Rev. W. W. Hooper

    Rev. W. W. Hooper, A. M., professor of natural science in Chat­tanooga University, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 18, 1843. His father, Jacob Hooper, was born in Maryland, and his mother, Mary (Watson) Hooper, was a native of Virginia. In early life both went to Ohio, where they were married and became the parents of six children­, two sons and four daughters. . In 1852 the mother died, and afterward Jacob Hooper married Elizabeth Lewis, who bore him two sons and one daughter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hooper are now living in California. In early life the father was a farmer, but afterward followed mechanical pursuits. In 1861, our subject entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, but the stirring events of the war caused him to throw aside his books and volunteer, in 1862, in Company A of a battalion of United States Infantry, and participated in the deadly conflict at Shiloh and Murfrees­boro. Having served eighteen months he was taken sick, and after recovery was detailed in the United States medical department at Louisville, Ky. After the war he spent some time in the Central Ohio Normal and in the Illinois State Normal, after which he taught school and went to college by turns. In 1872, he graduated from the university, and three years later received his degree of A. M. After conducting the high school at Buckley, Ill., a short time, he was elected vice-president of Rust University at Holly Springs, Miss., and three years later became president of the same, which position he held ten years. In 1886 he took his present position. In connection with his profession, he has been working in the ministerial field. In 1874, he married Miss Mattie Green, a native of Ohio, and a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College. To them were born two children: Frank and Mabel. The Professor is a Mason, and his wife is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887