Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM CHAPLIN
It was at Leicester, England, that William
Chaplin was born December 16, 1866, a son of the Rev. William Chaplin, a
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church in England for over sixty years, who
passed to his reward in 1899. The mother, Emma Chaplin, was a native of
Leicester, England. Of her twelve children ten are living. Fannie is the wife
of Warren Jessup Potter of Leicester, England, a bridge builder and
prominent in a political way. William came to the United States twenty-six
years ago and located in Philadelphia, Pa., where he opened a butcher shop and
built up a business which was one of the best of its kind in the city, he
having thirty-two butchers in his employ and eight wagons delivering meat to
the wholesale trade. In considering the importance of this enterprise it should
be borne in mind that it was not that of a great corporation but of an
individual owner.
In 1904, owing to the condition of his
health, Mr. Chaplin sold his business to a corporation of which he was
president and manager two years. In 1906 he came to California and established
a meat market on Highland avenue in Hollywood, next to
the Hollywood Hotel. He was very successful there and had a practical monopoly
of the local meat trade during a period of five years, at the expiration of
which he sold out and went to Jergens, Cal., where he
owned extensive mining interests. Eventually he took up residence in Sacramento
and soon concerned himself with amusement enterprises at Oak Park, where he
successfully managed a well remembered venture for two years. In December,
1911, he acquired the lease of the new and modern Mikle
Theatre, which he turned over to his son, Jack Chaplin, who is now the manager.
While he lived in Philadelphia Mr. Chaplin
was active in politics, and at a meeting of voters, which he called in his
ward, he organized the city party which is still in existence. He served on the
school board in Philadelphia three years and was instrumental in the
advancement of street paving in some parts of the city.
The woman who became Mr. Chaplin's wife
was Miss Emma Marvin of Leicester, England, and their children were born as
follows: Thomas in 1885; Katie in 1888; and Jack in 1890. Thomas is chief
engineer at the Hollywood Hotel, having fitted himself to fill such a position
by a course of study in the International Correspondence School in Scranton,
Pa.
The silk loom now in use throughout the
world was invented in England by Mr. Chaplin's paternal grandfather. Mr.
Chaplin owns a fine residence and several valuable lots in Oak Park, and is unwearying in his promotion of the growth and prosperity of
that part of the city. He is insistent in his demand for the square deal in
politics, in business and in every relation of life. Fraternally he affiliates
with the Masonic order, holding membership in the Blue Lodge and in the Royal
Arch chapter.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 874-875. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.