Marlboro County ScArchives History - Books .....Chapter XVI Bishop Gregg 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sc/scfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 5, 2007, 12:02 pm Book Title: A History Of Marlboro County CHAPTER XVI. BISHOP GREGG. As has been already intimated, the writer has made free use of the work of the late Bishop Gregg, of Texas, sometimes giving his authority and at other times giving facts contained in the Bishop's "History of the Old Cheraws," in his own language. No one at this day can hope to tell the story of the early settlers on the Pee Dee without drawing largely from this source. Kindly and generously Bishop Gregg has expressed his gratification in several communications to the author that his book has been of service in this "labor of love." Although he was never a citizen of Marlboro, yet in his early life and vigorous manhood Bishop Gregg was a near and much-loved neighbor; and, by his marriage with one of Marlboro's fairest daughters, became almost a citizen and is justly entitled to a more extended notice than can be accorded to many a worthy son of the soil. His great-grandfather, John Gregg, of Scottish origin, came to the Pee Dee in 1752, and was the father of a large family. A brother, Joseph, settled lower down the river, and from him came the large family in Marion and Florence counties. From James, the first son of John, came a goodly group; among them, David, the father of Alexander, the late Bishop of Texas, whose mother was Athalinda Brocky. "Alexander was born at Society Hill, Darlington county, South Carolina, October 8, 1819. From an early age he was a pupil in the St. David's Academy, of famous memory. At fifteen he went to Mt. Zion College at Winnsboro, so celebrated for years, under the charge of Wilson Hudson, Esq. In the latter part of November, in the year 1835, he matriculated at the South Carolina College, entering the Junior class. At the reorganization of the college in January, 1836, under Hon. R. W. Barnwell as president, and embracing a curriculum with a more extended and thorough course of study, the young student being only sixteen, he was induced to enter the Sophomore class in order to have the advantages of a three years' course. He graduated in December, 1838, taking the first honor in a class of forty. Naturally drawn to the law, he applied himself to its study and entered the office of Robbins & McIver in the fall of 1839 with the late Chancellor Inglis as a fellow student. In December, 1840, they were both admitted to the bar. Returning to Cheraw, he formed a partnership with Gen. Blakeny for two years and after that was alone for a year." On the 21st of April, 1841, he was married to Miss Charlotte Wilson Kollock, of Marlboro, a lady who had enjoyed the advantages of the highest culture and was possessed of unusual attractions of mind and character. This noble helpmeet cheerfully left her charming home in Carolina, and accompanied her husband to the wilds of Texas where duty seemed to call him. After blessing his life for nearly forty years with her presence and moulding influence, she went to her reward May 20, 1880; but not till her heart had been pained and chastened by the death of a precious son. The career of Mr. Gregg as a lawyer was unexpectedly terminated in the spring of 1844, when he felt called of God to another and higher course of life; the result of deep and serious religious convictions of earlier years. Now he was moved to abandon all else, and joyously gave himself to the ministry. Received into the Episcopal church by the late Bishop Gadsden, he at once became a candidate for holy orders. The influence of the ministrations of Bishop Elliott, who was chaplain of the college during his student life, doubtless contributed to this result. In June, 1846, he was ordained deacon in St. David's Church, at Cheraw, by Bishop Gadsden, and in January following, he was ordained to the priesthood, and became the rector of St. David's, in which office he continued thirteen years, not only beloved by his own church, but honored and admired by Christians of every name. In May, 1859, he was elected by the convention of that diocese Bishop of Texas, and, under the circumstances, felt it his duty to accept the call as the work of his life, although sundering many tender relations. His diocese then, and till 1874, embraced the entire State, which now for the first time had a bishop of its own. In October, 1859, he was consecrated to his office in Richmond, Va., where the general convention of his church was then in session, and as soon as practicable, removed his family to Austin, which was to be their future home. In 1857, while yet a clergyman in South Carolina, Mr. Gregg was elected a trustee of the University of the South, located at Sewanee, Tenn. As Bishop of Texas, he was continued a trustee, and after the death of Bishop Green, of Mississippi, the Chancellor of the University, Bishop Gregg was elected to that office in 1887. The published writings of the Bishop consists of sermons, Episcopal charges, and the History of the Old Cheraws, which appeared in 1867. The circumstances which led to the work are given in the introduction. Every available source of information, it is believed, was examined, and, happily, much valuable matter preserved, thus escaping the ravages and losses which would inevitably have followed during the war between the States. This notice of Bishop Gregg is long, but every word is due. No man has done so much—none can do more to preserve the traditions and history of this portion of the State. Bishop Gregg has died since this chapter was prepared. He died at Sewanee, Tenn., a few years ago. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF MARLBORO COUNTY, WITH TRADITIONS AND SKETCHES OF NUMEROUS FAMILIES. REV. J. A. W. THOMAS, AUTHOR. A wonderful stream is the river Time As it runs through the realms of tears With a faultless rhythm and a musical rhyme, And a broader sweep and a surge sublime As it blends with the ocean of years. —TENNYSON. ATLANTA, GA.: THE FOOTE & DAVIES COMPANY, Printers and Binders. 1897. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sc/marlboro/history/1897/ahistory/chapterx24gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/scfiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb