J. A. Chapman

James A. Chapman (September 4, 1821 – December 12, 1885) was a physician in the U.S. state of Oregon who served three non-consecutive terms as mayor of Portland, Oregon.

J. A. Chapman
17th, 22nd and 25th Mayor of Portland, Oregon
In office 1867–1868
Preceded by	Thomas J. Holmes
Succeeded by	Hamilton Boyd
In office 1875–1877
Preceded by	Henry Failing
Succeeded by	William Spencer Newbury
In office 1882–1885
Preceded by	David P. Thompson
Succeeded by	John Gates
Personal details
Born	September 4, 1821 Friendship, New York
Died	December 12, 1885 (aged 64) Portland, Oregon
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Physician, politician

Early life

Chapman was born in Friendship, New York. He studied medicine and graduated from Geneva Medical College in 1846.[1] He set up a medical practice in Cuba, New York, and after a few years, moved to Dundee, New York, where he began another practice.[1][2]

Travel to Oregon

In 1861, with the onset of the American Civil War, Chapman volunteered for service and was appointed surgeon with the 50th New York Regiment. He remained with the regiment as it moved south until 1862, when he was transferred to an overland expedition under Captain Medorem Crawford to assist emigrants to Oregon.[1][2][3]

After the expedition arrived in Portland, Oregon, in late 1862, Chapman joined James C. Hawthorne's medical practice, but Hawthorne left shortly after to run the newly established Oregon Hospital for the Insane.[1] Chapman began a new practice with William H. Watkins.[2]

Mayor of Portland

In June 1867, mayor Thomas J. Holmes, who had been appointed the previous year after the resignation of Henry Failing, was elected to a full term, and then died the following morning.[4] Judge Aaron E. Waite was first chosen by the City Council to replace Holmes, but declined due to ill health.[5][6] Chapman was appointed mayor on July 31, 1867,[7][8] and served until the following June, when a special election to complete Holmes' term was won by Hamilton Boyd.[2][8]

In the early 1870s, Chapman was appointed surgeon-general to the Oregon militia by Governor La Fayette Grover.[2] In 1875, he sought election as mayor against incumbent Henry Failing. Chapman defeated Failing, who had been criticized for a number of his ordinances and his response to a massive 1872 fire that consumed 22 blocks of the Portland waterfront.[9] Chapman served one two-year term, and then ran again in 1882, defeating another incumbent, David P. Thompson.[10]

Death

Late in 1885, Chapman suffered serious injuries after being thrown from his buggy when he drove it into a low-hanging telephone wire.[3][11] A few weeks later, he suffered a stroke and died from his injuries.[3][11] He is buried in Lone Fir Cemetery.[12]

References

1. Hodgkin, Frank E; J.J. Galvin (1882). Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon. Portland, Oregon: Farmer and Dairyman Publishing House. pp. 115–116. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
2. Scott, Harvey W. (1890). History of Portland. Syracuse, New York: Mason & Co. pp. 195–6. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
3. "Death of Dr. J. A. Chapman". Morning Oregonian. December 13, 1885. p. 5.
4. Scott, Harvey W. (1890). History of Portland. Syracuse, New York: Mason & Co. p. 557. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
5. Evans, Elwood (1889). History of the Pacific Northwest: Oregon and Washington. Portland, Oregon: North Pacific History Company.
6. "City". Morning Oregonian. July 25, 1867. p. 3.
7. "City". Morning Oregonian. July 31, 1867. p. 3.
8. "Mayors of Portland". City of Portland. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
9. Chet Orloff. "Henry Failing". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
10. "The City Election". Morning Oregonian. June 20, 1882. p. 2.
11. Dillow, Frank (Summer 2010). "Connecting Oregon: The Slow Road to Rapid Communications, 1843–2009". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 111 (2). Retrieved May 23, 2012.
12. J. A. Chapman at Find a Grave