William E. Chilton
Encyclopedia
William Edwin Chilton was a United States Senator from West Virginia
. Born in Colesmouth, Virginia
(now St. Albans, West Virginia), he attended public and private schools and graduated from Shelton College in St. Albans. He taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1880, commencing practice in Charleston, West Virginia
in 1882. He also engaged in the newspaper publishing business, and was prosecuting attorney of Kanawha County
in 1883. In 1892 he was chairman of the Democratic State executive committee and was Secretary of State of West Virginia
from 1893 to 1897.
Chilton was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1911, to March 4, 1917; while in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Census (Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth Congresses) and of the Committee on Printing (Sixty-fourth Congress), and also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee
. Chilton's bid for reelection in 1916 failed; he unsuccessfully contested the election of his opponent, Howard Sutherland
.
After Chilton's term in the Senate, he resumed the practice of law and the newspaper publishing business in Charleston. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Senate in 1924 and again in 1934. He died in Charleston in 1939; interment was in Teay's Hill Cemetery, St. Albans.
His parents house at St. Albans, known as the Chilton House
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Born in Colesmouth, Virginia
St. Albans, West Virginia
St. Albans is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Kanawha and Coal Rivers. The population was 11,044 at the 2010 census.St. Albans was laid out in 1816...
(now St. Albans, West Virginia), he attended public and private schools and graduated from Shelton College in St. Albans. He taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1880, commencing practice in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
in 1882. He also engaged in the newspaper publishing business, and was prosecuting attorney of Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
in 1883. In 1892 he was chairman of the Democratic State executive committee and was Secretary of State of West Virginia
Secretary of State of West Virginia
The Secretary of State of West Virginia is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of West Virginia.The current Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant , was elected in November 2008 and assumed the office in January 2009....
from 1893 to 1897.
Chilton was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1911, to March 4, 1917; while in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Census (Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth Congresses) and of the Committee on Printing (Sixty-fourth Congress), and also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
. Chilton's bid for reelection in 1916 failed; he unsuccessfully contested the election of his opponent, Howard Sutherland
Howard Sutherland
Howard Sutherland was an American politician. He was a Republican who represented West Virginia in both houses of the United States Congress....
.
After Chilton's term in the Senate, he resumed the practice of law and the newspaper publishing business in Charleston. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Senate in 1924 and again in 1934. He died in Charleston in 1939; interment was in Teay's Hill Cemetery, St. Albans.
His parents house at St. Albans, known as the Chilton House
Chilton House
Chilton House is a historic home located at St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia. It was built in 1857, and is a "T"-shaped brick dwelling in the Gothic Revival style. The roof structure has a total of seven gables, three in the head and four in the leg of its "T" shape...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1977.