WILLIAM JASPER CHAPMAN. Among the several competitors for the nomination for the office of county treasurer in Jefferson county, the successful one, after a brisk contest, was William Jasper Chapman. At the election in September, 1907, he was elected as the first incumbent of the office by 1307 votes against his Republican opponent's 746. Mr. Chapman has resided within the limits of the present Jefferson county for many years, and is one of the esteemed and public-spirited citizens. He came to this part of Indian Territory in 1889, the same year as the original opening of Oklahoma, and locating at Grady in. the east side of what is now Jefferson county, leased the Brown farm and continued the vocation of farming until his removal to Ryan in January, 1908.
    Mr. Chapman was born in Alabama, January 25, 1857. His father, James O. Chapman, who was a life long farmer, moved from Alabama to Mississippi before the war, and in 1870 came to Hill county, Texas, where he died in 1891, aged seventy-four. He served in the Confederate army, and after surrendering with General Pemberton's army at Vicksburg did not re-enlist. He had been left an orphan in boyhood, growing up in the home of a Mr. Vaughan in Tennessee; and though he had little schooling and access to but few books, he delighted in history and was a well informed man. He married Mary J. Williams, daughter ofWilliam Williams, an old Alabama stockman who died in the scene of his activities. Mrs. Chapman died in Liberty county, Texas, in 1885, aged sixty-two. Their children were Ruthy Ann, who died in east Texas, wife of John Helton; William J.; Martha E., who died at Duncan, Oklahoma, wife of George R. Tucker;John W., of Iverson, Louisiana; James E., of Liberty county, Texas.
    In company with his parents William J. Chapman moved to Texas at the age: of fourteen. Both before and after that time his schooling was limited to brief periods in log-cabin schools, and his education has been due to subsequent application and the sharp training of contact with the world rather than to the schools of his youth. A fever in early childhood had left his left arm paralyzed, but notwithstanding this affliction he continued the vocation of his father and until recently has been quite successfully identified with farming. From 1876 to 1887 he lived, with the family in Bosque county, Texas, and for the following two years in Montagtue county. On February 4, 1878, he was married, in Bosque county, to Susan E. Wales, daughter of John and Rebecca (Miller) Wales, her father a Mississippian and a farmer. Mrs. Chapman, who was born in Fort Bend county, Texas, February 20, 1861, has a brother and sister living in Bosque county—Anna E., wife of P. Williams, and John M.  Mr. and Mrs. Chapman's children are: Bertha May, wife of H. E. McDonald, of Grady, Oklahoma; Lula O.; Minnie Lee, wife of Ruel Hamilton, of Grady; Miss Johnnie C.; Walton; Hayden Hayes; and Grace Truman. The son Hayden Hayes took his name from two noted Baptist ministers, the first, Rev. Hayden, having been a preacher of power and influence in Texas. Rev. Hayes was one of the early ministers of Indian Territory whose name is deserving of remembrance. He ministered throughout the Chickasaw Nation, and the twenty years of his activity in bringing the comforts of the gospel to Indians and white settlers were marked with hardships that could never again be duplicated in any territory of the United States. He preached to the people in their dugouts, and many a night while passing over the country from one settlement to another had to sleep in the open air with his saddle for a pillow. The Chapman family are all Baptists, Mr., Chapman being active in the work of his home church and for twelve years a deacon.