Introduction

Biography

Amzi was the son of Ed­ward and Eu­nice Cha­pin, hus­band of Han­nah Pow­er (mar­ried Oc­to­ber 10, 1800, Mount Plea­sant, Penn­syl­van­ia), and of bro­ther of Lu­ci­us Cha­pin, and Aar­on Cha­pin. Aa­ron was the grand­fa­ther of Aar­on Lu­ci­us Cha­pin (1817–1892), the first pre­si­dent of Be­loit Col­lege, Wis­con­sin.

Amzi start­ed his ca­reer in Hart­ford, Con­nec­ti­cut, work­ing as an ap­pren­tice ca­bi­net mak­er to his bro­ther, Aar­on, for three years.

He then went with his bro­ther Lu­ci­us to teach sing­ing schools in Vir­gi­nia and North Ca­ro­li­na. Am­zi ev­en­tu­al­ly set­tled in 1795, found­ing a mill and con­tin­uing as a sing­ing teach­er.

After mar­ry­ing, he and Han­nah moved to near Browns­ville, Penn­syl­van­ia, where Am­zi farmed and con­tin­ued teach­ing in sing­ing schools. The fa­mi­ly moved to North­field, Ohio, in 1831.