History of Sewanee, (Franklin County) Tennessee United States of America

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Biographies:

William Mercer Green, first bishop of Mississippi and 51st in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Wilmington, N.C., May 2, 1798. His father was a wealthy rice-planter and his mother was of Quaker origin. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1818, receiving his A.M. degree in 1833; studied theology under Bishop R. C. Moore and was ordained deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church, April 21, 1821, and priest, April 20, 1822. He was rector of St. Jonn's church at Williamsborough, 1821-25; of St. Matthew's church at Hillsborough, which he founded, 1825-37; was chaplain and professor of rhetoric and logic in the University of North Carolina, 1837-49, and bishop of the diocese of Mississippi, 1850-87. He was consecrated bishop at St. Andrew's Church, Jackson, Miss., Feb. 24, 1850, by bishops Otey, Polk, Cobbs and Freeman. On Feb. 24, 1883, the Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson was made assistant bishop of the diocese at the request of Bishop Green who had given thirty-three years to the administration of the affairs of the diocese Bishop Green was one of the original founders of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. in 1857, a trustee, 1857-67, and chancellor and president of the board of trustees, 1867-87. He received the honorary degrees of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and LL.D. from the University of Virginia in 1848, and that of LL.D. from the University of the South in 1878. He published, besides sermons and orations: Memoir of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ravenscroft (1830) and Life of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Otey (1886). He died at Sewanee, Tenn., Fell. 13, 1887.

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

Telfair Hodgoson, educator, was born in Columbia, Va., March 14, 1840. He received his primary education in the schools of Philadelphia and was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1859. He entered the General Theological seminary with the class of 1863, but left New York for his native state on the passage of the ordinance of secession in 1861, and volunteered as a private in the 44th Virginia infantry. He was subsequently transferred to the lst Alabama cavalry, received regular promotions to the rank of major and served on the staff of Gen. Joseph Wheeler in Tennessee and Kentucky. He was ordained a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church at Savannah, Ga., in 1863, and a priest at Columbus, Ga., in 1864, and continued in the Confederate army as chaplain. He was rector of St. Mary's church, Keyport, N.J., 1865-71; was in Europe for some time, and in l871 was elected to the chair of moral philosophy ill the University of Alabama. In 1873-74 he was assistant minister of Christ church, Baltimtore. Md., and went from there to Trinity church, Hoboken, N.J., as rector, where he reniained till 1878, when he was made dean of the theological department, professor of exegesis and moral science and commis sioner of finance of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. In 1879 he was vice-chancellor of the institution, and for his work in this capacity he asked no salary, but made his private means support the failing credit of the university in a financial crisis. His administration was marked by a steady increase in the number of students and the erection of permanent buildings both by the University and by private individuals. He resigned the vice-chancellorship in 1890, continuing to give his services as dean of the theological department, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas F. Gailor. He founded and was editor of the Sewanee Review, and gave to the University of the South the Hodgson Library. He received the degree of S.T.D. from the University of the South in 1878, and delivered the baccalaureate sermon that year. Hobart college gave him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1890. He died at Sewanee, Tenn., Sept. 11, 1893.

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