Prominent Black Memphis Attorney in the late 19th, early 20th Century.

Former slave and mixed-race son of Josiah, Sr. (a North Carolina slave trader) and Nancy Ann Graves (a former slave and later, Josiah Sr's wife).

Josiah, or "Joe," as he was called, was born en route from his parents' homeland of North Carolina to "a better life" in Ohio. One report gave his birthplace as the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee. Joe's parents were married in Butler County, Ohio, on 31 May 1858, but because many in the area didn't approve of their interracial marriage, they were forced to live in separate homes (three homes apart on the 1860 census).

At the age of 15, Joe entered Oberlin College, where he completed his freshman year. Soon thereafter, he was persuaded by Governor Alexander Robey "Boss" Shepherd to transfer to Howard University in Washington, DC, where he finished his undergraduate courses. Josiah was one of the first three Black graduates of Howard University in 1872. At the time of his graduation, he was working as Reading Clerk of the DC House of Delegates, teaching Latin and mathematics. Upon graduation, he immediately began law school courses at Howard, graduating in 1875. After law school graduation, he began practicing law in Panola County, Mississippi, fulfilling his desire to help other Black people in the South. In 1876, he was elected as a delegate to the National Republican and a Presidential elector for Mississippi at large; he was elected Presidential elector again in 1880, and in 1884, he was elected to the Mississippi legislature. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1885, where he practiced law again. In 1888, his first wife, Theresa Vogelsang Settle, a well-known soprano, died. He had one child with Theresa, a girl, also named Theresa, who only lived for 10 months (29 Jun 1880 in Sardis, Panola County, Mississippi - 27 May 1881 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee).

For two years, Joe served as Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, handling all state prosecutions. In about 1890, he married Frances "Fannie" McCullough, a music teacher at the LeMoyne Institute, and they had two sons - Josiah T. Settle, Jr. (an attorney in Memphis and Washington, DC) and Francis McCullough Settle.

Joe was admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court on 20 Apr 1903. He died in 1915 of pulmonary tuberculosis in Memphis.

Contributor: FamilyTies (47950600)

Prominent Black Memphis Attorney in the late 19th, early 20th Century.

Former slave and mixed-race son of Josiah, Sr. (a North Carolina slave trader) and Nancy Ann Graves (a former slave and later, Josiah Sr's wife).

Josiah, or "Joe," as he was called, was born en route from his parents' homeland of North Carolina to "a better life" in Ohio. One report gave his birthplace as the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee. Joe's parents were married in Butler County, Ohio, on 31 May 1858, but because many in the area didn't approve of their interracial marriage, they were forced to live in separate homes (three homes apart on the 1860 census).

At the age of 15, Joe entered Oberlin College, where he completed his freshman year. Soon thereafter, he was persuaded by Governor Alexander Robey "Boss" Shepherd to transfer to Howard University in Washington, DC, where he finished his undergraduate courses. Josiah was one of the first three Black graduates of Howard University in 1872. At the time of his graduation, he was working as Reading Clerk of the DC House of Delegates, teaching Latin and mathematics. Upon graduation, he immediately began law school courses at Howard, graduating in 1875. After law school graduation, he began practicing law in Panola County, Mississippi, fulfilling his desire to help other Black people in the South. In 1876, he was elected as a delegate to the National Republican and a Presidential elector for Mississippi at large; he was elected Presidential elector again in 1880, and in 1884, he was elected to the Mississippi legislature. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1885, where he practiced law again. In 1888, his first wife, Theresa Vogelsang Settle, a well-known soprano, died. He had one child with Theresa, a girl, also named Theresa, who only lived for 10 months (29 Jun 1880 in Sardis, Panola County, Mississippi - 27 May 1881 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee).

For two years, Joe served as Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, handling all state prosecutions. In about 1890, he married Frances "Fannie" McCullough, a music teacher at the LeMoyne Institute, and they had two sons - Josiah T. Settle, Jr. (an attorney in Memphis and Washington, DC) and Francis McCullough Settle.

Joe was admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court on 20 Apr 1903. He died in 1915 of pulmonary tuberculosis in Memphis.

Contributor: FamilyTies (47950600)