Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/335

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VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

Athenaeum in Tuscaloosa, and eight years later was appointed president of Mercer University at Penfield, Georgia, where for a period of twelve years he performed his duties satisfactorily and in addition gave instruction in theology, resigning from the presidency in 1856. His published \<'orks are: "Manual of Theolog}*;" 'Treatise of Church Order;" 'Elements of Moral Science;" "Evidences of Christianity;" and several pamphlets including "The More Ex- cellent Way;" "An Interpretation of John iii. :5 ;" "An Essay in Defence of Strict Com- munion," and "A Decisive Argument against Infant Baptism, furnished by One of its Own Proof-Texts."

CobbSy Nicholas Hamner, born in Bed- ford county, Virginia, February 5, 1796, son of John Lewis Cobbs and Susanna Hamner, his wife, daughter of Nicholas Hamner, of Albemarle county, \'irginia. While study- ing for the ministry in the Episcopal church he was engaged in teaching for several years. He was ordained deacon in Staun- ton, \'irginia, in May, 1824, by the Rt. Rev. R. C. Moore. D. D., and priest the next year, in Richmond, Virginia, by the same bishop. He performed pastoral work in his native county for fifteen years. In 1839 he became rector of St. Paul's church, Peters- burg, Virginia, and in 1843 accepted a call to the rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Cin- cinnati, Ohio. In 1844 he was elected bishop cf Alabama — the first to preside over that diocese, and was consecrated in Philadel- phia. October 20, 1844. He was a faithful overseer of the work committed to him. and his memory is preserved in a noble charity in Montgomery, bearing the name of the Bishop Cobbs Homes for Orphans. He pub-

hshed a few sermons and addresses. He died at Montgomery, Alabama, January 11, 1861. He was descended from Ambrose Cobbs. of York county, Virginia, who pat- ented lands in 1639.

Chandler, Reuben» born in Randolph county, \'irginia, July 15, 1799. He received an academic education in Virginia, and then removed to Alabama, settling in Somerville, Morgan county, where he practiced law. I'or many years he was a member of the state legislature, and subsequently was elected as a Democrat to congress, serving from December 7, 1835, till March 3, 1847. He was then elected governor of his state, and held that office until 1849, after which he retired to private life in Huntsville. For many years he continued to be consulted on matters of political importance, and was a delegate to the national Democratic conven- tions of Cincinnati in 1856, of Charleston in i860, and of Xew York in 1868. He died in Huntsville, Alabama, May 17, 1882.

Colquitt, Walter T., born in Halifax coun- ty. Virginia, December 27, 1799; he removed with his parents to Georgia. He entered Princeton college, but was not graduated; studied law in Millcdgeville, Georgia, was admitted to the bar in 1820, and began prac- tice at Sparta, afterwards removing to Cow- pens. When twenty-one years old he was elected brigadier-general of militia. He be- came prominent in 1826 by contesting the district as the Troup candidate for congress against Lumpkin, the Clark candidate, who was elected by thirty-two majority. The same year he was elected judge of the Chattahoochee circuit, and was reelected in 1829. In 1834 and 1837 he was a state sena- tor. In 1838 he was elected to congress as

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