Pleasant T. Chapman

Who was Pleasant T. Chapman?

Pleasant Thomas Chapman was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born on a farm near Vienna, Illinois, Chapman attended the public schools, and then went to McKendree College, in Lebanon, Illinois. Chapman graduated from McKendree in June 1876. He taught school. He served as superintendent of public schools of Johnson County 1877-1882. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar at Mount Vernon, Illinois, in 1878 and commenced practice in Vienna, Illinois. He also engaged in banking and in agricultural pursuits. He served as judge of Johnson County 1882-1890. He served as member of the State senate 1890-1902.

Chapman was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-first Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Vienna, Illinois, and also engaged in banking and agricultural pursuits. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1924. He died in Vienna, Illinois, January 31, 1931. He was interred in Fraternal Cemetery.