Born on a farm near Chelsea, in Orange County, Vermont, in February, 1841. The first twelve years of his life were passed on the farm where he was born. In 1853, he removed with other members of his father's family to Gaysville, Vermont, where the elder Chamberlin engaged in the hotel business. Two years later they removed to Royalton, where William attended the academy for three years. He was employed there in a general merchandise store, going then to Northfield, a railroad town, where he was employed for three years with John P. Davis. He came to Independence in 1864 and engaged in the grocery business. His very first venture of a political nature was to accept the nomination for city treasurer in 1879. He was elected, served his term, but refused a renomination. In 1881 and 1882 he did yeomen's service to his party as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. In 1882 he was chairman of the Third district congressional committee. In 1883 the Democrats of this county nominated him for representative in the state legislature, and he vindicated their judgment by overcoming the large Republican majority and accomplishing his election. In 1885, he was unanimously renominated and was again elected. In 1887 he met defeat at the end of a hard fought campaign in which he was the target for the best efforts of the opposition. Prior to this, in the fall of 1886, he served his party faithfully as the candidate of a hopeless minority for member of congress from Third District. In 1889 and 1890, he was re-elected to the legislature, representing this county in the lower house. In 1890 he was the Democratic nominee on the state ticket for secretary of state, being defeated by a narrow margin. In 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Independence. In the fall of 1870, he married Kate Wilson.

Born on a farm near Chelsea, in Orange County, Vermont, in February, 1841. The first twelve years of his life were passed on the farm where he was born. In 1853, he removed with other members of his father's family to Gaysville, Vermont, where the elder Chamberlin engaged in the hotel business. Two years later they removed to Royalton, where William attended the academy for three years. He was employed there in a general merchandise store, going then to Northfield, a railroad town, where he was employed for three years with John P. Davis. He came to Independence in 1864 and engaged in the grocery business. His very first venture of a political nature was to accept the nomination for city treasurer in 1879. He was elected, served his term, but refused a renomination. In 1881 and 1882 he did yeomen's service to his party as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. In 1882 he was chairman of the Third district congressional committee. In 1883 the Democrats of this county nominated him for representative in the state legislature, and he vindicated their judgment by overcoming the large Republican majority and accomplishing his election. In 1885, he was unanimously renominated and was again elected. In 1887 he met defeat at the end of a hard fought campaign in which he was the target for the best efforts of the opposition. Prior to this, in the fall of 1886, he served his party faithfully as the candidate of a hopeless minority for member of congress from Third District. In 1889 and 1890, he was re-elected to the legislature, representing this county in the lower house. In 1890 he was the Democratic nominee on the state ticket for secretary of state, being defeated by a narrow margin. In 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Independence. In the fall of 1870, he married Kate Wilson.

Born on a farm near Chelsea, in Orange County, Vermont, in February, 1841. The first twelve years of his life were passed on the farm where he was born. In 1853, he removed with other members of his father's family to Gaysville, Vermont, where the elder Chamberlin engaged in the hotel business. Two years later they removed to Royalton, where William attended the academy for three years. He was employed there in a general merchandise store, going then to Northfield, a railroad town, where he was employed for three years with John P. Davis. He came to Independence in 1864 and engaged in the grocery business. His very first venture of a political nature was to accept the nomination for city treasurer in 1879. He was elected, served his term, but refused a renomination. In 1881 and 1882 he did yeomen's service to his party as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. In 1882 he was chairman of the Third district congressional committee. In 1883 the Democrats of this county nominated him for representative in the state legislature, and he vindicated their judgment by overcoming the large Republican majority and accomplishing his election. In 1885, he was unanimously renominated and was again elected. In 1887 he met defeat at the end of a hard fought campaign in which he was the target for the best efforts of the opposition. Prior to this, in the fall of 1886, he served his party faithfully as the candidate of a hopeless minority for member of congress from Third District. In 1889 and 1890, he was re-elected to the legislature, representing this county in the lower house. In 1890 he was the Democratic nominee on the state ticket for secretary of state, being defeated by a narrow margin. In 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Independence. In the fall of 1870, he married Kate Wilson.

Born on a farm near Chelsea, in Orange County, Vermont, in February, 1841. The first twelve years of his life were passed on the farm where he was born. In 1853, he removed with other members of his father's family to Gaysville, Vermont, where the elder Chamberlin engaged in the hotel business. Two years later they removed to Royalton, where William attended the academy for three years. He was employed there in a general merchandise store, going then to Northfield, a railroad town, where he was employed for three years with John P. Davis. He came to Independence in 1864 and engaged in the grocery business. His very first venture of a political nature was to accept the nomination for city treasurer in 1879. He was elected, served his term, but refused a renomination. In 1881 and 1882 he did yeomen's service to his party as chairman of the Democratic county central committee. In 1882 he was chairman of the Third district congressional committee. In 1883 the Democrats of this county nominated him for representative in the state legislature, and he vindicated their judgment by overcoming the large Republican majority and accomplishing his election. In 1885, he was unanimously renominated and was again elected. In 1887 he met defeat at the end of a hard fought campaign in which he was the target for the best efforts of the opposition. Prior to this, in the fall of 1886, he served his party faithfully as the candidate of a hopeless minority for member of congress from Third District. In 1889 and 1890, he was re-elected to the legislature, representing this county in the lower house. In 1890 he was the Democratic nominee on the state ticket for secretary of state, being defeated by a narrow margin. In 1894, he was appointed postmaster at Independence. In the fall of 1870, he married Kate Wilson.