Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-30
TWO NEW SENATORS FROM
NEW MEXICO NATIVES OF
MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY

new Senators from New Mexico are
taken from the Albuquerque Journal:
A hissourian by birth and a law
yer by profession. Thomas u. Catron
Sho is 10 represent the new state as
one OF its first United States sena-
tors was born October 6. lS4O. at
Warrensburg. Mo. and came OF solid
Missouri stock. His father was John
Catron. since dead. and his mother.
before her marriage had been Mary
Fletcher or the same family hal
sprung John Catron, associate JUS
rice OF the United States supreme
court.
Mr.. Catron himself is a widower.
and has four children. Mrs. Catron
died several years ago. His children.
all sons, are John W. Catron. Charles
{. Catron. Thomas r. Catron, Jr.
and Fletcher Catron.
Mr.. Catron received his early edu-
cation in the public schools OF
Lafayette county, and in 1856 went
10 the Masonic college at Lexington,
Mo, where he remained as a student
until 1859. In 1859 he entered the
University Of Missouri! and graduated
from that institution on July 4, 1860
A. that time he received the degree
% Bachelor OF Arts from that uni
yersity. Seven years later ke was
accorded the degree of Master OF
Arts lie never attended any law
school. kt gained his legal educa-
ton through study carried on by him
self. and in reading standard law
books
shortly after he had received his
bachelors degree the Civil war broke
out. and with many of his fellows he
entered the Confederate forces His
first service was in a light artillery
company, and SO we'll did he serve
hat he was shortly afterward pro-
NOTED TO a lieutenant. In this arm
~ the service he remained until the
end Of the war, winning promotion
and a battery comamndency two
years before It's close. The battery
~ which he had charge was the Third
Missouri Light Battery OF the Con
federate service
In 1865, on Nav ! ., he surrendered
his command and was released This
surrender took place at Meridian,
Miss. lmedlately after the surren-
der he returned to Missouri and took
up the study Of law. the profession
for which he had been trying to fit
himself. He came to New Mexico
Iuly q. 1856. settling al Santa Fe.
lie entered the practice Of law short
~ after his arrival in New Mexico
and was soon appointed by the GOV
ernor as district attorney of the third
judicial district. which was then COM
posed of bona Ana county II was
nj this time that he went TO la
Ncsilia TO live
In Dona Ana county he was admit
"a 20 the bar In June. 1867. and az
the end Of years residence was
elected to the house Of representa-
tiyes of the territorial legislative as
scmhly. I'm this capacity he served
for the Years lNGN and SEQ.
At the close Of the session of the
last named year Mr.. Catron was Sc
lccted as attorney general of the ter
ritory and appointed to that position
Nv the governor lie took mp his res
idencc at Santa Fe where he since
has made his home He held this
office for three years and half, re
signing 10 accept the appointment Of
president Grant as United States at
torncy for New Mexico.
Mr. Catron officiated as federal at
lorney for the territory for six years
and a few months. winning fame for
himself by his ability while occupy
ms a most difficult office During
he administration Of President
Hayes he resigned this office for per
sonal reasons.
nv this time his private law prac.
ice had grown immensely, and with
his other personal interests he was
thoroughly occupied. II was shortly
after his resignation Of this office
that he married. and from that tinr
Forth for a number Of years held m
territorial office except that OF mem
her Of the legislative assembly To
this body he was elected several
Zines, serving in all five terms in the
different houses
lie was elected a delegate to the
Fiftv-fourth congress.
At the time of the constitutional
convention Mr.. Catron was elected as
one Of the hundred delegates who
framed New MeNicos organic law
and took an active part in the con
struction Of the fundamental docu-
ment under which New Mexico was
admitted to share the blessings OF
membership in the sisterhood OF
states.
At no time did he give up his law
practice, but in more recent years
as Il grew. has taken his son, Charles
g.. Catron. into partnership with him.
In 1886 Mr.. Catron was chosen presi-
dent Of the Territorial Bar associa-
ton creditably filling that post
Judge Albert D. Fall, who, with