George W. Cate
Encyclopedia
George Washington Cate was a U.S. Representative
from Wisconsin
.
Born in Montpelier, Vermont
, Cate attended the common schools.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Montpelier in April 1844.
He moved to Wisconsin in 1845 and supported himself in the lumber industry until he began the practice of law in Plover, Wisconsin
on January 1, 1848. He served as Deputy Postmaster, Register of Deeds, and Clerk to the Board of Supervisors that year. In 1849 he was elected District Attorney and served for two terms. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1852 and 1853.
On October 24, 1851 he married Levara Serena Brown (1836–1916) and moved to Stevens Point, Portage county, Wisconsin where he opened a law office in 1852. They raised eight children: Albert George Cate (1851–1933), Lynn Boyd Cate (1854–1937), Ida Levara Cate (1856–1866), Annie Serena Cate (1859–1881), Carrie Levara Cate (1864–1944) married William Jerome Cronyn, M.D., LL.B., who helped to establish Marquette University, Henry Brown Cate (1870–1956), Ruth Gray Cate (1874–1955), Georgeana Cate (1879–1949) married Gerhard Melvin Dahl, J.D., who was Vice President of Chase National Bank from 1917–1923 and then chairman of the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Corp. in New York City from 1923-1943.
Cate was elected judge of the circuit court in April 1854 and served in that capacity until March 4, 1875, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress.
Cate was elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1877). Democratic canvassers committed fraud to secure his election, though Judge Cate was not implicated in this act. After the fraud came to light and a court determined that his Republican opponent, Dr. McDill, actually won, Dr. McDill died and Judge Cate served the term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876.
He resumed the practice of law in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
, and died there March 7, 1905. He was interred in Forest Cemetery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Born in Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, Cate attended the common schools.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Montpelier in April 1844.
He moved to Wisconsin in 1845 and supported himself in the lumber industry until he began the practice of law in Plover, Wisconsin
Plover, Wisconsin
Plover is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States and is a suburb of Stevens Point. It is included in the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,520 at the 2000 census.-History:...
on January 1, 1848. He served as Deputy Postmaster, Register of Deeds, and Clerk to the Board of Supervisors that year. In 1849 he was elected District Attorney and served for two terms. He served as member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1852 and 1853.
On October 24, 1851 he married Levara Serena Brown (1836–1916) and moved to Stevens Point, Portage county, Wisconsin where he opened a law office in 1852. They raised eight children: Albert George Cate (1851–1933), Lynn Boyd Cate (1854–1937), Ida Levara Cate (1856–1866), Annie Serena Cate (1859–1881), Carrie Levara Cate (1864–1944) married William Jerome Cronyn, M.D., LL.B., who helped to establish Marquette University, Henry Brown Cate (1870–1956), Ruth Gray Cate (1874–1955), Georgeana Cate (1879–1949) married Gerhard Melvin Dahl, J.D., who was Vice President of Chase National Bank from 1917–1923 and then chairman of the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Corp. in New York City from 1923-1943.
Cate was elected judge of the circuit court in April 1854 and served in that capacity until March 4, 1875, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress.
Cate was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1877). Democratic canvassers committed fraud to secure his election, though Judge Cate was not implicated in this act. After the fraud came to light and a court determined that his Republican opponent, Dr. McDill, actually won, Dr. McDill died and Judge Cate served the term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1876.
He resumed the practice of law in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
, and died there March 7, 1905. He was interred in Forest Cemetery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.