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Memorial and Family History of Erie County, New York
Vol. I, Biographical and Genealogical
The Genealogical Publishing Co., Buffalo; 1906-8

   [51-53]

        DR. CYRENIUS CHAPIN, son of CAPT. CALEB CHAPIN, was a man whose
        career fills a memorable chapter in the pioneer history of Buffalo.
        Physician, soldier and frontiersman. Dr. CHAPIN was a typical
        American of that stern epoch when hardship and peril developed the
        latent resources of character.
           CYRENIUS CHAPIN was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts, on the
        7th of February, 1769. He studied medicine with his brother, DR.
        CALEB CHAPIN. He practiced for several years at Windhall, Vermont,
        later removing to Sangerfield, Oneida County, N. Y. In 1801 he came
        to Buffalo. In 1803 he went to Fort Erie, but later returned with
        his family to Buffalo. DR. CHAPIN'S life was full of the hardships
        of the frontier physician, and he went on horseback to his
        patients, making hundreds of perilous journeys through the wilder-
        ness. He founded the first drug store in Buffalo, and often
        supplied gratuitously not only medicine but food to his needy
        patients. He wielded a great influence, and was highly esteemed by
        the Indians, who were accustomed to speak of him as "The Great
        Medicine Man."
           When the War of 1812 broke out, DR. CHAPIN raised a company
        of volunteers and offered his services, both as officer and sur-
        geon. He was successively commissioned Captain, Major and
        Lieutenant-Colonel. He served with the American vanguard in the
        occupation of Fort George in May, 1813. In June he organized a body
        of mounted riflemen which he commanded in the fight at Beaver Dams,
        Canada, on the 24th of June, 1813, under LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
        BOERSTLER, whose force was compelled to surrender. On July 12 COL.
        CHAPIN and his men were sent as prisoners toward Kingston, in two
        boats, under a heavy British guard. COL. CHAPIN had laid a
        carefully concerted plan of escape, and when the boats were a few
        miles from their destination, the Americans, at a signal, rose,
        overpowered the guards, steered for Fort Niagara, and after a night
        of rowing delivered their erstwhile captors to the commander of the
        fort as prisoners of war. When the British attacked Buffalo in
        December, 1813, COL. CHAPIN made a daring stand at Black Rock and
        defended the place till he had only five men left. He then re-
        treated to Buffalo, where he found a dismounted six-pounder can-
        non. Hastily mounting it on wagon-wheels, he gathered a few men and
        boys whom he drew up at Niagara street, where he fought the British
        till his cannon was disabled. When further resistance was useless,
        he mounted a horse, tied a white handkerchief to his sword, and
        riding to the enemy held them by parleying till the inhabitants of
        Buffalo had time to escape. He also obtained from the British
        officer in command advantageous terms, for the surrender of the
        village, but the plighted word of the foe was shamefully violated.
        COL. CHAPIN was made a prisoner and taken to Montreal, where he was
        held nine months. On his return to Buffalo he was appointed surgeon
        of the military hospital. When he retired from this office he re-
        moved to Geneva, N. Y., but returned to Buffalo in 1818, and here
        he continued to reside, practice his profession and take an active
        part in public affairs till the close of his life. On the organi-
        zation of the Erie County Medical Society in 1821, DR. CHAPIN was
        made its first President. In 1836 the citizens of Buffalo presented
        him a service of silver plate as a testimonial of their admiration
        of him as a citizen and soldier.
           In 1793 Dr. Chapin married Sylvia Burnham, of Bernardston,
        Mass. He died on the 20th of February, 1838, and was buried with
        military honors. The cemetery where his remains were laid to rest
        is now the site of the City and County Hall.

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