La Plata County CO Archives Biographies.....Chapman, W.C. September 9, 1838 - ?
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Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

   W.C. Chapman, a leading merchant, prominent citizen and influential civic

force at Durango, La Plata county, is a pioneer of 1868 in this state, and since

that time he has been actively identified with its progress and development.  He

was born at Albany, New York, on September 9, 1838, and is the son of John W.

and Hephzibah (Gibbons) Chapman, also native at Albany.  He grew to manhood at

Syracuse, New York, and after reaching years of maturity, engaged in business

there until 1868, when he came to Colorado and settled at Georgetown.  Here he

was occupied in mining until 1881.  In February of that year he located at

Durango and opened a hardware store which he has conducted ever since, and which

he has made one of the leading emporiums in its line in this part of the state.

 He is also vice-president of the Colorado State Bank and is interested in

various other business enterprises.  In public life he has been zealous and

serviceable, giving the town an excellent administration of its affairs when he

was mayor and as president of the school board during the last ten years holding

the educational forces of the community up to a high standard of ability and

usefulness.  He is also an active church worker, and in the two fraternal orders

to which he belongs, the Freemasons and the Elks, his membership is highly

valued and of great service.  In July, 1889, he was married at Durango to Mrs.

Ella Hovey, a native of Missouri.  They have one daughter, Mary M.  Mr. Chapman

is a member of the San Juan Pioneer Association and takes a great and

serviceable interest in its proceedings.  He is one of Durango’s leading and

most representative citizens, and has a wide and potent influence for good

throughout a large extent of the surrounding country.  As one of the makers and

builders of the town, and one of its leaders of thought and action he is widely

known and generally esteemed; and as a business man of capacity, enterprise and

breadth of view he has given its commercial forces a high rank in the business

world.  Among the progressive men of western Colorado he is entitled to a place

in the front rank.

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905



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