History of Bryn Mawr, (Montgomery County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

James Robert Madison Mullany, naval officer, was born in New York city, Oct. 26, 1818; son of Col. James R. Mullany, quarter-master-general, U.S.A. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman, Jan. 7, 1832; was promoted passed midshipman, June 23, 1838, and lieutenant, Feb. 29, 1844. He was engaged in the coast survey for deep sea soundings and observations for temperature in the Gulf Stream, 1844-47, and in 1847-48 was engaged in the capture of the city of Tabasco, Mexico, June, 1847. He was attached to the St. Louis and the Brandywine of the Brazil squadron, 1848-50, and to the Hancock on the coast of the United States, and in the West Indies in search of filibustering vessels, 1851. He served on the Columbia of the West India squadron, 1852-55; was inspector of ordnance at the New York navy yard, 1855-58; executive officer of the Niagara, on special duty on the coast of Africa in 1858; of the Constellation, 1859, and of the Sabine, West In diasquadron, 1859-60. He commanded successively the Sabine and Wyandotte in the protection of Fort Pickens, and the storeship Supply off Pensacola, 1861, and was inspector of ordnance, 1861-62. He was promoted commander, Oct. 18, 1861;commanded the Bienville of the North Atlantic and West Gulf squadron, 1862-65, and the Bienville was almost constantly employed in making demonstrations against the forts located in Charleston Harbor, and those at other ports on the southern Atlantic coasts from North Carolina to Florida. He was also alert for blockade runners, and captured the steamers Stetten and Patras, each sailing under the English flag, laden with munitions of war, in 1862; captured nine schooners from Nassau, all under English flags, and commanded the division of the Western Gulf squadron from Sabine Pass to Rio Grande, April to September, 1863. He was transferred to the command of the Oneida by Admiral Farragut, during the battle of Mobile, Aug. 5, 1864, where he was severely wounded, and was inspector in charge of ordnance at the New York navy yard, 1865-68. He was promoted captain, July 25, 1866; commanded the Richmond, European squadron, 1868-71; was promoted commodore, Aug. 15, 1870; commanded the Mediterranean squadron, 1870-71; was on court-martial duty, 1871-72; commanded the Philadelphia navy yard, 1872-74, and the naval station at League Island, 1873-74. He was promoted rear-admiral, June 5, 1874; commanded the North Atlantic station, 1874-76; served at Aspinwall with his flagship and one other vessel to protect American interests on the Isthmus, threatened by rebellion, September?October, 1875, and as senior officer commanded the vessels of the South Pacific squadron in the harbor of Panama. He was governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, 1876-79, and in 1879 retired and resided in Philadelphia. He died at Bryn Mawr, Pa., Sept. 17, 1887.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Evans Rhoads, educator, was born at Marple, Delaware county, Pa., Jan. 21, 1828; son of Joseph and Hannah (Evans) Rhoads. He was educated at the Westtown school, Pa.; graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1851, and for a short time had charge of the Philadelphia dispensary. He was resident physician of the Pennsylvania hospital, 1852?54, and conducted a general practice in Germantown, Philadelphia, 1854?62. In 1860 he married Margaret W. Ely, of New Hope, Pa. After 1862 he devoted himself to philanthropy and was for many years secretary of the associated executive committee on Indian affairs, and for several years was president of the Indian Rights association. In 1876 he was appointed editor of the Friends' Review, and served as the first president of Bryn Mawr college, 1883?94. He also held the professorship of ethics at Bryn Mawr, 1883?94, and was president of the board of trustees from 1883 until his death. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Union college in 1890. He died at Bryn Mawr, Pa., Jan. 2, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Hubbard Vail, first bishop of Kansas and 73d in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Richmond, Va., Oct. 21, 1812. He was graduated from Washington (Trinity) college, A.B., 1831, A.M., 1834, and from the General Theological seminary, New York city, 1835. He was admitted to the diaconate, June, 1835; was assistant at St. James's church, Philadelphia, Pa., and at St. Paul's, Boston, Mass.; was advanced to the priesthood in Grace church, Boston, by Bishop Griswold, Jan. 6, 1837; was rector of Christ Church, Cambridge, Mass., 1837-39; St. John's, Essex, Conn., 1839-44; Christ church, Westerly, R.I., 1844-57; St. John's, Taunton, Mass., 1857-63, and Trinity, Muscatine, Iowa, 1863-64. He was elected first bishop of Kansas and was consecrated, Dec. 15, 1864. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Brown in 1858 and that of LL.D. from the University of Kansas in 1875. He edited the Rev. A. F. Lyte's "Buds of Spring," poems, with a memoir of the author and with additional original poems (1838), and is the author of: Plan and Outline, with Selection of Books, of a Public Library in Rhode Island (1838); Hannah, a Sacred Drama (1839); The Comprehensive Church (1841); educational reports, addresses and letters. Bishop Vail died at Bryn Mawr, Pa., Oct. 6, 1889.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor