Horace Chilton

Summary

Horace Chilton (December 29, 1853 – June 12, 1932) was a printer, lawyer, and Democratic United States Senator from Texas.

Horace Chilton
United States Senator
from Texas
In office
June 10, 1891 – March 22, 1892
Appointed byJim Hogg
Preceded byJohn H. Reagan
Succeeded byRoger Q. Mills
In office
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901
Preceded byRichard Coke
Succeeded byJoseph W. Bailey
Personal details
Born(1853-12-29)December 29, 1853
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 1932(1932-06-12) (aged 78)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary W. Grinnan
(m. 1877; died 1924)
Signature

Biography edit

Chilton - a grandson of Thomas Chilton - was born near Tyler, Texas, and by age 18 was publishing the tri-weekly Tyler Sun newspaper.[1] At 19 he was admitted to the bar and served as assistant attorney general of Texas between 1881 and 1883 and as a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1888 and 1896.

Appointed to the Senate upon John H. Reagan's resignation in 1891, Chilton was the first native Texan to serve in the United States Congress. Although he was defeated in the 1892 election for the seat, Chilton was elected to the Senate in 1894.

Chilton decided not to run for reelection in 1901, returning to practice law in Tyler and later Beaumont, Texas, where he worked with Spindletop oilfield operations. In 1906 he moved to Dallas, where he lived until his death.[2]

The Horace Chilton papers are held in the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, Texas.

Personal life edit

Chilton married Mary W. Grinnan on February 20, 1877, and they had five children.[1] She died in 1924.[2]

He died at his home in Dallas on June 12, 1932, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. p. 241. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c "Horace Chilton of Tyler is Dead". Tyler Morning Telegraph. June 14, 1932. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from Texas
1891–1892
Served alongside: Richard Coke
Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Texas
1895–1901
Served alongside: Roger Q. Mills, Charles A. Culberson
Succeeded by