was nominated and elected Governor of the State.

        In 1853 he was elected to the Senate of the United States, and served continuously until 1859.

        The great lever which moved the incubus of the Whig party, used by Governor Reid, was the question of free suffrage. It may be that Governor Reid and his many friends may see, and that too not in the far future, that they committed a blunder.

        Governor Reid was keenly alive to the great troubles then approaching. He had been long in Congress, and most observant of the affairs of the nation. He felt that the ship of state, built by our fathers, and which was freighted with all our hopes and happiness, was drifting on a lee-shore, and in peril. He would have had this bitter cup to have passed from him, and with this hope, he was a delegate with the sage and the wise of our country to the "Peace Congress," at Washington in the year of 1861. But futile were its efforts. The storm had arisen, and no human power could avert its fury Yet Governor Reid viewed with calm philosophy and resignation these sad occurrences and though priviledged by age from going to the field, still he contributed by his counsels in the Confederate Congress, to urge such measures as would enure to the benefit of his country.

        Since the war he has remained at his home attending to his family, his farm and his practice.

        There are few men in the State who enjoy more of the respect, regard, and the affection of the people than Governor Reid, for unaffected simplicity of character, stern integrity, and unsullied purity of life. The most prominent trait in the character of Governor Reid is the consistency and uniformity of his political career. Cautious and circumspect in forming his opinions, and when once formed, his firmness and ability in maintaining them. No one who knows him, or who has observed his long, successful and brilliant career, can ever doubt where to find him--the unwavering supporter of popular rights and democratic principles.

        He married, as will be seen by the genealogical diagram, Henrietta, daughter of Judge Thomas Settle, sen'r.

        Josiah and John Settle, two brothers, came from England. John Settle located in Virginia. Josiah Settle located in what is now called Rockingham county, North Carolina. He was the father of David Settle, who married Rhoda Mullins, and had issue: I Thomas, born 1789. He entered public life as a member of the House of Commons in 1816; was elected in 1817 and 1819 a member of Congress, when he declined re-election. Appeared again in public life in 1826 as a member of the House of Commons, and was re-elected in 1827-28. The last year he was Speaker of the House. In 1832 elected Judge of the Superior Court. Married Henrietta Graves; died 1857. To whom were born: 1. Thomas, born 1831. Elected to Legislature in 1854-55-56, during the last two years was Speaker of the House. Elected to the Senate and made President of the Senate in 1865-66. Elected Solicitor of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1859, held this position for nine years with the exception of one year, when he was in the Confederate army. Elected Judge; Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of N. C. in 1868. Appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Peru 1871; resigned in the spring of 1872. Was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of N. C. in the fall of 1872 by Gov. Caldwell.

        Resigned in 1876 to accept the Republican nomination for Governor; was appointed District Judge of Federal Court for northern district of Florida in 1877, by President Grant.

Page 391 of 471 Index - Contents

Featured Books & CD-ROMS