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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Thomas Settle, Former Congressman, Dies of Flu, Jan. 23, 1919

From the Dunn Dispatch, Jan. 23, 1919

Thomas Settle Attacked by Flu, Dies of Pneumonia

Asheville, N.C., Jan. 20—Thomas Settle, former Republican member of Congress for the fifth North Carolina District, and one of the foremost party leaders in this State, died here tonight at 8 o’clock, death being due to pneumonia following influenza.

The deceased was born at Greensboro, N.C., March 4, 1865. He was elected Solicitor for the Greensboro district when he was 23 years old. In 1894 he was elected congressman on the Republican ticket for the Fifth district, and was later nominated for Governor by the Republicans. He was one of the ablest and most eloquent Republican speakers in North Carolina. His father, Judge Thomas Settle, made the famous race for governor against Zeb Vance in 1876.

Reports as late as 6 o’clock tonight were to the effect that Mr. Settle was greatly improved and friends throughout the county were looking for his recovery. He was talking to friends a few minutes before he died and some exertion brought on a severe fit of coughing, which caused a clot of blood to form in his lung, the clot causing death.

He had to wait the ?? of his majority to be admitted to the bar, and rose rapidly in his profession, being solicitor for the Greensboro district and making a wonderful record in criminal cases.

He was elected to Congress, representing the Fifth district, in 1894 and served two terms. He was a candidate for governor against Governor Craig in 1913. Mr. Settle married Miss Eliza Potter of Wilmington, sister of Mrs. Tench Coxe of Asheville. They built “Orton” one of the show residences of this city on Pearson Drive, modeled and named for the celebrated Ornton plantation on the Cape Fear river, owned by Mrs. Settle’s great uncle, Dr. Fred Hill.

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