After working as a school principal, Cheatham served as the elected Register of Deeds for Vance County (1884-1888) before being narrowly elected to Congress over incumbent Furnifold M. Simmons (who would later lead the White Supremacy campaigns that disfranchised North Carolina blacks).
Cheatham served as the elected Register of Deeds for Vance County (1884-1888) before. Cheatham was being narrowly elected to Congress over incumbent Furnifold M. Simmons (who would later lead the White Supremacy campaigns). These White Supremacy campaigns disfranchised North Carolina blacks. Cheatham was working as a school principal.