He was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practice in Vicksburg. Catchings was elected to the State Senate in 1875 but resigned in 1877. Catchings was elected attorney general in 1877. He was reelected in 1881 and served until February 16, 1885.
Catchings, a Democrat, was elected to the 49th and to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885–March 3, 1901) after winning a disputed election against Cornelius Jones, an African American lawyer and state legislator. Catchings served as chairman of the Committee on Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River (50th Congress), Committee on Railways and Canals (52nd and 53rd Congress), Committee on Rivers and Harbors (53rd Congress). He first introduced a bill for Vicksburg National Military Park in January 1896. When it failed to pass, although favorably reported by committee, he re-introduced it in the next Congress in December 1897.[3]
Later life
Later, Catchings was employed as division counsel for the Southern Railway. Appointed by Governor Vardaman, he also served as a member of the Mississippi Code Commission.
Death and burial
He died in Vicksburg on December 24, 1927, and was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
References
^Negus, W. H. (1900). "Delta Psi". In Maxwell, W. J. (ed.). Greek Lettermen of Washington. New York, New York: The Umbdenstock Publishing Co. pp. 231–234
^Giambrone, Jeff (2012). Remembering Mississippi's Confederates. Arcadia Publishing. p. 94.
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