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William Henderson Cate
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1889 – March 5, 1890
Preceded by Poindexter Dunn
Succeeded by Lewis P. Featherstone
In office
March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by Lewis P. Featherstone
Succeeded by Philip McCulloch
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
1871-1873
1874
Personal details
Born November 11, 1839 (1839-11-11)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Died August 23, 1899 (1899-08-24) (aged 59)
Toledo, Ohio
Citizenship  United States
Political party Democratic
Spouse Virginia E. Warner Cate
Alma mater University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Profession teacher

Attorney

politician

judge
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States of America Confederate States of America
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Civil War

William Henderson Cate (born November 11, 1839 – died August 23, 1899) was an important American politician. He served as a judge and was also a U.S. Representative for the state of Arkansas. A U.S. Representative is a person elected to speak for their district in the national government.

Early Life and Education

William Cate was born in 1839 near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His father, Noah Cate, was a Baptist minister. William went to local schools and also attended an academy in Abingdon, Virginia. He later graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1857. In 1868, he married Virginia E. Warner. They lived in Craighead County and had one son together.

Career Beginnings and Military Service

Before he became a lawyer, William Cate worked as a teacher. He studied law at the same time. His studies were interrupted by the Civil War. During the war, he served in the Confederate States Army. He showed leadership and rose to the rank of captain.

After the war ended, in 1865, Cate moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas. He continued his law studies there. By 1866, he was officially allowed to practice law in Arkansas. He then started his own law practice.

Public Service in Arkansas

William Cate was very active in public service in Arkansas.

  • He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1871 to 1873. He also served during a special session in 1874.
  • In 1878, he was elected as a prosecuting attorney. This job involves bringing legal cases against people accused of crimes.
  • Later, in 1884, he became a judge for the second judicial circuit of Arkansas. He was first appointed and then elected to this position.
  • He also helped start the Bank of Jonesboro in 1887.

Serving in the U.S. Congress

William Cate was a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected to the Fifty-first Congress. He served from March 4, 1889, until March 5, 1890.

His election was challenged by Lewis P. Featherstone. Featherstone was supported by a group called "The Agricultural Wheel" and the Republican Party. The House Committee on Elections reviewed the case. They decided that Featherstone had won by a small number of votes. So, Featherstone took Cate's place in Congress.

However, William Cate was elected again to the Fifty-second Congress. He served from March 4, 1891, to March 3, 1893. He decided not to run for re-election in 1892. After his time in Congress, he went back to practicing law in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Later Life and Death

William Henderson Cate passed away on August 23, 1899. He was 59 years old. He died from cancer while visiting Toledo, Ohio. He was buried in the City Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

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