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    Chilgren, Edwin J. "E.J., Ed, Big Ed, Edward"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1927-62 (District 62); House 1963-64 (District 64)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Koochiching

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/4/1897
    Birth Place: Jamtland
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: Sweden
    Date of Death: 8/31/1972 (uncertain)
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: E.J., Ed, Big Ed, Edward
    City of Residence (when first elected): Littlefork
    Occupation (when first elected): Publisher, Littlefork Times

    EDUCATION

    Blackduck High School; Secondary; Graduate, Class Valedictorian, 1915

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    County Board/Commissioner: Northern Minnesota (District Fair Association, Secretary); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Marines (World War I, France); 191? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Fronice Williams (married in June 1920, she died in May 1969)
    Children: Two children: Dorothy, and Alyce or Alice (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Toensing lists his first name as Edward, all other sources list Edwin.

    He moved to Minnesota in 1904 with his parents. He was raised in Blackduck, Minnesota.

    He "was elected to the legislature in 1926 caucusing with the liberal faction." (Biography of Former State Representative E.J. Chilgren, 1897-1972)

    He suffered a stroke and died in Littlefork Municipal Hospital in Minnesota. His funeral was held at the Littlefork Lutheran Church. He was buried in Oakley Cemetery in Littlefork, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 13881

    SESSIONS SERVED

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 64
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Little Fork
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Forestry and Public Domain
    • Game and Fish
    • Highways
    • Taxes
    term photo
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    62nd Legislative Session (1961-1962)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/8/1960
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Newell, Gene. "Liberals Elect DFL Candidate." St. Paul Dispatch, August 13, 1960.) "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

    61st Legislative Session (1959-1960)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/4/1958
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/6/1956
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Employees Compensation
    • Forestry
    • Game and Fish
    • Highways
    • Rules
    • Taxes (Chair)
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Employees Compensation
    • Game and Fish
    • Highways
    • Reforestation
    • Rules
    • Taxes (Chair)

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/5/1952
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Public Domain
    • Taxes

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Manufacturing and Retail Trade
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Public Domain
    • Taxes
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    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/2/1948
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Manufacturing and Retail Trade
    • Commercial Transportation
    • Education
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Public Domain
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
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    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Conservation
    • Dairy Products and Livestock
    • Education
    • Motor Vehicles

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/7/1944
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Public Domain
    • Veterans Affairs
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    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civilian Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs
    • Commerce
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicles
    • Public Domain
    term photo
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    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/5/1940
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Civil Administration
    • Commerce, Manufacture and Retail Trade
    • Game and Fish
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Tax Laws
    term photo
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    51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/8/1938
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/6/1941
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Game and Fish
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Reforestation
    • State Parks
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    50th Legislative Session (1937-1938)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/3/1936
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/5/1937 to 1/2/1939
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Game and Fish
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Tax Laws (Chair)
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Rules
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    term photo
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    49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/6/1934
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/4/1937
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Editor and Publisher, Littlefork Times/Farmer/Printer/Woodsman
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Manufacture and Retail Trade
    • Drainage
    • Game and Fish
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    • Reapportionment
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    48th Legislative Session (1933-1934)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/8/1932
    Residence: International Falls
    Term of Office: 1/3/1933 to 1/7/1935
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Owner, Littlefork Times/Manager; Border Publishing Co., Publishers of The International Falls Daily Journal and Weekly Press
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Game and Fish
    • General Legislation
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways (Chair)
    • Telephones and Telegraphs
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    47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/4/1930
    Residence: International Falls
    Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/2/1933
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Owner, Littlefork Times/Manager; Border Publishing Co., Publishers of The International Falls Daily Journal and Weekly Press
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Game and Fish
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    • State and County Fairs
    • Telephones and Telegraphs
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    46th Legislative Session (1929-1930)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/6/1928
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/8/1929 to 1/5/1931
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Game and Fish
    • Printing and Publishing
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    • State and County Fairs
    • State Development and Immigration
    • Telephones and Telegraphs

    45th Legislative Session (1927-1928)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/2/1926
    Residence: Littlefork
    Term of Office: 1/4/1927 to 1/7/1929
    Counties Represented: Koochiching
    Occupation: Publisher, Littlefork Times
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: He "was elected to the legislature in 1926 caucusing with the liberal faction." (Biography of Former State Representative E.J. Chilgren, 1897-1972)
    Committees:
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    • Reapportionment
    • State and County Fairs
    • State Development and Immigration
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Biography of Former State Representative E.J. Chilgren, 1897-1972. - Manuscript from the House Memorial Service. Read by Rep. Irv Anderson on April 19, 1973.

    "Chilgren, Northern Friend (Editorial/Obituary)." Duluth News-Tribune, September 4, 1972.

    "Chilgren Dies at Littlefork (Obituary)." The St. Paul Pioneer, September 1, 1972.

    "E.J. Chilgren Ex-Legislator, Publisher, Dies (Obituary)." Duluth News-Tribune, September 1, 1972.

    "E.J. Chilgren, Ex-State House Speaker, Dies (Obituary)." Minneapolis Tribune, September 1, 1972, p. 12B.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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