History of Hopkinton, (Washington County) Rhode Island United States of America

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Biographies:

Edward Lee Greene, botanist, was born at Hopkinton, R.I., Aug. 20, 1843; son of William Maxson and Abby Maria (Crandall) Greene; grandson of the Rev. John Greene, a well-known evangelist in New England and New York in the early part of the 19th century; and a descendant of John Greene who came from England and settled in Rhode Island in 1643. He was graduated from Albion college, Wis., Ph.B. in 1866. He was instructor in botany and German at Albion academy, Wis., in 1868; was ordained to the Episcopal ministry in 1871, and was instructor in botany at Jarvis Hall, Golden City, Col., 1871-72; and rector of churches at Greeley, Pueblo and Georgetown, Col., and at Berkeley, Cal., until 1882. He was a lecturer in botany at the University of California, 1882-83; and in 1885 he renounced the Episcopal ministry and became a Roman Catholic layman. He was instructor in botany, 1885-87; assistant professor of botany, 1887-88; associate professor of botany, 1888-90; and professor of botany, 1890-95, at the University of California; and was made professor of botany at the Catholic university of America at Washington, D.C., in 1895. He established the Pittonia in 1887, and the Erythea in 1893. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Notre Dame, Ind., in 1895. His published writings include Illustrations of West American Oaks (1889-90); Flora Franciscana (1891-97) and Manual of Botany of San Francisco Bay Region (1894).

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

Prudence Crandall Philleo, educator, was born in Hopkinton, R.I., Sept. 3, 1803. She was educated in the Friends school, Providence, R.I., engaged in teaching and in 1832 opened a select boarding school for girls in Canterbury, Conn., which was patronized by the leading families of the town. Through the admission of a colored student, Sarah Harris, in 1833, her former patrons withdrew their children. After consulting with William Lloyd Garrison, she decided to conduct her school entirely for the education of the Negro, and it was so advertised in the Liberator of March 9, 1833. Town meetings were held denouncing Miss Crandall; the grocer and the provision dealer refused to sell food to the school, and the pupils were assailed and insulted in the street. On May 24, 1833, a state law was passed forbidding any person establishing a school for the education of colored people without the written permit of the selectmen. She was arrested and imprisoned in June, and in August and October was tried and convicted at the Windham county court. The supreme court of errors reversed the judgment on a technicality in July, 1834. The townspeople then sacked and burned her house, and she reluctantly abandoned the beginning of higher education for colored people in New England, and shortly afterward married the Rev. Calvin Philleo, a Baptist clergyman, who died in 1876. She spent the remainder of her life in New York, Illinois and Kansas. Her portrait, painted by Francis Alexander for the American Anti-Slavery society in 1838, was presented to Cornell university by S. J. May. See "Prudence Crandall" by John C. Kimball (1886). She died in Elks Falls, Kan., Jan. 28, 1890.

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