CHAPMAN, William W.

CHAPMAN

Posted By: Debbie Clough Gerischer
Date: 11/10/2008 at 12:16:57

WILLIAM W. CHAPMAN, the first Delegate in Congress from Iowa, was born in Marion County, Virginia, on the 11th of August, 1808. He received but a common school education and read law while serving as clerk of the court. After his admission to the bar he opened an office at Middleton. In 1835 he removed to Burlington in the "Black Hawk Purchase" and was soon after appointed Prosecuting Attorney by the Governor of Michigan Territory. In 1836, when Wisconsin Territory was created, Mr. Chapman was appointed by the President United States Attorney for the Territory. In 1838, when the Territory of Iowa was established, there were four candidates at the September election for Delegate in Congress. Mr. Chapman was chosen by a plurality of thirty-six votes. While in Congress he secured for Iowa the land grant of 500,000 acres for the support of common schools. He also obtained a report from the committee on Territories which finally secured to the State a decision in its favor in the controversy with Missouri over the boundary. In 1844 Mr. Chapman was a member of the First Constitutional Convention and took a prominent part in its deliberations. As chairman of the committee on boundaries, he reported in favor of the boundaries as finally established. In 1847 he removed to Oregon and became one of the proprietors of the city of Portland. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature; was one of the founders of the first newspaper established in the Territory. In 1858 he was appointed Surveyor-General of Oregon. Mr. Chapman died October 9, 1892.