John Crawford Chaney (February 1, 1853 – April 26, 1940) was an American lawyer and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1905 to 1909.
Early life
Chaney was born near Lisbon, Ohio in 1854, and later moved to Lafayette Township, Indiana, with his parents, who settled on a farm near Fort Wayne. He attended the common schools, graduating first from Ascension Seminary, Farmersburg, Indiana, in 1874 and later from the Terre Haute Commercial College.
He taught school and served as superintendent of schools for five years before graduating from the law school of Cincinnati University in June 1882.
Career
Chaney was admitted to the bar in 1883 and commenced practice in Sullivan, Indiana. He served as a member of the state central committee from the second district in 1884 and 1885. In July 1889, he was appointed by President Harrison as assistant to the Attorney General in the Department of Justice, serving in that position until August 1893, when he resigned and resumed the practice of law.
