William Evans Arthur

William Evans Arthur
William Evans Arthur
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Kentucky's 6th district
	In office; March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875
Preceded by	Thomas Laurens Jones
Succeeded by	Thomas Laurens Jones
Personal details
Born	March 3, 1825; Cincinnati, Ohio
Died	May 18, 1897 (aged 72); Covington, Kentucky
Resting place	Linden Grove Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Addie Southgate; Etha Southgate
Relations	Son-in-law of William Wright Southgate
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

William Evans Arthur (March 3, 1825 – May 18, 1897) was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.

Early life and family

William E. Arthur was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 3, 1825.[1] He was the son of William and Eliza (Parsons) Arthur.[2] In 1832, the family moved to Covington, Kentucky.[2] Two years later, Arthur's father died.[2]

Arthur received his early education in private schools and from private tutors in Covington and Harford County, Maryland.[2] He then studied law under John W. Stevenson and James Turner Morehead.[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1850 and commenced practice in Covington.[1]

In 1855, Arthur married Addie Southgate, daughter of former Congressman William Wright Southgate.[2] His first wife died in 1858, and in December 1860, Arthur married her younger sister Etha Southgate.[2] The couple had two children – a son named Sidney and a daughter named May.[2]

Political career

In 1856, Arthur was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for the ninth judicial district for a term of six years.[2] He served as presidential elector on the Democratic ticket of John C. Breckinridge and Joseph Lane in the 1860 presidential election.[1]

In 1866, Arthur was elected criminal judge of the ninth circuit served until 1868, when he resigned.[2] He was elected to represent the Sixth District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1870.[2] During the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875), he served on the House Committees on Elections and Railways and Canals.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1874.[1]

Later life and death

After the expiration of his congressional term, he resumed the practice of law in Covington.[1] In August 1886, he was elected judge of the twelfth judicial circuit of Kentucky and served until the expiration of his term on January 1, 1893.[2] He resumed his law practice until his death in Covington on May 18, 1897.[1] He was interred in Linden Grove Cemetery.[1]

References

"Arthur, William Evans". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Biographical Cyclopedia, p. 24

Bibliography

Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Chicago, Illinois: J.M. Gresham Company. 1896.

United States Congress. "William Evans Arthur (id: A000304)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.