Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
S	12	Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 13, 1885	18th (1) (2)	Democrat	Bellville / Austin		Austin, Burleson, Fort Bend, Waller, Washington
H	38	Apr 18, 1876 - Jan 14, 1879	15th (3)	Democrat	Bellville / Austin		Austin

(1) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.
(2) 18th Legislature, Regular Session - All Senators except District 3 and 21 are listed in Roll Call as taking the oath of office, 1/9/1883, p. 2; resolution by Sen. Gooch that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/10/1883, pp. 5-6; drew term of 2 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1883 January 9, 1883
(3) Mentioned in "The news from Austin . . . Resignations of Representative Barziza and four others accepted after critical debate . . . Hunter restored to his seat . . . Other resignations not improbable," Thursday, 8/3/1876, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Biographical Sketches

• Obituary, "A. Chesley," 7/19/1907, p. 1. "Resolutions Upon the Death of Mr. A. Chesley," from the Austin County bar association meeting on 8/23/1907, printed 9/6/1907, p. 1. Bellville Times.
• Obituary, "Hon. A Chesley Dead: Father of the Independent School District Law and Homestead Exemption Decision Was His Idea," 7/18/1907, p. 8. Galveston Daily News.
• Obituary, "A. Chesley Is Dead: Former Legislator Expires at His Home in Bellville . . . ," The Houston Post, 7/18/1907, p. 7. Birth date 9/27/1831, death date 7/17/1907. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
• Biographical sketch, A. Chesley, pp. 104-105. "He is a Democrat, and there being no Democratic nominee in his district, he ran as an independent candidate and was elected to the 15th Legislature by 182 majority." Sketches of Legislators and State Officers, Fifteenth Legislature, 1876-1878, 1876.
• Biographical sketch, p. 240. Born 9/27/1831 in New Hampshire. Nominated at Democratic Convention for Senate and elected in November 1882. Texas Legislative Manual, 1882-83, 1883.

Military Service Notes

• Confederate States Army. Sketches of Legislators and State Officers, Fifteenth Legislature, 1876-1878, 1876.

Other Resources

• Alvah Chesley, birth date 9/27/1831, death date 7/17/1907, burial in Oak Knoll Cemetery, Bellville, Austin County. Find a Grave.
• A.A. Chesley listed in Democratic State Conventions of 1884, 1890, and 1892. Platforms of Political Parties in Texas, 1916.

Photographs

• Photograph. A. Chesley, 18th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. A. Chesley, 15th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 18th session composite photo of Senate members (Senate chamber vestibule, east wall. 2E.V1). State Preservation Board.
• 15th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

18th R.S. - 1883 Constitutional Amendments   Contingent Expenses   Department Report Delays   Education   Judiciary No. 1   Private Land Claims   Privileges and Elections (Chair)  State Affairs

15th R.S. - 1876 Assessment and Collection of Taxes   Constitutional Amendments   Contingent Expenses   Judiciary No. 2   Privileges and Elections (Chair)