Long, Chester I. (Chester Isaiah), 1860-1934

Attorney; Republican member of the Kansas Senate, U.S. House and Senate. Of Medicine Lodge, Wichita, Kan.; Washington, D.C.

Chester Isiah Long, a Representative and Senator from Kansas, was born near Millerstown, Pennsylvania October 12, 1860. He moved with his parents to Missouri and then Paola, Kansas. He graduated from the normal school at Paola and then taught for several years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar March 4, 1855. He commenced practice in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

Long served in the state Senate from 1889-1893. He was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897). He also was elected to the Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth Congresses. He resigned prior to the commencement of the Fifty-eighth Congress to become a Senator.

Long was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1903 to March 3, 1909. After leaving the Senate, he moved to Wichita in 1911 and continued the practice of law. Long served as the chair of the commission to revise the general statutes of Kansas from 1921-1923. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1926 and continued the practice of law until his death July 1, 1934.

Attorney; Republican member of the Kansas Senate, U.S. House and Senate. Of Medicine Lodge, Wichita, Kan.; Washington, D.C.

DETAILS: Born in Perry County, Pa., in 1860, the son of Abraham G. & Mary Long. Completed a normal institute at Paola, Kan., 1880, and worked as a teacher for 3 years. Went to Topeka, Kan., where he studied law under Peck, Johnson & McFarland. Admitted to the bar at Topeka, 1885. Moved to Medicine Lodge, Kan., and began law practice. Elected to the State Senate, 1889, the youngest member of that body. Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1892, but was defeated. Again nominated for the House, 1894, and elected. Re-elected 1898. Speech on the Porto Rico Tariff Bill gained him a national reputation. Advocate of reciprocity with Cuba. In the 2d session of the 56th Congress he was active in the fight that kept Kansas from losing 1 of its representatives in Congress. Re-elected 1900, 1902. Resigned as a representative in 1903 when elected to the U.S. Senate; served until 1909. Returned to Kansas, active in law practice in Wichita & Washington, D.C., and in business. Chairman of commission to revise Kansas statutes, 1921. President, Kansas Bar Association, 1924. Ran for Congress unsuccessfully, 1924. President, American Bar Association, 1925-26. Died 1934, Washington, D.C.