William E. Chilton

William Edwin Chilton ( born March 17, 1856 in Coalsmouth, Kanawha County, Virginia; † November 7, 1939 in Charleston, West Virginia ) was an American politician (Democratic Party), who represented the state of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

William Chilton was born in that part of Virginia that seceded during the Civil War from the rest of the state and remained as West Virginia to the Union. His birthplace Coalsmouth changed in the course of this development several times and eventually the name was St. Albans. There Chilton attended public and private schools as well as the Shelton College where he received his degree. He subsequently worked as a teacher, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1880 and began practicing law in 1882 in Charleston. He also was active in the newspaper industry and in 1883 Attorney of Kanawha County.

1892 Chilton took over the chairmanship of the Executive Committee of the Democrats in West Virginia; 1893 to 1897 he served as Secretary of State. In 1910 he was finally elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from March 4, 1911 to March 4, 1917. There he was, among others, Chairman of the Census Committee and member of the Judiciary Committee. In 1916 he stood for re-election, but was defeated by Republican Howard Sutherland. The election result was challenged, however, had stock.

In the years 1924 and 1934, respectively Chilton applied in vain to return to the Senate. He took no further political office more and went his business operations in Charleston, where he died in 1939.