Judge Alton Brooks & Anna Louise

Judge Alton Brooks Chapman was born 22 July 1904, the son of Mathis White. and Ida Mae (Wadzeck) Chapman. On 27 August 1932 he was married to Anna Louise Barganier, daughter of Alonzo and Maude Lou Ella Rogers at the Highlands Mansion in Marlin, Falls County, Texas. (Their marriage license was issued in Dickens County, Texas). Judge Chapman died at his home in Gatesville, Correll County, Texas, on 12 June 1996. Louise died in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas on 8 July 1998. They are both buried in the State Cemetery in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. (See obituaries below for more detailed information).

Chapman, Alton B.
GATESVILLE -- Judge Alton B. Chapman of Gatesville, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Thursday at his home. He was 91 years of age. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Gatesville, Dr. Jay Riley and Dr. Winfred Moore officiating. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. Pallbearers for Judge Chapman will be his four grandsons, Ed Williams, Craig Chapman, Brett Chapman and Mitch Heidenheimer, and two close friends, Mr. Bob Salter and Mr. Don Williams.
Judge Chapman was born on July 22, 1904, in Rochester, Texas. He was reared and attended school in Rochester, and had also attended school at Spur, Texas, and Haskell, Texas where he graduated from Haskell High School. He continued his education at Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Texas School of Law. In his early years, he served as County Attorney in Dickens County and later as District Attorney for the 110th Judicial District. At the age of 32, he was appointed as District Judge of this district, making him the youngest District Judge in the State of Texas. Judge Chapman served as District Judge for 20 years before being elected in 1956 to the Amarillo Court of Appeals. Judge Chapman had served two terms on the Appeals Court before retiring in 1968. Following his retirement, he and his wife moved to Gatesville near the family ranch. They had resided in Gatesville since 1969. Judge Chapman was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in Gatesville, past District Governor of Rotary International, a member of the Masonic Lodge and was active with the Gideons in his retirement.

[Dallas Morning News, Saturday, July 11, 1998]

CHAPMAN
MRS. ANNA LOUISE BARGANIER, daughter of the late Alonza [should be Alonzo] and Maud Barganier, was born on July 3, 1910 in Lott, [actually born near Chilton, Falls Co., TX] Texas. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Maggie Carl Craig, Navasota, Texas, Mabelle Foster, Killeen, Texas and one brother James, Marlin, Texas. Mrs. Chapman attended schools in Lott, Texas and graduated from College of industrial Arts (now Texas Women's University) in 1920. Following graduation, she moved to Spur, Texas to teach home economics. There she married Alton Brooks Chapman on August 27, 1932. [Their license was from Dickens Co. TX but they were married in Marlin, Falls Co., TX at the home of her uncle, Jim Barganier.] They had three sons, Alonza Brooks, George Camp and Jerry Malcom. After Alton's appointment as District Judge of Floyd County, the youngest District Judge in Texas, the couple and their sons; moved to Floydada Texas where they resided for eighteen years. Alton was elected to the Court of Civil Appeals in Amarillo in 1957 and Mrs. Chapman sold real estate for Ada Glenn Realtors. She was selected as the realtor of the year in Amarillo at the time. She also attended in a few weeks time the graduations of her sons: Dr. A. Brooks Chapman, Tulane Medical School, George C. Chapman, University of Texas Law School and Jerry M., North Texas State University in 1969, following Judge Chapman's retirement from the Court of Civil Appeals, Judge and Mrs. Chapman moved to Gatesville, Texas near the family ranch in Coryell County. Mrs. Chapman was moved to Presbyterian Village North in Dallas in March 1998. She died there on July 8, 1998. Mrs Chapman was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years. Judge Chapman died in June 1996. Her surviving relatives include: Dr. A. Brooks Chapman and wife Barbara, Dallas, their children and grandchildren: Denise, Ed and Kristen Williams, Plano; Brett, Chris, Taylor and Natalie Chapman, Dallas; Clarise, Mitch, Hunter, Collin Heidenheimer, Anson, Texas. George C. Chapman and wife Gayla. Dallas, and their children and grandchildren: Alton Craig, Dru, Kinnon, Garrett Chapman, Dallas, and Cathy Chapman, Dallas. Jerry M. Chapman and wife Rechleau, Amarillo. Several Beloved nieces and nephews. Mrs. Chapman was a devout Christian and loyal member of the First Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School in Floydada and Gatesville as well as singing in the choir. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and served as a role model for her faith throughout her 88 years. Our mother was strikingly beautiful inside and out and shared her lovely home and delicious meals with her beloved family and a host of friends. A faithful employee said, "She was the kindest most generous person she had ever known." Everyone who knew her agreed with these sentiments. The family will receive friends at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home on Saturday, July 11, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. A family graveside service will be performed in Austin on Sunday July 12, at 2:00 p.m. in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, 2900 Lebanon Road. Nashville, Tennessee 37214, or the charity of your choice. SPARKMAN-HILLCREST, NORTHWEST HIGHWAY, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy. (214) 363-5401

Alton was named for "Alton Brooks Parker", Democratic nominee for President in 1904. To his friends and family, he was always known as "Judge".

Name	Spouse
Alonza Brooks Chapman	Barbara Ann Perry
George Camp Chapman	Gayla Craig
Jerry Malcolm Chapman	1) Sharron 2) Richela Alyce Kendall