Maudie Marie Chapman

1901-1985

Maudie Marie Chapman was the daughter of McDonald Chapman 1875-1959 and Alice May 1876-1918. Maudie was born on 30 Aug 1901 in Pike County, Kentucky.  She was one of nine children of McDonald and Alice Chapman: Noah, Chloe, Polly, Maudie, Harvy, Birtha, Victoria, Ida and Anna. Her mother Alice died on  2 May 1918. Her father remarried about 1929 to Pluma Stanley and had 9 additional children. Maudie was working as a waitress in a diner in West Virginia when she met her future husband, Charles Ottis Hargis 1896-1976. Charles was from Paragon, Rowan County, Kentucky and a recent veteran of the  US Army WWI when he met Maudie. Maudie and Charles Ottis or "Ott" as he was referred to, were married on 1 Sep 1923 in Rowan County, Kentucky. They raised eight children, William Ottis 1924-2005, Vernon Lea 1925-, Jack Gordon 1927-, Robert Elmo 1929-1996, Sally Jean 1931-, Randell Delano 1933-1990, Thomas Clark 1935-2010 and Patricia Nell 1938-, on a farm in Rowan County, Kentucky. Maudie and Ott relocated to Sutherlin, Oregon in the 1950's.  Ott worked there in a plywood mill and Maudie managed a motel. They later relocated to Ashland County, in northern Ohio. They were living in Ashland County on 1 Jul 1976 when her husband Charles Ottis Hargis died. Maudie later relocated to Clermont County, Ohio, where she lived with her daughter Sally "Peggy" (Hargis) Philhower.  Maudie Marie (Chapman) Hargis died on 9 Oct 1985 in Clermont County. Maudie and Charles were buried in Brown Cemetery, Morehead, Rowan County, Kentucky.

(L-R) Charles Ottis Hargis 1896-1976, with wife Maudie Marie Chapman 1901-1985, and baby is Caroline Kay Hargis, daughter of Vernon Hargis and Eula (Littleton) Hargis. Photo about 1949.

Charles Ottis Hargis and Maudie Marie (Chapman) Hargis at home in Ashland County, Ohio

Brown Cemetery, Rowan County, Kentucky

Story by  granddaughter Caroline Kay (Hargis) Kohus

Maudie Marie (Chapman) Hargis ("Grandma Hargis") was my paternal grandmother and one of the most special people in my life.  When I was a young girl, I used to help her make beds in the motel she managed and just talk to her.  I'm sure I was in her way more than I helped, but she never said a word.  She told me about the loss of her brother Noah during World War I and her sister Polly who died as a young woman.  Grandma talked about her mother dying when Grandma was 17 years old.  Grandma worked as a waitress before she was married.  After her marriage, she was a farm wife and mother.  She loved her children and loved to tell stories about them.

When I was 9 - 12 years old, she and Granddad lived very close to where we lived in Sutherlin, Oregon.  Grandma loved to have treats, like homemade cookies, for her grandchildren.  My sisters and I would run home from school many days, so we would have time to swing by Grandma's to get a hug, a smile and a cookie, then she would send us on our way.  As she and I got older, I still enjoyed talking to her about her life, her thoughts and feelings.  She always had such patience with my questions and always seemed to enjoy our conversations and she made me laugh.  I wish I would have kept notes on our conversations, so I could write more facts about her life.  I only know that she was a very special lady and everyone should have a grandma like my Grandma Hargis.

Photo - Maudie Marie (Chapman) Hargis and granddaughter Caroline Kay (Hargis) Kohus, Clermont County, Ohio about 1981