William W. Chapman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Chapman
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| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Iowa Territory's at-large district |
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| In office September 10, 1838 – October 27, 1840 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Francis Gehon (Elect) |
| United States Attorney for the Wisconsin Territory | |
| In office 1836–1838 |
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| President | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Moses M. Strong |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Williams Chapman
August 11, 1808 Clarksburg, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia) |
| Died | October 18, 1892 (aged 84) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Margaret Ingraham |
William Williams Chapman (born August 11, 1808 – died October 18, 1892) was an important American politician and lawyer. He was born in Virginia and grew up there. He worked as a lawyer for the United States in the Michigan and Wisconsin territories. Later, he represented the Iowa Territory in the United States House of Representatives.
After moving to the Oregon Country, he became a leader there. He helped start The Oregonian newspaper in Portland. He also worked to improve the city's economy. Chapman helped build Canyon Road near Portland. He even served in the Rogue River War in Oregon. A park in downtown Portland, Chapman Square, is named after him. It was built on land he sold to the city.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Chapman was born in Clarksburg, Virginia (which is now West Virginia) on August 11, 1808. When he was 14, his father passed away. William then left home to make his own way in the world.
He went to public schools. After school, he got a job as a court clerk. While working, he studied law by himself. In 1832, he passed his law exams and became a lawyer. He started his law practice in Middletown, Virginia.
Family and Moves
In 1832, Chapman married Margaret F. Ingraham. They had seven children together. The family moved to Macomb, Illinois in 1833. Then, in 1835, they moved to what is now Burlington, Iowa. At that time, this area was part of the Michigan Territory. They were among the first people to settle there.
The next year, Chapman became a prosecuting attorney. This means he worked for the government to bring legal cases against people. Soon after, United States President Andrew Jackson appointed him as the United States Attorney for the Michigan Territory.
Serving Iowa Territory
In 1836, the Wisconsin Territory was created from the western part of the Michigan Territory. Chapman became the very first U.S. Attorney for this new territory. He moved to what is now Dubuque, Iowa. In 1836, he was also chosen as a colonel in the local militia, which was like a citizen army.
Then, in 1838, the Iowa Territory was formed from the Wisconsin Territory. Chapman was elected as Iowa Territory's first delegate to the United States House of Representatives. A delegate could speak in Congress but could not vote on laws.
Work in Congress
Chapman was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in Congress from September 10, 1838, to October 27, 1840. During his time in Congress, he worked on important laws for Iowa.
He introduced a bill for a pre-emption law. This law helped settlers claim land they had already improved. His efforts also helped Iowa get a grant of 500,000 acres (about 2,000 square kilometers) of land. This land was meant to help support public schools. He also helped Iowa in a border disagreement with Missouri, known as the Honey War. A report from Congress supported Iowa's side in this dispute.
Return to Iowa
After his term in Congress ended, Chapman went back to Iowa. In 1843, he moved to Agency City in Wapello County. In 1844, he was a delegate to Iowa's Constitutional Convention. This meeting was held in Iowa City. It led to Iowa becoming the 29th state in the United States in 1846.
Chapman left Iowa in 1847. He traveled along the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country.
Life in Oregon
Chapman started his journey in May 1847 and arrived in November. At that time, the Oregon Country was not yet an organized territory. It had just become part of the United States after a border agreement with Great Britain.
In Oregon, Chapman first settled in Marysville, which is now called Corvallis. This town is in the Willamette Valley. In 1848, he moved to Salem. While there, he heard about the California Gold Rush. Chapman went to California for a short time and found some gold. He returned to Oregon in 1849. By then, Oregon had become the Oregon Territory.
Newspaper and Portland
Chapman traveled back to Oregon with Joseph Lane. Lane had just been appointed as the new governor of the territory. In 1849, Chapman was elected to the first meeting of the Oregon Territorial Legislature. He represented Champoeg County (now Marion County).
After the legislature met, he moved to Oregon City. Then he moved to Portland. Both cities are along the Willamette River. Later in 1849, he went to San Francisco, California. There, he convinced Thomas J. Dryer to come to Portland and start a newspaper. Chapman also bought a newspaper called The Gold Hunter. He moved its equipment to Portland.
In 1850, The Oregonian newspaper began publishing weekly in Portland. Dryer was the publisher, and Chapman was a co-founder. Chapman gave the newspaper its name. The equipment from The Gold Hunter was used to start The Oregonian.
Developing Portland
In 1850, Chapman bought land in Portland from Stephen Coffin and Daniel H. Lownsdale. He cleared the land and built his home there. This spot is now where the Multnomah County Courthouse stands.
Chapman was a strong supporter of Portland. He helped get Canyon Road built. This road was important for trade and helped Portland become a major business center in Oregon. He also continued to practice law.
In 1853, Chapman left Portland for Fort Umpqua in Southern Oregon. He started a cattle ranch there but kept his law practice in Portland. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the militia during the Rogue River War. This war was fought from 1855 to 1856 against Native Americans in Southern Oregon.
After the war, he returned to Corvallis in 1856. Then he moved to Eugene in 1857. Chapman was appointed as the surveyor general of Oregon. He held this federal job from 1857 to 1861. He left the position because he did not agree with the election of Abraham Lincoln as U.S. president. Oregon became the 33rd state in the Union in 1859.
Later Years and Legacy
When Chapman returned to Portland in 1861, he built a home in what is now Downtown Portland. He went back to working as a lawyer. He also worked hard to help Portland's economy grow. He wanted to build a railroad line from Portland to California. This line would connect to the transcontinental railroad, which crossed the entire country.
From 1870 to 1876, he started three companies. Their goal was to build a railroad connecting Portland to the Union Pacific's main line. Chapman's plan was for the railroad to go through the Columbia River Gorge to The Dalles, Oregon. From there, it would go southeast to Salt Lake City, Utah, and connect to the Union Pacific line.
In 1868, he returned to the legislature. He represented Multnomah County in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat. While in the legislature, he worked to get money from the government. This money was used to buy a large steam tugboat. The tugboat helped guide ships across the Columbia Bar at the mouth of the Columbia River. This made it easier for ships to come and go, which helped Portland's trade.
In 1870, he sold two blocks of land in downtown Portland to the City of Portland. These blocks became the Plaza Blocks, which include Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square.
William Williams Chapman passed away in Portland on October 18, 1892, at 84 years old. He was buried at Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland. Chapman School in Portland was named in his honor.
Chapman Square
Chapman Square is a park in downtown Portland. It is part of the Plaza Blocks parks, along with Lownsdale Square. The city bought the land for these two blocks from Chapman for $1,200.
Lownsdale Square has a monument called the Spanish–American War Soldier's Monument. It was built after a newspaper editor, Harvey W. Scott, asked for a monument to the war in 1899. The monument has a statue of a soldier from the Spanish–American War. It was made by Douglas Tilden. The monument was officially dedicated on May 30, 1906, which was Memorial Day. The monument also has two old cannons, called howitzers. These cannons were used by both sides during the American Civil War.
There is also a drinking fountain in Lownsdale Square. It is called Fountain for Company H. It was given to the city by the Ladies Auxiliary of Company H, a group from the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The fountain was designed by John H. Beaver and dedicated on September 2, 1914.
Images for kids
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William Williams Chapman
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Chapman Square, Portland, Oregon.jpg
Chapman Square in downtown Portland.
