William Williams Chapman
| William Williams Chapman | |
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W. W. Chapman
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| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa Territory's At-large congressional district |
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In office September 10, 1838 – October 27, 1840 |
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| Preceded by | position created |
| Succeeded by | Augustus C. Dodge |
| Constituency | Iowa Territory |
| Member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature | |
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In office 1849–1849 |
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| Constituency | Champoeg County |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
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In office 1868–1869 |
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| Constituency | Multnomah County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 11, 1808 Clarksburg, Virginia |
| Died | October 18, 1892 (aged 84) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret F. Ingraham |
William Williams Chapman (August 11, 1808 – October 18, 1892) was an American politician and lawyer in Oregon and Iowa. He was born and raised in Virginia. He served as a United States Attorney in Iowa when it was part of the Michigan and Wisconsin territories, and then represented the Iowa Territory in the United States House of Representatives. He later immigrated to the Oregon Country, where he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature.
After settling in Portland, he helped to found The Oregonian newspaper and promoted economic interests in the city. He also was involved with building Canyon Road near Portland, and fought in the Rogue River War in Oregon. In later years, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly and promoted the expansion of railroads from Portland. Chapman Square, a park in downtown Portland, is named for him and was built on land he sold to the city.
William Chapman was born in Clarksburg, Virginia, (now West Virginia) on August 11, 1808. His father died when William was fourteen, at which time he left home to earn his own way. He was educated in the public schools, and then took a job as a court clerk, while studying law on his own time. In 1832, after reading law, he earned his law license and began practice in Middletown.
Chapman married Margaret F. Ingraham in 1832, and had seven children with her. They moved to Macomb, Illinois in 1833, then to what is now Burlington, Iowa (then part of Michigan Territory) in 1835, where they were among the first settlers. The next year he became a prosecuting attorney, and was then appointed by United States President Andrew Jackson as United States Attorney for the Michigan Territory.
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