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ALFRED B. CHAPMAN
District Attorney

1867-1869

District Attorney Alfred B. Chapman

Alfred B. Chapman

Alfred Beck Chapman (1867-1869), a West Point graduate, came to Los Angeles in 1854 and was the city attorney prior to serving as district attorney in 1867. Chapman was a prominent real estate attorney who is said to have often taken land as payment of his fees. Chapman benefited from American laws that resulted in the land of the great ranchos passing from the Californios to Americans. He bought Rancho San Rafael at a foreclosure sale in 1860 for a reported $58,750, after the rancho had been lost to debt by the Verdugo family. Chapman is reported to have returned the Verdugo home to the family, along with 200 acres. He is credited with being one of the developers of Glendale, originally land of Rancho San Rafael.