George W. Cate

George W. Cate
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 8th district
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by	Alexander S. McDill
Succeeded by	Thaddeus C. Pound
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office 1852-1853
Personal details
Born	September 17, 1825 Montpelier, Vermont
Died	March 7, 1905 (aged 79) Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic

George Washington Cate (September 17, 1825 – March 7, 1905) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.^[1]

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, 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,^[2] 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 to 1923 and then chairman of the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Corp. in New York City from 1923 to 1943.^[3]

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 member of the Democratic Party to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875 – March 4, 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. Alexander S. McDill, actually won, Dr. McDill died and Judge Cate served the term.^[4] While in office, he represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. 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 is interred in Forest Cemetery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Notes

1. George W. Cate, Wisconsin Historical Society
2. "History of Milwaukee, city and county, Vol. 2", pp. 658-662
3. "George Washington Cate", Pioneer Profiles, Stevens Point Area Genealogical Society
4. "The Prospects in Wisconsin", The New York Times, October 28, 1876

Sources

• United States Congress. "George W. Cate (id: C000248)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.