Is a native of Kentucky, born in Louisville, in 1841, and raised manhood by his grand-parents, in Harrison County of that state. In 1872, he resigned his seat in the senate of Kentucky to come into this state, and the loss of Kentucky proved the gain of Texas. He came direct to Bonham and opened his Law Office people of North Texas are acquainted with his history from that time.
Before he went into public life in Kentucky, he completed a thorough course of study in the law-office of Elmore, Keys & Gunter, at Montgomery, Ala., after which he was admitted to the bar of that and his native state. When the war came on, he enlisted as a private, from which he was gradually promoted to Colonel. A few of the battles in which he took a part, were Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringold Gap and Kennesaw Mountain.
He represented this county in the 17th and 18th legislatures, and was appointed First Auditor of the U. S. Treasury in 1885.
Judge Chenoweth possesses all the qualities of a statesman, jurist and soldier. During his membership of the legislature, be acquired a reputation as an orator and level-headed representative. While on the bench, his fair-mindedness and thorough knowledge of the law, rendered him popular as a judge, mid the chivalry and courage he displayed in many bloody battles of the confederacy, placed him among the first of Kentucky’s soldiers.
Col. Chenoweth is a democrat of the bourbon school, strongly attached to his party and its principles. An old democrat of this county once said, “a political campaign in North Texas, without Chenoweth’s eloquence, would be like tea without milk or sugar.” Already he has given evidence of his thorough qualifications for the position to which a democratic administration has called him, and which he will fill to the credit of his adopted state.