Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/155

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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF ORECiON. lir,


Portland, where he soon acquired a hicrative practice. Mr. Cai)l. <. ,.^ ,> u,- piiblican. During the war of the rebelhon he was actively enj^'jmed iu the recruiting service for the government in both Oliio and ludianu. His first active participation in politics in this State was iu 1H72, wlien he was elected a member of the lower House of the Legislature. After serviug one term he retired from political life, until 1876, when he was electc^l for the first time to the positiou he now holdf^. On the 4th of December, 1H77, death invaded his household and took from his side his amiable wife, and he still remains a widower. In 1878 he was again elected Prosecutiug Attorney, and he has been re-elected successively to the same position at each recur- ring election ever since, and, without disparagement to others, it may be stated that at his third election he received a higher number of votes than any other candidate on his ticket. Mr. Caples is a man of vigorous consti- tution and active mind, bidding fair to insure him many more years of active life.


J. A. CHAPMAN, M. D.

Prominent among the men who have made the Northwest famous as a rendezvous for entei-prise, talent and industry, may be mentioned the gen- tleman whose name is the title of this brief biography. Dr. Chapman was born in the town of Friendship, AUeghany county. New York, Sept. 4, 1821. He resided at that place until he was sixteen years of age, enjoying the ad- vantage of a common school education. He then went to Cub;i, in the same State, and attended the Academy two years and then studied medicine and surgery with Dr. Griffin, a prominent physician of that section, and with whom he remained for three and a half years. He then attended the Oeu- eva Medical College, of New York, and graduated from that institution in the winter of 181:5-(5. He began the practice of his profession in Cuba, Hud continued in the business at that place for several years. He then went to Dundee, Yates county. New York, where he practiced until 18(U, AvJieu the war of the rebellion burst upon the country, at which time he volunteered in the military service and was appointed surgeon of the Fiftieth New York Regiment, Mith the rank of colonel. He Avent South and served with his regiment until the latter part of 1862, when he was transferred to the over- land expedition, for this coast, under Captain Crawford. He came as sur- geon of the expedition with the rank of major. He left New York, May 19th, and arrived in Portland, Oregon, November 1, 1862. Hon. J. N. Dolpli, U. S. Senator elect, and Cyrus A. Dolph, accompanied the expedition. Ar- riving in Portland, he again began practice, with the late Dr. J. C. Haw- thorne, with whom he remained until Dr. Hawthorne obtained the c<mtrfict for keeping the Insane of the State. In 1867 Dr. Chapman was el.>cted Mayor of the City of Portland on the Democratic ticket. In 1868 he was . elected Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, but resigned upon the endorsement of Horace Greeley for President by the Democratic National Convention of 1872. He was re-elected Mayor, on the Republican ticket in 1876, and served one term. Prior to this lie was ap- pointed Surgeon-General of the State Militia, by Governor L. F. Grover,