Representative Chester Anton Chesney

Chester Anton Chesney (March 9, 1916 – September 20, 1986) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois who served one term in the United States Congress from 1949 to 1951. A member of the Democratic Party, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Chesney’s early life and formative years preceded his entry into public service, but it was his eventual involvement in politics that brought him to national office. By the late 1940s, he had become active in Democratic Party affairs in Illinois, positioning himself to seek federal office at a time when the nation was transitioning from World War II to the early Cold War era. His background and experiences helped shape his perspective on the issues confronting both his district and the country.

In the 1948 elections, Chesney was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first Congress, beginning his term on January 3, 1949. During his tenure, which lasted until January 3, 1951, he contributed to the legislative work of the House of Representatives as the federal government addressed postwar economic adjustments, veterans’ concerns, and emerging international challenges. Although specific committee assignments and sponsored measures are not detailed here, his service placed him among those lawmakers navigating the early years of the Truman administration and the onset of the Korean War.

Chesney’s congressional service, while limited to a single term, occurred at a time of substantial domestic and foreign policy debate. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process by debating legislation, voting on national policy, and advocating for the needs and priorities of his Illinois constituents. His work in Congress reflected the broader role of mid‑twentieth‑century legislators in shaping the federal response to rapid social and economic change.

After leaving Congress in 1951, Chesney did not return to the House but remained part of the generation of former lawmakers whose careers bridged the New Deal and postwar eras. In his later years, he became a resident of Marco Island, Florida, where he lived until his death on September 20, 1986. Following his death in Marco Island, he was interred in St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois, returning in burial to the state he had represented in the United States Congress.