The Firm's founder, Lewis A. Chapman, received his law license in 1870, which reads:
"STATE OF MISSOURI, SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
Lewis A. Chapman Esq., having produced to me, Jonas J. Clark, Judge of the Circuit Court for the Circuit and State aforesaid, satisfactory evidence that he is a gentleman of good moral character, and that he possesses the necessary qualifications, and having taken and filed the oath of Loyalty, he is hereby admitted, licensed and permitted to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in all the Courts of Record in this State.
Given under my hand this 9th day of Feb., A.D. 1870.
Jonas J. Clark, Judge"
The original license is on display at Chapman and Cowherd, P.C.
Past Attorneys
- Lewis A. Chapman
- 1852 - 1928
- Nolan M. Chapman
- 1889 - 1961
- Don Chapman
- 1891 - 1974
- Nolan Chapman, Jr.
- 1921 - 2009
- Don Chapman, Jr.
- Retired
- Brent Turner
- Retired
History
Chapman and Cowherd, P.C. has been serving north central Missouri communities for well over 100 years, and its history and tradition is rooted in excellent client representation.
Lewis A. Chapman, the firm’s founder, arrived in Livingston County in 1855, and he opened his law practice soon after receiving his law license in 1870. Two of his sons, Nolan and Don, also became lawyers, graduating from the University of Missouri Law School. Nolan Chapman joined the firm in 1913, and Don joined the firm in 1918 after serving in the U.S. Army in France during World War I. Nolan’s son, Nolan Jr., graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School in 1949 and returned to Chillicothe to join the Chapman firm. Don’s son, Don Jr., joined the firm after serving two years in the U.S. Army.
In 1975, Robert Cowherd joined the firm, and Brent Turner joined the firm in 1983. Tom Chapman, Don Jr.’s son, began his career with the firm in 1991, where he practiced until he took office as Circuit Judge of the 43rd Judicial Circuit in January 2011. Terry Tschannen, who had joined the firm in 1992 and practiced in Brookfield, Missouri, remained with the firm until taking office as Circuit Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit in January 2013. Andrea Ravens Vandeloecht was also a member of the firm before taking office as the Associate Circuit Judge of Chariton County in January 2010.
In September 2012, Trent Miller joined Chapman and Cowherd, P.C. after graduating from University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. Lauren Horsman, a Chillicothe native, joined the firm in June 2015 after practicing several years in Kansas City, most recently at Bryan Cave LLP. Ryan Horsman joined the firm in August 2016 after practicing several years in the private sector at Polsinelli, PC, and as a criminal prosecutor, most recently with the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor’s Office. In November 2018, Ryan Horsman left the firm and took office as Circuit Judge of the 43rd Judicial Circuit. David Hershberger joined Chapman and Cowherd, P.C. in September 2020 after graduating from George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School.
