Jesse Johnson Yeates
Encyclopedia
Jesse Johnson Yeates was a Democratic U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1875 and 1881.
Born in Hertford County, North Carolina
, near Murfreesboro
, Yeates attended private schools and then Emory and Henry College
in Virginia
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855, practicing law in Murfreesboro. He became the prosecuting attorney of Hertford County
in 1855, serving until 1860, when he was named solicitor of the first judicial district.
Also in 1860, Yeates was elected to a term in the North Carolina House of Commons, serving for two years. He was a major in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War
and was a member of the council of Governor Jonathan Worth
.
Named by Governor William Woods Holden
as judge of the first judicial district of North Carolina in 1868, Yeates declined the appointment, but remained active in politics. He was a delegate to the 1871 Democratic State Convention and the state Constitutional Convention that same year.
In 1874, Yeates was elected to the U.S. House as a member of the 44th United States Congress
. He was re-elected in 1876 and stood again in 1878, losing to Joseph John Martin
. Yeates successfully contested Martin's election and served briefly in the U.S. House again from January 29 to March 3, 1881. He declined to run again in 1880 and returned to the practice of law in Washington, DC. He died in Washington in 1892 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.
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 North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1875 and 1881.
Born in Hertford County, North Carolina
Hertford County, North Carolina
-Townships:The county is divided into six townships:Ahoskie, Como, Harrellsville, Murfreesboro, St. Johns and Winton.-Towns:*Ahoskie*Cofield*Como*Harrellsville*Murfreesboro*Winton-Demographics:...
, near Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Murfreesboro is a town in Hertford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,045 at the 2000 census. Murfreesboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:Murfreesboro is located at ....
, Yeates attended private schools and then Emory and Henry College
Emory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855, practicing law in Murfreesboro. He became the prosecuting attorney of Hertford County
Hertford County, North Carolina
-Townships:The county is divided into six townships:Ahoskie, Como, Harrellsville, Murfreesboro, St. Johns and Winton.-Towns:*Ahoskie*Cofield*Como*Harrellsville*Murfreesboro*Winton-Demographics:...
in 1855, serving until 1860, when he was named solicitor of the first judicial district.
Also in 1860, Yeates was elected to a term in the North Carolina House of Commons, serving for two years. He was a major in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was a member of the council of Governor Jonathan Worth
Jonathan Worth
Jonathan Worth was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1865 to 1868, during the early years of Reconstruction.-Early life:...
.
Named by Governor William Woods Holden
William Woods Holden
William Woods Holden was the 38th and 40th Governor of North Carolina in 1865 and from 1868 to 1871. He was the leader of the state's Republican Party during Reconstruction. Holden was the second governor in American history to be impeached, and the first to be removed from office...
as judge of the first judicial district of North Carolina in 1868, Yeates declined the appointment, but remained active in politics. He was a delegate to the 1871 Democratic State Convention and the state Constitutional Convention that same year.
In 1874, Yeates was elected to the U.S. House as a member of the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
. He was re-elected in 1876 and stood again in 1878, losing to Joseph John Martin
Joseph John Martin
Joseph John Martin was a Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina, United States between 1879 and 1881....
. Yeates successfully contested Martin's election and served briefly in the U.S. House again from January 29 to March 3, 1881. He declined to run again in 1880 and returned to the practice of law in Washington, DC. He died in Washington in 1892 and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.