Chester Bidwell Darrall
Chester Bidwell Darrall (June 24, 1842January 1, 1908) was an American Republican Congressman from Louisiana during the latter half of the 19th Century. Early life and military service He was born near Addison, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and attended the common schools. Darrall studied medicine and was graduated from Albany Medical College in New York State. During the Civil War, Dr. Darrall entered the Union Army as assistant surgeon of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, and later was promoted to surgeon. While on active duty in Louisiana, Darrall resigned from the Army in 1867 and engaged in mercantile pursuits and planting in Brashear (now Morgan City), Louisiana. Political career and later life Darrall was elected a member of the State Senate of Louisiana in 1868. In 1868 Darrall was elected as a Republican Party to the Forty-first Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877). He presented credentials as a member-elect to the Forty-fifth Congress and served in that Congress from March 4, 1877 to February 20, 1878 when he was succeeded by Democrat Joseph H. Acklen, who had successfully contested the election of 1876. Darrall moved back to Morgan City and did not