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]
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