Chester I. Reed

Chester Isham Reed (November 23, 1823 – September 2, 1873) was an American attorney who served in both branches of the Massachusetts legislature,^[2] as Attorney General of Massachusetts, and as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court.^[1]

Hon. Chester Isham Reed
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court[1]
In office 1867[2]–1871[3]
Appointed by	Alexander H. Bullock
Preceded by	Thomas Russell[4]
Succeeded by	John William Bacon[3]
Massachusetts Attorney General
In office 1864 – April 20, 1867
Governor	John Albion Andrew William Claflin
Preceded by	Dwight Foster
Succeeded by	Charles Allen
Member of the Massachusetts Senate[5] North Bristol District[6]
In office 1859[2]–1859[2]
In office 1862[5]–1862[5]
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[2] Bristol District
In office 1849[7]–1849
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1823[1] Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.[2]
Died	September 2, 1873(1873-09-02) (aged 49)[1] White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.[1]
Political party	Republican[5]
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Y. Allyn, m. February 24, 1851.[1]
Children	Sybil Reed; Chester Allyn Reed[1]
Alma mater	Taunton High School; Bristol Academy; Brown University[1]
Profession	Attorney[1]
Signature

Early life

Reed was born to William and Elizabeth Deane (Dennis) Reed^[5] on November 23, 1823, in Taunton, Massachusetts.^[2][8]

Education

Reed attended Taunton High School, Bristol Academy and Brown University.^[1] Because of his father's adverse circumstances Reed was forced to leave Brown University.^[5] Reed moved to Gardiner, Maine, to study law.^[5] After he completed his study of law, Reed moved back to Taunton^[5]

Newspaper employment

After he moved back to Taunton, Massachusetts Reed was, for about a year, editor of the Old Colony Republican newspaper.^[5]

Massachusetts Legislature

At the age of 26 Reed was elected to represent Taunton in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.^[5] Reed was in the Massachusetts Senate^[2] in 1858 and 1862.^[2][5] While in the Senate of 1862 Reed served on the Joint Standing Committees on Railways and Canals,^[9] and on the Subject of Apportioning the State into Congressional Districts.^[10]

Marriage and children

On February 24, 1851, Reed married Elizabeth Y. Allyn of New Bedford, Massachusetts.^[1] The couple had two children, Sybil Reed, and Chester Allyn Reed.^[1]

Law career

In 1848 Reed entered into a law partnership with Anselm Bassett. Reed practiced law in the firm of Bassett & Reed for the next 15 years.^[5]

Public Service Career

In 1864 Reed was elected as a Republican^[5] to the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General.^[5] Reed serves as the Massachusetts Attorney General until 1867 when he was appointed as Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court.^[5]

Reed resigned from the Superior Court in 1870.^[5]

Death

Reed died on September 2, 1873^[1] in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he had gone to improve his health.^[1]