Cator, Thomas Vincent, 1886-1931

BIOGRAPHY

Thomas Vincent Cator was born in Roxbury, New York on July 18, 1851. He spent his early years on a farm, attending the local academy when possible. After having taught school at the age of seventeen, Cator attended Cornell University. Upon graduation he entered a New York law firm and soon developed political interests. In 1880 Cator established residence in Jersey City and held an alderman's office for two years.

Having been bothered with malaria fever for some time, Cator journeyed to San Francisco, California in 1887. It was not long until he was involved in politics again, and in 1889, Cator married Miss Ethel Chapman.

Politically, Cator was at one time or another an Anti-Monopolist, a Republican, a Democrat, a Prohibitionist, a Nationalist, and a Populist. His most significant political contribution was as the leader of the Populist Party in California from 1890 until its dissolution in 1898. Cator ran for the U.S. Senate on the Populist ticket in 1892, 1894, and 1896, unsuccessfully in each effort. In 1901 he was appointed to the Elections Commission of the city of San Francisco and he served until his death, most of the time as president of the commission. He died on Sept. [19], 1920 of a heart attack.

From the guide to the Thomas Vincent Cator Papers, 1881-1941, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)