Plumas
County
Biographies
WILLIAM C. CHAPMAN
William C. Chapman, night shift boss
in the concentration mill of the Walker Mine, in Plumas County, the largest
copper mine in the state of California, is a man of proven worth and stands
high in the esteem of his employers. He
was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the 23d of October, 1902, a son of
Robert E. and Mary E. Chapman. His
mother died when he was so young that he has no recollection of her. His father was an engineer on the Colorado
Midland Railroad, but is now retired and lives in Los Angeles.
William C. Chapman, who is the
youngest of the six children born to his parents, was reared by his father and
older sisters, and received a fair education.
During his sophomore year in high school, it became necessary for him to
lay aside his textbooks and start to earn his own living. Going to Canon City, Colorado, he went to
work for a construction company which was engaged in the construction of a mill
at Bonanza, Colorado. When
nineteen years of age he joined a bridge-building crew of the Denver & Rio
Grande Railroad. Later he went to
work at Grand Junction, Colorado, for the Prairie Canning Company, where he remained
until 1922, when he made his way to Gold Hill, Colorado, where he was employed
in operating a hoist at a mine. In 1923
he came to the Walker mine, where he has remained to the present time. At first he was employed at outside flotation
work and through his faithfulness and efficiency he was successively promoted
until, about five years ago, he was made night shift boss. He is on duty from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.,
seven days a week, and his is an exceedingly important position, the machinery
in his charge being of gigantic size and very complicated. His superintendency extends to the crushing
and grinding of the ore, and the chemical and mechanical operations involved in
the flotation of concentration processes.
Mr. Chapman is a member of Quincy
Lodge, F. & A. M., at Quincy, Plumas County, and Sacramento Consistory of
the Scottish Rite.
He has exemplified the principles of that time-honored order in his
relations with his fellowmen and is held in the highest regard by all who know
him.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 297-298. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.