N. T. Caton (1832–1916)

He started his college education at Columbia University, but his father met with financial difficulties, and Nathan was compelled to leave college in his senior year before graduating. He entered a mercantile house as a salesman and bookkeeper. In 1849, when he was seventeen he crossed the plains to California, driving an ox team. After reaching California he mined for a few months and then in the early fifties he moved to Oregon, where he taught school in Willamette Valley. He returned to California in the spring of 1851 and he remained there for five months, then went back to the Willamette valley and was located there when the act creating the territory of Washington was passed by congress.

In 1857 he was appointed postmaster of Salem, Oregon and served for four years. At this time he was also elected clerk of Marion county. Nathan read law with Governor Lafayette Grover, and practiced continuously. In 1866 he moved to Silver City, Idaho, continued to practice law and for a time was editor of a newspaper, the Owyhee Bullion. In 1867 he moved to Walla Walla, Washington and was elected three times to the legislature. He served as speaker of the house in 1872. Nathan served one term as prosecuting attorney during the territorial days, and in 1898 was elected prosecuting attorney of Lincoln county and served there for four years.

Nathan and Mrs. Caton were members of the Davenport Christian Church. When the churches divided over the use of the instrument, they remained with the churches of Christ. Nathan Caton was counted among the most successful and prominent attorneys in Washington Territory.