HON. COMMODORE PERRY CHILTON. Few names are more familiarly known in Shannon County, Missouri, than that of Chilton, and it is so thoroughly interwoven with its history that a work of this character would be incomplete without frequent reference to some member of the family. Commodore Perry Chilton was born on the old homestead, one mile from Eminence, Shannon County, Missouri, December 6, 1844, and is a son of Joshua Chilton, who was one of the leading and influential men of the county.
Our subject acquired a good education in the schools of this county, and by observation and contact with the world has increased this until he is now considered one of the best posted men in his section. As his father was killed in 1862, he remained at home and cared for his mother and the balance of the children, and continued to till the soil on the farm. During his boyhood days his health was not very good, but he carried on farming for ten or more years and then bought another farm, 137 acres, 65 acres under cultivation, on Delaware Creek. This farm is where the Delaware Indians camped, and is one of the oldest settled tracts in this part of the county. In the year 1887 Mr. Chilton was elected to represent Shannon County in the Thirty-fourth General Assembly, and in 1892 he again represented the county in the Legislature. He served on the Committee of Means and Ways and others of importance during his first term in the House, and the last time he was on the Committee of Insurance, Printing, Militia and Labor. He also served in the call session of 1888. Mr. Chilton was married in 1871 to Miss Cynthia Emily Freman, a native of Phelps County, Missouri, and the daughter of Col. T. R. Freman. Three living children are the fruits of this union: Mary E., at home; Russia B., wife of Frank Rogers of this county; and Leon. The children deceased were named as follows: Marion M. died August 8, 1876, when six years of age; Ora Ann died September 1, 1879, an infant; and Thomas Joshua died November 12, 1884, when in his ninth year. Mr. Chilton had the misfortune to lose his wife March 28, 1889. Mr. Chilton is a Democrat in politics.