Leander Chapman was the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1849.

Leander Chapman
Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 1, 1849 – 1850
Preceded byAlexander W. Buel
Succeeded bySilas G. Harris
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Jackson County district
In office
January 1, 1849 – 1849
Personal details
BornOswego County, New York
Died(1872-09-03)September 3, 1872
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCaroline
Children2

Early life

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The date of Chapman's birth is unknown, but is estimated to be around 1804 or 1810 in Oswego County, New York. Chapman moved to Jackson County, Michigan in 1835, the second lawyer to do so.[1]

Career

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Chapman served as a probate judge from 1836 to 1840, and as a prosecuting attorney in 1838.[1] Chapman unsuccessfully ran for the Michigan House of Representatives in 1840.[2] Chapman was Jackson County Treasurer from 1842 to 1846.[1] In 1845, Chapman served as president of the Jackson County Bar.[3] In either 1846 or 1847, Chapman was appointed Commissioner of the Land Office in Detroit.[4] Chapman was sworn in as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Jackson County district from 1849 to 1850, serving as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives during his single term.[5] Chapman was appointed Surveyor General of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan by President Franklin Pierce.[6]

Chapman later moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa. He continued to practice law in Iowa.[6] Chapman served as the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives seat representing Iowa's 6th district in 1864.[7]

Personal life

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Chapman was married to Caroline, and together they had two children. Chapman was a Freemason and Episcopalian.[1]

Death

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According to Chapman's obituary published by The Courier, a newspaper in Waterloo, Iowa, Chapman died in Cedar Falls on September 3, 1872.[6] According to a book entitled History of Jackson County, Michigan published in 1881, Chapman died in either 1863 or 1864.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Legislator Details - Leander Chapman". Library of Michigan. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  2. ^ History of Jackson County, Michigan. 1881. p. 240.
  3. ^ History of Jackson County, Michigan, p. 310.
  4. ^ a b History of Jackson County, Michigan, p. 570.
  5. ^ "Chapman". Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Death of Judge Chapman". The Courier. Waterloo, Iowa. September 12, 1872. p. 3. Retrieved December 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Democratic National Ticket". Sioux City Register. Sioux City, Iowa. October 29, 1864. p. 1. Retrieved December 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.