Hailing from Lebanon, Mo., William Tecumseh Vernon was an American educator, minister and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) who served as president of the A.M.E.-sponsored Western University in Quindaro, Kansas. 

He also served as Register of the United States Treasury from 1906 to 1911.

In 1920, Reverend Vernon was consecrated a Bishop of the A.M.E. Church and was assigned to the 17th Episcopal District in South Africa where he served for four years.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.

Photo credit: Library of Congress