest child of Charles Jarvis Chapman (1848-1898) and Annie Dow Hinds (1852-1908). Charles Chapman had been the Mayor of Portland, Maine from 1886-1888. Charles Chapman and Annie Hinds married September 15, 1875 in Portland. In addition to Marion and Philip, they had three other children, all sons: Robert Franklin (1878-1964), Charles Jarvis (1883-1919), and Harrison Carter (1888-1975).
Marion made her first appearance in the 1880 US Census. The family is living at 27 Thomas Street in Portland, Maine:
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| 27 Thomas Street, Portland, Maine |
The family consisted of Charles J. Chapman (age 32), wife Annie (28), daughter Marion (3), and son Robert (2). In addition there were three live-in servants, two "Domestics," and one "Seamstress." Charles listed his occupation as "Wholesale Merchant."
The 1890 US Census for this area is of course lost, but when we take a look at the 1900 US Census we see that the Chapman family had changed significantly. First of all, Charles J. Chapman had died - on June 1, 1898, at the age of 50. Here is his obituary from "Obituaries of Bowdoin College Graduates":
Charles Jarvis Chapman, son of Robert Andrews and Frances (Carter) Chapman, was born 29 January, 1848, at Bethel, He was prepared for college at Gould's Academy and at Gorham Academy. After graduating with honors he went to Minnesota, and was in the employment of the Northern Pacific Railroad for two years. In 1870 he entered upon a brilliant business career in Portland as a member of the flour and grain commission house of Norton, Chapman & Co., of which he was the general manager at the time of his death. In 1890, in company with his two brothers, he established a successful banking house, which has since become the Chapman National Bank.
Mr. Chapman was interested in public affairs; served on the School Board from 1873 to 1875; in the Common Council from 1877 to 1879, and on the Board of Aldermen in 1880 and 1881, acting as its chairman the latter year. In 1886 he was chosen mayor of the city, and was twice re-elected with increased majorities. His administration of municipal affairs was marked by great business sagacity, and largely through his efforts satisfactory disposition was made of the city's interest in the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad. He was a prominent member of the Williston Church and moderator of the society. His death, the result of Bright's disease, occurred very suddenly, 1 June, 1898.
Mr. Chapman will be remembered by those who knew him as a man of most kindly and sympathetic nature. His business associates were his friends, and they were drawn to him by his cordial and generous fellowship, as well as by his integrity and good judgment. With positiveuess of conviction, he united a conciliatory disposition and manner, and in the caution that comes with maturity there was mingled in him a measure of youthful buoyancy, so that he was at once the agreeable companion and the esteemed counsellor and friend. In all the relations of his life he was steadfast, honorable, and unselfish."
Mr. Chapman married, 15 September, 1875, Annie Dow Hinds, only daughter of Benjamin F. Hinds, who survives with their five children, Miss Marion Carter, Robert Franklin (Bowdoin, 1900), Charles Jarvis, Jr., Philip F., and Harrison C. Chapman.
Charles J. Chapman was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine. Here is the Chapman plot:
And here is his tombstone:
The 1900 US Census shows the family had relocated - to 375 Spring Street in Portland, Maine:
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| 375 Spring Street, Portland, Maine |
The family now consisted of Annie Chapman, a 48 year old widow, and her children Robert F. (22), Marion C. (23), Charles J. (17), Philip F. (15), and Harrison C. (11). They had reduced the number of live-in servants to two. Mrs. Chapman said she had given birth to five children, and all five were still alive in 1900. Mrs. Chapman said that she and Marion had no occupation, and that the remaining children were all in school. She said they owned their home, and they owned it free and clear. All of the Chapmans, including the servants, could read and write and were fluent in English.
Now we come to the time the letter was written. Marion Chapman was twenty-six years old, Philip Chapman was eighteen. It had been announced that Marion would be getting married in October of 1903, so perhaps Marion's trip was a "last fling" before marriage.
Poor Philip was at home on Spring Street in Portland recovering from smallpox. Marion was at the Hotel Del Coronado after the side trip she and her brother Harrison took to Mexico where Harrison was eaten alive by "fleas." In the letter Marion mentions that they have been to a bull fight featuring "Reverti - the Second Best in the World." I don't think Marion realized when she said that Reverti was "one of the finest looking men I ever saw," that the great matador "La Reverti" was a woman! This is from the Indianapolis Star of July 16, 1933:
Marion's wedding, on October 28, 1903 was quite a society event. Marion married career military officer Samuel Grant Shartle (1871-1952). But hers was not the only marriage in 1903 for the Chapman family. On November 5, 1903, Marion and Philip's mother Annie Hinds Chapman married noted attorney Henry Eliot Babcock (1857-1916). Here's the story from the Boston (MA) Evening Transcript from November 6, 1903:
The bride was fifty-one; the groom was forty-six. It was the first marriage for Henry Babcock. Unfortunately their marriage was not destined to be a long one. On February 19, 1908, Annie Dow Hinds Chapman Babcock died in Manhattan, New York.
She was buried next to her first husband in the Chapman family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine:
The tombstone says:
ANNIE DOW HINDS
Wife of
CHARLES J. CHAPMAN
1852 - 1908
Strangely, no mention of her second husband, Henry E. Babcock.
So, what's been going on with Marion since she wrote the letter to Philip in 1903?
As mentioned above, in 1903 Marion was married. By the time of the 1910 US Census Marion was living in Berlin, Germany, where her husband Capt. Samuel G. Shartle had been appointed the American Military Attache to the German government. If they participated in the 1910 US Census I was unable to find it.
By the 1920 US Census, Marion and her husband were back in the states. They were renting a home at 105 Marlboro Street, in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood:
Marion was 43, Samuel was 49. They also had a live-in maid and butler. They could both read and write and both spoke English. Samuel reported that he was an "Officer in the Regular Army" and Marion listed no occupation. They had no children.
By the 1930 US Census Marion and her husband has moved again - this time they were living on Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. When the Shartles lived there, the houses were not numbered. Marion was 53, Samuel said was 56 (He was actually 59). They owned their home, which they said was worth $25,000.00. Strangely, they did not have a radio. Samuel said he was a "Traveling Colonel with the US Army," Marion reported no occupation. Samuel said he was a veteran of the World War.
By 1935 they had wisely left the cold north and retired to Coral Gables, Florida.
The 1940 US Census shows them living 711 University Drive in Coral Gables:
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| 711 University Drive, Coral Gables, Florida |
They told the census taker they owned the property and it was worth $18,000.00. (Redfin estimates the property is worth $2.2 million today.)
Samuel reported that he was 69 years old. Marion said she was 63.
Living with them was Marion's brother Robert, a sixty-one year old widower.
Here is a portrait of Marion from about this time period:
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| Marion Chapman Shartle |
Marion's husband, Colonel Samuel G. Shartle died in Coral Gables on March 6, 1952. He was 81 years old. Here is his obituary from the Chambersberg (PA) Public Opinion newspaper from March 7, 1952:
He was buried in the Chapman family plot in Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine:
After the Colonel's death, Marion decided to return to Maine where most of her extended family resided and where she had lived for so many years. Marion Chapman Shartle died in Portland, Maine on May 3, 1963. She was 86 years old. She is, of course, buried in the Chapman family plot next to her husband:
After her death, an interesting article about Marion Chapman Shartle appeared in the Bangor (ME) Daily News of May 17, 1963:
Here is a photo of Marion and the Colonel. You will note that Marion is holding her beloved parrot:
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| Marion Shartle with the Colonel and Bill the Parrot |
Now that we know all about the sender of the 1903 letter from the Hotel Del Coronado, next month we will look further into the recipient, Philip Freeland Chapman.
May Marion Chapman Shartle, Colonel Samuel Grant Shartle and Bill the Parrot, all rest in peace.
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