William H. Cate

William Henderson Cate (November 11, 1839 - August 23, 1899) was a U.S. Representative from Arkansas.

Born near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Cate attended the common schools, and an academy at Abingdon, Virginia.He was graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1857.He taught school in the south and west.He served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War and was promoted to captain.He moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1865.He studied law.He was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1866 and commenced practice in Jonesboro.He served as member of the Arkansas House of Representatives 1871-1873 and during the extra session of 1874.

Cate was elected prosecuting attorney in 1878.He was appointed and subsequently elected judge of the second judicial circuit of Arkansas in 1884. Organized the Bank of Jonesboro in 1887. Presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Fifty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1889, to March 5, 1890, when he was succeeded by Lewis P. Featherstone, who contested the election.

Cate was elected to the Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893).He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress.He resumed the practice of law in Jonesboro, Arkansas.He died while on a visit in Toledo, Ohio, August 23, 1899.He was interred in the City Cemetery, Jonesboro, Arkansas.

References