Just released and in stock! Local historian Michele Shover has done it again with this extensively researched history of Chico's historic Chapman family. This hefty tome weighs in at 440 pages of indexed, footnoted and illustrated goodness. Here's the blurb:
 
"Augustus " Gus " and Sarah Chapman were among Chico's early leaders in the years when it grew from a tiny farm village into one of Northern California's agricultural centers shipping products world - wide . Beginning with Gus Chapman's start as manager of the Bidwell & Co. general store , he became a major lumber dealer , real estate developer and finally president of the State Prison Commission in charge of San Quentin and Folsom . Chico's Chapmans explores the lives of its talented , sometimes scrappy residents and their struggles . They sparred over the Civil War , incorporation , politics , fire protection , temperance and water . They unified behind splitting Butte County , trains and developing the town . None was exempt from national depressions , illness and early death . Women like Sarah managed churches , handled social work and reared large families . Young people partied until early morning and flirted on long drives in the country . Bars and brothels flourished a few blocks from fine homes while the community hall hosted dances , debates and traveling entertainers . This was the world of the Chapmans , their friends and rivals ."
 
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stansbury Publishing (August 31, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 440 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1935807706
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1935807704
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.41 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.98 x 9 inches