He came to Minnesota in 1854.
There is some confusion about his name. The official Minnesota House Journal for 1861 records his name as M.A. Chamblin. Edward D. Neill's History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings states that M.A. Chamblin was elected to serve in the Minnesota House (p. 225). However, another section of the history identifies Mark A. Chamberlain as serving in the Minnesota House (p. 470) The November 15, 1860 Hastings Independent lists Mark A. Chamberlain as winning the election in Dakota. The March 2, 1861 Saint Paul Pioneer and Democrat mentions legislative action taken by Mr. Chamblin of Dakota County in an article about the Minnesota Legislature.