Juan José Ignacio Chapman y Villa was baptized at the Los Angeles Plaza Church February 11, 1855. He was the son of José Juan de los Ángeles Chapman y Ortega and Josefa Antonia Villa y Váldez. He was the grandson of José Juan (Joseph John) Chapman and María de Guadalupe Ortega y Sánchez (1799-1860). His older sister, Vicenta Francisca Chapman y Villa de Mutaw, is also buried in this cemetery. After his sister Vicenta and her husband, Guillermo Mutaw, moved to Sespe, he went to live with them on their ranch at Mutau [Mutaw] Flat. After killing his brother-in-law in self defense in July 1874, Juan relocated to Ballona (now Culver City and Venice). He was living with his mother, sisters María Cipriana and Senida Soíla, and nephew Guillermo Mutaw, Jr., at Ballona by June 1880 (1880 US Census). He married María Higuera y Ruíz September 23, 1882, and adopted the anglicized version of his name, John Joseph Chapman. John operated a farm and was a Culver City police officer. He died at his home in Palms.
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MANY ATTEND RITES HELD TUESDAY FOR JOHN J. CHAPMAN
Grandson of First American Resident in California Laid to Rest this Week
More than 500 sorrowing friends and relatives attended the funeral services held Tuesday morning at St. Augustine's church for John J. Chapman, 75, grandson of the first Englishman to set foot on California soil, who passed away at his home, 3739 Overland avenue, last Sunday afternoon. Mr. Chapman, who was born in Los Angeles in 1857 [sic], had resided in the Palms community for over 45 years and was a member of a number of pioneer families in this district.
His grandfather, Joseph Chapman, was designer and builder of the old Plaza Church in Los Angeles and was an outstanding figure in the state's early history. Treated at first as a prisoner by the Spanish, he was later accepted as a citizen after he had aided the padres of San Gabriel in constructing missions and an otter schooner at San Pedro.
The deceased, who was a retired farmer at the time of his death, had been in poor health following the death of his wife (nee Maria Higuera) in December 1923. Mrs. Chapman was a member of one of the oldest Spanish families in the state.
Three children survive the deceased: Deputy Sheriff Frank L. Chapman, of the criminal division of the sheriff's office; two daughters, Mrs. Eva Bennett, widow of Harry Bennett, deceased Culver City police officer, Miss Juanita Chapman; a sister, Mrs. Marie Machado and a daughter in law, Mrs. Helen [Johnson] Chapman.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Culver City, the cortege being more than a mile long. In the funeral train were old timers from all over the southland, a large representation from the sheriff's office headed by Eugene Biscailuz. Chief of Police Weatherly of Culver city provided police escort to Woodlawn cemetery where interment took place. These were Officers O'Day, Linch, Baughman and Lindsay.
Rev. John O'Donnell, pastor of St. Augustine's paid glowing tribute to the deceased and his loyalty to the church. He was assisted with the rites by Father O'Toole, Mr. Chapman's first pastor, and Father Thomas English, assistant pastor of St. Augustine's. Pallbearers were: Glenn A. Davidson, Chris Johnson, Walter A. Walsh, Andre Joughlin, Michael Lidle and George A. Silvas. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of V. E. Starr of the Culver City funeral parlors.
(The Citizen, January 13, 1932)
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Children:
- Joseph D. (Sep. 1883-Nov. 6, 1916; never married)
- Juanita Inez "Jennie" (Jun. 24, 1885-Dec. 21, 1965; never married)
- Eva Celesti (May 1887-1953; m. Harry Bennett, Culver City PD, in 1928; no children)
- Francisco Juan "Frank John" (Jun. 10/13, 1889-May 25, 1958; County Sheriff's Deputy; m. Helen Johnson on Nov. 30, 1917, divorced after 1930, no children. Helen m. [2] Leo Studer before 1940; she m. [3] Ralph B. Houser on Nov. 28, 1967)
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MANY ATTEND RITES HELD TUESDAY FOR JOHN J. CHAPMAN
Grandson of First American Resident in California Laid to Rest this Week
More than 500 sorrowing friends and relatives attended the funeral services held Tuesday morning at St. Augustine's church for John J. Chapman, 75, grandson of the first Englishman to set foot on California soil, who passed away at his home, 3739 Overland avenue, last Sunday afternoon. Mr. Chapman, who was born in Los Angeles in 1857 [sic], had resided in the Palms community for over 45 years and was a member of a number of pioneer families in this district.
His grandfather, Joseph Chapman, was designer and builder of the old Plaza Church in Los Angeles and was an outstanding figure in the state's early history. Treated at first as a prisoner by the Spanish, he was later accepted as a citizen after he had aided the padres of San Gabriel in constructing missions and an otter schooner at San Pedro.
The deceased, who was a retired farmer at the time of his death, had been in poor health following the death of his wife (nee Maria Higuera) in December 1923. Mrs. Chapman was a member of one of the oldest Spanish families in the state.
Three children survive the deceased: Deputy Sheriff Frank L. Chapman, of the criminal division of the sheriff's office; two daughters, Mrs. Eva Bennett, widow of Harry Bennett, deceased Culver City police officer, Miss Juanita Chapman; a sister, Mrs. Marie Machado and a daughter in law, Mrs. Helen [Johnson] Chapman.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Culver City, the cortege being more than a mile long. In the funeral train were old timers from all over the southland, a large representation from the sheriff's office headed by Eugene Biscailuz. Chief of Police Weatherly of Culver city provided police escort to Woodlawn cemetery where interment took place. These were Officers O'Day, Linch, Baughman and Lindsay.
Rev. John O'Donnell, pastor of St. Augustine's paid glowing tribute to the deceased and his loyalty to the church. He was assisted with the rites by Father O'Toole, Mr. Chapman's first pastor, and Father Thomas English, assistant pastor of St. Augustine's. Pallbearers were: Glenn A. Davidson, Chris Johnson, Walter A. Walsh, Andre Joughlin, Michael Lidle and George A. Silvas. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of V. E. Starr of the Culver City funeral parlors.
(The Citizen, January 13, 1932)
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Children:
- Joseph D. (Sep. 1883-Nov. 6, 1916; never married)
- Juanita Inez "Jennie" (Jun. 24, 1885-Dec. 21, 1965; never married)
- Eva Celesti (May 1887-1953; m. Harry Bennett, Culver City PD, in 1928; no children)
- Francisco Juan "Frank John" (Jun. 10/13, 1889-May 25, 1958; County Sheriff's Deputy; m. Helen Johnson on Nov. 30, 1917, divorced after 1930, no children. Helen m. [2] Leo Studer before 1940; she m. [3] Ralph B. Houser on Nov. 28, 1967)
Juan José Ignacio Chapman y Villa was baptized at the Los Angeles Plaza Church February 11, 1855. He was the son of José Juan de los Ángeles Chapman y Ortega and Josefa Antonia Villa y Váldez. He was the grandson of José Juan (Joseph John) Chapman and María de Guadalupe Ortega y Sánchez (1799-1860). His older sister, Vicenta Francisca Chapman y Villa de Mutaw, is also buried in this cemetery. After his sister Vicenta and her husband, Guillermo Mutaw, moved to Sespe, he went to live with them on their ranch at Mutau [Mutaw] Flat. After killing his brother-in-law in self defense in July 1874, Juan relocated to Ballona (now Culver City and Venice). He was living with his mother, sisters María Cipriana and Senida Soíla, and nephew Guillermo Mutaw, Jr., at Ballona by June 1880 (1880 US Census). He married María Higuera y Ruíz September 23, 1882, and adopted the anglicized version of his name, John Joseph Chapman. John operated a farm and was a Culver City police officer. He died at his home in Palms.
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MANY ATTEND RITES HELD TUESDAY FOR JOHN J. CHAPMAN
Grandson of First American Resident in California Laid to Rest this Week
More than 500 sorrowing friends and relatives attended the funeral services held Tuesday morning at St. Augustine's church for John J. Chapman, 75, grandson of the first Englishman to set foot on California soil, who passed away at his home, 3739 Overland avenue, last Sunday afternoon. Mr. Chapman, who was born in Los Angeles in 1857 [sic], had resided in the Palms community for over 45 years and was a member of a number of pioneer families in this district.
His grandfather, Joseph Chapman, was designer and builder of the old Plaza Church in Los Angeles and was an outstanding figure in the state's early history. Treated at first as a prisoner by the Spanish, he was later accepted as a citizen after he had aided the padres of San Gabriel in constructing missions and an otter schooner at San Pedro.
The deceased, who was a retired farmer at the time of his death, had been in poor health following the death of his wife (nee Maria Higuera) in December 1923. Mrs. Chapman was a member of one of the oldest Spanish families in the state.
Three children survive the deceased: Deputy Sheriff Frank L. Chapman, of the criminal division of the sheriff's office; two daughters, Mrs. Eva Bennett, widow of Harry Bennett, deceased Culver City police officer, Miss Juanita Chapman; a sister, Mrs. Marie Machado and a daughter in law, Mrs. Helen [Johnson] Chapman.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Culver City, the cortege being more than a mile long. In the funeral train were old timers from all over the southland, a large representation from the sheriff's office headed by Eugene Biscailuz. Chief of Police Weatherly of Culver city provided police escort to Woodlawn cemetery where interment took place. These were Officers O'Day, Linch, Baughman and Lindsay.
Rev. John O'Donnell, pastor of St. Augustine's paid glowing tribute to the deceased and his loyalty to the church. He was assisted with the rites by Father O'Toole, Mr. Chapman's first pastor, and Father Thomas English, assistant pastor of St. Augustine's. Pallbearers were: Glenn A. Davidson, Chris Johnson, Walter A. Walsh, Andre Joughlin, Michael Lidle and George A. Silvas. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of V. E. Starr of the Culver City funeral parlors.
(The Citizen, January 13, 1932)
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Children:
- Joseph D. (Sep. 1883-Nov. 6, 1916; never married)
- Juanita Inez "Jennie" (Jun. 24, 1885-Dec. 21, 1965; never married)
- Eva Celesti (May 1887-1953; m. Harry Bennett, Culver City PD, in 1928; no children)
- Francisco Juan "Frank John" (Jun. 10/13, 1889-May 25, 1958; County Sheriff's Deputy; m. Helen Johnson on Nov. 30, 1917, divorced after 1930, no children. Helen m. [2] Leo Studer before 1940; she m. [3] Ralph B. Houser on Nov. 28, 1967)
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MANY ATTEND RITES HELD TUESDAY FOR JOHN J. CHAPMAN
Grandson of First American Resident in California Laid to Rest this Week
More than 500 sorrowing friends and relatives attended the funeral services held Tuesday morning at St. Augustine's church for John J. Chapman, 75, grandson of the first Englishman to set foot on California soil, who passed away at his home, 3739 Overland avenue, last Sunday afternoon. Mr. Chapman, who was born in Los Angeles in 1857 [sic], had resided in the Palms community for over 45 years and was a member of a number of pioneer families in this district.
His grandfather, Joseph Chapman, was designer and builder of the old Plaza Church in Los Angeles and was an outstanding figure in the state's early history. Treated at first as a prisoner by the Spanish, he was later accepted as a citizen after he had aided the padres of San Gabriel in constructing missions and an otter schooner at San Pedro.
The deceased, who was a retired farmer at the time of his death, had been in poor health following the death of his wife (nee Maria Higuera) in December 1923. Mrs. Chapman was a member of one of the oldest Spanish families in the state.
Three children survive the deceased: Deputy Sheriff Frank L. Chapman, of the criminal division of the sheriff's office; two daughters, Mrs. Eva Bennett, widow of Harry Bennett, deceased Culver City police officer, Miss Juanita Chapman; a sister, Mrs. Marie Machado and a daughter in law, Mrs. Helen [Johnson] Chapman.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Culver City, the cortege being more than a mile long. In the funeral train were old timers from all over the southland, a large representation from the sheriff's office headed by Eugene Biscailuz. Chief of Police Weatherly of Culver city provided police escort to Woodlawn cemetery where interment took place. These were Officers O'Day, Linch, Baughman and Lindsay.
Rev. John O'Donnell, pastor of St. Augustine's paid glowing tribute to the deceased and his loyalty to the church. He was assisted with the rites by Father O'Toole, Mr. Chapman's first pastor, and Father Thomas English, assistant pastor of St. Augustine's. Pallbearers were: Glenn A. Davidson, Chris Johnson, Walter A. Walsh, Andre Joughlin, Michael Lidle and George A. Silvas. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of V. E. Starr of the Culver City funeral parlors.
(The Citizen, January 13, 1932)
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Children:
- Joseph D. (Sep. 1883-Nov. 6, 1916; never married)
- Juanita Inez "Jennie" (Jun. 24, 1885-Dec. 21, 1965; never married)
- Eva Celesti (May 1887-1953; m. Harry Bennett, Culver City PD, in 1928; no children)
- Francisco Juan "Frank John" (Jun. 10/13, 1889-May 25, 1958; County Sheriff's Deputy; m. Helen Johnson on Nov. 30, 1917, divorced after 1930, no children. Helen m. [2] Leo Studer before 1940; she m. [3] Ralph B. Houser on Nov. 28, 1967)
Gravesite Details
see: Northrop, Marie. Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California, Vol. III, pg 294.
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