Chester Ashley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester Ashley
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| United States Senator from Arkansas |
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| In office November 8, 1844 – April 29, 1848 |
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| Preceded by | William S. Fulton |
| Succeeded by | William K. Sebastian |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1790 Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, 1848 (aged 57) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. 34°44′15.3″N 92°16′42.5″W / 34.737583°N 92.278472°W |
| Political party | Democratic |
Chester Ashley (born June 1, 1790 – died April 29, 1848) was an important American politician. He represented the state of Arkansas in the United States Senate from 1844 until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Chester Ashley was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1790. When he was a child, his family moved to Hudson, New York. He was a very good student and graduated with honors from Williams College. After that, he studied law at the Litchfield Law School.
Once he finished his education, Ashley moved west. He first went to Illinois, then to Missouri. In 1820, he arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas. There, he quickly became one of the best and most well-known lawyers in the Arkansas Territory. For a while, he even had a law partner named Robert Crittenden. Together, Ashley and Crittenden started the famous Rose Law Firm.
Becoming a Lawyer and Politician
For about 20 years, Chester Ashley had the biggest law practice in Arkansas. This helped him become a very rich man. He owned a lot of land and large farms in the southeastern part of the state.
Because of his wealth, Ashley decided to try politics. In 1844, he traveled around Arkansas to support James K. Polk for president. Polk and the Democrats won the election. After this, the state legislature chose Ashley to fill an open spot in the Senate.
His Time in the Senate
Soon after joining the Senate, Chester Ashley became the leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee helps make sure laws are fair and just. In 1846, he was chosen again to serve in the Senate.
Two years later, in 1848, he suddenly became ill while in the Senate Chamber. He passed away not long after.
Family and Legacy
Chester Ashley was the father of Delos Rodeyn Ashley. Delos later became the State Treasurer of California and a U.S. representative for Nevada.
One of Chester Ashley's family members was Sterling R. Cockrill. Sterling was the Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1968 to 1969.
Chester Ashley is remembered in Arkansas because Ashley County is named after him.
See also
- List of United States senators from Arkansas
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)
