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Bishop Gregg
Source: A History of Marlboro County: With
Traditions and Sketches of Numerous Families,
1897
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 OJd
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
greatgrandfather, 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 rgroup; 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 & Mclver 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 .
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