USA > Oregon > Multnomah County > Portland > History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 44
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In the autumn of 1833, Mr. Chapman went to McComb, McDonough county, Illinois, and in the spring of 1835 moved out to Burlington, in the "Black Hawk Pur- chase" now a part of Iowa. Those were early times for even the Mississippi States, and this region was then reckoned as a part of Wisconsin, and was attached to the Territory of Michigan. It may be inferred that Mr. Chapman was a man of mark, with a penchant for forming a new society, or he would never have been in that new country. This presumption is confirmed by the fact that we find him the next year appointed prosecuting attorney by John S. Horner, acting governor of Michigan. In 1836 he was appointed by President Jackson United States Attorney for the Territory of Wisconsin, established upon the admission of Michigan as a State. The most exciting litigation at the time was with reference to "jumping" land claims. The settlers had a court of their own before which jumpers were tried, and by it summarily ejected from their hold, if found guilty. Mr. Chapman proved to be on the side of the settlers, defending a body of them before the court. Military officers and men, including Gen. Taylor, afterwards President, and Jefferson Davis, his son-in-law, used in those days to come around sometimes to remove "squatters," as the settlers were contemptuously called. That was before the present land laws, and the public domain was opened to legal settlement only as thrown open by proc- lamation of the President, who sometimes proceeded upon the idea that new land should not be settled up until all the "offered" land was occupied; while the settlers preferred to live and take land where they pleased. On account of his friendship, the Iowa settlers were willing soon after to, and did send Mr. Chapman as delegate to Congress.
In 1836, he removed to Dubuque, and in 1837, removed back to the neighbor- hood of Burlington. In 1838, Iowa was set apart as an independent Territory, through the efforts of G. W. Jones, a delegate from Wisconsin, and upon the election held September 10, Mr. Chapman was found to be successful over three other candi- dates. In Congress he became very active. The first bill prepared by him was for the opening of a military road from Dubuque throughi Iowa City to the southern bound of the State, for another to run from Burlington west, and for still another to run east and terminate at De Hague, a place in Illinois. It was essential to get this latter road in order to cross the extensive low bottom lands on the east or Illinois side of the Mississippi River, which were flooded during the summer freshet. On account of the opposition of Van Buren to internal improvements in the States, Chapman omitted to mention in his bill that De Hague was in Illinois, and the Presi- dent not being aware of this fact signed the bill, contrary to his own policy of non- inter-state improvement.
In 1836, at an election in Dubuque county, Wisconsin Territory, now a part of Iowa, Mr. Chapman, then twenty-six years of age, was elected Colonel of the Militia
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by a most flattering majority, which was particularly gratifying to him from the fact that his acquaintances had made him believe that they were all voting against him. Some told him that he was too young and inexperienced, and he overheard others saying : "It won't do, he is too young, "etc .; but when the votes were counted and he found that he had received the almost unanimous support of electors of his town- slip, he too, felt able to enjoy the joke. His commission as Colonel, issued Decem- ber 2, 1836, is signed by H. Dodge, Governor of Wisconsin Territory, and attested by J. P. Horner, Secretary. He qualified December 30, of the same year by taking the oath of office before Warner Lewis, "a justice of the peace in and for Duhuque county."
The act creating Iowa as a Territory fixed the Northern boundary of Missouri as the southern boundary of Iowa. One point determining this line was the Des Moines Rapids. Missouri, anxious to acquire a large tract to the north, claimed that these rapids were in the Des Moines River, while Iowa claimed that the rapids meant were those in the Mississippi River, above the mouth of the Des Moines, bringing the line some twenty or thirty miles further south. Governor Lucas, of Iowa, advising with Col. Chapman, promptly occupied the disputed territory with Militia, in order that Missouri might not be first on the ground, as it would be difficult to onst a State from her actual holding, while a territory might be easily cut up. Missouri has-
tened to send up her troops, but found the field already in possession of Iowa. Chap- man rode out, advised a stay of all proceedings, and urged that the contestants should await the action of Congress and of the Supreme Court. Missouri felt reasonably confi- dent, as she liad Benton and Linn in the Senate, and three able inen in the House at Washington, while Iowa had but one unknown delegate. But when the contest before Congress came, Chapman was able to present a mass of testimony to the House, from the writings of French missionaries and others, showing that the Des Moines Rapids were in the Mississippi River. Seeing the case going against them, the Missourians hastened to get a bill into the Senate in their favor, and Dr. Linn was pushing this measure with all the vim of his great abilities. It was then, as it is still, unparliamentary for a member of one House to interpose in the proceedings of the other, but Chapman, although bnt a young man, felt no liesitancy in honoring this custom in the breach, and sent a written communication to the Senate, protest- ing against the action of Senator Linn in bringing forward the question of houndary in a body where Iowa had no representative, and referred them to the fact that this question was then pending in the House. As a result of this communication, action in the Senate was stayed.
While the decision was still in suspense private overtures were made from the Missouri members to persuade the Iowa delegate to let go his hold, and Benton proposed to Chapman, if he would yield, to grant great favors and an early admission of Iowa into the Union. But in reply to all of this Mr. Chapman could only say that he was entrusted by the people of Iowa to hold their line as claimed by them, and this view eventually prevailed.
Col. Chapman was the first man in Congress to propose a permanent pre-emption law. In former times there was no regular or legal way for the settler to acquire public land wherever he might choose in the United States territory and it was customary for Congress to pass a bill from time to time granting existing settlers the
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riglit to pre-empt the lands which they might have occupied. This was a cumbrous, and in many cases a dilatory way of granting title to settlers, and tt was while a bill to grant a special pre-emption was before Congress, that Col. Chapman proposed a standing law providing for pre-emptions to be a permanent arrangement for pros- pective as well as actual settlers. The idea was novel, and met with some ridicule, hut it has long heen so much a part of the land policy of the Goverment that it seems as if it must be almost as old as the statute book itself.
In 1844, Col. Chapman was chosen a member of the State convention to prepare a constitution for Iowa. In that body lie originated the ineasure to transfer in the face of the act of Congress the grant of five hundred thousand acres of land to the State for internal improvements for the use of schools. Such a proposition was then unheard of, but has become the policy since followed by all the new States. He also proposed the measure providing for the election of judges which was then wholly an innovation, and although there has been much question of its wisdom, it is a policy that has extended wholly over the West and to the East in many instances. Col. Chapman is himself a firm believer in the usefulness of the plan, for while the judges are thus more subject to the entanglements of politics, they are also more immediately responsible to the people, and are removed from executive or legislative patronage.
Although having accomplished so much for the young State of Iowa, and having become so well known among her citizens, with a large future opened to his enterprise and ambition, he was led by a spirit of adventure, and perhaps even more by the instinct that his greatest strength was in establishing and formulating prin- ciples for future States, to seek a new field where political and business forces were yet in embryo, and determined upon Oregon as the most promising field for liis endeavor. The choice has heen most fully justified by the result.
On the 4th of May, 1847, from Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa, Col. Chapman and family set out for their journey across the plains to Oregon. The family con- sisted of himself and wife, and seven children. Nearly 100 emigrants started in the train with Col. Chapman. The long journey of over six months, replete with dangers and hardships, came to an end on November 13, 1847, when Mary's River was reached near what was then called Marysville, now Corvallis, Benton County. The party at that time consisted of the Chapmans, Gilberts, Starrs and Belknaps. Being anxious to see the seat of Oregon, and especially to make the acquaintance of the leading men of the young settlement, Col. Chapman, shortly after his arrival, made a trip on horseback to Oregon City, or the Falls, as it was then called. At this quaint little capital, and then indeed the metropolis of the region west of the Rocky Mountains, were congregated Oregon's early heroes. Here he met and formed a pleasant acquaintance with Judge S. S. White, Col. B. Jennings and Gov. Abernethy. From them he learned pretty much all of the history and prospects of the young commonwealth, and with his aptitude for formulating a distinct policy, foresaw almost from that moment his own future work in our State. He at first decided to make his home at the Falls, but was finally induced by Dr. Wilson, of Salem, to make that place his residence.
In February, 1848, he with his family reached Salem, where they were furnished quarters in the lower story of the Methodist, or old missionary academy building, and
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were treated as members of the doctor's family. In this place he remained for some tinie, although school was kept in the upper story of the building.
With the facility of the pioneer, he turned his hands to manual work, and as spring came engaged in making a garden, and also righted the feuces that enclosed the big field upon a portion of which the State House now stands. He also picked . up as rapidly as possible the threads of legal activity in the State, attending during the spring and summer several terms of court, held under the auspices of the provincial government by Judge Eugene Skinner. The last of these was on Knox's Butte, in Linn County, and became memorable for its abrupt adjournment from the report of gold in California.
Mr. Chapmau was no less interested than the rest, and although not excitable, inade speedy arrangements for the comfort of his family during fall and winter, and in a party containing also Mr. Alanson Hinman, of Forest Grove, J. B. McLane, of Salem, and Mr. Parrish, of Linn County, packed across the mountains to the mines ou the Sacramento. The whole of Oregon was moved, and this little party had swelled to a considerable army by the constant aggregation of other little parties on the way; but before Sutter's Fort was reached the company broke up into little bands scattering out in all directions to the gulches and bars of Northern California. Some of these early settlers were lost to our State forever, going nobody knows where in the world, while others, having made little fortunes, came back to Oregon to spend their days in peace and plenty, and to assist in making our State the glory of the Northwest.
After mining with good success until autumn Mr. Chapman made a somewhat indefinite tour to San Francisco, with an eye to the establishing some kind of a center of trade or society, thinking a little of forming a combination with Sutter to build a city at Sacramento; but he discovered that the quick mind of Judge Burnett had already grasped the idea and seized the position. At San Francisco he remained a considerable time, and was about to visit the other inines of California, but meeting with Gov. Lane, who was on the way from Washington, was persuaded by him to come on to Oregon. He arrived in February or early March, 1849. Proceeding at once to his home in Salem, he was soon elected representative to the first territorial legislature chosen and convened upon the order of the new governor. During this session he was appointed to draft a code of laws, but under a technical construction of the organic law this act was declared void.
At the end of the session in 1849, he decided upon a removal to Oregon City and remained there for a short time, but upon a close examination concluded that this could not be the place for the seaport emporium and consequently made a thorough exploration of the lower Willamette to the Columbia, with the result that he concluded Portland to be the place where transportation by land and by ships could most readily meet. He found Portland built on a section of land owned by Gen. Stephen Coffin and Mr. D. H. Lownsdale and in this claim he bought a third interest. Although Portland had a natural advantage, hier success as the chief city depended upon her making use of that advantage, and only by showing an enterprise equal to that of a dozen other rival places could the favor of nature be turned to account. Mr. Chapman, with his family and household effects was "bateaued" from Oregon City to Portland on the first day of January, 1850, and in the spring and summer follow- ing cleared and erected upon the block upon which the county courthouse now stands a frame building for a residence and with his family dwelt therein until the fall of 1853.
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The town proprietors of Portland, as Messrs. Coffin, Lowusdale and Chapman were called, at once engaged in all enterprises which they deemed calculated to advance the interests and prosperity of Portland as the commercial metropolis of Oregon.
The period which immediately followed Col. Chapman's arrival in Portland has been so thoroughly treated in another part of this volume that it is only necessary to refer to it, should the reader desire to gain a full idea of the important work carried through by Col. Chapman and his associates, in laying the foundations of the city. The purchase of the Gold Hunter, the founding of the Oregonian, the opening of the Canyon Road, the enlargement of the town plat and the improvement of the streets, were enterprises which Col. Chapman urged forward, liberally expending his time and money to insure the growth and prosperity of the city. The struggle to maintain the embryo city was not an easy one. Prospective towns with powerful backing sprang up and contested every inch of the way. How the proprietors finally triumphed over every rival is an interesting story which is fully related in preceding pages. The hard blows aimed at Portland by rival points on the Columbia and Willamette were all met and parried by the energy and foresiglit of the proprietors, Col. Chapman leading in every contest and allowing no personal sacrifice to stand in the way of the city's growth and development. For valuable service at this critical period of Port- land's history, no one is entitled to a higher meed of credit.
The important part he bore in the long legal struggle over the title to the Portland land claim is a subject treated of in a separate chapter in this volume and needs not to be entered upon here.
In the fall of 1853, becoming impressed with the profit to be made in the cattle business, Col. Chapman acquired the Hudson Bay improvements at Fort Umpqua, in what is now Douglas County, and although retaining his interests at Portland and continuing in the practice of law, removed to the Fort with his family, himself returning to Portland about once a month to see to his interests in the city. At his new residence Col. Chapman continued to improve and cultivate his farm and herd his cattle.
In the fall of 1855, while Col. Chapman was attending court at a distance from home, news was brought that there was a great Indian uprising on Rogue River, with depredations committed between Jacksonville and Cow Creek. This was the begin- ning of the war of 1855-6. Under the proclamation of the Governor, Col. Chapman began at once to gather a company, of which he was elected captain. No sooner was this responsibility laid upon him than he went to Portland, riding day and night to procure arms for his men, and returning took from his own farm, wagons, mules and horses for the equipment of the company. Proceeding thus by forced marches toward the seat of war at the Little Meadows, stopping at Roseburg only long enough to be mustered in in proper form as Company I, of Major Martin's battalion, lie proceeded expeditiously to join the main command.
At the assembling of the officers at the Meadows, Col. Chapman advised that the Indians be pursued and thereby held together, and protested against withdrawing the forces. He also favored the building of a fort and leaving a strong garrison, being impressed with the belief that if the forces were withdrawn the Indians would at once scatter out and fall upon the settlement, while if they were followed and pursued and
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held together, they would be prevented from perpetrating outrages. A majority of the officers differed with him and by their decision the troops were withdrawn. His foresight, however, was but too teribly verified by the massacres committed soon after the troops were withdrawn. During the winter that followed the movement of troops was of little concern, and the forces were reorganized. Lamerick was chosen Brigadier General by the Legislature and appointed commander of the 2d Regiment of Oregon Volunteers. At an election John Kelsey was chosen Colonel and Mr. Chapman, Lieutenant Colonel. James Bruce, than whom there was never an abler or better officer, or one more intelligent or more ready to carry out a command to the letter, was chosen Major of the 2d or Southern battalion, and Latshaw, an able and energetic officer, Major of the 1st or Northern. At a council of war held soon after the forces were gathered together, to decide upon a plan of campaign, Col. Chapman, basing his opinion upon the experience of the last year, advised to press the Indians and unite them as closely as possible, compelling them to concentrate at some point, probably at the Meadows. This place, the fastness of the Indians, was a rocky cliff, or bluff, on the south side of Rogue River, opposite a wide strip of clear meadow lands. To cross the meadows, and ford the swift and dangerous river in the face of an enemy concealed among the rocks and trees was an impossibility. Col. Chapman, therefore, advised that a force, the Southern battalion, be sent down the south side of the river by way of the Port Orford trail to attack the Indians from the rear of their stronghold, and another force, the Northern battalion, be sent to co-operate on the north side, and if the Indians fled across the stream to be there to meet them. By this strategy the enemy must be crushed between the two battalions. This suggestion was adopted, and at the request of Gen. Lamerick, Chapman reluctantly consented to take command of the Southern battalion with headquarters at Vannoy's ferry. At once he began concentrating his forces, which were scattered at various places in Southern Oregon, and soon set out with a battalion numbering over three hundred men, all hardy, sturdy soldiers, good fighters, and mostly miners. Moving to Hay's, on Slate Creek, where the Indians had left tracks by recent depredatious, scouts were sent out to find the enemy, and it was soon ascertained, as was anticipated, that the savages had concentrated in the presence of the large force coming after them, and had retreated to their great stronghold opposite the Big or Lower Meadows. This was a point a little below their place of defense of the previous year, which was called the Upper or Little Meadows, and was a stronger position, being better defended on the north. Returning to Vannoy's, preparations for a simultaneous movement were made. The men were dismounted, only animals sufficient for the commissary were allowed, and the expedition on both banks moved forward. There was a point on the Port Orford trail known as Peavine Camp, high on the ridge, not far from the Meadows on the south side, to which Chapman was to repair with his force, and from this point watch the trail below on the north side, at a place where it came down to Rogne River, that he might ascertain the movement of Lamerick and the Northern battalion, whose force would be visible there as lie went by. Reaching Peavine, Chapman waited some time in the snow, which still hung on the high ridge, but failed to discover his superior, and at length was told that his flag had been seen on the Upper Meadows. Scouts were sent ahead and found the Indians in force under the bluff opposite the Lower Meadows, and all preparations
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were made for an attack, the mnen being eager for the work; but just at this juncture a message was received by Col. Chapman from Gen. Lamerick that he had learned that it would be impossible for Col. Chapman to reach the Indians on the south side and ordering Chapman and his battalion to cross the river to the north side and join him. Chapman and his men were annoyed at this intelligence and command, and for a time thought seriously of disregarding the order, but upon consultation, it was decided not to make the attack but to rejoin Gen. Lamerick, which they did. At the Meadows, considerable fighting was done across the river. Major Bruce was ordered, by Gen. Lamerick with a small command, to cross the river, but was unable to cross in the face of the Indians. This led Col. Chapman to plan a movement by which the South- ern battalion was to go down on the south side of Rogue River, and the Northern battalion to go down on the north side, which he partially carried out, but it was broken by the order of Gen. Lamerick (before mentioned) to join him on the north side. At length the Indians chose to leave their camp. Then an advance across the river was made, when Gen. Lamerick found them gone and occupied their deserted camp. Gen. Lamerick then made an order for the army to retire from the further pursuit of the Indians; part to Illinois River, part to Jacksonville and part to other places. On the same day before these orders were put into execution, Col. Chapman seeing that if these orders should be carried ont the whole plan of the campaign would be broken, the Indians left free to destroy the lives and property of the settlers, and the volunteers left with the same unsatisfactory results as after the unfruitful campaign of the year before, urged Gen. Lamerick to build a fort near by, to hold and keep the Indians in check. At this suggestion the General took offense, but said he would refer the matter to a council of war. At this council Chapman was called upon to explain his views, which were at once endorsed by every member of the council and it was decided to erect a fort, which immediately was done. It was named Fort Lamerick. Major Latshaw was placed in command here, and the remaining troops were sent to various points. Lamerick went to Jacksonville and Chapman to Roseburg. Latshaw, a brave and vigilant officer, soon reported to Col. Chapman that he had found the Indians on John Mnle Creek, and was only waiting orders to attack them, and asked also for a supply of provisions. Chapman at once issued the order for an attack and sent off the provisions. In pursuance of Col. Chapman's order, Major Latshaw promptly attacked and defeated the Indians, and by this blow and the timely aid he gave the regular army then coming up Rogue River, the war was ended. The Indians surrendered to the United States troops, having some natural distrust of the settlers and soldiers amongst whom they had been pillaging and murdering.
Resuming civil life, the Colonel removed in the latter part of 1856 to Corvallis with his family. The admission of Oregon as a State was now taking definite form, and it was supposed as a matter of course that the Colonel would be a member of the Constitutional Conventiou from the Corvallis district. There was, however, at that time, much division of opinion on the subject of slavery, and what provision in respect to this institution should be inserted in the instrument constituting Oregon a State. A meeting of the Democratic party was held at Salem, and while returning with a number of his party friends to Corvallis, the subject was broached, and Col. Chapman frankly said that he would be opposed to slavery, as it was a thing that
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