Henry P. Cheatham
Encyclopedia
Henry Plummer Cheatham was an African American
Republican member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1889 to 1893.
, Cheatham attended public school and graduated from Shaw University
in 1883. After working as a school principal, Cheatham served as the elected Register of Deeds for Vance County (1884–1888). In 1884, he married Louisa (or Louise) Cherry, who taught music at the school where Cheatham was principal. In 1888, Cheatham was narrowly elected to Congress over incumbent Furnifold M. Simmons (who would later lead the White Supremacy
campaigns that disfranchised North Carolina blacks). During the campaign, Cheatham allegedly told black voters that Simmons and President Grover Cleveland
would re-enslave them. Other press outlets of the time later dismissed these allegations by the press as hyperbole or having misrepresented Cheatham's words.
, and a bill to safeguard the voting rights of African Americans. He tended mostly to the needs of his constituents (of both races), but was largely unsuccessful getting his own bills passed. Cheatham served on the House committees on Education, Expenditures on Public Buildings, and Agriculture
.
In 1890, Cheatham defeated Democrat James M. Mewborne, with 16,943 votes to 15,713. But nationwide, Democrats re-took the House of Representatives, and Cheatham found himself the only black congressman in the Fifty-second Congress (he had also been the only black congressman in the first half of the 51st Congress).
He unsuccessfully sought re-election to a third term in 1892, after the North Carolina legislature changed the boundaries of his congressional district. The presence of a Populist on the ballot also contributed to the victory of Democrat Frederick A. Woodard.
Cheatham ran against Woodard again in 1894 without success, and for the Republican nomination in 1896, only to be defeated by his brother-in-law, George Henry White
, the next (and last) Reconstruction-era black North Carolina congressman.
's administration appointed him Recorder of Deeds
for the District of Columbia, a position he held through 1901. Cheatham, a friend and ally of Booker T. Washington
, was criticized for standing by McKinley as the Republican administration did little to stem the rising tide of racism and segregation.
After four years in Washington, D.C., Cheatham returned to farm in Littleton, North Carolina
. He later moved to Oxford, North Carolina
and served as superintendent of the Colored Orphanage of North Carolina (then known as the Colored Orphan Asylum) there for the next twenty-eight years. According to a 1939 orphanage document, Cheatham, who had helped found the orphanage in 1883, "was its superintendent and to him more than any man, is due the credit for the remarkable progress and development of the institution." He died in Oxford in 1935.
Known as an educated, discreet, and diplomatic man, Cheatham impressed even white-supremacist Democrat Josephus Daniels
, who remarked that he regarded Cheatham highly as a man who had gained the confidence of both races.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Republican member of the United States House of Representatives
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 1889 to 1893.
Early life
Born in slavery (with a white father) in what is now Vance County, North CarolinaVance County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,954 people, 16,199 households, and 11,647 families residing in the county. The population density was 169 people per square mile . There were 18,196 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
, Cheatham attended public school and graduated from Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
in 1883. After working as a school principal, Cheatham served as the elected Register of Deeds for Vance County (1884–1888). In 1884, he married Louisa (or Louise) Cherry, who taught music at the school where Cheatham was principal. In 1888, Cheatham was narrowly elected to Congress over incumbent Furnifold M. Simmons (who would later lead the White Supremacy
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
campaigns that disfranchised North Carolina blacks). During the campaign, Cheatham allegedly told black voters that Simmons and President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
would re-enslave them. Other press outlets of the time later dismissed these allegations by the press as hyperbole or having misrepresented Cheatham's words.
Congressman
In Congress, Cheatham (then the only black North Carolina congressman) supported federal support for education, the McKinley tariffMcKinley Tariff
The Tariff Act of 1890, commonly called the McKinley Tariff, was an act framed by Representative William McKinley that became law on October 1, 1890. The tariff raised the average duty on imports to almost fifty percent, an act designed to protect domestic industries from foreign competition...
, and a bill to safeguard the voting rights of African Americans. He tended mostly to the needs of his constituents (of both races), but was largely unsuccessful getting his own bills passed. Cheatham served on the House committees on Education, Expenditures on Public Buildings, and Agriculture
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
.
In 1890, Cheatham defeated Democrat James M. Mewborne, with 16,943 votes to 15,713. But nationwide, Democrats re-took the House of Representatives, and Cheatham found himself the only black congressman in the Fifty-second Congress (he had also been the only black congressman in the first half of the 51st Congress).
He unsuccessfully sought re-election to a third term in 1892, after the North Carolina legislature changed the boundaries of his congressional district. The presence of a Populist on the ballot also contributed to the victory of Democrat Frederick A. Woodard.
Cheatham ran against Woodard again in 1894 without success, and for the Republican nomination in 1896, only to be defeated by his brother-in-law, George Henry White
George Henry White
George Henry White was a Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1897 and 1901. He is considered the last African American Congressman of the Reconstruction era, although his election came twenty years after the era's "official" end...
, the next (and last) Reconstruction-era black North Carolina congressman.
Later life
In 1897, President William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
's administration appointed him Recorder of Deeds
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...
for the District of Columbia, a position he held through 1901. Cheatham, a friend and ally of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, was criticized for standing by McKinley as the Republican administration did little to stem the rising tide of racism and segregation.
After four years in Washington, D.C., Cheatham returned to farm in Littleton, North Carolina
Littleton, North Carolina
Littleton is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 692 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Littleton is located at ....
. He later moved to Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxford is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,461 at the 2010 census It is the county seat of Granville County.-History:...
and served as superintendent of the Colored Orphanage of North Carolina (then known as the Colored Orphan Asylum) there for the next twenty-eight years. According to a 1939 orphanage document, Cheatham, who had helped found the orphanage in 1883, "was its superintendent and to him more than any man, is due the credit for the remarkable progress and development of the institution." He died in Oxford in 1935.
Known as an educated, discreet, and diplomatic man, Cheatham impressed even white-supremacist Democrat Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels was a newspaper editor and publisher from North Carolina who was appointed by United States President Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of the Navy during World War I...
, who remarked that he regarded Cheatham highly as a man who had gained the confidence of both races.
External links
- North Carolina Historical Marker
- African American Registry
- From American National Biography, published by Oxford University
- "What One of the Race's Most Powerful Leaders Says of President McKinley's Administration" by Henry P. Cheatham
- Cheatham's 1884 marriage license
- 1909 Annual Report of the Colored Orphan Asylum
- History of Central Children's Home, formerly Colored Orphan Asylum
- Biography in Baptist Magazine