Volume 044-4 - October 1990 (8 pages)

not being able to collect his fees from patients. The situation became critical and therefore Chapman decided to open up a practice in Virginia City, Nevada. His wife continued the practice at the house in Nevada City. With two practices, he hoped to double his income and satisfy his financial obligations. He is listed in the Business Directory of San Francisco and the Principal Towns of California and Nevada of 1877 as residing in Virginia City. He frequently came to Nevada City to help Nellie. The name Chapman is associated with a mining venture. In Thompson and West’s History of Nevada County, his name is mentioned in a mining claim near North San Juan which was “formerly known as the Chapman and West claim.” This claim was located in 1853. In the spring of 1855, a tunnel 600 feet long was started and completed the next year at a cost of $5400. This was about the time Chapman came to Nevada City. The tunnel was later extended to 1000 feet. The mine yielded very well, but in 1858 was nearly worked out and sold. It is possible that the Chapman, associated with this mine, was not our Dr. Allen Chapman. When a gold ledge was discovered in his Newtown Road property, Chapman did not develop it; he probably did not have the money. After Allen's death his son, Chester Warren Chapman, opened a mine there in 1898, equipped with a five stamp mill driven by electricity. We have already mentioned that, in spite of having a lucrative practice, Dr. Chapman came into financial difficulties. He was very liberal in helping his friends by co-signing notes. At one time the amount for which he was responsible exceeded $80,000; he became liable for ; $43,000 as a result. He was advised to declare bankruptcy, but this he declined: “I went into this with my eyes:open and assumed responsibility; I will therefore pay it to the last cent,” which he actually did. He sacrificed his entire property with the exception of his homestead and thus was left with a debt of $16,000. Although he never aspired to public office, Chapman contributed to the public welfare through membership in fraternal organizations. He already was a Mason before coming to California, having attained the rank of Royal Arch Mason. In Nevada City, he became a Knight Templar and was among those who initiated the reorganization of the Knights Templar, Nevada Commandery No. 6, on October 12, 1865. In 1895, while still living in Virginia City, he was the victim of a runaway accident in that town. In addition, he was suffering from the “grippe” (influenza). He returned to Nevada City and made visits to San Diego to look for relief in its milder climate. But to no avail; he died on July 8, 1897. He was buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery where the Knights Templar performed the funeral rites. After the death of Dr. Chapman, Nellie continued her practice on Sacramento Street. She had been taught dentistry by her husband and when, in 1879, dentists were required to be registered, Nellie came in on the grandfather clause. Her number was 79. Dr. Nellie Chapman was a remarkable woman. She wrote poems which were considered worth publishing, having started compositions at the tender age of ten years. She was a prominent member of the Shakespeare Club. And she was a good musician, having songs published together with a friend of the family, “Professor” Edward Muller. The latter had been educated at the University of Giessen in Germany and, in 1847, he accepted a contract with the King of Prussia to conduct 1200 German families to Texas. From there, in 1850, he came to Nevada City, where he met and married Ismerie Clarice Falcot, whose parents ran the Hotel de Paris on Broad Street. Muller lived on the corner of Broad and Commercial Streets. He was a very good pianist and later abandoned the vocation of miner to start teaching music, French and German, hence the “Professor” appellation. He died on October 22, 1906. Nellie died on April 7, 1906. A song, ‘Weep not for me”, which she had composed for the funeral of her husband was also sung in her memory at her own funeral. Allen and Nellie had two sons. The oldest, Sargent Allen, was born on March 20, 1862. He continued his father’s practice in Virginia City, hence does not really belong in this story which deals with the Chapmans of Nevada County. He died on August 5, 1908, and had eight children. The second son of Allen and Nellie was Chester Warren Chapman, who was born on June 18, 1864. Apparently he went to Virginia City with his father when the latter opened a practice there, for it is recorded that he attended grammar school in that city, having previously attended elementary school in Nevada City. He attended the California Military Academy in Oakland in 1882, worked with his father as an apprentice for some time and thereafter enrolled at the dental college in San Francisco, an affiliate of the University of California. This must have been in 1888. He transferred to the College of Dental Surgery of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1891. He also attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. After graduation, he opened a practice in Nevada City. Since his mother already had a practice at the home on Sacramento Street, Chester located his office in the IOOF building on Broad Street. His name in gold letters is still-visible on one of the windows. After the death of his father; he started a mining operation at the property on Newtown Road (1898). He installed a five stamp mill, operated by electricity, the first of this kind. On May 15, 1895 he married Margaret H. Organ, a member of a prominent early Nevada County family. She was born on January 4, 1874 and died on July Il, 1942. There were five children, of whom more later. Chester Warren was a very public minded person. He was a charter member of the Hydraulic Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West and a delegate to the Grand Parlor for 53 times. He was the president of the Hydraulic Parlor in its early days and secretary at the time of his death. Membership in the Hydraulic Parlor led to Chapman's involvement in the raising of the Pioneer (Donner) Monument. The story is told ina booklet by Doris Foley: The Pioneer (Donner) Monument, which is still available from the NCHS. The idea of erecting this monument at the site where the Donner party camped during the winter of 1846-47, was originally C.F McGlashan’s, who had made a close study of the Donner tragedy and was the author of: The History of the Donner Party (1879). But the active pursuit of the idea went to the Sons of the Golden West, whose Grand Parlor founded the Donner Monument Committee, of which Chapman became president. Until the dedication of the monument on June 5, 1918 Chapman was the driving force of the committee, collecting the money required, negotiating with and selecting the artist, organizing the transport of the monument and so on. Unfortunately, Chapman differed in opinion with McGlashan on two points, first that McGlashan saw the monument as a tribute to the Donner party while Chapman felt that the monument should honor all pioneers. The monument, as it turned out, did the latter. It shows a man shading his eyes looking westward, with his wife carrying a baby and a young child. Secondly, there was a difference of opinion on whether the monument stood on or near the site of the Breen cabin, the latter being Chapman’s opinion which was expressed on the plaque which identifies the monument. These two differences of opinion caused an estrangement between the two men which was never terminated. With the dedication of the monument the work of the committee was not ended; there was still the problem of paying the sculptor and perhaps other expenses. In 1923, Dr. Chapman was relieved of his membership in the committee because: (it was) decided that Grand Parlor committee appointments should be restricted to members of the Grand Parlor, which Chapman evidently was not. An interesting way of rewarding someone for some 20 years of volunteer work! Like his father, Dr. Chapman was an avid Mason. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, serving as Grand Master to Nevada Lodge No. 13 in 1904. He also was a Royal Arch Mason. In his later years, 1954, he was Worthy Patron of the Evangeline Chapter No, 9, Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Chapman was very civic minded. For many years he served on the Nevada City Council and was mayor of the City during the years 1904-1906. He was largely responsible for the paving of the city streets and the improvement of the water system. After the San Francisco earthquake of April 19, 1906, Dr. Chapman traveled to the city already on the same day in order to ascertain the fate of citizens of the county who might have been there during the disaster. He stayed until May 15 to direct the distribution of the many gifts of food, clothing, medical supplies and money, contributed by the citizens of Nevada City and Grass Valley. Dr. Chapman was very active in the Nevada City Volunteer Fire Department. In 1924 he was on the board of Fire Delegates which coordinated the efforts of the several fire companies and was treasurer of the Nevada City Hose Company No. 1, a position he still held at the time of his death. In 1947 he received a gold pin for being the oldest active volunteer in the county, with 65 years of service. On October 15, 1907 the Nevada City Free 27

not being able to collect his fees from patients. The situation became critical and therefore Chapman decided to open up a practice in Virginia City, Nevada. His wife continued the practice at the house in Nevada City. With two practices, he hoped to double his income and satisfy his financial obligations. He is listed in the Business Directory of San Francisco and the Principal Towns of California and Nevada of 1877 as residing in Virginia City. He frequently came to Nevada City to help Nellie. The name Chapman is associated with a mining venture. In Thompson and West’s History of Nevada County, his name is mentioned in a mining claim near North San Juan which was “formerly known as the Chapman and West claim.” This claim was located in 1853. In the spring of 1855, a tunnel 600 feet long was started and completed the next year at a cost of $5400. This was about the time Chapman came to Nevada City. The tunnel was later extended to 1000 feet. The mine yielded very well, but in 1858 was nearly worked out and sold. It is possible that the Chapman, associated with this mine, was not our Dr. Allen Chapman. When a gold ledge was discovered in his Newtown Road property, Chapman did not develop it; he probably did not have the money. After Allen's death his son, Chester Warren Chapman, opened a mine there in 1898, equipped with a five stamp mill driven by electricity. We have already mentioned that, in spite of having a lucrative practice, Dr. Chapman came into financial difficulties. He was very liberal in helping his friends by co-signing notes. At one time the amount for which he was responsible exceeded $80,000; he became liable for ; $43,000 as a result. He was advised to declare bankruptcy, but this he declined: “I went into this with my eyes:open and assumed responsibility; I will therefore pay it to the last cent,” which he actually did. He sacrificed his entire property with the exception of his homestead and thus was left with a debt of $16,000. Although he never aspired to public office, Chapman contributed to the public welfare through membership in fraternal organizations. He already was a Mason before coming to California, having attained the rank of Royal Arch Mason. In Nevada City, he became a Knight Templar and was among those who initiated the reorganization of the Knights Templar, Nevada Commandery No. 6, on October 12, 1865. In 1895, while still living in Virginia City, he was the victim of a runaway accident in that town. In addition, he was suffering from the “grippe” (influenza). He returned to Nevada City and made visits to San Diego to look for relief in its milder climate. But to no avail; he died on July 8, 1897. He was buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery where the Knights Templar performed the funeral rites. After the death of Dr. Chapman, Nellie continued her practice on Sacramento Street. She had been taught dentistry by her husband and when, in 1879, dentists were required to be registered, Nellie came in on the grandfather clause. Her number was 79. Dr. Nellie Chapman was a remarkable woman. She wrote poems which were considered worth publishing, having started compositions at the tender age of ten years. She was a prominent member of the Shakespeare Club. And she was a good musician, having songs published together with a friend of the family, “Professor” Edward Muller. The latter had been educated at the University of Giessen in Germany and, in 1847, he accepted a contract with the King of Prussia to conduct 1200 German families to Texas. From there, in 1850, he came to Nevada City, where he met and married Ismerie Clarice Falcot, whose parents ran the Hotel de Paris on Broad Street. Muller lived on the corner of Broad and Commercial Streets. He was a very good pianist and later abandoned the vocation of miner to start teaching music, French and German, hence the “Professor” appellation. He died on October 22, 1906. Nellie died on April 7, 1906. A song, ‘Weep not for me”, which she had composed for the funeral of her husband was also sung in her memory at her own funeral. Allen and Nellie had two sons. The oldest, Sargent Allen, was born on March 20, 1862. He continued his father’s practice in Virginia City, hence does not really belong in this story which deals with the Chapmans of Nevada County. He died on August 5, 1908, and had eight children. The second son of Allen and Nellie was Chester Warren Chapman, who was born on June 18, 1864. Apparently he went to Virginia City with his father when the latter opened a practice there, for it is recorded that he attended grammar school in that city, having previously attended elementary school in Nevada City. He attended the California Military Academy in Oakland in 1882, worked with his father as

an apprentice for some time and thereafter enrolled at the dental college in San Francisco, an affiliate of the University of California. This must have been in 1888. He transferred to the College of Dental Surgery of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1891. He also attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. After graduation, he opened a practice in Nevada City. Since his mother already had a practice at the home on Sacramento Street, Chester located his office in the IOOF building on Broad Street. His name in gold letters is still-visible on one of the windows. After the death of his father; he started a mining operation at the property on Newtown Road (1898). He installed a five stamp mill, operated by electricity, the first of this kind. On May 15, 1895 he married Margaret H. Organ, a member of a prominent early Nevada County family. She was born on January 4, 1874 and died on July Il, 1942. There were five children, of whom more later. Chester Warren was a very public minded person. He was a charter member of the Hydraulic Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West and a delegate to the Grand Parlor for 53 times. He was the president of the Hydraulic Parlor in its early days and secretary at the time of his death. Membership in the Hydraulic Parlor led to Chapman's involvement in the raising of the Pioneer (Donner) Monument. The story is told ina booklet by Doris Foley: The Pioneer (Donner) Monument, which is still available from the NCHS. The idea of erecting this monument at the site where the Donner party camped during the winter of 1846-47, was originally C.F McGlashan’s, who had made a close study of the Donner tragedy and was the author of: The History of the Donner Party (1879). But the active pursuit of the idea went to the Sons of the Golden West, whose Grand Parlor founded the Donner Monument Committee, of which Chapman became president. Until the dedication of the monument on June 5, 1918 Chapman was the driving force of the committee, collecting the money required, negotiating with and selecting the artist, organizing the transport of the monument and so on. Unfortunately, Chapman differed in opinion with McGlashan on two points, first that McGlashan saw the monument as a tribute to the Donner party while Chapman felt that the monument should honor all pioneers. The monument, as it turned out, did the latter. It shows a man shading his eyes looking westward, with his wife carrying a baby and a young child. Secondly, there was a difference of opinion on whether the monument stood on or near the site of the Breen cabin, the latter being Chapman’s opinion which was expressed on the plaque which identifies the monument. These two differences of opinion caused an estrangement between the two men which was never terminated. With the dedication of the monument the work of the committee was not ended; there was still the problem of paying the sculptor and perhaps other expenses. In 1923, Dr. Chapman was relieved of his membership in the committee because: (it was) decided that Grand Parlor committee appointments should be restricted to members of the Grand Parlor, which Chapman evidently was not. An interesting way of rewarding someone for some 20 years of volunteer work! Like his father, Dr. Chapman was an avid Mason. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, serving as Grand Master to Nevada Lodge No. 13 in 1904. He also was a Royal Arch Mason. In his later years, 1954, he was Worthy Patron of the Evangeline Chapter No, 9, Order of the Eastern Star. Dr. Chapman was very civic minded. For many years he served on the Nevada City Council and was mayor of the City during the years 1904-1906. He was largely responsible for the paving of the city streets and the improvement of the water system. After the San Francisco earthquake of April 19, 1906, Dr. Chapman traveled to the city already on the same day in order to ascertain the fate of citizens of the county who might have been there during the disaster. He stayed until May 15 to direct the distribution of the many gifts of food, clothing, medical supplies and money, contributed by the citizens of Nevada City and Grass Valley. Dr. Chapman was very active in the Nevada City Volunteer Fire Department. In 1924 he was on the board of Fire Delegates which coordinated the efforts of the several fire companies and was treasurer of the Nevada City Hose Company No. 1, a position he still held at the time of his death. In 1947 he received a gold pin for being the oldest active volunteer in the county, with 65 years of service. On October 15, 1907 the Nevada City Free 27