Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/226

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186
REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF OREGON.




the Nez Perce campaign, in which he served upon the staff of General O. O. Howard, with the rank of Lieutenant, and the San Francisco "Chronicle " during the Bannock war. Mr. Sutherland is a Democrat in politics, and was Editor-in-Chief of the Portland "Standard," the leading Democratic organ of Oregon, for nearly a year, from the Summer of 1881 to the same time in 1882. As a writer, he is clear, forcible and convincing. He never strikes a blow with a bludgeon, but pierces his adversary, as with the thrust of a rapier. He is well-informed, not upon State and national affairs only, but upon European matters as well, having passed nearly two years at one time abroad. About a year and a half ago he was united in marriage to a daughter of Rev. W. C. Chattin, of Portland. He has no children living.


W. S. CHAPMAN

Is a native Oregonian, having been born at Portland on July 3, 1850. In 1853 his parents moved to Southern Oregon, and returned to Portland in 1861, where they and he have resided ever since. At the time of his return to Portland he could not write his name, but he evinced due appreciation of the opportunities for schooling then at hand, and in July, 1867, he was employed by the City Surveyor of Portland, and, showing a knowledge of the business, was soon entrusted with the most important work. However, at the end of six months he quit the office, and went to school at the Portland Academy, pursuing several studies "on the side," caught up with his class and with them graduated in July, 1868. The next day he was employed as Assistant City Surveyor, which position he held almost continuously, under different City Surveyors, until the first election after he became "of age," when he was chosen City Surveyor of Portland. In the meantime he had been employed to make surveys and inaugurate systems of street grades for Vancouver, Astoria, East Portland and, eventually, the capital of the State, where he also set the stakes for the many corners and angles of the State Capitol building. He held the office two years, when a turn in the political wheel caused his removal, he having been a Republican, though he was at first elected by Democratic and Republican votes, and thereby beat the Republican caucus nominee. When his successor was elected, there were only two Republicans against seven Independents in the Common Council, and as he never took any stock in "half-breedism," he had to be punished. In 1878 he was again chosen City Surveyor, and held the office nearly four years. In the meantime he was engaged as editor of the Daily "Bee" in 1876, and became owner of it in 1877, and succeeded within one year in bringing the paper to a paying basis, though it was opposed by the O. S. N. Company, the "Oregonian" and "bank crowd," of Portland. On taking the Surveyor's office in August, 1878, the "Bee" fell into other hands and soon began to decline. The most deserving public work in which Mr. Chapman was engaged was the valuable assistance which he rendered his father, Colonel W. W. Chapman, in the latter's efforts in 1872-8 to establish a railroad from Portland up the Columbia river and to the Union Pacific, he having given his father for the cause over $6,000, a liberal sum from "the boy Surveyor," besides having graded several hun-