The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-29


John William Chals1ey, member Of
the house of delegates, from Wise and
Dickinson counties, was born m
Chesterfield county shortly after nus
family moved TO Ashland, Hanover
county. where the young soloa re-
ceived his primary education. At the
age of fourteen he had TO go TO work
for himself on account Of the deaih
of his father,
Although thrown upon his own re-
sources. young Chalkley did not let
education slip by him, but managed
to GO through secondary schools until
he reached the age proper for college.
when he matriCulated at Randolph
Macon college. Ky wnTking during
the summer and studying during the
winter he gained his degree. which put
him in a position TO study law. which
had for years been his ambition.
BEFORE he was twenty-onp Mr..
Chalkley moved TO Wise county. where
he was employed in a bank and in
law offices. while in the law offices
ne gave his attention to the pretimi-
nary study Of law. In 1893 he de-
cided that he was far enough edTanced
to matriculate at the University OF
Virginia. and studied under university
professors through one session at the
regular session. and one summer
in 1901, and Immediately began the
practice of law in Big Stone Gap.
In 1902 Mr.. Chalkley was married
to Miss Elizabeth Churchill, Of Louis
willie. Ky Since his marriage. in fact
since he moved from Hanover county,
he has lived In Big stone Gap.
Mr.. Chalkley entered with enthusi~
asm into all the ciNlc features of Big
Stone Gap. and gained wide popularity
as president of the Big stone Gap
Athletic association, which now holds
the biggest and most unique Fourth
Of July celebration in the State every
wear. He was also at one time cap
tain of the Big Stone Gap police, a
volunteer police force, which gained
fame by John Eek. IRIS description
of its work iii the Southwestern noun
tains. He is now. and has been since
its organization. president OF the Wise
County Good Roads association. which
made the fight for and carried the
issue of nearly Si,10o.000 OF road
bonds. He is called the father Of
good roads In Wise county now. Re
is president of the Richmond District
Farmers club, and president of the
Big Stone Gap board of trade, chair
man of the Wise county Democratic
committee and a vice-president of the
Virginia Bar association.
/ Mr.. Chalkley has been selected four
consecutive times to the council of
Big Stone Gap, = town which is heavi
lily Republican. and in the last two
elections led his ticket by large ma
jorities. lie was elected in 1911 and
l1913 To the house of delegates by good
maiorities, after hard fights by the
Republicans against him. This fact
is unusual when it is considered that
the district in which MIR. ChafSley
lives has T. usual $40 Republican ma
ioriiy. Each time he carried his
home precinct, which is strongly Re-
publican by matortes of over 100.
MIR. Chalkley now represents Wise
aud Dickinson counties. which have q
populatio nof over 5000 people. IL
is Il district larger in population than
those of one half the State senators.
In his work in the house of del
egates Mr.. ChaIkley has been an ac-
worker for fair election iatFs- and
much that has been done is in meas
ure due to his efforts. He has rep
resented working men in the eompen-
saiioa- measures and Has at all times
been ready to take off his coat and
fight for a good reads measure. He
has been deeply Interested in meas
ures relative to the care and hand
ling of delinquent and INDECENT chill
dren. and has at. all times had an eye
out for the interests of the farmer.
Mr.. Chalkley has been a staunch
supporter of measures making school
appropriations larger, and for the
care Of veterans of the Confederacy
These two matters are in his belief
of direct and vital Importance to the
State, and by constant work he has
made his influence felt whenever
these questions have come before the
house.
In the difficult subject of taxation
Mr.. Chaikley has brought to- bear q
keen intelligence as TO the present
conditions and how they may be bet
tered. After thoroughly studying the
matter he has come to the conclu-
sion that the tax measures of Virginia
should be thoroughly overhanled. He
believes that the system Is wrong ir
principle as 1t now stands, and has
for years been working for radical
change and an equalization OF ths
entire system.
During the present session. Mr.
ChallSley has made his influence felt
in all the leading matters, and has
been one of the strong men in the
settlement of kuottv questions. His
study of current affairs and shrewd
intelligence have made him a power
in the house. and one of the men te
whom the progressive members look
/ for aid.