Sterling G. Cato
Sterling G. Cato (c. 1807 – October 24, 1867)[1] was an American attorney and jurist who served as an associate judge of the Supreme Court of the Kansas Territory.
Early life[edit]
Cato was born in Alabama. He and his brother, Lewis Llewellen Cato, were both lawyers. Both lived in Eufaula, Alabama, until Sterling Cato moved to Kansas.[2]
Career[edit]
On September 13, 1855, Cato was nominated as a judge of the Supreme Court of the Kansas Territory by President Franklin Pierce, and took office on September 13, 1855.[3] succeeding Judge Rush Elmore.[2] During his time on the court, Cato was known to hold strongly pro-slavery views.[4]
In 1856, Cato issued arrest warrants for John Brown, Sr. and many of his followers for their role in the Pottawatomie massacre.[5]
On October 20, 1857, Cato ordered Governor Robert John Walker to accept the election of many pro-slavery candidates to the Kansas State Legislature; however, because of the election fraud that occurred with non-residents voting in the election, Walker refused to follow the order.[4]
Cato left the court on October 13, 1858; judge Rush Elmore, also his predecessor, became his successor.[3]
Later life and death[edit]
After leaving the court, Cato moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and entered private practice.[2]
Cato died on October 24, 1867, in Liberty, Missouri.[1][6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Judge S. C. Cato", Kansas City Journal (October 27, 1867), p. 4.
- ^ a b c Brewer, Willis (1872). Alabama: her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men. From 1540 to 1872. Montgomery, Alabama, United States of America: Barrett & Brown. p. 131. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b Templar, George; Smith, Joan Templar; Templar, Ted M. (1992). "Chapter II - Kansas: The Territorial and District Courts". In Logan, James (ed.). The Federal Courts of the Tenth Circuit: A History. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. pp. 18, 532. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas; A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America: Standard Publishing Company. p. 300. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Kansas Territory, U.S. District Court versus John Brown Sr., Owen Brown, Frederick Brown, Salmon Brown, Oliver Brown, et al. - Kansas Memory". Kansas Memory. Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Local". Liberty Tribune. Liberty, Missouri. NewspaperArchive.com. 25 October 1867. p. 3. Retrieved 11 January 2024.