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HON. DANIEL CHAPLIN, Deceased. - It is quite fitting that in the volume which chronicles the annals of Union county, there should also be embodied a proper memorial of this late esteemed and distinguished gentleman, whose life was so intimately connected with the inception of government in this region and in the advancement of the interests of those who settled in the wilds of nature here, from the first until the time when the messenger of death came and ended his activities among his fellows. Settling at Lagrande, when there was no Lagrande, staking out the first land that was occupied by the white man, and beginning the now prosperous and progressive town, he was always found with his shoulder to the wheel of progress and his hand was always open to worthy enterprises and institutions, while his masterful abilities and sound principles and charming and genial personality, made him universally beloved both in his private walk and in the weighty official capacities where his fellows called him to represent them and also in the halls of legislation, where he was fearless and forceful.

The Empire state has the honor of being the birthplace of Daniel Chaplin, and in Lockport, that state, he was educated and passed the early years of his life. In Quincy, Michigan, the marriage of our subject and Miss Hanna Arnold was celebrated, and in the year 1854 they took the long and arduous journey to the mecca of the west, the Willamette valley, and there Mr. Chaplin took a homestead, but in a short time he sold it and went to Dayton to live, where he erected a spacious warehouse and entered with zest into the warehouse business, where he continued for nearly seven years, or until 1861. At this date he migrated to the eastern part of the state and staked out a claim on the raw land where Lagrande now stands; that is, what is called the old town. He held one hundred and sixty acres, and he was the first actual settler at that place. From the very inception of the town, he was active in its interests and his influence was always for the thrifty village that soon came to be a city. In all public matters his wise counsel was sought after and his pocket-book was opened to assist in the enterprises that he deemed for the universal good, while no individual of his race can say that he ever hesitated to help one down-fallen or unfortunate. He donated one hundred acres for the benefit of the railroad, in order to facilitate commerce. In church matters he was liberal and very active and beloved by all. For fifteen years he held the highly important position of receiver in the United States land Office, and his fellows called him to act as representative to the state legislature, being elected on the Republican ticket. In these capacities, as well as in many other public relations, he was ever found faithful to the trusts imposed and his abilities were constantly brought into requisition for service to his fellows. His memory is dear to all, and his example is one which all may emulate with great profit to themselves. Fraternally, Mr. Chaplin was associated with the Masonic order and was held in high esteem in those relations. But the time came when Mr. Chaplin heard the summons to lay down the burdens and cares that are incident to the existence on this earth and come to the scenes of reward for faithful endeavor that arises from the faith that outrides the storms of life here below. Buoyed by the faith that has been the day spring of his entire career, he calmly obeyed the summons, and the entire community draped itself in mourning as when a brother and father is taken from our side.

DANIEL CHAPLIN. - The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1823. He was educated in his native place, and became a surveyor, removing to Michigan. Honest, upright and much respected, he was one of those men of broad ideas and indefatigable energy who create prosperity for any community in which they settle. Having heard much of Oregon, its boundless resources and delightful climate, he crossed the plains in 1854, settling near Champoeg in Marion county. From there he moved to where Sheridan, in Yamhill county, now stands, and thence to Dayton, Yamhill county. In the spring of 1862, he located in La Grande, Union county, and built the first house in that place.

 Through his efforts, he succeeded in having the land-office for Eastern Oregon located there, and for fifteen consecutive years held the position of receiver of the land-office, when he resigned on account of the accumulation of other business on his hands. The arduous duties of this office were conducted by him with admirable promptness and honesty; and the settlers who came to transact business with the office were always treated with great consideration. In1864 he was elected to the legislature of Oregon, and gave entire satisfaction to his constituents. In 1865 he, in conjunction with Green Arnold, established the present water system of La Grande, and laid the first water pipes. He was the father of La Grande, was a very generous man, and always responded with a liberal hand to every call of charity, especially to the churches. He gave five acres upon which to build the Blue Mountain University, and also five hundred dollars toward the construction of the building, and also land to build a number of churches upon.

After leaving the land-office, he became deeply interested in railroad matters; and his efforts alone were the means of locating at this point the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company's machine shop, round house and other buildings, and of making this station the end of a division, for which he gave to the railroad company one hundred acres of land, which were estimated in value, by the adjuster of the company, at sixty-five thousand dollars, as will show by their books. He was the only person who have anything towards securing to this place the benefits arising from railroad communication; and, had it not been for him, this town would never have attained the prominence it now possesses. He was always a great worker for the interests of La Grande, and labored with unabated zeal for its welfare and advancement; and, in his death, La Grande lost one of its most useful, generous and respected citizens. His death occurred on the 9th day of December, 1887.