Tyre York was a U.S. Congressman

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 from North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 between 1883 and 1885.

York, born in Rockford, North Carolina

Rockford, North Carolina

-Geography:Rockford is situated along the Yadkin River in the Rockford Township of southern Surry County. Rockford sits along the former Southern Railway, now used by the Yadkin Valley Railroad, which follows the Yadkin River through Surry County.-History:...

, attended common schools and then the Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...

 Medical College. He practiced medicine and farming in Traphill, North Carolina beginning in 1859.

During the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, York was a surgeon with the Wilkes County

Wilkes County, North Carolina

Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census listed the county's population at 65,632; the 2010 U.S. Census listed the population at 69,340...

 Home Guards. In 1865, he was elected to a term in the North Carolina House of Representatives

North Carolina House of Representatives

The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....

; he served again in 1866 and 1879, in addition to terms in the North Carolina Senate

North Carolina Senate

The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...

 in 1876 and 1881.

In the election of 1882, opponents of the 1881 Prohibition referendum formed a unity ticket with the Republican Party, called the "Liberal Anti-Prohibition" ticket (LAP). York was elected on the LAP ticket to the 48th United States Congress

48th United States Congress

The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...

; he served one term and was considered an "Independent Democrat

Independent Democrat

Independent Democrat is a term occasionally adopted by American politicians to refer to their party affiliation. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as " Independent Democrats."...

." York did not run again for the U.S. House in 1884, choosing instead to campaign unsuccessfully for Governor of North Carolina

Governor of North Carolina

The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...

, running on a fusion ticket of Liberals and Republicans. When the returns were canvassed, 215 votes in Robeson County were recorded for a local citizen named "Tyler York" rather than for Tyre York.

After the 1884 election, Rep. York retired to his home in Traphill, though he served one term in the North Carolina House in 1887. He died on his farm in 1916 and is buried in the Traphill Cemetery.

Electoral history

U.S. House Election, NC-07, 11/7/1882
Tyre York (LAP)	11,435	48.6%
William M. Robbins (D)	11,165	47.5
Columbus L. Cook (G)	924	3.9
Robert F. Armfield (D write-in*)	2	0.0

NC Governor Election, 11/4/1884
Alfred M. Scales (D)	143,249	53.8%
Tyre York (R/L)	122,795	46.1
Tyler York (I)	215	0.1
Scattering write-in	3	0.0

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