El
Dorado County
Biographies
EMORY W. CHAPMAN
Occupying a distinguished position
in connection with political affairs, and at the same time being a leading
representative of mining interests, Emory W. Chapman is numbered among the
valued citizens of El Dorado County, his home being near Placerville. Much of his life has been passed on the
Pacific slope and, imbued with the true western spirit of progress and
enterprise; he has made marked advancement in the affairs of life, actuated by
strong determination and indefatigable industry. A man who can rise from the ranks to a
position of affluence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that
surround his path. The essential
conditions of human life are ever the same; the surroundings of individuals
differ but slightly and when one passes another on the highway and reaches the
goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out in advance of him it
is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the
whole human race. Today among the
prominent businessmen of this section of the state stands Emory W. Chapman.
A native of Ohio, he was born in
Allen County, on the 19th of April, 1844, and is of Scotch lineage,
his ancestors dating their arrival in America from the time when the Pilgrims
landed from the Mayflower on Plymouth Rock.
His paternal grandfather, Jesse Chapman, was born in Ireland, but was of
Scotch lineage, and Jesse Chapman, Jr., the father of our subject, was a native
of Ohio, numbered among the prominent pioneer settlers of that state. He married Miss Hardesty and subsequently
removed with his family to Wisconsin. In
1852, accompanied by his wife and their six sons and a daughter, he started for
Oregon, and soon after their arrival the father died. His wife, a noble pioneer woman, is still
living and now resides in Oakdale, California, in the ninety-third year of her
age. All of her children yet survive,
and through many years they have been actively identified with the progress and
development of this portion of the country.
Emory W. Chapman was the fifth child
in order of birth. He was educated in
Olympia, Washington, and in 1861, at the time of the great gold excitement in
Idaho, he went to that territory and engaged in placer mining in various
claims. He also followed mining in
Montana with good success, and in 1868 he came to Fresno County, California,
where he was in charge of a large irrigating canal. In connection with this he likewise followed
farming and stock raising. In 1889 he came to El Dorado County and has
since been a prominent representative of the mining interests of this
locality. He resides at Placerville and
devotes his energies to the operation of the Rivera mine. He was interested in and had the management
of the Taylor mine for nine years, which was a paying producer during all his
connection with it. He was also
interested in and managed the Lant Graff mine, which
was very profitable, and was a stockholder in the Three Stars and the Golden Rule
mines, but has disposed of his interest in both. He also developed the Gold Motto mine, and is
now actively engaged in the development of the Garfield mine, in partnership
with the Parker brothers. During his
entire residence in El Dorado County he has been an important factor in the
promotion of its mining interests, one of the leading industries of the state,
contributing in a larger measure to the welfare and prosperity of the
commonwealth than any other one industry.
In 1867 Mr. Chapman was united in
marriage to Mrs. Miller, and unto them was born one son, Harry. The mother died in 1887 and the Senator has
since remained single. His son is now a
resident of San Francisco. In his
political affiliations Mr. Chapman has been a life-long Democrat, and in 1896
he received the nomination of his party for state senator. He made a strong canvass of the district and
won the election over a very talented competitor. He took his place in the upper branch of the
general assembly and discharged his duties with credit to himself and
satisfaction to his constituents, laboring earnestly for the adoption of all
measures which he believed would prove of public good. He secured the passage of the bill for the
appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars for the purpose of improving the
grounds and Marshall Monument at Coloma.
The work of improvement is badly needed there, but the bill was vetoed
by the governor. Senator Chapman is a
prominent Mason, belonging to the lodge chapter and commandery and also to the
mystic shrine. He was appointed and has
ably served as one of the commissioners of the Yosemite Valley for eight years
and was one of the contractors that built the wagon road in the valley on the
south. He is a gentleman of thorough
mining experience and a most enterprising and progressive citizen. He has so conducted all affairs, whether of
private interests or of public trusts, as to merit the esteem of all classes of
citizens and no word of reproach has ever been uttered against him. He has done much for his adopted city and
home and enjoys the added prosperity which comes to those genial spirits who
have a hearty appreciation for all with whom they may come in contact from day
to day and who seem to throw around them in consequence so much of the sunshine
of life.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 730-732. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies