William F. Chapin

William F. Chapin
1st Mayor of Lincoln
In office 4 April 1871 – 10 April 1872
Preceded by	Charles Henry Gere (as Chairman)
Succeeded by	Erastus E. Brown
2nd Speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives
In office 1867–1868
Preceded by	William A. Pollock
Succeeded by	William McLennan
12th Speaker of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives
In office January 19, 1867 – February 18, 1867
Preceded by	James G. Megeath
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of the Nebraska Legislature and Nebraska Territorial Legislature
In office 1859–1869
Personal details
Born	22 May 1831 Butternuts, New York, U.S.
Died	14 November 1885 (aged 54) Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Children	3

William Franklin Chapin (22 May 1831 – 14 November 1885) was an American politician who served as the first Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska as a member of the Republican party from 4 April 1871 to 10 April 1872 as well as serving in the Nebraska Legislature, including being its speaker.

Early life

Chapin was born on 22 May 1831 in Butternuts, New York and was of English descent. He moved to Rock Bluff, Nebraska in October 1856, where he married Margaret J. Young in January 1858, the couple had three children. During this time, Chapin was working as a farmer, a teacher in Lexington and a lawyer after he was admitted to the bar of Nebraska in 1857.

Political career

Chapin first ran for office for the Nebraska Legislature in 1858, but failed to get elected. He tried again in 1859, this time succeeding. Ultimately he baceme the Speaker of Nebraska Territory House of Representatives in 1866, serving until 1869 when he retired from the Legislature. Upon his retirement, Chapin moved to Lincoln where he was elected as the first Mayor of the city on 4 April 1871. He served in this position until 10 April 1872, when he ran for the Republican nomination for the 1872 Nebraska gubernatorial election, losing the primary to Robert Wilkinson Furnas by a few votes.

Death

Chapin retired from politics following his primary loss and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on 14 November 1885, aged 54.