Ashley, C. (Chester), 1790-1848

Chester Ashley (1790-1848) was a lawyer and United States senator, 1844-1848. Ashley was born in Massachusetts and was educated at Williams College and Litchfield Law School. He lived in Hudson, N.Y.; Edwardsville, Ill.; and St. Louis, Mo.; before settling in Little Rock, Ark., in 1820.

From the guide to the C. Ashley Papers, ., 1828-1844, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

June 1790. About three years later he moved to Hudson, N.Y., where he grew up. In 1813 he graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Later, he graduated from Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1817. He commenced the practice of law in Hudson, later moving to Edwardsville, Ill. (1818), St. Louis, Mo. (1819), and Little Rock, Ark. (1820). In July 1821 Chester Ashley married Mary W.W. Elliott in St. Genevieve. In 1844 he was elected to the U.S. Senate where he became chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1846 and died in Washington, D.C. on 29 Apr. 1848, at the age of fifty-seven.

From the description of Chester Ashley papers, 1844-1848 : Chester Ashley Papers Supplement. 1829- (Petersburg Public Library). WorldCat record id: 264798664

U.S. senator from Arkansas.

Chester Ashley was born in Amherst, Mass., on 1 June 1790. About three years later he moved to Hudson, N.Y., where he grew up. In 1813 he graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Later, he graduated from Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1817. He commenced the practice of law in Hudson, later moving to Edwardsville, Ill. (1818), St. Louis, Mo. (1819), and Little Rock, Ark. (1820). In July 1821 Chester Ashley married Mary W.W. Elliott in St. Genevieve. In 1844 he was elected to the U.S. Senate where he became chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1846 and died in Washington, D.C., on 29 Apr. 1848, at the age of fifty-seven.

From the description of Chester Ashley papers, 1821-1832. (Arkansas History Commission). WorldCat record id: 608202778