Los Angeles County
Biographies
MELVIN C.
CHAPMAN
CHAPMAN, MELVIN C., Attorney (Chapman & Trefethen, Oakland, California), was born at Westfield, Illinois, September 5, 1850, the son of Charles de Grasse and Cynthia (Palmer) Chapman. One of his paternal ancestors, Robert Chapman, came from England in 1637 and was among the first settlers at Saybrook, Conn. The ancient homestead in which he lived still is in the possession of the family. Others of Mr. Chapman’s forbears served under Oliver Cromwell and several were conspicuous in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and in the Civil War. The family has been prominent in commercial, professional and political life, winning success as merchants, ministers and lawyers. Mr. Chapman married Lillian Mary Childs in Oakland California, December 21, 1887, and to them was born only one child, Melvin Chapman, Jr. Mrs. Chapman died several years ago.
Mr. Chapman is an attorney whom his own profession delights to honor. By the members of the bar of the Bay cities he is adjudged one of the most worthy, and they have so voted him by giving him the posts of honor in their associations. He has held political office and yet has not been counted a politician, because his party has freely given him nominations to the most important offices without his seeking. He has refused nominations, which, had he accepted, might have made him a figure of national prominence. He has had a versatile career, and was a successful business man before he was an attorney. His entire life has been an exceptionally busy one and he has thereby fairly won his reputation for wisdom and knowledge of the world’s affairs.
Mr. Chapman received the rudiments of his education in the grammar schools of Chicago, attending from 1856 to 1867. Upon leaving the grammar school he entered Onarga Seminary, in Illinois, and there studied for three years more. He was graduated from that institution in 1870 and then went to work in his father’s planing mill and sash and door factory as a bookkeeper.
After three years in the employ of his father Mr. Chapman decided to move West and go into business. He first located at San Francisco, California, and there entered the real estate and stock brokerage. For three years more he confined himself to operations in San Francisco entirely, but in 1876 moved his residence and headquarters across the bay to Oakland, where he has been ever since. He did not relinquish his interests in San Francisco, however, remaining actively in real estate and stock speculation there until 1882.
In 1882, however, he wound up his San Francisco business and devoted his energies to Oakland. Without giving up his commercial pursuits, he had been studying law there, and it was at this stage of his career that he decided the law was his natural field.
Immediately upon his admission to the bar Mr. Chapman went into partnership with Roscoe Havens, under the firm name of Chapman & Havens. This association continued for a period of eight months, but at the end of that time it was dissolved and Mr. Chapman then continued his practice alone. He was thus engaged until June, 1910, and then he formed his present partnership with Mr. Trefethen.
During his many years single-handed, Mr. Chapman’s method of conducting cases of court became well known. It was his extraordinary ability in this line of work which caused the Oakland Traction Co. to select him, in February, 1911, as the chief trial attorney for all its damage litigations.
In 1887 Mr. Chapman became interested in politics in Oakland and served one term in the State Legislature, where his record attracted such favorable attention that he was offered a unanimous renomination. This he declined. In 1891 he was offered a nomination for Congress, but he declined this also, this refusal being prompted by a desire to permit the selection of Joseph McKenna, now an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. That same year, however, he did accept the nomination for Mayor of Oakland, and he was elected by a large majority. His retirement from the congressional lists in favor of Justice McKenna was regarded as one of the most generous acts in the history of politics, for Mr. Chapman’s record in the Legislature was so strong that he was practically certain of winning a seat in the House at Washington.
His renominations, and the successive efforts of his party to get him to run for office, are evidence of the satisfaction he gave while attending to his public duties. He has the public confidence, that of his party, and of the associate members of his profession, and has it all the more because it is generally known that he is no seeker after public honors.
He is president of the Oakland Bar Association and of the Oakland Tribune Publishing Co. and a member of the Athenian Club of that city.
Transcribed
12-3-11 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 873,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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