Plumas County Biographies

Albert Pickett Chapman

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Oct 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
The subject of this sketch is the son of Horace Chapman, and was born November 
9, 1816. He is a lineal descendant of Robert Chapman, one of the first settlers 
of Saybrook, Connecticut, who came from Hull, England, to Boston in the year 
1635. His ancestors were sea-going people. When a lad of thirteen he learned the 
tailor�s trade, which he followed nearly twenty years, and for five years 
carried on a business in Boston under the firm name of Haskell & Chapman. He 
started for California February 8, 1849, sailing around the Horn on the ship 
Rodolph, and was two hundred and nineteen days on the voyage. Early in June, 
1850, with George F. Kent, William E. Jones, or Paul Jones, he discovered Sierra 
valley, and located his present ranch the next year. In December of 1851, Mr. 
Chapman returned east, but came back the following year, via Panama. Prior to 
this time he had been extensively engaged in mining, and was president of the 
Buttes Quartz Company. Upon his return he went to Sierra valley, in July, and 
put up a cabin on the ground now covered by his residence. During the year 1852 
Mr. Chapman opened a livery stable at Downieville, where the Armory stable now 
stands. This he sold in 1862, and removed with his family to his valley home 
where he has since resided. He was married October 1, 1843, to Miss Caroline S. 
Chapman, daughter of George Chapman. His wife belongs to the ninth generation of 
Chapmans in this country, and he to the tenth generation of another branch of 
descent. They have had two sons; Albert Franklin, born July 13, 1844, and 
Charles, born March 28, 1848. Albert F. was married April 5, 1868, to Theresa M. 
Secritan, and their children are Martha Washington, Albert Julius, Carrie Aime 
(deceased), and Clarence Poysingian. Our subject is a member of Susanville Lodge 
N. 140, I. O. O. F., and of Blue Range Encampment at Downieville. He was first 
initiated into the order in Boston in 1846. A view of Mr. Chapman�s residence 
may be seen on another page of this work.  
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. - Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 265-266