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ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  00084  6383 


Gc 

974.501 
P94b 
v,2 


1134240 


HISTORY 


OK 


ROVIDENCE  @)UNTY, 

RHODE   ISLAND. 


Edited  by 
RICHARD    jM.    BAYLES, 

Assisted  by  a  corps  of  writers. 


Ii)    bwo   voliiD)e^,   Ilkisbrated. 


VOLUME   II. 


New  York: 
W.  W.  PRESTON  &  CO. 


1891. 


TABLE   OF  COiNTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I.  1134240 

THE   TOWN  AND   CITY   OF   PAWTUCKET. 

Incorporation.— Pawtiicket  Ceded  to  Ehode  Island.— Consolidation.— Places  of  Inter- 
est.— Joseph  Jenks. — Manufacturing,  Past  and  Present. — The  Cotton  Centennial. 
— Newspapers 1 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE  TOWN   AND   CITY   OF   PAWTUCKET— (continued). 
Bridges.  —  Business  Blocks.  —  Trading.  —  Woodlawn.  —  Hotels.  —  Stages.— Banks.— 
Churches.  —  Public  Library.  —  Post   Office.  —  Fire   Department.  —  Education.  — 
Societies 61 

CHAPTER  III. 
PAWTUCKET— BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 
John  F.  Adams.— Arnold  Family.— Olney  Arnold.— James  S.  Brown.— Charles  E. 
Chickering.— Lucius  B.  Darling.— Simon  W.  Dexter.— John  D.  Earle.— Lewis 
Fairbrotlier.— Squire  French.— Darius  Goff.— William  H.  Haskell.— Nathan  P. 
Hicks.— Jenks  Family.- Edwin  Jenckes.— James  Mason.— George  E.  Newell.— 
Jacob  N.  Polsey.— Payne  Family.— John  B.  Read.— William  F.  Say les.— Frederic 
C.  Sayles.— Albert  R.  Sherman.— Gideon  L.  Spencer.— Henry  A.  Warburton.— 

Joshua  S.  White..— Benjamin  Fessenden.— Clark  Sayles 97 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   TOWN   OF   EAST  PROVIDENCE. 

Geographical  Description. —Its  People  and  Industries.— Purchase  and  Settlement  of 
the  Territory.— First  Planting  of  Roger  Williams.— First  Permanent  Settler.— 
First  Compact  of  Seekonk.  —  Town  Incorporation  as  Rehoboth.  —  Highways. 
Common  Pastures  and  Early  Customs.— Destruction  by  King  Phihp's  War.— 
Early  Schools.— The  Revolution.— Saltpeti-e  Manufacture.— Bridges  over  the 
Seekonk.— Organization  of  the  Town  of  East  Providence.— Civil  List.— Statistics 
of  Progress.— Public  Schools.— Highway  Districts.— Watchemoket  Fire  District. 
—Police  Force.— Street  Lighting.— Town  Hall.— First  Meeting  House.— First 
Congregational  Church.— Second  Congregational,  Riverside.— Broadway  Chapel. 
— Fii-st  Baptist  Church.— Second  Baptist.— First  Uuiversalist.— St.  Mary's  Epis- 
copal.—St.  Mark's  Episcopal.— Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  R.  C— Haven  Metho- 
dist Episcopal.  —  Union  Chapel.  —  Reliance  Lodge.  I.  O.  O.  F.  —  Fraternity 
Env  ampmeut.— Bucklin  Post,  G.  A.  R.— Farragut  Post.— Riverside  Cotton  Mills. 
— Bu  7-raphical  Sketches 143 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  TOWN  OF  NORTH  PROVIDENCE. 

General  Description.— Settlements  and  Physical  Features.— The  Original  Town.— 
Its  Growtli  an  1  Population.— Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly.— Organ- 
ization of  the  Present  Town.— Town  Officers  since  that  time.— Highways  and 
Turnpikes.— Woe dville.— Its  Manufactures.— Graystone.—Centredale.— Its  Cot- 
ton Factory.— Union  Library.— Roger  Williams  Lodge.— Allendale  and  its  Mills. 
—The  Baptist  Chu  ch.— Zachariah  Allen  Lodge.— Lymansville  and  its  Mills.— 
Roman  Catholic  CI  urch.  —  Fruit  Hill. —Valuation  and  Taxes. —  Biographical 
Sketches IgQ 


iv  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI.  PAGE 

THE   TOWN   OF  SMITHFIELD, 

Incoiix>i-atiou.— Description.— Early  Records.— Highways.— Defense  of  the  Town 
Autiiorities  Against  Sundry  Persons.— Various  Proceedings  of  the  Town  Council. 
—  The  Revolutionary  Period.  —  The  Militia  Companies.  —  The  Cumberland 
Rangei-s.- Legislation  Against  Slavery.— Provision  for  the  Poor.— War  Exi^enses. 
—Division  of  the  Town.— The  Present  Town  of  Smithfield.— Town  Officers.— 
Public  Schools.— Early  Settlers.— Greenville:  its  Industries,  Churches,  Banks. 
Libi-ary.  etc.— Spragueville.— Stillwater.— Georgiaville,  and  its  Mills,  Churches, 
etc.— Enfield.- Biographical  Sketches 200 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  TOWN   OF   CUMBERLAND. 

Description. — Connection  With  Rehoboth. — Early  Town  Action. — Town  Officers. — 
William  Blackstone. — Other  Early  Settlers. — Transportation. — The  Blackstone 
River. — Bridge. — Mills  and  Manufactories. — Mines  and  Quarries. — Valley  Falls. — 
Manville. — Lonsdale. — Ashton. — East  Cumberland. — Diamond  Hill.— Hawkins. 
— Berkeley. — Cumberland  Hill. — Education. — Churches. — Societies. — Biographi- 
cal Sketches 238 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  TOWN   AND   CITY  OF  WOONSOCKET. 

Description. — Origin  of  Name. — Early  Settlers  and  their  descendants. — Statistics. — 
Civil  Organization. — Town  Officers. — City  of  Woonsocket. — Officers  in  1889. — 
Fire  Department. — Waterworks. — Poor  Asylum. — Public  Thoroughfares. — Pub- 
lic Houses  and  Business  Places. — Post  Office. — Opera  House. — Banking  Interests. 
— Gas  Company. — Electric  Machine  and  Power  Company. — Street  Railway. — 
Manufacturing  Industries 266 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  TOWN   AND  CITY   OF   WOONSOCKET— (concluded). 

The  Press. — Education. — Public  Libraries. — Churches.^Societies  and  Lodges. — The 
Woonsocket  Hospital.  —  Cemeteries.  —  Military  Affairs.  —  Bands.  —  Soldiers' 
Monument. — Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. — Sons  of  Veterans. — Biographical 
Sketches 325 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE   TOWN   OF  LINCOLN. 

Division  of  the  Old  Town  of  Smithfield. — Interesting  Localities. — First  Officers. — 
Town  Poor. — Town  House. — Internal  Improvements. — Town  Debt.— Schools. — 
Valley  of  the  Moshassuck. — Police  Department.— Societies. — Central  Falls. — 
Valley  Falls. — Lonsdale. — Manville. — Secret  and  Social  Societies.— Biographical 
Sketches <:^1 

CHAPTER  XL 

THE  TOWN   OF   NORTH   SMITHFIELD. 

Description.— Division  of  the  Town. — Places  of  Interest. — Town  Meetings.— 'yrdin- 
ances. — Town  Officers. — Slatersville.— Stores. — Post  Office.— Hotels.—  riank. — 
Library.— Slate rsville  Cemetery  Association. — List  of  Physicians. — John  Slater. 
— Industries.— Union  Village. — The  Friends. — Forestdale. — Branch  Village. — 
Waterford. — Churches. — A  Sketch  of  the  Various  Denominations  ^<fow  Extinct. 
—The  Congregational  Church.— Sabbath  School.— The  Catho'lc  Churches.— 
Schools  and  Academies. — Biographical  Sketches 485 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  GLOCESTER. 

General  Description  of  the  Town  from  1731  to  1806.— Noted  Ph.ces  now  Comprised 
Within  tlie  Town.— Town  Meetings.— Tlie  Military  History.— The  Town  of  Bur- 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS.  V 

PAGE 
lillville  Set  Otf.— Town  Officers.— Early  Settlement.— Brief  Personal  Notices.— 
The  Dorr  War.— Rivers  and  Ponds.— Secret  Societies.— Banks.— Public  Houses. 
—Manufacturers.— Business  Men  and  Farmers.— Chepachet  and  other  Villages. 
— Manton  Library  Association.— Roads.— Lotteries.— Early  Religious  Privileges. 
—Baptists.— Baptist  Society  and  Sunday  School.— Episcopalians.— Congrega- 
tionalists.— The  Union  Library.  —  Friends.  —  Schools.— Other  Societies.— Bio- 
graphical Sketches 513 

CHAPTER  XUl. 

THE  TOWN  OF  BURRILLVILLE. 

Description. —  Incorporation. —Early  Town  Action.— Officers.— Town  Asylum.— 
Schools. — Early  Settlers. — Counterfeiting.— Mills  and  Manufactories.— Villages. 
— Churches. — Societies. — The  Temperance  Movement. — Biographical  Sketches. .  547 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   TOWN   OF  SCITUATE. 

General  Description  of  the  Town.— Early  Settlers,  with  Reminiscences. — Town  Meet- 
ings.— Town  Officers. — Scituate  in  the  Revolution. — Early  Mechanics.— Secret 
Societies. — Schools. — Richmond. — The  Old  Angell  Tavern. — Stores. — Churches. 
— Manufacturing.  —  Village  of  North  Scituate.  —  Stores.  —  Bank.  —  Hotels. — 
Churches.— Saundersville. — Hope  Village.— Potterville. — Elmdale.— Kent  Cor- 
ners.— Ashland.— Rockland.— Clay ville. — Ponaganset.— Biographical  Sketches..  586 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   TOWN   OF   FOSTER. 

Description. — Interesting  Localities.  —  Early  Town  Meetings.— Statistics.— Town 
Asylum.— Town  Clerks.— Town  Officers  in  1890.— Mount  Hygeia.— First  Church 
in  Foster. — Early  Business  Interests. — Foster  Centre.— The  Hammond  Church. 
— Hopkins  Mills. — Union  Chapel. — Creameries. — Moosup  Valley.— Foster 626 

PCDRTRAITS. 

Adams.  John  A 446 

Adams,  John  F 98 

Aldrich.  Joseph  B 378 

Arnold.  Olney 102 

Ballon,  Henry  L 381 

Ballon,  Latimer  W 380 

Bass.  David 382 

Benedict.  Stephen 448 

Brown .  James  S 34 

Buckland,  Alphonzo  W 38.") 

Capron,  Adin  B 220 

Cole,  Joseph  E 386 

Conant,  Hezekiah.  .  '. .    4")0 

Cook,  Davis 258 

Cook.  James  S 568 

Cook.  Willis 388 

Cooke,  Reuben  O 390 

DarUng.  Lucius  B 106 

Dexter,  Simon  W 108 

Earle,  JohnD Ill 

Ellis.  John  W 394 

Fairbrother,  Lewis 112 

Fales,  David  G 432 

Fessenden,  Benjamin 142b 

Fiske,  John  T. 572 

Freeman,  Edward  L 456 


VI  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Gotf.  Darius ■ 46 

Grant.  George  H 396 

Hall.  Philip  D 503 

Harris,  Edward 398 

Harris.  Frank 400 

Haskell.  AVilliani  H 118 

Hicks,  Nathan  P 42 

Holman ,  Ansel 504 

Holt,  John  F ...  402 

Jenckes,  Edwin 126 

Jenckes,  Horace  A 404 

Jenks.  Alvin 433 

Littletield,  Alfred  H 461 

LittleHeld.  Daniel  G 462 

Matiiewson ,  David 575 

Miller,  Edwin  B 406 

Mowry.  Albert 506 

Mowry,  Alonzo  P 222 

MoAvry.  Arlon   507 

Mowry,  David  B 508 

Newell,  George  E 128 

Nichols,  Henry  S 577 

Nourse.  Charles  408 

Olney,  Ira 194 

Pease,  Le  Roy  B 412 

Perkins,  Fi-ancis  M 410 

Perkins,  Joshua 578 

Rathbun.  Oscar  J ...  414 

Razee,  Stafford  W. 262 

Read,  John  B 131 

Read.  Walter  A 542 

Sayles.  Albert  L 580 

Sayles.  Clark 142d 

Sayles,  Frederic  C 138 

Sayles,  WiUiani  F 134 

Smith.  Henry  E 224 

Stafford.  Rufus  J 472 

Stearns,  Henry  A 474 

Steere,  Alanson 624 

Steere,  George  W 546 

Thomas,  Charles  E 416 

Tinkham,  William 584 

Vose.  Alonzo  D 418 

Warburton.  Henry  A 142 

Whipple,  Walter  W 197 

Wilcox,  Andrew  J 198 

Wilson,  George  F 176 

Winsor,  Nicholas  S 225 

Winsor.  William 226 

Wood,  Henry  B 483 

VIEWS. 

Bryn  Mawr 139 

Granite  Mills 581 

Harrisville  Woolen  and  Worsted  Mills 585 


HISTORY  OF  PROVIDENCE  COUNTY, 


VOLUNIK     II. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  PAWTUCKET. 

Incorporation.— Pawtucket  Ceded  to  Rhode  Island.-ConsoHdation.-Places  of  Interest.- 
Joseph  Jenks.— Manufacturing,  Past  and  Present. -The  Cotton  Centennial. -News- 
papers. 

THE  village  of  Pawtucket  was  known  formerly  as  the  "  Fields  of 
Pawtucket,"  and  embraced  all  those  lands  west  of  the  river  in 
this  town,  which  were  for  more  than  a  century  a  part  of  the 
town  of  North  Providence.  The  ''  Fields  of  Pawtucket  "  date  back  as 
far  as  1765.  Gradually  this  territory  became  settled  and  was  then 
known  as  the  village  of  Pawtucket.  The  name  Pawtucket  is  of 
Indian  origin  and  signifies  "  falls  of  water."  The  Pawtucket  river  is 
called  in  Indian  Pazvtuck,  which  signifies  "  a  fall."  Pawtuxet,  or 
Pawtuxent,  according  to  Trumbull,  is  "  a  place  at  a  little  waterfall." 

The  town  of  Pawtucket  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  was  in- 
corporated by  Massachusetts,  February  29th,  1828,  with  territorial 
possessions  that  before  belonged  first  to  Rehoboth  (from  1645  to 
1812)  and  then  to  Seekonk  (from  1812  to  1828).  The  town  was  an- 
nexed  to  Rhode  Island  upon  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  question 
between  the  two  states  March  1st,  1862.  Rehoboth  embraced  at  the 
outset  the  town  of  Seekonk,  the  former  Pawtucket,  and  the  town 
which  bears  the  original  name.  It  was  within  the  bounds  of  Reho- 
both that  Roger  Williams  first  settled.  He  fled  in  haste  from  Massa- 
chusetts earlv  in  1636,  and  in  the  summer  of  that  same  year  to  avoid 
displeasing  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Company,  he  crossed  the  Seekonk 
river  and  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  Canonicus  and  Miantmomi, 
though  somewhat  indefinite  in  extent  yet  sufficient  to  acknowledge 
"lands  without  limits  up  the  streams  of  Pawtucket  and  Pawtuxet. 
Ousamequin,  who  is  known  as  Massasoit,  also  chief  of  the  Pokanoket, 
contracted  to  sell  the  lands  whereon  the  eastern  division  of  Paw- 
tucket stands  but  then  refused  to  sign  the  deed. 


2  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

About  five  years  after  Williams  left  the  eastern  side  of  the 
river  the  chief  of  the  Wampanoags  disposed  of  Williams'  old 
claims  to  John  Brown  and  Edward  Winslow  of  Plymouth,  who 
seem  to  have  been  acting  as  purchasing  agents  for  a  company  at 
Weymouth  and  Hingham.  In  1644  that  company  moved  to  Reho- 
both.  Their  leader  was  the  learned  Reverend  Samuel  Newman. 
The  tract  of  land  purchased  was  supposed  to  measure  eight  miles 
square.  By  accurate  survey  it  measured  nearer  ten  miles  square 
and  embraced  the  three  townships  of  Rehoboth,  Seekonk  and  Paw- 
tucket.  The  original  deed  of  Massasoit  is  not  extant,  but  that  of 
his  son  and  successor,  the  famous  King  Philip,  quit-claiming  this 
territory  to  the  white  settlers,  bears  date  March  30th,  1668.  In  1694 
Attleboro  was  severed  from  Rehoboth.  In  1746,  Cumberland  was 
taken  from  Attleboro,  but  the  residue  of  Rehoboth  remained  un- 
disturbed until  1812,  when  the  town  of  wSeekonk  was  taken  from  it. 
In  1828  the  town  of  Seekonk  was  divided,  its  western  portion  taking 
the  name  of  Pawtucket  on  February  29th. 

The  act  provided  that  "  The  Northwest  part  of  the  Town  of 
Seekonk,  within  the  following  lines,  namely,  beginning  at  the  bend 
of  the  Seekonk  river  about  forty  rods  south  of  the  mouth  of  Bever- 
age brook,  so  called,  thence  running  a  due  east  course  till  it 
strikes  the  ten  mile  river,  so  called,  thence  by  said  river  till  it 
comes  to  the  Attleborough  line,  including  the  Island  on  which  Kent's 
Factory  is  situated,  also  the  bridge  a  few  rods  north  of  said  Kent's 
Factory.  .  .  .  Thence  Westerly  on  the  Attleborough  line  till  it 
comes  to  the  Rhode  Island  line,  thence  Southerly  on  said  Rhode 
Island  line  till  it  comss  to  the  first  corner,  with  all  the  inhabitants 
living  thereon,  be  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Paw- 
tucket." 

The  first  town  meeting  held  in  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  act,  to 
choose  officers,  and  organize  the  town,  was  held  in  Reverend  Mr, 
Greene's  meeting  house,  March  17th,  1828.  Oliver  Starkweather, 
Esq.,  was  chosen  moderator,  James  C.  Starkweather,  clerk  for  the  en- 
suing year,  and  William  Allen,  treasurer.  Messrs.  David  Bucklin, 
Elijah  Ingraham  and  Remember  Kent,  were  elected  selectmen.  At 
an  adjourned  town  meeting  held  on  May  12th,  1828,  the  following 
sums  were  appropriated,  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of 
a  committee  appointed  at  a  previous  meeting,  viz.:  For  the  support 
of  the  poor,  $300;  for  the  repair  of  highways,  $100;  for  the  support  of 
schools,  $350;  for  the  other  town  expenses,  $150;  total,  $900. 

For  many  years  this  town  remained  a  part  of  Massachusetts,  the 
business  and  the  population  in  the  meantime  increasing  on  both 
sides  of  the  river.  Common  interests  bound  the  two  villages  to- 
gether, but  the  inhabitants  on  each  side  of  the  stream  cherished  a 
natural  state  pride,  and  the  little  local  jealousies  of  the  two  Paw- 
tuckets  occasioned  some  friction  until  the  long  standing  boundary 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY.  8 

dispute  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  was  amicably  ad- 
justed in  1861,  and  the  town  of  Pawtucket  was  ceded  to  Rhode 
Island. 

By  proclamation  of  Governor  William  Sprague  under  date  of 
December  21st,  1861,  the  decree  of  the  United  States  Court  was  an- 
nounced to  take  effect  on  the  first  day  of  March,  1862.  In  the  course 
of  a  dozen  years  public  sentiment  became  ripe  for  consolidation. 
The  town  of  North  Providence  was  subjected  to  dismemberment. 
An  important  part  of  it  was  assigned  to  the  city  of  Providence,  and 
the  village  of  Pawtucket  was  annexed  to  the  town  of  that  name.  A 
major  vote  of  the  property  holders  in  each  town  was  given  for  the 
measure.  The  portion  cut  off  from  North  Providence  and  assigned 
to  Pawtucket  is  thus  described: 

"  Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  centre  of  the  Blackstone  river,  being 
the  southeasterly  corner  of  the  town  of  Lincoln,  and  the  northeast- 
erly corner  of  the  town  of  North  Providence;  and  running  thence 
westerly,  on  and  with  the  line  dividing  said  towns  of  Lincoln  and 
North  Providence  to  a  point  on  said  line,  eighteen  hundred  feet  west 
of  the  east  line  of  the  Smithfield  turnpike;  thence  southerly  on  a 
straight  line  to  a  point  on  the  line  dividing  the  city  of  Providence 
•and  the  town  of  North  Providence,  as  hereinbefore  provided, 
eighteen  hundred  feet,  measured  on  said  line,  westerly  of  the  east 
line  of  said  Smithfield  turnpike;  thence  along  said  boundary  line 
and  following  the  same,  to  the  centre  of  the  Seekonk  river;  thence 
along  the  centre  of  said  river,  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

The  act  took  effect  May  1st,  1874.  At  the  election  of  officers  the 
following  were  chosen  members  of  the  town  council:  Olney  Arnold, 
Claudius  B.  Farnsworth,  John  F.  Adams,  William  T.  Adams,  William 
H.  Haskell,  James  L.  Pierce  and  Henry  B.  Metcalf.  General  Arnold 
was  elected  president  of  the  board.  Lewis  Pearce,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
town  clerk,  and  Mr.  George  W.  Newell,  treasurer.  The  same  officers 
were  reelected  in  1875,  though  Mr.  Metcalf  resigned  his  position 
during  the  year.  In  1876  a  new  town  council,  with  two  exceptions, 
was  chosen. 

Pawtucket  was  incorporated  as  a  city  March  27th,  1885.  The  act 
of  incorporation  was  accepted  April  1st,  1885,  by  a  vote  of  1,450  for, 
to  721  against.  The  new  city  government  was  organized  on  the  first 
Monday  of  January,  1886.  The  municipal  elections  are  held  on 
Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  annually.  The  first 
mayor  was  Hon.  Frederic  C.  Sayles.  He  was  succeeded  by  Major 
A.  K.  Goodwin,  and  the  latter  was  followed  by  Hugh  J.  Carroll,  who 
was  mayor  in  1890. 

The  year  after  the  consolidation  of  the  towns  in  1874,  the  state 
register  gave  the  number  of  inhabitants  at  18,464.  The  population 
in  1885  was  22,906. 

The  following  list  gives  the  names  of  the  principal  places  of  in- 


4  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

terest  in  the  town:  Districts. — East  Side:  West  Side;  North  Bend: 
South  Bend;  Pleasant  View;  East  Pleasant  View;  The  Plains;  Leb- 
anon, formerly  Kent's  Mills;  Dolly  Sabin;  Bunnell's;  Ingrahamville; 
Donnybrook;  The  Landing;  Fairmount;  Woodlawn;  Squatville;  The 
Common;  Park  Place;  The  Tollgate;  The  Coal  Yard.  Rivers.— Vd.\\- 
tucket;  Blackstone;  Ten  Mile.  Ponds. — Hammond's;  Bailey's;  Little 
Pasture.  Springs. — Mineral;  Cold.  Rocks — Lamprey;  Seal.  Lanes. — 
Baptist;  Cape  Cod;  Hedge;  Quaker;  Wing.  Woods. — Spencer's  Grove; 
Darling's  Grove;  Goff's  Lot.  Bridges. — Main  Street;  Division  Street; 
Exchange  Street;  Pleasant  View;  Central;  Tin  (or  Railroad);  Log. 
Old  Turnpikes. — Pawtucket  and  Providence;  EavSt;  Valley  Falls;  Lons- 
dale;  Smithfield;  Mineral  Spring;  Lindsey;  Boston;  Taunton  Road.. 
Parks. — Wilkinson;  Burnside;  Riding.  Hills. — Bean;  Baptist;  Broken 
Back;  Church;  Central.  Historic. — Wheaton's  Dam;  Slater's  Mill; 
Snuff  Mill;  First  bridge  built  across  the  Pawtucket  in  1718,  by  the 
colonies  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts.   • 

The  old  mill  in  which  Samuel  Slater  began  cotton  manufacturing- 
near  the  close  of  the  last  century  is  still  standing,  and  is  used  for 
various  manufacturing  purposes.  The  old  house  in  which  Mr.  Slater 
lived  at  that  time  is  also  standing  on  North  Main,  formerly  Mill 
street.  In  this  house  Mr.  Slater  began  a  Sunday  school  in  September, 
1797,  which,  if  not  the  first,  was  one  of  the  first  Sunday  schools  es- 
tablished in  this  country. 

The  civil  history  of  Pawtucket  begins  with  Joseph  Jenks.  His 
father  is  supposed  to  have  come  from  England  w4th  Governor  Endi- 
cott.  "  Joseph  Jenks,"  says  Lewis,  in  his  history  of  Lynn,  "  deserves 
to  be  held  in  perpetual  remembrance  in  American  history  as  being 
the  first  founder  who  worked  in  brass  and  iron  on  the  Western  Con- 
tinent. By  his  hands  the  first  models  were  made  and  the  first  cast- 
ings taken  of  many  domestic  implements  and  iron  tools." 

On  the  6th  of  May,  1646,  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts  re- 
solved •'  that  in  answer  to  the  peticon  of  Joseph  Jenckes  for  liberty  to 
make  experience  of  his  abilityes  and  Inventions  for  ye  making  of 
Engines  for  mills  to  go  with  water  for  ye  more  speedy  dispatch  of 
work  than  formerly,  and  mills  for  ye  making  of  Sithes  and  other 
Edged  tools,  with  a  new  invented  Sawe-Mill,  that  things  may  be 
afforded  cheaper  than  formerly  and  that  for  fourteen  yeers  without 

disturbance  by  any  others  setting  up  the  like  inventions; 

this  peticon  is  granted." 

In  May.  1655,  he  obtained  another  patent  for  an  improvement  in 
the  manufacture  of  scythes  "  for  the  more  speedy  cutting  of  grass  for 
seven  years."  The  old  English  scythe  previously  in  use  was  a  very 
clumsy  instrument,  short  and  thick,  like  the  bush  or  stub  scythe.  His 
invention  gave  greater  length  and  thinness  to  the  blade,  as  seen  in 
use  to-day. 

In  the  interval  between  the  two  dates  named  the  younger  Jenks 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 


followed  his  father  to  the  New  World.  After  becoming  acquainted 
wnth  the  improvements  made  by  his  father,  his  mind  became  imbued 
with  like  aspirations,  and  he  chose  for  himself  a  site  near  the  lowest 
falls  on  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  mills  on  the  Pawtucket 
(then  dark  with  a  thick  forest),  such  as  the  elder  Jenks  had  been  de- 
vising.    Reverend  Mr.  Goodrich  says: 

"  The  traditions  spoken  of  represent  that  he  came  here  in  the  year 
1655.  As  his  eldest  son  was  born  in  1657,  perhaps  he  was  already 
married,  and  his  house  is  said  to  have  stood  on  the  spot  on  East  ave- 
nue now  occupied  by  Mr.  Joseph  T.  Greene,  who  lives  in  the  house 
reared  by  his  grandfather  Timothy  Greene.  It  is  supposed  that  his 
first  purchase  of  land  was  made  from  a  family  by  the  name  of  Mowry. 
A  copy  of  a  deed  of  land  subsequently  purchased, however,  was  found 
by  Doctor  Benedict  in  the  records  of  the  proprietors  of  Common 
Lands.     That  deed  was  as  follows  ": 

"  Know  all  men  before  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  that  I, 
Abel    Potter,   inhabitant  of  Moshanticut,  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode 
Island,   and   Providence    Plantations,   have    sold    unto    Mr.   Joseph 
Jenckes,  inhabitant  of  the  Town  of  Providence,  in  the  Colony  afore- 
said, sixty  acres  of  land,  more  or  less,  which  was  formerly  laid  out  to 
my  wife  Rachel's  grandfather,  Mr.  Ezekiel  Holliman,  lying  near  Paw- 
tucket Falls,  together  with  a  commonage,  the  said  threescore  lot  and 
commonage  having  been  bequeathed  to  my  said  wife  Rachel  Potter; 
formerly  called  Rachel  Warner;  I  say,  I,  Abel  Potter,  aforesaid,  have, 
with  the  consent  of  my  wife  Rachel,  freely  sold  the  said  threescore 
of  land,  situated  and  lying  in  Providence  township,  bounded  near  the 
southeast  corner  by  a  white  oak  tree,  running  westerly  and  northerly 
by  a  threescore  acre  lot  formerly  laid  out  to  Mr.  Stukely  Westcot,  and 
fronting  easterly  against  the  land  of  Mr.  Dexter's  against  the  river, 
and  also  fronting  unto  the  Falls.     I  say,  I,  Abel  Potter,  aforesaid, 
have  freely  sold  the  threescore  acres  of  land,  together  with  a  right  of 
commonage  and  such  privileges  as  do  appertain  thereunto,  unto  Joseph 
Jenckes  for  full  satisfaction  and  valuable  in  hand  paid  and  received; 
and  therefore  I  do  by  this  act,  freely  pass  it  from  me,  and  my  wife 
Rachel  Potter,  our  heirs,  Executors  and  Administrators,  unto  Joseph 
Jenckes,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators   and   assigns   forever, 
peacefully  to  enjov  without  any  lot  [let?]  or  molestation  from  us,  or 
any  claiming  by,  or  under  Ezekiel  Holliman  aforesaid,  or  by  or  under 
us.     As  witness  my  hand  and  seal  the  10th  of  October,  1671,  in  War- 
wick, 

-  Signed,  sealed  and  delivered,  and  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King  Charles. 

In  presence  of  us —         |  his 

John  Greene,  Assistant,  j-  ABEL    x    POTTER, 

I  mark 

Anne  Greene.  J 


6  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  This  is  to  certify  that  Rachel  Potter  aforesaid,  as  formerly  con- 
sented to  the  sale,  so  likewise  she  doth  now  declare  her  assent  to  the 
Deed  of  sale  aforesaid  in  presence  of  me. 

John  Greene,  Assistant. 

"  Warwick,  this  15th  day  of  April,  1672." 

The  following  account  of  the  earlier  manufacturing  interests  of 
Pawtucket  is  quoted  from  a  "  Historical  Sketch  of  Pawtucket,"  writ- 
ten in  1876  by  Reverend  Massena  Goodrich  per  order  of  the  town 
council.  This  admirable  and  valuable  work,  which  is  now  out  of 
print,  we  have  freely  used  in  the  compilation  of  our  sketch  of  Paw- 
tucket. In  resuming  his  account  of  Mr.  Jenks,  Reverend  Mr.  Good- 
rich says: 

"  It  is  known  that  Mr.  Jenks  soon  erected  a  forge;  perhaps  he 
quickly  found  out  that  bog  iron  existed  near  what  has  long  been 
styled  Mineral  Springs;  for  before  the  revolution  a  forge  stood  near 
the  Moshassuck,  where  the  ore  was  converted  into  blooms.  Of  course 
he  had  a  market  for  the  products  of  his  skill  in  Providence  and  the 
whole  neighborhood.  The  fields  of  Pawtucket  were  mowed  by  the 
new  kind  of  scythes  which  his  father  had  patented,  and  hatchets  and 
every  domestic  iron  implement,  needed  for  the  comfort  of  the  house- 
holds in  Providence  Plantations,  were  made  at  Mr.  Jenks's  work- 
shop. Blacksmiths  and  other  workers  in  iron  were  trained  and  em- 
ployed by  him;  wood-cutters  settled  around  to  chop  down  some  of 
the  majestic  oaks  and  maples  that  overhung  the  Pawtucket;  charcoal 
burners  were  busy  under  the  lee  of  many  a  hill;  a  few  farmers  built 
their  log  cabins  near  the  river;  the  Indians  still  frequented  the  falls 
for  the  purpose  of  fishing;  and  a  little  hamlet  was  thus  formed  on 
what  has  since  become  the  site  of  a  growing  town.  For  20  years 
affairs  went  on  without  any  serious  outbreak.  Emigrants  were 
frequently  arriving;  in  every  direction  the  virgin  forest  was  becom- 
ing invaded;  the  smoke  rose  from  cabins  in  more  and  more  clearings; 
domestic  joys  were  gladdening  the  humble  firesides,  and  death  mak- 
ing its  wonted  inroads  in  the  little  family  circles. 

"  But  about  a  score  of  years  after  Mr.  Jenks  arrived  here  a  storm 
broke  on  the  young  settlement.  Its  portents  had  been  visible  indeed 
for  months.  The  red  men  began  to  meet  with  scowling  brows  the 
pale  faces.  Philip  of  Pokanoket  began  his  machinations.  Probably 
he  simply  guided  the  passions  which  had  been  burning  in  the  hearts 
of  his  race.  They  had  beheld  with  jealousy  the  steady  growth  of 
the  English,  and  feared  for  their  hunting  grounds;  and  it  only  needed 
a  leader  with  genius  to  organize  their  forces,  and  combine  their 
efforts,  to  hurl  a  thunderbolt  on  the  intruders.  Could  Philip's  coun- 
sels have  been  carried  out,  the  conflict  between  our  fathers  and  the 
sons  of  the  forest  had  been  more  terrible;  but  the  strife  began  before 
the  chieftain's  plans  were  fully  ripe  for  execution.  In  1675  the  war 
commenced  in  this  neighborhood.     'On  the  morning  of  June  24th,' 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  7 

says  Hutchinson,  '  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  Rehoboth  was  fired  upon 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  and  the  hilt  of  his  sword  shot  off.'  The  strife 
being  precipitated  thus  prematurely,  Philip  was  compelled  in  July 
to  flee  from  his  fastnesses  toward  the  Nipmucks.  His  route  lay 
within  a  few  miles  of  Pawtucket,  and,  in  crossing  the  great  plain  of 
Seekonk,  he  was  discovered  by  some  of  the  people  of  Rehoboth,  and 
pursued  by  them.  Rev.  Noah  Newman  has  the  credit  of  leading  his 
townsmen  in  the  pursuit.  Hubbard  gives  the  following  account  of 
the  matter:  '  The  Mohegins  with  the  men  of  Rehoboth,  and  some 
of  Providence,  came  upon  their  rear  over  night,  slew  about  thirty  of 
them,  took  much  plunder  from  them,  without  any  considerable  loss 
to  the  English.'  Who  w^ere  these  men  of  Providence?  Very  proba- 
bly Mr.  Jenks  and  some  of  his  neighbors  by  Pawtucket  Falls;  for 
they  would  be  likely  to  hear  first  of  the  valor  of  their  Rehoboth 
neighbors. 

"  For  a  few  months  there  is  a  lull.  The  winter  is  burdened,  how- 
ever, by  anxious  misgivings.  The  blacksmiths,  the  wood-cutters, 
the  farmers  around  the  Pawtucket,  oft  scan  the  horizon  in  apprehen- 
sion of  the  tempest.  Many  a  father  commends  his  household  to  God 
by  prayer  at  night,  not  knowing  but  that  the  war-whoop  will  break 
their  repose  before  the  morning  dawns;  many  a  mother  sadly  rocks 
her  babe  to  slumber,  not  knowing  but  that  the  tomahawk  will  hush 
that  infant's  cries  ere  another  sun  shall  set.  In  a  few  months  the 
fierce  storm  once  more  howls.  Philip  returns  from  his  flight,  rein- 
forced by  stern  warriors.  He  brings  death  to  the  very  doors  of  our 
predecessors.  One  of  the  most  tragical  contests  of  1676  occurred 
near  Pawtucket.  All  the  spring,  roaming  bands  of  Indians  had  dis- 
turbed the  security  of  the  settlements  in  both  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island.  Marauding  parties  had  carried  ruin  to  scores  of  fire- 
sides, and  applied  the  torch  to  many  a  home.  Something  must  be 
done  to  check  these  forays,  and  Capt.  Pierce  of  Scituate,  with  a  force 
of  63  Englishmen,  and  20  friendly  Indians  from  Cape  Cod,  was 
ordered  to  follow  the  Indians  toward  Rhode  Island.  On  the  24th  of 
March  he  reached  Seekonk.  On  the  second  morning  after,  he 
marched  with  his  little  band  toward  the  river,  and  soon  fell  into  an 
ambush.  The  thick  forests  which  overhung  the  Blackstone  formed 
a  covert  for  the  subtle  red  men,  and  they  hovered  round  the  doomed 
band  like  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves.  P'or  hours  the  contest  raged  on 
the  banks  of  our  stream  between  Pawtucket  and  Valley  Falls,  till, 
when  the  shadows  of  that  Sabbath  evening  fell,  they  enshrouded  the 
lifeless  forms  of  almost  all  of  that  little  force.  They  had  sold  their 
lives  dearly,  however,  for  140  of  their  foes  were  slain." 

"  What  effect  had  such  a  tragedy  on  the  feeble  settlement  at  Paw- 
tucket? Of  course,  it  would  breed  the  gravest  alarm,  were  the  inhab- 
itants still  residing  there.  The  probability  is,  however,  that  most  of 
them  had  sought  refuge  on  the  island  of  Rhode  Island.     The  general 


8  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

assembly  had  been  appealed  to,  to  furnish  garrisons  for  Providence 
and  Warwick,  but  excused  themselves  from  any  such  expense  on  the 
score  of  inability,  and  counseled  the  inhabitants  of  those  towns  to 
take  shelter  at  Portsmouth  or  Newport.  Most  of  the  citizens  of 
Providence  removed  their  families  and  effects,  therefore;  but  sturdy 
Roger  Williams  and  about  thirty  others  remaiijed.  The  smallnessof 
their  number,  however,  invited,  rather  than  repelled  attack,  and  on 
March  3()th,  the  town  was  set  on  fire.  At  that  or  some  other  time 
the  forge  in  this  village  was  given  to  the  flames,  and  doubtless  the 
torch  was  applied  to  the  deserted  cabins.  Pawtucket  for  the  hour 
was  a  lonelier  solitude  than  when  Williams  40  years  before  began 
his  first  settlement  at  Seekonk  Cove. 

'•  A  few  months  rolled  away,  and  a  change  took  place.  Philip  was 
killed,  his  warriors  were  slain,  captured,  or  scattered,  and  peace  and 
security  returned  to  the  little  colonies.  Mr.  Jenks  undoubtedly 
comes  back  as  soon  as  possible,  and  rebuilds  his  forge.  About  this 
time  Mr.  Jenks's  eldest  son  reached  manhood;  but  a  large  family, — 
four  sons  and  six  daughters, — were  growing  up  like  blooming  olive 
plants  about  the  father's  table.  Mr.  Jenks  seems  to  have  been  influ- 
ential in  political  affairs,  no  less  than  in  business;  for  the  title  of 
assistant,- -answering  to  lieutenant  governor  or  senator, — is  always 
added  in  old  writings  to  his  name.  His  four  sons  also  acquired  dis- 
tinction afterward  in  the  Colony.  Joseph  was  governor  of  Rhode 
Island  from  1727  to  1732;  Nathaniel  bore  the  title  of  major;  Ebenezer 
was  a  preacher,  and  William  a  judge. 

"  It  has  already  been  said  that  the  house  of  the  father  stood  on 
the  present  East  avenue.  It  had  the  reputation  of  being  the  first 
frame  house  reared  in  the  town.  All  of  the  sons  built  houses  also, 
which  were  long  landmarks  here,  and  three  of  them  are  partially 
standing  now.  One  of  them  stands  on  Mill  street,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  part  of  the  house  wherein  the 
elder  Joseph  Jenks  lived.  Tradition  reports  that  in  his  old  age  his 
house  was  removed  to  Mill  street,  and  annexed  to  the  building 
named,  and  that  he  spent  the  evening  of  his  days  there.  Old  citi- 
zens have  declared  that  in  their  boyhood  figures  were  visible  on  the 
stone  chimney  of  the  edifice  on  Mill  street,  and  that  three  of  them 
were  legible.  Some  who  in  their  childhood  climbed  up  to  decipher 
them,  averred  that  they  read  the  numerals  168^;  but  the  final  figure 
was  illegible.  This  was  the  house  of  Major  Jenks.  Dr.  C.  F.  Man- 
chester has  long  occupied  the  house  which  was  for  years  the  abode 
of  Governor  Jenks,  though  it  has  been  so  modernized  that  the  Gov- 
ernor would  fail  to  recognize  his  old  home,  could  he  return  to  earth. 
A  third  one  of  those  houses  stood  till  within  a  few  days  near  the  rail- 
road track,  between  the  station  and  Dexter  street. 

"  The  hamlet  near  these   falls  continued  to   grow  for  the   next 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY.  9 

quarter  of  a  century.  The  Jenkses  had  obtained  possession  of  much 
of  the  land  on  the  western  side  of  the  river  in  this  neighborhood,  and 
had  extended  their  operations.  Judge  Story,  in  giving  his  decision 
about  half  a  century  ago  in  an  important  case  before  the  circuit  court, 
rehearsed  the  following  facts  as  proved  in  the  trial: 

"  '  The  lower  dam  was  built  as  early  as  the  year  1718,  by  the  pro- 
prietors on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  is  indispensable  for  the  use  of 
these  mills  respectively.  There  was  previously  an  old  dam  on  the 
western  side,  extending  about  three-quarters  of  the  way  across  the 
river,  and  a  separate  dam  for  a  saw  mill  on  the  east  side.  The  lower 
dam  was  a  substitute  for  both.  About  the  3^ear  1714  a  canal  was  dug, 
or  an  old  channel  widened  and  cleared  on  the  western  side  of  the 
river,  beginning  at  the  river  above  the  lower  dam,  and  running  around 
the  west  end  thereof,  until  it  emptied  into  the  river,  about  ten  rods 
below  the  same  dam.  It  has  been  long  known  by  the  name  of 
Sergeant's  Trench,  and  was  originally  built  for  the  passage  of  fish  up 
and  down  the  river.  But,  having  wholly  failed  for  this  purpose,  about 
the  year  1730  an  anchor  mill  and  dam  were  built  across  it  by  the  then 
proprietors  of  the  land;  and  between  that  period  and  the  year  1790 
several  other  dams  and  mills  were  built  over  the  same,  and  since  that 
period  more  expensive  mills  have  been  built  there.  In  1792  another 
dam  was  built  across  the  river  at  a  place  above  the  head  of  the  trench, 
and  almost  twenty  rods  above  the  lower  dam;  and  the  mills  on  the 
upper  dam,  as  well  as  those  on  Sergeant's  Trench,  are  now  supplied 
with  water  by  proper  flumes,  &c.,from  the  pond  formed  by  the  upper 
dam.' 

"  This  brief  extract  shows  that  early  in  the  last  century  the  buzz  of 
machinery  and  the  clangor  of  hammers  prophesied  that  this  would 
be  in  due  time  a  manufacturing  centre.  Enterprise  and  skill  were 
converting  a  wilderness  which  Williams  and  Gregory  Dexter  had  so 
disparaged  as  'most  of  it  barren  and  rockie,  without  meadow,'  into  a 
thriving  village.  But  the  pioneers  who  had  built  their  cabins  higher 
up  the  Blackstone,  and  the  farmers  and  fishermen  of  this  neighbor- 
hood, were  jealous  of  the  obstructions  at  the  falls.  Shad,  alewives  and 
some  other  kinds  of  fish  had  been  wont  to  spawn  near  Woonsocket, 
and  the  general  assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  in  1761,  authorized  that 
sovereign  helper  in  all  public  enterprises  in  those  days,  a  lottery  to 
raise  ^1,500,  old  tenor,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  passage  around 
Pawtucket  Falls,  'so  that  fish  of  almost  every  kind,  who  choose  fresh 
water  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  may  pass  with  ease.'  This  legis- 
lation, however,  did  not  fully  secure  the  end,  and  about  a  dozen  years 
later  the  general  assembly  passed  another  act,  making  it  lawful  for 
any  one  to  break  down  or  blow  up  the  rocks  at  Pawtucket  Falls,  to 
'  let  fish  pass  up,'  and  '  the  said  river '  was  '  declared  a  public  river.' 

"  But  it  is  time  to  cross  the  river  and  make  a  little  inquiry  about 
the  eastern  part  of  the  town.     Traditions  are  less  definite  atout  the 


10  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDE^XE   COUNTY. 

early  inhabitants  of  this  section  than  those  pertaining  to  the  Jenks 
famih^      A  few  settlers   were    evidently    allured   here    nearly   two 
centuries  ago.     The  navigable  stream  made  journeying  easy  for  the 
pioneer;  the  abundance  of  fish  near  the  falls  readily  supplied  an  im- 
portant article  of  food;  the  iron  business  afforded  employment.     On 
what  is  known  as  South  Bend,  not  far  from  Hammond's  pond,  stands 
an  old  stone  chimney  house.     The  name  of  its  builder  has  not  been 
handed  down  to  posterity,  but  its  style  of  architecture  shows  that  it 
was  reared  about  the  time  when  the  Jenkses  reared  their  ambitious 
edifices.    Somebody,  therefore,  was  residing  in  that  part  of  Pawtucket 
early  in  the  last  century.     Another  stone  chimney  house  of  similar 
style  was  standing  near  North  Bend  about  three-quarters  of  a  century 
ago,  which  was  probably  equally  ancient.     And  the  fact  that  many  of 
the  old  deeds  of  land  lying  east  of  the  river  refer  to  a  Mr.  Smith  as  a 
former  owner  of  the  land,  justifies  the  belief  that,  as  there  were  men 
bearing  that  name  among  the  first  settlers  of  Rehoboth,  one  or  more 
of  them  obtained  possession  of  much  of  the  territory  of  the  eastern 
part  of  Pawtucket.     Thus,  in  the  year  1738,  Samuel  Smith  is  repre- 
sented in  an  old  deed  to  have  bought  of  Henry  Smith  48  acres  of  land 
on  the  east  side  of  Pawtucket  Falls, '  bounded  on  land  where  the  grist 
mill  stands.'     Nine  years  later  (in   1747)  one  or  both  of  the  Smiths 
conveyed  the  grist  or '  corn  mill '  to  James  Bucklin.    And  twenty-nine 
years  later  James  Bucklin   conveyed  this  mill  to  his  son  John.     In 
fact  a  still  earlier  mention  is  made  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  in  an  ancient  re- 
port to  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts.     The  first  bridge  across  the 
Pawtucket  seems  to  have  been  built  in  171 8,  and  in  1716  the  following 
document  appears  in  the  Massachusetts  Colonial  Records: 

"  '  The  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  consider  and  compute 
the  charge  of  a  highway  to  Pawtucket  bridge,  viz.:  In  pursuance  of 
the  written  vote  or  order,  we,  the  subscribers,  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1716,  went  to  the  bridge  at  Pawtucket,  where  we  met  with  the  per- 
sons that  were  interested  in  the  lands  where  the  highway  should  go; 
and,  having  discoursed  with  them,  and  viewed  the  same,  do  lepcrt 
that  a  way  of  two  rods  wide  be  left  on  the  north  side  of  the  land 
belonging  to  Joseph  Buckland,  Jr.,  beginning  at  the  foot  of  the 
bridge,  and  so  to  run  through  the  land  of  Henry  Smith,  till  it  comes- 
to  said  vSmith's  house,  being  in  length  ninety-two  rods,  is  about  two- 
acres  and  a  half,  only  allowing  a  turn  to  be  made  to  the  northward^ 
about  fifty  rods  from  the  bridge,  to  escape  a  great  rock,  which  land^ 
we  are  of  opinion,  is  worth  £3  per  acre;  and  the  making  of  a  fence 
the  length  of  the  said  way,  if  made  of  stone  wall,  will  be  5s.  per  rod, 
to  be  allowed  to  the  owner  of  said  land;  which  way  then  to  run  from 
said  Smith's  house  northward  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  when  it  will  meet 
a  way  that  was  formerly  laid  out  by  Rehoboth,  which  leads  into  the 
country  road  by  the  great  plain.  The  land,  being  two  acres  and  a 
half,  we  value  at  2()s.  per  acre,  without  any  charge  of  fence. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  11 

"  '  Given  under  our  hands,  the  14th  of  June,  1716. 
"  '  Nathaniel  Payne,  I 
'"Moses  Read,  |- Committee.' 

"  'John  Rogers,  j 

"  These  facts  render  it  very  likely  that  some  of  the  ubiquitous 
family  of  Smith  were  the  first  owners  of  the  eastern  district  of  Paw- 
tucket.  And  the  conjecture  maybe  hazarded  that  John  Smith  reared 
one  or  both  of  those  ancient  houses  named.  Judge  Story's  decision 
implies  that  a  saw  mill  was  built  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Paw- 
tucket  early  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

"  Perhaps  an  incidental  circumstance  helped  the  growth  of  the  vil- 
lage in  the  earlier  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  It  has  already  been 
mentioned  that  the  eldest  son  of  the  founder  of  Pawtucket  became 
governor  of  the  colony  in  1727.  The  frequency  with  which  his  name 
occurs  in  the  colonial  records  shows  that  he  was  eminent  for  some- 
thing beside  his  stature.  As  early  as  1705  he  was  appointed  a  com- 
missioner in  the  vexed  boundary  question,  and  was  reappointed  again 
and  again  to  assist  in  running  the  line.  In  1715  he  was  chosen  deputy 
governor,  and  re-elected  at  subsequent  times.  In  1720  he  was  sent  to 
England  to  bring  the  boundary  disputes  between  Rhode  Island,  on 
the  one  hand,  and  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  on  the  other,  be- 
fore the  king.  In  all  these  matters  he  showed  such  integrity  and 
sagacity  that,  on  the  death  of  Governor  Cranston,  who  had  held  the 
office  of  governor  for  29  years  he  was  elected  chief  magistrate  of  the 
colony.  He  continued  to  hold  the  ofhce  till  1732;  but  as,  on  his  elec- 
tion in  the  previous  year,  he  had  given  notice  that  he  should  not  again 
be  a  candidate,  he  retired  after  five  years'  service.  At  the  request  of 
the  general  assembly  he  removed  to  Newport  while  he  held  the  gov- 
ernorship; but,  doubtless,  during  those  years  he  was  wielding  his 
influence  to  promote  improvements  in  his  native  village,  and  secure 
the  investment  of  capital  there.  And  an  examination  of  some  of  the 
dates  given  by  Judge  Story  proves  that  some  of  the  most  important 
conveniences  secured  were  attained  during  Governor  Jenks's  public 
life.     He  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1740. 

"  It  were  interesting  to  recount  the  successive  establishment  of 
different  forges  and  mills,  but  only  results  are  known.  Governor 
Jenks  and  the  other  descendants  of  the  enterprising  man  who  laid 
the  foundations  of  this  town,  emulated  the  energy  of  their  ancestor. 
The  frequent  wars  in  which  the  infant  colonies  were  engaged  with 
both  the  French  and  the  Indians,  oft  turned  the  attention  of  the 
iron-workers  in  this  country  to  the  manufacture  of  firearms.  Doubt- 
less such  were  made  at  some  of  the  mills  on  the  Pawtucket,  and 
Captain  Stephen  Jenks  is  expressly  mentioned  as  having  manufac- 
tured muskets  here  in  1775.  It  is  likely  that,  through  the  whole 
period  of  the  revolutionary  war,  his  skill  was  often  laid  under  requi- 
sition.    Hints  are  found  occasionally  of  the  existence  of  other  kinds- 


12  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  business.  Mr.  Ephraim  Starkweather  removed  to  the  hamlet  on 
the  east  of  the  river  in  1770,  and  in  buying  a  certain  tract  of  land, 
purchased  also  a  potash  establishment  of  certain  merchants  of  Bos- 
ton, who  had  long  carried  on  the  manufacture  of  potash  here.  Mr. 
Hugh  Kennedy  also  came  to  the  same  hamlet  about  the  middle  of 
the  last  century,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  linseed  oil.  About 
the  same  time,  Mr.  Sylvester  Bowers,  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade,  re- 
moved to  Pawtucket  and  set  up  the  business  of  ship-building  at  the 
Landing.  On  the  western  side  of  the  river  also  the  same  business 
was  quite  extensively  carried  on. 

"  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  eight  weary  years  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war  retarded  the  growth  of  Pawtucket.  North  Providence 
furnished  some  of  the  boldest  soldiers  of  the  war,  and  Captain  Olney 
doubtless  had  in  his  company  recruits  from,  this  village.  Some,  too, 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  were  serving  in  the  little  navy  which 
our  nation  had  called  into  existence.  The  return  of  peace,  however, 
was  a  signal  for  new  activity.  A  family,  whose  energy,  talents,  and 
skill,  were  to  contribute  largely  to  the  prosperity  of  Pawtucket, 
moved  hither  from  Smithfield.  Oziel  Wilkinson  was  the  father  of 
five  sons,  all  of  whom  were  blacksmiths.  For  years,  though  living 
in  Smithfield,  he  had  done  a  great  deal  of  work  for  the  merchants  of 
Providence.  As  he  obtained  his  stock  from  that  town,  it  had  long 
seemed  desirable  for  him  to  transfer  his  business  to  Pawtucket 
Falls,  where  he  could  obtain  ample  water  power,  but  'prudence  for- 
bade the  step  for  a  time.  The  British  long  held  possession  of  the 
southern  part  of  the  state,  and  might  at  any  time  seize  Providence. 
In  such  a  case  a  maurauding  party  could  easily  come  up  the  Paw- 
tucket river,  and  destroy  the  mills  and  forges  at  the  falls.  His  cus- 
tomers, therefore,  advised  him  to  delay.  But  peace  released  him 
from  the  peril,  and  Mr.  Wilkinson  and  his  sons  removed  hither.  Al- 
ready the  family  had  given  evidence  of  inventive  power.  Mr.  Wilkin- 
son is  said  to  have  made  cut  nails  at  an  early  date,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  anticipated  every  manufacturer  of  these  useful  articles  in  the 
world.  The  father  and  sons  quickly  turned  some  of  the  unused 
power  of  the  stream  to  account.  Providence  long  continued,  indeed, 
to  look  to  Pawtucket  for  all  the  heavier  implements  of  iron.  Anchors 
and  such  articles  were  manufactured  here;  screws  in  abundance  were 
made;  and  the  heavy  oil  presses  of  Nantucket  and  New  Bedford  were 
constructed  at  the  shops  in  this  place. 

"  Bishop,  in  his  History  of  Manufactures,  speaks  in  the  following 
strain:  '  Manufacturers  of  iron,  including  bar  and  sheet  iron,  nail-rods 
and  nails,  farming  implements,  stoves,  pots  and  other  castings,  and 
household  utensils,  iron-works  for  ship-builders,  anchors,  and  bells, 
formed  the  largest  branch  of  productive  industry  in  Rhode  Island 
toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.  A  slittmg-mill  was  built 
on  one  of  the  branches  of  Providence  river.     Another  slitting-  and 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY 


13 


rolling  mill,  three  anchor  forges,  two  nail-cutting  machines,  and  sev- 
eral other  mills  and  factories  carried  on  by  water,  were  soon  after 
erected  at  Pawtucket  Falls.  A  screw-cutting  machine,  hollow-ware 
furnace,  and  several  forges  were  also  in  operation.'  Indeed,  the  iron 
business  at  this  time  gave  Pawtucket  its  chief  fame.  Steam  engines 
had  not  yet  made  their  advent  into  Providence,  and  all  the  heavy 
w^ork  for  that  place  which  needed  water  power  and  trip-hammers, 
must  be  done  here. 

"The  Wilkinsons  w^ere  long  household  names  in  Pawtucket. 
Their  activity  and  enterprise  expanded  the  business  and  increased 
the  population  of  the  town.  The  fame  of  the  father  is  pleasantly 
preserved  in  the  park  which  he  left  unenclosed  on  the  present  Park 
place.  Cities  need  lungs,  and  the  town  has  fitly  enclosed  that  park 
with  an  iron  fence,  and  adorned  it  with  trees  which  will  in  coming 
years  fling  their  cooling  shadows  abroad.  Four  of  his  sons  made 
Pawtucket  their  home  for  years.  They  constituted  a  couple  of  co- 
partnerships—Abraham and  Isaac,  David  and  Daniel.  One  of  these 
sons, however,  won  more  than  a  local  reputation;  and  Pawtucket  may 
justly  claim  a  share  in  the  fame  of  David  Wilkinson.  From  child- 
hood he  possessed  a  singularly  observant  mind.  What  seemed  trifles 
to  others,  were  to  him  the  germ  of  some  valuable  invention.  In 
a  letter  of  his,  where  he  is  describing  a  new  screw-machine,  which 
he  invented  as  early  as  1794,  he  says,  '  the  perfection  of  it  consists  in 
that  most  faithful  agent,  gravity,  making  the  joint,  and  that  almighty 
perfect  number,  three,  which  is  harmony  itself.  I  was  young  when  I 
learnt  that  principle.  I  had  never  seen  my  grandmother  putting  a  chip 
under  a  three-legged  milking-stool;  but  she  always  had  to  put  a  chip 
under  a  four-legged  table  to  keep  it  steady.  I  cut  screws  of  all  di- 
mensions by  this  machine,  and  did  them  perfectly.'  Thousands  of 
other  lads  had  seen  their  kinswomen  sitting  on  similar  stools  milk- 
ing, without  noticing  the  consequent  steadiness,  or  dreaming  of  any 
great  mechanical  invention  based  on  the  firmess  of  the  tripod. 

"  Besides  the  branches  of  business  thus  described,  farming  was  car- 
ried on  to  considerable  extent.  A  large  part  of  the  land  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  river  in  what  now  constitutes  Pawtucket  was  held  by 
families  bearing  the  name  of  Bucklin.  The  Buckland  already  men- 
tioned was  probably  their  ancestor.  Their  farms  extended  from  the 
river  to  Seekonk  Plains;  and  tradition  speaks  of  an  immense  corn- 
field that  stretched  almost  from  the  margin  of  the  stream  to  Bucklin's 
brook.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  farms  were  poorly  cultivated. 
Colonel  Slack  came  here  about  a  hundred  and  ten  years  ago,  and  Mr. 
Starkweather  just  afterward,  and  found  the  land  in  this  condition. 

"  Up,  then,  to  the  close  of  the  last  century  iron  was  emphatically 
king  in  Pawtucket.  But  ere  the 'century  closed  a  rival  appeared, 
which  was  destined  to  contest  the  throne.  Cotton  appeared  on  the 
stage.   An  interesting  tale  might  be  told  of  the  early  attempts  to  spin 


14  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

cotton  by  water  power  in  our  land.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  immediately 
after  the  Revolution,  statesmen,  capitalists  and  artisans  sought  to  es- 
tablish new  manufactures  in  the  United  States.  The  whole  country 
was  burdened  by  debt;  importations  from  foreign  lands  were  impov- 
erishing us  still  more,  and  relief  was  sought  from  the  necessity  of  de- 
■pending  on  foreign  spindles  and  looms.  In  Worcester  and  Beverly, 
in  Massachusetts,  in  Providence  and  other  towns,  in  Rhode  Island, 
experiments  were  making  previous  to  1790  to  find  out  whether  the 
cotton  needed  in  our  land  could  not  be  spun  beside  our  own  streams. 
A  few  spinning  frames  and  various  rude  machines  had  been  brought 
■from  abroad  to  facilitate  the  experiment,  and  Moses  Brown,  of  Provi- 
dence, had  purchased  some  of  them  and  removed  them  to  Pawtucket. 
Vain  the  attempt,  however,  to  drive  them  by  any  of  the  water-wheels 
here.  Why  not  obtain  from  England,  then,  some  of  the  machines  that 
-were  working  so  successfully  there?  Alas!  that  was  interdicted. 
About  the  time  of  the  unsuccessful  attempt  of  Mr.  Brown,  however, 
to  set  his  machines  in  operation  in  this  place,  a  young  man  in  England 
was  meditating  emigration  to  the  new  republic.  He  has  seen  by  the 
newspapers  of  his  native  land  that  bounties  are  offered,  encourage- 
ments promised,  for  establishing  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods  in 
some  of  the  States  in  our  country.  Pennsylvania,  in  particular,  is  very 
generous  in  her  proffers.  He  brooded  over  the  matter  for  a  while, 
till  his  imagination  was  fired,  and  he  resolved  to  cross  the  ocean.  But 
he  knows  the  peril  of  arousing  the  jealousy  of  the  authorities,  and  he 
conceals  from  even  his  family  the  step  he  is  about  to  take.  No 
model,  drawing  or  plan  does  he  dare  take  with  him,  lest  it  reveal  his 
purpose  and  cause  his  arrest. 

"  He  makes  the  weary  journey  across  the  ocean,  reaches  New  York 
in  due  time,  and  finds  employment  with  a  manufacturing  company. 
The  water  power  of  the  neighborhood  does  not  suit  him,  however. 
The  business  wherein  he  is  engaged  is  less  agreeable  than  that  to 
which  he  has  been  accustomed,  and  the  fond  dreams  he  had  cherished 
■seem  unlikely  to  be  realized.  While  thus  perplexed,  God  directs  his 
steps  hither.  Samuel  Slater  providentially  meets  the  captain  of  a 
Providence  packet,  and  learns  by  conversation  of  the  attempts  that 
Moses  Brown  had  made  to  introduce  the  manufacture  of  cotton  into 
Rhode  Island.  Without  any  delay  the  young  Englishman  writes  to 
Mr.  Brown.  '  I  flatter  myself,'  says  he  in  his  letter,  '  that  I  can  give 
■the  greatest  satisfaction  in  making  machinery,  making  good  yarn, 
■  either  for  stockings  or  twist,  as  anything  that  is  made  in  England,  as 
I  have  had  opportunity  and  an  oversight  of  Sir  Richard  Arkwright's 
works  and  in  Mr.  Strut's  mill  for  upwards  of  eight  years.'  Had  Mr. 
Slater  simply  announced  his  ability  to  run  machines  already  erected, 
or  to  make  machines  by  the  help  of  patterns  wherewith  he  was  famil- 
iar, one  would  not  wonder  at  his  confidence;  but  it  manifested  no 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENX'E   COUNTY.  15 

small  amount  of  assurance  to  profess  to  be  able  to  make  the  requisite 
machinery.     And  this,  when  he  had  neither  models  nor  drawings ! 

"  But  Mr.  Brown,  though  anxious  to  succeed  in  his  new  under- 
taking, is  too  candid  to  foster  extravagant  hopes.  He  tells  the  young- 
man  that  he  has  transferred  the  business  to  Almy  &  Brown,  and  ex- 
presses his  fear  that  those  gentlemen  can  hardly  give  such  encourage- 
ment as  the  youth  can  reckon  on  in  his  present  place  of  business. 
(Mr.  Almy  was  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Brown.)  This  is  the  strain,  there- 
fore, in  which  Mr.  Brown  writes:  '  As  the  frame  we  have  is  the  first 
attempt  of  the  kind  that  has  been  made  in  America,  it  is  too  imper- 
fect to  afford  thee  much  encouragement;  we  hardly  know  what  to 
say  to  thee;  but  if  thou  thought  thou  couldst  perfect  and  conduct  them 
to  profit,  if  thou  wilt  come  and  do  it,  thou  shalt  have  all  the  profits 
made  of  them,  over  and  above  the  interest  of  the  money  they  cost, 
and  the  wear  and  tear  of  them.  We  will  find  stock  and  be  repaid  in 
yarn,  as  we  may  agree,  for  six  months.  And  this  we  do  for  the  in- 
formation thou  can  give,  if  fully  acquainted  with  the  business.  .  .  . 
We  have  secured  only  a  temporary  water  convenience,  but  if  we  find 
the  business  profitable,  can  perpetuate  one  that  is  convenient.  .  .  . 
If  thy  present  situation  does  not  come  up  to  what  thou  wishest,  and, 
-from  thy  knowledge  of  the  business,  can  be  ascertained  of  the  advan- 
tages of  the  mills,  so  as  to  come  and  work  ours,  and  have  the  credit  a.s 
well  as  advantage  of  perfecting  the  first  water-mill  in  America,  we 
should  be  glad  to  engage  thy  care,  so  long  as  they  can  be  made  profit- 
able to  both,  and  we  can  agree.' 

"  Happily  Mr.  Slater's  gaze  continues  anxiously  turned  toward 
Providence  rather  than  toward  Philadephia.  Mr.  Brown's  letter  bears 
date  '  Providence,  10th  12th  month,  1789.'  The  young  man  promptly 
sets  out  for  Rhode  Island,  and  quickly  appears  in  Pawtucket.  A  word 
or  two  on  his  first  host. 

"  This  was  Mr.  Sylvanus  Brown,  the  father  of  Captain  James  S. 
Brown.  He  was  a  good  representative  of  the  energetic  class  of  men 
that  peopled  this  place  a  century  ago.  During  the  revolutionary 
contest  he  served  for  a  time  in  the  navy,  and  held  the  office  of  master- 
of-arms  in  the  ship  of  Commodore  Esek  Hopkins.  Soon  after  the  re- 
turn of  peace  Mr.  Brown  was  engaged  by  the  governor  of  the  eastern 
British  provinces  to  go  to  Halifax,  and  superintend  the  erection  of 
saw  and  grist  mills  in  some  of  those  provinces.  Such  was  the  fame 
of  Rhode  Island  mechanics,  that  Mr.  Brown  was  allowed  to  hire  50 
from  this  neighborhood  to  rear  the  mills  desired.  And  it  casts  a  side 
light  on  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  iron  business  carried  on  here, 
to  know  that  all  the  iron  work  required  was  made  in  Pawtucket.  Mr. 
Brown  was  occupied  in  the  Provinces  nearly  two  years,  and  built 
seven  saw  mills  and  two  grist  mills.  After  his  return  he  built 
Quaker  lane,  which  had  been  laid  out;  and,  as  surveyor  of  highways, 
•  extended  it  down  to  the  Landing. 


16  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  Mr.  Brown  was  accustomed  to  relate  to  his  family  the  circum- 
stances of  his  introduction  to  Mr.  Slater.  In  the  latter  part  of  1789 
Moses  Brown  came  out  to  Pawtucket,  accompanied  by  a  young-  Er.g- 
lishman  22  years  of  age.  On  approaching  his  Pawtucket  namesake, 
Mr.  Brown  says,  'Sylvanus,  I  have  brought  to  thee  a  young  man  who 
says  he  knows  how  to  spin  cotton.  I  want  thee  to  keep  him  to-night, 
and  talk  with  him,  and  see  what  he  can  do.'  Mr.  Sylvanus  Brown  ac- 
cepts the  charge.  On  the  next  morning  Moses  Brown  make  his 
appearance  early,  in  his  usual  style.  He  is  borne  in  a  carriage  drawn 
by  two  horses,  and  driven  by  a  colored  driver.  He  quickly  accosts 
his  old  acquaintance.  'Sylvanus,  what  does  thee  think?  Does  the 
young  man  seem  to  know  anything  about  spinning  cotton  ?'  Mr. 
Brown  replies  that  he  has  talked  with  the  young  man,  and  that  he 
speaks  with  great  confidence,  and  really  seems  to  understand  about 
matters. 

"  But  the  parties  quickly  proceed  to  business.  Mr.  Slater  is  taken 
to  see  the  machines,  and  is  not  captivated  by  their  appearance.  Let 
Moses  Brown  tell  the  story:  '  When  Samuel  saw  the  old  machines, 
he  felt  downhearted  with  disappointment,  and  shook  his  head,  and 
said,  These  will  not  do;  they  are  good  for  nothing  in  their  present 
condition,  nor  can  they  be  made  to  answer.'  Probably  there  were 
others  disappointed  too.  But  is  there  not  an  alternative?  Yes. 
Moses  Brown  doubtless  quickly  recalls  the  assurance  which  the 
young  Englishman  had  given  of  his  ability  to  make  the  needed  ma- 
chinery, as  well  as  good  yarn.  Since  he  is  here  by  Pawtucket  Falls, 
and  no  one  can  question  the  goodness  of  the  water  power,  why  not 
let  him  reproduce  the  series  of  machines  termed  the  Arkwright  pat- 
ents? Mr.  Slater  is  ready  for  such  an  undertaking,  but  imposes  cer- 
tain conditions.  His  trial  machines  must  be  constructed  of  weed;  a 
skillful  mechanic  must  therefore  be  furnished,  who  shall  be  put 
under  bonds  neither  to  steal  the  patterns,  nor  to  reveal  the  nature  of 
the  works.  '  Under  my  proposals,'  says  the  confident  young  man,  '  if 
I  do  not  make  as  good  yarn  as  they  do  in  England,  I  will  have 
nothing  for  my  services,  but  will  throw  the  whole  of  what  I  have  at- 
tempted over  the  bridge.' 

"  But  where  can  a  more  skillful  wood-worker  be  found  in  Paw- 
tucket than  the  man  at  whose  house  Mr.  Slater  had  been  a  guest? 
Mr.  Sylvanus  Brown  is  engaged  to  assist  Mr.  Slater  in  his  undertaking. 
A  contract  is  made  by  careful  Moses  Brown,  to  pay  Mr.  Slater  a  dollar 
a  day  for  his  labor  while  reproducing  the  coveted  machines.  It  has 
already  been  mentioned  that  Mr.  vSylvanus  Brown  had  been  occupied 
a  short  time. before  in  constructing  Quaker  Lane.  That  lane  was  laid 
out  a  little  more  than  a  century  ago  by  Stephen  Hopkins,  Richard 
Waterman  and  a  David  Wilkinson.  Probably  there  had  been  an 
older  lane  running  between  that  and  the  river,  but  the  new  lane 
supersedes  it.     The  land  over  which  it  run  was  originally  swampy. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  17 

and,  for  years  afterward,  after  every  storm  and  in  the  thaws  of 
springtime,  the  road  was  a  veritable  slough  of  despond.  The  lane 
was  so  called  from  Benjamin  Arnold,  Oziel  Wilkinson  and  Timothy 
Greene,  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  It  answers  to  what  is 
now  the  beginning  of  East  avenue.  The  shop  wherein  Mr.  Slater 
began  the  manufacture  of  his  machines  was  on  the  lane  named,  and, 
some  years  ago,  was  the  salesroom  of  a  baker.  A  few  years  since,  as 
it  was  to  be  torn  down.  Captain  Brown  caused  it  to  be  taken  apart, 
and  the  frame  and  other  parts  to  be  removed  to  his  spacious  lot  on 
Main  street.  And  it  is  his  intention  to  have  it  re-erected  in  the  yard 
of  his  extensive  machine  shop."" 

"The  greatest  secrecy  was  maintained  in  all  the  operations.  The 
front  windows  were  shielded  by  shutters  and  the  back  windows  cov- 
ered by  blinds.  Mr.  Slater  traced  his  lines  on  the  wood  with  chalk, 
and  Mr.  Brown  cut  out  the  parts  and  fabricated  the  various  portions 
of  the  machines.  What  power  was  needed  was  supplied  by  a  wheel 
propelled  by  an  aged  negro  of  the  name  of  Prime.  He  boasted  a 
fuller  name,  or  a  brace  of  them — Samuel  Primus,  or  Primus  Jenks. 
Having  once  been  a  slave  of  some  of  the  Jenkses,  he  bore  that  re- 
minder of  his  former  relation  to  them.  Samuel  Primus,  however, 
was  not  put  under  bonds,  for  he  would  have  scorned  to  betray  any 
secrets.  Moses  Brown  watched  the  proceedings  with  eager  interest, 
and  reckoned  it  no  hardship  to  come  daily  from  Providence  for  that 
purpose.  Mr.  Slater  and  his  helper  labored  industriously,  and,  in 
a  few  months,  finished  a  water-frame  of  24  spindles,  two  carding  ma- 
chines, and  the  drawing  and  roping  frames  necessary  to  prepare 
for  the  spinning,  and  soon  after  added  a  frame  of  48  spindles.  The 
time  for  testing  the  machines  at  last  comes,  and  everything  works 
satisfactorily  but  the  carder.  Instead  of  the  cotton's  coming  off  in 
rolls  it  clings  firmly  to  the  cylinder.  Mr.  vSlater  tries  every  expedient 
that  he  can  think  of  to  remedy  the  difficulty,  but  fails.  Hope,  which 
had  hitherto  buoyed  him  up,  gave  place  to  chagrin.  He  recollects 
the  confident  assurances  he  had  given,  and  his  boastful  words  seemed 
to  him  but  swaggering.  One  thought,  indeed,  gives  poignancy  to 
his  feelings.  It  is  bad  enough  to  fail  when  one  deemed  himself 
on  the  eve  of  success,  but  he  feared  that  he  would  be  counted  an 
impostor.  Under  the  revulsion  of  feeling  he  almost  resolves  on 
flight.  He  tells  Mr.  Sylvanus  Brown  that  such  seems  his  only  re- 
sort. But  Mr.  Brown  gives  him  wiser  counsel,  and  urges  him  to  keep 
trying.  The  young  man  is  still  baffled,  however,  and  announces  his 
design  to  run  away;  Mr.  Brown  expostulates  against  such  rashness, 
but  determines  on  satisfying  his  own  mind  of  the  feasibility  of  the 
work.  He  fixes  on  his  companion's  countenance  a  searching  gaze, 
and  asks,  '  Have  you  ever  seen  one  of  these  carders  work  in  your 

*The  subsequent  death  of  Captain  Brown  prevented  the   accomplishment  of 
his  intention. — Ed. 


18  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

own  country?  '  '  Vts,^  was  the  unfaltering  reply,  and  the  young  man's 
hand  was  brought  down  resolutely  on  his  knee  to  add  emphasis  to 
the  answer.  '  Then  it  can  be  made  to  work  here,'  was  his  mentor's 
response.  While  the  matter  was  in  abeyance,  however,  Mr.  Brown, 
whose  house  was  also  on  Quaker  lane,  was  compelled  to  wait  a  few 
minutes  one  day  for  his  dinner.  It  happened  that  his  wife  had  been 
using  a  pair  of  hand  cards,  which  she  laid  down  as  her  husband  came 
in.  Spontaneously  he  took  them  up, and  discovered,  as  he  examined 
them,  that  the  teeth  were  bent  somewhat  differently  from  those  on 
the  carder  at  their  shop,  and  the  thought  occurs  to  him  that  an  alter- 
ation in  the  shape  of  the  teeth  may  surmount  the  difficulty.  After 
dinner  he  tries  the  experiment,  and,  to  his  joy  and  Mr.  Slater's  relief, 
the  carder  works. 

"  Success  is  attained.  Arkwright's  patents  are  reproduced  in 
America,  and  Pawtucket  is  to  be  enriched  by  a  new*  branch  of  in- 
dustry. Mr.  Sylvanus  Brown  converts  the  parts  of  the  machine  which 
need  greatest  strength  into  iron.  The  forges  of  the  Wilkinsons  sup- 
ply what  is  requisite,  and  the  perfected  machines  are  set  in  operation 
in  a  small  mill  that  stood,  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  on  the 
southwest  abutment  of  the  bridge  which  then  spanned  the  Pawtucket. 
But  that  bridge  was  long  since  demolished  to  make  room  for  a  better 
structure,  and  the  mill  itself  was  swept  away  by  the  surges  of  the 
Blackstone  in  the  memorable  freshet  of  1807.  Work  was  begun  in 
earnest  with  the  new  machines  in  the  fall  of  1790,  or  the  winter  fol- 
lowing. And  to  understand  the  comparative  rudeness  of  some  of  the 
machines  then  employed,  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Smith 
Wilkinson,  written  years  afterward,  may  be  quoted:  '  I  was  then  in 
my  tenth  year,  and  went  to  work  with  Mr.  Slater,  and  began  attend- 
ing the  breaker.  The  mode  of  laying  the  cotton  was  by  hand,  taking 
up  a  handful  and  pulling  it  apart  with  both  hands,  shifting  it  all  into 
the  right  hand  to  get  the  staple  of  the  cotton  straight,  and  fix  the 
handful  so  as  to  hold  it  firm,  and  then  applying  it  to  the  surface  of 
the  breaker, moving  the  hand  horizontally  across  the  card  to  and  fro, 
until  the  cotton  was  fully  prepared.' 

"  It  is  difficult  at  the  present  time,  abounding  as  Pawtucket  does 
with  workshops  and  skillful  artisans  of  every  kind,  to  realize  the 
obstacles  that  Mr.  Slater  was  obliged  to  overcome  in  building  even 
such  rude  machines.  Drawings, models  and  patterns  he  lacked;  from 
the  circumstances  whereby  he  was  surrounded,  he  had  but  a  single 
workman  to  counsel  him,  and  he  one  who  had  never  seen  such  ma- 
chines as  he  was  aiming  to  reproduce;  his  sole  dependence  under  God 
was  therefore  on  the  tenaciousness  of  his  memory,  his  firm  faith  and 
a  dogged  will.  One  alleviation  of  his  lot,  however,  there  was.  He 
boarded  in  the  family  of  Oziel  Wilkinson,  and  Mrs.  Wilkinson,  true 
to  the  instincts  of  the  sect  whereto  she  belonged,  extended  to  the 
lonely  stranger  the  sympathy  he  so  much  craved.     Here,  too,  he 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  19 

formed  an  acquaintance  with  the  maiden  who  afterward  became  his 
wife,  for,  as  is  well  known,  he  subsequently  married  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Wilkinson.  But  Mr.  Slater  plied  his  skill  in  the  narrow  quarters 
of  the  mill  mentioned  for  nearly  two  years,  and  found,  at  the  end  of 
the  period,  that  several  thousand  pounds  of  yarn  had  accumulated  on 
the  hands  of  himself  and  his  partners  in  spite  of  their  utmost  efforts 
to  sell  it.  A  small  quantity  sufficed  at  that  early  time  to  glut  the 
market.  The  prudence  of  Moses  Brown  took  alarm  quite  quickly,  in- 
deed, at  the  overstock,  for,  when  500  pounds  had  accumulated,  he 
wrote  to  Mr.  Slater,  '  Thee  must  shut  down  thy  gates,  or  thee  will  spin 
up  all  my  farms  into  cotton  yarn.' 

"  The  success  attained,  however,  was  a  matter  of  gratulation.  That 
in  spite  of  the  jealous  exclusivenessof  the  British  government,  cotton 
spinning  by  water  power  had  been  acclimated  in  America  was  reason 
for  thankfulness.  Pawtucket  had  won*  new  fame,  and  is  justiJSed  in 
claiming  to  be  the  parent  of  scores  of  flourishing  towns  and  cities  that 
have  outstripped  her  in  population." 

"  After  the  experiment  of  Mr.  Slater  had  so  far  succeeded,  a  new 
mill  was  erected.  It  was  the  comparatively  diminutive  building  on 
Mill  street  which  now  bears  the  name  of  the  Old  Slater  Mill.  In  fact, 
the  original  edifice  was  much  smaller  than  the  present  one.  It  was 
reared  in  1793.  And  here  came  into  play  the  inventive  genius  of  Mr. 
Sylvanus  Brown.  He  quickly  realized  that,  if  the  business  of  spin- 
ning cotton  was  to  be  extended,  facilities  were  needed  for  speeding 
the  manufacture  of  the  requisite  machinery.  As  early  as  1791,  there- 
fore, he  invented  a  slide  lathe  for  turning  rollers,  spindles  and  like 
articles,  and  followed  it  with  an  invention  for  fluting  and  planing 
rollers.  His  lathe  was  the  first  invention  for  turning  iron,  and  he 
subsequently  used  it,  with  certain  alterations,  for  cutting  wrought 
iron  screws  for  presses  to  press  sperm  oil.  iVnd  other  screws  still 
were  made  by  the  same  instrument.  But  the  inventions  first  named 
were  of  immense  value  in  hastening  the  equipping  of  the  new  mill. 

"  During  the  year  1793  a  slitting  mill  was  built  by  Oziel  Wilkin- 
son and  a  flouring  mill  by  Thomas  Arnold.  It  is  alleged,  indeed, 
that  Pawtucket  can  claim  that  the  first  flouring  mill  in  the  State  was 
erected  within  her  borders. 

"  The  success  of  Slater's  undertaking  stimulated  others  to  rear 
mills  of  a  like  character.  In  1799  the  second  cotton  mill  in  this  town 
was  begun.  It  was  erected  by  Mr.  Oziel  Wilkinson  and  his  three 
sons-in-law— Samuel  Slater,  Timothy  Greene  and  William  Wilkinson. 
An  advertisement  from  these  parties,  which  has  been  preserved,  has 
a  kind  of  historic  interest.  It  appeared  in  the  United  States  Chronicle 
(a  journal  published  in  Providence),  under  date  of  July  30th,  1801. 
It  is  as  follows: 

"  '  SAMUEL  SLATER  &  CO. 
"  '  The  subscribers  having  erected  an  extensive  Manufactory  for 


20  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

spinning  Cotton  at  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  near  Pawtucket  Falls^ 
four  miles  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  have  entered  into  Co-Partnership 
under  the  above  firm,  for  conducting  the  same,  and  now  inform  the 
Public  that  they  are  ready  to  supply  any  Quantity  of  Yarn,  of  almost 
every  Number  and  Description,  as  Warp,  Filling,  2  and  3  threaded 
Stocking  Yarn,  suitable  for  Weaving  and  Knitting,  whitened  or 
brown,  Wholesale  or  Retail,  at  a  short  Notice.  Their  Yarn  is  at  least 
equal,  if  not  superior  to  any  manufactured  in  America.  Orders  to 
any  Amount  can  speedily  be  complied  with,  and  shall  be  carefully 
attended  to,  by  addressing  to  Samuel  Slater  &  Co.,  North  Providence,, 
or  William  Wilkinson,  Postmaster,  Providence. 

OziEL  Wilkinson, 
Samuel  Slater, 
Timothy  Greene, 
William  Wilkinson. 
"  '  N.  Providence,  July  16th,  1801.' 

"  Tradition  represents  that  the  impulse  to  the  erection  of  the  mill 
last  mentioned  sprung  from  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Slater 
with  his  former  partners.  He  fancied- — whether  justly  or  not  is  idle 
to  inquire^ — that  they  were  ready  to  supplant  him,  now  that  they  had, 
as  they  supposed,  learned  the  business;  and  his  sturdy  father-in-law, 
as  well  as  Mr.  Slater  himself,  resented  the  injustice. 

"  One  can  easily  imagine  the  alarm  which  the  prospect  of  another 
rival  brings  to  the  proprietors  of  the  old  mill.  An  amusing  incident 
illustrates  the  fact.  The  expression  another  rival  has  been  wittingly 
used.  The  mill  built  in  1799  was  not  the  second  cotton  mill  reared 
in  this  neighborhood,  for  that  was  erected  in  what  was  long  called 
Robin  Hollow,  in  the  town  of  Cumberland.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Cumberland  Mills,  which  may  almost  be  claimed  as  a  Paw- 
tucket enterprise,  since  the  buildings  were  reared  mainly  by  Paw- 
tucket capital,  and  the  larger  part  of  the  capital  stock  is  still  held  in 
this  town.  The  earlier  mill,  however,  was  erected  by  Elisha  Water- 
man, and  the  story  is  told  that,  after  it  got  under  way,  the  workmen 
came  one  day  to  Pawtucket,  and  marched  in  procession  by  the  old 
mill,  every  one  wearing  a  bunch  of  cotton  yarn  on  his  hat. 

"  The  name  of  Timothy  Greene  in  the  above  quoted  advertise- 
ment is  a  reminder  that,  at  that  period,  he  was  an  active  business 
man  in  Pawtucket.  His  original  business  was  the  manufacture  of 
shoes,  but  he  enlarged  it  by  engaging  in  tanning.  He  purchased  a 
somewhat  extensive  piece  of  land  between  Quaker  Lane  and  the 
river.  He  laid  out  a  tan-yard  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  where  the 
mill  of  his  grandsons  now  stands.  To  the  south  lay  his  famous 
meadow.  In  these  later  days  the  most  the  prognosticator  of  the 
weather  dares  do  is  to  speak  of  probabilities;  but  three-quarters  of  a 
century  ago  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  reckoned  it  a  certainty  that 
the  mowing  of  Uncle  Timothy's  meadow  would  bring  rain.    No  mat- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  21 

ter  how  severe  might  have  been  the  drought,  the  mowing  of  that 
meadow  was  a  signal  for  showers.  The  name  by  which  he  was  called 
implies  that  he  must  have  possessed  a  kindly  nature.  One  of  his 
workmen  gives  the  following  testimony  as  to  his  business:  '  We 
ground  200  cords  of  bark  per  year  while  I  worked  for  Mr.  Greene. 
We  tanned  1,000  hides  a  year  for  him,  and  fulled  1,500  for  others.' 
This  was  before  the  times,  however,  of  forcing  processes. 

"  Before  the  close  of  the  last  century  David  Wilkinson  perfected 
one  of  the  important  inventions  which  gave  him  his  renown.  It  was 
that  of  the  slide  lathe.  He  completed  it  in  1797,  and  obtained  a 
patent  for  it  in  the  following  year.  So  slow  was  the  extending  of 
the  machine  business,  however,  that  but  little  pecuniary  profit  flowed 
to  the  inventor.  The  original  patent  run  out  before  it  came  into  ex- 
tensive use,  and  Mr.  Wilkinson  was  too  busy  with  other  enterprises, 
too  intent  on  other  inventions,  to  take  the  trouble  to  secure  a  re- 
newal. But  fifty  years  after  the  original  patent  was  granted,  con- 
gress voted  him  $10,000  as  a  partial  recompense  '  for  the  benefits 
accruing  to  the  public  service  from  the  use  of  the  principle  of  the 
gauge  and  sliding  lathe,  of  which  he  was  the  inventor,  now  in  use  in 
the  workshops  of  the  government,  at  the  different  national  arsenals 
and  armories.' 

"As  early  as  1791  Oziel  Wilkinson  built  a  small  air  furnace,  or 
reverberatory,  for  casting  iron,  in  which  were  cast  the  first  wing- 
gudgeons  known  in  America,  which  were  applied  to  Slater's  old  mill. 
And  so  wide-spread  was  the  fame  of  Pawtucket  for  skillful  iron- 
workers, that  in  1794  Colonel  Baldwin  came  hither  from  Boston  after 
machinery  for  a  canal  then  building,  probably  that  to  Lowell.  At 
W^ilkinson's  establishment  the  patterns  were  made,  and  the  wheels, 
racks,  &c.,  were  cast.  At  the  same  establishment  the  iron  was  cast 
for  the  draw  for  the  Cambridge  bridge  about  the  same  time.  David 
Wilkinson,  in  conjunction  with  other  parties  here,  had  set  up  a  fur- 
nace, and,  by  it,  early  in  the  present  century,  cannon  were  cast  solid. 
They  were  subsequently  bored  out  by  water  power.  '  It  was  then 
the  current  conversation,  that  to  Pawtucket  belonged  the  credit  of 
the  first  cannon  cast  solid  in  the  world.  They  were  bored  by  making 
the  drill  or  bore  stationary,  and  having  the  cannon  revolve  against 
the  drill.' 

"  It  is  to  this  period  of  time  that  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Dwight,  in  his 
travels,  in  1810,  apply.  '  There  is  probably  no  spot  in  New  England,' 
he  writes,  '  of  the  same  extent,  in  which  the  same  quantity  or  variety 
of  manufacturing  business  is  carried  on.  In  the  year  1796,  there 
were  here  three  anchor  forges,  one  tanning  mill,  one  flouring  mill, 
one  slitting  mill,  three  snuff  mills,  one  oil  mill,  three  fulling  mills, 
and  clothier's  works,  one  cotton  factory,  two  machines  for  cutting 
nails,  one  furnace  for  casting  hollow  ware, — all  moved  by  water, — 


22  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

one  machine  for  cutting-  screws,  moved  by  a  horse,  and  several  forges 
for  smith's  work.' 

"  Doctor  Benedict  made  his  first  visit  here  in  1804.  About  50  years 
after,  he  gave  interesting  reminiscences  of  the  condition  of  the  place 
at  the  earlier  date.  His  account,  drawn  from  a  retentive  memory, 
refreshed  by  notes  that  he  had  taken,  and  by  conversation  with  old 
natives  and  residents,  enables  one  to  form  a  fair  idea  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  place  in  the  year  1801  or  1802. 

"  The  only  street  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river  was  the  old  road 
past  the  old  Slack  tavern,  and  out  to  what  is  now  called  North  Bend. 
The  southern  border  of  that  road  run  a  little  further  to  the  south 
than  now.  Reaching  its  present  extremity  to  the  east,  the  main  road 
ran  toward  Boston  past  the  Dolly  Sabin  tavern,  while  there  was  a 
branch  to  the  south,  which  is  now  known  as  South  Bend.  This  street 
is  of  course  what  is  now  Main  and  Walcott  streets.  On  the  western 
side  of  the  river,  Main  street  from  the  bridge  upward  was  several 
feet  lower  than  at  present,  and  at  times  was  one  of  the  muddiest 
holes  in  the  place.  Much  of  the  street  was  a  mere  ravine,  through 
which  ran  a  brook  from  thte  meadow  above.  The  water  from  this 
source  is  now  greatly  lessened,  and  runs  beneath  the  surface.  East 
avenue,  from  its  junction  with  Main  street,  till  lately  for  years  called 
Pleasant  street,  was  then,  as  has  been  already  stated,  called  Quaker 
lane,  and  extended  not  much  farther  than  where  Pleasant  street  now 
begins.  It  was  wretchedly  miry  in  both  spring  and  fall.  What  is 
now  Mill  street  was  but  a  narrow  road  up  to  Slater's  mill,  and  ex- 
tended but  a  little  way  beyond.  Nobody  was  sanguine  enough  to 
suppose  that  a  public  road  would  ever  pass  the  stone  chimney  house, 
through  the  fields  of  Ichabod  and  Stephen  Jenks,  and  over  the  high 
hill  which  then  stood  between  Pawtucket  and  Central  Falls.  At  that 
time,  indeed,  there  were  two  houses  in  what  is  now  the  flourishing 
village  of  Central  Falls.  High  street  was  not  laid  out  at  all  beyond 
where  the  high  school  building  now  stands,  and  very  imperfectly  thus 
far.  There  was  but  one  meeting  house,  a  very  diminutive  edifice, 
which  stood  not  far  from  where  the  goodly  temple  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  now  stands.  The  only  other  public  edifice  was  known  as 
the  Red  school  house,  and  stood  not  far  from  the  meeting  house.  It 
was  used  for  all  public  gatherings  of  a  secular  nature,  and  frequently 
for  religious  assemblies,  when  other  denominations  wished  to  hold  a 
meeting  while  the  Baptist  meeting  house  was  occupied. 

"  But  how  large  was  the  population  at  that  time?  No  census  is 
extant;  but  the  entire  number  of  houses  on  the  east  side  was  17,  and 
on  the  west,  about  twice  as  many.  Between  50  and  60  houses  then 
afforded  shelter  to  the  dwellers  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  But  such 
figures  may  perhaps  mislead;  for  it  seems  to  have  been  common  to 
crowd  large  households  into  small  dwellings;  and  houses  that  afforded 
but  scanty  accommodations  to  a  single  family  were  sometimes  made 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  23 

to  shelter  two  or  three.     The  reader  must  therefore  form  his  own  es- 
timate of  the  number  of  inhabitants. 

"  Of  the  centres  of  industry  more  is  known.  The  first  Slater  mill 
was  running  then,  and  the  structure  of  Samuel  Slater  &  Co.  on  the 
eastern  margin  of  the  river  was  in  operation.  The  proportions  of 
both  those  structures  seemed  doubtless  huge.  Hundreds  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  coming  from  all  the  country  to  gaze  at  the  original  mill, 
and  wonder  at  its  exploits.  But  what  where  its  wondrous  achieve- 
ments? It  spun  by  water  power  coarse  yarns  to  be  woven  by  hand  in 
the  farm-houses  of  all  the  surrounding  region.  Power  looms  were  a 
dream  of  the  future.  But  the  yarns  thus  spun  brought  high  prices, 
and  were  for  a  good  while  in  such  demand,  that  it  seemed  almost  im- 
possible to  execute  the  orders  that  poured  in  for  them.  One  circum- 
stance that  swelled  the  demand  was  that  the  goods  made  on  the  hand 
looms  in  the  country  from  these  yarns,  seemed  far  more  durable  than 
the  old  fabrics  made  from  the  refuse  of  flax,  or  the  coarse  India 
cotton. 

"  Besides  the  spinning  of  cotton,  however,  the  bleaching  business 
was  carried  on,  but  in  a  manner  that  would  now  be  deemed  quite 
primitive.  The  ground  adjoining  the  old  Slater  mill  to  the  north, 
where  now  stands  the  works  of  Messrs.  Fairbrother,  and  many  a 
building  between  Mill  street  and  the  Blackstone,  was  one  great 
bleaching  meadow.  The  fame  of  Mother  Cole  survives  as  the  man- 
ager of  the  operations.  Stakes  were  driven  into  the  ground,  and 
skeins  of  cotton  were  stretched  from  one  to  another,  and  the  cloth 
was  spread  upon  the  grass.  The  matron  named,  with  a  small  corps 
of  assistants,  sprinkled  wath  watering  pots  the  fabric  thus  exposed, 
and  plied  the  drying  sticks  till  the  cloth  and  yarn  assumed  a  whiter 
hue.  A  long  storm,  or  a  protracted  period  of  dull  or  cloudy  weather, 
seriously  delayed  the  completion  of  the  work,  and  taxed  the  patience 
of  customers.  Another  bleaching  meadow  of  like  character  existed 
afterward  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  to  the  south  of  the  bridge; 
and  both  of  them  were  supplied  with  water  brought  down  Main 
street  by  aqueducts  of  wooden  logs.  One  of  them  started  from  the 
western  side  of  the  ascent  of  Park  place,  and  the  other  from  near  the 
corner  where  Main  street  bends  to  the  south  just  above  the  Benedict 
House.  An  outlet  of  one  of  these  aqueducts  was  at  the  head  of  Water 
street.  The  water  from  these  fountains  was  deemed  preferable  for 
bleaching  purposes  to  that  from  the  river.  The  well-known  citizens 
of  Pawtucket,  whose  bleachery  at  Moshassuck  cannot  be  spoken  of  at 
length  without  trenching  on  the  claims  of  Lincoln,  would  hardly  fear 
the  rivalry  of  Mother  Cole,  could  she  return  to  earth  to  resume  in  her 
old  mode  her  former  business. 

"  The  forges,  anchor  shops,  machine  shops,  foundries,  oil  mills, 
grist  mills,  and  similar  establishments,  were  all  near  the  river,  or 
along  Sargent's  Trench.     The  reader  can  fill  up  the  outline  of  this 


24  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

picture  by  conceiving  of  the  woods  which  crowned  the  ridge  to  the 
west  of  Broadway,  and  studded  the  swampy  land  that  sloped  to  the 
Blackstone.  A  dense  forest  covered  the  region  now  occupied  by  the 
tasty  grounds  and  extensive  works  of  Colonel  Dunnell.  And  between 
that  forest  and  the  present  thoroughfare  from  the  stone  bridge  to 
North  Bend  were  three  farms,  stretching  almost  from  the  river  to 
Seekonk  Plains.  These  farms  belonged  to  three  brothers  of  the 
name  of  Bucklin.  On  the  west  of  North  Bend  other  farms  run  back 
to  the  river,  save  where  they  were  afterward  divided  by  the  turnpike. 
A  few  years  before,  on  that  part  of  Cottage  street  where  Mr.  William 
P.  Allen  now  lives,  stood  a  majestic  growth  of  hard  wood;  but  the 
feller  had  meanwhile  come  up  against  it,  and  leveled  the  trees,  and 
the  region  was  a  part  of  large  farms,  poorly  cultivated. 

"  Perhaps  the  space  may  be  profitably  spared  to  give  a  livelier  idea 
of  the  section  east  of  the  river,  as  it  then  existed.  Be  it  recollected, 
therefore,  that  the  house  of  Ephraim  Starkweather  stood  at  the  apex 
of  the  triangle  made  by  Main  and  Walcott  streets.  Just  below  that, 
on  the  site  of  the  rectory  of  Trinity  church,  stood  the  tavern  of 
Colonel  Slack.  From  Mr.  Starkweather's  to  North  Bend  there  was 
no  house.  The  upper  part  of  Walcott  street,  from  above  Grove  street 
to  Otis  French's,  was  open  land  on  the  north  side,  and  belonged  to 
Col.  Slack.  Beyond  Mr.  French's  house,  on  North  Bend,  stood  an  old 
stone  chimney  house,  long  since  torn  down.  It  was  then  occupied, 
however,  by  a  venerable  colored  man  who  bore  a  couple  of  names,- — 
Prince  Kennedy,  or  the  Black  Prince.  The  old  Lyon  house,  the 
Dolly  Sabin  tavern,  two  or  three  farm  houses  between  or  in  the 
neighborhood,  the  stone  chimney  house  on  South  Bend,  and  N.  Buck- 
lin's  house,  near  Bucklin's  brook,  complete  the  list  in  that  part  of  the 
hamlet.  Stretching  from  North  Bend  to  the  Blackstone,  a  little  be- 
yond the  land  mentioned  as  belonging  to  Col.  Slack,  was  a  strip  of 
territory  owned  by  Abiel  Read  and  his  sisters.  Next  on  the  north 
was  the  land  of  Ephraim  Starkweather.  Then  came  the  farm  of 
Baruch  Bucklin.  For  years  afterward  it  was  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
May  D.  Mason,  who  married  the  only  daughter  of  Mr.  Bucklin.  Still 
north  of  this  lay  the  farm  of  Ebenezer  Bucklin.  North  of  these  were 
a  farm  of  Samuel  Slack,  since  called  the  Lavery  place,  and  one  of 
Ezra  Barrows.  Most  of  all  of  these  stretched  from  the  road  named 
to  the  Blackstone,  though  destined  soon  to  be  cut  in  twain  by  the 
Norfolk  and  Bristol  turnpike,  which  was  on  the  eve  of  being  built. 

"  This  leaves  but  few  of  the  seventeen  buildings  unmentioned  in 
the  east  village,  and  one  of  them  was  occupied  by  a  son  of  Hugh 
Kennedy.  Mr.  Kennedy's  house  stood  a  little  to  the  east  of  the 
Ellis  block,  and  was  joined  by  a  garden  which  run  back  to  the  Black- 
stone. It  was  then  deemed  the  most  attractive  garden  in  the  village, 
as  it  possessed  a  great  many  pear  trees.  To  the  south  of  the  bridge 
stood  his  oil  mill,  and  on  the  other  side  a  blacksmith's  and  wheel- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  25 

Wright  shop.  In  the  latter  shop  were  manufactured  a  multitude  of 
old-fashioned  spinning  wheels,  both  great  and  small. 

"Of  course,  on  both  sides  of  the  stream,  in  addition  to  the  streets 
named,  were  a  few  lanes,  which  have  since  grown  into  streets.  One 
ran,  for  instance,  to  the  ship-yard  at  the  Landing,  and  others  in  other 
directions.  But  most  of  the  houses  of  the  residents  in  the  western 
village  of  Pawtucket,  were  upon  the  streets  already  named.  High 
street,  north  of  the  present  High  School  building,  was  covered  by 
pines  and  scrub  oaks.  A  few  roads  and  thoroughfares,  indeed,  ex- 
tended toward  Providence  and  Smithfield,  but  the  rest  of  the  land 
away  from  the  river  was  occupied  by  farms  or  pastures,  or  covered 
with  forests.  Along  the  river's  side,  however,  the  din  of  industr}'- 
was  heard.  What  is  now  Jenks  avenue  led  down  to  the  coal  yard, 
and  here  were  stored  huge  piles  of  charcoal  for  the  use  of  forges,  fur- 
naces, and  anchor  shops;  and  the  clangor  of  trip-hammers  and  anvils, 
the  blows  of  ship-builders,  and  the  buzz  of  machinery,  told  that  en- 
terprise and  toil  were  busy  by  the  waters  of  the  Pawtucket. 

"  About  this  time,  however,  an  important  convenience  for  the  pub- 
lic was  providing.  It  was  the  era  of  turnpikes,  and  the  Norfolk  and 
Bristol  turnpike  was  chartered  to  open  a  more  direct  road  to  Boston. 
It  was  laid  out  four  rods  in  width  from  the  bridge  at  Pawtucket  to  the 
metropolis  of  Massachusetts.  Oziel  Wilkinson  was  always  ready  for 
any  undertaking  that  promised  to  accommodate  the  public  and  put 
money  into  his  own  pocket,  and  took  a  contract  for  building  thirteen 
miles  of  the  road,  nearest  this  place.  This  was  about  the  year  1804. 
The  spades,  shovels  and  picks  for  the  laborers  were  all  furnished 
from  his  shops  m  Pawtucket.  Greatly  to  the  annoyance  of  some  of 
the  residents  east  of  the  river,  the  road,  as  it  approached  the  bridge, 
was  brought  very  near  the  stream,  and  spoiled  some  pleasant  gardens. 
What  is  now  known  as  Broadway  is  but  the  road-bed  of  the  south- 
western part  of  the  old  turnpike.  For  some  years,  especially  after 
steamboats  were  put  on  the  route  between  Providence  and  New  York, 
that  turnpike  was  a  great  highway  of  travel.  Scores  of  stage  coaches, 
crowded  with  passengers,  daily  hurried  over  it,  and  scores  of  wagons, 
groaning  under  their  loads,  journeyed  to  and  from  Boston.  But  the 
march  of  improvement  in  less  than  two-score  years  blasted  the  fond 
hopes  of  its  builders.  The  steam-car  demanded  the  iron  track,  and 
turnpikes  gave  place  to  railroads.  The  result  is  adverted  to  in  the 
account  of  a  special  town  meeting  held  in  Pawtucket,  Mass.,  on  Feb- 
ruary 11th,  1843,  to  consider  whether  the  town  should  oppose  the 
granting  of  the  petition  of  the  Norfolk  and  Bristol  turnpike  for  au- 
thority to  give  up  their  road  to  the  towns  as  a  common  highway.  The 
town  very  sensibly  voted  to  instruct  '  their  representative  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  appear  before  the  Committee  on  the  15th  instant,  and  to 
accept  that  part  of  the  Norfolk  and  Bristol  turnpike  lying  within  the 


26  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

town  of  Pawtucket  as  a  public  road,  provided  the  Corporation  guaran- 
tee the  said  road  to  the  town  free  of  expense.' 

"Sturdy  Oziel  found  .the  turnpike  a  great  convenience  while  he 
lived,  for  he  could  transport  his  goods  by  it  to  a  market  in  Boston.  A 
kinsman  of  his,  in  describing  the  rugged  independence  of  the  old  man, 
remarks,  that  he  was  wont  to  carry  his  own  nails  to  the  city  named, 
and  sell  them  in  quantities  to  suit  purchasers;  and  it  shows  the  effect 
of  modern  inventions  in  cheapening  the  cost  of  articles  of  daily  use, 
to  mention  that  Mr.  Wilkinson  accommodated  both  large  and  small 
purchasers  by  selling  his  nails  to  them  at  16  cents  per  pound. 

"Turning  for  a  moment   from  details  of  business,  it  maybe  re- 
marked that  an  incident  happened  early  in   the  century,  which   lived 
in  the  memory  of  old  citizens,  and  is  so  oft  referred  to  in  common 
speech  that  it  deserves  to  be  commemorated  in  history.     An  almost 
unparalleled  freshet  occurred  on  February  15th,  1807.     It  was  a  Sab- 
bath, whose  quiet  was  broken  by  the  foaming  surges.     The   Black- 
stone,  like  most  of  northern  rivers,  is  liable  to  be  swollen  by  great 
masses  of  ice  and  water  when  a  sudden  thaw  looses  the  frozen  rivu- 
lets and  brooks.     The  banks  of  the  river  at  Pawtucket,  however,  are 
high  enough  to  lift  the  houses  above  ordinary  floods,  but  on  the  day 
preceding  the  Sabbath   named  a  furious  torrent  plunging  over  the 
falls  rose  to  an  unwonted  height,  and  reminded  the  beholders  that 
the  swollen  waves  can  defy  the  interdict  of  any  one  save  Him  whose 
awful  voice  can  say:   T/ins  far,  and  no  farther  !     All  night  the  torrent 
rushed  and  roared,  and  the  trembling  bridge  warned  travelers  not  to 
attempt  to  cross  the  stream.     The  bed  of  the  river  was  filled  to  over- 
flowing; Sargent's  Trench  became  a  boiling  flood;  and  the  surging 
billows  revealed  the  bed  of  still  another  stream  which  centuries  ago 
ran  parallel  with  the  main  river.     Mills  and  shops  were  swept  away; 
and  a  few  families  that  had  seemed  to  linger  too  long  in  their  homes 
were  hurried  to  places  of  safety  by  strong  men,  who  were  periling 
their  own  lives  to  save  others.     In  the  gray  dawn  of  the  morning  a 
loud  voice  was  heard  shouting  in  the  streets,  'Turn  out,  turn  out;  the 
water  is  running  round  Jerahmeel  Jenks's  stone  wall.'     In  the  very 
crisis  of  the  freshet  a  sick  mother,  and  her  infant  of  a  fortnight  old, 
were  moved  in  a  chair  across  a  ladder  reaching  from  the  window  of 
an  imperiled  house  to  the  top  of  a  fence  opposite,  by  men  who  stood 
in  a  roaring  stream,  and  feared  every  instant  that  they  were  too  late. 
The  late  Mrs.  N.  G.  B.  Dexter,  whose  parents  lived  in  a  house  stand- 
ing where  the  Miller  block  now  is,  was  accustomed  to  relate  in  her 
old   age,  that   tall    Colonel    Stephen  Jenks   took   both  her  and  her 
younger  sister  in  his  arms  and  bore  them  away  to  a  secure  place. 
Another  incident  of  a  dramatic  character  happened. 

"  Mr.  John  Pitcher  occupied  a  house  that  stood  on  a  rock  which 
forms  a  part  of  the  foundation  of  Almy's  block.  He  and  his  daugh- 
ter and  little  grandson  lingered  in  the  house  till  the  evening  of  Sun- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  2T 

day.  But  the  billows  were  so  threatening,  the  masses  of  ice  were 
crashing  so  furiously,  that  the  daughter  dared  not  spend  another 
night  in  so  lonely  a  place,  especially  as  connection  was  cut  off  with 
the  western  shore.  She  therefore  besought  her  father  to  leave  and 
go  with  her,  while  the  bridge  yet  stood,  to  the  other  side.  While  he 
hesitated  and  refused,  she  took  her  infant  in  her  arms,  waded  through 
the  water  and  crossed  the  bridge.  The  crazy  structure  trembled  be- 
neath her  steps;  so,  after  bearing  her  boy  to  a  place  of  safety,  she 
took  a  lantern  and  returned  for  her  father,  to  implore  him  to  leave. 
She  had  scarce  stepped  on  the  bridge,  when  she  discerned  through 
the  blinding  spray  a  lantern.  She  knew  that  no  one  but  her  father 
could  have  gained  a  footing  on  the  bridge,  and  eagerly  hastened  to 
him.  She  found  him  bewildered  by  the  mist  and  roar,  and  hurried 
him  across  the  trembling  structure;  and  they  had  hardly  stepped  a 
dozen  steps  on  the  shore  before  the  mad  billows  hurled  masses  of  ice 
against  the  tottering  fabric,  and  swept  it,  a  heap  of  ruins,  into  the 
abyss. 

"Through  the  mercy  of  God  no  lives  were  lost,  but  fourteen  build- 
ings were  swept  away.  None  of  them  were  costly  edifices,  and  yet 
several  of  them  were  the  seat  of  locally  important  industries,  that 
were  not  merely  gainful  to  their  proprietors,  but  of  great  convenience 
to  the  public  around.  No  such  flood  has  since  occurred;  perhaps  none 
has  approximated  it  more  nearly  than  one  that  happened  last  spring. 
But  the  buildings  which  have  been  reared  since  the  earlier  freshet 
have  been  built  so  much  more  firmly,  that  but  little  loss  was  actually 
sustained,  though  some  shops  were  in  peril.  The  stately  stone  bridge 
which  now  spans  the  Blackstone  near  the  falls  is  so  much  stronger 
than  the  crazy  wooden  structure  that  nearly  perished  in  that  former 
freshet,  that  beholders  feared  not  to  stand  on  it  and  gaze  at  the 
careering  surges  that  plunged  over  the  rocks. 

"  It  may  not  be  improper  to  remark,  in  illustration  of  the  variety 
of  industry  that  characterized  Pawtucket,  that  an  ingenious  clock- 
maker,  early  in  the  present  century,  by  the  name  of  John  Field,  in- 
troduced here  the  casting  of  brass.  He  carried  on  his  business  in 
the  anchor  shop  of  the  elder  Mr.  Wilkinson.  And  both  the  Wilkin- 
sons and  the  various  spinners  of  cotton  were  extending  their  opera- 
tions. On  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  to  the  south  of  Main  street,  be- 
tween the  bridge  and  the  spacious  mill  recently  erected  by  the  Messrs.. 
Goff,  are  the  sites  of  old  mills.  An  early  manufacturing  company 
took  the  name  of  the  Cotton  and  Oil  Company.  They  bought  and 
carried  on  the  oil  mill  which  had  been  owned  by  Hugh  Kennedy. 
The  company  was  composed  of  Nathaniel  Croade,  Major  Ebenezer 
Tyler,  Oliver  Starkweather,  Benjamin  W^alcott,  Eliphalet  vSlack,  Dr. 
Billings  and  others,  and  built  the  so-called  Yellow  mill  in  1805  and 
the  Stone  mill  in  1813.  The  company  subsequently  divided  into  two- 
sections,  and  each  of  them  took  control  of  a  mill. 


28  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  The  freshet  spoken  of  above  carried  away  all  the  buildings  in  the 
forge  lot,  from  the  bridge  to  what  is  now  called  Jenks  avenue.  The 
grist  mill  on  the  grist  mill  lot  was  also  swept  before  the  billows,  but 
the  grist  mill'house,  which  stood  on  the  summit  of  the  rock,  remained. 
Although  none  of  the  buildings  were  very  large,  they  were  yet  of  such 
vservice  to  the  whole  neighborhood,  by  reason  of  the  kinds  of  business 
carried  on  in  them,  that  steps  were  taken  to  rebuild  some  of  them 
without  any  delay.  Eleazer  Jenks  and  his  sons,  Eleazer,  Jr.,  and  Ste- 
phen, built  the  forge  shop;  Pardon  and  Jabez  Jenks  built  the  carding 
room,  and  Moses  Jenks,  the  father  of  the  two  last  named,  reared,  in 
connection  with  others,  the  grist  mill,  which  stood  till  pulled  down 
to  build  the  flouring  mill  in  ]863.  The  basement  of  the  carding  ma- 
chine building  was  used  for  a  fulling  mill  and  a  snuff  mill.  The  first 
floor  was  used  for  carding  wool.  The  clothier's  shop  was  on  the 
corner  of  Main  street  and  Jenks  avenue,  and  the  basement  of  the 
building  was  used  for  a  coloring  shop.  The  first  floor  was  employed 
for  dressing  cloth.  The  entire  business  was  carried  on  by  Pardon  and 
Jabez  Jenks,  the  latter  of  whom  lived  in  the  tenement  above  the 
dressing  room.  This  continued  the  case  till  1817,  when  Jabez  Jenks 
died.  Subsequently  the  business  was  carried  on  by  others  till  1821, 
when  the  shop  was  resigned  to  trade. 

"  And  here  it  may  be  remarked  that,  though  these  details  seem 
somewhat  prolix,  they  are  instructive  for  the  present  generation,  by 
reminding  them  of  the  change  which  has  taken  place  in  manufactur- 
ing within  70  years.  It  was  nearly  a  dozen  years  after  the  freshet  be- 
fore power  looms  came  into  vogue.  Before  that  time  the  farmers  in 
this  State  and  the  neighboring  part  of  Massachusetts  raised  their 
sheep,  clipped  their  own  wool,  and  had  their  cloth  manufactured  be- 
neath their  own  roof.  But  before  their  wives,  daughters  or  domes- 
tics spun  and  wove  their  wool,  it  was  brought  to  Pawtucket  to  be 
carded,  and,  after  it  was  woven,  was  returned  to  the  clothier's  to  be 
dressed  and  finished.  The  cloth  thus  made  was  very  strong,  and  could 
be  made  very  fine.  Indeed,  it  is  mentioned  that  when  President  Mon- 
roe was  inaugurated  in  1817  he  wore  a  suit  of  clothes  made  of  cloth 
manufactured  in  Pawtucket.  But  this  means  simply  that  the  wool  was 
carded  here  and  the  cloth  finished,  for  no  looms  for  weaving  woolen 
goods  by  power  had  then  been  put  in  operation.  The  tenter  bars  of 
the  clothiers  were,  at  the  early  date  named,  on  the  lot  whereon  the 
stately  edifice  reared  by  the  Dexter  Brothers  now  stands. 

"  The  basement  of  the  forge  shop  was  used  for  a  trip-hammer  shop 
to  do  heavy  forging  and  to  make  mule  spindles.  This  business  was 
carried  on  by  Eleazer  Jenks,  Jr.,  and  others  of  the  family,  till  his 
death  in  1816.  The  first  floor  was  used  for  various  purposes;  quite 
early  by  Stephen  Jenks,  who  had  a  machine  for  cutting  large  spikes 
of  his  own  device.     Subsequently  he  used  it  for  another  purpose,  to 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  29 

be  mentioned  further  on.  On  the  second  floor  Otis  and  Benjamin 
Walcott  had  a  machine  shop  prior  to  1813. 

"  And  here  may  appropriately  be  quoted  an  extract  of  a  letter  from 
John  K.  Pitman  to  Thomas  Cole,  Esq.,  under  date  of  November  8th, 
1809,  in  relation  to  the  cotton  manufacturing  establishments  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Providence.  It  shows  the  comparative  awkwardness 
of  some  departments  of  manufacturing  at  that  time.  The  extract  is 
borrowed  from  the  Providence  Journal  of  June  19th  of  the  present 
year: 

"  '  There  are  in  this  State  sixteen  cotton  mills  in  operation,  and 
seven  more  erected  which  have  not  yet  begun  to  spin.  Also  without 
the  State,  and  within  about  thirty  miles  of  this  town,  there  are  ten  at 
work  and  six  not  yet  in  operation.  .  .  .  The  mills  within  the  State 
contain  between  thirteen  and  fourteen  thousand  spindles,  and  con- 
sume about  twelve  thousand  pounds  of  cotton  weekly;  those  without 
the  State  contain  upwards  of  six  thousand  spindles,  and  consume 
about  five  thousand  pounds  of  cotton  weekly.  The  produce  of  yarn 
is  estimated  at  four-fifths  of  the  raw  material.  The  mills  within  the 
State  employ  upwards  of  one  thousand  looms,  most  of  which  are  in 
private  families,  and  wrought  by  females  unoccupied  by  their  domes- 
tic concerns.  The  cotton  is  picked  by  private  families  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  mills,  and  in  this  State  this  branch  gives  employment 
to  more  than  four  hundred  families  a  considerable  portion  of  the  year, 
to  whom  is  paid  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  annually.' 

"  The  war  with  Great  Britain,  which  began  in  1812,  while  it  nearly 
swept  American  commerce  from  the  ocean,  gave  an  impetus  to  cotton 
manufacturing  and  kindred  branches  of  industry  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. Indeed,  the  embargo  during  Jefferson's  administration  had 
doubtless  suggested  to  the  shrewd  men  who  had  started  cotton  mills 
in  this  neighborhood  that  the  yarns  of  their  manufacture  were  likely 
to  be  needed  to  supply  an  imperious  home  demand.  Hence  in  1810 
Oziel  Wilkinson  built  another  mill  on  Mill  street,  which  still  stands. 
It  is  now  known  as  the  Lefavour  mill.  For  several  years  after  it  was 
reared  the  lower  story  was  occupied  by  David  Wilkinson  for  a  ma- 
chine shop  and  the  upper  story  for  cotton  spinning.  The  war,  how- 
ever, stimulated  manufacturing  still  more.  On  passing  up  Broadway 
one  sees  on  the  mill  occupied  by  the  Dexter  Brothers  the  figures  1813, 
which  indicate  the  time  of  the  erection  of  that  structure.  It  was 
reared  originally  by  Wilkinson  &  Greene.  It  has  been  mentioned 
that  to  the  south  of  the  bridge  a  mill  was  also  erected  in  the  same 
year.  About  this  time,  also,  Kent's  factory  was  converted  into  a  cot- 
ton mill.  In  1813,  too,  a  machine  shop  was  built  by  Eleazer  Jenks 
and  family,  which  extended  along  the  southern  part  of  Main  street, 
and  to  the  east  of  the  clothier's  shop  that  stood  on  the  corner  of  the 
present  Jenks  avenue.  This  shop,  indeed,  reached  from  Main  street 
to  the  forge  shop,  and  was  occupied  by  David  Wilkinson  from  the 


:30  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

period  of  its  erection  till  1829.  Subsequently,  during  the  war,  the 
Buffington  mill,  so  called  at  a  later  date,  was  erected,  and  occupied 
the  space  between  the  machine  shop  and  the  bridge.  Its  owners  were 
Pardon  and  Jabez  Jenks.  The  first  person  to  occupy  it  was  Major 
Ebenezer  Tyler,  w^ho  was  for  years  one  of  the  most  active  men  of  the 
place.  For  a  part  of  two  seasons  he  carried  on  the  business  of  spin- 
ning cotton  yarns.  After  him  a  Mr.  Taft  occupied  it,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded, not  far  from  1821,  by  Mr.  Buffington.  The  business  of  weav- 
ing cloth  by  power  looms,  as  will  be  shown,  had  meanwhile  been 
begun,  and  Mr.  Buffington  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cloth.  He 
continued  to  run  the  mill  till  it  was  burned  in  1844. 

"  During  the  war,  of  course,  invention  was  stimulated,  and  two 
men,  in  whose  name  Pawtucket  has  an  interest,  were  busied  in  devis- 
ing valuable  contrivances.  The  slowness  of  weaving  cotton  by  hand 
had  pressed  the  inquiry  on  hundreds  of  minds,  Cannot  a  power  loom 
be  devised  which  shall  expedite  the  work  and  lessen  the  expense? 
And  among  those  who  were  haunted  by  this  question  was  an  in- 
genious mechanic  in  Pawtucket  by  the  name  of  John  Thorp.  As 
early  as  1814  he  invented  a  power  loom.  It  stood  upright,  and  per- 
formed its  work  by  perpendicular  action.  Though  it  was  soon  super- 
seded by  a  more  skillful  instrument,  it  yet  showed  the  inventor's 
ability.  Soon  after  he  invented  a  machine  for  winding  quills  or  bob- 
bins. He  also  invented  a  very  ingenious  braiding  machine,  and  fol- 
lowed it  by  the  ring  spinning  or  spinning-ring  which  is  now  in  gen- 
eral use. 

"  The  other  person  referred  to  was  Mr.  Asa  Arnold,  a  native  of 
Pawtucket.  He  devised  a  machine  for  separating  wool  in  carding 
into  slivers,  so  as  to  be  spun  from  the  cards.  This  is  believed  to  have 
been  done  during  the  war  named.  Subsequently  he  displayed  his  in- 
genuity by  introducing  compound  motion  or  differential  box  into  the 
Double  vSpeeder.  For  this  he  obtained  a  patent  in  1821.  In  the  judg- 
ment of  competent  parties,  both  of  these  inventions  possess  great 
merit. 

"  The  order  of  time  requires,  however,  that  more  be  now  said  of 
the  third  grand  invention  pertaining  to  the  manufacture  of  cotton. 
So  far  as  our  own  land  is  concerned,  this,  like  the  adoption  of  Ark- 
wright's  patent,  was  rather  a  reproduction  than  an  invention.  Mr. 
William  Gilmore  had  been  working  at  Slatersville,  and  sought  to  in- 
troduce there  the  vScotch  loom.  No  favor  was  shown  to  the  proposi- 
tion, however,  but  Judge  Lyman,  of  the  neighboring  town  of  North 
Providence,  hears  of  the  matter,  and  induces  Mr.  Gilmore  to  make  the 
experiment  in  his  mill.  From  some  defect  or  derangement  of  the 
the  loom,  however,  it  does  not  work  at  first;  but  Judge  Lyman  thinks 
of  David  Wilkinson,  and  gets  him  to  look  at  the  machine.  Mr. 
Wilkinson's  keen  eye  soon  discovers  the  difficulty,  and  his  fertile 
.mind  devises  a  remedy.     And  it  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  Captain 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  31 

James  S.  Brown,  whose  inventive  genius  and  business  talent  have  so 
helped  the  prosperity  of  Pawtucket,  had  just  come  to  work  in  the 
shop  of  Mr.  Wilkinson;  and  the  first  task  he  performed  was  to  finish 
some  patterns  of  the  vScotch  loom.  This  was  in  1817,  and  marks  an 
■era  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  cotton  in  our  land.  Far  and 
wide  the  news  spreads  that  a  power  loom  is  successfully  working  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Pawtucket,  and  manufacturers  come  to  inspect 
it.  The  foundation  of  many  a  manufacturing  village  and  city,  in- 
deed, almost  dates  from  that  epoch. 

"  x\nd  the  period  reached  requires  that  another  person  be  now 
mentioned.  In  1813  Mr.  Larned  Pitcher  began  as  a  machinist.  Sub- 
sequently Mr.  P.  Hovey  and  Mr.  Arnold  became  associated  with  him. 
Their  first  place  of  business  was  at  the  new  mill  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  but  they  subsequently  moved  to  the  Stone  mill,  and  then 
to  the  Yellow  mill.  In  1819  Mr.  Gay  became  a  partner,  and,  the 
others  named  having  retired,  the  style  of  the  firm  became  Pitcher  & 
Gay.  Soon  Mr.  Gay  devised  a  dresser,  which  still  remains  in  use. 
He  also  invented  a  speeder.  In  September,  1824,  Mr.  Gay  removed 
to  Nashua;  and,  as  Mr.  Brown,  who  had  been  working  for  some  years 
in  the  employment  of  the  parties  named,  had  become  a  partner  on 
the  previous  month,  the  new  firm  took  the  well-known  style  of 
Pitcher  &  Brown,  and  continued  in  business  till  1842. 

"  It  was  mentioned,  in  speaking  of  the  forge  shop,  that  Mr.  Stephen 
Jenks  occupied  for  a  time  the  first  floor  of  that  building.  One  cir- 
cumstance deserves  to  be  named  in  connection  with  that  shop. 
The  extract  quoted  from  the  letter  of  Mr.  Pitman  tells  in  how  rude 
a  way  the  business  of  picking  cotton  was  carried  on.  Mr.  Jenks  in- 
troduced here  a  cotton-picker,  which  was  the  first  started  in  this 
neighborhood.  After  that,  cotton  instead  of  being  sent  out  to  private 
families  to  be  whipped,  was  brought  to  the  forge  shop  from  all  the 
mills  for  miles  around,  and  returned  in  bags  to  the  various  mills  in 
condition  to  be  used.  Mr.  Jenks  continued  this  business  till  1817  or 
1818,  when  pickers  came  into  general  use  in  the  various  mills. 
The  room  occupied  by  Stephen  Jenks  was  afterwards  occupied  by 
Abner  Tompkins  as  a  machine  shop  for  finishing  the  iron  work  for 
looms,  till  about  1829. 

"  Prior  to  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  as  was  intimated  above,  the 
business  of  cotton  spinning  was  restricted  to  a  narrow  sphere  in  our 
land.  Massachusetts  was  largely  engaged  in  commerce,  and  had 
taken  but  little  interest  in  the  business  wherein  Rhode  Island  was 
reaping  such  a  harvest.  As  showing  to  how  small  an  extent  Massa- 
chusetts had  entered  into  rivalry  with  her  diminutive  neighbor,  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  Rehoboth,  in  1813,  surpassed  any  other  town 
in  that  state  in  the  number  of  its  cotton  mills.  Of  course,  the  larger 
part  of  them  where  in  what  is  now  the  eastern  district  of  Pawtucket. 
But  the  war,  by  prostrating  commerce,  caused  a  diversion  of  capital. 


32  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  gave  a  great  stimulus  to  manufactures.  And  the  introduction  of 
the  Scotch  loom  confirmed  the  tendenc3^ 

"  The  same  copy  of  the  Providence  Journal  that  contains  the  letter 
from  Mr.  Pitman,  already  quoted,  contains  extracts  from  the  letter  of 
another  manufacturer,  who  speaks  in  the  following  strain.  His  letter 
was  written  in  1820: 

"  '  It  will  be  observed  that  the  foregoing  estimate  was  made  in  the 
year  1809,  when  it  may  be  considered  the  cotton  manufacture  was  in 
its  infancy.  Since  that  period  to  the  commencement  of  the  year  1816, 
the  increase  exceeded  all  calculation.  .  .  .  Allured  by  the  previous 
enormous  profits,  hundreds  had  rushed  into  the  business,  in  many 
cases  without  capital  sufficient  successfully  to  conduct  such  an  enter- 
prise, and  a  general  embarrassment  resulted  [in  1815  and  1816].  The 
distress  experienced  at  this  time  did  not  last  long,  however.  Those 
establishments  which  had  been  managed  prudently  continued  to 
operate  a  portion  of  their  machiner5^  and  the  others  gradually  com- 
menced operations  again,  until,  in  a  short  time,  nearly  all  the  ma- 
chinery was  at  work. 

"  '  The  improvements  in  machinery  have  been  such  as  to  reduce 
the  cost  of  labor  to  more  than  one-fourth  of  what  it  was  in  the  year 
1809;  the  weaving,  which  is  a  very  important  branch,  is  reduced  to 
one-half,  and  the  picking  of  cotton,  which  it  will  be  observed  by  Mr. 
Pitman's  estimate  was  at  that  time  very  expensive,  I  may  say  is  al- 
most without  labor,  it  being  picked  by  a  machine  called  the  picker, 
which  is  built  at  a  trifling  expense,  and  is  in  no  way  injurious  to  the 
staple  of  the  cotton.' 

"  For  the  sake  of  brevity  a  part  of  this  letter  has  been  omitted. 
The  writer  states,  however,  that  owing  to  the  great  depression  in 
business  after  the  close  of  the  war,  occasioned  in  part  by  an  immense 
influx  of  British  manufactures,  relief  was  sought  by  legislation.  A 
list  was  therefore  carefully  prepared  of  the  manufacturing  establish- 
ments and  their  number  of  spindles  and  forwarded  to  Congress.  The 
writer  subjoins  a  list  of  the  cotton  factories  within  thirty  miles  of 
Providence  in  1820.  The  number  of  spindles  credited  to  that  part  of 
North  Providence  now  included  in  Pawtucket  was  about  2,500;  to  that 
part  of  vSeekonk  now  embraced  in  Pawtucket  was  6,400;  in  all,  in 
round  numbers,  7,900  spindles.  The  entire  number  of  mills  in  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island  was  100;  the  number  of  spindles  almost  76,000. 
At  the  present  time  ther^  is  a  single  corporation  in  Pawtucket  which 
has  100,000  spindles. 

"  During  the  half  century  and  upward  since  the  letter  just  quoted 
from  was  written,  the  business  of  cotton  manufacturing  has  been  won- 
derfully extended  by  reason  of  the  economy  secured  through  the 
various  inventions  named;  but  it  may  well  be  remembered  that  when 
Lowell,  Lawrence,  Manchester  and  Lewiston,  which  have  outstripped 
this  town  in  population,  had  no  existence,  Pawtucket  was  conducting 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  33 

to  success  the  experiments  by  which  they  were  to  become  great  and 
rich. 

"  A,  few  years  rolled  on  unmarked  by  any  startling  occurrences  in 
Pawtucket.  In  1824  the  old  White  mill,  the  second  reared  in  Paw- 
tucket,  was  burnt  down.  The  energy  of  its  owners,  however,  speedily 
secured  its  rebuilding,  and  the  figures  chiseled  in  its  walls  tell  of 
both  the  year  when  the  old  mill  was  consumed  and  the  new  one 
reared.  Pawtucket  continued  meanwhile  to  show  energy  and  thrift. 
A  gazetteer  of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut,  published  at  Hartford 
in  1819,  gives  a  hint  as  to  the  appearance  of  the  place  at  that  time: 

"  '  The  village  of  Pawtucket  is  situated  in  the  northeast  section  of 
the  town  [North  Providence],  four  miles  northeast  of  Providence,  on 
the  border  of  the  Seekonk  river;  its  site  being  principally  the  declivity 
of  a  hill,  and  it  is  highly  romantic  and  picturesque.  The  river  here 
affords  numerous  natural  sites  for  manufacturing  establishments,  mills 
and  hydraulic  works  of  almost  every  description,  which  are  scarcely 
rivalled,  and  which  are  occupied  to  a  great  extent.  The  rapid  march 
of  manufacturing  and  mechanical  industry  which  the  short  annals  of 
this  place  disclose  has  few  examples  in  our  country,  and  has  produced 
one  of  the  most  considerable  and  flourishing  manufacturing  villages 
in  the  United  States.  The  river  here  forms  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  two  States,  and  the  village  is  built  upon  both  sides  of  it, 
being  partly  in  Rhode  Island  and  partly  in  Massachusetts.  That  part 
of  it  which  is  in  Rhode  Island  is  principally  built  on  four  streets,  and 
comprises  eighty-three  Dwelling  houses,  twelve  Mercantile  stoies,  two 
Churches,  a  Post  Office,  an  incorporated  Bank,  an  Academy,  and  two 
or  three  flourishing  Schools.  Of  the  ten  Cotton  mills  in  the  town 
[North  Providence],  three  are  at  this  place,  and  upon  an  extensive 
scale.  There  are  six  shops  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  machin- 
ery, having  the  advantage  of  water  power,  and  various  other  mechani- 
cal establishments,  affording  extensive  employment  and  supporting  a 
dense  population.  Upon  the  Massachusetts  side  of  the  river  there  is 
a  village  of  nearly  equal  size  and  consequence  for  its  manufacturing 
and  other  interests.' 

"  A  paragraph  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  David  Wilkinson  also  tells  of 
the  activity  which  marked  this  place  during  the  first  three  decades  of 
the  present  century: 

"  '  We  built  machinery  to  go  to  almost  every  part  of  the  country — 
to  Pomfret  and  Killingly,  Conn.;  to  Hartford',  Vt.;  to  Waltham,  Rayn- 
ham,  Plymouth,  Halifax,  Plympton,  Middleboro'  and  other  places  in 
Massachusetts;  for  Wall  and  Wells,  Trenton,  N.  J.;  for  Union  and 
Gray,  on  the  Patapsco;  for  the  Warren  factories,  on  the  Gunpowder, 
near  Baltimore;  for  Tarboro  and  Martinburgh,  N.  C;  to  two  factories 
in  Georgia;  to  Louisiana;  to  Pittsburg;  to  Delaware;  to  Virginia  and 
other  places.  Indeed,  Pawtucket  was  doing  something  for  almost 
every  part  of  the  country.' 


34  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  But  a  change  occurred  in  1829.  Alany  of  the  most  active  manu- 
facturers had  extended  their  operations  beyond  the  limits  of  their 
capital;  and,  when  the  strain  came,  they  were  compelled  to  succumb. 
Property  seemed  to  lose  all  its  value,  promising  enterprises  were 
abandoned,  and  the  town  was  suddenly  checked  in  its  career.  A  saga- 
cious merchant  of  Providence  predicted  that  this  town  would  not  re- 
cover from  the  calamity  for  a  score  of  years;  and,  though  many  of  the 
citizens  cherished  more  sanguine  hopes,  his  prophecy  was  verified. 
Steam  engines  were  set  up  in  Providence  which  supplied  trip-hammers 
with  power,  and  the  manufacture  of  anchors  and  similar  things  was 
transferred  from  Pawtucket  never  to  return.  For  years  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  seem'ed  almost  the  sole  business,  and  the  fluctuations 
to  which  it  is  incident  rendered  the  town  peculiarly  sensitive  to  the 
caprices  of  a  single  branch  of  industry." 

In  1846  James  S.  Brown  bought  the  site  of  the  present  "  Brown's 
machine  shop,"  three  and  a  half  acres  in  area,  and  put  up  a  furnace 
and  foundry  for  making  his  own  castings.  Mr.  Brown  was  the  junior 
member  of  Pitcher  &  Brown  previously  mentioned.  After  Mr. 
Brown's  connection  with  the  firm  they  did  a  large  business  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  machinery.  In  1842  Mr.  Brown  bought  his 
partner  out.  The  building  erected  in  1846  is  a  substantial  edifice, 
400  by  60  feet,  with  two  furnaces,  one  for  malleable  iron,  and  an  en- 
gine of  56  horse  power.  To  man  the  works  fully  requires  300  men. 
Captain  Brown  made  many  improvements  and  important  inventions 
in  machinery.  In  1830  he  invented  a  machine  for  cutting  bevel  gear- 
ing, in  1838  a  machine  for  boring  tubes  of  speeder  flyers  of  solid 
iron,  and  obtained  a  patent  for  it.  He  afterward  devised  a  lathe  for 
turning  irregular  forms,  for  which  he  obtained  a  patent  in  1842.  He 
also  invented  a  fluting  machine  for  fluting  sixteen  rolls  at  a  time, 
and  this  machine,  though  not  patented,  is  in  universal  use.  In  1852 
he  invented  and  patented  the  American  speeder  or  rolling  frame.  In 
1874  he  invented  a  machine  for  grinding  spindles,  and  in  1875-6  he 
devised  a  new  machine  for  drilling  rollers  for  speeder  or  spinning 
machines.  This  was  an  improvement  in  spinning  mules.  The  patent 
bears  date  March  7th,  1876.  He  also  devised  machinery  now  doing 
good  service  in  his  shop,  among  which  are  three  lathes  he  made  him- 
self in  1820.  He  died  in  1879,  since  which  time  the  business  has  been 
conducted  by  his  son,  James  Brown.  For  a  short  time  previous  to  his 
death  his  son,  James  Brown,  and  his  son-in-law,  Charles  A.  Warland, 
were  associated  with  him  under  the  firm  style  of  James  S.  Brown  & 
Sons. 

In  1865  the  machinist  business  of  PaM'tucket  was  greatly  enlarged 
by  the  removal  hither  of  the  firm  of  Fales,  Jenks  &  Sons.  The  firm 
was  originally  Stephen  Jenks  &  Sons,  but  this  firm  was  carried  away 
in  the  financial  panic  of  1829.  In  1830  David  G.  Fales  and  Alvin 
Jenks,  of  the  original  firm,  formed  a  co-partnership  in  Central  Falls. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  35 

and  began  making-  cotton  machinery.  In  1883  they  commenced  mak- 
ing Hubbard's  Patent  Rotary  Pump,  which  they  so  perfected  as  to 
gain  almost  a  monopoly  of  the  manufacture  of  such  pumps.  In  1845 
they  began  making  ring  spinning  frames,  and  in  1846  manufactured 
ring  twisters,  which  were  among  the  first  of  such  machines  in  the 
country.  John  R.  Fales  and  Alvin  F.  and  Stephen  A.  Jenks,  sons  of 
the  partners,  were  afterward  admitted  to  the  firm.  The  elder  Jenks 
died  in  1856,  and  a  few  years  later  the  elder  Fales  retired  from  the 
firm.  On  the  removal  of  the  business  to  Pawtucket  in  1865  they 
bought  several  acres  of  land,  reared  extensive  machine  shops  and  a 
larg^  foundry,  and  have  since  added  several  other  edifices.  The  es- 
tablishment is  situated  on  Dexter  street,  and  gives  employment  to 
about  500  hands.  The  company  has  always  done  a  large  business  in 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery,  and  in  the  past  has  made  large 
quantities  of  water  wheels,  combined  fly  frame  and  speeders  and 
other  machines.  In  1876  they  were  incorporated  as  the  Fales  &  Jenks 
Machine  Company.  The  officers  are:  Alvin  F.  Jenks,  president;  John 
R.  Fales,  vice-president;  Stephen  A.  Jenks,  treasurer. 

The  Collyer  Machine  Company  is  located  on  Jenks  avenue.  Here 
the  senior  partner,  N.  S.  Collyer,  began  business  with  William  H. 
Haskell  about  1846.  A  few  years  later  Mr.  Haskell  retired,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Robert  Alexander,  and  in  four  or  five  years  Mr. 
Alexander  withdrew,  and  Mr.  S.  S.  Collyer  entered  the  business  with 
his  uncle,  under  the  present  style.  In  the  summer  of  1885  Mr.  N.  S. 
Collyer  died,  and  two  years  later  the  company  was  incorporated,  with 
C.  H.  Bowen  president  and  treasurer,  and  James  H.  Clark  superinten- 
dent. Mr.  Clark  has  been  connected  with  the  shop  for  20  years.  In 
July,  1888,  Mr.  S.  S.  Collyer  was  killed  while  on  duty  as  chief  engi- 
neer'of  the  Fire  Company.  He  was  thrown  from  the  hose  cart,  which 
ran  over  him,  which  resulted  in  his  death  some  days  afterward.  The 
shop  is  finely  equipped  with  good  machines,  and  some  30  hands  are 
employed.  1134240     ^ 

The  William  H.  Haskell  Company  are  manufacturers  of  bolts  and 
nuts.  Messrs.  Jeremiah  O.  and  Joseph  Arnold,  in  1834  or  1835,  started 
the  first  press  for  making  iron  nuts.  It  was  set  up  on  the  Moshas- 
suck  river,  where  now  stands  the  extensive  bleachery  of  Messrs. 
Sayles.  After  a  little  time  they  dissolved,  and  a  new  firm  was  formed, 
consisting  of  Jeremiah  O.  Arnold  and  a  Mr.  Field,  who  transferred 
their  business  to  Pawtucket.  These  gentlemen  added  to  their  busi- 
ness the  making  of  bolts.  Stephen  Jenks  soon  entered  the  same 
business,  and  worked  at  the  old  forge  shop,  whose  site  is  now  covered 
by  the  mill  of  the  Pawtucket  Manufacturing  Company.  In  due  time, 
Mr.  William  Field  started  the  tool-making  business,  manufacturing, 
among  other  things,  augurs,  on  a  novel  plan.  About  the  year  1840 
he  removed  to  Providence,  and  became  the  founder  of  the  well-known 
Tool  Company  in  that  city. 


36  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Besides  these  parties,  Mr.  Franklin  Rand  entered  the  field.  He 
first  occupied  the  old  grist  mill  house,  which,  perched  on  the  rocks, 
outrode  the  freshet  of  "1807.  He  set  up  a  press  there  for  punching- 
iron,  in  1843.  The  next  year  he  took  as  a  partner  Mr.  Joseph  Arnold, 
and  they  remained  together  till  1847.  From  that  .time  Mr.  Rand  was 
alone  till  1863.  He  introduced  an  innovation  in  his  business.  Before 
his  experiment  it  was  thought  that  the  maximum  was  reached,  when 
nuts  were  punched  from  cold  iron  1^  inches  broad  by  f  of  an  inch 
thick;  but  he  soon  punched  nuts  2i  inches  broad  by  an  inch  thick. 
Mr.  Rand  built  the  largest  press  for  this  purpose  that  then  existed  in 
the  country.  He  was  ridiculed  in  advance  for  his  undertaking;  for 
his  wheel  was  deemed  too  small  for  the  object.  But  he  taxed  its  full 
power,  and  showed  that,  as  the  business  originated  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, it  was  capable  of  great  perfection  here. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Stephen  Jenks  the  business  he  had  es- 
tablished was  carried  on  by  his  son  James  and  by  Joseph  T.  Sisson. 
About  the  year  1855,  Pinkham,  Haskell  &  Co.  succeeded.  W.  H.  Has- 
kell bought  the  establishment  in  1857,  and  carried  it  on  till  1861. 
Meanwhile  he  added  to  his  business  the  manufacture  of  coach-screws. 
In  1860  he  erected  the  large  building  now  occupied  and  began  work 
in  it  January  1st,  1861.  At  that  time  the  new  style  was  assumed  from 
the  admission  of  a  partner.  Since  then  several  additions  have  been 
made  to  the  building,  and  other  buildings  have  been  erected,  prin- 
cipal among  which  is  a  blacksmith  shop  135  by  80  feet.  In  1882  the 
company  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  William  H.  Has- 
kell Company.  The  officers  are:  W.  H.  Haskell,  president;  E.  S. 
Mason,  treasurer;  D.  H.  Hunt,  agent.  The  selling  agents  are  H.  B. 
Newhall  &  Co.,  105  Chambers  street.  New  York.  The  company  em- 
ploy on  an  average  125  hands,  and  convert  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
hundred  tons  of  iron  annually  into  nuts,  bolts  and  screws. 

The  Foundry  Business  was  established  in  the  old  coal  yard  by  Oziel 
Wilkinson  and  his  son  David.  The  father  died  in  1815,  and  the  son 
continued  the  business  till  1829.  Zebulon  White  began  casting 
iron  in  one  of  the  abandoned  furnaces  in  1832,  and  for  a  time  Mr. 
Brown  was  associated  with  him  under  the  firm  name  of  White  & 
Brown.  Subsequently  Mr.  White,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Clark 
Sayles  and  ex-Governor  Earle,  carried  on  the  business  under  the  name 
of  the  Pawtucket  Cupola  Furnace  Company  and  continued  from  1835  to 
1847,  when  Mr.  White  sold  out  to  his  partners  and  bought  the  lot  now 
owned  by  his  successors  on  Dexter  street.  After  erecting  a  furnace 
Mr.  White  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  until  his  death  in  1859, 
when  his  sons,  Zebulon  P.  and  Joshua  S.,  succeeded  to  the  business. 
This  firm  continued  until  1881,  when  J.  S.  White  succeeded.  In  1885 
another  building  was  erected,  150  by  45  feet.  Mr.  White  employs 
about  50  hands.  The  business  consists  largely  of  castings  for  cotton 
machinery. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  37 

The  Pawtucket  Steam  and  Gas  Pipe  Company  established  a  brass 
foundry  in  1887,  on  East  avenue.  The  company  was  founded  by 
Robert  Alexander  about  1862.  In  1867  Mr.  James  H.  Andrew  took 
an  interest  in  the  concern,  when  it  was  styled  Alexander  &  Co.,  for 
the  manufacture  of  and  trade  in  steam,  gas  and  water  pipes,  and 
fittings  of  every  description.  In  1871  David  L.  Fales  came  into  part- 
nership and  the  present  style  was  adopted.  Three  years  ago  the  brass 
founding  and  finishing  department  was  added.  The  company  employ 
from  35  to  60  men.     William  H.  Rawe  is  overseer. 

Whitaker  &  Smith  are  engaged  in  the  building  of  mills,  flumes, 
dams,  water  wheels,  etc.,  and  in  times  of  business  activity  employ 
300  hands,  and  do  a  business  to  the  amount  of  $350,000  per  year. 
This  business  was  established  about  50  years  ago  by  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Lewin.  Partners  were  afterward  taken  into  the  concern  and  the  firm 
became  Lewin,  Kenyon  &  Co.  Mr.  Lewin  died  in  1870,  and  the  name 
of  the  firm  was  changed  to  Kenyon,  Drowne  &  Co.  In  1879  Kenyon, 
Whitaker  &  Smith  became  the  successors,  but  in  1882  Mr.  Kenyon 
died,  since  which  time  the  style  has  been  Whitaker  &  Smith,  and  the 
proprietors  are  Stephen  Whitaker  and  Benjamin  F.  Smith. 

The  A.  E.  Tenney  Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers  of  gen- 
eral machinery.  Broad  street,  give  employment  to  60  hands,  manufac- 
turing cloth  stretchers,  thread  dressers,  etc.  This  business  was  es- 
tablished by  William  Jeffers  &  Tenney  many  years  ago,  Tenney 
becoming  the  sole  proprietor  on  the  withdrawal  of  Jeffers  in  1881. 
The  machine  shop  was  in  the  Greene's  Mill  place  until  burned  out 
in  July,  1883,  when  they  took  up  quarters  in  the  Payne  Building.  In 
1887  the  present  firm  was  formed.  The  articles  manufactured  by  this 
firm  are  shipped  throughout  the  Eastern  and  Middle  states. 

The  Pawtucket  Manufacturing  Company  has  its  plant  on  Pine 
street.  The  buildings  here  are  models  of  convenience,  having  all  de- 
partments located  on  one  continuous  floor,  originally  occupying  15,400 
square  feet  of  space,  and  at  present  25,400  square  feet.  The  buildings 
are  arranged  around  a  hollow  square  in  a  way  to  secure  light  and 
ventilation.  This  company  was  incorporated  in  May,  1882,  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  nuts,  bolts,  and  machinery  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  same.  The  bolts  and  nuts  made  by  this  corpora- 
tion are  of  a  superior  quality,  everything  made  being  tested  before 
being  put  upon  the  market.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are: 
President,  Stephen  A.  Jenks;  agent,  George  H.  Webb;  treasurer, 
George  H.  Fowler.     The  company  employs  100  men,  on  an  average. 

The  R.  Bliss  ManufacturingCompany  manufacture  wooden  screws, 
clamps,  lawn  tennis,  architectural  building  blocks,  and  a  variety  of 
novelties.  This  business  was  established  years  ago  by  Mr.  Rufus 
Bliss,  who  would  manufacture  a  little  stock  of  goods,  mostly  screws 
from  choice  pieces  of  hickory  wood,  and  then  set  out  for  Boston  in  a 
wagon  and  sell  them  along  the  way.    He  worked  in  that  way  till  1845, 


38  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 

when  he  sold  half  of  his  interest  to  A.  N.  Bullock,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Bliss  &  Co.  Subsequently  E.  R.  Clark  and  A.  C.  Bullock  became 
associated,  and  Mr.  Bliss  withdrew.  In  1863  the  firm  hired  one  story 
in  D.  D.  Sweet's  old  building.  They  built  their  present  shop  in  1866,. 
and  in  1881  a  building  40  by  KX)  feet,  three  stories  high,  was  erected, 
and  in  1888  a  three-story  brick  building,  40  by  50  feet,  with  a  three- 
story  addition  of  wood,  40  by  60,  was  added  to  this.  In  June,  1874, 
the  company  was  incorporated,  with  D.  W.  Bullock,  president;  A.  N,. 
Bullock,  treasurer;  C.  E.  Clark,  secretary.  E.  R.  Clark  died  October 
15th,  1882,  soon  after  the  death  of  Rufus  Bliss.  The  company  em- 
ploys about  100  hands. 

D.  D.  Sweet  &  Co.  did  a  special  business  some  years  ago,  making 
doors,  sashes,  blinds,  etc.  The  business  was  established  some  50 
years  ago  in  a  small  way,  and  at  a  later  period,  when  under  the  man- 
agement of  E.  W.  French,  Harrison  Howard,  Daniel  H.  Arnold  and 
Fred.  Sherman  employed  about  50  workmen,  and  used  from  300,000 
to  350,000  feet  of  lumber  annually.  Harrison  Howard  succeeded  to 
the  business,  but  he  left  no  successor.  Mr.  Frank  E.Tingley  is  using 
the  old  place  of  business  as  warerooms,  and  is  a  dealer  in  builders' 
materials. 

The  Potter  &  Atherton  Machine  Company  are  manufacturers  of 
cotton  openers  and  lappers.  The  firm  consists  of  James  C.  Potter  and 
A.  T.  Atherton,  who  came  here  from  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1887.  The 
business  was  founded  by  Mr.  Atherton  in  1871  in  Lowell.  Since  start- 
ing in  Pawtucket  the  business  has  prospered  beyond  expectations. 
About  120  men  are  employed. 

The  E.  Jenckes  Manufacturing  Company  manufacture  ring  travel- 
ers, bright  and  mill  wire  goods,  spinning  rings,  banding,  twine,  etc., 
also  yarns  and  cotton  and  wool  hosiery.  The  supply  business  was  es- 
tablished in  1853  by  Nathan  P.  Hicks.  In  1871  the  firm  became  E. 
Jenckes  &  Co.,  when  a  successful  business  was  carried  on  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  Hicks'  Improved  Ring  Travelers.  They  occupied  the 
upper  stories  of  the  old  Slater  mill  until  about  1883,  when  Mr.  Hicks 
retired.  Mr.  Jenckes  then  occupied  the  old  Jenks  mill  for  a  short 
time,  until  his  new  mill  was  completed.  In  1883  the  present  company 
was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $400,000.  Edwin  Jenckes  is 
president;  vStephen  A.  Jenks,  vice-president;  Joseph  E.  Jenckes,  treas- 
urer; James  D.  Carpenter,  secretary,  and  F.  W.  Gilmore,  agent.  The 
first  building  was  erected  in  1883.  It  is  214  by  40  feet,  three  stories 
high.  Afterward  a  four-story  building,  144  by  96  feet,  with  an  ell  100 
by  65  feet,  was  put  up.     The  company  employs  600  hands. 

Henry  T.  Carpenter,  manufacturer  of  reels,  rear  of  51  North  Main 
street,  is  widely  known  as  the  builder  of  the  celebrated  Carpenter 
reel,  and  manufacturer  of  reels  of  every  description  for  cotton,  woolen, 
zephyr,  silk,  balling,  etc.,  with  all  the  latest  improvements.  This 
business  was  established  in  1845  by  R.  R.  Carpenter,  the  inventor  of 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  39 

the  Carpenter  reel,  and  has  since  1881  been  carried  on  by  the  present 
proprietor.  Mr.  Carpenter  occupies  two  large  floors,  28  by  40  feet 
each,  and  has  the  requisite  capacity  and  facility  for  prosecuting  the 
business.  His  reel  is  the  first  production  of  the  kind  ever  invented 
to  run  by  power.  It  is  acknowledged  to  be  the  easiest  to  operate,  and 
will  turn  off  more  work,  with  less  labor,  than  any  other  known  reel. 

George  W.  Payne  &  Co.  are  engaged  in  the  building  of  improved 
upright  spoolers,  to  spool  from  cop,  skein  or  bobbin;  doubling  spool- 
ers, for  doubling  two,  three  or  more  ends  into  one;  patent  cone  wind- 
ers, for  hosiery  manufacturers,  a  device  that  winds  from  cop,  skein  or 
bobbin,  and  other  devices  of  a  kindred  character.  The  firm  was  es- 
tablished originally  in  1865,  and  soon  afterward  was  known  as  Payne 
&  Matthewson.  The  first  business  done  by  the  originators  of  this 
well-known  company  was  in  a  small  building  owned  by  the  father  of 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  which  was  located  on  Sargent's 
Trench,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Littlefield  Brothers' mill.  As  their 
business  increased  they  moved  to  the  Jenks  building,  rear  of  Main 
street,  which  they  occupied  about  14  years.  From  there  they  removed 
to  the  building  of  Payne  &  Taylor  on  East  avenue,  and,  after  a  two 
years'  sojourn  there,  located  in  their  present  quarters  in  the  large 
three-and-a-half-story  brick  structure  located  on  Broad  street,  formerly 
occupied  by  the  Humes  Brothers.  Mr.  Matthew^son  died  in  1880,  and 
George  M.  Fanning  became  associated  with  Mr.  Payne,  under  the 
style  of  George  W.  Payne  &  Co.  The  spoolers,  winders  and  guiders 
made  by  Payne  &  Co.  are  in  use  in  a  large  majority  of  the  best  mills 
in  the  country.  Special  attention  is  also  paid  by  the  firm  to  the  mak- 
ing and  repairing  of  ring,  dresser,  spooler  and  reel  spindles,  cop 
skewers,  warp  spool,  spoolers,  guiders,  bolsters  and  steps,  and  in  this 
particular  department  the  firm  is  said  to  lead  all  competitors.  The 
firm  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been  very  successful  in  building 
up  a  prosperous  business.  The  building  above  mentioned  is  now 
owned  by  George  W.  Payne  &  Brothers.  It  is  a  hive  of  industry,  and 
is  occupied  by  the  following  firms:  Lebanon  Mill  Company,  Excelsior 
Reed  and  Loom  Works,  Campbell  Machine  Company,  A.  E.  Tenney, 
machinist;  Phillips  &  Co.,  electrical  works;  Potter  &  Atherton,  ma- 
chinery builders,  and  Messrs.  George  W.  Payne  &  Co. 

.  The  Excelsior  Loom  Reed  Works  are  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
firms  making  mill  supplies.  Their  patent  elastic  reed  is  acknowledged 
to  be  the  best  weaving  reed  in  the  market.  It  differs  from  the  com- 
mon reed,  in  that  the  wires  of  this  reed  when  spread  apart  spring 
back  to  their  proper  position.  This  keeps  the  spaces  of  the  reed  uni- 
form and  avoids  streaks  in  the  cloth.  These  reeds  need  less  repairs 
and  are  more  durable  than  the  common  reed.  The  elasticity  of  the 
wires  allows  the  lumps  and  knots  in  the  yarn  to  pass  freely  through 
the  reed  without  breaking,  and  is  a  great  benefit  to  the  weaver  on 
this  account.     This  firm  uses  the  bevel  wire  in   their  reeds,  which  re- 


40  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

duces  the  friction  on  the  warp  threads.  The  superior  quality  of  their 
goods  is  proven  by  their  rapidly  increasing  business.  Starting  in 
1883,  to-day  they  stand  second  to  none  in  their  line,  and  are  now  mak- 
ing preparations  to  double  their  capacity.  They  number  among  their 
customers  our  leading  and  most  successful  cotton  and  woolen  manu- 
facturers, who  recognize  the  value  of  their  reed.  Mr.  Edward  Adam- 
son,  the  proprietor,  is  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  trade  from  his 
long  connection  with  the  business,  and  also  for  the  number  of  valu- 
able improvements  brought  out  by  him. 

Cole  Brothers  are  manufacturers  of  steam  engines  and  boilers,  17 
Bayley  street.  This  business  was  established  about  18S3  by  Dexter 
&  Cole.  In  1864  Edward  R.  and  H.  S.  Cole  succeeded  to  the  business. 
In  1879  Edward  R.  Cole  died,  leaving  H.  S.  Cole  the  only  member  of 
the  firm,  who  now  owns  and  controls  the  business.  Mr.  Cole  occu- 
pies a  large  shop  40  by  75  feet,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  stationary 
engines  and  machinery.  He  gives  employment  to  about  25  men 
constantly. 

Fred.  J.  Bancroft,  pattern,  model  and  cabinet  maker,  17  Bayley 
street,  established  himself  in  business  here  in  1878.  Mr.  Bancroft 
makes  a  specialty  of  patterns,  and  does  all  kinds  of  work  in  wood.  He 
has  manufactured  as  high  as  10,000  lawn  tennis  racquet  setts  in  a  year, 
besides  other  business.  He  employs  20  hands.  His  shop  is  40  by  80 
feet  in  size. 

Easton  &  Burnham  are  manufacturers  of  cotton,  woolen  and  silk 
spindles,  upright  spoolers,  etc.  Nicholas  R.  Easton  and  George  Hop- 
kins commenced  the  business  of  spindle  making  in  Providence  in 
1849.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  soon  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Aldrich,  who,  in 
1857,  was  followed  by  Charles  C.  Burnham,  and  the  firm  became 
Easton  &  Burnham.  In  1860  they  removed  to  Central  Falls,  and  in 
1865  came  to  Pawtucket,  with  Fales  &  Jenks,  erecting  buildings  for 
their  use  on  the  grounds  of  the  latter.  In  1882  they  erected  their 
present  factory  on  Weeden  street.  The  firm  now  consists  of  Charles 
C.  Burnham,  Fred.  W.  Easton,  George  W.  Burnham  and  N.  Howard 
Easton.     They  employ  about  50  hands. 

The  Bosworth  Machine  Company,  shop  rear  of  43  North  Main  street, 
is  among  the  old  established  manufacturing  establishments  in  the  city 
of  Pawtucket.  The  proprietor  is  Mr.  L.  P.  Bosworth,  who  established 
the  business  here  in  1857.  He  is  well  known  as  an  extensive  manu- 
facturer of  jewelers'  tools,  consisting  of  drops,  presses,  lathes,  polish- 
ing heads,  and  other  machines  for  manufacturing  jewelry;  also 
leather  machinery,  consisting  of  scafing,  trimming,  and  cutting  ma- 
chines, and  other  machinery  for  manufacturing  belting.  Mr.  Bos- 
worth occupies  a  large  and  finely  equipped  shop,  75  by  40  feet  in  size, 
and  pos.sesses  all  needed  facilities  for  expeditious  and  satisfactory 
work. 

Charles  A.  Luther  &  Co.,  14  Leather  avenue,  are  manufacturers  of 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  41 

patent  cloth  stretchers,  thread  dressers,  improved  thread  and  yarn 
reels,  starching  machines,  and  general  machinery.  The  business  was 
first  established  in  1834  by  Mr.  Danforth  L.  Peck,  who  was  succeeded  in 
1858  by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Luther,  and  the  present  firm  name  was 
adopted  in  1882  on  the  accession  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Peck  to  the  firm,  Mr. 
E.  D.  Chaplin  coming  in  as  a  partner  in  1885.  Mr.  William  H.  Peck 
is  the  present  proprietor.  The  firm  occupy  some  6,000  square  feet  of 
floor  surface,  and  possess  one  of  the  best  equipped  shops  for  the  pur- 
pose in  this  section.  They  have  a  large  and  permanent  trade  estab- 
lished throughout  the  United  States,  which  is  steadily  increasing  in 
volume. 

The  Dexter  Yarn  Company  are  yarn  and  knitting  cotton  manufac- 
turers. This  business  was  established  by  Captain  N.  G.  B.  Dexter, 
who  came  to  this  place  from  Grafton,  Massachusetts,  in  September, 
1798,  and  the  day  he  came,  as  he  was  wont  to  say,  he  "  saw  the  rais- 
ing of  the  frame  of  the  second  cotton  mill  reared  here."  He  entered 
the  employ  of  Almy,  Brown  &  Slater,  and  remained  with  them  about 
30  years.  In  1820  he  began  to  make  knitting  cotton  on  a  small  scale 
on  his  own  account,  and  in  1830  left  the  service  of  the  above-named 
firm  and  entered  more  largely  into  the  business.  In  1844,  Simon  W. 
Dexter  went  into  the  mill  as  a  hand  merely  to  learn  the  business,  and 
in  1855  he  and  his  brother,  Daniel  S.,  succeeded  to  the  business,  the 
father  retiring  from  the  concern.  The  business  was  now  conducted 
under  the  style  of  Dexter  Brothers  with  great  success.  In  1858  a 
boiler  explosion  occurred,  killing  one  man.  Their  mill  then  was 
where  the  post  office  now  stands.  In  1859  business  became  dull 
and  the  mills  were  stopped.  At  this  time  Mr.  S.  W.  Dexter,  the  head 
of  the  firm,  went  on  the  road  as  agent.  On  his  first  trip  to  New 
York,  he  took  one  order  from  John  J.  Henchman  &  Co.  for  44,000 
pounds  of  knitting  yarn  and  one  order  from  J.  B.  Spellman  &  Sons 
for  20,000  pounds,  that  resulted  afterward  in  the  sale  of  80,000  pounds' 
to  the  same  company,  and  from  that  time  the  business  became  a  suc- 
cess. In  1864  the  land  where  the  present  building  now  stands,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  was  purchased. of  the  heirs  of  Henry  Gerald  & 
Son,  and  the  mammoth  structure  at  that  place  erected.  In  1876  the 
company  experienced  another  revulsion,  but  it  recovered  and  in  1880 
the  company  was  incorporated  with  H.  H.  Thomas,  treasurer,  James 
E.  Vail,  president,  S.  F.  Dexter  secretary  and  general  manager.  By 
strict  care  and  fidelity  to  business  this  company  has  gained  for  its 
cotton  yarn  such  a  reputation  that  it  is  the  standard  article  in  the 
market. 

Greene  Brothers'  mill  occupies  the  site  where  Timothy  Greene 
originally  had  a  tan  and  bark  mill.  After  the  beginning  of  .the  pres- 
ent century  the  bark  mill  was  converted  into  a  cotton  factory.  Samuel 
and  Daniel  Greene  &  Co.  used  this  mill  for  that  purpose  for  years.  In 
the  crisis  of  1829  the  property  was  bought  by  the  New  England  Pacific 


42  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Bank,  with  a  pledge  on  their  part  that  it  should  be  restored  to  the 
Greene  family  whenever  the  liabilities  were  paid.  The  mill  receives 
its  supply  of  water  from  Sargent's  Trench,  and  the  power  is  40  or  50 
horse.  As  the  burden  of  liquidation  seemed  not  overpowering,  the 
family  gave  themselves  to  the  task  of  lifting  it,  and  succeeded  in  due 
time.  The  manufacture  of  cotton  was  quickly  resumed.  Joseph  T. 
Greene,  in  lS3o,  began  to  carry  on  the  business  in  his  name,  and  com- 
menced making  cotton  cord  in  addition  to  his  other  business.  But  he 
did  not  despise  the  day  of  small  things,  for  he  began  this  branch  of 
business  with  twenty  dollars'  worth  of  machinery.  In  1856  Mr. 
Greene  associated  his  younger  brother  in  business  with  him.  Their 
special  business  was  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and  shoe  laces.  To 
man  their  rooms  required  twenty  operatives.  The  old  mill  was  burnt, 
but  a  new  edifice  was  reared  in  1861.  N.  P.  Hicks  came  into  posses- 
sion of  this  property  in  1885,  and  Darius  Goff  bought  it  in  the  spring 
of  1888,  of  Mr.  Hicks'  heirs. 

Among  those  who  have  done  business  in  the  Greene  mill  should  be 
mentioned  W.  A.  Beatty  &  Co.,  who  began  the  manufacture  of  jewel- 
ers' materials  in  1865,  but  abandoned  it  in  1872.  In  1870  they  began 
the  manufacture  of  jewelry  itself,  and  that  business  is  now  continued 
by  W.  R.  Cobb  &  Go.  C.  D.  Tuttle  manufactured  jet  jewelry,  and  at 
one  time  employed  a  number  of  workmen.  John  J.  Kenyon  makes 
shoe  laces,  etc.,  and  occupies  an  entire  story.  He  has  been  here  ever 
since  the  mill  was  rebuilt,  and  employs  at  times  a  large  force  of  hands. 
He  is  also  agent  for  the  Pawtucket  Tape  Company,  No.  8  Jenks  ave- 
nue. J.  S.  Capron,  pattern  maker  and  wood  turner,  has  been  here 
for  years  also. 

The  Slater  Cotton  Company  manufacture  cotton  goods.  Their 
buildings  stand  nearly  opposite  Captain  Brown's  shop.  The  larger 
edifice  was  reared  in  1863  for  a  file  manufactory.  The  Slater  Com- 
pany purchased  the  property  in  1868,  when  it  was  materially  enlarged. 
In  1869  the  company  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  $400,000, 
which  has  since  been  increased  to  $600,000.  They  operate  52,000 
spindles.  The  new  mill  was  erected  in  1882.  It  is  302  by  92  feet  and 
five  stories  in  height.  The  company  employ  about  750  hands  and 
manufacture  muslins  and  cambrics.  Nearly  6,000,000  yards  of  cloth 
are  annually  produced.  The  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows: 
William  F.  vSayles,  president;  F.  wS.  Drowne,  secretary  and  treasurer; 
Alfred  P.  Sisson,  superintendent. 

The  Greene  &  Daniels  mill  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  oppo- 
site Central  Falls.  Thread,  yarns  and  twines  of  every  description  are 
made,  and  bleaching  and  dyeing  for  the  trade  is  carried  on.  The  mill 
stretches  parallel  with  the  Blackstone  for  the  distance  of  407  feet,  and 
is  67  feet  in  breadth  and  five  stories  high.  Annexed  to  the  mill  is  an 
engine  room,  boiler  house  and  cotton  room,  42  by  90  feet,  two  stories 
in  height.     Besides  these  buildings  there  are  a  mechanical  shop,  100 


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HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  43 

by  32  feet,  three  stories  in  height,  and  bleachery  and  dye  works  and 
other  buildings  on  the  premises.  The  senior  partner  of  the  firm  came 
to  the  adjoining  village  of  Central  Falls  in  1824,  and  for  20  years,  as 
workman  and  partner,  remained  there.  In  1844  he  removed  to  Maple- 
ville,  and  after  six  years  went  to  Richmond,  R.  I.  In  two  years  after 
that  date  General  Daniels  became  associated  with  him,  and  the  firm 
took  the  style  of  Greene  &  Daniels.  In  1855  they  removed  to  Central 
Falls  and  occupied  Moies  &  Jenks'  mill,  and  continued  to  run  it  for 
20  years.  They  also  ran  the  mill  of  Andrew  Jencks  in  that  village  for 
five  years.  In  1860  they  commenced  the  erection  of  their  present 
mill,  and  enlarged  it  to  its  present  dimensions  in  1866.  The  com- 
pany was  incorporated  in  1877,  the  officers  being  then:  Benjamin  F. 
Greene,  president;  Edward  A.  Greene,  treasurer;  George  P.  Grant, 
agent.  The  death  of  the  president,  B.  F.  Greene,  January  29th,  1886, 
necessitated  an  official  change,  and  E.  A.  Greene  was  elected  presi- 
dent and  G.  P.  Grant  agent  and  treasurer.  The  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness from  1852,  when  they  ran  only  2,000  spindles,  to  the  present 
time,  when  they  are  running  32,000  spindles,  has  been  great.  They 
employ  about  400  operatives,  and  the  cotton  used  by  them  at  the  pres- 
ent time  amounts  to  about  2,000,000  pounds  of.  manufactured  yarn. 
The  styles  of  goods  at  the  present  time  are  vastly  different  from  what 
they  were  formerly,  owing  to  the  demands  of  the  trade,  and  also 
owing  to  the  change  of  machinery.  The  company  is  now  reorganiz- 
ing and  putting  in  improved  machinery  throughout,  adding  every- 
thing of  the  latest  and  best  pattern. 

The  Bridge  Mill  Cotton  Manufacturing  Company  occupied  the  mill 
on  the  south  side  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  bridge.  This  was  form- 
erly called  the  "Yellow  Mill."  It  was  originally  a  bed-ticking  mill. 
In  1837  it  was  occupied  by  Thayer  &  Pitcher,  who  manufactured  cot- 
ton goods  of  a  comparatively  thick  texture.  vSubsequently  it  was 
tenanted  by  Barrows  &  Ingraham.  The  Bridge  Mill  Cotton  Manu- 
facturing Company  was  incorporated  in  1865;  A.  N.  Beckwith,  presi- 
dent; F.  H.  Richmond,  treasurer.  The  property  finally  passed  into 
the  hands  of  F.  H.  Richmond  &  Co.,  who  manufacture  book  and 
lithograph  paper.     The  new  firm  employ  about  30  hands. 

The  Littlefield  Manufacturing  Company  manufacture  cotton  yarns 
and  thread.  The  business  was  successfully  carried  on  for  over  30 
years  by  George  L.  and  Alfred  H.  Littlefield  under  the  firm  name  of 
Littlefield  Brothers.  The  business  was  established  in  1852,  by  David 
Ryder  &  Co.,  the  company  consisting  of  George  L.  and  Alfred  H. 
Littlefield.  Mr.  Ryder  retired  in  1857.  On  the  first  of  July,  1889,  the 
company  was  incorporated.  Alfred  H.  Littlefield  is  president,  Eben 
N.  Littlefield  treasurer,  and  Alfred  H.  Littlefield,  Jr.,  secretary.  The 
old  firm  had  become  one  of  the  leading  and  well-known  manufac- 
turing firms  of  the  country.  The  new  company  in  succeeding  to 
the  business  of  the  old  firm,  has  fully  maintained  the  standard  and 


44  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

quality  of  the  goods  put  upon  the  market,  having  secured  a  constant 
and  steadily  increasing  trade.  Their  mill  is  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  The  main  building  is  of  wood  130  by  48  feet  in  dimensions, 
four  stories,  with  an  ell  105  by  30  feet,  three  stories.  About  135 
hands  are  employed. 

The  senior  member  of  the  R.  B.  Gage  Manufacturing  Company 
has  been  a  practical  manufacturer  of  cotton  yarns  for  nearly  50  years. 
In  1845  he  began  manufacturing  hosiery  yarn  at  Attleboro,  thence 
moved  to  Central  Falls,  and  to  Pawtucket  in  1850.  In  1868  he  reared 
the  spacious  mill  which  the  company  now  occupies  on  Fountain 
street.  This  mill  is  136  by  70  feet.  A  lapper  room  40  by  50  feet,  two 
stories  high,  also  other  buildings,  have  since  been  erected.  Mr. 
James  O.  Starkweather  was  connected  with  the  business  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  lower  story  of  this  mill  is  now  occupied  by  R.  An- 
thony Gage  and  his  brother  Benjamin  A.,  sons  of  R.  B.  Gage,  under 
the  firm  name  of  B.  A.  Gage  &  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  plush 
goods,  stockinet,  etc.  The  firm  is  doing  a  business  of  $100,000  per 
year.  The  R.  B.  Gage  Compan)^  employ  65  men.  The  new  office  was 
erected  in  1888. 

The  Jenks  Mill  is  located  on  grounds  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Buftington  Mill,  which  was  burned  in  1843  and  the  present  one  erected 
in  1844.  The  Jenks  Mill  was  erected  by  the  Pawtucket  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  who  built  the  mill  on  leased  land.  This  company 
manufactured  cotton  goods.  They  afterward  failed,  since  which  time 
the  building  has  been  used  for  various  purposes.  The  Athol  Thread 
Company  occupy  the  two  upper  stories.  This  company  was  incor- 
porated October  19th,  1887,  the  works  being  used  for  glazing  thread. 
The  officers  are:  JOvSeph  Ham,  president;  Frederick  J.  Ham,  secretary; 
H.  B.  Babcock,  superintendent. 

The  Douglass  Braid  Works,  for  the  manufacture  of  shoe  and 
corset  lacing,  fancy  cord,  etc.,  were  established  by  George  C.  Doug- 
lass some  twenty  years  ago  in  Geneva,  North  Providence.  From  1865 
to  1876  the  firm  was  Douglass  &  Daniels.  During  the  centennial  year 
the  business  was  moved  to  Providence,  and  in  1882  it  was  brought  to 
Pawtucket,  the  old  LeFavour  Mill  again  being  brought  into  use.  JMr. 
Douglass  is  gradually  extending  his  business,  as  trade  demands  it. 
He  employs  when  running  at  full  capacity  40  hands.  This  mill  was 
formerly  the  property  of  the  Wilkinsons,  and  was  built  about  1808. 
The  Bosworth  Machine  Company,  which  was  originated  in  1858  by 
Mr.  L.  P.  Bosworth,  occupied  this  mill. 

The  Atwood-Crawford  Company  manufacture  spools  for  cotton 
and  linen  thread.  They  have  their  works  located  near  Greene  & 
Daniels'  mill.  The  originator  of  this  business  was  Mr.  Robert  Cush- 
man,  who  began  first  in  Central  Falls,  and  in  1857  received  his  brother 
as  partner.  Mr.  Cushman  also  devised  a  new  series  of  machines 
which  wrought  a  revolution  in  the  business.    The  brothers  continued 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  45 

in  business  from  1857  to  1866,  when  George  Cushman  died.  In  1869 
a  new  partnership  was  formed,  under  the  style  of  Cushman,  Phillips 
&  Co.,  which  continued  till  1875.  At  that  time  Mr.  Cushman  with- 
drew, and  the  firm  of  Atwood,  Crawford  &  Co.  was  formed,  consisting 
of  Abner  Atwood,  C.  Fred  Crawford  and  John  H.  Crawford.  In  June, 
1890,  the  company  was  incorporated  under  the  name.  The  Atwood- 
Crawford  Company.  The  present  consumption  of  wood  for  the  manu- 
facture of  goods  by  this  firm  is  about  800,000  to  1,000,000  feet  per 
year.  They  employ  50  hands  or  more,  and  have  recently  manufac- 
tured large  quantities  of  braid  rolls,  in  connection  with  their  other 
business. 

The  Blodgett  &  Orswell  Company  are  manufacturers  and  import- 
ers of  fine  glazed  yarns  and  spool  cotton.  Broad  street.  The  company 
was  incorporated  in  1887.  •  The  officers  are:  E.  G.  Blodgett,  president; 
E.  W.  Orswell,  treasurer.  The  company  employ  about  20  hands.  The 
business  was  first  established  by  E.  G.  Blodgett  in  1881,  and  E.  W. 
Orswell  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  January,  1885.  Their  specialty 
is  the  manufacture  of  glazed  yarns  in  all  numbers  and  colors. 

The  Lebanon  Mill  Company  did  business  near  the  site  of  an  older 
mill  mentioned  in  the  act  of  incorporation  of  Pawtucket  in  1828.  The 
earlier  mill  is  styled  in  that  act  Kent's  factory,  and  is  described  as 
being  on  an  island.  It  was  reared  probably  by  Deacon  Remember 
Kent.  Originally  it  was  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  but  during  the  war  of 
1812  was  converted  into  a  cotton  mill.  Deacon  Kent's  sons,  Welling- 
ton, Remember  and  Seba,  succeeded  him,  and  made  yarns  which  were 
peddled  in  the  country,  specially  for  carpet  yarns.  Subsequently 
other  parties  carried  on  the  mill,  among  whom  were  Rufus  J.  Stafford, 
Nathaniel  G.  Pierce  and  Thayer  &  Moies.  At  a  later  period  the  mill 
was  burned,  and  a  new  mill  erected  on  the  mainland  in  1859-60.  R. 
B.  Gage  &  Co.  occupied  the  new  edifice,  and  were  succeeded  by  Alan- 
son  Thayer  &  Son.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Thayer,  in  1869,  his  son  Ed- 
ward succeeded  and  adopted  the  present  style.  The  mill  was  burned 
February  19th,  1888,  the  new  addition  having  been  completed  the 
year  before.  At  the  time  of  the  fire  the  mill  had  just  been  refitted 
with  new  machinery.  The  loss  was  about  $120,000.  The  firm  then 
began  business  in  the  Payne  building,  manufacturing  rubber  lining 
and  stockinet  goods.     They  employ  about  50  hands. 

The  Providence  Hosiery  Company,  manufacturers  of  stockinet, 
Jersey  cloth,  eider  down  cloth  and  rubber  lining,  was  established  in 
1879  by  Charles  F.  Easton.  The  company  was  incorporated  in  1885. 
Charles  F.  Easton  is  president,  A.  O.  Bourn  treasurer,  and  Charles  H. 
Tolman  secretary.  The  works  are  located  on  Leather  avenue,  and 
give  employment  to  20  hands. 

The  New  England  Thread  Company  is  located  at  No.  10  Broad- 
way, in  the  mill  formerly  occupied  by  Messrs.  Stafford  &  Co.  The 
business  was  first  established  many  years  ago  by  the   last  named 


46  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

firm,  and  was  purchased  by  the  present  company  in  January,  188t). 
James  C.  Roth,  one  of  the  proprietors,  died  February  14th,  1889,  when 
Henry  A.  Warburton,  the  present  owner,  bought  up  all  interests,  and 
has  since  carried  on  the  business.  He  employs  from  75  to  100  hands, 
and  manufactur'^^s  spool  cotton,  basting  cotton,  button-hole  cord,  whip 
cord,  and  makes  the  glazing  of  twine  one  of  the  leading  specialties 
of  the  business.  Mr.  Warburton  has  improved  facilities  for  his  busi- 
ness, and  takes  a  pride  in  putting  the  best  goods  that  can  be  manu- 
factured on  the  market. 

The  Conant  Thread  Company  erected  large  mills  to  manufacture 
the  celebrated  six-cord  thread  of  J.  &  P.  Coats.  An  extended  de- 
scription of  this  industry  is  given  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  its 
founder,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Conant,  in  another  chapter  of  this  volume. 

The  Hope  Thread  Company  was  incorporated  in  1869,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $100,000.  Their  specialty  is  the  manufacturing  of  three-cord 
spool  thread.  They  also  make  hosiery,  cop  and  other  yarns.  The 
range  of  yarns  spun  by  them  is  from  five  to  forty.  They  use  20  bales 
of  cotton  per  week  and  employ  75  operatives.  The  firm  of  Adams  & 
Randall,  manufacturers  of  cotton  yarns,  formed  in  1862,  was  finally 
merged  into  the  Hope  Thread  Company.  J.  F.  Adams  was  treasurer 
of  this  company  for  a  period  of  ten  years. 

The  Union  Wadding  Company  is  the  largest  concern  of  the  kind 
in  the  world,  and  is  the  outcome  of  an  establishment  founded  in  1836 
by  Mr.  Darius  Goff,  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  where  the  business,  which 
was  one  of  small  pretensions,  consisted  of  the  manufacture  of  glazed 
wadding.  In  1844  he  erected  a  larger  mill,  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Removing  to  Pawtucket  in  1847,  and  purchasing  the  site  now 
occupied  by  this  company,  Mr,  Goff  built  a  stone  mill  two  stories 
high,  200  feet  long  and  40  feet  wide.  Subsequently  this  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  after  being  reconstructed  was  leased  to  Mr.  Henr}^  Tur- 
ner, of  Cranston,  and  a  few  gentlemen  in  Pawtucket,  but  before  the 
expiration  of  the  lease  Mr.  Turner  died,  and  his  associates,  who  were 
not  acquainted  with  the  business,  surrendered  the  property  to  Mr. 
Goff.  In  1860  a  partnership  was  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  Goff, 
Cranston  &  Brownell,  carrying  on  in  Providence  a  general  business  in 
buying  and  selling  cotton,  cotton  waste  and  paper  stock.  In  connec- 
tion with  Mr.  Henry  A.  Stearns,  this  company  carried  on  the  business 
of  manufacturing  wadding  in  the  premises  mentioned.  In  1870  the 
latter  was  incorporated,  and  two  years  after  Mr.  Stearns  was  admitted 
as  partner  in  the  Providence  firm.  In  1871  the  mill  was  again  visited 
by  fire,  which  was  such  a  severe  one  that,  instead  of  repairing  the  old 
mill,  it  was  decided  to  build  entirely  anew.  The  wadding  business 
being  to  a  certain  extent  limited,  it  was  thought  best  to  engage  also 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  batting,  and  the  new  mills  were  built 
with  reference  to  being  able  to  supply  any  demands  that  might  be 
made  upon  them.     A  few  years  after  the  two  concerns  were  consoli- 


G:yLytL^>cyf  yy  0 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  47 

dated  under  the  name  of  Union  Wadding  Company,  the  stock  of 
Messrs.  Cranston  &  Brownell  being-  purchased  by  the  other  stock- 
holders. The  batting  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  at  sundry 
times  additions  have  been  required,  and  to-day  the  company  have  the 
largest  and  most  complete  works  of  this  kind  in  the  world.  The  pro- 
ductions of  the  company  are  all  grades  of  white  and  colored  wadding 
and  the  "patent  rolled  "  cotton  bat  in  all  varieties.  In  addition,  they 
do  a  large  business  in  cotton  and  cotton  waste.  Their  capital  stock 
is  $1,000,000.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are:  Darius  Goff, 
president;  Lyman  B.  Goff,  treasurer,  and  Henry  A.  Stearns,  superin- 
tendent. 

D.  Goff  &  Sons  are  manufacturers  of  worsted  braid  and  mohair 
plush.  The  extensive  buildings  owned  by  this  firm,  the  large  num- 
ber of  workmen  employed,  and  the  mammoth  product  of  braids  for 
ladies'  dresses  turned  out  annually  classifies  this  enterprise  as  one  of 
the  foremost  in  the  city.  The  business  was  started  in  1861  by  Darius 
Goff  and  his  eldest  son,  Darius  L.,  and  was  the  first  worsted  braid 
mill  in  this  country.  The  enterprise  was  at  first  unprofitable,  but 
after  the  change  in  the  tariff  in  1867,  became  successful.  In  1872 
Lyman  B.  Goff  became  a  partner,  and  a  new  brick  mill  was  erected 
the  same  year.  In  1882  the  firm  began  the  manufacture  of  mohair 
plush,  which  has  since  been  successfully  continued. 

It  is  a  tradition  that  Solomon  Smith  erected  a  dam  on  the  land 
bordering  on  the  west  side  of  Bucklin's  brook  for  the  manufacture 
grave-stones.  In  the  tedious  work  of  polishing  stones  Mr.  Smith 
substituted  water  power  for  manual  labor.  The  remains  of  this  dam 
were  noted  in  1775.  From  some  cause  that  business  was  abandoned, 
and  the  Bucklin  heirs  subsequently  reared  another  dam,  and  built  a 
stone  building,  which  was  used  from  1811  to  1814  or  1815  for  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  yarn.  The  building  was  burnt  out  in  the  latter 
year.  The  next  business  done  on  this  site  was  by  John  B.  Braid.  He 
bought,  in  behalf  of  Almy,  Brown  &  Slater,  the  water  privilege  and 
40  acres  of  land  of  Nancy  Bucklin.  From  1817  to  1825  Mr.  Braid 
carried  on  the  bleaching  of  cotton  cloth  and  yarn  at  this  place.  Block 
printing,  too,  was  done  here  in  1824.  Fora  few  months  in  the  follow- 
ing year  printing  was  carried  on  by  the  Hopefield  Company.  From 
1825  to  1829  the  premises  were  occupied  by  Shinkwin  &  Bliss,  who 
carried  on  bleaching  and  block  printing.  In  1830  Royal  Sibley  hired 
the  place  of  Jenkins  &  Almy,  and  introduced  the  business  of  coloring 
cambric,  in  addition  to  bleaching.  The  business  was  done  under  the 
style  of  Sibley  &  Kelley,  and  amounted  to  $5,000  per  week.  Subse- 
quently Mr.  Sibley  gave  his  main  attention  for  three  years  to  the 
work  of  dyeing  cambric.  Printing  was  begun  by  Mr.  Sibley  m  1838, 
and  carried  on  by  him  under  the  name  of  Franklin  Print  Works  till 
1835.     He  used  in  the  outset  a  machine  of  two  colors. 

In  1836  Jacob  Dunnell,  Thomas  L.  Dunnell  and  Nathaniel  W. 


48  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Brown  formed  a  copartnership  under  the  name  of  Jacob  Diinnell  & 
Co..  and  the  business  was  carried  on  under  this  style  until  1853.  when 
the  present  organization,  the  Dunnell  Manufacturing  Company,  was 
incorporated.  At  the  outset,  and  for  several  years  following,  print- 
ing was  done  by  hand-blocks  and  machines  of  two  to  four  colors.  But 
skill  and  energy  resulted  in  bringing  into  use  machines  that  would 
print  six.  eight  and  twelve  colors.  Since  1884  the  company  has  added 
to  its  plant  a  large  building,  equipped  with  the  best  machinery  for 
the  finishing  of  fancy  bleached  goods.  They  have  also  erected  a 
fancy  dye-house  and  an  entire  new  steam  plant,  besides  replacing  old 
machinery  with  that  of  the  latest  design  and  efBciency:  and  they  can 
now  produce  the  highest  class  of  work  in  bleaching,  dyeing  or  print- 
ing any  kind  of  fabrics.  At  the  present  time  they  employ  over  otO 
hands,  and  produce  at  the  rate  of  over  45,000.000  yards  per  annum. 
The  value  of  this  work  exceeds  $600,000.  exclusive  of  the  value  of 
the  fabric  treated. 

In  1886  Mr.  Jacob  Dunnell.  the  founder  of  the  present  interests, 
died.  His  life  work  of  half  a  century  was  characterized  by  excep- 
tional skill,  and  controlled  by  keen  integrity  and  sound  business 
principles.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are:  Thomas  L.  Dun- 
nell. president:  W.  Wanton  Dunnell.  treasurer. 

The  Wheaton  dam  was  built  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  below  the 
Dunnell  works  by  Xehemiah  Bucklin  in  1789.  for  a  snuff  mill,  which 
ran  about  five  years. 

Robert  D.  Mason  &  Co..  bleachers  and  dyers.  Xo.  75  East  avenue, 
have  one  of  the  oldest  established  and  best  known  bleacheries  and 
dye  works  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  business  was  first  estab- 
lished here  in  1805  by  Mr.  Barney  Merry,  whose  son,  Mr.  Samuel 
Merry,  succeeded  him  in  1847.  In  1866  Mr.  Robert  D.  Mason,  a 
nephew  of  Samuel  Merry,  was  admitted  to  partnership,  and  in  1870 
he  assumed  control  as  sole  proprietor  under  the  present  firm  name. 
The  business  carried  on  is  bleaching  and  dyeing  of  spool  threads, 
knitting  cotton,  cords,  braids,  tapes  and  all  kinds  of  single  and  two-ply 
yams,  indigo  blues,  and  fast  blacks,  for  milling  purposes:  also,  woolen 
and  worsted  yarns  and  braids  of  every  description.  The  works  occu- 
pied for  the  business  are  among  the  largest  and  most  comprehensive 
of  the  kind  in  the  state.  The  main  building  is  three  stories  in  height, 
KX^  by  70  feet  in  dimensions.  The  principal  dye-house  is  150  by  70 
feet,  and  a  second  dye-house  is  105  by  25  feet.  The  capacity  of  the 
works  is  at  present  four  tons  per  day.  Employment  is  given  to  60 
hands.  In  1889  Frederic  R.  Mason,  son  of  the  senior  member,  was 
taken  into  the  firm. 

Dempsey  Bleachery  and  Dye  Works  are  located  on  North  Main 
street,  and  the  business  was  established  in  1882.  The  company  was 
incorporated  in  1884:  James  Dempsey.  president:  John  J.  Dempsey, 
treasurer,  and  William  P.  Dempsey,  secretary  and  agent,  being  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  49 

officers  then  elected  and  now  holding  those  positions.  The  company 
was  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10(»,U0().  The  first  building 
was  begun  in  1882.  ~  When  it  was  completed  it  was  three  stories  high, 
200  by  60  feet,  with  two  ells,  one  80  by  60  feet,  the  other  SO  by  40, 
both  additions  being  two  stories  high.  The  kier  room  140  by  25  feet, 
one  story  high,  also  the  office  156  by  56  feet,  were  later  erections. 
The  office  was  built  in  1887.  The  works  give  employment  when  in 
full  operation,  to  120  hands. 

Orr  Brothers  are  successful  dyers  of  braids  and  plush  goods  for 
D.  Goff  and  Sons,  Pawtucket.  They  established  their  business  in  the 
city  in  1885.  The  firm  consists  of  George  H.  and  William  T.  Orr, 
who  came  here  from  Attleboro,  where  they  had  become  practical  ex- 
perts in  the  business.  They  employ  from  15  to  20  hands,  as  business 
requires,  and  have  the  necessary  equipment  in  all  kinds  of  machinery 
and  fixtures  to  produce  any  and  all  shades  of  colors. 

Richard  Harrison,  dyer,  bleacher  and  printer  of  cotton  and  w^oolen 
yarns,  is  located  on  Front  street.  This  business  was  established  in 
1863  by  Hayley  &  Harrison.  In  1867  Mr.  Hayley  retired  and  a  new  firm 
was  formed,  R.  Harrison  &  Co.  In  1863  the  old  firm  erected  the 
present  buildings,  and  in  1867  enlarged  their  works.  In  1869  Har- 
rison &  Co.  began  to  manufacture  woolen  yarns.  The  dye  works 
building  was  erected  in  1864  and  is  a  three  story  structure.  At 
present  Mr.  Harrison  is  carrying  on  his  business  without  a  partner, 
and  gives  employment  to  about  60  hands.  In  1888  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  yarns,  having  purchased  the  machinery  of  E. 
R.  Johnson  &  Co.  after  their  failure. 

John  H.  Gumming,  proprietor  of  dye  works  and  laundry,  estab- 
lished his  business  in  1873,  where  Fairbrother's  tannery  is  now. 
The  beginning  was  small,  the  place  of  business  being  in  a  cellar. 
Gradually,  however,  the  business  prospered,  and  in  1881  the  building 
now  used  was  erected.  In  1885  the  laundry  department  was  annexed, 
and  this,  with  the  dyeing  establishment,  gives  employment  to  about  50 
hands.  The  dye  works  and  the  laundry  are  both  well  equipped  with 
machinery  of  modern  style  for  the  efficient  prosecution  of  the 
business. 

J.  O.  Draper  &  Co.  are  manufacturers  of  soap,  corner  Clay  and  Front 
streets.  The  business  was  started  in  1861  by  Draper  &  Atwood.  In 
1871  the  present  firm  was  organized,  consisting  of  James  O.  Draper 
and  A.  W.  vStanley.  They  manufacture  every  kind  of  soap,  in  all  72 
varieties,  but  give  special  attention  to  the  making  of  two  kinds  of 
soap.  One  of  them  is  styled  the  Nottingham  Curd  Soap,  which  is 
largely  used  in  print  works;  the  other  is  called  the  English  Fig 
Soap,  deemed  very  serviceable  in  washing  wools.  They  occupy  a 
factory  three  stories  in  height,  50  by  100  feet,  and  give  constant  em- 
ployment to  twelve  or  fifteen  men. 

Perry  Oil  Company,  Exchange  street,  are  widely  known  as  manu- 
4 


50  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

factiirers  of  the  celebrated  Perry's  champion  harness  oil  and  harness 
oil  soap,  also  of  the  eagle  belt  oil,  star  axle  oil,  signal  oil,  and  cylin- 
der, engine,  machinery,  spindle  and  lubricating  oils  of  all  kinds.  Mr. 
R.  K.  Miller  founded  the  business  in  186U,  and  is  the  present  owner. 
The  company  takes  its  name  from  the  discoverer  of  the  oil  and  soap, 
the  manufacture  of  which  is  the  leading  business  of  the  concern. 
The  works  occupy  three  floors,  38  by  60  feet,  and  are  provided  with 
the  requisite  capacity  and  all  necessary  facilities  for  carrying  on  the 
manufacture  in  the  most  thoroughly  successful  manner. 

Salisbury  &  Phillips  established  the  business  of  manufacturing 
jewelry  on  River  street  in  1874.  The  firm  next  became  Salisbury  & 
Chase,  then  A.  F.  Chase,  and  early  in  the  year  1889  W.  G.  Evans.  Mr. 
Evans  manufactures  goods  for  gentlemen's  use,  including  studs,  col- 
lar buttons,  etc.     He  employs  30  hands. 

William  H.  Phillips  &  Co.  were  many  years  in  the  jewelry  manu- 
facturing business,  and  carried  on  their  manufacturing  somewhat  ex- 
tensively. Mr.  Phillips  was  succeeded  by  McLaughlin  &  Phillips  in 
1888. 

Orr  &  Schuyler,  on  Slater  avenue,  are  also  in  this  business.  They 
began  here  in  1878,  and  their  productions  quickly  found  a  market  all 
over  the  country  and  across  the  ocean. 

George  H.  Fuller  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  jobbing  materials  for 
jewelers.  Exchange  street,  carry  on  a  special  business  of  making 
jewelers'  findings  of  gold,  silver,  gold-plate  and  fire  gilt.  In  this  es- 
tablishment chains,  rings,  pins,  buckles,  clasps  and  hundreds  of  like 
articles  are  made.  The  business  was  established  in  1861  in  the  same 
building  with  Payne  &  Taylor,  by  George  H.  Fuller.  Charles  H. 
Fuller,  the  son,  recently  became  a  member  of  the  concern. 

D.  F.  Read,  in  J.  B.  Read's  block,  is  also  a  manufacturer  of 
jewelry. 

B.  P.  Clapp  &  Co.  occupy  an  establishment  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  river,  just  above  Division  street  bridge.  Their  special  business 
is  the  manufacture  of  aqua  ammonia  from  ammoniacal  water  obtained 
from  gas  works.  Mr.  Clapp  started  this  business  alone  in  1859. 
When  he  began  he  used  400  gallons  of  that  refuse  water  per  day. 
Now  he  and  his  associates  find  2,500  gallons  not  excessive.  The  last 
named  quantity  yields  about  a  ton  of  aqua  ammonia.  The  article  is 
used  in  calico  printing,  in  the  manufacture  of  wall  paper  and  in  dye- 
ing. After  a  few  years  Mr.  Clapp  had  as  a  partner  for  a  time  Mr. 
Preserved  W.  Arnold.  His  present  partners  are  Messrs.  Walter  E. 
Colwell  and  Marvin  H.  Leavens.  A  large  share  of  the  ammoniacal 
water  is  obtained  in  Providence,  and  brought  thence  in  bulk  in  a 
steam  barge.  They  make,  also,  from  the  same  kind  of  water  nitrate 
of  ammonia,  for  the  use  of  dentists  in  making  laughing  gas. 

Henry  F.  Jenks,  manufacturer  of  builders'  hardware,  is  located 
on    Bayley   .street.      The   business   was    established    in   1865.      The 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  51 

specialty  in  the  outset  was  the  making  of  window  springs.  In  the 
course  of  time,  however,  the  inventive  genius  of  the  proprietor  de- 
vised various  articles,  since  patented,  consisting  of  house  trimmings 
and  articles  for  household  comfort.  Also,  drilling  and  thread  ma- 
chines, and  drinking  fountains,  the  latter  having  received  the  first 
degree  of  merit  at  the  World's  Industrial  Exposition  and  Cotton  Ex- 
position at  New  Orleans  in  1884-5.  Mr.  Jenks  is  a  lineal  descendant 
of  Joseph  Jenks,  who  emigrated  to  Salem,  Mass.,  from  England  in 
1645. 

J.  F.  Bliss,  contractor  and  builder,  occupies  buildings  on  Pleasant 
street.  Mr.  Bliss  is  the  successor  of  Bliss  &  Carpenter,  who  succeeded 
Slade  &  Co.  He  is  prepared  to  rear  buildings  of  any  size.  The  mill 
has  facilities  for  making  Gothic,  circular  and  plain  window  and  door 
frames,  also  for  the  manufacture  of  brackets,  scroll  and  fancy  work, 
and  in  times  of  prosperity  gives  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
hands. 

S.  S.  &  J.  M.  Humes  commenced  business  in  1850.  The  members 
of  the  company  at  that  time  were  S.  S.  &  J.  A.  Humes.  The  present 
company  was  organized  in  1876,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  The 
business  to  which  they  give  special  attention  is  the  manufacture  of  all 
kinds  of  wood  work,  boxes,  tanks,  scroll  work,  sashes,  doors,  etc.  The 
establishment  is  large  enough  to  employ  100  men. 

Willmarth  &  Mackillop  are  carpenters  and  builders  and  manufac- 
turers of  patent  conductors  bored  from  solid  wood.  The  business  was 
founded  in  1879  by  John  W.  Willmarth.  About  the  year  1880  Nelson 
Carpenter  came  into  the  concern,  Robert  Mackillop  having  taken  an 
interest  in  April,  the  year  previous.  Carpenter  only  remained  a  short 
time,  and  the  business  since  then  has  been  conducted  by  Messrs.  Will- 
marth and  Mackillop.  The  building  was  erected  in  1885.  The  firm 
employ  in  the  busy  season  of  the  year  over  100  men.  They  have 
erected  many  prominent  buildings,  both  in  Pawtucket  and  Providence, 
since  their  existence  as  a  company. 

F.  F.  Halliday  &  Son,  pattern  and  model  makers,  are  successors  of 
D.  A.  Arnold  &  Son,  who  some  years  ago  manufactured  a  great  deal  of 
wood  work  for  cotton  machinery,  viz.,  twisters,  spinning  frames,  etc. 
In  1883  F.  F.  Halliday,  senior,  bought  Edward  Arnold's  interest,  and  the 
firm  continued  under  the  style  of  Arnold  &  Co.  till  1887.  Then  it  be- 
came F.  F.  Halliday  &  Son,  F.  F.  Halliday,  Jr.,  becoming  an  interested 
party.     The  firm  employ  nine  hands. 

L.  Upham  &  Co.  are  manufacturers  of  thread,  braid  and  silk  cabi- 
nets and  novelty  wood  workers,  corner  Cottage  and  Saunders  streets. 
The  business  of  pattern  making  and  designing  and  building  stone 
derricks  was  started  by  this  firm  in  a  small  way  in  1857.  Since  that 
time  the  business  has  largely  increased,  and  gives  employment  to  a 
dozen  or  so  of  men  constantly.  The  firm  consists  of  Lucian  Upham, 
Charles  I.  Davis  and  Job  L.  Grant. 


52  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

J.  N.  Polsey  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  boxes,  have  their  works  near 
the  depot,  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  railroad  as  you  go  toward 
Providence.  The  business  was  established  by  Mr.  Polsey  in  1857  on 
a  small  scale,  but  it  has  grown  in  the  course  of  years  to  great  magni- 
tude. The  firm  now  consists  of  J.  N.  Polsey,  John  P.  Hood  and  Lester 
I.  Mathewson.  They  employ  from  40  to  50  workmen  constantly  and 
work  up  about  5,000,000  feet  of  lumber  yearly.  They  manufacture 
every  kind  of  box,  from  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  thickness  up  to  an 
inch,  and  from  one  foot,  surface  measurement,  up  to  one  hundred 
feet.  They  make  what  are  called  the  "lock-corner"  boxes.  They 
are  also  contractors  and  builders. 

V.  P.  Westcott  manufactures  hames  and  trimmings.  The  business 
is  an  exceptional  one,  there  being  no  other  establishment  in  the  state 
like  it.  It  was  established  about  40  years  ago  by  G.  B.  Perry  &  Co., 
Mr.  Westcott  coming  into  the  proprietorship  in  1874.  Few  workmen 
are  employed  in  this  concern,  the  goods  being  manufactured  princi- 
pally by  machinery.  The  carriage  business  was  added  in  the  fall  of 
1875. 

The  Jackson  Shell  Roll  Company  was  formed  in  1887.  It  is  a  stock 
company,  David  Jackson  being  president,  and  A.  T.  Atherton  treas- 
urer. The  company  manufacture  Jackson's  lubricating  device,  a 
patent  applied  to  all  journals  for  lubricating  purposes.  The  works 
are  in  Cole's  building,  and  give  employment  to  12  and  15  men. 

Phillips'  Insulated  Wire  Company  was  established  in  1884  by  H. 
O.  Phillips.  This  company  is  doing  business  in  the  Payne  Building, 
and  employs  from  35  to  40  hands.  Mr.  Phillips  established  his  busi- 
ness some  years  prior  to  this  in  Central  Falls.  He  was  located  there 
in  the  old  Sprague  building. 

Linton  Brothers  &  Co.  are  manufacturers  of  card  boards.  The 
business  was  established  in  1871  by  Robert  and  Hugh  Linton,  and 
was  continued  by  them  till  1881,  when  Benjamin  M.Jackson,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  Edward  Jollie,  of  Pawtucket,  bought  up  all  interests  of  the 
brothers,  increased  the  capacity  of  the  works,  and  are  now  employing 
from  40  to  50  hands.  They  still  continue  business  under  the  above 
style.  The  factory  is  finely  equipped  with  all  kinds  of  machinery  neces- 
sary to  the  business. 

The  manufacture  of  card  board  has  become  a  somewhat  important 
branch  of  industry  in  this  town.  The  business  was  originally  started 
by  Elder  Ray  Potter.  He  began,  indeed,  with  another  branch  of  in- 
dustry. His  first  attempt  was  to  make  lamp-black,  in  the  old  steam 
planing  mill;  from  that  he  proceeded  to  the  manufacture  of  glazed 
paper  for  his  box  manufactory.  His  experiments  in  the  latter  matter 
led  him  to  undertake  the  manufacture  of  card  board.  This  was  done 
in  1844.  His  first  attempts  were  on  a  small  scale,  but  the  business 
steadily  increased,  and  even  in  1853  was  quite  large  for  the  times. 
In  1858  Mr.  Henry  B.  Dexter  bought  out  the  establishment,  just  to 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  63 

the  west  of  the  present  East  avenue,  and  assumed  the  charge  of 
the  business.  He  had  as  partners  Simon  W.  and  Daniel  S.  Dexter. 
In  the  following  year  David  Ryder  and  H.H.Thomas  took  an  in- 
terest in  the  business,  Mr.  Thomas  taking  charge.  They  afterward 
withdrew,  and  the  business  of  what  is  called  the  Rhode  Island  Card 
Board  Company  was  carried  on  by  Mr.  Henry  B.  Dexter  and  Mr.  George 
H.  Clark.  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  establishment  in  the  country, 
probably  in  the  world,  that  undertook  to  make  card  board  by  ma- 
chinery. Even  now  this  material  is  made  in  Europe  mainly  by  hand. 
The  proprietors  make  every  description  of  card  boards,  from  the  most 
delicate  to  the  most  substantial;  and  provide  them  for  the  use  of  sta- 
tioners, photographers  and  printers.  They  make  their  goods,  when 
desired,  in  continuous  strips  of  any  thickness,  length  or  width.  Ma- 
chinery is  extensively  employed,  and  40  workmen  are  busied  in  the 
establishment.  They  produce  about  20,000  sheets  per  day,  but  can, 
if  need  be,  increase  the  product  to  40,000.  In  1880  the  company  built 
a  large  brick  mill  on  Exchange  street,  and  have  since  introduced  a 
number  of  improved  and  more  powerful  machines,  more  than  doub- 
ling their  former  capacity.  In  1886  the  company  was  incorporated 
with  the  following  officers,  still  acting:  President,  Henry  B.  Dexter; 
treasurer,  George  H.  Clark;  secretary,  Walter  H.  Stearns. 

The  Fairbrother  Belting  Company  was  established  in  1834  by 
Lewis  Fairbrother,  and  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  save  one  in  Attleboro,  Mass.,  is  tbe  oldest  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Fairbrother  learned  the  art  of  tanning  in  Attleboro.  He  was 
then  15  years  of  age.  The  first  building  erected  in  Pawtucket  by  Mr. 
Fairbrother  was  30  by  15  feet.  It  had  but  one  vat.  Picker  and  lace 
leathers  were  made.  A  few  years  afterward  the  manufacture  of 
leather  belting  and  all  kinds  of  leather  for  factory  use  was  added. 
In  1859  Henry  L.  Fairbrother  became  a  partner,  and  during  the  late 
war  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  H.  L.  Fairbrother  &  Co.,  which 
title  remained  unchanged  till  1888,  when  the  company  was  incorpor- 
ated under  its  present  name.  The  buildings  of  this  company  occupy 
.about  two  acres  of  ground,  and  the  business  of  general  mill  supplies 
has  been  added. 

The  James  Davis  Belting  Company  also  manufacture  leather  belt- 
ing, lace  leather,  etc.  This  is  an  old  business,  the  first  building  hav- 
ing been  erected  in  1847,  and  a  large  addition  made  in  1853  by  James 
Davis,  the  originator  of  the  concern.  The  company  was  incorporated 
in  1885;  D.  G.  Littlefield,  president;  E.  S.  Mason,  treasurer;  Waldo 
Trescott,  superintendent;  Charles  R.  Bucklin,  bookkeeper.  The  com- 
pany employ  from  40  to  50  hands  constantly. 

The  Star  Tanning  Company  manufactures  improved  rawhide  lace 
and  leather  belting.  The  present  company  consists  of  Oscar  A.  Jillson 
and  Robert  Bellew.  The  business  was  established  in  Central  Falls 
by  William  Gould  and  William   H.  Keach,  under  the  firm  name  of 


54  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Gould  &  Keach,  in  1874.  Shortly  after  the  business  was  established 
William  McKelvey  came  into  parthership,  and  not  long  after  R.  A. 
Butler  took  an  interest.  In  1881  Mr.  O.  A.  Jillson  bought  out  Mr. 
Butler's  interest,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Robert  Bellew,in  partnership 
with  Mr.  Jillson,  became  proprietors  of  the  business.  The  firm  em- 
ploy about  25  hands  constantly,  and  do  a  business  of  about  $4,000  per 
month. 

George  C.  Stillman  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Pawtucket  Ware- 
house, are  large  commission  merchants,  who  deal  in  wholesale  fruit 
and  produce  generally.  They  erected  their  large  warehouse  on 
Weeden  street  in  1887,  200  by  50  feet,  two  stories  in  height.  The 
firm  trades  extensively  throughout  the  New  England  states,  especially 
in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  It  consists  of  George  C.  Stillman 
and  Allen  B.  Ralph.  They  give  employment  to  ten  men,  and  some- 
times more. 

Ellis  Thayer  &  Son,  brush  manufacturers,  are  located  on  Exchange 
street,  where  their  business  was  established  April  1st,  1882.  Mr. 
Thayer  began  the  business  of  manufacturing  brushes  in  the  city  of 
Worcester  some  35  years  ago.  In  1878  he  came  to  Pawtucket,  and, 
in  company  with  his  brother,  P.  E.  Thayer,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Thayer  Brothers,  operated  on  North  Main  street  for  two  years.  He 
then  went  to  Attleboro,  Mass.,  but  in  1881  P.  E.  Thayer  &  Co.  bought 
all  interests  in  Thayer  Brothers'  business,  and  in  1883  it  became 
Ellis  Thayer  &  Son,  Mr.  Herbert  Thayer  being  the  junior  member. 
This  firm  employs  20  hands,  and  makes  carpet  sweepers  and  brushes 
of  every  description. 

American  Hair  Cloth  Padding  Company,  East  avenue,  are  manu- 
facturers of  tailors'  hair-cloth  paddings,  also  ladies'  hair-cloth  skirt- 
ings. This  business  was  established  by  Messrs.  Payne  &  Taylor.  In 
1854  they  bought  the  site  of  David  Wilkinson  and  erected  the  pres- 
ent building,  which  stands  where  the  old  anchor  shop  did.  About 
the  time  they  began  their  enterprise  Messrs.  John  Hall  and  James 
Sheldon  started  business  in  the  same  building  under  the  title  of  the 
Boston  Hair  Cloth  Company.  They  attempted  to  make  crinoline  and 
stuff  for  ladies'  wear,  but,  after  continuing  the  business  for  three 
years,  abandoned  it.  In  1858  Payne  &  Taylor  began  the  manufacture 
of  crinoline  and  like  stuff  on  the  machinery  left  by  the  Boston  Com- 
pany. They  had,  meanwhile,  carried' on  their  engraving,  but  in  1860 
gave  it  up  to  devote  their  energies  entirely  to  the  production  of 
tailors'  hair-cloth  padding,  as  well  as  to  ladies'  hair-cloth  skirtings  of 
all  kinds.  In  the  same  year  they  disposed  of  their  old  looms,  and 
soon  obtained  of  the  Pawtucket  Hair  Cloth  Company  the  right  to  use 
their  patent  automatic  action  for  feeding  the  hair.  Their  present 
looms  contain  this  and  other  later  improvements.  About  fifteen 
years  ago  Mr.  Payne,  one  of  the  founders,  died,  and  his  two  sons, 
Mes.srs.  Charles  B.  and  James  R.  Payne,  succeeded  to  his  interest  in 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  55 

the  concern  and  as  partners  of  Mr.  Jnde  Taylor,  who  is  a  native  of 
England,  the  Messrs.  Payne  being  natives  of  this  city.  Subsequently 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  its  present  title  of  the  Ameri- 
can Hair  Cloth  Padding  Company.  The  company  occupy  two  floors 
of  the  building,  which  covers  an  area  of  40  by  175  feet,  and  employ- 
ment is  provided  for  about  30  hands.  The  company  have  agencies 
in  New  York  and  Boston,  and  their  products  are  in  demand  in  all 
parts  of  the  country. 

The  following  companies  have  been  but  recently  incorporated: 
In  the  year  1889  the  Narragansett  Machine  Company,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $100,000,  W.  L.  Cook,  president;  the  Pawtucket  Dyeing  and 
Bleaching  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $15,000,  E.  G.  Blodgett, 
president;  Perry  Manufacturing  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$10,000,  James  A.  Perry,  president:  Royal  Weaving  Company,  with 
$100,000  capital  stock,  with  Daniel  G.  Littlefield,  president.  And  in 
the  year  1890  the  Standard  Seamless  Wire  Company,  with  $200,000 
capital  stock,  H.  T.  Smith,  president,  and  the  Hope  Webbing  Com- 
pany, with  $30,000,  Charles  Sissons,  president. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  events  in  the  history  of  Pawtucket 
was  the  celebration  of  the  Cotton  Centennial  during  the  week  be- 
ginning September  28th,  1890.  The  idea  of  the  public  observance 
of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  Samuel  Slater's  successful 
efforts  to  spin  cotton  by  power  originated  with  Captain  Henry  F. 
Jenks  several  years  ago.  The  arrangements  for  the  celebration  were 
conducted  and  successfully  carried  into  effect  by  the  following  com- 
mittee, appointed  by  the  common  council:  Henry  E.  Tiepke,  chair- 
man; J.  Ellis  White,  secretary;  Nathan  A.  Chatterton,  treasurer;  Ber- 
nard F.  Lennon,  auditor;  Edward  Smith,  Philo  E.  Thayer,  Frank 
O'Reilly.  General  Olney  Arnold  acted  as  chief  marshal  of  the  entire 
celebration. 

The  exercises  began  with  a  preliminary  meeting  in  Music  Hall 
Sunday  afternoon,  September  28th,  presided  over  by  Hon.  Henry  B. 
Metcalf.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Reverend  George  Bullen,  D.  D.  Ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Reverends  Porter  M.  Vinton  and  Alexander 
McGregor,  Ansel  D.  Nickerson  read  a  historical  Sunday  school  paper, 
-and  Reverend  Emery  H.  Porter  pronounced  the  benediction.  Mon- 
day was  given  to  a  celebration  by  the  vSunday  school  children.  Several 
thousand  of  them  marched  in  procession  through  the  streets  to  Dun- 
nell  Park,  where  special  exercises  were  held,  consisting  of  prayer, 
addresses,  songs,  etc.  In  the  afternoon  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  held  athletic  exercises  on  the  grounds.  The  industrial 
exhibit  in  the  skating  rink  was  opened  at  2  p.  m.  After  the  opening 
exercises,  consisting  of  music  by  the  band  and  addresses  by  Mr. 
Henry  E.  Tiepke,  chairman  of  the  committee,  Governor  Davis  and 
Mayor  Carroll,  the  machinery  was  set  in  motion  by  Albert  R.  Sher- 
man, superintendent,  and  the  exhibition  was  formally  in  operation- 


56  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

It  was  a  good  exhibit  of  the  manufacturing  of  Pawtucket,  including 
nearly  every  industry  in  the  city.  An  interesting  feature  of  the  exhi- 
bition consisted  of  the  original  spinning  frame  and  carder  of  Samuel 
Slater,  many  relics  from  Mr.  Slater's  mill  and  other  curiosities  loaned 
for  the  occasion.  In  the  evening  the  Garfield  Club  held  a  banquet  at 
Music  Hall.  Tuesday  was  military  day.  The  entire  state  militia  and 
companies  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  took  part  in  the 
parade.  The  weather  was  bright  and  beautiful,  and  the  grand  and 
imposing  pageant  was  witnessed  by  thousands  of  spectators.  In  the 
evening  a  huge  Grand  Army  camp  fire  was  held  in  the  large  tent  on 
Dexter  street,  attended  by  about  2,000  people. 

Wednesday  was  trades  and  societies'  day.  The  forenoon  was  de- 
voted to  a  trades  procession,  in  which  many  firms  from  Providence 
took  part.  The  main  feature  of  the  afternoon  was  a  large  and  attrac- 
tive parade  by  the  civic  and  secret  societies.  Thursday  was  fire- 
men's day.  The  parade  was  far  superior  to  any  firemen's  parade 
Pawtucket  ever  had,  and  was  witnessed  by  thousands  all  along  the 
line  of  march.  In  the  afternoon  an  interesting  prize  trial  of  ancient 
hand  engines  took  place  at  Camp  Burnside.  In  the  evening  the  ex- 
hibitors held  a  banquet  in  Infantry  Hall.  On  Friday  forenoon  an 
amateur  rowing  regatta  was  held  on  the  Pawtucket  river,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Pawtucket  Boat  Club.  In  the  afternoon  horse  racing 
and  bicycle  contests  drew  many  spectators  to  the  driving  park.  The 
King  Cotton  Carnival  on  Friday  evening,  notwithstanding  the  some- 
what unpropitious  weather,  was  a  highly  successful  and  interesting 
affair,  and  was  witnessed  by  hosts  of  spectators.  After  the  parade  a 
grand  concert  and  ball  were  held  in  the  mammoth  tent  on  Dexter 
street.  On  Saturday  afternoon  a  large  crowd  assembled  at  Mineral 
Spring  Park  to  witness  the  dedication  of  a  monument  to  the  late  chief 
engineer,  Samuel  Smith  Collyer,  who  died  in  the  summer  of  1884 
from  injuries  received  while  going  to  a  fire.  The  exercises  consisted 
of  a  parade,  headed  by  the  American  Band,  the  Fire  Department,  the 
Veteran  Association,  the  Providence  Veteran  Association,  and  the 
mayor,  city  council  and  invited  guests.  After  the  dedication  cere- 
monies the  monument  was  presented  to  the  city  by  General  Olney 
Arnold,  and  accepted  in  behalf  of  the  city  by  Mayor  Carroll.  The 
monument  was  designed  by  Charles  Dowler,  of  Providence,  and  cost 
about  $2,500,  which  was  raised  by  subscription. 

Newspapers  in  Pawtucket.— The  first  newspaper  printed  and 
published  in  Pawtucket  was  the  Pmvtucket  Chronicle.  Its  publication 
was  begun  November  12th,  1825,  by  John  C.  Harwood,  a  young  printer 
from  Providence.  December  30th,  1826,  he  sold  the  paper  to  Carlile 
&  Brown,  of  Providence.  February  10th,  1827,  the  Chronicle  bore  the 
name  of  Randall  Meacham  as  publisher.  He  was  a  first-class  printer 
for  those  days,  and  came  to  Pawtucket  from  Lowell,  Mass.  Two  of 
his  apprentices  soon   afterward  were  Robert  Sherman  and  Shubae 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  57 

Kinnicutt,  who  in  after  years  started  the  Pazvtuckct  Gazette,  and  subse- 
quently bought  the  Chroniele.  July  11th,  1829,  Samuel  M.  Fowler,  of 
Warren,  R.  I.,  became  associate  publisher  of  the  Chroniele,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 11th,  1831,  he  became  sole  editor  and  proprietor.  He  died  in 
Pawtucket  August  26th,  1832.  His  wife  continued  the  publication  of 
the  paper,  the  editorial  work  being  performed  by  John  H.  Weeden, 
one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  place.  In  October,  1832,  the  Chroni- 
<r/^was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Henry  and  John  E.  Rousmaniere,  of  New- 
port, their  names  appearing  as  publishers  in  the  number  bearing  date 
of  October  26th.  November  4th,  1836,  Mr.  J.  E.  Rousmaniere  retired 
from  the  establishment,  and  the  publication  of  the  Chronicle  was  con- 
tinued by  Mr.  Henry  Rousmaniere  until  April  19th,  1839,  when  he 
disposed  of  the  newspaper  and  its  job  office  to  Messrs  Sherman  and 
Kinnicutt. 

On  Friday  morning,  August  3d,  1838,  the  first  number  of  the  Paiv- 
tneket  Ga:;ette  made  its  appearance.  It  was  printed  and  published  by 
Robert  Sherman  and  Shubael  Kinnicutt,  two  young  men  who  had 
learned  the  printing  business  in  the  office  of  the  Pmvtucket  Chroniele. 
Their  printing  and  publication  office  was  in  the  upper  story  of  an 
old  wooden  building  on  Main  street,  owned  by  Amos  M.  and  John  B. 
Read,  the  site  of  which  is  now  covered  by  the  brick  block  owned  by 
the  widow  of  the  last  named.  It  was  issued  because  the  older  paper, 
the  Chroniele,  did  not  then  "  fill  the  bill "  as  a  local  paper  ought,  and 
the  young  printers  were  encouraged  in  their  undertaking  by  the  lead- 
ing citizens  and  the  general  sentiment  of  the  village.  The  paper  was 
a  folio  of  six  columns,  and  was  printed  on  a  sheet  of  good  rag  paper 
22x30  inches.  The  proprietors  set  the  type  and  ''  worked  off  "  their 
limited  edition  on  an  old  hand  press  themselves.  The  Gazette  im- 
proved with  each  issue,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1839,  the 
Chroniele  establishment  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Sherman  and 
Kinnicutt.  The  issue  for  April  26th,  1839,  bears  the  title  of  Gazette 
and  Chronicle,  and  it  has  so  continued  to  the  present  time.  It  has  not 
missed  making  its  appearance  regularly  every  Friday  morning  during 
the  more  than  fifty  years  that  are  now  completed. 

The  Gazette  and  Chronicle  continued  to  be  published  in  the  old  Read 
building  until  March,  1841,  when  the  office  was  removed  to  the  upper 
story  of  the  wooden  Miller  building,  corner  of  Main  and  Mill  streets. 
(This  building  was  nearly  destroyed  by  fire  in  1872,  and  the  following 
year  the  present  imposing  brick  block  rose  from  its  ruins.)  The  ac- 
commodations there  were  better,  but  they  were  not  sufficient.  In  the 
summer  of  1849  the  late  Amos  M.  Read  (father  of  Mr.  A.  T.  Read,  the 
present  owner  of  the  block),  tore  down  the  old  wooden  building,  or 
the  part  of  it  in  which  the  Gazette  first  saw  the  light,  and  put  up  the 
present  brick  block  at  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Jenks  avenue. 
In  March,  1850,  the  Gazette  and  Chronicle  establishment  was  removed 
into  the  upper  story  of  this  new  building,  where  it  remained  until 


58  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

March,  1866,  when  it  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters  in  Manches- 
ter Hall,  on  Mill  (now  North  Main)  street. 

July  26th,  1850,  the  paper  appeared  in  a  new  dress  of  types  through- 
out, and  presented  a  very  neat  appearance.  January  5th,  1855,  it  was 
enlarged  to  seven  columns  to  a  page,  and  June  29th,  1860,  it  was  en- 
larged to  eight  columns  to  a  page.  January  2d,  1863,  during  the  dis- 
mal, depressing  days  of  the  civil  war,  the  paper  was  reduced  to  its 
previous  size  of  seven  columns  to  a  page.  The  publishers  promised 
that  whenever  circumstances  would  warrant  it  the  paper  should  ap- 
pear in  its  former  size.  On  the  6th  of  January,  1866,  it  did  so  appear, 
there  being  eight  columns  to  a  page  again.  July  1st,  1870,  it  was  en- 
larged to  nine  columns  to  a  page,  and  April  18th,  1873,  the  columns 
were  lengthened  to  their  present  extent. 

Up  to  May  4th,  1855,  the  Gazette  and  Chroniele  was  printed  on  a 
hand  press.  The  paper  bearing  that  date  was  printed  on  a  "  Guern- 
sey Improved  Patent  Cylinder  Press,"  made  by  Francis  &  Clary,  of 
Pittsfield,  Mass.  This  was  superseded  when  the  paper  was  enlarged 
July  1st,  1870,  by  a  Potter  Country  Cylinder  Press,  made  by  C.  Potter, 
Jr.,  &  Co.,  of  New  York.  After  a  faithful  service  of  16-i-  years,  the 
Potter  cylinder  was  superseded  on  December  6th,  1886,  by  a  new 
printing  machine,  made  specially  to  order  by  the  Babcock  Printing 
Press  Manufacturing  Company,  of  New  London,  Conn.  The  Guern- 
sey press  was  run  by  hand,  motive  power  coming  from  the  "  twist- 
ings  "  given  the  crank  on  the  large  driving  wheel  by  Michael  Finne- 
gan,  a  powerful  and  "  fine  ould  Irish  gintleman  "  of  peculiar  physique, 
who  died  in  March,  1879,  and  had  a  better  obituary  than  oft  falls  to 
the  lot  of  greater  men.  On  Thanksgiving  morning,  November  29th, 
1866,  the  Gazette  and  CJironicle  appeared  for  the  first  time  printed  by 
motive  power.  The  proprietors  were  the  first  to  introduce  a  power 
press  in  Pawtucket,  and  were  the  first  to  introduce  power  into  a  print- 
ing office.  The  power  was  supplied  by  a  caloric  engine,  which  was 
made  in  Providence.  Subsequently  a  steam  engine  took  its  place,  the 
caloric  proving  a  miserable  failure.  This  engine  is  still  in  the  office, 
and  can  do  duty  in  an  emergency.  Since  November,  1873,  power  has 
been  transmitted  by  a  "  rope  pulley  "  from  the  old  LeFavour  mill,  now 
the  electric  light  plant  of  the  Pawtucket  Gas  Company.  In  1884,  for 
several  weeks,  the  fact  was  demonstrated  that  the  pressure  (100  lbs. 
on  office  floor)  from  the  water  works  would  operate  a  small  water 
motor  that  would  run  all  the  machinery.  The  cost  of  running  the 
motor  was  too  great  to  warrant  its  continuance,  and  it  is  held  in  re- 
serve in  case  of  accident. 

For  many  years  prior  to  January  1st,  1866,  the  imprint  on  the  first 
page  stated  "  The  Gazette  and  CJironicle  is  published  every  Friday 
morning  by  Robert  Sherman,  simultaneously  in  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  and 
Pawtucket,  Mass."  (The  east  side  was  in  the  state  of  MassachUvSetts 
until  March,  1862.)     January  1st,  1864,  Ansel   D.  Nickerson,  who  en- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE. COUNTY.  59 

tered  the  oflfice  as  apprentice  in  April,  1846,  purchased  a  quarter  in- 
terest, and  on  January  1st,  1866,  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  R. 
Sherman  &  Co.,  and  so  remained  till  January  1st,  1870,  when  Ansel  D. 
Nickerson  and  John  S.  Sibley  became  the  proprietors,  the  latter  pur- 
chasing Mr.  Sherman's  half  interest  and  the  former  Mr.  Kinnicutt's 
quarter  interest.  The  paper  was  published  from  that  time  until  April 
1st,  1875,  by  Nickerson  &  Sibley,  when  Charles  A.  Lee,  who  began 
work  in  the  oflfice  November  30th,  1863,  purchased  an  interest  from 
the  senior  partner,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Nickerson, 
Sibley  &  Co.  Three  years  later,  April  1st,  1878,  Mr.  Nickerson  dis- 
posed of  his  entire  interest  to  Mr.  Lee,  and  January  1st,  1879,  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  Sibley  &  Lee,  and  so  remains  to  the  present 
time.  Prior  to  Mr.  Sibley's  death  in  September,  1883,  he  disposed  of 
his  entire  interest  in  the  office  and  newspaper  to  his  partner,  by  whom 
the  business  has  since  been  conducted.  In  May,  1869,  the  Gazette  and 
CJironicle  appeared  in  the  suit  of  types  that  it  wore  until  January  1st, 
1891,  a  fact  that  speaks  volumes  in  praise  of  the  type  founders,  Messrs. 
Phelps,  Dalton  &  Co.,  of  the  Dickinson  Type  Foundry  of  Boston, 
January  2d,  1891,  the  paper  appeared  in  quarto  form,  clad  in  a  new 
and  handsome  dress  of  types  and  with  a  fine  engraved  heading. 

The  semi-centennial  of  the  Chronicle  was  celebrated  November 
12th,  1875,  by  the  issuing  of  d.  fac  simile  of  the  first  number.  The  semi- 
centennial of  the  Gazette  was  celebrated  August  3d,  1888,  by  the  publi- 
cation of  a  souvenir  sheet  containing  a  fac  siinile  of  the  first  page  of 
the  initial  number,  portraits  of  publishers,  editors  and  correspond- 
ents, pictures  of  the  earlier  and  later  presses,  biographical  sketches, 
etc.  Only  two  of  the  ex-publishers  of  the  Gazette  and  CJironicle  are 
living— Messrs.  Sherman  and  Nickerson.  The  latter,  and  Mr.  Lee, 
the  present  editor  and  publisher,  both  "  learned  their  trade"  in  the 
office,  under  Mr.  Sherman.  The  paper  has  always  borne  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  family  journal,  and  is  quoted  to-day  as  a  model  in  typo- 
graphical appearance  and  in  the  vigor  and  tone  of  it^  editorial  columns. 

During  the  65  years  since  the  establishment  of  the  Chronicle, 
numerous  weekly  sheets  came  into  existence  only  to  pass  quickly  into 
obscurity.  Among  these  were  The  White  Banner,  Truth's  Advocate, 
John  the  Baptist,  Pawtucket  Herald,  Midnight  Cry,  Rose  and  Lily,  Spark- 
ling Fountain,  Battle  Axe,  Temperance  Regulator,  Mercantile  Reporter, 
Business  Directory,  Pazvtucket  Observer. 

The  first  mentioned  was  started  in  the  interest  of  Free  Masonry, 
and  was  absorbed  by  the  Chronicle  establishment  in  1827.  Many  of 
the  others,  as  their  names  indicate,  were  temperance  publications. 
The  Battle  Axe  was  published  by  Benjamin  W.  Pearce,  who  at  the 
present  time  at  the  age  of  over  70  years,  is  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Neivport  Enterprise.  He  gave  rumsellers  a  severe  drubbing  in  each 
issue,  and  one  night  some  of  them  went  into  his  office  and  pitched  his 
press  and  type  into  the  river.  The  Business  Directory  was  printed  and 
published  gratuitously  by  Alfred  W.  Pearce,  a  brother  of  Benjamin's, 


60  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

for  several  3'ears,  the  office  finally  passing  into  the  hands  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Gazette  ami  CJironielc. 

In  June,  1860,  George  O.  Willard,  a  young  printer  who  had  learned 
his  trade  in  the  Gazette  and  Chronicle  office,  issued  the  first  number  of 
the  Pawtucket  Observer.  It  was  republican  in  politics,  and  although 
the  party  won  its  first  national  victory  in  that  year,  the  paper  did  not 
receive  substantial  support,  and  its  publication  was  abandoned  in 
March,  1861.  From  that  date  until  April,  1885,  the  Gazette  and  Chronicle 
held  the  field  without  a  rival — a  period  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury— and  covered  it  ably  and  successfully. 

April  1 0th,  I880,  the  first  daily  paper  ever  printed  in  Pawtucket 
was  issued  from  the  Gazette  and  Chronicle  office.  It  was  called  the 
Evening  Chronicle.  Charles  A.  Lee  was  the  editor  and  publisher.  It 
published  news  of  the  United  Press  Association  received  by  special 
wire,  with  telegraph  operator  in  its  editorial  rooms.  Its  projector  did 
not  say  that  it  had  "  come  to  stay,"  for  the  field  was  nominally  pos- 
sessed by  another.  The  experiment  as  weighed  against  the  old 
established  weekly,  was  too  hazardous,  and  the  last  number  bore  date 
of  May  2d.  It  gave  Mr.  Lee  and  the  office  the  "  honor"  of  starting  the 
first  daily  newspaper  in  Pawtucket. 

April  80th,  1885,  the  first  number  of  the  Paivtncket  Evcnijig  Times, 
George  O.  Willard,  editor  and  manager,  made  its  appearance.  Its 
editor  and  manager  had  been  connected  with  the  Providence  Press  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  on  its  death  came  to  Pawtucket  and  secured 
sufficient  encouragement  to  start  the  Times.  For  two  years  Mr.  Wil- 
lard had  a  hard  struggle,  but  he  overcame  many  obstacles,  and  the 
Times  became  prosperous.  It  has  a  large  circulation  and  a  paying 
advertising  patronage,  and  is  the  largest  penny  daily  in  New  England. 
Mr.  Willard's  editorial  assistant  is  Mr.  William  C.  Sheppard.  Mr.  Sea- 
bury  wS.  Tompkins,  a  "  Chronicle  graduate,"  is  the  local  editor.  Janu- 
ary 31st,  1890,  the  Times  was  sold  to  David  O.  Black,  formerly  of  the 
Providence  Telegram,  and  since  March  26th,  1890,  it  has  been  published 
in  quarto  form  by  the  Times  Publishing  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Black 
is  the  head  and  Peter  Trumpler  the  business  manager. 

September  15th,  1888,  the  first  number  of  the  Evening  Tribune  was 
issued  by  Martin  Murray,  editor  and  manager.  Mr.  Murray  had  from  the 
start  been  city  editor  of  the  Evening  Times.  The  paper  is  democratic 
in  politics.     It  is  also  a  penny  daily,  and  has  a  goodly  run  of  patronage. 

In  January,  1886,  a  monthly  trades  paper  called  the  Pawtucket.  and 
Central  Falls  Real  Estate  Record  was  issued  from  the  Gazette  and  Chroni- 
cle office  for  Mr.  H.  H.  Sheldon,  an  enterprising  real  estate  broker. 
Its  publication  was  continued  monthly,  with  several  enlargements, 
until  January,  1887,  when  it  began  to  make  its  appearance  weekly,  its 
title  having  been  changed  to  the  Paivtucket  Record.     In  November, 

1890,  the  Record  was  purchased  by  David  J.  White,  and  January  6th, 

1891,  the  Central  Falls    Weekly  J'isitor  was  consolidated  with  it,  under 
he  name  of  Record-Visitor. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  PAWTUCKET— (Continued). 

Bridges.— BusinessBlocks.— Trading.— Woodlawn.— Hotels.— Stages.— Banks.— Churches. 
—Public  Library.— Post  Office.— Fire  Department.— Education.— Societies. 

IT  was  more  than  half  a  century  after  the  settlement  of  the  western 
village  before  a  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  Pawtucket.  At 
that  time  the  colony  of  Rhode  Island  invited  Massachusetts  to 
join  with  her  in  providing  such  a  convenience.  A  committee  seems 
to  have  been  appointed  by  the  latter  colony  in  1712  to  consider 
whether  the  bridge  should  be  built.  On  May  29th  they  made  the  fol- 
lowing report: 

"  We  are  humbly  of  opinion  that  a  place  called  Pawtucket  Falls, 
near  the  Iron  Works  on  said  river,  is  the  most  suitable  place  to  erect 
said  bridge,  and  when  built  (it)  may  be  of  benefit  to  some  part  of  this 
Province.  Especially  it  will  be  of  service  for  travelling  into  the  Nar- 
ragansett  Country,  Connecticut  and  New  York  at  all  times  of  the  year, 
particularly  in  the  winter  season,  when  by  rising  of  the  water  and 
great  quantity  of  ice  coming  down  the  river,  it  is  very  difficult  and 
hazardous,  which  if  there  be  a  bridge  will  make  travelling  more  easy 

and  safe.  ^  ^  ^  r^        .. 

"  Isaac  Winslow  and  four  others.  Com. 

Massachusetts  Colony  records.  Vol.  IX.,  pp.  273,  274. 

The  first  bridge  was  accordingly  built  at  the  expense  of  the  two 
colonies  in  1713.  Probably  it  was  a  fragile  structure,  for  m  16  years 
the  general  assembly  voted  to  rebuild  it,  provided  Massachusetts 
would  pay  half  the  expense.  In  1741  it  was  rebuilt.  In  1746  a  new 
boundary  line,  under  the  royal  permission,  was  run,  and  from  that 
time  Massachusetts  refused  to  pay  anything  for  maintaining  the 
bridge  over  the  Pawtucket.  The  first  bridge  stood  a  little  south  of  the 
place  where  the  stone  bridge  now  stands,  but  afterward  the  present  site 
was  chosen.  Part  of  this  bridge  was  swept  away  by  the  great  freshet 
of  1807,  but  it  was  speedily  rebuilt.  In  1817  it  was  again  replaced, 
largely  at  the  expense  of  North  Providence.  In  1832  the  work  was 
done  anew.  In  1839  it  was  repaired  at  the  expense  of  the  state.  In 
1843  the  old  bridge  was  torn  down  and  a  new  one  built.  Fourteen 
years  afterward  this  bridge  was  found  needing  repairs,  and  it  was  re- 
solved to  build  a  stone  bridge.     On  the  6th  of  July,  1858,  travel  was 


62  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

suspended.  The  new  bridge  now  standing  there  was  built  and  opened 
for  travel  on  the  4th  of  November.  The  occasion  was  fitl}'  celebrated 
by  a  public  procession,  a  dinner  at  Manchester  Hall,  and  other 
tokens  of  gladness. 

The  bridge  across  the  north  end  of  Mill  street  was  built  over  60 
years  ago.  Mr.  John  Kennedy,  of  Central  Falls,  was  the  most  active 
promoter  of  it,  and  he  carried  around  the  subscription  paper,  chiefly 
among  the  citizens  of  that  village.  The  bridge  was  commenced  in 
1826  and  completed  in  the  following  year.  In  1871  an  iron  bridge 
was  made  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  one,  built  at  the  expense  of 
Pawtucket  and  Smithfield. 

The  next  bridge  was  built  from  what  is  now  Central  avenue,  A 
wooden  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  Blackstone  at  this  point  in  1853. 
Owing  to  the  increase  of  population  in  this  neighborhood,  and  the  old 
bridge  being  deemed  unsafe,  on  September  4th,  1868,  it  was  voted  at 
a  town  meeting  in  Pawtucket  that  "  A  sum  of  money  not  to  exceed 
$6,000,  be  appropriated  by  this  town  for  building  one-half  of  a  bridge 
across  the  Blackstone  river  at  Pleasant  View."  On  April  7th  of  the 
following  year  $1,000  more  was  appropriated.  The  other  part  of  the 
cost  for  the  iron  bridge  thus  constructed  was  paid  by  the  town  of 
Smithfield. 

!"  IV. The  growing  population  demanded  more  conveniences.  The  stone 
bridge  was  often  crowded.  It  was  desired  on  both  sides  of  the  Black- 
stone, that  a  bridge  be  built  opposite  Exchange  street.  North  Provi- 
dence and  Pawtucket  voted  to  construct  such  a  bridge,  and  it  was 
built  during  the  winter  of  1871-2,  and  the  early  spring  of  the  latter 
year,  and  was  opened  for  travel  on  May  3d,  1872.  This  is  constructed 
of  iron  also,  and  cost  $30,000. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  March  1st,  1875,  the  town  council  were 
authorized  to  build  a  bridge  from  the  foot  of  Division  street  across 
the  Pawtucket  river,  of  such  materials  as  they  deemed  most  suitable. 
They  accordingly  decided  to  build  of  stone,  and  a  massive  structure 
was  erected. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  blocks  erected  in  Paw- 
tucket: The  LeFavour  Block  and  the  Hotel  Block  in  1812  or  1813' 
Ellis  Block  about  1820;  the  Manchester  Block  in  1848;  the  A.  M.  Read 
Block  in  1849;  the  John   B.  Read  Block  in  1850;  the  Almy  Block  in 

1854;  Dexter  Block  finished  in  1866;  the  Miller  Block  in ;  the  G. 

L.  Spencer  Block  in  1874;  Littlefield  Block,  west  side  of  North  Main 
street,  1875;  Union  Block,  by  Dexter  Brothers,  in  1874;  Walter  Block 
in  1887;  Record  Building  in  1888.  There  are  many  other  buildings 
also  worthy  of  mention.  The  lot  for  the  Union  Block  was  appropri- 
ated in  1822.  The  building  was  erected  by  Ebenezer  Tyler,  David 
Wilkinson  and  Mr.  Slater.  Till  1844  it  was  used  for  stores  and  offices, 
when  it  was  bought  by  Mr.  Enoch  Adams,  and  converted  into  a  cot- 
ton mill.   *In  1851  it  was  purchased  by  Captain   Dexter  and  used  by 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY,  63 

him  for  the  same  purpose.  After  his  decease  his  sons  continued  to 
run  the  mill.  The  building  of  the  First  National  Bank  was  erected 
in  1875.  Tyler  &  Wilkinson  also  erected  the  Pawtucket  Hotel 
building  in  1826.  The  stores  of  Mr.  Dana  and  Mr.  Phillips  are  both 
in  this  building,  and  were  used  first  for  offices.  It  was  in  Mr.  Phil- 
lips' room  that  William  Bailey  opened  the  first  drug  store  in  Pawtucket. 
Doctor  Niles  Manchester  resided  on  the  grounds  now  occupied  by 
Music  Hall  building.  Moses  Jenks,  father  of  Pardon  Jenks,  was 
living  on  grounds  now  occupied  by  the  post  office  building  in  1820. 
It  was  an  old  fashioned  gambrel  roofed  house,  an  elegant  structure 
for  that  day.  Seekonk  Plains  in  1839  contained  only  three  houses. 
A  hundred  houses  are  now  on  that  side  of  Pawtucket. 

The  town  of  Pawtucket  contained  a  population  of  27,630  souls  in 
1890.  The  business  carried  on  here  is  surprisingly  great.  There  are 
•over  a  hundred  large  firms  and  corporations  in  the  place,  some  of 
which  are  very  extensive.  By  actual  count  from  the  city  directory 
there  are  134  dressmakers,  which  exceeds  the  limit  of  any  other  class 
of  enterprises.  There  are  120  grocers,  22  physicians,  12  lawyers,  18 
■clergymen,  23  churches  and  missions,  12  hotels,  6  banks,  6  news- 
papers and  magazines,  and  other  enterprises  in  proportion.  Manu- 
facturing is  the  chief  industry,  and  not  a  few  of  the  corporations 
give  employment  to  hundreds  of  hands  each. 

Ebenezer  and  Otis  Tiffany  were  early  residents  of  the  place. 
Ebenezer  Tififany,  the  elder  brother,  had  a  store  on  Main  street,  front- 
ing North  Main,  as  early  as  1802  or  1803.  The  site  is  now  occupied 
by  Amos  Read's  Block,  erected  in  1849.  Originally  a  little  building 
stood  here  which  was  swept  away  by  the  freshet,  when  Mr.  Tiffany 
erected  the  second  structure  and  continued  trading  until  the  great 
revulsion  of  1829.  He  carried  on  business  quite  extensively,  and  as 
was  customary  in  those  days,  kept  a  good  supply  of  West  India  goods. 
Mr.  Gideon  L.  Spencer  in  1824  set  up  in  the  tailoring  business,  his 
shop  being  in  the  second  story  of  Mr.  Tiffany's  store.  After  one  or 
two  years'  stay  in  that  place  Mr.  Spencer  went  farther  up  on  Main 
street,  where  Lee's  Block  is  now,  and  continued  his  business  till  1845. 

Otis  Tiffany  kept  the  post  office  in  the  building  where  Mr.  Slater 
lived.  His  room  was  the  one  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Freeman's  book 
store.  He  afterward  moved  up  Main  street  one  door  west  of  the  post 
office,  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Doctor  C.  E.  Davis  &  Son, 
registered  pharmacists,  and  kept  the  office  there.  Jonathan  Niles 
Spencer  afterward  occupied  the  stand  at  Freeman's  for  a  shoe  store. 
He  was  an  elder  brother  of  Gideon  L.  Spencer,  and  began  trading 
earlier  than  he.  The  sons  of  Otis  Tiffany  became  wealthy.  Their 
names  were  George  and  Henry.  Ebenezer  Tiffany  had  two  sons,  both 
now  dead. 

In  1829  there  were  a  number  of  merchants  in  Pawtucket.  Of 
these  Josiah  W.  Miller  kept  a  grocery  store  for  a  long  time  on  Main 


64  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

street,  near  the  bridge.  It  was  next  west  of  John  Read's  block.  At 
that  time  Ebenezer  Tyler  owned  most  of  the  property  in  this  locality, 
and  he  was  in  trade  also  a  number  of  years. 

In  1829  Bennet  Whipple  had  a  store  where  the  post  office  is  now, 
in  an  old  building  of  his  own.  It  was  of  w^ood,  and  was  later  taken 
down  and  a  brick  building  erected  by  David  Wilkinson  and  Ebenezer 
Tyler.  That  building  was  torn  down  and  the  present  structure 
erected.  The  brick  was  used  by  the  North  Providence  Bank,  by  the 
Pacific  Bank,  by  Charles  Pierce  and  others.  The  second  story  was 
used  for  a  boarding  house,  the  third  as  the  Masonic  Temple.  The 
old  building  was  sold  m  1829  to  Enoch  Adams,  who  used  it  for  a  cot- 
ton mill  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1829  George  Jenckes  was  doing  a  trading  business  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Maple  and  Main  streets.  Albert  C.  Jenckes,  his  son,  suc- 
ceeded, and  he  is  now  dead.     The  building  is  still  used  as  a  store. 

James  Weeden  at  that  time  owned  a  bakery  on  Main  street.  He 
afterward  went  down  on  Pleasant  street,  where  his  house  is  now. 

The  business  established  by  these  firms  was  of  a  general  charac- 
ter, carrying  groceries,  dry  goods,  etc.  About  this  time,  however,  a 
division  of  the  trade  was  made,  and  special  lines  only  were  carried. 

Among  the  many  then  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  may  be 
mentioned  the  firm^of  A.  &  A.  Parks,  who  not  only  dealt  in  groceries 
but  in  hay,  grain,  straw,  etc.  They  began  over  60  years  ago,  and 
were  succeeded  by  John  Crane,  and  he  by  Messrs.  Long,  Pearce  & 
Larkin,  and  in  1879  the  style  of  the  house  was  changed  to  Ellis, 
Pearce  &  Co.,  Mr.  Peter  Lennon  being  a  member  of  this  firm,  who 
succeeded  to  the  business  in  1885. 

Mr.  Smith  Grant  established  a  grocery  trade  many  years  ago, 
which  subsequently  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  John  Tingley, 
Clark  &  Brown,  B.  P.  White  &  Co.,  Moore  &  Blaisdell,  John  H.  Moore, 
Moore  &  Carpenter  and  O.  F.  Currier,  who  succeeded  to  the  business 
in  March,  1881.  The  firm  of  Lemuel  Whitney,  dealer  in  meats, 
vegetables  and  provisions,  was  established  soon  after  the  war,  and 
was  afterward  carried  on  by:  E.  Darling  &  Co.,  A.  H.  Ford,  Mr.  Wood- 
ward, Laban  Adams,  N.  F.  Whipple,  in  1876,  and  by  the  present  pro- 
prietor since  1883.  The  business  of  Nicholson  &  Thackray,  whole- 
sale and  retail  grocers,  was  started  by  the  Nicholson  brothers  in 
1878,  and  in  1885  reorganized  by  the  admission  of  Mr.  Thackray.  The 
Crawford  Brothers  founded  the  business  now  carried  on  by  George 
Crawford  in  1861.  In  1866  George  Crawford  came  in  possession.  In 
1880  J.  W.  Mooney  established  the  trade  now  carried  on  by  the 
Mooney  Brothers. 

The  dry  goods  trade  was  opened  up  in  Pawtucket  as  a  separate 
commercial  interest  of  trade  by  Horace  Miller  in  1824.  He  first 
opened  where  H.  N.  Wilkinson's  book  store  is  now,  at  108  Main 
street,  but  after  a  few  months  moved  into  Union  Block  with  Luke 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  65 

Parmenter.  Mr.  L.  E.  Trescott,  the  only  dry  goods  merchant  in 
the  place  during  those  earlier  years,  and  now  living,  was  clerk  for 
Miller.  The  revulsion  of  1829  played  financial  havoc  with  Mr.  Miller, 
as  it  did  with  many  others.  In  1825  Samuel  Jacobs  &  Co.  opened  a 
dry  goods  store  in  the  Brick  Hotel,  where  Mr.  Dana's  drug  store  is, 
and  ran  it  till  1829. 

About  this  same  time,  or  a  little  later,  Edward  Mason  &  Co.  car- 
ried on  the  dry  goods  business  where  the  Dexter  Block  now  stands. 
They,  too,  failed  in  1829.  Edward  Mason,  however,  contintied  till 
about  1847.  In  1826  Lowdon  &  LeFavour  kept  dry  goods  where  the 
Union  Block  is  now,  but  in  1827  they  gave  up  the  enterprise.  About 
this  time  James  Wardlaw  began  trading,  and  also  the  firm  of  Walcott, 
Parmenter  &  Co.  was  formed,  and  business  commenced  at  the  east 
end  of  the  bridge,  where  N.  Bates'  shoe  store  is.  Of  this  firm  Parmen- 
ter died,  and  Wardlaw  bought  out  the  stock  in  1827,  and  kept  there 
till  1832.  Then  Alanson  Thayer  bought  him  out,  and  kept  there 
till  Whitman  &  Bates  began  business  in  1835.  In  1837  N.  Bates  es- 
tablished his  shoe  store.     In  1867  the  firm  became  N.  Bates  &  Son. 

In  1841  L.  E.  Trescott  began  in  a  store  where  the  Miller 
Block  is  now,  and  kept  till  1850,  and  then  retired.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  J.  W.  Nicholas.  Nickerson  Nicholas  also  traded  in  the 
Old  Hotel  building  on  Main  street,  beginning  about  1845.  Also 
Daniel  Miller,  who  was  a  brother  of  Horace,  kept  a  store  next  to 
Bates,  where  Crawford's  grocery  store  is  now.  Mr.  Miller  continued 
trading  at  this  stand  from  1846  or  1846  till  1856  or  1857,  when  it  was 
turned  into  a  grocery  store. 

Richard  &  Andrew  Palmer  in  1856  began  the  business  in  the  Le 
Favour  Block,  and  continued  there  till  about  I860.  Burton  &  Horton, 
who  succeeded  Samuel  Jacobs,  traded  here  before  1841.  John  W. 
Lowdon  also  traded  here.  He  was  succeeded  by  Frost  &  Almy  in 
1843.  This  last  firm  only  sold  goods  two  years,  and  then  united  with 
the  firm  of  N.  Bates  &  Co.  A.  Ellis,  Job  Almy  and  others  were 
identified  with  the  dry  goods  trade  at  that  time. 

Of  those  who  are  trading  now  in  this  line  may  be  mentioned  the 
names  of  Deahy  Brothers,  who  began  in  1882;  J.  H.  Clark  &  Co.,  who 
traded  some  16  years  ago  in  Central  Falls,  but  moved  here  in  1883; 
David  Harley  &  Co.,  in  1878;  F.  W.  Westcott,  and  others  of  later 
date.  The  new  building  erected  by  David  Harley  &  Co.  in  1883  has 
a  frontage  of  148  feet  and  a  floorage  of  11,000  square  feet.  They  give 
employment  to  75  clerks. 

The  shoe  trade  in  Pawtucket  had  its  beginning  with  the  enterpris- 
ing Jonathan  Niles  Spencer,  who  drove  pegs  for  custom  work  as  early 
as'l819.  Becoming  tired  of  a  cobbler's  life,  he  threw  down  his  awl, 
went  to  Providence,  and  laid  in  a  stock  of  boots  and  shoes  to  the 
amount  of  about  $100,  on  credit,  and  established  himself  in  a  little 
store  where  Freeman's  book  store  now  is,  and  traded  there  till  about 
5 


66  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  year  1830,  when  he  died.  Ira  D.  Ellis  was  probably  the  next  con- 
siderable dealer  in  the  village.  He  began  soon  after  this,  and  con- 
tinued trading  about  40  years  where  the  Pawtucket  shoe  store  is  now. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Ellis  &  Read  in  1883,  who  have  continued  to 
this  time.     The  members  of  this  firm  are  A.  L.  Ellis  and  W.  W.  Read. 

In  1852  Job  L.  Spencer  bought  out  the  boot  and  shoe  store  of  S. 
W.  Baker,  No.  7  North  Main  street,  and  traded  there  12  years.  He 
sold  to  Stephen  A.  Cook,  who  sold  to  Mr.  Winchester,  who  failed  in 
the  business.  The  building  was  then  torn  down  by  Gideon  L. 
Spencer,  and  the  Spencer  Block  erected  in  1874.  In  1837  N.  Bates 
began  the  business  of  selling  boots  and  shoes,  and,  with  his  son  Frank 
M.,  is  still  trading.  George  C.  Gates,  a  native  of  England,  came  here 
from  that  country  in  1862,  and  two  years  later  began  a  specialty  of 
making  fine  custom  made  shoes.  Later  he  added  to  his  other  busi- 
ness that  of  dealer  in  leather  and  shoe  findings.  W.  H.  Taylor  es- 
tablished himself  here  in  this  business  in  1870,  and  soon  after  this 
time  the  Standard  Boot  and  Shoe  store  was  started  on  Main  street.  A. 
A.  Cohen,  an  extensive  dealer  in  the  place,  began  here  in  1871;  and 
many  others  of  more  recent  date  have  boot  and  shoe  stores  also. 

The  drug  store  now  occupied  by  F.  J.  Phillips,  a  registered  pharma- 
cist, 99  Main  street,  was  built  by  Collyer  &  Wilkinson  prior  to  1829,- 
and  for  some  years  was  used  for  store  and  office.  William  Bailey  es- 
tablished here  the  first  drug  store  in  Pawtucket.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Samuel  Greene,  who  put  in  the  first  soda  fountain  in  the  village, 
and  probably  it  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  state.  The  old  fountain 
slab  is  still  to  be  seen  in  this  store,  and  from  its  construction  it  evi- 
dently was  among  the  first  patterns  made.  Mr.  Greene  subsequently 
kept  a  drug  store  in  Providence  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  about 
the  time  of  the  late  war.  Of  those  who  afterward  traded  here  may  be 
mentioned:  Lyman  and  Bela  P.  Clapp,  Henry  Reed,  Byron  Johnson, 
John  Coe,  Dexter  Brothers  and  F.  J.  Phillips,  the  present  owner,  who 
took  possession  November  10th,  1877. 

The  old  Pawtucket  Hotel  was  used  as  a  dry  goods  store  last  by 
Bates  &  Leckie.  In  1858  it  was  changed  to  a  drug  store,  and  run  by 
John  B.  Cushman  and  George  E.  Newell  till  1860,  when  Newell  went 
into  the  banking  business,  and  the  drug  business  was  continued  by 
Cushman  till  1865,  then  sold  to  William  A.  Turner.  The  next  owner 
was  Asa  Bosworth,  who  sold  to  George  T.  Dana,  the  present  proprie- 
tor, in  July,  1870. 

Of  the  druggists  now  living  Doctor  Charles  E.  Davis  is  the  oldest 
pharmacist  in  the  place.  He  has  his  store  in  the  old  building  form- 
erly mentioned  next  to  the  post  office,  and  is  trading  in  this  line 
under  the  style  of  C.  E.  Davis  &  vSon.  He  began  in  1838.  Fisk  &  Co. 
also  represent  an  old  established  trade  in  drugs  m  Pawtucket.  They 
began  in  1871. 

There  are  a  number  of  furniture  dealers  and  repairers  in  Paw- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  67 

tucket,  of  whom  E.  P.  Carpenter  was  first.  This  business  was  estab- 
lished in  1858,  across  the  river,  where  they  occupied  grounds  now 
owned  by  the  Dexter  Yarn  Company.  In  1863  they  moved  into  the 
present  commodious  building,  three  stories  in  height,  occupying  one 
acre  of  floor.  This  building  has  a  frontage  of  175  feet,  and  the  largest 
plate  glass  of  any  store  of  this  kind  in  New  England.  Carpenter  & 
Co.  are  manufacturers  of  tin,  sheet  iron  and  copper  goods,  also  of 
furniture,  and  employ,  when  in  full  operation,  50  hands.  Next  to 
Carpenter  &  Co.  came  the  Pawtucket  Furniture  Company,  and  still 
later  Bernard  McCaughey  &  Co.  and  a  dozen  others  who  have  recently 
entered  upon  this  line  of  business. 

A.  M.  Read,  John  B.  Read  and  George  Mumford  were  among  the 
earliest  hardware  merchants  in  the  place.  John  B.  Read  had  a  tin 
shop  in  an  old  wooden  building  as  early  as  1821,  where  he  afterward 
(in  1850)  erected  his  block.  Amos  Read,  h'is  older  brother,  was  here 
several  years  before  that,  and  erected  his  block  in  1849.  George 
Mumford  had  a  store  in  the  Manchester  Block,  erected  in  1848.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  George  A.  Mumford,  who  was  there  in 
business  before  the  late  war.  In  1878  Mr.  A.  F.  Bray  took  possession 
of  the  business,  and  in  1883  the  firm  became  A.  F.  &  F.  Bray.  Mr.  A. 
M.  Read  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson,  Charles  M.  Read,  who  con- 
tinued the  business  till  1886,  when  his  stock  was  sold  to  A.  F.  &  F. 
Bray.  In  1869  Lewis  T.  Haskell  became  a  dealer  in  stoves  and  hard- 
ware and  traded  until  recently.  F.  Eugene  Barker  &  Co.  began  where 
they  are  now  in  1884. 

There  are  a  number  of  enterprising  merchants  in  Pawtucket  who 
carry  special  lines  of  goods  deserving  of  mention,  but  owing  to  want 
of  space  but  little  more  than  the  names  can  be  given.  George  A. 
Jencks  carries  a  stock  of  kitchen  furniture,  consisting  of  stoves  and 
tinware.  Lyons  Delany  &  Co.  opened  a  tea  store  in  1877,  and  after- 
ward added  machinery  to  the  floors  of  the  brick  building  adjoining 
and  began  the  manufacture  of  spices,  cream  tartar,  etc.  They  are 
doing  an  extensive  business.  In  1878  George  C.  Peck  opened  a  five- 
cent  store  on  North  Main  street,  and  is  now  carrying  a  very  exten- 
sive variety  of  goods  on  North  Union  street,  in  Sheldon's  building. 
His  store  is  54  by  54  feet.  Shartenberg  &  Robinson  have  a  store  on 
Main  street,  60  by  60  feet,  three  stories  in  height. 

J.  H.  Boyle,  custom  clothier,  began  business  here  in  1879;  Charles 
W.  Clough,  watchmaker,  in  1876;  James  Meiklejohn  &  Son,  pianos 
and  organs,  in  1883;  Alice  B.  Neale,  millinery  and  fancy  goods,  in 
1877;  W.  W.  Dexter,  watches,  jewelry  and  diamonds,  about  1858.  San- 
ford  Almy  established  trade  in  crockery,  china,  glass,  etc.,  on  Main 
street,  in  1848.  This  store  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  place.  Lynd  & 
Murphy,  dealers  in  hats,  caps,  etc.,  began  business  in  1882,  and  during 
this  same  year  B.  H.  Lattime  opened  up  a  store  for  hair  goods,  corner 
of  Read  and  North  Main  street.     The  book  trade  was  established  by 


68  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Joseph  Mclntyre  as  early  as  1830,  at  the  stand  now  kept  by  Henry  M. 
Wilkinson.  After  many  years  Joseph  Mclntyre,  Jr.,  came  into  pos- 
session, and  the  present  owner  took  charge  in  1855.  He  was  clerk  for 
Joseph  Mclntyre,  Jr.,  from  1848  to  1855. 

There  are  four  mammoth  wholesale  and  retail  coal  and  wood  deal- 
ers in  Pawtucket.  In  1831  Joseph  Smith  established  trade  in  this 
line.  The  firm  was  changed  in  1862  to  Joseph  Smith  &  Co.,  and  in 
1874  to  the  Joseph  Smith  Company.  In  1883  this  property  came  into 
the  possession  of  John  T.  Cottrell,  the  present  owner.  The  wharf  is 
on  Water  street  and  covers  an  area  of  six  acres.  George  E.  Newell 
runs  the  yard  originally  owned  by  S.  Grant  &  Co.,  established  about 
1857,  and  Olney  &  Payne  Brothers  own  the  yard  originally  conducted 
by  Cushman  &  Wilcox.  They  came  in  1884.  The  Pawtucket  Coal 
Company,  of  which  E.  M.  Hunt  is  treasurer,  has  also  done  a  large 
business  for  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years.  The  above  firms  also  deal 
largely  in  lumber,  lime,  brick,  etc. 

Woodlawn  is  a  station  on  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad 
three  miles  from  the  city  of  Providence  and  one  from  Pawtucket, 
and  is  included  within  the  city  limits  of  the  latter.  Business  at  this 
point  necessitated  the  building  of  a  depot  here  in  1880.  The  Old 
Colony  line  also  pass  this  point, but  none  of  their  trains  stop  here.  Forty- 
six  passenger  trains  of  the  Providence  &  Worce^ster  road  stop  daily  at 
Woodlawn.  In  1882  J.  M.  Carpenter  erected  his  works  near  the  de- 
pot. He  manufactures  taps  and  dies,  and  during  the  busy  season  em- 
ploys from  30  to  40  hands.  From  this  point  a  special  track  is  laid 
connecting  the  works  of  the  Lorraine  Manufacturing  Com.pany  on 
Mineral  Spring  avenue,  Saylesville,  also  the  glue  works  and  other 
works  of  L.  B.  Darling  &  Co.,  with  Lawndale. 

At  Woodlawn  there  are  two  chapels.  One  is  Baptist  and  is  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Pawtucket.  The 
other  is  a  French  mission  under  the  spiritual  directorship  of  the 
French  Roman  Catholic  church  of  St.  George,  Central  Falls.  The 
Lorraine  Manufacturing  Company  and  L.  B.  Darling  &  Co.'s  works 
are  in  the  town  of  Lincoln,  but  the  growth  of  these  industries  has 
largely  increased  the  prosperity  of  Woodlawn.  The  Lorraine  Manu- 
facturing Company  own  very  extensive  buildings  and  employ  1,000 
hands. 

Tradition  states  that  150  years  ago  an  old  tavern  stood  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Blackstone,  but  all  trace  of  it  has  long  since 
passed  away.  There  was  a  public  house  of  a  later  date  built  by 
Captain  Comstock  for  his  own  residence,  but  which  subsequently  be- 
came a  tavern.  It  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Brown's  ma- 
chine shop.  It  bore  the  name  of  the  Martin  House.  The  sign  was 
suspended  between  two  posts  and  bore  the  likeness  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well. It  was  kept  by  Constant  Martin.  Reverend  Mr.  Goodrich 
says,  "  Wags  styled  this  a  gallows  sign,  and  were  wont  to  add:  'Mar- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  69 

tin  has  hung-  the  protector.'"  Continuing  the  subject  he  says: 
"  vStill  another  tavern  stood  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  the  present 
Broad  street,  opposite  the  Benedict  House.  The  building  still 
stands  [1876],  and  though  it  has  been  much  razeed  or  curtailed 
within  a  few  years,  it  is,  as  the  style  of  architecture  shows,  an 
ancient  edifice.  It  was  built  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 
The  builder  of  it  was  Reverend  Maturin  Ballon,  the  father  of  the 
well-known  Reverend  Hosea  Ballon,  long  a  leader  of  the  Universalist 
denomination.  The  father  was  a  preacher  in  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion, and  was  also  a  house  carpenter.  The  elder  Ballou  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  most  of  whom,  save  Hosea,  were  born  in 
this  neighborhood.  He  removed  to  Richmond,  N.  H.,  about  1770. 
During  'the  revolutionary  war  the  house  was  used  as  a  tavern,  and 
was  kept  by  the  Mr.  Martin  already  mentioned.  At  that  time  it  was 
a  rival  public  house  to  Colonel  Slack's,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  The  house,  indeed,  subsequently  went  into  the  possession  of 
Colonel  Slack — to  extinguish  the  rivalry,  perhaps. 

"  At  a  later  period  a  public  house  stood  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  present  High  street.  Built  by  David  Ballou  almost  a  cen- 
tury ago,  it  was  occupied  as  a  tavern  for  over  30  years.  It  was 
raised  April  8th,  1871.  and  removed  about  1813,  when  the  LeFavour 
Block  was  reared.  In  1812  and  1813  a  hotel  was  reared  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Mill  streets.  The  edifice  was  built  at  the  expense  of 
David  Wilkinson;  and  for  nearly  40  years  was  used  exclusively  as  a 
public  house.  For  years  afterward,  however,  it  was  occupied  as  a 
bank  building  and  for  offices  in  front,  but  has  remained  a  boarding 
house  in  the  rear. 

"  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  as  has  been  more  than  once 
stated,  stood  the  tavern  of  Colonel  Slack.  Its  site  has  been  designated. 
Colonel  Slack  came  to  Pawtucket  in  1776,  and  speedily  occupied  the 
building  in  question.  Standing  as  it  did  on  the  sole  thoroughfare  to 
Boston,  it  was  much  frequented.  Here  Washington  and  his  suite 
stopped  on  their  way  to  Boston,  as  he  went  to  take  command  of  the 
army;  and  here  he  also  called  as  he  went  on  his  way  to  New  York. 
Lafayette  more  than  once  found  shelter  beneath  the  hospitable  roof; 
and  the  Hon.  Oliver  Starkweather  was  wont  to  tell  that  he  saw  him, 
with  his  national  urbanity,  in  free  conversation  with  the  inhabitants 
of  the  then  little  hamlet.  After  the  Bristol  and  Norfolk  turnpike 
was  built,  however,  early  in  the  present  century.  Colonel  Slack  caused 
the  hotel  now  standing  on  Broadway  to  be  reared,  and  occupied  it  for 
a  public  house. 

"  Beside  these  taverns  there  was  the  Dolly  Sabin  house  on  North 
Bend.  It  is  reported  that  the  house  had  been  used  as  a  tavern  before 
Miss  Sabin  purchased  it,  and  a  John  Bradford  kept  it.  Between  80 
and  90  years  ago,  however,  two  sisters,  by  the  name  of  Dolly  and 
Molly  Sabin,  removed  from  Providence  and  bought  the  stand.     The 


70  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

house  was  small  when  they  purchased  it,  but  they  enlarged  it,  and 
with  feminine  taste,  laid  out  a  spacious  garden,  and  adorned  it  with 
fruits  and  flowers.  Much  company  was  thereby  attracted  to  the 
house  beside  travelers.  Dolly  remained  unmarried,  and  has  trans- 
mitted her  name,  by  the  house,  to  later  generations. 

"The  most  prominent  hotel  of  the  present  day  however,  is  the 
Benedict  House.  Named  though  it  was  from  Stephen  Benedict,  long 
the  president  of  the  People's  Bank,  it  would  commemorate  were  it 
needful  the  fame  of  Doctor  Benedict.  For  49  years  Doctor  Bene- 
dict lived  in  the  house  which  was  removed  to  make  room  for  the 
hotel  named.  This  edifice  was  built  in  1871."  F.  Donath  is  now 
proprietor. 

The  present  hotels  are:  The  Centennial  House,  on  Mineral  Spring 
avenue,  kept  by  Joseph  Goyette;  Farmers'  Hotel,  on  Broadway,  by  P. 
T.  Tyrrell  &  Co.;  Greene  &  Daniels'  House,  on  Middle  street,  by  S.  R. 
Keenan;  Lindsey  Place  Hotel,  Lindsey  Pike,  corner  of  Weeden,  Mrs. 
Rebecca  B.  Comstock;  Mechanics'  House,  River  street,  by  John 
Buckley;  Park  Hotel,  on  Mineral  Spring  avenue,  by  Charles  Greene; 
Pawtucket  Hotel,  Broadway,  by  D.  W.  Bucklin;  Pleasant  View  House, 
Broadway,  by  J.  Frank  Fuller;  RatcHffe  House,  Railroad  avenue,  by 
Mrs.  Martin  Byrne,  and  the  Warren  House,  on  Dexter  street. 

"  In  July,  1767,"  says  Judge  Staples,"  we  meet  with  the  first  adver- 
tisement of  a  regular  stage  running  between  Boston  and  Providence. 
At  that  date  Thomas  Sabin,  the  first  to  set  up  a  stage,  advertised  that 
'  one  starts  every  Tuesday  morning  from  the  house  of  Richard  Olney, 
inn-holder,  to  carry  travelers  to  Boston,  on  the  most  expeditious  and 
cheap  rate.'  The  coach  returned  on  Thursday  mornings.  Richard 
Olney's  house  was  nearly  opposite  the  court  house  parade  on  North 
Main  street.  The  notice  does  not  state  whether  the  coach  went 
through  in  a  day,  or  stopped  the  first  night  at  Wrentham,  as  it  did, 
according  to  tradition,  in  earlier  times.  In  those  times  it  is  said  that 
the  owner  of  a  stage  coach  occasionally  gave  notice  a  week  or  ten 
days  beforehand  that,  on  a  given  day,  he  would  start  for  Boston,  if 
sufficient  encouragement  offered,  taking  care  to  give  notice  so  that  his 
passengers  could  settle  all  their  worldly  affairs  and  make  their  wills 
before  commencing  such  an  arduous  and  dangerous  journey.  In  1783 
the  stage  to  Boston  ran  twice  a  week." 

"  In  a  little  more  than  40  years  after  the  last-named  date  public 
sentiment  had  so  ripened  as  to  demand  a  local  carriage  between  Paw- 
tucket and  Providence.  Horace  Field  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  man 
who  run  a  diligence.  After  a  short  time  he  was  succeeded  by  Simon 
H.  Arnold.  For  half  a  dozen  years  or  more  Mr.  Arnold  seems  to  have 
run  his  diligence.  At  a  later  period  Mr.  Abraham  H.  Adams  estab- 
lished a  coach  between  Pawtucket  and  Providence.  This  also  made 
two  trips  a  day  each  way.  In  August,  1836,  Messrs.  Wetherell  & 
Bennett  put  on  a  line  of  omnibuses,  which  they  continued  to  run 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  71 

nearly  18  years.  In  June,  1854,  however,  Mr.  Sterry  Fry  bought  the 
line,  and  continued  to  run  his  omnibuses  till  superseded  by  the  horse 
cars.  In  May,  1864,  Mr.  Hiram  H.  Thomas  completed  his  arrange- 
ments, and  set  the  horse  cars  in  motion.  In  his  calculations  he  had 
reckoned  on  120,000  passengers  a  year.  In  a  few  years  the  number 
rose  to  650,000;  but  such  had  been  the  increase  in  cost  by  the  rise  in 
the  prices  of  horses  and  iron,  that  even  this  number  failed  to  compen- 
sate. The  passengers  finally  increased  to  a  million  a  year.  Of  course, 
this  included  way  passengers. 

"•As  is  well  known,  however,  before  the  omnibuses  were  driven 
from  the  groimd,  a  new  and  formidable  rival  had  appeared.  The 
Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  was  built  to  accommodate  travelers 
between  those  cities.  The  first  locomotive  which  passed  through 
Pawtucket  over  the  track  of  that  road  came  through  on  Saturday, 
August  21st,  1847.  It  bore  the  name  of  Lonsdale,  and  was  attached 
to  a  gravel  train.  This  was  simply  prophetic,  however;  the  passenger 
train  over  that  road  began  its  regular  trips  on  Monday,  October  25th, 
of  the  same  year. 

"The  Boston  &  Providence  railroad  was  constructed  as  early  as 
1835,  and  the  original  station  in  Providence  was  near  India  Point.  A 
branch  road,  which  afterward  became  the  main  trunk,  however,  was 
built  from  Pawtucket  to  East  Junction,  and  trains  began  to  run  over 
it  on  Wednesday,  March  15th,  1848.  The  Stonington  steamboat  train 
commenced  running  through  Pawtucket  on  Monday,  May  1st,  1848. 
The  regular  passenger  trains  between  Boston  and  Providence  began 
to  run  through  this  town  on  June  12th,  of  the  same  year." 

The  banking  business  in  Pawtucket  had  its  beginning  in  1814. 
The  steady  increase  of  business  by  that  time  led  to  the  incorporation 
of  the  Pawtucket  Bank  (June  13th,  1814),  with  a  capital  of  $100,000. 
This  bank  remained  in  existence  till  about  1850.  The  Manufacturers' 
Bank  was  chartered  by  the  general  assembly  of  Rhode  Island  in  the 
year  1814,  and  remained  here  till  the  general  prostration  of  business 
in  1829.  It  suffered  heavy  loss  at  that  time  and  was  removed  to 
Providence.  The  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Bank  was  chartered  in 
1822,  or  the  following  year.  The  same  cause  that  impoverished  the 
Manufacturers'  Bank  nearly  ruined  this  institution.  But  a  new  com- 
pany was  organized  under  its  forfeited  charter,  and  afterward  existed 
in  Providence  under  the  name  of  the  Phenix  Bank. 

The  New  England  Pacific  Bank,  now  the  Pacific  National  Bank, 
was  chartered  in  1818.  It  was  organized  in  Smithfield.  It  suffered 
various  losses  there,  and  was  transferred  in  1832  to  the  village  of  Paw- 
tucket, North  Providence,  where  greater  prosperity  attended  it.  It 
was  styled  the  New  England  Pacific  Bank  from  1832  to  1865,  then  the 
New  England  Pacific  Bank  of  North  Providence  to  1889,  and  now  the 
Pacific  National  Bank.  It  was  incorporated  June  27th,  1865.  The 
capital  stock  is  $200,000;  surplus,  $83,000.  Robert  Sherman  is  presi- 
dent; L.  B.  Darling,  vice-president;  Charles  L.  Knight,  cashier. 


72  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket  was  organized  in  1865,  with 
a  capital  of  $100,000.  The  People's  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1846, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  the 
directors  decided  to  wind  up  its  affairs,  and  transferred  its  capital  to 
that  bank.  The  capital  stock  is  now  $300,000,  with  a  surplus  of 
$176,000.     Olney  Arnold  is  president  and  William  H.  Park  cashier. 

The  Slater  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1855  and  became  a  national 
bank  in  1865.  It  has  a  capital  stock  of  $300,000.  William  F.  Sayles 
is  president,  N.  Bates  vice-president,  and  George  W.  Newell  cashier. 

There  are  three  savings  banks  in  Pawtucket.  The  eldest  is  the 
Pawtucket  Institution  for  Savings.  It  was  chartered  in  1828,  but  did 
not  begin  business  till  1836.  Its  deposits  are  about  $2,000,000.  Heze- 
kiah  Conant  is  president,  Jude  Taylor  vice-president,  Charles  P.  Moies 
treasurer  and  George  A  Mumford  secretary. 

Providence  County  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  in  1853,  and  holds 
deposits  to  the  amount  of  $1,000,000.  Daniel  G.  Littlefield  is  presi- 
dent, Robert  Cushman  vice-president  and  Olney  Arnold  treasurer. 

The  Franklin  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts  in  1857.  It  holds  deposits  to  the  amount  of  $1,500,000. 
Hiram  H.  Thomas  is  president,  Nahum  Bates  vice-president  and 
George  W.  Newell  treasurer. 

It  was  more  than  a  century  before  any  church  parish  was  organ- 
ized in  Pawtucket.  During  the  century  for  which  the  western  village 
remained  a  part  of  the  town  of  North  Providence  many  of  her  inhabi- 
tants were  connected  with  the  church  in  that  town.  On  the  western 
side  of  the  river  some  of  the  citizens  in  that  hamlet  were  members  of 
the  church  in  Rehoboth.  Some  of  the  Friends,  too,  were  accustomed 
to  go  to  Smithfield  or  to  Providence  to  worship  with  their  brethren. 
Near  the  close  of  the  last  century  steps  were  taken  for  building  a 
meeting  house.  The  house  was  begun  in  1793,  but  it  was  some  years 
before  it  was  completed.  In  this  house  Mr.  Slater  established  the 
first  Sunday  school  in  the  place  in  1799.  The  following  is  an  account 
of  the  Catholic  Baptist  Society: 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  of  Pawtucket  for  the 
purpose  of  meditating  on  Ways  and  means  for  building  a  Meeting 
House,  holden  on  the  26th  Day  of  November,  1792,  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Samuel  Healey,  Capt.  Stephen  Jenks  is  chosen  Moderator, 
and  Esek  Esten  chosen  Clerk. 

"  It  is  voted  that  Nathaniel  Croade,  Esek  Esten,  and  Jerahmeel 
Jenks,  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  to  inquire  and  find  out  where  the 
most  suitable  Lot  of  land  can  be  obtained,  with  ways  and  avenues 
thereunto,  to  build  a  Meeting  House  on,  with  the  price  thereof,  and 
also  to  procure  a  Subscription  paper  in  the  most  proper  form  for  the 
purpose;  and  make  Report  to  our  next  meeting." 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  10th  of  December,  and  on  that  day 
convened  at  the  same  place.     According  to  vote,  the  committee  ap- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  73 

pointed  at  the  previous  meeting  made  their  report.  After  mentioning 
that  they  had  taken  a  general  view  of  the  village,  they  recommend, 
on  the  score  of  convenience  and  capability  of  ornament,  a  lot  on  Mr. 
Samuel  Healey's  land,  adjoining  Mr.  Sweetland's  hoiise  lot,  "  as  the 
most  eligible."  It  appears,  too,  that  both  Mr.  Healey  and  Mr.  Sweet- 
land  will  give  a  highway  to  said  lot.  Each  offers  to  give  ten  feet  of 
his  land,  thus  making  a  highway  of  twenty  feet.  "  We  have  bounded 
out  said  lot  nine  rods  square,"  say  the  committee,  "  and  the  price  is 
50  dollars." 

At  the  time  named  the  only  way  of  reaching  the  site  of  the  First 
Baptist  meeting  house  was  by  Hedge  lane.  That  lane  started  from 
Main  street,  where  Broad  street  now  enters  it,  and  ran  in  a  winding 
course  to  w^here  the  Methodist  church  now  stands.  Indeed,  it  was 
what  afterward  became  North  Union  street.  From,  near  the  Metho- 
dist meeting  house  a  lane  ran  in  the  direction  of  the  present  High 
street  to  the  cemetery  on  Read  street  and  the  contemplated  house  of 
worship.  It  was  a  great  convenience,  therefore,  if  the  temple  was  to 
be  reared  there,  to  have  a  direct  highway  from  Main  street.  That 
highway  was  accordingly  laid  out  in  due  time,  and  long  known  as 
Baptist  lane.     Its  later  designation  is  Meeting  street. 

According  to  the  notice  the  assembly  had  gathered  to  meditate, 
and  at  that  time  Mr.  Nicholas  Brown,  who  was  present,  offered  to 
pay  for  the  lot  himself,  which  effectually  stopped  all  further  medita- 
tion on  that  subject.  Mr.  Samuel  Healey  and  Mr.  Jerahmeel  Jenks 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  procure  subscriptions,  receive  the  money 
subscribed  and  build  the  meeting  house.  The  following  is  also  taken 
from  the  records: 

"  Whereas  Pawtucket  is  now  become  a  large,  compact  village,  con- 
taining upwards  of  fifty  families  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
centre,  not  having  any  Meeting  House  therein,  nor  any  within  about 
three  miles  therefrom;  but  has  within  that  distance  convenient 
highways  from  more  than  twelve  directions  centreing  thereto; 
hence  it  is  not  only  very  convenient  for  said  village  and  the  adjacent 
Neighborhoods,  but  of  vast  importance  that  a  commodious  Meeting 
house  should  be  erected  therein:  '  For  whosoever  (saith  Paul)  shall 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.  How  then  shall  they 
call  on  Him  in  whom  they  have  not  believed  ?  And  how  shall  they 
believe  in  Him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ?  And  how  shall  they 
hear  without  a  Preacher  ?'  and  how  shall  they  accommodate  a  Preacher 
without  a  Meeting  House  ? 

"  Wherefore  we  the  subscribers  do  hereby  agree  with  and  mutually 
promise  each  other,  to  contribute  the  several  sums  of  money  or  other 
articles  affixed  to  our  respective  names,  within  a  reasonable  time,  for 
the  laudable  purpose  of  purchasing  a  Lot  and  building  a  meeting 
house  thereon  next  summer: 


74  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  Provided  that  the  Amount  shall  equal  or  exceed  eight  hundred 
dollars  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  February  next. 

"  And  whereas  the  good  people  of  Pawtucket  were  not  educated 
by  one  Priest,  and  hence  have  imbibed,  and  adhere  to  a  variety  of 
Religious  tenets;  and  whereas  said  House  will  be  sufficient  to  receive 
and  accommodate  them  all;  and  whereas  also  a  fair  Discussion  upon 
both  sides  of  every  question  is  as  necessary  in  Religion  as  in  Politics 
in  the  Search  after  Truth; 

"  It  is  therefore  agreed  and  hereby  Declared  that  said  Meeting 
House  shall  be  founded  upon  the  most  Liberal  Establishment,  to  the 
end  that  every  Sect  and  Denomination  of  Christians,  living  in  or  near 
said  Pawtucket,  may  have,  hold,  use,  occupy  and  possess,  said  House 
by  Rotation  or  otherwise  to  suit  the  time  and  occasion,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  worshipping  God  agreeable  to  the  Dictates  of  their  own  con- 
sciences. Nevertheless,  it  is  hereby  agreed  that  the  Baptist  Society, 
who  are  the  most  numerous  and  benevolent  in  their  contributions, 
shall  have  the  exclusive  right  and  pre-eminence  in  and  to  said  House, 
upon  every  Sunday  forever,  if  they  have  occasion  for  the  same." 

The  size  of  the  house  was  to  be  45  by  36  feet  and  22  feet  posts. 

A  portion  of  the  charter  granted  reads  as  follows: 

"  Now  therefore  know  ye  that  we  the  Governor  and  Compan3^  Do 
for  ourselves  and  Successors  Enact,  grant,  ordain,  constitute  and  de- 
clare that  Samuel  Healey,  Jerahmeel  Jenks,  Oliver  Bucklin,  Nathaniel 
Croade,  Benjamin  Jencks,  James  Mason,  James  Durfee,  James 
Weeden,  Nathaniel  Walker,  Jun'r,  David  Jenks,  Thomas  Spears, 
vStephen  Jenks,  Jun'r,  Levi  Jenks,  Moses  Jenks,  John  Pitcher,  Moses 
Baker,  Daniel  Toler,  Stephen  Jenks,  George  Jenks,  Benjamin  Kings- 
ley,  John  Bucklin,  S.  Bowers,  Jun'r,  Comfort  Jenks,  Samuel  Benchley, 
William  Bagley,  Jun'r,  Ezra  Barrows,  Josiah  Armington,  D.  Walker, 
Ezekiel  Carpenter,  Samuel  Jenks,  George  Nicholas,  Samuel  Slack,  O. 
Carpenter,  Samuel  Slater,  Jesse  Salisbury,  Jesse  Bushee,  Ephraim 
Jenks,  Luther  Hawkins,  Peter  Bicknel,  Esek  Jenks,  Ebenezer  Tyler, 
Eleazer  Jenks,  George  Benson,  John  Brown,  Nicholas  Brown,  Thomas 
P.  Ives,  and  Aretas  Sweetland,  or  such  and  so  many  of  them  as  shall 
convene  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  May,  A.D.,  1793,  at  the  house 
of  Samuel  Healey,  in  North  Providence,  on  the  business  of  their 
Charter,  and  their  successors,  shall  be  forever  hereafter  one  Body 
corporate  and  politic  in  Fact,  and  remain  with  perpetual  succession, 
to  be  known  in  the  Law  by  the  name  of  the  Catholic  Baptist  Society 

at  Pawtucket  in  North  Providence; and  the  said  Catholic 

Society  is  hereby  impowered  to  take,  receive  and  hold  all  and  any 
voluntary  subscriptions,  contributions,  legacies  and  donations  of  any 
.sum  or  sums  of  money,  or  of  any  Real  and  Personal  Estate,  etc." 

The  officers  of  this  society  for  some  years  seem  to  have  been: 
Stephen  Jenks,  moderator;  Jerahmeel  Jenks,  treasurer,  and  Stephen 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  75 

Jenks,  Jr.,  clerk.  Of  course,  not  all  the  persons  named  in  the  act  of 
incorporation  were  residents  of  Pawtucket.  Nicholas  Brown  and 
probably  the  Thomas  P.  Ives  named  were  citizens  of  Providence. 
And  there  were  some  prominent  citizens  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
whose  names  do  not  appear  in  the  charter.  The  Friends  stood  aloof 
from  the  enterprise;  for  Oziel  Wilkinson,  Timothy  Greene  and  Benja- 
min Arnold  were  then  living  on  Quaker  lane.  And  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river  were  the  well-known  residents,  Ephraim  Stark- 
weather and  Colonel  Eliphalet  Slack. 

In  the  closing  years  of  the  last  century  a  committee  was  authorized 
to  agree  with  Reverend  Joshua  Bradley  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  six 
months.  Other  supplies  also  followed  for  a  short  time.  In  1804  David 
Benedict,  just  from  college,  came  to  Pawtucket  and  began  to  preach, 
and  gave  the  society  the  benefit  of  his  ability  for  more  than  a  score 
of  years. 

Elder  Ebenezer  Jenks,  son  of  the  founder  of  Pawtucket,  born  in 
1669,  was  ordained  50  years  afterward  pastor  of  the  church  in  Provi- 
dence, and  held  the  office  till  his  death,  in  1726,  a  period  of  seven 
years.  His  personal  interest  in  Pawtucket,  and  his  acquaintance  with 
the  inhabitants  here,  would  be  likely  to  secure  some  members  for  the 
parent  church. 

Mr.  Benedict  saw  such  an  increase  of  religious  interest  here,  after 
laboring  for  months,  that  he  was  encouraged  to  organize  a  church. 
In  August,  1805,  39  persons  united  in  church  relation.  In  the  follow- 
ing year,  on  October  16th,  Mr.  Benedict  was  ordained,  the  sermon  on 
the  occasion  being  preached  by  Reverend  Dr.  Gano,  of  Providence. 
For  years  Reverend  Mr.  Benedict  was  the  sole  pastor  in  Pa^^  tucket. 
In  November,  1828,  however,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  to  take 
effect  in  six  months.  After  him  came  Reverend  Mr.  Philleo,  who  ac- 
cepted the  pastoral  charge  in  a  few  months,  and  remained  with  the 
parish  about  three  years.  In  1834  Reverend  John  Blain  succeeded, 
and  remained  for  but  a  single  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend 
Silas  Spaulding,  who  remained  about  five  years.  His  successor  was 
Reverend  S.  S.  Bradford.  During  his  ministry  about  40  members  of 
his  church  took  letters  for  the  purpose  of  being  organized  into  the 
Central  Falls  Baptist  Church.  This  church  was  publicly  recognized 
in  October,  1844.  Mr.  Bradford  was  a  man  of  varied  scholarship  and 
earnest  devotion,  but,  from  slender  health,  he  withdrew  from  the 
ministry  and  engaged  in  secular  affairs.  For  two  years  after  his 
withdrawal  the  parish  was  without  a  pastor,  but,  at  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  called  Reverend  Edward  Savage.  He,  too,  brought  many 
desirable  gifts  and  attainments,  but  came  broken  in  health,  and  was 
compelled  to  succumb  to  his  arduous  labors. 

After  another  interval  of  several  months  Reverend  Joseph  Ban- 
vard  was  invited  to  this  field.  He  came  in  1857,  and  remained  till 
1861.     He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  versatility  of  talent,  and. 


76  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

during  the  period  of  his  residence,  there  was  a  season  of  widespread 
relig-ious  interest. 

Reverend  Charles  Smith,  the  eighth  pastor,  was  ordained  on  the 
13th  of  August,  1863.  In  two  years  he  was  succeeded  by  Reverend 
George  Bullen,  the  present  pastor. 

There  is  also  a  flourishing  Sabbath  school,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  A.  D.  Nickerson,  connected  with  the  church.  This  so- 
ciety in  June,  1841,  received  authority  from  the  general  assembly  of 
this  state  to  change  its  name  from  the  Catholic  Baptist  Society  to 
the  First  Baptist  Society. 

High  Street  Baptist  Church. — The  earlier  history  of  this  church  is 
not  known.  On  the  12th  of  March,  1838,  Reverend  Edward  K. 
Fuller  was  invited  to  become  their  pastor.  The  house  used  was  the 
one  built  by  the  First  Universalist  Society  in  North  Providence.  Mr. 
Fuller  was  ordained  April  11th,  1838,  and  held  the  office  of  pastor  till 
near  the  close  of  1840.  After  this  time  there  seems  to  have  been  no 
regular  pastor  till  1845,  when  Reverend  Daniel  Round  assumed 
pastoral  control,  and  held  the  office  for  five  years.  On  his  departure 
Mr.  Warren  Randolph,  of  Brown  University,  supplied  the  pulpit, and, 
after  finishing  his  preparatory  studies,  was  ordained  in  1852.  In  the 
meantime  Reverend  George  Peirce,  of  Lowell,  supplied  the  pulpit 
also.  Mr.  Randolph  was  succeeded  in  1854  by  Reverend  Arthur  A. 
Ross,  and,  after  a  two  years'  stay,  he  by  Reverend  Jonathan  Brayton, 
but,  from  failing  health,  he  soon  withdrew. 

From  1857  to  1864  Reverend  A.  Sherwin  was  pastor.  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Spaulding,  of  Brown  University,  then  became  the  supply  for  one 
year  and  a  half,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  being  invited  to  take  the 
pastoral  charge,  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  on  July 
26th,  1866.  The  next  event  was  the  burning,  of  the  meeting  house, 
January  25th,  1868.  The  meetings  were  now  held  in  the  neighboring 
halls.  The  building  of  a  new  house  proved  too  much  of  a  burden, 
and  the  new  temple  erected  on  the  old  site  was  bought  by  the  town 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  high  school.  Mr,  Spaulding  received  a 
call  to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  and  was  succeeded  for  a  short  time  by  Rever- 
end W.  C.  Wright.  After  him  came  Reverend  C.  C.  Williams,  at 
which  time  the  house  was  sold.  The  society  has  since  then  worshipped 
in  Railroad  Hall  and  other  places. 

The  Free  Baptist  Church. — "  In  1820,  or  soon  after,  a  Baptist 
church  was  organized  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  leaders  in 
the  enterprise  were  Elder  Ray  Potter  and  Mr.  Daniel  Greene.  Mr. 
Greene  seems  to  have  been  subsequently  ordained.  In  1822  the 
congregation  associated  with  them  began  to  worship  in  a  sanctuary 
on  School  street,  near  where  the  brick  school  house  .^tood,  and  where 
the  town  hall  now  stands.  A  mental  conflict  appears  to  have  arisen 
on  some  point,  and  Reverend  Mr.  Greene  was  confirmed  in  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  parish.     In  the  outset  the  parish  seem  to  have 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  77 

favored  the  extreme  of  independency,  but  that  sympathy  which  leads 
men  to  seek  one  another's  cooperation  and  help  led  them  finally  to  ask 
fellowship  from  an  organized  denomination. 

"  In  the  course  of  time  the  parish  reared  the  house  which  they  now 
occupy,  close  by  the  town  hall.  It  was  about  the  year  1836  that  the 
church  was  brought  into  vital  connection  with  the  Free  Baptist  de- 
nomination. In  1850  Reverend  A.  D.  Williams  assumed  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  parish.  He  was  succeeded  in  1856  by  Reverend  J. 
Erskine,  who  remained  for  but  a  short  time.  He  bore  the  reputation 
of  a  conscientious,  unassuming  man.  Mr.  E.  L.  Clark,  just  from  Brown 
University,  supplied  the  pulpit  from  the  close  of  1857.  He  was  with 
the  parish  during  the  memorable  year  of  1858,  and  won  many  con- 
verts to  the  church.  After  him  came  the  Reverend  Mr.  Dow,  who  re- 
tained the  pastoral  charge  for  a  season.  To  him  succeeded  Reverend 
Mr.  Church,  who  has  left  the  reputation  of  an  earnest,  fervid  preacher, 
and  an  upright  man.  In  1867  Reverend  Mr.  Hyatt  was  engaged  as 
pastor,  and  for  the  next  five  years  labored  in  word  and  deed.  In  1872 
Reverend  David  Boyd  took  charge  of  the  parish." 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor.  Reverend  Charles  S. 
Frost.     Edwin  N.  Chase  is  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  Broadway  Christian  church  is  an  offspring  of  the  Free 
Baptist  church,  and  was  organized  in  1879,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Reverend  David  Boyd.  Succeeding  Elder  Boyd  came  Elder  Charles 
H.  Burleigh,  who  continued  several  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  June, 
1888,  by  Reverend  Charles  P.  Smith.  Benjamin  L.  Chase  is  clerk. 
The  society  numbers  45  members. 

Pleasant  View  Baptist  church  was  reared  to  accommodate  a  promis- 
ing Sunday  school  that  had  been  gathered  by  the  missionary- labors 
of  the  Central  Falls  Baptist  church.  The  school  was  established  in 
1867.  The  lot  was  given  by  Messrs.  Greene  and  Daniels,  and  the 
chapel  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and  dedicated  on  the  evening  of 
April  5th,  1876,  Reverend  Doctor  Taylor,  of  Providence,  preaching 
the  sermon  for  the  occasion.  The  building  stands  on  Fountain  street. 
Reverend  Edwin  Bromley  is  pastor. 

The  Universalist  Parish.— Doctor  Goodrich,  a  former  pastor  of  this 
society,  in  giving  the  history  of  this  church,  says:  "  As  in  the  case  of 
all  the  other  parishes,  much  preliminary  work  was  done  in  Pawtucket 
before  a  parish  of  Universalists  was  organized.  Reverends  David 
Pickering,  Hosea  Ballou,  Thomas  Whittemore  and  others  preached 
from  time  to  time  in  either  the  old  red  school  house  or  the  Catholic 
Baptist  meeting  house.  But  in  1827  the  first  Universalist  society  was 
incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  First  Universalist  Society  in  North 
Providence.  In  due  time  they  reared  a  spacious  meeting  house  on 
High  street,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  high  school  building. 
Reverend  Mr.  Frieze  officiated  for  a  year  or  two  as  pastor,  but  the 
severe  commercial  reverses  of  1829  so  crippled  many  of  the  members 


78  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

that  they  seemed  to  lose  both  heart  and  hope;  and  the  removal  of 
many  of  the  parishioners  from  town  sealed  its  ruin.  The  house  of 
worship  passed  into  other  hands,  and  the  society  became  extinct. 

"  For  years  no  attempt  was  made  to  form  a  new  parish;  but,  where 
a  faith  is  dear  to  any  heart,  trial  will  rather  strengthen  than  extin- 
guish it.  The  time  came  at  last  when  those  who  had  seen  their  first 
temple  sacrificed  resolved  to  make  another  attempt  to  secure  a  reli- 
gious home.  A  new  organization  was  formed,  and  meetings  were 
held  in  what  was  called  '  Free  Hall,'  at  the  junction  of  what  are  now 
Pleasant  street  and  East  avenue.  Reverend  John  N.  Parker  supplied 
the  new  parish.  Their  meetings  began  to  be  held  in  the  winter  of 
1840-41.  In  May  of  the  latter  year  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship 
was  commenced  on  Exchange  street.  It  was  completed  the  next 
spring  and  dedicated  to  the  Invisible  God.  Meanwhile  a  society  had 
been  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Mill  Street  Universalist  So- 
ciety. Mr.  Parker  remained  as  pastor  of  the  parish  till  1844,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Reverend  J.  S.  Barry,  who  held  the  pastoral  office  for  but 
a  single  year.  In  1845  Reverend  Calvin  Damon  was  called  to  the  charge 
of  the  parish,  and  remained  till  July,  1852.  Mr.  Damon's  health  be- 
came impaired  before  he  left  Pawtucket,  but  his  ministry  is  recol- 
lected by  many  of  his  parish  as  marked  by  industry,  devotion  and 
consistency.  He  was  followed  after  a  few  months  by  Reverend  A.  R. 
Abbott,  who  held  the  pastoral  office  about  two  years.  Mr.  Abbott 
bore  a  spotless  reputation,  and  wielded,  while  here,  a  beneficent  influ- 
ence. Shortly  after  his  resignation  Reverend  J.  H.  Campbell  became 
pastor,  and  remained  in  charge  of  the  parish  till  near  the  close  of 
1856. 

"  in  1857  Reverend  Massena  Goodrich  assumed  the  pastoral  charge 
in  the  month  of  April.  The  severe  financial  embarrassments  that 
quickly  followed  delayed  some  movements  that  were  contemplated; 
but  the  following  year  brought  a  season  of  spiritual  quickening  to 
almost  the  entire  land.  When  Mr.  Goodrich  came  he  found  that, 
though  a  church  was  organized  soon  after  the  formation  of  the  society, 
it  had  been  practically  extinct  for  years.  He  therefore  gathered  a 
new  church,  established  conference  meetings  for  prayer  and  praise, 
and  sought  to  employ  some  other  agencies  that  are  helpful  in  pro- 
moting Christian  growth.  In  1860  Mr.  Goodrich  was  summoned  to 
what  seemed  an  important  field  in  his  denomination,  and  resigned  his 
pastorate  to  take  a  professorship  in  a  young  theological  school  in  Can- 
ton, New  York. 

"  His  successor  was  Reverend  J.  H.  Farnsworth,  who  came  here  in 
1861,  and  remained  for  a  single  year.  The  excitements  of  the  war 
then  raging  tended,  of  course,  to  hinder  his  undertaking  any  new 
measures  for  the  weal  of  his  parish.  In  the  fall  of  1862  Mr.  Goodrich 
was  invited  to  return.  It  was  known  that  the  theological  school  was 
imperfectly  endowed,  and  the  demand  made  by  the  country  on  her 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  79 

sons  was  diverting  attention  from  the  ministerial  profession;  and,  as 
it  seemed  to  Mr.  Goodrich  that  he  might  render  as  efficient  service  in 
the  position  of  a  pastor  as  in  the  place  where  he  was,  he  decided  to 
accept  the  invitation.  He  therefore  returned  in  October,  1862,  and 
continued  to  hold  the  relation  of  pastor  till  February,  1875.  He  thus 
spent  nearly  16  years  in  his  two  pastorates  in  Pawtucket. 

"  In  1866  the  parish  bought  a  more  desirable  site  for  a  house  of 
worship,  and  proceeded  to  rear  a  new  temple  on  High  street.  It  was 
completed  early  in  1868,  and  on  January  30th  was  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  God  and  Father  of  all  by  appropriate  religious  services. 
The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Reverend  A.  A.  Miner, 
D.D.,  of  Boston.  The  edifice  was  an  ornament  to  the  town,  and  prom- 
ised to  be  a  signal  help  to  the  parish;  but  the  fierce  tornado  of  Sep- 
tember, 1869,  demolished  the  steeple,  flung  down  the  ponderous  bell, 
blew  in  the  windows,  seriously  shattered  the  roof,  and  wrought  other 
injury  to  the  temple.  The  accident  came  at  what  seemed  an  inoppor- 
tune hour,  and  subjected  the  parish  to  an  expense  of  over  $7,000  at  a 
time  when  many  of  its  most  liberal  members  were  crippled  by  finan- 
cial embarrassments." 

Reverend  H.  A.  Philbrook  succeeded  Mr.  Goodrich,  and  he  was 
succeeded  by  Reverend  Charles  W.  Tomlinson,  D.D.,  who  had  charge 
till  April  1st,  1889. 

St.  Paul's  Church.— In  the  spring  of  1814  Episcopalian  services 
began  to  be  held  in  the  Old  Meeting  house.  "  Reverend  John  M. 
Braid,"  says  Doctor  Goodrich,  "who  had  removed  hither  from  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Mr.  William  Holmes,  from  Dublin.  Ireland,  invited 
Reverend  Mr.  Crocker,  of  St.  John's  church.  Providence,  to  hold  an 
evening  service  in  Pawtucket.  After  that  first  service  other  meetings 
were  held  on  Sabbath  evenings  during  the  warmer  months,  but  not 
till  the  following  spring  were  regular  services  established.  Reverend 
J.  L.  Blake  began  to  pi  each  in  June.  As  usual  in  such  movements, 
the  congregation  was  small  in  the  outset,  but  gradually  increased 
from  twenty  to  over  a  hundred.  Trusting  in  the  help  of  God,  there- 
fore, the  worshippers  persevered,  and  on  December  22d,1815,a  parish 
was  organized,  and  the  needful  parish  officers  were  chosen.  The 
sons  of  Oziel  Wilkinson  gave  the  lot  on  which  '  a  house  for  the  worship 
of  God  was  to  be  built.'  The  names  of  most  of  those  sons  appear,  in- 
deed, on  the  records  of  the  Catholic  Baptist  Society  as  taking  an  inter- 
est there  in  religious  institutions.  The  lot  thus  given  is  the  spacious 
one  now  occupied  by  St.  Paul's  church,  but  the  edifice  itself  was  not 
completed  till  nearly  two  years  afterward. 

"  During  a  part  of  the  ministry,  therefore,  of  Reverend  Mr.  Blake 
the  religious  services  of  the  parish  were  held  at  different  places.  The 
red  school  house,  the  academy  and  the  brick  school  house  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  were  all  used  as  places  of  worship.  In  1817,  how- 
ever, St.  Paul's  church  was  completed,  and  on  October  17th  was  conse- 


80  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

crated,  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Griswold  conducting  the  service, 
aided  by  three  other  clergymen.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
the  regular  services  were  begun  in  this  new  temple,  and  Mr.  Blake 
remained  rector  of  the  church  for  two  years  longer.  In  1820,  how- 
ever, he  resigned  his  charge,  and  was  succeeded  by  one  whose  name 
was  to  become  a  household  one  in  Pawtucket.  In  October  of  that 
year  Reverend  George  Taft  assumed  the  pastoral  charge  of  St.  Paul's 
church.  For  the  long  period  of  44  years  Doctor  Taft  remained  the 
sole  rector  of  that  parish.  Though  warmly  attached  to  the  rites  and 
usages  of  his  own  denomination,  he  was  a  man  of  singular  catholicity 
of  spirit,  and,  while  prompt  to  labor  in  every  enterprise  that  promised 
to  strengthen  his  brethren,  he  proved  himself  a  son  of  consolation  in 
hundreds  of  households  outside  of  his  own  sect.  But  the  weight  of 
increasing  years  told  on  his  frame,  and  induced  his  flock  to  seek  a 
shepherd  who  should  divide  with  him  the  labor." 

In  August,  1864,  therefore.  Reverend  James  D'Wolf  Perry  became 
associate  rector.  In  less  than  two  years  he  removed  to  Germantown, 
Pa.,  and  was  succeeded  in  July  of  the  following  year  by  Reverend  E. 
H.  Randall.  He  died  on  the  11th  of  December,  1869,  in  the  79th  year 
of  his  age  and  the  45th  of  his  pastorate.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev- 
erend Emery  H.  Porter,  the  present  rector. 

Trinity  Church. — On  Whitsunday,  June  4th,  1843,  open-air  ser- 
vices, the  first  ever  held  by  the  church  in  this  country,  v.^ere  begun 
by  the  Reverend  James  Cook  Richmond,  at  what  has  since  been 
known  as  "the  Catholic  oak,"  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  now  Lons- 
dale. "  Crowds  of  people  attended,"  says  an  eye-witness,  "  who  could 
not  then  be  induced  to  enter  a  church,  and  they  hung  upon  the  speak- 
er's words  with  rapt  attention."  Mr.  Richmond  was  withal  a  remark- 
able character.  Born  in  Providence  in  1808,  educated  at  Exeter,  N. 
H.,  Harvard  College,  Gottingen  and  Halle,  he  possessed  a  varied 
learning,  grafted  upon  a  strong,  original  mind,  and  refined  by  foreign 
travel.  In  1844  he  began  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  church  and  her 
usages,  in  American  Hall,  on  Broadway.  This  led  to  the  formation, 
in  February,  1845,  of  the  "  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  which  was 
admitted  into  the  convocation  of  Massachusetts,  June  10th,  1846. 

The  spot  on  which  the  sacred  edifice  stands  was  dedicated  in  Aug- 
ust, 1847,  when  Mr.  Richmond's  official  connection  with  the  parish 
terminated.  A  few  months  after  he  was  succeeded  as  rector  by  Rev- 
erend James  Mulcahey,  now  an  assistant  minister  of  Trinity  parish, 
New  York,  who  remained  till  October,  1849.  After  a  varied  history 
the  parish  was  reorganized  in  1851,  and  for  two  years  the  Reverend 
George  F.Cushman,son  of  Judge  Cushman,  of  Pawtucket,  discharged 
the  duties  of  rector.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  erection  of 
the  present  beautiful  stone  church,  which  was  consecrated  in  July, 
1853.  In  August,  1877,  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  rector.  Rever- 
end William  P.  Tucker.  The  parish  has  now  a  membership  of  180 
communicants  and  a  Sunday  school  of  150. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  81 

The  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  sprung  from  the  missionary 
labors  of  the  rector  of  Trinity  church  and  a  few  of  his  parishioners. 
On  Sunday,  November  1st,  1868,  a  Sunday  school  was  started  in  At- 
lantic Engine  Hall.  Besides  the  rector,  there  were  three  persons 
present  as  teachers,  and  18  children.  Church  services  were  commenced 
on  the  evening  of  February  10th  in  the  following  year  at  the  above 
named  hall.  Reverend  Mr.  Seymour  continued  his  labors  in  this  new 
enterprise  from  the  beginning  till  Easter  Sunday,  1872.  After  this 
period  Reverend  G.  Coggeshall  had  charge  till  Easter  Sunday, 
1874,  when  the  present  pastor,  Reverend  Benjamin  Eastwood,  assumed 
his  labors.  The  corner  stone  of  the  house  was  laid  March  7th,  1872, 
by  Bishop  Clark,  assisted  by  Reverends  G.  Coggeshall,  S.  O.  Seymour, 
E.  H.  Porter  and  S.  H.  Webb.  The  opening  services  were  held  June 
23d,  1872. 

The  Pawtucket  Congregational  church  was  organized  in  the  same 
year  Pawtucket,  Massachusetts,  was  incorporated  as  a  town.  A  charter 
was  obtained  from  the  state  of  Massachusetts  for  this  society,  and  on 
the  3d  of  March  organization  took  place  at  the  house  of  Elijah  Ingra- 
ham.     Ten  days  afterward  the  new  society  passed  the  following  vote: 

"  That  this  society  agree  to  bu}^  the  lot  of  land  owned  by  the  Hon. 
Oliver  Starkweather  at  the  junction  of  the  turnpike  and  old  road  iox 
fifteen  hundred  dollars,  for  which  sum  he  has  agreed  to  convey  it  to 
the  society." 

The  following  is  taken  from  Doctor  Goodrich's  History  of  Pawtucket: 

"  The  society  wrought  with  energy,  and  having  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Clark  Sayles  to  rear  the  house  of  worship,  were  gladdened 
by  seeing  their  temple  ready  for  dedication  early  the  next  year.  It 
was  consecrated  February  12th,  1829.  On  that  occasion  the  sermon 
was  preached  by  Reverend  Samuel  Green,  of  Boston.  In  the  interval 
between  the  resolve  to  build  and  the  completion  of  a  house  of  prayer, 
one  male  and  eight  females  brought  letters  of  credit  from  the  church 
in  East  Attleboro  and  proceeded  to  organize  a  church.  And  as  both 
a  meeting  house  was  reared  and  a  church  organized,  the  parish  was 
ready  for  a  pastor.  The  same  promptitude  that  had  marked  the  other 
actions  was  manifest  in  this.  On  April  17th  Reverend  Asa  T.  Hop- 
kins was  ordained  as  the  first  pastor.  He  is  reported  to  have  been 
richly  endowed  with  many  of  the  gifts  sought  in  a  pastor,  and  labored 
with  apparent  success  for  three  years.  The  church  had  grown  in 
numbers  meanwhile,  but  he  felt  constrained  to  resign.  His  successor 
was  Reverend  Barnabas  Phinney.  Installed  as  pastor  in  January, 
1833,  he  wij;hdrew  from  the  pastorate  in  January,  1836.  The  third 
pastor  was  Reverend  Constantine  Blodgett.  Invited  in  the  month  of 
June,  1836,  to  assume  the  pastoral  charge,  he  was  installed  to  the 
sacred  office  on  the  28th  of  the  following  month.  On  taking  charge 
of  the  parish  Doctor  Blodgett  found  the  original  nine  members  of  the 
church  still  living,  and  associated  with  them  were  nearly  120  others. 


82  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

And  they  were  ready  to  assist  their  new  pastor  in  Christian  work. 
God  had  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  some  of  the  members  of  the  parish 
to  make  pecuniary  donations,  one  of  which  deserves  special  mention 
from  the  end  to  which  it  was  appropriated.  Colonel  Eliphalet  Slack 
has  been  mentioned  more  than  once.  In  religion  he  showed  much 
catholicity  of  spirit.  It  has  been  stated  that  he  was  one  of  the  earliest 
trustees  of  the  Catholic  Baptist  Society.  Subsequently  he  aided  the 
Episcopalian  parish  in  their  earlier  struggles.  At  a  later  period  he 
acted  with  the  Congregationalists,  and,  on  his  decease,  left  the  parish 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars,  which  was  spent  for  the  purchase  of 
the  house  wherein  Doctor  Blodgett  resided. 

"  For  several  years  the  new  pastor  labored  energetically,  not 
merely  in  Pawtucket,  but  in  the  adjoining  village  of  Central  Falls; 
and  the  fruits  of  his  labor  in  the  latter  field  became  manifest  in  1845 
by  the  resolve  to  establish  a  Congregational  church  there.  About  40 
members  were  dismissed  from  the  parent  church  to  plant  a  new  vine. 
With  energetic  labor,  however,  on  the  part  of  both  pastor  and  people, 
the  places  of  the  many  families  that  had  thus  left  the  old  temple  were 
gradually  filled,  and  more  room  was  demanded.  In  1854  the  house 
was  enlarged  by  an  addition  of  twenty-four  pews.  For  ten  years  the 
parish  was  permitted  to  enjoy  their  enlarged  temple,  but  on  Novem- 
ber 17th,  1864,  a  burning  house  in  the  neighborhood  flung  its  sparks 
against  the  spire,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  sacred  edifice  was  but  a  heap 
of  ashes. 

"  The  parish  sought  temporary  accommodation  in  the  Masonic 
Temple  on  Mill  street,  and  in  due  time  began  the  erection  of  a  new 
house  on  the  site  of  their  former  edifice.  On  July  14th,  1868,  they 
began  worship  in  the  finished  lecture  room  of  the  new  temple,  and 
commenced  by  dedicating  that  room.  On  February  27th,  1868,  the 
entire  edifice  was  formally  consecrated.  The  sermon  was  preached 
on  that  occasion  by  the  pastor,  and  the  dedicatory  prayer  offered  by 
Reverend  Doctor  Thayer,  of  Newport. 

"  The  close  of  June,  1871,  completed  35  years  of  continuous  pas- 
toral labor  on  the  part  of  Doctor  Blodgett,,  and  on  the  1st  of  Jul}^  he 
resigned  the  charge  of  his  parish.  By  vote  of  his  people  he  continued 
his  pa.storal  relation  under  designation  of  retired  pastor."  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  Reverend  J.  J.  Wooley  in  the  active  pastoral  work, 
who  continued  to  1874.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  pastor,  the 
Reverend  Alexander  McGregor. 

Park  Place  Congregational  church  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $40,000, 
and  dedicated  July  1st,  1884.  Reverend  Joseph  J.  Wooley  has  been 
the  pastor  from  the  beginnmg.  It  has  a  membership  of  three  hun- 
dred persons.   Thomas  P.  Barnfield  is  Sabbath  school  superintendent. 

The  Methodist  Parish.— The  pastors  in  Providence  made  the  first 
movement  toward  establishing  a  parish  in  Pawtucket  for  their  Metho- 
dist brethren  here.     From   1812  to  1822  they  visited  the  place  and 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  '  83 

preached  to  such  as  would  give  them  audience.  From  1822  to  1827 
the  Mansfield  Circuit  shared  in  the  labors  of  its  preachers.  In  1827 
it  was  made  a  station,  under  the  charge  of  Reverend  O.  Robbins. 
Services  were  held  in  the  red  school  house.  In  1828  Reverend  Israel 
Washburn  preached  here,  and  w^as  followed  by'  Reverend  James 
Porter.  The  latter  says:  "  I  spent  every  other  week  paying  for  board 
just  all  I  received,  which  was  $1.50  or  $1.75  per  week."  Doctor  Good- 
rich says: 

"  In  1830  a  meeting  house  was  erected  near  where  the  Methodist 
temple  now  stands.  In  1832  Reverend  Francis  Dane  was  the  preacher; 
after  him  came  Reverends  H.  Cummings,  Reuben  Bowen  and  Samuel 
Beadle.  The  latter  was  relieved  of  his  charge  in  1840  by  reason  of 
bereavement  and  failing  health.  And  a  record  stands  on  the  books 
of  the  Methodist  church  to  this  effect:  '  It  may  be  well  to  record  here 
that  the  action  of  other  denominations  with  regard  to  our  church  has 
been  generally  friendly.' 

"  For  a  while  the  pastorate  was  vacant,  though  class  meetings  were 
kept  up.  Near  the  close  of  1840  Reverend  W.  H.  Woodbury  became 
the  preacher,  and  was  succeeded  after  a  time  by  Reverend  R.  M.  Hat- 
field, This  gentleman  found  the  church"  few  in  number,  the  edifice 
dilapidated  and  affairs  discouraging;  but  the  talents  wherewith  God 
had  endowed  him  found  ample  scope  here,  and  his  toils  were  blessed. 
Larger  numbers  waited  on  his  ministry,  a  new  house  of  worship  was 
reared,  and  more  and  more  souls  were  added  to  the  church.  There  is 
scarce  room,  however,  to  mention  more  than  the  names  of  his  succes- 
sors. Reverends  Mr.  Gavitt,  Jonathan  Cady,  Isaac  Bonney,  H.  Bay- 
lies, Mr.  Gifford  and  William  Cone  were  pastors  during  the  next  ten 
or  dozen  years.  Reverend  Mr.  Bonney  had  so  patriarchal  an  air  that 
the  community  at  large  called  him  '  Father  Bonney,'  and  the  church 
records  eulogize  Mr.  Cone  as  a  very  successful  laborer. 

"  In  1852  and  1853  Reverend  Henry  H.  Smith  was  pastor,  and  then 
Reverend  James  Dean,  as  local  preacher,  and  Reverend  William 
Cone,  as  preacher  at  large,  officiated.  Following  them  was  Reverend 
James  Mather,  and  then,  in  1857,  Reverend  Mr.  Lovejoy;  and,  in  the 
following  two  years.  Reverend  S.  F.  Upham.  During  Mr.  Upham's 
pastorate  the  house  of  worship  was  enlarged  at  an  expense  of  $7,000. 
In  1860  Reverend  S.  Dean  officiated,  and  was  followed  the  next  year 
by  Reverend  A.  McKeown.  During  the  years  1862  and  1863  Rever- 
end John  D.  King  was  the  pastor,  and  gave  place  for  the  next  two 
years  to  Reverend  D.  H.  Ela.  Reverend  J.  D.  Butler  succeeded,  and 
held  the  pastorate  for  two  years.  To  him  succeeded  Reverend  M. 
J.  Talbot,  and  during  his  ministry  steps  were  taken  for  organizing  a 
distinct  parish  at  Central  Falls." 

Doctor  Talbot  having  received  the  appointment  of  presiding  elder 
of  New  Bedford  district,  gave  place  to  Reverend  E.  D.  Hall.  During 
his  ministry  a  new  church  was  organized  in  ihe  more  western  part 


84  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  the  town,  and  a  meeting  house  was  finally  reared  near  the  Mineral 
Springs  Cemetery.  That  church  is  called  the  Thomson  Methodist 
church,  in  honor  of  Bishop  Thomson.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Hall's 
second  year  he  took  charge  of  both  the  Embury  church  at  Central 
Falls  and  the  Thomson  church.  In  1871  Reverend  S.  L.  Gracey  took 
the  charge  of  the  parent  church  on  High  street.  In  1873  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Reverend  J.  W.  Willett,  and  in  1876  came  Reverend  Mr. 
Jones.  The  present  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
is  the  Reverend  A.  W.  Kingsley.  Since  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Hall  from  Pawtucket  the  Thomson  church  has  been  supplied  by 
Reverend  J.  C.  Go  wan,  Robert  Clark  and  others,  and  now  by  Rever- 
end John  W.  Willett. 

The  Society  of  the  New  Jerusalem  church  begins  its  records  with 
the  following  account,  under  date  of  April  8th,  1840:  "  Samuel  Lord 
and  family  moved  from  Providence  to  Pawtucket.  On  the  following 
Sabbath,  April  12th,  Messrs.  Charles  Pratt,  Samuel  and  James  Lord, 
and  families,  united  in  worship,  and  met  at  the  house  of  James  Lord. 
Mr.  Pratt  read  the  sermon,  and  they  resolved  thus  to  continue." 

Years  rolled  away  before  the  little  band  increased  sufficiently  in 
numbers  and  ability  to  undertake  to  rear  a  house  of  worship.  In  1854, 
however,  a  legal  meeting  was  called,  by  warrant  of  Apollos  Cushman, 
Esq.,  to  organize  the  first  society  of  the  New  Jerusalem  church  in 
Pawtucket.  This  meeting  was  held  on  April  22d,  and  organized  a 
society  of  fifteen  members.  At  that  meeting  they  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  one — Clark  Sherman — to  build  a  house  of  worship.  It  was 
reared  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  dedicated  October  5th  of  that  year. 
The  dedicatory  services  were  performed  by  Reverend  Thomas  P. 
Rodman.  Regular  services  have  been  held  since  that  time,  but  no 
regular  pastor  was  had  till  October  5th,  1865.  Reverend  E.  C.  Mit- 
chell came  and  he  stayed  only  one  year.  In  the  absence  of  a  formal 
preacher  a  reader  is  appointed  to  read  the  services  and  sermons. 
Reverend  Warren  Goddard,  Jr.,  is  pastor  at  this  time.  The  temple  is 
on  Elm  street. 

No  formal  organization  of  the  denomination  of  Friends  existed  in 
Pawtucket  till  a  comparatively  recent  date.  In  the  latter  half  of  the 
last  century  Job  Scott,  who  resided  not  far  from  where  the  toll-gate 
more  recently  stood  on  the  Providence  turnpike,  was  an  eminent 
preacher.  Beside  him,  there  were  in  Pawtucket  Daniel  Antllony,  Oziel 
Wilkinson,  Benjamin  Arnold,  and  Timothy  Greene,  who  were  all  men 
of  influence,  and  staunch  Friends.  There  was  at  the  time  when  they 
were  on  the  stage  what  was  called  the  Providence  Monthly  Meeting. 
The  name  probably  dated  from  a  time  when  Providence  was  undi- 
vided, for  its  sessions  seemed  to  have  been  held  alternately  at  Provi- 
dence and  Smithfield.  x\nd  beside  the  persons  already  named,  Moses 
Brown,  William  Almy,  and  Thomas  Arnold,  whose  names  have  already 
appeared  in  this  sketch,  and  Joseph  Harris,  of  Smithfield,  were 
members' of  this  meetino-- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  85 

But  the  friends  hold  meetings  more  often  than  monthly.  On  first 
days  and  in  the  middle  of  the  week  they  gather  for  worship  ;  and  the 
Friends  resident  in  this  neighborhood,  from  a  century  ago  and  up- 
ward down  to  about  40  years  since,  were  wont  to  go  to  Providence  or 
Smithfield.  To  understand  the  polity  of  the  Friends  it  may  be  proper 
to  mention  that  the  Rhode  Island  Yearly  Meeting  embraces  all  the 
Friends  of  New  England.  Beside  this  large  body,  however,  there  are 
local  gatherings  and  organizations.  There  are  quarterly  meetings, 
monthly  meetings,  and  the  weekly  and  semi-weekly  gatherings.  The 
two  last  are  specially  for  worship";  the  others  are  both  for  worship  and 
for  business. 

The  house  of  worship  on  Jenks  street  was  erected  about  five  years 
before  the  late  war.  The  street  is  now  known  as  East  avenue.  The 
society  now  meet  at  the  meeting  house  on  North  Main,  on  Sundays 
and  Thursdays  at  11  a.m. 

The  Roman  Catholic  community,  which  forms  so  large  and  impor- 
tant a  part  of  the  population,  has  existed  in  Pawtucket  since  the  year 
1827.  Before  this  date  there  may  have  been  a  few  Catholics  in  the 
town,  as  there  were  in  Providence  even  as  early  as  1813,  when  it  is 
known  the  celebrated  Doctor  Chevereaux,  as  well  as  his  companion. 
Doctor  Matignon,  visited  the  latter  city  and  celebrated  mass  for  its 
Catholic  inhabitants.  If  any  of  the  same  faith  resided  then  in  Paw- 
tucket, they  received  spiritual  ministrations  from  those  missionaries. 
In  the  year  1828  the  Right  Reverend  Doctor  Fenwick,  bishop  of 
Boston,  in  whose  diocese  Rhode  Island  was  then  included,  appointed 
the  Reverend  Father  Woodley  as  the  first  resident  priest  in  this  state, 
to  minister  to  the  Catholics  of  Pawtucket  and  Providence.  Whilst  at- 
tending to  this  mission  he  resided  at  the  old  home  beyond  the  toll- 
gate,  known  as  the  Carpenter  house. 

In  the  same  year,  Bishop  Fenwick  visited  Pawtucket,  and  called 
upon  David  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  to  acknowledge  that  gentleman's  gen- 
erous donation  to  the  Catholics, — a  lot  of  land,  125  feet  square,  on 
which  to  build  a  church.  The  church,  a  very  small  building,  was 
erected  the  following  year,  and  mass  was  celebrated  in  it  for  the  first 
time  by  Father  Woodley.  This  was  the  second  Catholic  church 
erected  in  Rhode  Island.  That  in  Newport  was  the  first,  being  fitted 
out  for  worship  one  year  earlier.  In  this  charge  Father  Woodley 
was  succeeded  by  Father  Corry  in  1830;  and  he  again  was  replaced 
by  Father  Conelly  in  1833,  who  attended  Providence  and  Pawtucket 
till  the  year  1835.  Reverend  Fathers  Lee  and  McNamee  took  his 
place  up  to  the  year  1844,  when  the  Right  Reverend  Doctor  Tyler  was 
consecrated  bishop  of  the  new  diocese  of  Hartford,  comprising  the 
states  of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut. 

Reverend  James  Fitton  was  then  deputed  to  Pawtucket,  where  he 
remained  for  one  year.  His  place  was  filled  in  1847  by  the  Reverend 
Joseph  McNamee,  who  took  up  his  residence  in  Pawtucket  and  de- 


86  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

voted  his  whole  attention  to  that  town,  where  the  Catholics  had  con- 
siderably increased  in  numbers.  For  six  years  Father  McNamee 
labored  with  zeal  and  devotedness  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  Catho- 
lic emigrants,  who,  in  his  time,  came  in  great  numbers  to  find  a  home 
and  employment  in  the  various  branches  of  industry  then  established 
in  Pawtucket.  He  died  on  the  28th  of  March,  1853.  His  successor 
was  the  Reverend  P.  G.  Delany. 

At  this  date  Valley  Falls,  Attleboro  and  Ashton  had  Catholic 
congregations,  all  of  whom,  together  with  Pawtucket,  were  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Father  Delany.  He  commenced  his  mission  with 
a  wide  field  of  labor  before  him.  By  his  exertions  the  Catholics  ac- 
quired valuable  tracts  of  land,  where  the  future  churches  and  schools 
were  to  be  built.  For  his  congregation  in  Attleboro  he  projected  a 
new  church,  and  made  extensive  preparations  for  its  erection,  when, 
in  1856,  at  his  request,  another  priest  was  placed  in  charge  of  that 
place.  Soon  after  Valley  Falls  needed  a  new  church  for  the  increas- 
ing Catholic  population  of  that  town,  who  were  then  obliged  to  at- 
tend religious  exercises  at  St.  Mary's,  Pawtucket. 

With  the  cooperation  of  those  pious,  generous  Catholics  who  sub- 
scribed. Father  Delany  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  beautiful 
church,  St.  Patrick's,  completed  in  1860.  In  the  summer  of  that  year 
it  was  dedicated  by  Right  Reverend  Doctor  McFarland,  assisted  by 
Doctor  Conroy,  of  Albany,  and  several  other  clergymen.  With  very 
little  debt  remaining,  it  was  then  resigned  into  the  hands  of  a  new 
pastor. 

Pawtucket  could  now  receive  the  undivided  attention  of  Father 
Delany.  Here,  by  the  side  of  the  old  St.  Mary's  lot,  he  purchased 
from  the  proceeds  of  a  fair  all  the  land  extending  from  the  old 
church  as  far  as  the  convent.  The  persons  from  whom  the  land  was 
bought  were:  Job  Bennett,  Mrs.  Collins,  of  Albany,  and  Thomas  D. 
Forsyth,  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

The  old  church  was  enlarged  now  for  the  second  time,  to  accommo- 
date the  large  congregation  that  thronged  to  it,  and,  after  various  im- 
provements made  in  the  church  and  the  cemetery  annexed  to  it,  the 
next  care  of  the  pastor  was  to  build  a  school  where  the  children  of  his 
flock  might  have  the  benefit  of  an  education  from  the  Sisters  of 
Mercy,  for  whom  he  had  applied  to  Bishop  McFarland.  The  school 
and  convent  were  completed  in  a  short  time  according  to  the  plans  of 
the  pastor,  and  under  his  immediate  supervision.  Six  Sisters  of  Mercy 
were  established  in  the  new  convent,  in  which  they  immediately 
opened  a  select  academy  for  day  pupils.  Together  with  the  parish 
schools  in  which  the  children  are  taught  free  by  the  Sisters,  this  insti- 
tution is  a  great  benefit  in  the  midst  of  the  Catholic  population  of 
Pawtucket. 

Every  year  saw  some  new  building  erected  or  some  improvement 
made  around  St.  Mary's  through  the  exertions  of  Father  Delany  and 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  87 

the  generosity  of  his  flock.  The  old  residence  of  the  pastor  was 
somewhat  enlarged,  until  after  a  few  years  it  became  advisable  to  re- 
place it  by  a  new  and  more  commodious  home.  This  was  finally 
erected  on  a  new  lot  of  land  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  purchased 
from  Mr.  J.  Taylor,  of  Pine  street.  At  this  time  the  pastor  was  aided 
m  his  ministrations  by  two  assistant  clergymen,  who  resided  with  him 
until  the  year  1872,  when  Central  Falls  was  given  in  charge  of  Rever- 
end J.  Smyth.  As  a  resident  pastor  of  that  place  he  erected  the  new 
Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

December  lOth,  1879,  Father  Delany  was  succeeded  by  Reverend 
William  Halligan,  present  pastor  of  St.  Mary's.  Father  Halligan 
soon  began  preparations  looking  to  the  erection  of  the  new  church, 
the  corporate  name  being  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 
Ground  was  broken  for  the  new  house  on  Wednesday,  April  22d, 
1885.  The  ceremonies  were  brief.  Reverend  Father  Halligan  blessed 
the  ground  in  due  form,  and  then  the  first  shovel  of  earth  was  thrown 
out  by  Mr.  John  Devlin,  of  Elm  street.  The  new  church  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  $100,000. 

It  is  located  on  Pine  street,  in  the  rear  of  the  old  church  on  Grace 
street,  and  is  148  feet  long  from  out  to  out  and  67^-  feet  wide.  It  is 
built  of  Danvers  pressed  brick,  trimmed  with  granite;  the  height 
from  the  ground  to  the  apex  is  80  feet,  and  the  tower  is  184  feet  from 
the  ground  to  the  top  of  the  cross,  with  a  minaret  at  the  clear  story 
96  feet  high,  and  another  at  the  angle  of  the  church  64  feet  high. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  Sunday,  August 
23d,  1885,  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  Right  Reverend  Bishop 
Hendricken  officiating.  The  church  was  dedicated  May  8th,  1887, 
Right  Reverend  Bishop  Harkness  officiating.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  1,200  families. 

Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  was  established  by  Reverend  J.  C.  Smith, 
in  1872.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  June,  1873,  by  Right  Reverend 
T.  F.  Hendricken,  the  sermon  for  the  occasion  being  preached  by 
Doctor  Edward  McGlyn.  February  5th,  1875,  Reverend  M.  Fitzgerald, 
the  present  pastor,  succeeded  to  the  work. 

Father  M.  Fitzgerald,  born  in  Ireland,  county  Limerick,  September 
11th,  1845,  is  the  son  of  John  and  Abigail  (Meagher)  Fitzgerald.  He 
came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  His 
youth  was  spent  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  In  1859  he  went  to  Maryland 
and  there  attended  St.  Charles'  College,  thence  to  Baltimore  to  St- 
Mary's  Seminary,  at  which  place  he  completed  his  studies.  July  19th, 
1868,  he  was  ordained  in  Providence  by  Bishop  McFarland.  From 
that  time  until  February  5th,  1875— with  the  exception  of  three 
months  when  he  had  temporary  charge  of  the  Church  of  Immaculate 
Conception — he  was  assistant  priest  at  the  cathedral.  He  was  then 
appointed  to  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  he  has  been  largely 
instrumental  in  building  it  up  to  its  present  standing.     Reverend 


S8  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

John  A.  Hurley  is  now  assistant  clergyman.  In  connection  with  the 
church  there  is  a  splendid  school  which  opened  September  14th, 
1890,  with  an  attendance  of  454.  It  is  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph.  There  is  also  a  large  temperance  society  and  several  sodalities 
connected. 

St.  Joseph's  parish  was  formerly  a  part  of  the  old  church  of  St. 
Mary's.  The  latter  church  in  Father  Delany's  time  grew  to  be  so 
large  the  settlers  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  decided  to  erect  another, 
and  accordingly  wSt.  Joseph's  was  set  off,  the  new  parish  embracing 
territory  from  Cottage  street  to  East  Providence  line,  comprising  in 
all  about  2,800  souls.  The  corner  stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid 
in  September,  1873.  The  lot  was  purchased  of  the  French  heirs.  On 
January  26th,  1874,  Reverend  H.  F.  Kinnerney,  of  Sandwich,  Cape 
Cod,  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  he  began  at  once  by  most 
vigorous  processes  liquidating  an  already  accumulated  debt  of  $52,000. 
On  the  first  Sunday  of  February  at  his  first  service,  formal  notices 
were  given  of  the  separation  of  the  parishes  by  the  new  pastor,  the 
jurisdiction  of  St.  Mary's  formerly  including  Pawtucket,  Central  Falls, 
Valley  Falls,  Lonsdale  and  one  or  two  places  in  MassachUvSetts.  Ser- 
vices were  held  first  in  the  town  hall  on  School  street.  The  oppres- 
sive debt,  coupled  with  the  stringent  money  matters  of  that  year, 
together  with  a  laity  made  up  principally  of  poor  people,  necessitated 
skillful  financial  engineering  to  bridge  difficulties,  but  the  pastor  was 
equal  to  the  emergency,  and  through  his  able  and  persistent  efforts 
money  flowed  in  copiously,  and  by  April  1st  mass  was  celebrated  for 
the  first  time  in  the  basement  of  the  new  church,  the  church  having 
been  formally  opened  on  Thursday  preceding  that  event.  The  sermon 
for  this  occasion  was  delivered  by  the  Reverend  P.  A.  McKenna,  of 
Marlboro,  Massachusetts.  Father  Delany,  the  retiring  pastor,  also 
spoke  on  that  occasion.  Father  Kinnerney  continued  his  labors  with 
great  success,  collecting  money  and  paying  off  the  indebtedness  of  the 
church,  raising  the  first  year  $27,000.  In  1875  the  parochial  residence 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  During  this  same  year  a  church  fair 
was  held,  attended  by  all  the  societies,  civic  and  military,  of  the  state, 
on  which  occasion  $10,000  was  raised,  the  Hon.  George  F.  Wilson,  of 
Providence,  contributing  $3,000  of  that  amount.  The  piety  and 
liberality  of  the  church  have  become  proverbial.  In  addition  outside 
help  was  solicited  and  obtained.  The  pastor  is  one  of  the  ablest 
speakers  of  the  state,  and  as  president  of  the  Rhode  Island  Temper- 
ance Union  spoke  in  that  capacity  from  every  pulpit  and  platform  in 
Rhode  Island  to  full  houses,  and  by  1878  the  financial  problem  of  the 
church  was  brought  within  a  radius  of  a  solution.  Being  a  public 
spirited  citizen,  acknowledged  by  Protestants  and  Catholics  alike  for 
the  deep  interest  taken  in  matters  of  public  moment,  Father  Kinner- 
ney was  at  this  time  elected  a  member  of  the  public  school  board,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  three  years. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  89 

On  the  first  Sunday  in  October,  1878,  the  new  church  was  dedicated 
with  great  pomp  and  splendor.  The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Reverend  James  Kent  Stone,  formerly  of  the  Episcopalian 
church;  the  choir  was  led  by  Professor  Jantz,  accompanied  by  100 
voices.  The  collection  on  the  occasion  amounted  to  $1,500.  In  1884 
Father  Kinnerney  attended  the  Third  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore 
as  theologian  to  Bishop  Hendricken.  In  1885  the  G.  A.  R.  society  of 
the  state  held  memorial  services  in  St.  Joseph's  church,  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  the  Society  where  such  services  were  held  in  a  Catholic 
church.  On  this  occasion  the  pastor  delivered  the  oration,  and  there 
were  present  the  Pawtucket  and  Providence  Posts,  the  Ladies'  Relief 
Corps,  Lieutenant  Governor  Darling,  Judge  Tillinghast  and  many 
other  distinguished  gentlemen.  Memorial  orations  on  both  Generals 
Grant  and  Garfield  were  delivered  by  Father  Kinnerney  also,  at  the 
instance  of  the  G.  A.  R.  society  of  the  state,  and  the  oration  of  the 
former  published  by  them  in  pamphlet  form.  During  all  these  years 
the  church  was  preserving  a  steady  growth,  and  in  1886  grounds  were 
purchased,  and  during  the  year  following  the  convent  and  school 
buildings  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  At  this  time  the  Old 
French  house  was  bought  and  transformed  into  a  home  for  the 
Sisters  of  Mercy.  Sister  Mary  Gregory  has  been  superioress  since 
the  establishment  of  the  convent.  The  school  has  an  attendance  of 
325  pupils.  Indeed,  St.  Joseph's  has  been  so  flourishing  under  Father 
Kinnerney's  pastorate,  that  since  his  coming  to  the  place,  and  aside 
from  the  fact  that  the  mission  districts  of  Dodgeville,  Hebronville  and 
Rumford  have  been  detached  from  his  parish,  he  still  has  a  member- 
ship of  3,000  souls,  and,  exclusive  of  the  support  of  himself,  his  church 
has  raised  in  his  time  about  $300,000. 

A  successful  Sabbath  school,  for  a  number  of  years  under  the 
superintendence  of  Captain  Francis  Conlan,  is  carried  on  in  the 
church,  and  a  goodly  number  of  societies  are  also  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  The  aged  John  Devlin,  the  oldest  Catholic  in  the  state,  is 
a  member  of  this  church. 

The  assistant  pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  Fathers  Meenan, 
Gleeson,  Tennian  and  the  Reverend  Charles  Burn.  There  is  no 
curate  at  the  present  time. 

Charles  McNulta  and  John  T.  McGuire  have  been  large  contribu- 
tors to  the  society.  The  music  of  this  church  is  of  the  highest  order. 
A  fine  organ  of  W.  K.  Adams'  make,  of  30  stops,  costing  $3,000,  is 
used  to  accompany  one  of  the  best  choirs  in  the  state.  The  church, 
in  fact,  is  noted  for  its  musical  talent,  its  splendid  choir,  for  the  piety 
and  the  regularity  of  the  attendance  of  its  communicants,  and  for 
having  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  eloquent  pastors  in  the  New  Eng- 
land states. 

A  Library  Association  has  existed  in  Pawtucket  for  a  number  of 
years.     It  was  started  through  an  impulse  given  it  by  a  debating 


90  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

club  in  1852.  In  January  of  that  year  a  charter  was  obtained  from- 
the  general  assembly,  and  the  corporation  was  organized  in  the  next 
month.  The  funds  of  the  corporation  were  quite  meagre,  and  were 
mainly  derived  from  the  sale  of  about  200  shares  to  nearly  as  many 
different  persons.  The  committee  to  purchase  books  had  at  their  dis- 
posal about  a  thousand  dollars,  with  which  they  bought  the  library  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  books  of  a  library  association  at  Central 
Falls.  The  latter  organization,  indeed,  was  merged  in  the  new  asso- 
ciation. 

A  few  friends  also  contributed  books.  Doctor  George  Taft  gave 
100  volumes,  and  the  association  began  its  operations  with  about 
1,200  volumes.  A  cabinet  of  minerals  was  also  supplied  by  volun- 
tary bestowal  of  several  members.  In  subsequent  years  Doctor  C. 
Blodgett,  Messrs.  D.  D.  Sweet,  Daniel  Wilkinson  and  Jesse  vS.  Tour- 
tellot,  and  Hons.  Thomas  Davis,  Charles  Sumner  and  others,  aided 
the  library  by  liberal  gifts  of  books.  For  years  the  institution  con- 
tinued to  grow;  in  1860  its  number  of  volumes  was  about  3,000,  but 
the  steady  increase  of  the  population  in  Pawtucket  rendered  its  con- 
stituency comparatively  small.  More  recently,  the  fewness  of  its 
members,  and  the  expense  necessarily  attendant  on  the  room,  pre- 
vented much  increase  in  the  library,  and  for  a  few  years  the  interest 
has  waned.  The  experience  of  other  towns  also  seemed  to  show  that,, 
for  a  library  to  be  a  general  helper,  it  must  be  public.  Like  the  air 
men  breathe,  it  must  be  free. 

Considerations  like  these  prepared  the  shareholders  to  proffer 
their  library  for  the  general  w^eal,  provided  the  town  would  accept  it 
and  make  it  a  public  library.  After  the  consolidation,  such  a  proffer 
found  more  favor.  The  town  accepted  the  charge,  and  opened  the 
library  on  liberal  terms  to  all  her  citizens. 

For  twenty  years  or  more  the  library  was  kept  in  Read's  block. 
For  five  years  it  had  commodious  rooms  in  the  Spencer  block,  free  of 
charge.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  on  North  Union  street,  in  Shel- 
don's Building,  which  was  erected  in  1888.  The  room  used  for  the 
library  is  60  by  90  feet.  This  is  one  of  the  very  few  libraries  in  the 
United  States  where  all  persons  have  free  access  to  the  alcoves  in  the 
selection  of  their  own  books.  During  the  last  quarterly  report  of  the 
librarian  it  was  found  that  only  40  per  cent,  of  the  books  taken  away 
were  fiction.  The  officers  first  chosen  by  the  original  association 
were:  Thomas  K.  King,  president;  Jesse  S.  Thornton,  vice-president; 
Claudius  B.  Farnsworth,  secretary;  James  O.  Starkweather,  treasurer; 
Jesse  S.  Tourtellot,  Sylvanus  Clapp,  Cyrus  Benson,  Jr.,  John  H.  Wil- 
lard,  Alexander  Meggett,  trustees.  The  trustees  of  the  Free  Public 
Library  consist  of  the  president  of  the  town  council,  the  chairman  of 
the  school  committee  and  the  superintendent  of  the  public  schools, 
iw-officio,  and  of  six  citizens  at  large,  to  be  chosen  by  the  town  council. 
The  present  officers  are:  William   F.  Sayles,  president;  William  R. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  91 

Sayles,  secretary;  Almon  K.  Goodwin,  Reverend  Benjamin  Eastwood, 
Fred.  Sherman,  William  F.  Sayles,  William  R.  Sayles,  Robert  Cush- 
man,  George  H.  Fuller,  Darius  L.  Goff,  A.  D.  Nickerson,  trustees. 
Mrs.  Minerva  A.  Sanders  is  librarian. 

The  first  post  office  in  Pawtucket  was  kept  by  Otis  Tiffany,  which 
was  during  the  earlier  years  of  the  present  century.  He  was  a  brother 
of  Ebenezer  Tiffany,  who  was  here  in  1801  or  1802.  His  office  was  in 
the  house  in  which  he  lived,  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr. 
Slater,  and  now  used  by  Mr.  Freeman  for  a  book  store.  Mr.  Tiffany 
was  succeeded  about  the  year  1831  or  1832  by  the  Reverend  David 
Benedict,  a  Baptist  minister.  Mr.  Benedict  was  an  irrepressible  office 
holder,  and  in  spite  of  varied  attempts  to  oust  him  from  the  position, 
he  kept  the  place  for  a  long  time.  It  was  afterward  learned  that  the 
reverend  had  a  warm  personal  friend  in  the  post  office  department  at 
Washington,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  fixture  there  because  of  his 
intrinsic  worth,  and  through  his  influence  Mr.  Benedict  was  enabled 
to  retain  his  office.  By  influence  brought  to  bear  in  favor  of  Freder- 
ick A.  Sumner,  a  gentleman  of  ability  and  great  respectability,  he 
was  supplanted  for  the  time  being,  but  after  three  or  four  years  he 
again  came  into  the  office. 

Thomas  Le  Favour  was  the  next  postmaster,  and  is  still  living  in 
Pawtucket.  Following  him  came  Joseph  T.  Sissons,  Charles  A.  Leon- 
ard, Charles  E.  Chickering,  Edwin  Perrin,  who  held  the  office  about 
20  years,  and  on  May  25th,  1887,  Isaac  R.  Wilkinson,  the  present  post- 
master. The  office  under  Mr.  Tiffany's  administration  distributed 
two  mails  a  day.  There  are  now  30  mails  a  day  and  eight  letter  car- 
riers, who  make  four  trips  daily.  Mr.  Wilkinson  came  to  Pawtucket 
in  1854.  He  was  clerk  for  a  time  for  Smith  Grant,  and  subsequently 
eleven  years  for  H.  L.  Fairbrother  &  Co. 

The  act  of  the  Rhode  Island  general  assembly,  incorporating  the 
fire  "  District  of  Pawtucket,"  in  North  Providence,  was  passed  on 
February  17th,  1801.  The  first  meeting  of  the  district  in  compliance 
with  their  charter,  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1801,  at  the 
inn  of  Otis  Tiffany,  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Moder- 
ator, Stephen  Jenks ;  clerk,  Jerahmeel  Jenks ;  collector,  Benjamin 
Arnold;  treasurer,  Otis  Tiffany;  assessors,  James  Mason,  Samuel 
Slater,  Jerahmeel  Jenks  ;  presidents  of  Fire  Wards,  Nathaniel  Croade, 
Oziel  Wilkinson,  Stephen  Jenks.  The  first  fire  engine  purchased  by 
the  district  was  built  by  Abraham,  Isaac  and  David  Wilkinson,  and 
delivered  April  25th,  1803.  The  price  paid  them  was  $353.50.  This 
engine  continued  to  be  used  by  Engine  Company  No.  1  until  Decem- 
ber, 1844.  At  that  time  a  new  engine  was  purchased  for  the  company, 
of  Joel  Bates,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  organization  of  a  fire  department  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
occurred  at  a  later  date.  A  meeting  of  persons  styled  "  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  engine  in  the  village  of  Pawtucket,  in  the  town  of  See- 


92  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

konk,"  was  held  at  Eliphalet  Slack's  inn,  on  Friday  evening,  December 
llth,  1812.  Oliver  Starkweather,  Esq.,  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
William  Allen,  clerk.  The  names  of  21  persons  were  designated  for 
Engine  Company  No.  2,  and  the  following  individuals  were  chosen 
officers  of  the  company,  to  serve  until  the  annual  meeting  in  the  fol- 
lowing May  :  Director,  Joseph  Bucklin  ;  vice-director,  Job  Wheaton  ; 
collector,  Benjamin  Bowen  ;  messenger,  Addington  Davenport ;  clerk, 
John  French,  Jr.  By  a  record  on  the  books  of  the  town,  it  seems  that 
on  May  31st,  1838,  it  was  voted  to  appropriate  the  interest  of  the  sur- 
plus revenue  deposited  with  the  town,  to  the  amount  of  $750,  for  the 
purchase  of  a  fire  engine. 

These  were  the  beginnings  of  the  fire  department  for  the  two 
sections  of  the  present  town.  For  over  70  years  the  first-named  dis- 
trict held  its  annual  meetings,  and  strove  to  maintain  an  efficient 
organization  to  fight  the  fiery  foe.  For  60  years  and  upward  the  other 
district  vied  with  them.  New  and  improved  fire  engines  were  from 
time  to  time  supplied,  and  the  two  villages  were  preserved  from  any 
very  disastrous  conflagrations.  An  important  help  in  subduing 
flames  has  been  supplied  for  years  by  the  force  pumps  connected 
with  the  various  mills. 

Each  village,  up  to  the  time  of  consolidation,  maintained  its  own 
organization.  For  some  years  a  part  of  the  department  east  of  the 
river  were  paid  for  their  services  ;  but  on  the  western  side  a  volunteer 
organization  was  maintained.  After  the  consolidation,  the  town 
council  speedily  took  steps  for  reorganizing  the  department.  On  the 
15th  of  June,  1874,  an  ordinance  providing  for  a  fire  department  was 
adopted,  but  the  actual  service  did  not  begin  till  July  13th.  At  pres- 
ent the  fire  department  consists  of  one  chief  engineer,  two  assistant 
engineers  and  five  companies,  containing  in  all  64  men.  There  are 
three  steamers,  and  three  hook  and  ladder  trucks.  Ten  men  are  per- 
manently employed,  and  there  are  13  horses  owned  by  the  town  ready 
for  immediate  service. 

To  help  the  efficiency  of  the  department  a  fire  alarm  telegraph  has 
been  provided.  Connected  with  it  are  60  boxes,  five  bell  strikers,  and 
the  necessary  battery  to  operate  the  mechanism.  This  telegraph  was 
built  in  1874,  at  an  expense  to  the  town  of  $12,100.  Collyer  Station 
No.  3,  located  at  the  corner  of  Prospect  and  Division  streets,  was  com- 
pleted in  1889  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  There  have  been  but  two  chief 
engineers  of  the  fire  service.  Samuel  S.  Collyer,  a  machinist  by  trade, 
was  elected  chief  engineer  at  the  consolidation  of  the  villages,  and 
held  the  position  till  his  death,  on  the  night  of  July  7th,  1884,  when 
he  was  thrown  from  his  hose  carriage  and  received  injuries  that  re- 
sulted in  his  death.  Chief  Engineer  John  Brierly  succeeded  him,  in 
which  position  he  is  serving  to-day.  He  was  hoseman  of  the  old 
Deluge  Hand  Company  No.  3  in  1848,  foreman  of  Hose  No.  3  in  1874, 
first  assistant  in  1880,  and  now  chief. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  93 

Nearly  two  centuries  rolled  away  after  the  settlement  of  the  colony 
before  the  common  school  system  was  adopted  in  this  state.  Instruc- 
tion was  furnished,  however,  by  private  schools.  As  early  a3  1793,  a 
building,  whose  fame  has  come  down  to  the  present  day,  was  reared, 
which  was  known  as  the  "  Red  School  House."  It  stood  not  far  from 
the  present  town  record  building,  on  what  is  now  High  street.  It  was 
built  as  a  joint  stock  edifice,  and  most  of  the  active  business  men  of 
that  time  contributed  to  its  erection.  Here  every  kind  of  public 
meeting  was  held,  but  its  special  design,  as  its  name  indicated,  was 
to  furnish  a  place  for  schools.  The  day  school  was  taught,  and  even- 
ing schools  were  held  here.  Such  Sunday  schools  as  were  maintained, 
after  the  inception  of  them,  were  accommodated  in  this  edifice.  A 
convenient  arrangement  was  made  soon  after  its  construction,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  children  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  As  the  youth  east 
of  the  Pawtucket  were  few  in  number,  it  was  arranged  by  their 
parents  that  they  should  cross  the  bridge,  and  receive  instruction  at 
the  Red  School  House.  The  teacher  was  compensated  for  his  extra 
services  by  a  part  of  the  sum  raised  by  the  laws  of  Massachusetts. 
Subsequently  other  schools  were  established  west  of  the  river.  Doctor 
Taft,  during  his  earlier  residence  in  Pawtucket,  taught  a  school  for 
advanced  scholars;  Joseph  and  Samuel  Healey,  Friends,  taught  a 
school  in  the  Baptist  vestry  ;  and  Mr.  Edmund  Bayley  kept  a  school 
in  the  basement  of  his  own  house,  not  far  from  the  present  school 
house  opposite  Armory  Hall. 

But  the  time  came  at  last  when  Rhode  Island  resolved  to  rival  her 
sister  states  in  providing  free  instruction  for  her  children.  In  1828 
common  schools  were  established  by  law.  That  was  the  year  in  which 
the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  incorporated  the  town  of  Pawtucket. 
As  has  already  been  stated,  that  town  appropriated  in  the  outset  $350 
for  the  support  of  schools.  From  the  records  of  the  town,  however,  it 
seems  that  that  sum  was  deemed  too  liberal,  for  at  five  subsequent 
annual  town  meetings  the  appropriation  was  $300  for  schooling.  But 
in  1835  the  appropriation  was  increased  to  $400,  and  in  1836  to  $500. 
From  that  time  there  was  a  steady  advance,  till  it  became  customary 
to  make  an  annual  appropriation  of  thousands  of  dollars.  On  the 
western  side  of  the  river  legal  appropriations  were  made  for  schools, 
for  the  first  time,  in  1828,  but  as  the  village  of  Pawtucket  was  simply 
a  district  of  North  Providence,  it  is  less  easy  to  ascertain  what  portion 
of  the  money  fell  to  the  western  district  of  the  present  town  of  Paw- 

tucket. 

The  following  preamble  and  vote,  however,  extracted  from  the 
records  of  town  meetings  in  North  Providence,  may  be  thought  to 
have  a  historic  interest.  It  was  at  a  town  meeting  held  April  16th, 
1828,  that  this  action  was  taken: 

"Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State,  at  their  session  in 
January,  1828,  enacted  that  each  town  might,  on  complying  with  the 


94  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

provisions  of  that  act,  receive  a  proportion  of  $10,000  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing-  and  paying-  the  expenses  of  Public  Schools — and 
whereas  a  warrant  was  issued  and  returned  which  notified  the  free- 
men that  the  consideration  would  be  acted  on  this  day. — It  is  there- 
fore unanimously 

"  J^oted,  That  a  tax  of  double  the  sum  which  shall  be  apportioned 
and  receivable  by  this  town  from  the  State  Treasurer,  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid,  be  assessed  and  collected  at  the  same  time  that  this  town 
and  road  taxes  are  assessed  and  collected  for  the  year  ensuing — pro- 
vided, however,  that  the  said  tax  to  be  so  assessed,  shall  not  exceed 
the  sum  of  six  hundred  dollars." 

At  some  time  previous  to  1836  a  stock  company  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  building  and  maintaining  an  academy.  The  edifice  reared 
stood  on  a  ledge  of  rocks  near  the  residence  of  Hon  James  C.  Stark- 
weather, on  what  is  now  called  Walcott  street.  In  this  institution 
both  the  higher  English  branches  and  the  languages  were  taught. 
Mr.  J.  Hale,  from  Cambridge,  was  the  first  teacher  of  the  academy, 
and  was  succeeded  in  later  years  by  Messrs.  Vinton,  Spaulding-  and 
Robbins,  from  among  the  graduates  of  Amherst  College,  by  Mr. 
Batchelder,  from  Brown  University,  and  by  Messrs.  Leland  and 
Draper.  The  school  rendered  useful  service,  but,  on  the  building  of 
the  school  houses  on  Grove  and  Summit  streets,  as  accommodation 
was  provided  for  the  different  grades  of  schools,  the  academy  was  dis- 
continued, the  building  sold  and  the  company  dissolved. 

But  this  simply  hastened  the  establishment  of  a  free  high  school. 
Population  had  been  steadily  increasing,  and  had  reached  a  number 
which,  according  to  the  laws  of  Massachusetts,  demanded  such  a 
school.  A  high  school  was  accordingly  established  in  May,  1855,  and 
placed  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  William  E.  Tolman,  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity. 

The  western  village  was  less  successful  in  establishing  such  a 
school.  Futile  attempts  were  made  from  time  to  time  by  the  two  dis- 
tricts of  North  Providence  lying  along  the  Pawtucket  river,  to  estab- 
lish a  high  school  in  conjunction  with  the  village  of  Central  Falls, 
but  local  jealousies  thwarted  the  enterprise.  The  friends  of  better 
education,  therefore,  deemed  it  wise  to  wait.  Meanwhile  a  great 
many  of  the  elder  children  were  sent  to  private  schools  in  Providence, 
or  across  the  river  to  the  high  school  in  the  eastern  town.  On  both 
sides  of  the  river,  however,  even  before  consolidation,  the  increasing 
population  made  clamorous  demands  for  new  school  houses,  and, 
when  the  two  villages  melted  into  one  municipality,  a  good  many 
edifices  were  ready  to  be  entrusted  to  the  new  school  committee.  A 
larger  high  school  building  seemed  a  necessity,  and,  as  the  edifice  of 
the  High  Street  Baptist  church  was  for  sale,  it  was  purchased  by  the 
town,  and  is  now  appropriated  to  the  use  of  that  school. 

At  present  there  are  in  the  town  of  Pawtucket  23  school  houses 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  95 

already  reared.  The  estimated  value  of  the  buildings  already 
erected,  and  the  land  affixed  to  them,  is  $340,000.  The  total  expenses 
for  the  year  1888  were  $70,254.45.  There  are  also  seven  private 
schools  in  the  city.  The  present  superintendent,  Fred.  Sherman,  took 
charge  of  the  schools  January  1st,  1888. 

Pawtucket  is  noted  for  its  societies.  Prominent  among  these  is 
the  Pawtucket  Business  Men's  Association,  of  which  220  prominent 
business  men  of  the  city  are  members.  The  association  was  estab- 
lished in  1882  by  Franklin  A.  Steere  and  others.  The  organization 
took  place  January  9th,  1882,  by  the  election  of  F.  Clark  Sayles,  presi- 
dent; Henry  A.  Stearns,  first  vice-president;  Franklin  A.  Steere, 
second  vice-president,  and  W.  Wanton  Bunnell,  third  vice-president. 
The  association  has  rooms  in  Music  Hall  Building.  The  rooms 
are  open  every  day  to  the  members  for  social  intercourse,  and  for 
every  purpose  looking  to  the  weal  of  the  city.     Politics  excluded. 

Of  the  Masonic  fraternities  there  are  several  Lodges  in  Pawtucket. 
The  meetings  are  held  in  Masonic  Temple,  North  Main  street.  The 
original  society.  Union  Lodge,  No.  10,  was  .established  April  15th, 
1808. 

The  Pawtucket  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  4,  was  established  March 
21st,  1820. 

Pawtucket  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  was  constituted  March  1st,  1847. 

Holy  Sepulchre  Commandery,  No.  8,  Pawtucket,  was  established 
September  25th,  1849. 

Barney  Merry  Lodge,  No.  29,  Pawtucket,  was  established  June 
26th,  1878. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  have  several  branches. 
Canton  Pawtucket,  No.  7,  June  22d,  1886,  is  now  officered  by  H.  M. 
Curtis,  for  captain;  Frank  O.  Maybury,  lieutenant;  Tisdale  C.  Day, 
ensign,  and  Henry  A.  Abbott,  clerk.  There  are  also:  The  Blackstone 
Encampment,  No.  15,  C.P.,  Charles  H.  Fuller;  the  Manchester  En- 
campment, No.  4,  C.P.,  Charles  H.  Bloodgood;  Enterprise  Lodge,  No. 
22,  N.G.,  Louis  F.  Butler;  Good  Samaritan  Lodge,  No.  8,  N.G.,  C.  L. 
Barrus,  and  Superior  Lodge,  No.  35,  N.G.,  Robert  Gilchrist;' Florence 
Lodge,  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  No.  2,  N.G.,  Mrs.  Lucy  Haskell,  and 
Leah  Lodge,  No.  16,  N.G.,  Mrs.  Louis  F.  Butler. 

Of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  there  are  two  vigorous  lodges  in  Paw- 
tucket. Eureka  Lodge,  No.  5,  was  instituted  January  30th,  1871.  Its 
first  chancellor  commander  was  John  D.  Earle;  its  second  was  Charles 
A.  Lee;  its  present  one  is  Edwin  A.  Eddy.  It  numbers  about  130 
members  and  has  a  goodly  sum  of  money  in  its  treasury.  In  death 
and  sick  benefits  it  has  paid  out  large  sums  of  money.  It  meets  in  its 
-own  leased  hall  on  East  avenue,  which  it  dedicated  in  December, 
1871.  Its  present  keeper  of  records  and  seal  is  John  Beachen,  who 
lias  held  the  office  continuously  for  many  years. 

February  12th,  1874,  Ivanhoe  Lodge,  No.  16,  was  instituted.    Many 


96  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  the  members  were  "  card  members  "  from  Eureka  Lodge.  Its  first 
chancellor  commander  was  Charles  A.  Lee;  its  second  George  A. 
Sweet.  Its  membership  having  diminished  by  death  and  withdrawals, 
it  was  consolidated  with  Eureka  Lodge  July  29th,  1879. 

Charles  E.  Chickering  Lodge,  No.  20,  named  after  a  prominent 
knight  and  citizen,  was  instituted  December  26th,  1888,  with  a  list  of 
over  200  charter  members,  mostly  young  men.  Its  chancellor  com- 
mander is  James  E.  Childs.  Its  keeper  of  records  and  seal  is  George 
M.  Rex. 

The  Pawtucket  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  meets 
regularly  under  the  presidency  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Phillips,  and  as  an 
organization  is  doing  effective  work.  It  was  organized  July  21st, 
1882.  In  addition  to  the  above  there  are  fourteen  temperance  socie- 
ties in  Pawtucket  and  its  auxilliary  village.  Central  Falls. 

'  The  Order  of  Foresters  are  also  numerous  in  the  place.  Court  City 
of  Pawtucket,  No.  7384,  A.  O.  F.,  was  organized  September  29th,  1886. 
Pawtucket  Lodge,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  was  organized 
in  Pawtucket  in  1882;  Samuel  Slater  Lodge,  Sons  of  St.  George,  in 
1885;  Ossamequin  Tribe,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  instituted 
June  21st,  1887;  Order  of  the  Iron  Hall,  May  3d,  1888;  Pawtucket 
Commandery,  United  Order  of  the  Golden  Cross,  January,  1887. 

The  Catholic  Knights  of  America  began  organizing  here  in  1882 
and  have  two  societies.  They  also  have  total  abstinence  and  benevo- 
lent societies  doing  efficient  work  in  the  place. 

The  citizens  of  Pawtucket,  Valley  Falls  and  Central  Falls  organ- 
ized a  society  December  8th,  1884,  having  for  its  object  simple  charity, 
and  as  a  benevolent  institution  it  is  doing  good  work.  Its  present  offi- 
cers are:  Darius  L.  Goff,  president;  Mrs.  Dr.  James  L.  Wheaton,  treas- 
urer; G.  Cowperthwaite,  agent  and  secretary. 

The  Rhode  Island  Loyal  Orange  Lodge,  No.  93,  was  organized  in 
1874.  The  St.  Jean  Baptist  Society  was  formed  February  1st,  1888. 
T.  K.  Club  (social),  was  established  in  1867.  Pawtucket  Cricket  Club, 
was  organized  May  20th,  1886. 


CHAPTER  III. 

PAWTUCKET— BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

John  F.  Adams. — Arnold  Family. — Olney  Arnold.— James  S.  Brown. — Charles  E.Chick- 
ering. — Lncius  B.  DarUng. — Simon  W.  Dexter. — John  D.  Earle. — Lewis  Fairbrother. 
— Squire  French. — Darins  Goff. — William  H.  Haskell. — Nathan  P.  Hicks. — Jenks 
Family. — Edwin  Jenckes. — James  Mason. — George  E.  Newell. — Jacob  N.  Polsey. — 
Payne  Family.— John  B.  Read.— William  F.  Sayles.— Frederic  C.  Sayles.— Albert  R. 
Sherman. — Gideon  L.  Spencer. — Henry  A.  Warburton. — Joshua  S.  White. 

John  Francis  Adams,  manufacturer,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Central  Falls,  December  17th,  1838.  He  began  business  for  himself 
after  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1856,  by  entering  the  Slater 
National  Bank  of  Pawtucket  as  clerk.  In  1859  he  became  bookkeeper 
for  the  Allendale  Manufacturing  Company  of  Providence.  On  De- 
cember 8th,  1862,  he  married  Kate  J.,  daughter  of  Rufus  J.  Stafford, 
the  well  known  manufacturer.  In  1862  he  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Adams  &  Randall,  manufacturers  of  cotton  yarns.  This  com- 
pany was  afterward  merged  into  the  Hope  Thread  Company,  of  which 
Mr.  Adams  was  treasurer  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  In  1864  Mr. 
Adams  purchased  the  Lanesville  Manufacturing  property,  at  Lanes- 
ville,  Mass.  Since  1882  he  has  confined  his  business  attentions  wholly 
to  that  place.  He  is  a  public  spirited  gentleman,  and  did  much  to- 
ward improving  the  village,  and,  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  the  name  of 
the  place  was  changed  in  honor  of  him  to  Adamsdale.  He  manufac- 
tures a  fine  grade  of  cotton  yarns,  and'does  a  business  of  about  $75,000 
a  year. 

In  1874,  under  the  act  of  consolidation  of  the  town  of  North  Provi- 
dence and  Pawtucket,  Mr.  Adams  became  a  member  of  the  town 
council,  and  was  reelected  in  1875.  Previous  to  1874  he  served  the 
old  town  of  Pawtucket  as  town  councilman,  and  also  as  auditor.  He 
was  subsequently  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  six  years.  In  the 
Masonic  fraternity  he  is  a  member  in  high  standing,  and  has  held  a 
number  of  prominent  positions.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members 
of  the  Barney  Merry  Lodge,  No.  29,  and  was  its  second  master.  He 
has  held  various  offices  in  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  in  the  Council  of 
Royal  and  Select  Masters,  and  also  in  the  Commandery  of  Knights 
Templar.  He  was  for  three  years  successively  grand  master  of  the 
Grand  Council  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  When  about  18  years 
of  age  he  became  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  h^s 
7 


98  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

been  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Pawtucket  Congregational  church  since 
1871.  Mr.  Adams  is  passionately  fond  of  music,  and  is  proficient  on 
the  organ  and  piano.  In  early  life  he  began  the  study  of  music  under 
excellent  teachers,  but  has  learned  more  since  by  his  own  study  and 
observation.  En-rapport  with  the  subject,  he  has  written  some  music 
and  has  arranged  some,  but  considers  it  more  profitable  to  confine  his 
attentions  to  the  study  of  the  old  masters.  For  the  past  twenty  years 
he  has  been  organist  and  musical  director  for  the  Pawtucket  Congre- 
gational church,  and  before  that  time  held  similar  positions  in  various 
churches  in  Central  Falls,  Pawtucket  and  Providence.  Mr.  Adams 
resides  on  Broadway,  in  an  elegant  mansion  erected  by  him  in  1868. 
He  is  a  highly  cultured  gentleman,  very  social  in  his  habits,  and  en- 
joys the  luxuries  and  hom.e  comforts  of  a  Christian  life. 

Arnold  Family. — The  greater  number  of  the  families  residing  in 
the  towns  of  Pawtucket  and  Lincoln  of  the  above  name  are  descended 
from  Thomas  Arnold.     Two  brothers,  William  and  Thomas  by  name, 
natives  of  Cheselbourne,  Dorset  county,  England,  sailed  from   Dart- 
mouth, England,  in  1635,  in  the   ship    "Plain   Joan,"   bringing  their 
families  with  them.     The  younger,  Thomas,  was  born  in  1599,  and 
first  settled  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  but  came  to  Providence  October  17th, 
1661.     His  first  wife's  name  is  unknown,  and  of  his  three  children  by 
this  marriage  two  died  in  infancy.     The  other  married  John  Farnum. 
His  second  wife  was  Phebe  Parkhurst,  and  their  children  were :  Icha- 
bod,  who  died  young;    Richard;    Thomas,  who  died   single;  John, 
Eleazer  and    Elizabeth,   married   Samuel   Comstock.      The    English 
ancestors  of  Thomas  were  as  follows  :  he  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  who 
was  the  son  of  Richard,  who  was  the  son  of  Richard,  who  was  the  son 
of  Thomas,  a  son  of  Roger.     Thomas  died  in  September,  1674.     Rich- 
ard, son  of  Thomas,  was  born  March  22d,  1642,  and  died  April  22d, 
1710.     His  first  wife  was  Mary  Angell  and  their  children  were  :  Rich- 
ard, John,  Thomas  and  Mary,  who  married  Thomas  Steere.    Richard's 
second  wife  was  Sarah .     John,  son  of  Richard,  was  born  No- 
vember 1st,  1670,  and  for  his  first  wife  married  Mary  Mowry,  and  had 
the  following  family :  William,  John,  Daniel,  Mercy  (married  a  Lap- 
ham),  Anthony  (emigrated  to  New  York  state),  Seth,  Israel,  Anna 
(married  Benjamin   Paine)  Susanna  (married   John   Melavory),  and 
Abigail  (married  Abner  Bartlett).     John  married  for  his  second  wife 
Hannah  Hayward,  and  died  October  27th,  1756.     Seth,  son  of  John, 
was  born  September  6th,  1706.     He  was  identified  with  Woonsocket, 
and  was  a  miller.     He  was  noted  for  his  height,  being  6  feet  4  inches 
tall.     His  first  wife  was  Hannah   Aldrich  and  their  children  were  : 
Levi,  Seth,  Hannah,  Abigail,  all  of  whom  died  young  ;  Nathan,  Levi 
and  Seth.     His  second  wife  was  Mary  Cargill  and  her  children  were  : 
George,  removed  to  Vermont ;  Phebe,  married  Luke  Arnold ;  James, 
left  no  male  issue ;  and  Anthony,  who  died  leaving  no  issue.     Seth 
died  in  180L     Nathan,  son  of  Seth,  was  born  October  18th,  1733.     He 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  99 

resided  in  Cumberland,  and  was  captain  of  a  company  at  the  battle 
of  Rhode  Island.  He  married  Lucy  Cargill  and  his  children  were 
Samuel,  Elisha  and  Nathan. 

Nathan,  son  of  Nathan,  married  Esther  Darling.  He  lived  in 
Cumberland  on  what  is  now  the  Warren  J.  Ballou  farm.  His  children 
were  :  Nathan  ;  Lucy,  married  Nathan  Ballou  ;  Esther,  Nancy,  mar- 
ried Smith  Daniels  ;  Seth  and  Amos.  Seth,  son  of  Nathan,  was  born 
1799  and  died  in  November,  1883.  His  first  wife  was  Belinda  Streeter 
and  their  children  were  :  Fannie  E.,  wife  of  William  H.  Hathaway  ; 
Olney;  George,  died  young;  Lucy,  a  maiden  lady,  resides  m  Paw- 
tucket  ;  William  G.,  Alexander  S.  and  Henry  M.  Seth's  second  wife 
was  Abbie  Tillinghast,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Seth.  William  G., 
son  of  Seth,  was  born  June  11th,  1827,  and  married  Lucy  M.  Aldrich. 
Their  children  are  :  William  Henry,  Olney,  Charles  Freemont,  died 
young,  and  Flora  Ellis,  wife  of  George  H.  W^hitman.  William  G.  is 
conveyancer  for  the    First    National    Bank   of  Pawtucket. 

Thomas  Arnold,  son  of  Richard,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  March 
24th,  1675,  and  died  February  3d,  1727.  He  married  Elizabeth  Burlin- 
game,  and  their  children  were:  Job,  Jonathan,  Mary,  Thomas,  Eliza- 
beth, died  single,  and  Sarah.  Job,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in  the 
year  1707,  and  had  the  following  sons:  Stephen,  Oliver,  Abraham, 
Job  and  Isaac.  Oliver,  son  of  Job,  was  born  April  12th,  1752,  and 
married  a  Harris.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were :  Isaac,  who 
emigrated  to  Marion,  N.  Y.  ;  Oliver,  died  4  years  of  age  ;  Martin,  died 
without  issue  ;  Sabra,  a  maiden  lady,  and  Preserved.  Preserved,  son 
of  Oliver,  was  born  June  10th,  1788,  and  died  July  10th,  1828.  His 
wife  was  Betsey,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Whipple,  and  their  children 
were  :  Louisa,  widow  of  Emery  M.  Potter,  resides  in  Lincoln  ;  Cor- 
nelia, died  single;  Betsey,  deceased,  married  Emery  M.  Potter;  Ellen 
Maria,  died  single;  Lucy  Dexter,  died  in  infancy;  Hannah  Bowen, 
died  10  years  of  age,  and  Preserved  Whipple,  born  June  26th,  1828, 
married  Anna  Harris,  has  no  children  and  resides  in  Lincoln. 

Eleazer  Arnold,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  June  17th,  1651,  and 
married  Eleanor  Smith.  Their  children  were:  Phebe,  married 
Thomas  Smith;  Elizabeth,  married  a  Smith;  Eleazer,  Joseph,  John 
died  single;  Jeremiah,  Eleanor,  died  single;  Mary,  married  George 
Thomas ;  Abigail,  married  John  Mann,  and  Deborah.  Eleazer  died 
August  29th,  1722.  Joseph,  son  of  Eleazer,  was  born  in  1678  and  died 
November  4th,  1746.  His  first  wife  was  Mercy  Stafford,  and  the  children 
by  this  marriage  were  :  Eleazer,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Amos,  Elizabeth, 
Caleb,  Eleazer,  Deborah,  Joshua.  Nathan,  vStukely  and  Mercy  twins, 
and  Samuel;  in  all  thirteen  children.  Joshua,  son  of  Joseph,  was 
born  July  14th,  1729,  was  married  to  Amy  Bensley,and  their  children 
were  :  Amy,  who  married  Thomas  Bucklin  ;  Ruth,  married  Stephen 
Jenks  ;  Sarah,  married  Stephen  Jenks  ;  Israel,  and  George,  died  aged 
14  years.     Israel,  son  of  Joshua,  was  born  November  1st,  1754,  and 


100  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

married  for  his  first  wife  Deborah  Olney.  The  children  by  this 
marriage  were  :  Ada,  who  married  Benjamin  Jenckes ;  Amy,  married 
first  a  Sheldon,  second  a  Brown;  Olney;  Mercy,  married  Thomas 
Bucklin  ;  Joshua  ;  Mary,  married  Joseph  Wilkinson  ;  George  ;  Anna, 
married  Welcome  Comstock  ;  Israel  and  Jeremiah.  Israel's  second 
wife  was  Catharine  Jenckes,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Jenckes  and 
Joseph.     He  died  June  27th,  1840. 

Olney  Arnold,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  October  27th,  1780,  and  de- 
parted this  life  May  29th,  1849.  His  first  wife  was  Eunice,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  Thomas  J.;  John,  died  single;  Daniel,  left 
no  male  issue;  Emeline,  married  Daniel  Hill;  Angeline,  married  twice 
(those  two  were  twins);  Eunice,  married  Varanus  Walker ;  Sylvan, 
Mahala  D.,  Mary  J.  and  Amy.  The  last  three  were  triplets,  the  first 
two  died  in  infancy,  the  other  died  a  maiden  lady.  Olney 's  second 
wife  was  the  widow  Norton.  Her  maiden  name  was  Susan  Lyons. 
Their  children  were :  Jacob ;  vSarah',  married  Andrew  Miller ;  Mary, 
married  George  W.  Beal ;  Rebecca  and  Susan,  both  married  John  B. 
Le  Craw ;  Elizabeth,  died  single  ;  Olney,  and  Deborah  and  Pardon, 
both  died  young.  This  family  consisted  of  19  children,  the  largest, 
it  is  believed,  ever  raised  in  Smithfield.  Jacob,  son  of  01ne3^  was 
born  in  1816,  and  died  July  22d,  1872.  He  married  Adaline  Pidge. 
Their  children  are:  Albert  P.,  a  resident  of  Vineland,  N.  J.,  and  Ben- 
jamin O.,  born  February  8th,  1842,  married  Rhoda  Adams,  and  has 
one  child,  Harriet  Adaline.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Lincoln. 
Olney,  son  of  Olney,  born  July  31st,  1828,  married  Eunice  M.  Skiff,  and 
has  two  sons;  Edward  M.  and  Francis  S.  He  resides  in  Pawtucket. 
Edward  M.,  son  of  Olney,  born  July  11th,  1856,  married  Alma  J. 
Heaton  and  has  two  children:  Chester  Edward  and  Edith  Mabel.  He 
is  proprietor  of  the  Pawtucket  Renovating  Works. 

Joshua  Arnold,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  August  20th,  1784,  and  mar- 
ried Silence,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Whipple,  and  had  the  following 
family:  Eliza,  married  first  Arthur  Whipple,  second  a  Thornton,  and 
lives  in  Lincoln;  Horace,  deceased;  Sylvan,  deceased,  married  George 
O.  Smith;  Miranda,  widow  of  William  Spaulding,  of  Lincoln;  Adam; 
Hannah,  widow  of  Henry  Short,  of  Lincoln;  Mary,  widow  of  Ray- 
mond Briggs,  of  Providence.  Joshua  died  October  14th,  1852.  Adam, 
son  of  Joshua,  was  born  February  14th,  1819,  and  married  for  his  first 
wife  Eliza  Vose,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Mary  Adalaide,  who  mar- 
ried vSamuel  Crandall.  Adam's  second  wife  was  Melissa  L.  Wads- 
worth.     He  is  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  resides  in  Lincoln. 

George  Arnold,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  March  21st,  1788,  and  died 
February  8th,  1863.  He  married  Lydia  Fisher,  and  their  children 
were:  Stella  Ann,  who  married  Louis  Lapham;  James  A.;  Lydia,  mar- 
ried George  Talbot;  Julia  Maria;  George  Taft,  deceased;  Olney,  de- 
ceased, and  Waldo  Fisher,  died  in  infancy.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah 
Ann  Brown  and  their  children  were:  Frances  Eliza  and  Louisa  Amelia, 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  101 

who  died  in  infancy.  James  A.,  son  of  George,  was  born  September 
1st,  1816,  and  married  Bertha  Marchant.  Their  children  are  William 
Taft  and  Sarah  Frances,  wife  of  Charles  Long.  James  A.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Pawtucket. 

Israel  Arnold,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  in  1792,  and  departed  this  life 
November  2d,  1864.  He  married  Abbie  Brown  and  their  children  were: 
Elizabeth,  who  died  young;  Susan,  deceased,  married  David  Angell, 
of  Cumberland;  Abby  Elizabeth,  married  for  her  first  husband  George 
Weeden,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Alexander  Spence,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.; 
Phebe,  married  first  Levi  Pitts,  second  Harvey  Anabel,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  Emor  Cole,  of  East  Greenwich,  R.  L;  Louisa,  a  maiden  lady, 
resides  in  Lincoln;  Jane,  wife  of  John  Dermot,  lives  in  Oakland,  Cal.; 
James,  died  young;  Charlotte,  married  William  F.  Bibby,  of  Lincoln; 
Frederic  N.,  resides  in  Dayton,  Ohio;  Albert,  a  resident  of  Boston, 
Mass.;  Richard,  died  leaving  no  issue;  Israel,  and  George  Aborn,  died 
young.  Israel,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  November  22d,  1840,  married 
Anna  C.  Hardenburgh,  and  has  the  following  children:  Chapin  T., 
Amy  L.  and  Israel  Garfield.     He  is  a  resident  of  Lincoln. 

Jenckes  Arnold,  son  of  Israel,  was  born  October  2d,  1803,  and  mar- 
ried Mary  LeCraw.  Their  children  are:  Benjamin  Harrison,  Joseph 
Jenckes  and  Edmund  Bowdoin.  Jenckes  departed  this  life  October 
11th,  1887.  His  widow  survives  him  in  her  84th  year.  Benjamin  and 
Edmund  are  bachelors,  and  reside  on  the  old  homestead  in  Lincoln. 
Joseph  Jenckes,  son  of  Jenckes,  was  born  October  14th,  1844,  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Alice  Whittle.  His  children  are:  William  E.,  Frederic  W. 
and  Ernest  J.  He  is  engaged  in  the  baking  business  at  Saylesville, 
R.  I. 

Samuel  Arnold,  son  of  Joseph,  son  of  Eleazer,  son  of  Thomas,  was 
born  July  12th,  1736,  and  married  Elizabeth  Arnold.  Their  children 
were:  Benjamin,  John,  Abigail,  Anna,  Richard  (the  three  last  died 
single),  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  married  Christopher  Brown;  Mercy,  mar- 
ried George  Smith,  and  Jonathan.  The  two  last  were  twins.  Jona- 
than, son  of  Samuel,  was  born  August  16th,  1778,  and  departed  this 
life  July  loth,  1852.  He  married  Abby  Randall  and  their  children 
were:  John,  died  single;  Maria,  a  maiden  lady,  lives  in  Lincoln; 
Mercy,  married  Tillie  Raymond,  of  Worcester,  Mass.;  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  Doctor  Warren  Cooke,  resides  in  Lincoln;  Samuel  and 
James,  both  died  single;  Louisa,  married  George  Green  and  lives  in 
Lincoln,  and  Christopher,  died  young. 

There  are  other  families  of  Arnolds  resident  of  Pawtucket  and 
Lincoln  who  are  undoubtedly  descended  from  the  two  brothers 
William  and  Thomas,  that  came  from  England  in  1635.  Their 
early  ancestors  located  in  other  parts  of  Rhode  Island,  but  their  de- 
scendants have  returned  and  become  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  Providence  county.  Among  these  we  mention  the  fol- 
lowing: 


102  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

John  A.  Arnold  was  born  in  Providence  January  18th,  1851,  and 
was  the  son  of  Thomas,  who  was  the  son  of  John.  John  A.  married 
Emily  E.  Foster  and  has  one  child,  Fred.  A.  He  is  secretary  of  the 
Conant  Thread  Compan3\ 

James  Arnold,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  Attleboro,  Mass.,  Oc- 
tober 12th,  1809.  He  married  Evelyn  Marchant  and  had  seven  chil- 
dren: Eliza,  deceased,  married  Sanford  E.  Holmes;  Julia,  deceased, 
married  Daniel  W.  Ashton;  Louisa,  deceased,  married  Albert  Bowen; 
William  M.,  died  young;  William  J.;  Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  D.Elsbree, 
of  Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  and  Amos  D.  James  died  December  31st,  1882. 
William  J.,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  August  12th,  1842,  and 
married  Mollie  M.  McQuiston.  They  had  one  child,  William  J.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  19  years.  He  is  a  machinist  and  resides  in  Paw- 
tucket, Amos  D.,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  November 
29th,  1855.  By  his  wife,  Margaret  L.,  he  has  three  children:  May 
Louisa,  James  Amos  and  Rose  Cleveland.     He  resides  in  Pawtucket. 

Samuel  W.  Arnold  was  born  in  Coventry,  R.  L,  August  3d,  1833, 
and  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Olney  Matteson,  of  Coventry.  They 
have  no  children.  He  resided  in  Coventry  till  1865,  when  he  came  to 
Central  Falls,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  coal  and  wood  business. 
Samuel  W.'s  father  was  also  Samuel,  who  was  the  son  of  Lowry. 
vSamuel  married  Juliet,  daughter  of  Doctor  Elisha  Olney,  of  Coventry, 
she  being  a  native  of  Foster,  R.  L  They  had  five  children:  Laura, 
married  John  W.  Francis,  of  Chicago;  Erastus,  died  in  Providence; 
George  W.,  lives  at  Warren,  R.  L;  Samuel  W.  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Amos  Franklin,  of  Coventry. 

General  Olney  Arnold,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
Pawtucket,  son  of  Doctor  Seth  and  Belinda  (Streeter)  Arnold,  was  born 
in  Newton,  Massachusetts,  January  17th,  1822.  His  early  life  was  spent 
in  Woonsocket.  His  parents  resided  there  prior  to  his  birth,  which 
event  occurred  during  a  brief  residence  at  Newton.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Woonsocket  and  at  Bushee's 
Academy  in  Smithfield,  On  attaining  manhood  he  engaged  for  a 
while  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  in  a  few  years  became  cashier  of  a 
bank  in  Woonsocket.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Pawtucket,  on  being 
elected  cashier  of  the  People's  Bank  of  that  place,  and  from  that  time 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  many  enterprises  that  have 
made  that  city  what  it  is  to-day. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Bank  of  Mutual  Redemption,  Boston,  in 
1855,  th'e  office  of  cashier  was  tendered  him,  but  declined  on  account  of 
his  business  interests  at  Pawtucket.  Upon  the  establishment  of  the 
national  banking  system,  in  1863,  General  Arnold  organized  the 
P'irst  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket,  the  first  in  the  town  and  the  sixth 
in  the  state,  and  became  its  cashier.  In  1865  the  People's  Bank  was 
merged  with  it.  In  1875  he  was  elected  president,  which  office  he  has- 
since  retained.     He  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Providence  County 


ir^.ff^FGK'^rnayair 


0 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  103 

vSavings  Bank  in  1853,  and  has  continued  in  that  office  ever  since.  In 
1868  he  was  appointed  receiver  and  agent  for  closing  up  the  affairs  of 
the  North  Providence  Bank,  which  he  successfully  accomplished  by 
redeeming  all  its  bills,  paying  its  depositors  in  full  and  dividing  79.6 
per  cent,  among  the  stockholders,  with  less  than  $50  expense  to  the 
bank.  The  net  earnings  of  the  People's  Bank,  and  its  successor,  the 
First  National  Bank,  have  averaged  more  than  12  per  cent,  per  an- 
num, for  nearly  40  years,  under  Mr.  Arnold's  management.  As  finan- 
cier and  manager  of  trusts,  the  services  of  Mr.  Arnold  have  been  con- 
stantly in  requisition.  He  has  served  and  is  still  serving  a  large  num- 
ber of  corporations  and  societies  as  treasurer,  director  and  trustee. 

About  this  time  he  engaged  with  David  Ryder  and  ex-Governor  A. 
H.  Littlefield  and  a  few  others  in  an  attempt  to  perfect  the  manufac- 
ture of  hair  cloth  by  power,  in  which  he  succeeded  after  numerous 
discouragements,  in  establishing  a  large  and  profitable  business  in 
that  line.  He  is  also  managing  director  in  the  Cumberland  Mills 
Company  and  Dexter  Yarn  Company,  does  an  extensive  business  in  set- 
tling estates,  and  in  many  ways  has  been  a  hard  working  man. 

As  a  military  man,  General  Arnold  has  served  in  nearly  every 
position  from  private  to  major  general.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  rebellion  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  aides  to  Governor  Sprague, 
and  was  kept  constantly  at  work  organizing  companies  for  active 
service  in  the  field.  He  was  commissioner  and  superintendent  of 
drafts  in  this  state  for  the  United  States.  On  account  of  his  efficiency 
and  knowledge  of  military  affairs  he  was  retained  in  the  state,  and 
was,  during  the  war,  promoted  to  be  major  general  of  the  militia. 
The  veterans  of  the  war  in  this  state  hold  General  Arnold  in  the 
highest  esteem.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  First  and  Second 
Regiment  Rhode  Island  Veteran  Associations,  also  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  Slocum  Post,  No.  10,  G.  A.  R. 

General  Arnold  is  an  old  fashioned  Jeftersonian  democrat,  is  pub- 
lic spirited,  and  has  served  the  town  in  many  official  capacities.  He 
has  been  president  of  the  town  council,  town  treasurer,  water  com- 
missioner, trustee  of  schools,  trustee  of  public  library,  moderator, 
auctioneer,  etc.  In  1846  he  was  elected  a  representative  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  from  Cumberland,  of  which  the  village  of  Woonsocket 
was  then  a  part,  and  he  represented  that  town  for  several  years.  He 
afterward  removed  to  North  Providence,  which,  for  several  y'ears,  em- 
braced the  village  of  Pawtucket,  and  was  chosen  representative  from 
that  town  and  subsequently  senator.  He  also  held  the  the  office  of 
treasurer  of  North  Providence,  and  was  president  of  the  town  council. 
He  has  been  the  candidate  of  his  party  during  the  past  40  years  for 
many  prominent  positions— for  governor,  U.  S.  senator,  representative 
in  congress,  presidential  elector,  etc.— always  in  popular  elections 
leading  his  ticket  largely.  He  has  received  civil  or  military  com- 
missions from  nearly  every  governor  of  the  state  for  the  last  40  years. 


104  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

He  has  been  railroad  commissioner,  commissioner  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  state  banks,  of  the  state  prison  and  jail,  has  served  on  im- 
portant state  committees  by  appointment  of  the  governor  or  general 
assembly,  and  appointed  upon  the  most  prominent  committees  of 
both  branches  of  the  legislature. 

In  1853  General  Arnold  united  with  the  Universalist  church  in 
Pawtucket,  and  has  been  president  of  its  national  organization,  is 
trustee  of  its  publishing  house,  treasurer  of  its  state  convention,  and 
has  been  treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Pawtucket  parish.  He  is  a 
]Mason,  and  a  member  of  many  charitable  associations,  historical  so- 
cieties and  libraries;  a  leader  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the 
city.  He  organized  the  Pawtucket  Electric  Lighting  Company,  and 
was  one  of  the  prominent  men  who  secured  the  introduction  of  watei 
works  and  telegraphic  fire  alarm.  He  was  chief  marshal  of  the  recent 
Cotton  Centennial  in  Pawtucket.  The  personal  characteristics  of 
General  Arnold  are  a  well-balanced,  clear  and  vigorous  intellect,  de- 
liberately formed  and  conservative  judgment,  great  firmness,  marked 
executive  ability,  strict  adherence  to  system  and  method  in  business, 
and  unquestioned  honor  and  integrity.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  wealth, 
and  uses  his  income  generously  in  aid  of  all  benevolent  and  charitable 
purposes  and  for  the  gratification  of  his  strong  domestic  and  literary 
tastes.  On  the  23d  of  January,  1844,  he  married  Phebe  Dudley,  of 
Providence.  She  is  a  native  of  Douglass,  Mass.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. 

James  S.  Brown  was  born  in  Pawtucket,  December  23d,  1802.  His 
paternal  ancestor  was  a  Welshman,  who,  with  three  other  brothers, 
emigrated  from  Wales  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Cumberland.  Here 
the  brothers  engaged  in  mining  coal  and  iron  ore,  using  both  in  the 
manufacture  of  iron.  Their  furnace  was  situated  at  Valley  Falls,  on 
the  Abbot  Run.  This  business  was  inherited  by  Philip,  the  grand- 
father of  James  S.  Brown,  and  carried  on  by  him  till  his  death.  After 
that  event  one  blast  was  made,  and  the  working  of  the  furnace  was 
given  up.  Philip's  son,  Sylvanus,  father  of  James  S.,  was  only  ten 
years  old  at  his  father's  death,  and  was  placed  under  the  care  of  his 
great-uncle,  a  millwright.  He  worked  at  this  trade  till  he  was  21 
years  of  age,  and  then  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account  until 
the  revolution.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  colonial  navy,  and  served  on 
board  the  "  Alfred  "  as  master  of  arms,  the  ship  being  commanded  by 
William  Jones;  Ezekiel  Hopkins,  of  North  Providence,  R.  I.,  being 
the  first  commander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  navy.  Jones  was  gover- 
nor of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island  from  1810  to  1817.  Upon  closing  his 
naval  career  vSylvanus  Brown  went  to  Providence,  and  worked  at 
stocking  guns  in  a  shop  operated  by  the  state.  He  was  next  engaged 
by  the  governor  of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  to  superintend 
the  making  and  putting  up  of  sets  of  machinery  for  seven  saw  mills, 
and  machinery  for  two  grist  mills,  and  he  employed  on  the  iron  work 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  105 

all  the  men  connected  with  Stephen  Jenks  &  Sons'  shop.  He  re- 
mained at  St.  John,  N.  B.,  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then  went  to  Europe, 
but  soon  returned  to  Pawtucket,  where  he  built  a  house  aijd  shop.  In 
1790  he  constructed  machinery,  under  Mr.  Slater's  superintendence, 
for  Brown  &  Almy,  and  this  achievement  encouraged  the  parties  to 
build  the  Old  Slater  Mill.  In  1792  he  invented  and  used  the  first  slide 
lathes  for  turning  rolls,  by  which  they  were  made  straight  and  of  uni- 
form size.  He  also  built  machines  for  fluting  rolls,  which  were  of 
great  advantage  to  the  business,  enabling  one  man  to  do  the  work 
formerly  requiring  the  labor  of  six.  He  was  next  employed  by  John 
Brown,  a  manufacturer  of  cannon,  to  superintend  furnaces  and  boring 
mills  at  Scituate,  R.  I.,  and  Easton,  Mass.  In  1801  he  engaged  in  his 
own  business  as  a  wheelwright,  and  continued  it  until  his  death  in 
1824. 

James  S.  Brown  attended  school  until  his  15th  year,  when  he  was 
employed  by  David  Wilkinson,  manufacturer  of  cotton  machinery  at 
Pawtucket,  in  pattern  making,  having,  during  his  school  vacation  of 
the  previous  year,  assisted  his  father  in  this  department  of  his  busi- 
ness. In  1819  he  went  to  work  in  the  vShop  of  Pitcher  &  Gay,  which 
was  started  in  1818  on  Main  street,  and  when  Mr.  Brown  entered  it, 
was  the  largest  manufactory  of  machinery  in  Pawtucket.  Mr.  Brown 
took  Mr.  Gay's  place  in  the  firm  in  1824,  and  in  1842  purchased  his 
partner's  interest,  and  from  that  time  he  carried  on  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful business  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery. 

In  1820,  when  he  was  only  18  years  of  age,  Mr.  Brown  invented 
the  slide  rest  used  in  turning  lathes,  by  which  the  height  of  the  tool 
can  be  adjusted  while  the  lathe  is  in  motion.  In  1830  he  invented  his 
gear  cutter  for  cutting  bevel  gears,  and  in  1838  he  patented  a  ma- 
chine for  boring  the  passage  for  the  roving  through  the  arm  of  the 
long  flyer  roving  machine,  and  in  1842  his  lathe  for  longitudinally 
turning  bodies  of  irregular  forms.  He  also  devised  an  improvement 
in  planing  machines,  so  that  sixteen  rolls,  instead  of  four,  may  be  used. 
He  applied  the  turning-lathe  to  the  cutting  of  large  screws,  six  to 
eight  inches  long,  for  clothing,  and  in  1874  he  patented  a  new  ma- 
chine for  spindle  grinding.  He  also  made  improvements  in  other 
machines  not  used  in  his  own  business.  He  simplified  and  perfected 
Sharpe  &  Roberts'  self-acting  mule,  sent  to  Pitcher  &  Brown  by  Brad- 
ford Durfee,of  Fall  River,  and  afterward  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  these  mules.  In  1857  he  took  out  a  patent  for  his  improvements  on 
the  American  Speeder,  and  also  manufactured  that  machine.  The  de- 
mand for  these  machines  was  so  great  that  he  was  compelled  to  de- 
vote the  whole  force  of  his  shop  to  them,  and  to  employ  for  the  same 
purpose  nearly  the  whole  force  of  another  large  machine  shop  in  the 
vicinity.  In  1862  he  built  nine  of  Bennet's  machines,  with  some 
modifications,  for  cutting  files,  for  some  capitalists  of  Baltimore,  who 
had  bought  the  right  of  manufacture  and  use  of  them.     He  put  these 


106  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

machines  into  successful  operation.  He  also  invented  a  machine  for 
grinding  file  blanks  and  a  furnace  for  hardening  files.  During  the 
civil  war  his  improved  lathe,  originally  designed  for  the  turning  of 
rolls  for  cotton  machiner}-,  was  employed  in  turning  gun  barrels. 
This,  for  a  time,  to  a  large  extent  superseded  all  other  work  in  the 
shops.  Mr.  Brown  engaged  in  these  various  enterprises  and  inven- 
tions for  nearly  60  years,  and  his  improvements  in  machinery  have 
been  of  great  value  to  the  industries  to  which  they  have  been  applied. 
He  died  in  1879,  aged  77  years.  His  son,  James  Brown,  succeeded  to 
the  business. 

Charles  Edwin  Chickering,  born  in  Attleboro,  Mass.,  June  ]4th, 
1828,  was  the  only  son  of  Charles  and  Laura  (Fitts)  Chickering.  On 
the  death  of  his  father,  in  1840,  his  mother  removed  to  Pawtucket. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  harness  making,  and  in  1848  commenced  to 
drive  stage  between  Pawtucket  and  Providence,  which  he  continued 
ten  years.  He  then  engaged  in  general  teaming  business  between 
these  points,  which  he  followed  until  his  death,  November  14th,  1888. 
He  married  Jane  Church.  They  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living,  viz.,  Laura  and  Fannie  R.,  wife  of  Walter  Barney,  of  East 
Providence.  Mr.  Chickering  was  overseer  of  the  poor  for  a  number 
of  years,  member  of  legislature  several  terms,  past  grand  chancellor 
of  K.  of  P.,  past  grand  dictator  and  past  supreme  representative  of 
K.  of  H.,  a  Knight  Templar,  past  grand  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Royal  Order  of  Good  Fellows. 

Lucius  B.  Darling.— The  genealogy  of  the  Darlings  shows  that 
Dennis  Darling  came  to  Mendon,  Mass.,  from  Braintree,  in  the  same 
state,  about  the  year  1680.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Hannah 
Francis.  They  had  several  children,  one  of  whom,  John  Darling,  born 
in  1664,  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  Bellingham,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  known  as  "  Captain  John."  He  was  the  father  of  thirteen  child- 
ren. From  "  Captain  John  "  sprang  the  branch  of  the  Darling  family 
to  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs.  Samuel  seems  to  have 
been  a  favorite  name  with  the  Darlings,  the  great-grandfather,  the 
grandfather  and  father  of  Lucius  all  bearing  that  name,  as  well  as  a 
brother.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Smith.  There 
were  eight  children,  all  of  them  sons,  namely:  George  (deceased), 
Charles  (deceased),  Gilbert,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Lucius  B.,  Ruel  S.  (deceased), 
Edwin  and  Lyman  M.  The  latter  is  treasurer  of  the  L.  B.  Darling 
Fertilizer  Company,  at  Pawtucket.  R.  L;  Edwin  is  superintendent  of 
the  Pawtucket  Water  Works;  Gilbert  is  a  prosperous  merchant  at 
Woonsocket,  R.  L,  and  Samuel,  who  lives  at  the  Diamond  Hill  reser- 
voir, in  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  is  a  farmer.  All  of  the  brothers  were  fine 
specimens  of  phy.sical  development  and  good  types  of  the  hardy  stock 
of  the  sons  of  New  England  yeomanry. 

Lucius  was  born  in  Bellingham,  Mass.,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1827, 
and  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  reached  manhood,  receiv- 


^n 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  107 

ing-  his  education  at  the  district  school  during  the  winter  months.  In 
1849  he  went  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  stayed  one  year,  and  then 
removed  to  Pawtucket,  which  at  that  time  was  a  village  in  the  town 
of  North  Providence,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  began  business 
in  Pawtucket  in  1852,  and  from  that  time  until  the  present  it  has 
steadily  increased,  an  extensive  branch  being  located  in  Chicago,  111. 
In  1883  the  business  in  Pawtucket  was  incorporated  under  the  name 
of  the  L.  B,  Darling  Fertilizer  Company,  Mr.  Darling  being  president, 
and  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  has  been  a  director  in  the 
Pacific  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket  for  25  years,  and  its  vice-presi- 
dent for  a  long  period.  In  1867  he  was  chosen  a  director  of  the  Paw- 
tucket Gas  Company,  and  in  1880  its  president,  which  office  he  still 
holds.  Since  1876  he  has  been  a  director  of  the  Swan  Point  Cemetery 
corporation,  and  president  of  the  board  from  1879.  He  is  also  a  direc- 
tor in  the  Pawtucket  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  the  Pawtucket 
Institution  for  Savings  and  the  Pawtucket  Street  Railway  Company. 
He  is  a  thorough-going  business  man,  and  is  connected  with  various 
other  institutions  and  organizations  of  a  practical  character. 

Mr.  Darling  has  served  his  town,  city  and  state  in  numerous  public 
capacities.  He  represented  the  old  town  of  North  Providence  in  the 
lower  branch  of  the  general  assembly  in  1861-2-3,  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  town  council  and  school  committee  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  state  board  of  education.  Twice  he 
was  appointed  by  the  governor  one  of  the  harbor  commissioners,  and 
at  the  present  time  he  is  chairman  of  the  board  of  water  commission- 
ers of  Pawtucket  and  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association  of 
that  city,  an  organization  which  embraces  in  its  membership  very 
many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Pawtucket  and  the  adjoinmg  village 
of  Central  Falls.  Mr.  Darling  is  also  the  sole  owner  of  the  Music  Hall 
building,  on  Main  street,  one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  substantial 
business  structures  in  Pawtucket. 

In  politics  Mr.  Darling  is  a  pronounced  republican,  and  for  two 
successive  years  (1885  and  1886)  he  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  of 
Rhode  Island,  the  Hon.  George  Peabody  Wetmore,  of  Newport,  holding 
first  position  on  the  ticket.  Of  Mr.  Darling  it  may  be  truly  said  con- 
cerning all  the  public  positions  which  he  has  held,  that  when  he  has 
consented  to  be  a  candidate  it  has  been  because  he  yielded  to  the  per- 
suasions of  others,  to  the  disregard  of  his  own  personal  preferences. 

Mr.  Darling  has  traveled  extensively  in  his  own  country,  as  well 
as  in  Europe,  and  in  his  delightful  home  on  Walcott  street  are  many 
works  of  art,  which  have  been  gathered  from  time  to  time  in  the 
various  lands  which  he  has  visited.  Of  pleasing  address,  agreeable  in 
manners,  courteous  in  bearing  and  "given  to  hospitality,"  his  circle 
of  acquaintance  is  largely  extended.  He  is  thoroughly  identified  with 
the  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  so  long  resided,  and 
where  he  has  reached  a  high  and  honorable  position  by  reason  of  his 


108  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

uprightness  of  character,  his  unbounded  energy  and  his  sterling  com- 
mon sense. 

He  married,  November  4th,  1847,  Angeline  H,  Armington.  They 
have  had  six  children:  Mary  E.,  Ada  E.,  Lovinia,  Ira  C,  Lucius  B., 
Jr.,  and  Byron  (deceased). 

Simon  Willard  Dexter,  manufacturer,  and  son  of  Captain  N.  G.  B. 
Dexter,  the  founder  of  the  Dexter  Yarn  Company's  business,  was  born 
in  Pawtucket  July  25th,  1820.  He  is  a  descendant  of  Reverend 
Gregory  Dexter,  an  associate  of  Roger  Williams,  and  a  grandson  of 
Nathaniel  Balch  Dexter,  of  Grafton,  Massachusetts,  who  was  a  tailor 
by  trade,  and  who  came  to  Pawtucket  in  1798.  Nathaniel  B.  Dexter 
married  a  daughter  of  Simon  Willard,  of  Boston,  the  great  clock 
maker.  He  removed  to  Providence  in  1830,  where  he  died  in  1832. 
His  brother  John  settled  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  was  a  judge  of 
the  court  many  years,  and  died  there  at  the  age  of  96  years.  Daniel 
S.,  another  brother,  commanded  a  regiment  of  colored  soldiers  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  died  in  his  95th  year.  Thomas,  Horace  and  Horatio, 
sons  of  Nathaniel  B.  Dexter,  went  to  Florida.  Nathaniel  G.  B.  came 
to  Pawtucket.  The  Reverend  Gregory  Dexter  was  born  in  Olney, 
England,  in  the  year  1610.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister  at  London,  was 
a  highly  cultured  gentleman,  and  the  transatlantic  correspondent  of 
Roger  Williams.  In  1643,  when  Williams  went  to  England  to  procure 
the  first  charter  for  the  infant  colony,  he  took  with  him  Mr.  Dexter's 
manuscript  of  his  "  Directory  of  the  Indian  Language,"  and  on  the 
voyage  arranged  it  for  being  printed,  and  in  that  same  year  (1643) 
Mr.  Dexter  printed  the  first  edition  of  it  at  London.  In  1644  Mr. 
Dexter  joined  Williams  at  Providence,  where  he  afterward  became  a 
distinguished  character  in  the  colony.  He  was  one  of  the  parties 
named  in  the  charter  of  1663,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  one  of 
the  assistants  under  the  authority  granted  in  that  charter.  He  had 
been  well  educated,  held  various  offices,  and  especially  many  positions 
where,  in  the  general  paucity  of  mental  cultivation,  he  was  so  much 
needed.  He  was  also  the  fourth  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in 
Providence,  having  been  called  to  succeed  Reverend  Mr.  Wickenden 
about  1650.  He  was  the  first  accomplished  printer  that  cam.e  to  this 
country,  and  he  printed  with  his  own  hand  the  first  almanac  for  the 
meridian  of  Rhode  Island.  This  forefather  of  the  Dexter  family  died 
in  the  3'ear  1700.  His  first  house  was  a  log  house,  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  Indians  in  1676.  In  this  King  Philip's  war  two  of  his 
grandchildren  were  rendered  orphans. 

Nathaniel  G.  B.  Dexter,  commonly  known  as  Captain  Dexter, 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  fifth  in  descent  from 
Reverend  Gregory  Dexter,  and  was  the  only  one  of  the  six  de- 
scendants of  that  forefather  bearing  the  name  of  Gregory  who  ever 
lived  to  marry.  He  was  born  at  Grafton,  Massachusetts,  in  1788,  and 
in   1798  removed  to   Pawtucket  with  his  father's  familv.     He  never 


l--\T  L^  Ks-rrza-^-ITl 


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/#^^y/^ 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  109 

went  to  school,  but  was  educated  by  his  parents.  He  was  the  especial 
favorite  of  Samuel  Slater,  the  first  manufacturer  of  cotton  yarns  by 
machinery  in  America,  and  early  entered  the  counting  room  as  his 
clerk,  and  subsequently  became  the  superintendent  of  the  mills.  He 
was  strictly  temperate  from  his  youth.  Using-  his  own  words,  he  says: 
"  Well,  mother,  I've  seen  a  man  trying  to  walk  and  couldn't  go  be- 
cause they  said  he  was  drunk;  and  I  have  inquired  into  it  and  come 
to  an  agreement  with  myself  to  never  drink  one  drop  of  anything 
that  I  know  has  any  drunk  in  it."  And  he  kept  that  agreement  till 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  8th,  1866. 

•Captain  Dexter  opened  the  first  Sunday  school  in  the  United 
States,  under  Samuel  Slater's  direction,  and  taught  it  himself.  The 
scholars  were  the  children  who  worked  in  the  cotton  mill.  In  1808  he 
was  married  to  Amey,  daughter  of  Jerahmeel  Jencks,  of  Pawtucket, 
Rhode  Island.  In  1858  he  celebrated  with  his  wife  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  his  wedding,  and  among  the  hundreds  of  his  descendants 
and  friends  present  were  two  other  couples  giving  additional  interest 
to  the  occasion.  Reverend  David  Benedict,  D.D.,  who  married  Cap- 
tain Dexter  50  years  before,  was  present  with  his  wife;  and  Captain 
Josiah  Jones,  Esq.,  who  with  his  own  fingers  set  the  types  that  an- 
nounced the  wedding  in  a  paper,  was  present  also  with  his  wife.  The 
parties  above  mentioned  also  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  in 
the  year  1858.  Captain  Dexter  was  for  many  years  a  manufacturer 
of  cotton  yarn  on  an  extensive  scale.  In  1855  this  business  was  given 
up  to  his  two  sons,  and  in  1866  this  patriarch  of  the  whole  American 
system  of  Sunday  schools  passed  to  his  reward. 

Simon  W.  Dexter  received  his  education  from  the  public  schools 
of  Pawtucket.  When  15  years  of  age  he  decided  upon  learning  the 
trade  of  a  jeweler.  To  this  end  he  entered  the  shop  of  Joseph  Martin 
of  Providence,  in  1835,  and  remained  with  him  till  1841.  He  worked 
for  different  firms  in  Providence  and  Boston,  closing  his  career  in 
this  line  of  business  when  in  the  employ  of  Jonathan  Sweet.  In  1842 
he  left  Boston  for  Pawtucket,  going  into  the  shoe  business  on  Main 
street.  In  1843  he  formed  a  partnership  with  F.  S.  Eddy,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Dexter  &  Eddy.  In  the  year  following  he  gave  up  the 
shoe  business  and  went  into  his  father's  mill,  and  then  it  was  he 
began  the  career  of  his  life,  and  one  which  has  distinguished  him  as  a 
manufacturer  throughout  the  whole  country.  His  father's  business 
had  by  this  time  grown  to  considerable  proportions.  It  was  now  ex- 
tended under  the  Dexter  Brothers  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  trade, 
but  in  that  expansion  a  great  revulsion  occurred,  and  in  1876  a  great 
loss  was  sustained.  A  mammoth  foundation  for  a  great  industry, 
however,  was  laid  by  Mr.  Dexter  and  his  brother,  who  had  done  a 
business  of  from  six  hundred  thousand  to  a  million  of  dollars  annually, 
and  in  1880  the  Dexter  Yarn  Company  was  incorporated,  since  which 
time  the  business  has  gradually  expanded,  having  now  an  enviable 


110  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

reputation.  Mr.  Dexter  has  retired  from  the  more  active  pursuits  of 
a  business  life,  but  is  still  a  stockholder  of  the  company.  His  son, 
Samuel  F.  Dexter,  is  secretary  and  general  manager  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Dexter  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man.  He  has  used  his  money 
freely  for  the  good  of  the  poor,  is  known  for  the  probity  of  his  char- 
acter, and  for  the  uprightness  of  a  long  and  successful  business 
•career.  He  is  public  spirited,  but  no  politician.  He  was  married  in 
1842  to  Ann  Eliza,  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  Hannah  Bowen,  of 
Attleboro,  Massachusetts.  She  died  in  1883.  Four  children  were 
"born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Emma,  now  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Thayer,  and  Samuel  F.,  above  mentioned.  August  17th,  1884, 
Mr.  Dexter  married  his  present  wife.  Rose  Maria  Conley,  a  most 
estimable  lady,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catharine  (Rush) 
Conley,  who  came  from  England  in  1853. 

Samuel  Francis  Dexter,  son  of  Simon  W.,  born  in  Pawtucket 
September  3d,  1847,  married  Fannie,  daughter  of  Doctor  James  L. 
'Wheaton,and  has  three  children:  Nathaniel  Wheaton,  Fannie  W.and 
M.  Anthony. 

vSamuel  Slater  Dexter,  son  of  Nathaniel  G.  B.,  was  born  in  Paw- 
tucket April  8th,  1827.  His  first  wife  was  Elvira  Crowell,  by  whom 
he  had  one  child,  Sarah  Frances,  wife  of  Heber  J.  Graham,  of  Central 
Falls.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Howland,  and  the  children  by  this 
marriage  are :  Nelly,  died  aged  4  months ;  Charles,  Nathaniel  G.  B„ 
and  Maud,  wife  of  Duncan  A.  Cattanach. 

Waterman  T.  Dexter,  son  of  Nathaniel  B.,  born  in  Grafton,  Mass., 
June  28th,  1790,  married  Fannie,  daughter  of  James  Orne,  of  Attle- 
boro, Mass.  Their  children  were  :  Horatio,  Ann  E.  B.,  wife  of  Caleb 
Ingraham,  resident  of  East  Providence ;  George  Thomas,  Fannie 
Orne,  wife  of  Abner  D.  Horr,  resides  in  Providence  ;  Waterman  W., 
Henry  B.,  Sarah  L.,  wife  of  Ray  W.  Potter,  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
and  Caroline  Reed,  a  single  lady,  residing  in  Providence.  He  died 
April  9th,  1870.  Waterman  W.,  son  of  Waterman  T.,  was  born  in 
North  Providence,  now  Pawtucket,  August  8th,  1824,  and  married 
Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Captain  Halsey  Baker,  of  Fall  River.  His 
children  by  this  marriage  were  :  Grace  A.,  who  died  young;  Clara  W., 
wife  of  George  A.  Luther,  of  Pawtucket  ;  Herbert  C,  born  February 
29th,  1852,  married  Ida  Bishop  and  has  one  child ;  Florence,  resides 
in  Chicago,  111.  ;  Annie  G.,  wife  of  C.  M.  Farnum,  of  Chicago,  111.  ; 
Frank  Gregory,  born  December  8th,  1856,  married  Stella  Manning, 
has  one  child  Earl,  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  Fred  W.,  born  March 
8th,  1859,  married  Agnes  E.  Muir,  of  Providence,  is  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business  in  Pawtucket;  and  Edgar  M.,  born  May  14th  1861, 
married  Annie  Baker.  Waterman  W.  was  for  a  number  of  years  en- 
gaged in  the  jewelry  business  in  Pawtucket,  but  now  carries  on  an  in- 
surance business.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Caroline  J.  Baker. 
Henry  Bowers,  son  of  Waterman  T.,  born  in  Pawtucket,  March  27th, 


Eng  fbyF.GI&rntui^ 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  Ill 

1827,  married  Emily,  daughter  of  John  Campbell.     They  had  but  one 
child,  Kate  Bowers,  wife  of  Albert  H.  Stearns,  of  Boston,  Mass. 

John  D.  Earle.— Of  those  whom  we  can  mention  in  the  highest 
terms,  John  Dexter  Earle  is  one  not  to  be  forgotten.  He  was  born  in 
Providence,  July  Sth,  1837,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  George  B.  and 
Cornelia  A.  (Rhodes)  Earle.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Ralph  Earle, 
who  came  from  Exeter,  England,  in  early  colonial  days,  and  settled 
at  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  His  father  was  for  years  engaged  in  the  express 
business,  first  known  as  Earle's  Express.  Mr.  Earle's  education  was 
obtained  in  the  comm.on  schools  and  at  Lyon  &  Tree's  Academy.  He 
began  business  life  in  the  employ  of  his  father.  Afterward,  but  be- 
fore the  establishment  of  the  national  banking  system,  he  acted  as 
bank  messenger,  carrying  the  exchanges  between  the  Merchants'  Bank 
of  Providence  and  the  Suffolk  Bank  of  Boston.  This  position  he  held 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1865  he  was  offered  a  position  as  agent  for 
the  Adams  Express  Company  at  Pawtucket,  and  took  charge  of  that 
office  in  October,  1865,  increasing  the  business  to  such  an  extent,  in  a 
few  years,  as  to  make  himself  almost  indispensable  to  the  company. 

The  firm  of  Earle  &  Prew's  Express  was  formed  in  1867,  and  in 
1870  Mr.  Ea|-le  became  a  partner  of  that  concern,  and  shortly  after- 
ward assumed  the  duties  of  treasurer,  besides  acting  as  agent  at  Paw- 
tucket, holding  the  treasurership  until  shortl}"  before  his  death.  He 
received  a  commission  from  Governor  Sprague  in  1861  as  colonel  of 
the  National  Cadets  of  Providence,  and  was  a  member  of  the  What 
Cheer  Lodge  of  Masons.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Templar 
order,  and  was  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  other  secret 
organizations,  and  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  Water  Witch  Sixes 
of  Providence,  in  the  volunteer  fire  department.  For  years  he  was 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Pawtucket  Institution  for  Savings,  president 
of  the  Heaton  Button  Fastener  and  the  Standard  Button  Companies, 
and  also  a- prominent  member  of  the  Business  Men's  Association  and 
the  Expressmen's  Mutual  Benefit  Association. 

Mr.  Earle  resided  in  Pawtucket  a  score  or  more  of  years,  and  was 
always  very  much  interested  in  town  affairs,  taking  a  prominent  part 
in  all  important  matters  that  arose,  and  serving  as  senator  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly.  He  was  married,  December  30th,  1862,  at  New  York 
city,  to  Emily  C,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Margaret  L.  Wilbour,  for- 
merly of  Pawtucket.  They  had  three  children:  Emily  Wilbour,  John 
Dexter  and  James  Lloyd.  The  latter  died  while  quite  young;  Emily 
W.  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  H.  Porter,  of  Rockford,  111.,  and  John 
Dexter  is  employed  by  the  Rockford  Cabinet  Company.  Mr.  Earle 
was  equable  in  temperament,  and  held  a  high  social  position.  His 
chief  pleasure,  however,  was  the  enjoyment  of  his  home  and  family. 
At  his  death,  which  occurred  February  6th,  1887,  he  left  behind  many 
staunch  friends,  and  the  associations  of  which  he  was  a  member  all 
sent  resolutions  of  sympathy  to  Mrs.  Earle. 


112  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Lewis  Fairbrother,  son  of  Jarvis  and  Betsey  (Field)  Fairbrother. 
was  born  in  North  Providence,  now  a  part  of  Pawtucket,  August  2d, 
1812.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  was  an  excel- 
lent machinist.  He  removed  from  his  native  town  and  prosecuted 
his  business  in  North  Providence,  and  probably  assisted  in  the  manu- 
facture, setting  up  and  starting  of  the  first  machinery  ever  placed  in 
the  Old  Slater  Mill.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Field. 
They  had  seven  children:  John,  Lewis,  Betsey,  Samuel,  Phineas,  Na- 
thaniel and  Mary  (who  died  young).  Lewis  received  a  good  educa- 
tion, by  spending  a  few  weeks  each  year  in  the  common  schools,  and 
subsequently  at  the  Wilbraham  Academy,  where  he  studied  one  year. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Sunday  school  in  his  early  boyhrcd, 
which  was  instituted  by  the  famous  Samuel  Slater,  who  was  the  first 
to  introduce  cotton  spinning  into  this  country  successfully  by  power, 
which  industry  was  commenced  in  the  town  of  North  Providence  in 
the  year  1790.  When  Mr.  Fairbrother  was  a  boy  he  commenced 
work  at  about  eight  years  of  age  in  Mr.  Slater's  mill,  now  called  the 
Old  Slater  Mill. 

In  the  general  assembly  of  1888  an  act  was  passed  incorporating 
the  Fairbrother  Belting  Company,  Lewis  Fairbrother,  treasurer.  The 
house  was  established  in  1834  by  the  Hon.  Lewis  Fairbrother,  who 
commenced  business  in  a  building  measuring  about  30x15  feet.  He 
had  learned  the  art  of  tanning  in  Attleboro,  Mass.,  and  began  busi- 
ness in  Pawtucket,  R.  L,  then  only  a  small  village,  with  only  one  vat, 
making  picker  and  lace  leather.  A  few  years  later  he  entered  upon 
the  manufacture  of  leather  belting  and  other  kinds  of  leather  for  fac- 
tory uses.  Purchasing  the  hides,  he  tanned  and  finished  them  for 
various  purposes,  as  stated.  He  has  contributed  largely  to  the  de- 
velopment of  the  city  of  Pawtucket  and  the  state. 

In  1855  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  general  assembly,  and 
again  in  1856,  serving  two  years  as  chairman  of  the  house  committee 
on  corporations.  In  1857  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  re- 
elected in  1858, 1859  and  1860,  and  again  in  1864,  here,  as  in  the  house, 
serving  all  the  time  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  corporations. 
For  many  years  he  was  agent  for  the  management  of  the  Providence 
and  Pawtucket  Turnpike,  and  set  many  of  the  trees  on  that  thorough- 
fare, and  for  one  season  had  the  track  watered.  In  the  erection  of  the 
solid  stone  bridge  at  Pawtucket  Falls,  by  order  of  the  state  of  Rhode 
Island  and  the  towns  of  North  Providence  and  Pawtucket  in  1858,  he 
was  chairman  of  the  commissioners.  During  the  rebellion,  besides 
otherwise  aiding  the  Union  cause,  he  was  the  committee  of  the  town 
for  distributing  thousands  of  dollars  for  the  relief  and  comfort  of  the 
families  of  the  soldiers,  aiding  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  families.  He 
was  president  of  the  Slater  Bank  (now  the  Slater  National  Bank)  at 
its  organization  and  for  many  years  after.  In  the  old  North  Provi- 
dence Bank  he  was  a  director,  and  is  now  a  director  in  the  Slater  Cot- 


f 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  113 

ton  Company.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  by  the  state  an  inspector  of 
the  state  prison,  and  served  in  that  office  eleven  years.  In  every 
position  in  life  he  has  been  valued  for  his  talents,  stability,  judgment 
and  faithfulness.  His  son,  Henry  L.,  on  reaching  maturity,  was  re- 
ceived by  him  as  partner  in  business,  and  remained  interested  in  the 
business  until  his  demise  in  1886.  Coming  as  he  did  from  noble  an- 
cestors, he  was  a  noble  scion  of  the  house  of  Fairbrother.  In  politics 
he  was  conservative;  in  business,  he  was  honorable  and  honored;  to 
the  humble  poor  he  was  charitable,  as  thousands  can  testify  who  now 
honor  his  beloved  memory.  This  is  the  oldest  picker  and  lace  leather 
establishment  in  Rhode  Island,  and  the  oldest  in  the  United  States, 
save  one  in  Massachusetts,  where  Mr.  Lewis  Fairbrother  learned  the 
art  of  tanning. 

Squire  French,  born  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  January  26th,  1781,  died 
March  12th,  1869.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Allen)  French. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth,  and  was  inter- 
ested, under  the  firm  name  of  French  «S:  Read,  in  a  mill  that  used  to 
stand  where  D.  Goff  &  Company's  present  mill  is.  He  gave  up  busi- 
ness at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  He  married  Betsey  F.  Buck- 
lin,  and  had  four  children:  George,  died,  aged  43  years;  Martha,  wife 
of  Charles  Barrett,  of  Taunton;  Henry,  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Boston,  and   Ellen,  wife  of  Henry  Dana,  of  Pawtucket. 

Darius  Goff. — No  face  is  more  familiar  upon  the  streets  of  Paw- 
tucket than  is  that  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  nor  has  that  com- 
munity a  citizen  more  deeply  interested  in  its  present  and  future 
prosperity.  Darius  Goff  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  May  10th,  1809. 
His  father,  Richard  Goff,  was  a  manufacturer,  and  in  1790  built  a 
fulling  and  cloth-dressing  mill,  and  stocked  it  with  the  best  of  ma- 
chinery of  that  early  day.  His  mother,  Mehitable  Goff,  was  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  Stephen  Bullock,  of  Rehoboth.  His  grandfather, 
Joseph  Goff,  and  his  great-grandfather,  Richard  Goff,  also  lived 
in  Rehoboth.  Darius  received  his  education  at  home  and  in 
the  common  schools.  At  an  early  age  he  went  into  his  father's 
mill  to  help,  and  to  learn  the  various  processes  to  which  the  hand- 
spun  and  hand-woven  cloth  was  subjected  in  order  to  make  it 
of  sufficient  weight  or  thickness  for  winter  wear.  His  father 
continued  the  business  until  1821,  when  so  great  had  been  the  im- 
provements in  machinery  by  Samuel  vSlater  and  others  that  the  hand- 
loom  and  all  other  hand  machinery  in  making  woolen  goods  were 
superseded.  Young  Goff  then  left  Rehoboth  and  found  employment 
in  a  woolen  mill  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  and  a  year  or  two  later  he  was 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store  in  Providence,  he  having  had  some  previous 
experience  in  that  business  while  in  Rehoboth. 

Returning  to  his  natife  town,  in  1836  he  and  his  brother  Nelson 
purchased  the  Union  Cotton  Mill,  a  concern  which  was  built  in  1808, 
but  which  had  long  been  idle,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
8 


114  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

batting,  which  business  they  prosecuted  with  success.  Soon  after- 
ward they  began  making  glazed  wadding,  sizing  it  by  hand,  a  sheet 
at  a  time,  on  a  table  covered  with  sheet  lead,  then  hanging  it  on 
racks  with  a  common  lath  to  dry.  Subsequently  it  occurred  to  them 
that  wadding  might  be  made  in  an  almost  endless  sheet  or  roll,  and 
after  experimenting  for  nearl}'  two  years  the  object  which  they 
sought  was  attained.  This  apron  process  is  now  so  well  nigh  uni- 
versal as  to  render  description  unnecessary.  But  to  make  colored 
wadding  the  firm  was  obliged  to  color  and  dry  the  cotton  before  it 
went  to  the  machine.  Mr.  Goff  determined  to  devise  some  means 
whereby  the  process  could  be  accomplished  by  the  same  operation, 
and  in  this  he  was  successful.  He  enlarged  the  mill  and  procured 
the  necessary  machinery,  but  shortly  after  it  was  set  in  operation  the 
building  was  burned. 

As  early  as  1836  Mr.  Goff  had  given  considerable  attention  to  the 
buying  and  selling  of  cotton  waste,  and  that  year  he  made  a  contract 
with  the  Lonsdale  Company  for  all  their  refuse  cotton  material  which 
they  could  not  utilize  in  the  manufacture  of  their  goods,  and  has  had 
a  written  contract  with  them  every  year  since,  being  now  54  succes- 
sive years.  In  some  years  their  bills  have  amounted  to  more  than 
$100,000.  Previous  to  1836  the  refuse  of  cotton  mills  was  considered 
useless  and  thrown  away. 

In  this  new  business  Mr.  Goff  formed  a  copartnership  in  1846  with 
George  Lawton,  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  and  began  dealing  in  waste  paper 
stock  on  Gray's  wharf,  in  Boston,  that  being  nearer  the  center  of  the 
paper  manufacturing  districts.  In  1847  Mr.  Goff  removed  to  Paw- 
tucket  and  purchased  the  estate  on  Weeden,  Pine  and  Dexter  streets, 
now  occupied  by  the  Union  Wadding  Company,  which  is  the  legiti- 
mate successor  of  the  cotton-batting  industry  started  by  Mr.  Goff  in 
Rehoboth  in  1836.  The  mill  erected  on  the  aforementioned  premises 
by  Goff  &  Lawton  was  run  by  a  steam  engine,  the  cotton  being  carded 
in  the  white  state,  carried  through  all  the  processes  of  coloring  and 
sizing,  and  brought  out  in  endless  sheets.  In  1861  the  mill  was 
burned,  but  was  at  once  rebuilt  on  a  larger  scale.  In  1859  the  part- 
nership of  Goff  &  Lawton  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Lawton  taking  the  paper- 
stock  business  in  Boston  and  Mr.  Goff  the  wadding  mill  in  Pawtucket. 
Mr.  Goff  then  united  with  John  D.  Cranston  and  Stephen  Brownell, 
of  Providence,  under  the  firm  name  of  Goff,  Cranston  &  Brownell,  and 
carried  on  a  general  business  in  paper-stock  and  wadding.  The  en- 
terprise increased  very  rapidly,  and  in  1860  the  firm  engaged  Henry 
A.  Stearns  as  superintendent  of  the  mill,  a  position  which  he  still 
holds.  Soon  after  he  became  superintendent  Mr.  Goff  sold  him  an 
interest  in  the  mill  and  the  business.  In  1871  the  mill  was  burned, 
and  rebuilt  in  1872  in  larger  proportions  anft  with  more  perfect  ma- 
chinery. 

Since  1880  the  business  has  been  carried  on  under  the  name  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  115 

Union  Wadding  Company,  which  is  now  officered  as  follows:.  Darius 
Go£f,  president;  Lyman  B.  Goff  (his  youngest  son),  treasurer,  and 
Henry  A.  Stearns,  superintendent.  Mr.  L.  B.  Goff  is  also  manager. 
The  business  has  grown  from  an  annual  sale  in  1880  of  $700,000  to 
nearly  $2,000,000  in  1890.  The  name  of  the  company  gives  the  im- 
pression that  the  principal  business  is  the  manufacture  of  cotton  wad- 
ding, whereas  this  branch  is  only  about  one-sixth  of  the  product  of 
the  establishment,  the  main  business  being  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
batting  and  the  buying  and  selling  of  cotton  waste,  a  market  for 
which  is  found  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  England  and 
Germany.  The  works  have  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  until 
they  now  cover  between  four  and  five  acres,  and  employment  is  given 
to  400  persons.  The  company  also  own  a  large  plant  in  Augusta, 
Georgia,  and  one  half  of  a  mill  in  Montreal,  Canada.  The  capital 
stock  of  the  company,  which  was  originally  $200,000,  is  now  $1,000,000. 
A  majority  of  the  stock  is  owned  by  Mr.  Goff  and  his  son  Lyman. 

In  1861  Mr.  Goff  began  the  manufacture  of  worsted  braids,  associ- 
ating with  him  in  business  his  eldest  son,  Darius  L.,  who  had  just 
graduated  from  college,  the  firm  name  being  D.  Goff  &  Son.  This 
was  the  first  worsted  braid  mill  started  in  this  country,  although  Mr. 
H.  N.  Daggett,  the  manufacturer  of  the  "  Gold  Medal  "  braid,  com- 
menced operations  the  same  year.  Until  1867  the  mill  was  run  at  a 
loss,  when  a  change  in  the  tariff  enabled  the  concern  to  manufacture 
goods  at  a  profit  and  build  up  the  industry.  Without  the  protection 
afforded  by  the  law  of  1867,  it  was  impossible  to  compete  even  with 
the  poorer  quality  of  English  and  German  braids  put  on  the  market. 
The  change  in  the  tariff  made  a  market  for  the  American  manufac- 
ture, and  the  foreign  braids  were  shortly  withdrawn  from  importa- 
tion. The  business  prospered,  and  in  1872  Lyman  B.  Goff,  now  treas- 
urer of  the  Union  Wadding  Company,  was  admitted  to  partnership, 
the  firm  name  being  D.  Goff  &  Sons,  under  which  name  the  business 
is  still  carried  on.  The  same  year  the  large  and  handsome  brick  mill 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  stone 
structure  which  had  been  previously  occupied  by  the  firm. 

In  1877  an  important  change  was  made  by  the  firm  in  the  manner 
of  putting  up  their  goods  for  the  retail  market.  Previous  to  that  time 
the  braid  had  been  put  up  in  the  familiar  stick  form.  Mr.  D.  L.  Goff 
conceived  the  idea  of  rolling  the  braid  and  fastening  the  end  with  a 
clasp.  The  experiment  was  tried,  and  Mr.  Goff  applied  for  a  patent, 
which  was  granted  as  to  the  clasp.  It  was  predicted  by  other  manu- 
facturers that  this  style  of  putting  up  braid  would  not  meet  with 
favor  on  the  part  of  consumers;  but  the  new  method  at  once  secured 
popular  approval,  and  other  makers  were  not  slow  in  following  where 
Mr.  Goff  had  led,  although  they  were  unable  to  use  the  patented 
clasp,  and  had  to  substitute  some  other  device  therefor,  "  Goff's 
Braid  "  is  a  name  which  has  become  as  familiar  as  household  words 


116  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

in  all  parts  of  the  country,  branch  houses  being  established  in  Phila- 
delphia, Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco.  The  firm  is  the  lead- 
ing one  of  its  kind  in  America. 

In  1882  Goff  &  Sons  begafi  a  new  industry.  Previous  to  that  time 
mohair  plush  had  not  been  made  in  this  country  or  in  England. 
Being  a  very  difficult  fabric  to  produce,  the  firm  deemed  it  advisable 
.to  send  a  representative  to  France  or  Germany  to  procure  machinery 
and  informiation  rather  than  attempt  to  solve  the  problem  themselves. 
Accordingly  a  gentleman  of  ability  and  experience  in  such  matters 
was  sent  to  those  countries  for  the  purposes  named,  and  after  spend- 
ing considerable  time  in  a  fruitless  effort  to  obtain  the  information 
desired,  and  being  unable  to  purchase  machinery  (the  business  being 
kept  so  secret  by  those  engaged  in  it),  he  returned  home.  The  firm 
at  once  determined  that  they  would  work  out  the  problem  themselves, 
and  after  five  years  of  persistent  thought  and  labor  they  were  enabled 
to  turn  out  goods  in  every  way  equal  to  those  of  foreign  make.  Since 
this  new  industry  has  been  so  successfully  established,  the  braid  mill 
has  been  materially  enlarged,  until  it  is  now  about  600  feet  in  length. 
Employment  is  furnished  a  large  number  of  persons  in  both  the  braid 
and  plush  departments. 

Mr.  Goff  is  a  staunch  republican,  but  has  had  very  little  time  in 
his  busy  life  to  give  to  politics,  and  yet  he  served  in  the  town  council 
of  Pawtucket  before  it  became  a  city,  and  was  at  one  time  state  sena- 
tor. For  many  years  he  was  a  director  in  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank, 
and  is  now  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket  and  in 
the  Pawtucket  Street  Railway  from  its  inception.  For  twenty  years 
or  more  he  has  been  a  director  in  the  Pawtucket  Hair  Cloth  Com- 
pany, and  at  present  is  a  director  in  the  Royal  Weaving  Company,  of 
which  corporation  he  is  the  originator.  He  is  one  of  the  original 
stockholders  of  the  Pawtucket  Gas  Company,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  the  only  one  of  its  original  directors  living,  having  been  elected 
to  tjiat  position  in  1853.  Quite  a  number  of  years  ago  he  bought  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  a  central  part  of  Pawtucket,  laid  out  and  graded 
wide  streets  at  his  own  expense,  and  sold  lots  at  a  nominal  price, 
which  are  now  covered  with  factories  and  dwellings.  Recently  he 
has  made  large  purchases  of  land  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  and, 
with  others,  has  given  several  acres  to  the  New  York,  Providence  & 
Boston  Railroad  Company  on  which  to  erect  passenger  and  freight 
stations  and  for  other  railroad  purposes,  which  must  prove  of  great 
advantage  to  the  city.  He  has  also  within  a  short  time  bought  a 
valuable  estate  in  the  compact  part  of  the  city  with  the  intention  of 
building  a  fine  business  block  thereon.  In  1884  he  bought  the  old 
homestead  estate  in  Rehoboth,  where  he  was  born,  and  erected 
thereon  a  handsome  structure  which  bears  the  name  of  "  Goff  Memo- 
rial." It  was  dedicated  May  10th,  1886,  which  was  also  the  77th  anni- 
versary of  the  birth  of  Mr.  Goff,  and  the  240th  of  the  handing  over  of 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  117 

the  deeds  of  the  old  town  to  the  English  by  Massasoit.  The  dedica- 
tory exercises  were  under  the  direction  of  the  Rehoboth  Antiquarian 
Society. 

Mr.  Goff  is  an  influential  and  much  esteemed  member  of  the  Paw- 
tucket  Congregational  church,  and  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters. 
In  him  every  good  cause  finds  a  friend  and  helper. 

He  has  been  twice  married  ;  first,  in  May,  1839,  to  Sarah  Lee,  whose 
only  child  died  :  second,  to  Harriet  Lee.  They  were  sisters,  and 
daughters  of  Israel  Lee,  of  Dighton,  Mass.  The  children  by  the  second 
marriage  have  been  Darius  L.,  Lyman  B.,  and  Sarah  C.  His  sons,  as 
already  stated,  are  now  associated  with  him  in  business.  His  daugh- 
ter married  Thomas  S.  Steele,  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

William  Henry  Haskell,  president  of  the  William  H.  Haskell 
Company,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cumberland  September  1st,  1821, 
His  grandparents,  Samuel  and  Mary  Haskell,  were  among  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  town,  locating  near  Diamond  Hill  Plains.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  95  years,  in  September,  1849.  She  died  in  September,  1849, 
at  the  age  of  91  years.  Turner  Haskell,  their  son  and  father  of  Wil- 
liam H.,  lived  and  died  in  this  town.  Turner  Haskell  was  a  very 
prominent  man^  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the  town  council, 
was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
when  he  died  was  regarded  as  a  very  rich  man.  His  wife  was  Pa- 
tience Smith  Haskell.  She  died  in  1883,  aged  89  years.  He  died  in 
1863,  at  the  age  of  73.  They  raised  a  family  of  eight  children,  five  of 
whom  were  girls. 

William  H,  Haskell  received  his  education  at  a  country  district 
school,  which  he  attended  when  a  youth  about  three  months  each 
year.  During  the  other  nine  months  of  the  year  he  worked  on  the 
farm.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  being  moved  by  the  inclinations 
of  an  inventive  mind,  he  decided  upon  becoming  a  machinist.  During 
the  first  two  years  he  closely  applied  himself  to  learning  his  trade  in 
the  shop  of  Ebenezer  and  Joseph  Metcalf,  who  then  operated  a  ma- 
chine shop  at  Arnold's  Mills  in  the  town  of  Cumberland.  In  1840  he 
went  to  Woonsocket  and  in  1841  to  Fall  River  In  1845  he  came  to 
Pawtucket  and  began  business  on  his  own  account.  He  entered  first 
into  partnership  with  Nathaniel  S.  CoUyer,  to  do  repair  work,  and  re- 
mained in  that  capacity  in  a  little  shop  on  Mill  street  for  four  years, 
at  first  employing  eight  or  ten  hands,  but  subsequently  this  number 
was  increased  to  20,  then  to  30.  In  1850  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  business  carried  on  by  Colonel  Stephen  Jenks,  and  removed  there 
and  remained  till  1861.  In  1860  he  purchased  grounds  for  the  mam- 
moth structures  erected  subsequently  on  his  own  lands,  moved  into 
his  first  building  January  1st,  1861,  and  began  business  in  his  own 
name  with  twenty  hands.  The  first  building  was  100  by  40  feet,  two 
stories  high,  and  was  supposed  to  be  commodious  enough  for  all  fu- 
ture demands,  but  business  increased,  and  in  1873  it  was  enlarged  to 


lis  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

350  by  50  feet,  while  the  force  has  been  increased  to  125  and  to  150 
hands,  as  occasion  requires.  At  the  present  time  he  does  a  business 
of  $200,000  a  year. 

Politically,  Mr.  Haskell  is  a  republican,  though  he  never  allowed 
himself  to  become  entangled  with  official  restraints  to  any  great  ex- 
tent. On  matters  of  public  moment  he  has  cast  his  lot  where  public 
spirit  demanded.  He  was  town  councilman  three  or  four  terms  in 
the  old  town  of  North  Providence,  and  after  the  division  of  this  town 
he  served  three  years  as  councilman  in  Pawtucket.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  commissioners  appointed  to  build  the  water  works,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  two  years.  In  1888  he  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate  and  served  one  term  in  that  body. 

Mr,  Haskell  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Columbia  and  Lydia  (Shaw)  Tingley.  This  marriage  oc- 
curred about  1845.  She  died  in  November,  1868.  Two  children  were 
the  issue  of  this  marriage — a  son,  now  dead,  and  a  daughter,  Eunice 
Ednah,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Moies.  His  second  marriage  took 
place  in  December,  1869,  to  Ann  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Sylvia  Carter,  of  Pawtucket.  One  daughter,  Elizabeth  D.,  was  born 
of  this  union, 

Nathan  Place  Hicks,  deceased,  patentee  of  Hicks'  ring  travelers,, 
was  born  in  North  Providence  February  26th,  1824.  His  father,  Ste- 
phen Hicks,  died  when  Nathan  P.  was  quite  young.  He  went  to  sea 
and  fell  from  a  mast  and  broke  his  neck.  His  mother,  Mrs.  Lydia 
(Albro)  Hicks,  was  a  sufferer  from  dementia  during  the  latter  part  of 
her  long  life,  making  her  home  during  the  last  19  years  of  her  sick- 
ness with  her  son,  under  the  care  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Hicks,  Mr,  Hicks 
of  necessity  had  to  work  hard  from  his  youth  up.  His  education  was- 
scant,  but  nevertheless  the  mind  of  the  man  was  broadened  and  edu- 
cated by  the  very  constraining  circumstances  surrounding  his  life. 
From  a  common  hand  in  the  mill  he  rose  to  be  overseer  for  James  C. 
vStarkweather,  and  for  eleven  years  was  overseer  for  the  Chase  Mill. 

While  at  work  in  Valley  Falls  he  began  experimenting  on  the  ring 
travelers  in  his  own  house,  after  the  day's  work  was  done.  He  began 
their  manufacture  in  1853.  One  defect  in  former  ring  travelers  was 
a  lack  of  uniformity  in  numbers  in  regard  to  weight.  To  remedy  this 
little  defect  the  little  instrument  had  to  be  manufactured  with  greater 
exactness,  which  from  trial  he  found  could  be  accomplished.  He  first 
began  the  manufacture  of  them  in  Valley  Falls,  and  with  Mrs.  Hicks' 
assistance  they  were  hardened  at  night  at  the  house.  He  moved  to 
Providence  in  1860,  and  came  to  Pawtucket,  locating  in  the  old  Slater 
Mill,  about  1867.  He  had  various  associates  and  did  business  under 
different  styles,  viz.:  N.  P.  Hicks  &  Co.,  Hicks  &  Sprague,  N.  P.  Hicks; 
as  agent  for  Olney  Arnold,  then  of  the  firm  of  E.  Jenckes  &  Co.  The 
Messrs,  Jenckes  steadily  increased  their  business,  until  these  goods 
are  widely  used  in  our  own  country  and  extensively  exported  to  Eu- 


/I 


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HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  119 

rope.  Mr.  Hicks  also  devised  machinery  for  making  gimlet-pointed 
wire  goods  for  cotton  and  woolen  mecliinery.  He  finally  sold  out  to 
E.  Jenckes  &  Co.  for  $75,000.  His  first  connection  with  Messrs. 
Jenckes  was  in  1869.  In  1885,  on  September  30th,  he  died.  As  a  man 
he  was  self  made,  and  was  free-hearted  and  generous  to  a  fault.  He 
was  a  member  in  high  standing  in  both  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
orders. 

In  1846  he  was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  and  Betsey 
(Butterworth)  Lee,  of  England.  Mr.  Lee  died  when  Mrs.  Hicks  was 
a  very  little  girl.  Her  mother  married  the  second  time,  and  died  in 
Wisconsin  in  1877.  Mr.  Hicks  purchased  his  residence  property  in 
Pawtucket  in  1877.  He  left  no  children,  but  raised  an  adopted  daugh- 
ter, now  Mrs.  Sarah  Adaline  Howe. 

The  Jenks  Family  is  a  numerous  one  in  the  towns  of  Pawtucket 
and  Lincoln.  The  name  is  variously  spelled,  Jenks,  Jencks,  or  Jenckes. 
The  first  settler  of  this  family  in  America  was  Joseph  Jenks,  who  came 
from  Buckingham,  England,  to  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1645.  He  was  the 
first  founder  that  worked  in  brass  and  iron  on  the  Western  Continent, 
and  a  large  number  of  his  descendants  have  since  that  time  engaged 
in  the  same  trade.  He  had  a  son  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  England  in 
1632,  and  who  came  to  what  is  now  Pawtucket  about  1655.  He  fol- 
lowed his  father's  trade  and  was  among  the  first  settlers  in  that 
locality.  He  married  Esther,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Ballard.  In  1676  his  forge  was  destroyed  by  the  Indians  during  King 
Phillip's  war.  He  held  the  position  of  assistant  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  children  were  :  Joseph  ;  Esther,  married  Samuel  Millard  ; 
Elizabeth,  married  Samuel  Tefft ;  Sarah,  married  Nathaniel  Brown  ; 
Nathaniel;  Joanna,  married  Sylvanus  Scott;  Ebenezer  ;  Mary,  married 
Daniel  Jenckes;  Abigail,  married  Thomas  Whipple,  and  William, 
Joseph  died  January  4th,  1717. 

Joseph,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  in  1656,  and  married  for  his  first 
wife  Martha,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Brown,  by  whom  he  had 
the  following  children  :  Joseph,  who  died  without  male  issue ;  Oba- 
diah  ;  Catherine,  married  William  Turpin  ;  Nathaniel  ;  Martha,  mar- 
ried John  Andrews :  Lydia,  married  Christopher  Mason  ;  John,  be- 
came a  doctor  and  died  of  small  pox  at  London,  England,  in  1726  ; 
Mary,  and  Esther,  married  Benjamin  Bucklin.  Joseph  was  in  public 
office  for  the  most  of  the  time  from  1691  to  1732,  and  was  known 
by  the  title  of  "  Governor."  He  held  the  positions  of  deputy,  speaker 
of  deputies,  assistant,  deputy  governor  and  governor.  His  second 
wife  was  Alice,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Whipple)  Smith  and 
widow  of  John  Dexter.  He  died  June  15th,  1740.  Nathaniel,  son  of 
Governor  Joseph,  married  Catharine  Scott,  and  had  the  following 
children  :  Anna,  married  Jonathan  Foster ;  Martha,  married  David 
Harris;  John  ;  Catharine,  married  John  Olney,  and  Joseph.  He  was 
known  by  the  title  of  captain,  having  been  connected  with  the 
military. 


120  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

John,  son  of  Captain  Nathaniel,  had  three  sons:  Esek  and  Sylva- 
nus,  both  of  whom  died  single,  and  George.  George,  son  of  John,  had 
a  large  family,  among  whom  were  six  boys,  viz.:  Nathaniel  Miller, 
Lemuel  Holmes,  James  Varnum,  George  Foster,  William  Thomson, 
and  Albert  Carlile.  Nathaniel  Miller,  son  of  George,  had  children  : 
Edmund,  who  died  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  leaving  no  family  ;  Almira, 
married  Job  Bennett ;  Ruth,  married  Isaiah  Barney ;  Horace,  died 
single,  and  Lydia,  married  Willard  Follett.  Lemuel  Holmes,  son  of 
George,  married  Nancy  Ingalls,  and  had  four  children  :  Sally  Miller, 
married  John  Fairbrother;  Ann  Eliza,  widow  of  Adin  Barber,  resides 
in  Pawtucket ;  Nathaniel  M.,  and  George  C.  died  leaving  no  male 
issue.  Nathaniel  M.,  son  of  Lemuel  H.,  born  February  26th,  1818, 
died  February  10th,  1872.  He  married  Rebecca  Green  and  their 
children  are:  Sarah,  wife  of  Augustus  Leach,  of  Providence;  John  C, 
resides  in  Barrington,  R.  L,  and  Charles  Edwin,  born  in  Central  Falls, 
May  23d,  1851,  married  Sarah  J.  Allen  and  has  two  children.  Nelson 
L.  and  Harry  E. 

William  Thomson,  son  of  George,  married  Patience  Hall  and  had 
had  a  family  of  five  children,  viz. :  George  C.  resides  in  New  York 
city;  Elizabeth  K,,  resides  in  Pawtucket;  William  N.,  resides  in 
Chelsea,  Mass.  ;  Henry  F.,  and  Erastus  Collins,  died  aged  15  years. 
William  T.  died  January  7th,  1879.  Henry  F.,  son  of  William  T.,  was 
born  in  Pawtucket  May  12th,  1837,  married  Mary,  adopted  daughter 
of  Doctor  Hiram  Cleveland  and  has  three  children  :  Hiram  Cleveland, 
Charles  Francis,  and  Dorothy. 

Albert  Carlile,  son  of  George,  was  born  August  2d,  1798,  and  mar- 
ried Minerva  Kingsley,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  viz.  :  Mary 
Frances,  widow  of  Joseph  Wheelock,  resides  in  New  York  city  ; 
James  Carlile,  and  Alfred  Augusta,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary  Pitcher,  daughter  of  Abner  Tompkins,  and 
they  had  four  children  ;  Amelia  Minerva  and  Ellen  Sophia,  twins,  the 
former  the  wife  of  Gilbert  B.  Dana,  of  Providence,  the  latter  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years  ;  Delia  Eliza,  resides  in  Providence,  and  Anna 
Maria,  wife  of  James  M.  Bishop,  of  Pawtucket.  Albert  Carlile  was 
early  in  life  engaged  in  the  crockery  business  in  Pawtucket,  but  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  in  the  drug  trade.  He  died  September 
22d,  1872. 

Joseph  Jenks,  son  of  Captain  Nathaniel  and  grandson  of  Governor 
Joseph,  had  the  following  family:  Nathaniel,  Ephraim  and  Joseph, 
besides  daughters.  Ephraim,  son  of  Joseph,  married  Rachel  Cole, 
and  their  children  were:  Hosea,  Sarah,  Mary  A.,  Emily,  Daniel  W. 
and  George  W.  Hosea, son  of  Ephraim,  was  born  January  26th,  1802, 
and  married  Annie  Barber,  of  Yarmouth,  Mass.  Their  children  were: 
Shubael,  died  young;  James  L.,  John  A.  and  Caroline,  widow  of  Wil- 
liam L.  Gray,  resides  in  Baltimore,  Md.  John  A.,  son  of  Hosea,  was 
born  in  Valley  Falls,  October  18th,  1828,  and  married  Martha  Connor. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  121 

His  children  are:  James  L.,  born  April  15th,  1858,  a  lawyer,  of  Paw- 
tucket,  and  Jennie  B. 

•  Nathaniel  Jenks,  son  of  Joseph,  the  Pawtucket  settler,  was  born 
January  29th,  1662,  and  married  Hannah  Bosworth.  He  was  known 
by  the  title  of  Major.  His  children  were:  Jonathan,  Nathaniel, 
Hannah,  married  Bonsfield  Capron,  and  Elizabeth,  married  John 
Owen.  He  died  August  11th,  1723.  Nathaniel,  son  of  Major  Na- 
thaniel, married  Lydia  Arnold  and  had  the  following  family:  Martha, 
married  Abraham  Scott;  Stephen;  Lydia,  married  Christopher  Brown; 
Joanna,  married  Daniel  Branch;  Ichabod,  James  and  Jemima,  died 
single. 

Stephen,  son  of  Nathaniel,  had  six  sons:  Eleazer,  Nathaniel, 
Moses,  Stephen,  Benjamin  (left  no  male  issue)  and  Jerahmeel,  who 
married  Rhoda  Whipple,  and  had  three  daughters:  Amy,  married 
Nathaniel  G.  B.  Dexter;  Polly,  married  Joseph  Ashley;  Sarah,  mar- 
ried first.  Potter,  second  Samuel  Chaffee.  Eleazer,  son  of  Stephen, 
had  two  sons,  viz.,  Eleazer  and  Stephen,  both  of  whom  died  without 
leaving  male  issue.  Moses,  son  of  Stephen,  married  Lois  Tingley,  of 
Attleboro,  Mass.,  and  had  four  sons:  Pardon,  Jabez,  Moses  and 
Charles.  The  two  last  died  without  male  issue.  Pardon,  son  of 
Moses,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  in  1774,  and  married  Freelove,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Lydia  Pitcher  and  widow  of  Samuel  Rand.  Their 
children  were:  William,  Mary,  married  Joseph  Smith,  of  Pawtucket; 
Lydia,  widow  of  Albert  Bliss,  a  resident  of  Pawtucket;  Pardon,  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  John  C.  Dodge,  of  Dodgeville,  Mass.  Pardon  died 
April  20th,  1861.  William,  son  of  Pardon,  born  June  27th,  1808,  mar- 
ried Freelove  Douglass,  and  had  three  children:  Jonathan  P.,  Daniel 
B.  and  William  H.     He  died  January  3d,  1888. 

Jonathan  P.,  son  of  William,  born  June  26th,  1831,  married 
Hannah  Whitman,  and  has  two  children,  William  and  Hattie  F.  He 
is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Daniel  Browning,  son  of  Williarn,  born  Feb- 
ruary "7th,  1833,  married  Sarah  E.  Ide,  and  has  two  children,  Daniel 
Sanford  and  Charles  Browning.  He  is  foreman  of  the  pattern  depart- 
ment of  the  Fales  &  Jenks  Machine  Company.  William  Henry,  son 
of  William,  born  December  9th,  1835,  married  Ruth  Alexander,  and 
has  had  seven  children:  Sarah  A.,  William  B.,  Elizabeth  S.,  wife  of  G. 
B.  Allen,  of  Pawtucket;  Frank  R.,  George  C,  Joseph  H.,  died  aged 
seven  years,  and  Ruth  D.  He  is  a  pattern  maker  by  trade.  William 
B.,  son  of  William  H.,  married  Cora  Sherman;  has  two  children,  Avis 
and  Edith  A. 

Pardon,  son  of  Pardon,  born  in  Pawtucket,  married  Sarepta  Tinck- 
ham,  of  Rochester,  Mass.  They  had  three  children:  Pardon,  Henry, 
died  young,  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Adolphus  F.  Davis,  of  Pawtucket. 
Pardon  died  August  20th,  1878.  Pardon,  son  of  Pardon,  was  born  in 
Pawtucket,  December  9th,  1843,  married  Eliza  Jane  Curran;  has  one 
child,  Ida  L. 


122  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Jabez  Jenks,  son  of  Moses  and  grandson  of  Stephen,  married 
Patience,  daughter  of  Deacon  Ichabod  Tabor.  Of  their  family  of  nine 
children  but  two  lived  to  maturity,  viz.,  Isaac  Tabor  and  Louisa, 
widow  of  Edward  B.  Jenks,  who  resides  in  Pawtucket.  Jabez  died  on 
October  22d,  1817,  in  his  38th  year.  Isaac  Tabor,  son  of  Jabez,  was 
born  August  23d,  1809,  and  married  Clestina  Luther.  Of  their  seven 
children  two  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Josephine,  wife  of 
Francis  Bishop,  of  Pawtucket;  Frank,  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  Conn.; 
Edmund  C,  Clestina,  wife  of  George  Briggs,  of  Providence,  and 
Louisa.  He  died  February  1st,  1885.  Edmund  C,  son  of  Isaac  T., 
born  September  24th,  1845,  married  Jane* I.  Flagg,  and  has  one  child, 
George  W.  F. 

Stephen  Jenks,  son  of  Stephen,  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Sarah  Arnold  and  his  second  wife  Ruth  Arnold.  His  children 
were  all  by  his  first  wife.  His  sons  were  Arnold.  David,  George,  Na- 
than, who  died  young;  Linden,  Alvin  and  Jerathmael.  George,  son 
of  Stephen,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  October  6th,  1783,  and  married 
Betsey  Miller,  a  native  of  Westboro,  Mass.  He  died  July  6th,  1825, 
and  had  but  one  child,  Andrew.  He  was  a  blacksmith  and  forger,  en- 
gaged in  making  anchors  for  New  Bedford  whalers;  also,  in  company 
with  his  father  and  brothers,  in  the  manufacture  of  guns.  His  de- 
scendants spell  their  name  Jencks.  Andrew,  son  of  George,  born  in 
Pawtucket  September  2d,  1822,  married  Almina,  daughter  of  James 
Weatherhead,  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.  Their  children  were:  Louisa  A., 
died  seven  years  of  age;  George  B.,  died  an  infant;  George  Andrew; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  F.  Clark,  of  Valley  Falls;  James  W.,  died  in 
infancy.  George  Andrew,  son  of  Andrew,  born  in  Pawtucket  Septem- 
ber 24th,  1847,  married  Isabella  M.  Cook,  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and 
has  two  children,  Andrew  Edmund  and  Preserved  Arnold.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  the  stove  and  hardware  business  in  Pawtucket. 

Ichabod  Jenks,  son  of  Nathaniel,  Major  Nathaniel,  Joseph,  origi- 
nal settler  in  Pawtucket,  had  a  large  family,  among  whom  were  six 
sons:  Levi,  David,  Abner  (the  two  last  moved  to  Massachusetts),  Sam^ 
uel,  Ichabod  and  Israel.  Levi,  son  of  Ichabod,  married  a  Bowers,  and 
had  four  sons:  Thames,  Levi,  Sylvester  and  Edward;  the  two  latter 
ones  died  single.  Levi,  son  of  Levi,  married  Ruth  Harding,  and  their 
children  were:  David,  a  bachelor,  resides  in  Pawtucket;  Minerva,  de- 
ceased, married  Henry  Childs;  Alfred  B.,  Charles,  died  leaving  no 
male  issue,  and  Thomas,  single,  a  resident  of  Pawtucket.  Alfred  B., 
son  of  Levi,  born  November  11th,  1829.  married  Hannah  Jackson. 
Their  children  were:  John,  who  died  aged  29  years  (leaving  children, 
Alfred  B.,  Charles  H.  and  Mabel);  Melissa,  married  John  P.  Ballou,- 
of  Attleboro,  Mass.,  died  aged  33  years,  and  Charles  H.,  married 
Emma  Baker,  and  has  two  children,  Gertie  and  Henry  Irving. 

Ichabod,  son  of  Ichabod,  had  four  sons:  Slater,  Phenuel,  Van  Eason, 
who  died  single,  and  Otis,  the  only  survivor.    Phenuel,  son  of  Ichabod^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  123: 

married  for  his  first  wife  Martha  Westgate,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children:  William  W.,  Mabel,  wife  of  Edward  S.  Carr,  of  Pawtucket;, 
Amelia,  wife  of  E.  A.  Bosworth,  of  Pawtucket,  and  Edward  B.  His 
second  wife  was  Ann  McQuade.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  are  Ze- 
lotus  W.  and  Helen  M.  Phenuel  died  September  20th,  1888.  Edward 
B.,  son  of  Phenuel,  born  July  27th,  1859,  married  Isabella  Barnes,  of 
Oxford,  Mass.,  and  has  two  children,  Martha  Isabella  and  Eva  May. 

Israel,  son  of  Ichabod,  married  Lydia  Handy.  Their  children 
were:  Louisa,  who  has  married  twice,  and  now  resides  at  Maiden, 
Mass.;  Sterry,  died  aged  five  years;  Edward  Bucklin,  Cordelia,  de- 
ceased, married  Charles  Dunham;  Joseph  Handy,  died  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.;  Mahala,  deceased,  married  Richard  Dexter;  George  A.,  died  in 
Providence,  and  Margaret,  wife  of  Granville  Williams,  of  Johnston, 
R.  I.  Edward  Bucklin,  son  of  Israel,  born  in  Pawtucket  December 
18th,  1805,  married  Louisa,  daughter  of  Jabez  Jenks.  Of  their  seven 
children,  one  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Jabez  Edward,  died 
in  service  during  late  war;  Theodore  Weld,  a  resident  of  Attleboro, 
Mass.;  Mary  Louisa,  widow  of  Lemuel  Cummings;  Ellen  M.,  Curtis 
Vincent,  of  Providence,  and  Lydia  A.,  wife  of  Frank  H.  Maynard,  of 
Providence.     Edward  B.  died  September  2d,  1870. 

Reverend  Ebenezer  Jenks,  son  of  Joseph,  the  original  settler  at 
Pawtucket,  was  born  in  1669  and  died  August  14th,  1726.  He  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in  1719.  He  married  Mary 
Butterworth,  and  of  a  family  of  18  children  the  following  are  the  only 
ones  that  grew  up:  Ebenezer,  Daniel,  Phebe,  married  Job  Comstock; 
Rachel,  married  Cornelius  Esten,  and  Mercy,  married  Colonel  Philip 
Wheeler.  Ebenezer,  son  of  Reverend  Ebenezer,  born  September 
17th,  1699,  died  November,  1786,  married  Experience  Martin.  Their 
children  were:  Hopestill,  married  Elijah  Norton;  Nathan,  married 
Sarah  Stewart;  Phebe,  married  William  Jenckes;  Waite,  married 
Jabez  Palmer;  Mary  and  Freelove,  both  died  single.  Daniel,  son  of 
Reverend  Ebenezer,  was  born  October  18th,  1701,  and  died  July  7th, 
1774.  He  married  Joanna  Scott,  and  their  children  were:  Mary,  mar- 
ried David  Harris;  Sarah,  married  Christopher  Hopkins  for  her  first 
husband  and  for  her  second  Ambrose  Page;  John,  married  Freelove 
Crawford;  Rhoda,  married  Nicholas  Brown,  and  Joanna,  married 
Nicholas  Tillinghast.  Daniel  was  chief  justice  of  Providence  court 
for  30  years.  These  are  all  the  records  we  have  been  able  to  obtain 
of  this  branch  of  the  family. 

Judge  William  Jenks,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  in  1675  and  died 
October  2d,  1765.  He  married  Patience,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Mehitable  (Holbrook)  Sprague.  He  was  the  first  chief  justice  of  the 
Providence  court.  His  children  were:  Joseph,  who  died  young;  Mercy^ 
married  Thomas  Comstock;  Esther,  married  John  Comstock;  vSusanna, 
married  Joseph  Bucklin;  William;  Patience  married  John  Olney;  Jona- 
than, John,  and  Mehitable,  married  Thomas  Olney.     The  descendants- 


124  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  Judge  William  spell  their  name  Jenckes.  William,  son  of  Judge 
William,  had  several  sons,  viz.:  William,  who  removed  to  Brookfield, 
Mass.;  Joseph,  Christopher,  and  John.  Jonathan,  son  of  Judge  Wil- 
liam, had  three  sons:  Gideon,  Jonathan,  removed  to  Winchester, 
Mass.,  and  Nicholas,  went  to  North  Brookfield,  Mass.  John,  son  of 
Judge  William,  was  born  in  1732,  and  being  a  physician  was  known 
as  Doctor  John.  He  married  Rachel  Lawrence,  and  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Edmund,  Henry,  Jesse,  John,  Thomas,  Mary  (mar- 
ried David  Smith),  William,  Lawrence,  Sarah  (married  Doctor  Ichabod 
Comstock),  Caroline  (married  James  Angell),  Patience  (married  Daniel 
Comstock),  Rachel,  Isaac,  Lydia  (married  David  Lapham),  and  Abigail 
(married  Jacob  Comstock).  Henry,  son  of  Doctor  John,  was  born  in 
1733  and  married  Amity  Harris.  His  children  were:  John  (married 
Sarah  Smith  and  had  three  daughters  and  one  son,  Henry,  who  emi- 
grated west),  Martha  (married  Joseph  Wilkinson),  Daniel,  Reuben 
(died  aged  four  years),  and  Amy  (married  Thomas  Arnold).  Daniel, 
son  of  Henry,  was  born  in  1771  and  died  in  1861.  He  married  Patience 
Bartlett.  Their  children  were:  Henry;  Mary,  living  in  Lincoln; 
Amelia  P.,  lives  in  Lincoln;  John  L.,  was  a  physician  and  died  at 
Hazel  Green,  Wisconsin;  Caroline,  died  young;  Sarah  A.,  and  George 
Bartlett,  the  latter  two  being  residents  of  Lincoln.  Thomas,  son  of 
Doctor  John,  married  Patience  Smith.  It  was  an  old  saying  that  he 
had  sixty  feet  of  daughters,  for  of  his  eleven  children  ten  were  girls, 
all  whom  were  uncommonly  tall.  His  son's  name  was  Rufus,  and  he 
married  Amy  Arnold.  Their  children  were:  Jeremiah,  who  left  no 
issue;  Pardon;  Smith,  born  March  15th,  1802,  married  Amy  Ballou, 
and  died  May  22d,  1886,  left  no  children;  George;  Arnold,  has  no  de- 
cendants  living,  and  Mary,  married  Jesse  Smith,  of  Lincoln.  Pardon, 
son  of  Rufus,  was  born  in  1800  and  died  in  1863.  He  married  Lydia 
W.  Bolster,  and  had  four  children:  William,  died  single;  Willard  S.; 
Amy,  married  Charles  Bennett,  resides  in  Pawtucket,  and  Daniel, 
lives  in  Southern  Rhode  Island.  Willard  S.,  son  of  Pardon,  born 
August  5th,  1827,  married  Louisa,  daughter  of  George  Whipple. 
Their  children  are:  Lydia,  wife  of  William  F.  Jefferson,  of  Providence, 
and  George  W.  Willard  S.  married  for  his  second  wife  Rosamond 
Smith,  and  resides  in  Providence. 

George,  son  of  Rufus,  was  born  in  1798  and  died  January  18th, 
1885.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Doctor  Peter  Ballou,  and  had 
two  children:  Newton,  who  died  young,  and  Rufus,  born  November 
5th  1827,  and  married  for  his  first  wife  Martha  E.  Angell.  The 
children  by  this  marriage  are:  Oliver  A.  and  Ellen  Maria,  wife  of 
Sylvanus  I.  Peck,  of  East  Providence.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  E. 
Eldridge,  and  they  have  six  children:  Mary  Adna,  Eliza  C,  wife  of 
Frederic  I.  Vose,  of  Cumberland;  George  T.,  married  Ruth  Mabel 
Vose  and  has  one  child,  Betram  Rufus;   Martha  E.,  Eva  L.,  wife  of 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  125 

Frank  E.  Vose,  of  Cumberland,  and  Smith  A.  Rufus  is  a  farmer  and 
resides  in  Lincoln. 

The  following  branch  of  the  Jenckes  family  we  are  unable  to  trace 
further  back  than  Daniel  Jenckes,  who  married  first  Sarah  Croft,  and 
had  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Gideon.  His  second  wife  was  Rhoda,  and 
the  children  of  this  marriage  were:  Bispah,  who  died  young;  Jabez, 
Ezra,  Samuel,  Dinah,  who  married  a  Ray;  Russell,  Lemuel,  Sterry,  and 
Sarah,  who  died  single.  Russell,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land, October  15th,  1783,  and  married  Hopestill  Matthewson,  of  Smith- 
field,  who,  in  1818,  drowned  herself  and  her  children,  Betsey,  Rhoda, 
Harriet  and  Louisa,  in  Scott's  pond.  The  only  other  child  of  this  mar- 
riage was  Liberty,  who  died  young.  Russell  married  for  his  second 
wife  Julia  Dexter,  and  their  children  were:  George,  died  young;  Ruth, 
widow  of  William  H.  Drown,  resides  at  Ashton,  R.  L;  Mary  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Joseph  Ashworth,  of  Putnam,  Conn.;  Hannah,  deceased,  mar- 
ried Isaiah  Carr  of  Coventry,  R.  I.;  Horace,  died  at  Yarmouth,  Mass., 
but  always  resided  in  Providence;  Lyman,  resides  in  Providence  (the 
two  last  were  twins),  and  Julia,  deceased,  married  Dennis  Higgins. 
Russell  died  May  8th,  1842.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  in  Cum- 
berland. Sterry,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  February,  1787,  married 
Nancy  Dexter,  and  had  the  following  family:  Horatio  Nelson,  died 
aged  19  years;  Elsy  Ann,  deceased,  married  Stewart  Merry;  Rhoda, 
deceased,  married  Levi  Carpenter;  Jabez  Walcott,  died  in  Providence, 
and  Diana,  widow  of  Benjamin  H.  Aldrich,  resides  in  Providence. 
Sterry  married  for  his  second  wife  Abbie  Chaney,  who  in  1889  was  liv- 
ing in  Lincoln,  in  her  95th  year.  The  children  by  this  marriage  were: 
Albert  Chaney,  Arabella  C,  single;  Sereno  Thayer,  lives  at  Ashton, 
R.  I.;  Ella  Dora,  wife  of  Addison  Hawes,  of  East  Providence;  Mary 
Humphrey,  single,  lives  in  Lincoln;  Charles  Erastus,  resides  in  Provi- 
dence; Ardelia,  Henry  Hartwell,  Nathaniel  Nilso,  unmarried,  and 
George  Frederick.  Sterry  died  November  26th,  1853.  Henry  Hart- 
well,  son  of  Sterry,  is  unmarried,  and  resides  at  Lime  Rock,  R.  I.  He 
has  been  engaged  in  teaching  for  over  forty  years.  He  has  had  em- 
ployment as  a  teacher  at  the  Plainfield  Academy,  Plainfield,Conn.;  at 
the  academy  at  Chepachet,  R.  L,  also  the  Spanish  College  in  Chili, 
South  America.  While  a  resident  of  Chepachet  he  studied  law  with 
Colonel  George  Browne,  and  practiced  in  Boston,  Mass.,  but  re- 
linquished his  practice  upon  receiving  the  appointment,  during 
Grant's  first  administration,  of  United  States  Consul  to  Buenos  Ares, 
South  America.  He  acts  as  counsel  in  cases  at  the  present  day,  and 
is  also  engaged  in  teaching.  George  Frederick,  son  of  Sterry,  was 
born  May  4th,  1834;  married  Mary  Theresa  Scennell,  and  has  three 
children:  Sterry,  Beta  and  Flora.  Mr.  Jenckes  went  to  California  in 
1858,  and  from  there  to  Chili  in  I860.  He  afterward  went  to  the 
Argentine  Republic,  and,  during  the  Patagonian  war,  was  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  Brazillian  navy.     He  returned  to  his  native  country  in 


126  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1871,  but  subsequently  went  to  Peru  and  engaged  in  railroad  building, 
where  he  remained  till  1878,  when  he  went  to  Nicaragua,  Central 
America,  and  built  for  the  government  the  first  railroad  in  that  coun- 
try, running  from  Corinto  to  Granada,  a  distance  of  96  miles.  In  1888 
Mr.  Jenckes  returned  to  his  native  town,  and  has  built  the  finest 
■house  in  the  township. 

Edwin  Jenckes,  president  of  the  E.  Jenckes  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, is  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers  of  Pawtucket,  and  is  a 
grandson  of  Job  Jenckes,  one  of  the  pioneer  manufacturers  of  cotton 
goods  in  the  state.  Job  Jenckes,  the  founder  of  Jenckesville,  was  a 
prominent  man.  He  was  engaged  in  the  making  of  cotton  goods  in 
the  old  Social  Mill  before  the  year  1822.  At  this  time  he  built  the 
Jenckesville  Mills  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  now  Woonsocket.  His 
son,  George  Jenckes,  the  father  of  Edwin  Jenckes,  was  born  in  the 
year  1800.  He  was  engaged  with  his  father  and  brothers  in  the 
manufacturing  business. 

Edwin  Jenckes  was  born  in  Jenckesville,  January  9th,  1826.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  public  schools  of  Woonsocket,  complet- 
ing his  course  at  Nichols  Academy,  Dudley,  Mass.,  in  1842.  When  25 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  became  one  of  the  em- 
ployees in  a  silk  manufactory  there,  but  within  two  years  returned  to 
Woonsocket  and  engaged  as  a  manufacturer  of  sewing  silk  till  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war.  The  style  of  the  firm  was  W.  A.  &  E. 
Jenckes.  From  1861  to  1872  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  silks, 
•cotton  and  bonnet  wire  in  Blackstone  and  Walpole,  Mass.,  and  then 
removed  to  Pawtucket,  where  he  is  at  present  doing  a  successful 
business  in  the  manufacture  of  supplies  for  cotton  and  woolen  mills, 
•market  or  bright  wire  goods,  spring  cotters  and  split  keys,  ring 
travelers,  belt  hooks,  cotton  yarns  and  hosiery  goods. 

Mr.  Jenckes  is  a  republican.  He  cares  little  for  political  prefer- 
:ment,  but,  nevertheless,  has  been  sent  to  the  general  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  on  five  different  occasions.  He  served  two  terms,  just 
before  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  representing  Woonsocket,  and 
three  terms  after  coming  to  Pawtucket. 

James  Mason  was  a  native  of  Attleboro,  Mass.,  and  married  La- 
vinia  Cartee.  He  came  to  what  is  now  Pawtucket  about  1800,  and  was 
a  painter  by  trade.  He  held  during  his  life  a  number  of  town  offices, 
and  was  connected  with  the  military  for  a  number  of  years,  being  a 
major.  His  children  were:  Sarah,  widow  of  Nathaniel  Spaulding,  of 
Lincoln;  Mary,  deceased,  married  William  Brownell,  of  Providence; 
John,  died  single,  at  sea;  Martha,  died  young,  and  James  S.,  born  in 
what  is  now  Pawtucket  October  16th,  1812.  In  1849  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, remaining  a  year,  and  on  his  return  he  opened  in  Pawtucket 
the  first  daily  market  and  introduced  early  summer  vegetables  from 
the  South  to  his  patrons.  He  also,  like  his  father,  held  many  public 
offices.    He  married  Arthusa  A.  Cummings  and  had  two  children:  Lois 


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(^a^^^   Cf^^^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  127 

Maria  and  Lavinia  C,  wife  of  Natlian  W.  Whipple,  of  Pawtucket.    He 
died  February  16th,  1889. 

Georc;e  Edwin  Newell,  one  of  the  largest  dealers  in  the  country 
in  lumber  and  coal,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  Sep- 
tember 19th,  1830.  His  ancestor,  Abraham  Newell,  sailed  from  Ips- 
wich, England,  to  America  in  1634,  and  settled  at  Roxbury,  Mass.  He 
died  in  1672,  at  the  age  of  91  years.  The  paternal  line  of  the  Newell 
family  has  been  as  follows:  Abraham,  Jacob,  Jacob  2d,  Joseph,  Jason, 
John  and  George  Edwin.  Some  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the 
country  have  descended  from  Abraham  Newell.  The  gifted  and  elo- 
quent Doctor  Jonathan  Maxcy  was  of  this  family.  He  was  the  second 
president  of  Brown  University,  succeeding  the  Reverend  Doctor  Man- 
ning, when  but  23  years  of  age.  He  was  probably  one  of  the  most 
gifted  pulpit  orators  this  country  has  ever  raised  up.  Joseph  Newell, 
the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  lived  in  Attleboro,  Mass.  Jason 
Newell,  his  son,  was  the  first  to  come  to  the  town  of  Cumberland.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  prominence,  and  was  a  judge  of  the  county 
court  at  one  time.  He  married  Mary  Spaulding,  of  Smithfield.  John 
Newell,  the  father  of  George  Edwin,  was  a  farmer  at  Four  Corners, 
near  Diamond  Hill  Plains.  He  owned  the  saw  mill  there,  now  in 
possession  of  his  son,  Jason  Newell.  He  married  three  times,  but  had 
children  only  by  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Polly  (Grant)  Newell.  She 
died  in  1833,  when  George  E.  was  but  three  years  old.  Their  children 
were  Eliza,  Jason  and  George  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on  his  father's  farm  and  at  the 
mill,  attending  the  winter  school  till  16  years  of  age.  He  was  then 
permitted  to  go  to  school  at  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.  His  father  gave 
him  the  privilege  of  earning  money  to  educate  himself.  He  first 
clerked  in  a  store  at  Diamond  Hill  Plains,  earning  sufficient  to  attend 
Professor  Quimby's  Institute  at  North  Scituate  one  term.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1848-9  he  taught  school  at  Cumberland  Hill,  in  the  Pound  dis- 
trict, attending  to  a  drove  of  cattle  for  his  father  on  the  Brown  farm. 
He  proved  a  successful  teacher  and  disciplinarian,  and  was  urged  to 
take  the  same  school  the  winter  following.  The  next  summer  he 
worked  at  home  again,,  and  in  the  fall  of  1850  entered  the  Merrimack 
Normal  Institute,  under  Professors  Russell  and  Ray,  at  Reed's  Ferry, 
New  Hampshire.  During  the  winter  of  1850-1  he  taught  very  suc- 
ces.sfully  in  Smithfield,  in  the  Lewis  Dexter  district,  and  again  re- 
turned in  the  spring  to  work  upon  the  farm.  His  reputation  as  a 
teacher  began  to  be  noticed,  and  he  was  sought  for  by  trustees  before 
previous  engagements  were  completed.  The  expenses  of  his  educa- 
tion thus  far  were  paid  by  himself,  except  the  first  term  at  East 
Greenwich  Academy.  In  the  fall  of  1851  he  entered  Brown  Univer- 
sity, taking  a  special  course  in  mathematics,  chemistry  and  didactics. 
During  the  following  winter  he  taught  school  again  with  great  satis- 
faction to  the  school  authorities  in  the  Kings  Street  district,  Franklin, 


128  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Mass.,  in  order  to  secure  funds,  but  before  the  close  of  his  term  the 
trustees  at  Franklin  Centre  sought  his  services,  and  he  made  an  en- 
gagement with  them  for  the  winter  of  1852-3.  In  the  meantime  he 
worked  for  his  brother  Jason  on  the  home  farm.  But  his  success  as  a 
teacher  had  arrested  the  attention  of  educators,  and  on  May  11th, 
1852,  he  received  the  following  communication  in  regard  to  the  school 
at  Globe  village,  Woonsocket  Falls,  R.  I.  The  letter  was  from  Mr.  S. 
Newton,  trustee,  and  was  as  follows: 

"  Dear  Sir;  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  8th  instant,  and  has- 
ten to  say  that  although  thirty-eight  dollars  per  month  is  considerably 
more  than  we  have  before  paid  for  the  same  service,  yet  in  considera- 
tion of  the  high  character  you  sustain  as  a  teacher  we  have  concluded 
to  allow  it,  and  I  think  you  will  be  satisfied  with  that,  even  though 
the  school  should  number  a  few  over  Fifty  Scholars,  as  we  do  not  con- 
sider it  a  hard  school  to  manage.  We  will  expect  you,  then,  to  com- 
mence Monday  morning  next,  and  will  not  trouble  you  to  come  and  see 
us  before  that  time  unless  you  prefer  to. 

"  Respectfully  yours,  S.  Newton." 

This  school  was  taught  to  the  very  great  satisfaction  of  the  com- 
munity until  time  to  commence  the  engagement  made  for  Franklin 
Centre  school,  which  began  in  December,  1852,  and  ended  in  the 
spring  of  1853.  Continued  success  had  followed  him  as  a  teacher,  and 
his  advice  was  sought  by  educators  in  relation  to  teachers  and  teach- 
ing, but  in  that  same  year  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  J.  W.  Tingley,  and  for  one  year  engaged  in  business 
in  a  variety  store  in  Central  Falls,  which  they  had  purchased  of  N. 
K.  Sherman  &  Co.  In  September,  1854,  he  again  entered  Brown 
University  and  finished  the  course  of  study  he  had  designed  to  pursue, 
completing  his  work  there  in  June,  1856.  He  then  taught  the  Union 
High  School  at  Central  Falls,  where  success  crowned  his  work.  Mr. 
Newell  is  still  spoken  of  as  one  of  the  most  successful  teachers  Central 
Falls  has  ever  had. 

Failing  health  induced  him  to  change  his  course  of  life,  and  in 
1857  he  left  the  school  work  to  enter  into  business  with  his  uncle 
Smith  Grant,  then  in  the  grocery  business  at  Pawtucket.  At  this  time 
the  wharf  property  was  purchased  of  S.  Budlong  in  May,  1857,  with 
the  view  of  engaging  in  the  wholesale  trade  in  flour  and  grain,  but  it 
all  soon  merged  into  the  lumber  and  coal  business,  and  the  grocery 
business  was  sold  out  in  1859.  Since  that  time  the  firm  known  as  S. 
Grant  &  Co.  have  built  up  an  immense  trade.  They  started  with  one 
horse,  but  now  employ  thirty  and  forty,  and  as  many  more  are  used 
by  outsiders  who  handle  wood  and  coal  for  their  respective  patrons. 
About  three  acres  of  ground  were  originally  purchased  for  wharfage, 
but  this  has  been  extended  to  five  acres,  all  now  covered  with  exten- 
sive buildings  incident  to  the  business.  In  July,  1885,  Mr.  Grant 
died  and  Mr.  Newell,  by  purchase  of  all  interests  of  the  heirs,  became 


Sn^^ly^pffj^mimfrZ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  129 

sole  owner.  Besides  being  a  dealer  in  coal,  of  which  he  has  a  storage 
capacity  under  cover  of  15,000  tons  (and  in  all  2o,()00  tons),  he  also 
handles  lumber  in  great  quantities.  Of  building  materials  he  has  a 
great  variety,  probably  more  than  any  other  concern  in  the  state.  At  his 
yard  almost  everything  required  to  erect  a  house  can  be  found:  brick, 
lime,  cement.  North  River  stone,  sewer  pipe,  plastering  hair,  mortar, 
stains,  calcined  plaster,  lumber  in  great  variety,  doors,  mouldings, 
sash,  blinds,  window  and  door  frames,  etc.  Mr.  Newell  has  superior 
facilities  for  handling  coal  in  large  quantities,  and  he  supplies  many 
of  the  large  manufacturing  establishments  in  and  around  the  city  of 
Pawtucket.  He  has  revolutionized  the  handling  of  coal  by  his  inven- 
tive skill,  being  the  first  to  apply  the  dumping  gear  to  heavy  carts, 
and  obtained  a  patent  for  the  same.  It  was  by  his  direction,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  foreman.  Mr.  Lorin  G.  Ladd,  that  the  discharging  of 
coal  from  barges  by  the  self-loading  steam  shovel  was  first  introduced 
and  successfully  operated.  The  patent  coal  bucket  of  Newell  &  Ladd 
is  now  regarded  as  a  great  labor  saving  machine.  From  this  machine 
have  sprung  nearly  all  the  devices  for  handling  coal  cheaply.  As 
many  as  600  tons  of  coal  have  been  discharged  from  a  coal  barge  in 
four  hours  time  by  the  use  of  this  machine. 

Mr.  Newell  always  looked  after  the  financial  part  of  the  business, 
making  collections  and  paying  bills.  As  business  increased  greater 
facilities  were  needed,  involving  great  expense  quite  as  fast  as  capital 
accumulated,  and  in  the  financial  crash  of  1873  they  found  themselves 
with  a  large  indebtedriess,  but  they  lived  through  the  embarrassment, 
paying  a  hundred  cents  on  every  dollarthey  owed.  After  Mr  Grant's 
death  it  was  supposed  the  business  would  go  under,  but  the  public 
reckoned  without  knowledge.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  S.  Grant  &  Co.  was  very  conservative.  The  business  then 
had  money  and  the  credit  was  good.  The  junior  partner  was  careful, 
was  just  as  cautious,  but  was  far  more  aggressive.  He  was  an  excel- 
lent buyer,  probably  none  more  so  in  his  line  of  business.  Gifted 
with  a  clear  view  of  impending  booms  and  revulsions,  he  knew  when 
to  make  ventures,  how  to  figure  upon  margins,  and  he  alone  had  been 
the  conservation  of  the  company  in  times  of  depression  as  well  as  its 
master  element  when  the  financial  horoscope  was  bright  and  shining. 
Upon  taking  the  business  himself  he  boldly  launched  forth  in  specu- 
lative ventures  that  were  truly  astounding.  During  the  first  year 
under  his  management  he  purchased  25,000  tons  of  coal  at  a  very  low 
rate,  and  much  of  it  was  sold  for  double  the  purchase  money.  This 
was  but  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  successes  which  have  followed 
his  management,  exceeding  even  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of 
business  men. 

Mr.  Newell's  success  in  business  is  largely  due  to  the  habits  of  his 
early  life.  He  has  always  been  strictly  temperate,  using  neither 
tobacco  in  any  form,  nor  intoxicating  liquors  of  any  kind,  living  to 


130  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

manhood  without  vitiated  tastes  or  an  enervated  constitution,  and  he 
now  enjoys  excellent  health.  He  has  been  distinctively  a  business 
man.  He  is  public  spirited  but  no  politician.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
school  committee  at  one  time,  was  one  of  the  commissioners  appointed 
to  build  the  Washington  bridge,  and  was  in  1884  a  representative  to 
the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature.  His  great  work  has  been  in 
securing  the  necessary  legislation  for  the  improving  the  river  and  the 
bridges  for  navigation.  Through  his  efforts  mainly,  and  at  a  great 
cost  to  himself,  he  has  secured  a  water  highway  from  Pawtucket  to 
the  sea.  When  he  began  the  long  series  of  fights  for  these  privileges, 
the  city  had  three  drawbridges  25  feet  wide,  with  water  but  eight  and 
a  half  feet  deep.  The  bridges  now  have  80  feet  draw-way,  and  the 
river  improvements  nearly  completed  give  17  feet  of  water.  Mr. 
Newell  is  a  very  charitable  man  and  gives  freely  of  his  means  for 
the  upbuilding  of  all  public  institutions.  His  forefathers  have  been 
Quakers  in  their  religious  beliefs.  He  himself  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  church,  Pawtucket,  and  now  one  of  its  trustees.  He  re- 
cognizes the  church  as  the  chief  corner  stone  of  our  nation's  great- 
ness and  warmly  responds  to  all  her  calls  for  aid. 

Mr.  Newell  was  married  August  3d,  1857,  to  Ermina  A.  Pinkham. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Moulton)  Pinkham.  Their 
children  now  living  are:  Lillian  A.,  Carrie  P.,  Ada  L.,  Edwin  L., 
Lucius  H.,  and  Arthur  G.  Mr.  Newell  has  arranged  to  incorporate 
his  business  under  the  name  of  the  Newell  Coal  &  Lumber  Company, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $200,000. 

Jacob  Nelson  Polsey,  of  Pawtucket,  was  born  in  Ashton,  town  of 
Cumberland,  R.  L,  August  31st,  1830,  being  the  youngest  son  of  Abner 
and  Lydia  (Sweetland)  Polsey.  He  attended  the  local  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and,  his  father  being  a  carpenter,  he  worked  at  that  trade 
a  few  years.  He  came  to  Pawtucket  with  his  father  about  1846.  At 
the  age  of  18  he  went  to  work  for  the  Moshassuck  Print  Works,  mak- 
ing their  packing  cases,  where  he  remained  nine  years,  becoming  so 
expert  that  he  made  on  an  average  30  cases  daily,  all  by  hand.  For 
the  next  few  years  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  with 
the  firm  of  William  Hood  &  Co.,  of  Central  Falls.  In  1857  he  pur- 
chased of  Luther  &  Ashton  their  packing  box  manufactory,  located 
at  Shad  Rock,  which,  in  1872,  was  removed  to  its  present  location. 
He  married  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hood.  Their  children 
are:  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Edwin  A.  Scott,  of  Pawtucket;  Isabella, 
wife  of  J.  W.  Dennis;  Jennie  D.,  wife  of  Frank  Mossberg,  resides  in 
Pawtucket;  Charles  Nelson,  and  Jacob  Everett.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Pawtucket.  His  death  oc- 
curred August  19th,  1887. 

The  Payne  Family,  of  Pawtucket,  is  of  English  descent,  and  Wil- 
liam, a  native  of  Warwickshire,  was  a  die-maker  by  trade.  He  emi- 
grated from  the  old  country  and  first  settled  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  but 


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HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  131 

came  to  Pawtucket  about  1827.  His  wife  was  Hannah,  daughter  of 
William  Cooper.  Their  children  were:  John  G.,  who  resides  in  Provi- 
dence; William,  who  died  in  Pawtucket;  Hannah,  deceased,  married 
Oliver  Hunt;  Charles;  Martha  and  Mary  Ann,  twins,  the  latter  died 
in  infancy,  the  other  died  single,  and  Mary  Ann,  died  aged  21  years. 
Charles,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Warwickshire,  England,  Decem- 
ber 29th,  1819,  and  married  Keziah,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Bind- 
ley, she  being  also  a  native  of  Warwickshire.  He  died  October  27th, 
1869,  and  left  the  following  family:  George  Witheredge,  Charles 
Bindley,  James  Robinson,  Amey,  wife  of  Henry  A.  Smith,  resides  in 
Pawtucket;  William  Elijah,  Byron  Cooper,  Annie  Naomi,  wife  of 
Frank  Hodge,  resides  in  Troy,  N.  Y.;  Ella  Maria,  wife  of  George  B. 
Olney,  of  Pawtucket,  and  John  Milton. 

George  Witheredge,  son  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  June 
30th,  1843.  His  first  wife  was  Julia  McQuiston,  and  their  family 
consisted  of  four  children,  two  of  which  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
are  Charles  and  Carrie,  wife  of  George  Deacon,  of  Boston,  Mass. 
George  W.'s  second  wife  was  Sarah  F.  Balcom,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Jude  Taylor,  Clinton  Fanning  and  Alice.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  George  W.  Payne  &  Co.,  cotton  and  woolen  machinery 
manufacturers.  Charles  Bindley,  son  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Paw- 
tucket March  26th,  1845,  married  Charlotte  J.  Robinson,  and  has  one 
child,  George  M.  Charles  B.  is  connected  with  the  American  Hair 
Cloth  Padding  Company.  James  Robinson,  son  of  Charles,  was  born 
in  Pawtucket  December  27th,  1847,  is  single,  and  is  connected  with 
the  company  mentioned  above.  William  Elijah,  son  of  Charles,  was 
born  in  Pawtucket  September  12th,  1851,  married  Hannah  Godfrey, 
and  has  two  children:  James  Blaine  and  Jennie  Bindley.  Byron 
Cooper,  son  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  April  24th,  1853,  mar- 
ried Carrie  Florence  Foss,  and  has  no  children.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Olney  &  Payne  Brothers,  coal  and  wood  dealers.  John 
Milton,  son  of  Charles,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  September  22d,  1859, 
married  Eva  L.  Spink,  and  has  two  children.  Bertha  S.  and  Howard 
H.     He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Olney  &  Payne  Brothers. 

Charles,  son  of  George  W.,  was  born  in  Pawtucket  August  20th, 
1868,  and  married  Josephine  Tennant,  of  Pawtucket.  He  is  a  resident 
of  Boston,  Mass. 

John  Blake  Read,  one  of  the  prominent  hardware  merchants  of 
Pawtucket,  was  born  in  Eastport,  Maine,  December  2d,  1802,  and  died 
in  Pawtucket  February  27th,  1862.  He  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Dorothy  (Blake)  Read,  both  of  whom  lived  to  a  great  age.  Jonathan 
Rpad  was  an  old  soldier  and  was  a  prisoner  on  board  the  old  Jersey 
prison  ship.  He  died  when  91  years  old.  He  was  the  father  of  13 
children,  12  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  John  B.  Read  was  next  to 
the  youngest  child.  When  five  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to 
Westbrook,  where  he  was  sent  to  a  district  school  until  he  was  14 


132  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

years  of  age.  At  this  time  he  went  to  work  in  a  tin  shop,  living  with 
his  oldest  sister  while  he  learned  his  trade.  In  1821  he  came  to  Paw- 
tucket,  where  he  remained  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  for  nearly 
a  half  century  was  in  the  hardware  trade.  His  shop  was  opened  on 
Main  street,  where  McGowan's  shoe  store  is  now.  In  1842  he  built 
his  residence,  where  his  widow  now  lives,  on  Walcott  street,  and  in 
1850  he  erected  his  brick  block.  The  block  next  to  it  was  built  by 
Amos  M,  Read,  his  older  brother,  who  was  also  a  hardware  merchant. 
The  Reads  were  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  merchants  in  their 
line  of  business  for  many  years.  Amos  Read  came  to  Pawtucket  sev- 
eral years  before  John.  He  died  in  1880,  a  very  old  man.  November 
17th,  1828,  Mr.  Read  was  married  to  Jane  Thatcher  Ingraham,  daugh- 
ter of  Elias  and  Phebe  (Thatcher)  Ingraham,  of  Attleboro,  Mass.  Her 
father  was  a  mechanic,  and  died  in  1847.  Mrs.  Read  was  their  only 
child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Read  also  had  but  one  child:  Mary  Drowne 
Read,  afterward  the  wife  of  Edward  Le  Favour.  She  died  in  1858, 
after  the  birth  of  John  Edward  Le  Favour,  Mrs.  Read's  grandson  and 
her  only  descendant. 

Mr.  John  B.  Read  was  distinctively  a  business  man.  As  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  of  the  commonwealth,  however,  he  was  induced  to  ac- 
cept various  offices,  such  as  town  councilman,  etc.,  all  of  which  posi- 
tions he  filled  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  best  interests  of 
his  constituents.  Politically  he  was  a  whig,  and  at  the  formation  of 
the  new  party  before  the  war  became  a  staunch  republican.  When 
Pawtucket  on  his  side  of  the  river  was  a  part  of  Massachusetts,  he  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature  and  served  four 
years.  He  was  a  very  popular  man,  and  was  for  a  long  time,  under 
the  laws  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  commanding  general  of  the 
militia  of  that  state. 

William  F.  Savles. — It  may  be  safely  asserted  that  no  citizen  of 
Providence  county,  if,  indeed,  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island,  has  so 
distinguished  himself,  by  reason  of  his  business  capacity  and  energy, 
as  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  William  Francis  Sayles,  who  was  born 
in  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  September  21st,  1824,  is  a  lineal  descendant  in 
the  sixth  generation  of  Roger  Williams.  His  father,  Clark  Sayles, 
was  a  master  builder  and  merchant,  and  his  mother,  Mary  Ann 
Sayles,  was  of  the  Olney  family,  long  and  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  the  state.  Being  desirous  of  acquiring  a  thorough 
classical  and  mercantile  education,  he  attended  the  Fruit  Hill  Classi- 
cal Institute,  Mr.  Amos  Perry  principal;  the  Seekonk  Classical  School, 
the  late  Mr.  Stanton  Belden  principal,  and  spent  about  two  years  in 
Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  edu- 
cation at  the  institutions  named,  he  entered,  in  1842,  the  commercial 
house  of  vShaw  &  Earle,  in  Providence,  at  first  as  bookkeeper,  then  he 
became  a  salesman,  and  finally  was  entrusted  with  the  management 
of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  concern. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  133 

Mr.  Sayles  is  most  widely  known  in  connection  with  the  Moshas- 
suck  Bleachery,  the  most  complete  and  best  arranged,  as  well  as  the 
largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  its  well-known  trade- 
mark being  as  familiar  as  household  words  wherever  cotton  cloth  is 
used.  It  is  situated  about  two  miles  from  Pawtucket,  in  a  westerly 
direction,  in  the  town  of  Lincoln,  and  until  December,  1847,  when  the 
estate  was  purchased  at  auction  by  Mr.  Sayles,  the  buildings  had  for 
some  time  been  used  as  a  print  works.  Soon  after  the  property  came 
into  his  possession  he  began  the  erection  of  additional  buildings  and 
converted  the  establishment  into  a  bleachery  of  shirtings  and  sheet- 
ings, with  a  capacity  for  turning  out  about  two  and  a  half  tons  per 
day.  Though  he  had  no  previous  knowledge  of  the  business,  and 
labored  under  serious  disadvantages  for  lack  of  sufficient  capital,  at 
times  overcoming  seemingly  unconquerable  obstacles,  yet,  by  close 
application  to  business  and  an  invincible  determination  to  succeed  in 
his  undertaking,  he  steadily  increased  the  capacity  of  the  works  until 
in  the  spring  of  1854  he  bleached  daily  about  four  tons  of  the  finest 
grade  of  cotton  goods  made  in  the  United  States.  His  reputation  for 
producing  good  work  had  at  that  time  become  so  well  established 
"  throughout  the  country  that  about  three-fourths  of  all  the  fine  goods 
manufactured  were  brought  to  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery,  the  name 
given  by  him  to  the  establishment  at  the  beginning  of  his  operations. 

The  water  of  the  Moshassuck  river  has  long  been  known  to  pos- 
sess valuable  properties  for  bleaching  purposes,  but  the  works  under 
consideration  have  an  additional  and  extraordinary  advantage  in  a 
fountain  of  pure  water  flowing  from  a  hundred  or  more  boiling 
springs,  and  invaluable  in  the  final  processes  of  finishing  cotton 
goods.  These  springs,  which  are  enclosed  by  a  wall  of  cut  granite 
300  feet  in  circumference,  prove  a  very  attractive  feature  to  visitors. 

In  June,  1854,  the  entire  establishment  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
results  of  the  hard  work  of  years  being  swept  away  in  a  few  hours. 
But  the  indomitable  perseverance  of  Mr.  Sayles  prevented  him  from 
succumbing  to  this  stroke  of  misfortune,  and  the  work  of  rebuilding 
on  a  larger  scale,  with  more  permanent  structures,  was  at  once  com- 
menced, and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  an  establishment  capable  of 
producing  six  tons  of  bleached  goods  in  a  day  was  in  successful  opera- 
tion. The  following  year  another  enlargement  of  the  bleachery  was 
found  necessary,  and  the  work  of  extension  has  been  gradually  going 
on  from  year  to  year  until  the  present  time,  when  the  capacity  is  60 
tons  a  day,  or  300,000  yards.  The  buildings,  with  their  surroundings, 
cover  an  area  of  30  acres.  They  are  of  brick,  and  in  point  of  archi- 
tectural beauty  are  unexcelled  by  any  others  used  for  manufacturing 
purposes  in  this  country.  The  spacious  grounds  are  tastefully  laid 
out  and  shaded  by  ornamental  trees.  The  works  are  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity, and  the  arrangements  for  protection  against  fire  are  as  nearly 
perfect  as  they  can  be  made.     In  the  construction  of  the  buildings 


134  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

nothing  has  been  left  undone  which  could  in  any  way  promote  the 
health  and  convenience  of  the  very  large  number  of  persons  to  whom 
employment  is  furnished.  vSome  of  the  workmen  have  been  in  Mr. 
Sayles'  employ  almost  continuously  from  his  beginning  of  business, 
and  between  the  employed  and  the  employer  the  most  pleasant  and 
harmonious  relations  exist.  One  reason  for  this  is  that  Mr.  Sayles  has 
always  manifested  an  interest  in  the  moral  and  educational,  as  well  as 
material  welfare  of  those  employed  by  him.  Shortly  after  he  began 
business  here  he  was  instrumental  in  having  a  district  school  estab- 
lished, and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  June,  1860,  he  organized  a  Sunday 
school,  his  mind  having  been  turned  to  the  subject  of  religion  by  the 
death  of  a  young  daughter  to  whom  he  was  devotedly  attached.  From 
that  time  to  the  present,  with  a  brief  interval,  he  has  held  the  office 
of  superintendent  of  the  school,  performing  its  duties  with  great  ac- 
ceptability, notwithstanding  the  constantly  increasing  demands  made 
upon  his  time  and  attention  by  his  large  business. 

The  handsome  village  of  upwards  of  two  thousand  inhabitants 
which  has  grown  up  around  the  works  in  the  delightful  Moshassuck 
valley  is  known  as  Saylesville,  that  being  the  name  given  to  the  post 
office  when  it  was  established. 

In  1863  Mr.  Sayles  admitted  to  partnership  his  brother,  Frederic 
C,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  is  elsewhere  given  in  this  volume,  and  the 
Moshassuck  Bleachery  of  to-day  stands  as  a  monument  to  their  com- 
bined industry  and  business  energy.  Ten  years  later,  in  1873,  to 
meet  the  recognized  religious  needs  of  the  community,  the  brothers 
erected  on  the  high  grounds  overlooking  the  bleachery  a  beautiful 
memorial  chapel  of  Westerly  granite,  to  the  memory  of  their  deceased 
children,  whose  names  are  inscribed  on  marble  tablets  upon  the  in- 
terior walls  on  either  side  of  the  pulpit.  The  edifice  is  of  the  gothic 
style  of  architecture,  has  stained  glass  windows,  is  tastefully  finished 
and  furnished,  seats  200  persons,  and  has  a  fine  organ.  The  vestry  is 
well  arranged  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  school,  which,  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  chapel,  had  held  its  sessions  in  the  district  school  house 
from  the  time  of  its  organization.  In  1877  William  F.  erected  a  hand- 
some stone  tower  on  the  corner  of  the  chapel  as  a  memorial  to  his  es- 
timable son,  William  Clark  Sayles,  who  died  the  previous  year  while 
a  student  in  Brown  University.  The  entire  cost  of  the  edifice  is 
about  $30,000.  A  few  years  later  the  Messrs.  Sayles  erected  a  large 
hall  for  the  use  of  those  in  their  employ,  in  the  basement  of  which  is 
a  library  and  reading-room,  and  a  room  for  the  meetings  of  the  fire- 
men's association  connected  with  the  bleachery,  and  also  for  social 
purposes. 

The  Moshassuck  Bleachery,  with  its  numerous  substantial  build- 
ings, the  neat  appearance  of  the  tenement  houses  around  it,  the  ele- 
vated grounds  on  either  side  of  the  winding  stream  which  gives  the 
valley  its  name,  the  pleasant  homes  of  the  permanent  residents,  the 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  135 

chapel,  the  school  house,  the  public  hall,  the  absence  of  the  drinking 
saloon  and  its  concomitants,  the  peaceable  and  orderly  character  of 
the  people,  give  to  Saylesville  its  enviable  reputation  as  the  model 
manufacturing  village  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  1877  the  Messrs.  Sayles  built  the  Moshassuck  Valley  railroad, 
which  extends  from  their  bleachery  to  Woodlawn,  where  connection 
is  made  with  the  New  York,  Providence  &  Boston  and  the  Old 
Colony  roads.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm  is  president  of  the 
road,  and  the  junior  member  is  treasurer.  Passenger  and  freight 
trains  make  several  trips  daily  over  the  road.  As  many  as  200  tons 
of  goods  are  shipped  from  the  bleachery  over  this  road  in  a  single  day. 

About  midway  between  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery  and  Woodlawn 
is  the  village  of  Lorraine,  also  the  creation  of  the  Messrs.  Sayles. 
Here  are  the  extensive  Lorraine  Mills,  where,  by  means  of  skillful 
labor  and  the  most  improved  machinery,  the  finest  ladies'  dress  goods 
made  in  this  country  and  known  as  French  cashmeres  are  produced, 
rivalling  those  of  the  best  makers  in  France.  At  Lorraine  the 
Messrs.  Sayles  have  also  erected  a  neat  chapel  for  the  benefit  of  their 
large  number  of  operatives. 

On  commencement  day  of  Brown  University,  1878,  a  letter  from 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  read  by  President  Ezekiel  G.  Robinson 
to  the  assembled  graduates,  in  which  the  writer  announced  his  pur- 
pose to  offer  to  the  university  the  sum  of  $50,000  for  the  erection  of 
a  building  as  a  memorial  to  his  son,  William  Clark  Sayles  (born 
October  12th,  1855),  who  died  deeply  lamented  by  a  wide  circle  of 
loving  friends,  February  13th,  1876,  he  stating  that  he  had  selected 
commencement  for  making  the  announcement,  because  on  that  day 
his  son  would  have  been  graduated  had  it  pleased  Heaven  to  spare 
his  life.  Subsequently  the  sum  was  increased  to  $100,000,  and  the 
large,  elegant  stone  edifice  known  as  "  Sayles  Memorial  Hall"  was 
dedicated  with  appropriate  and  impressive  ceremonies  on  the  4th  of 
June,  1881.  On  the  front  of  the  building  is  inscribed  Filio  Pater  Posvit, 
it  being  a  father's  memorial  of  one  of  the  worthiest  of  sons,  a  son  in 
whom  centered  high  and  cherished  hopes,  and  who  gave  fairest 
promise  of  their  fulfillment.  This  structure  is  one  of  the  most  touch- 
ing expressions  of  parental  love  known  in  the  history  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Sayles'  acknowledged  ability  as  a  financier,  as  well  as  his  in- 
tegrity, sagacity  and  accuracy,  has  led  to  his  appointment  to  various 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust  in  moneyed  circles,  and  caused 
his  counsel  to  be  often  sought  in  financial  matters  where  good  judg- 
ment was  necessary  to  be  promptly  exercised.  He  is  president  of  the 
Slater  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket,  and  a  director  in  the  Third 
National  Bank  of  Providence.  Besides  his  extensive  interests  at  Mo- 
shassuck and  Lorraine,  he  is  a  large  stockholder  in  various  corpora- 
tions in  which  he  has  capital  invested.  He  is  president  of  the 
Slater  Cotton  Company  in  Pawtucket,  of  which  he  was  the  originator; 


136  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

a  director  in  the  Ponemah  Mills,  the  largest  cotton  manufacturing 
company  in  Connecticut  and  one  of  the  largest  in  New  England,  and 
also  a  stockholder  or  director  in  mills  in  Massachusetts. 

Although  always  loyal  to  the  principles  of  the  republican  party, 
and  one  of  its  staunchest  supporters,  only  once  has  he  been  prevailed 
upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  enter  political  life,  believing  that 
he  could  best  serve  the  public  by  promoting  and  expanding  those 
industries  which  furnish  employment  to  such  large  numbers  of 
people,  thereby  enabling  the  wage-earners  to  become  thrifty  citizens 
and  to  provide  comfortable  homes  for  themselves  and  those  depend- 
ent upon  them.  Twice  he  was  chosen  state  senator  in  the  general 
assembly  from  Pawtucket,  where  his  manly  course  and  fidelity  to  his 
duties  won  for  him  not  only  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  political 
associates,  but  of  his  opponents.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been 
president  of  the  Pawtucket  Free  Public  Library.  In  1879  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Brown  University,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  For  a  time  he  held  the  position  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  on  the  staff  of  the  Pawtucket  Light  Guard,  and  during  the  war 
for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  he  was  a  constant  and  liberal 
contributor  to  all  patriotic  objects. 

He  early  evinced  a  taste  for  literature  and  art,  and  notwithstand- 
ing his  busy  life  he  has  always  found  some  time  for  its  cultivation. 
His  travels  in  his  own  country  and  in  foreign  lands  have  been  quite 
extensive,  and  in  his  elegant  mansion  on  East  avenue,  overlooking 
Pawtucket  and  Providence,  may  be  found  the  productions  of  the  best 
thinkers  and  writers,  and  the  most  famous  painters  and  sculptors. 

iVctive-  and  public-spirited  as  a  citizen,  upright  and  honorable  in 
all  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men,  he  has  won  and  retained  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  always  re- 
sided. From  the  beginning  of  his  business  career  he  has  believed  in 
the  principle  of  hard,  persistent  work  and  honesty  of  purpose  as  the 
only  sure  ground  of  success.  Acting  upon  this  belief  he  has  suc- 
ceeded by  his  own  unaided  exertions  in  raising  himself  from  the 
position  of  a  clerk  in  a  commercial  house  to  the  possessor  of  an  ample 
fortune.  Endowed  with  a  sympathetic  nature,  and  bestowing  sub- 
stantial aid  where  deserved,  he  strives  always  to  make  the  applicant 
depend  upon  himself  rather  than  on  others.  While  from  his  door 
none  are  turned  empty  away,  his  charities  are  of  the  practical  kind, 
and  calculated  to  confer  permanent  aid,  as  well  as  to  relieve  present 
necessity.  His  convictions  of  right  and  duty  are  decided  and  firm 
and  uncompromisingly  maintained,  and  though  a  positive  man,  he 
views  the  faults  of  others  with  charity,  his  creed  being, 

' '  That  mercy  I  to  others  show, 
That  mercy  show  to  me." 

He  married  October  8()th,  1849,  Mary  Wilkinson  Fessenden, 
daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Benjamin  Fessenden,  of  Valley  Falls,  R.  L 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  137 

She  died  September  20th,  1886.  Of  six  children  three  are  now  living: 
Mary  (Mrs.  Roscoe  S.  Washburn),  Martha  F.  and  Frank  A. 

The  immediate  church  relations  of  the  family  are  with  the  Central 
Congregational  church  in  Providence,  of  which  Mr.  Sayles  is  a 
generous  supporter;  but,  possessing  a  broad  and  catholic  spirit,  his 
benefactions  to  religious  organizations  are  not  restricted  by  denomi- 
national lines. 

Frederic  Clark  Sayles  is  a  native  of  Pawtucket,  Rhode  Island, 
and  has  always  resided  there.  He  was  born  July  17th,  1835.  His 
father  was  Clark  Sayles,  and  his  mother  Mary  (Olney)  Sayles.  His 
ancestors  on  both  sides  are  easily  traced  back  to  the  founder  of 
Rhode  Island,  John  Sayles  having  married  a  daughter  of  Roger 
Williams.  He  also  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Governor  Joseph 
Jenks,  son  of  the  founder  of  Pawtucket  in  1655.  In  youth  he 
was  favored  with  unusual  home  advantages,  and  was  notably  am- 
bitious in  his  studies.  Beginning  with  1840,  he  spent  several"  winters 
in  Savannah,  Georgia,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale lumber  business.  While  there  he  attended  its  best  schools, 
and  as  a  classmate  he  had  Charles  H.  Olmsted,  who  subsequently,  in 
the  war  of  the  rebellion,  became  famous  as  colonel  of  the  confederate 
forces  in  Forts  Pulaski  and  Wagner,  and  he  remembers  with  a  feeling 
of  commendable  pride  that  it  was  the  Yankee  boy  from  "  Little 
Rhody  "  who  bore  off  the  premium  of  the  school  for  good  scholarship. 
After  passing  through  the  schools  of  Pawtucket  he  pursued  his  studies 
in  the  University  Grammar  School  in  Providence,  and  at  the  Provi- 
dence Conference  Seminary  in  East  Greenwich,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  in  June,  1853. 

In  July  of  that  year  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  brother,  William 
F.,  in  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery  at  Saylesville,  which  has  since  be- 
come the  largest  and  best  equipped  establishment  of  its  kind  in  the 
world.  His  work  at  first  consisted  of  sweeping  the  rooms,  invoicing  the 
goods,  and  performing  any  other  service  which  was  required  of  him, 
his  compensation  being  five  shillings  a  day.  With  a  firm  determina- 
tion to  achieve  success  in  business,  so  far  as  knowledge  and  faithful- 
ness might  secure  it,  he  made  a  thorough  study  of  all  the  mechanism 
and  operations  of  the  establishment,  diligently  engaging  in  every 
department  of  the  work  and  acquainting  himself  with  all  of  its  de- 
tails. E'or  ten  years  he  thus  rigidly  and  persistently  applied  himself 
to  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  business,  and  on  January  1st, 
1863,  he  was  admitted  to  partnership  with  his  brother.  Since  that 
time  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery  has  been  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles.  Unparalleled  success  has  attended 
their  united  efforts,  and  their  taste,  intelligence,  thrift  and  enterpris- 
ing spirit  are  everywhere  seen  in  the  beautiful  village  which  has 
grown  up  around  their  works,  and  which  numbers  more  than  two 
thousand  inhabitants.     It  is  an  unusually  orderly  community  from 


138  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  fact  that  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  of  any  description  is  not 
tolerated  by  the  Messrs.  Sayles.  The  Moshassuck  valley,  with  its 
handsome  village  and  its  railroad,  bears  testimony  to  their  rare  saga- 
city, industr}',  perseverance  and  executive  ability.  On  an  eminence 
a  short  distance  north  of  the  bleachery  and  overlooking  the  charming 
valley  of  the  Moshassuck  and  the  forest-clad  hills  which  skirt  it  on 
either  side,  the  Messrs.  Sayles  have  erected  an  elegant  stone  chapel 
in  the  gothic  style  of  architecture  with  windows  of  stained  glass, 
which  is  capable  of  seating  at  least  two  hundred  people.  It  is  called 
"Memorial  Chapel,"  and  was  erected  in  memory  of  their  deceased 
children.  Here  public  worship  is  regularly  held,  and  a  flourishing 
Sunday  school  is  kept. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1886  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
although  often  solicited,  could  be  induced  to  enter  public  life,  his 
large  and  constantly  increasing  business  demanding  all  of  his  time 
and  attention.  That  year  Pawtucket  became  a  city,  and  in  response 
to  the  persistent  solicitations  of  its  citizens,  irrespective  of  party 
lines,  he  became  a  candidate  for  political  honors  and  was  chosen  its 
first  mayor.  It  was  truly  a  case  in  which  the  office  sought  the  man, 
and  not  the  man  the  office.  He  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his  new 
duties  the  same  energy  and  determination  which  had  characterized 
him  in  his  private  business,  and  for  two  years  the  young  and  enter- 
prising city  had  an  administration  of  its  public  affairs  which  was  in 
the  highest  degree  creditable  to  its  chief  executive  officer,  and  of  great 
advantage  to  itself.  While  himself  an  unflinching  republican,  his 
administration  was  in  no  sense  partisan,  and  he  secured  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  classes  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Especially  was  this 
true  of  the  smaller  taxpayers,  upon  whom  the  burdens  of  government 
rest  most  heavily.  In  his  first  inaugural  address  he  said,  in  address- 
ing the  city  council :  "  We  are  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  public 
property  and  finances.  Upon  us  devolves  the  responsibility  of  saying 
to  every  owner  of  property  in  our  city,  bring  hither  your  tithes  in 
proportion  to  your  ability  and  lay  them  at  the  feet  of  justice,  to  aid  in 
bearing  your  part  of  the  public  burden.  We  have  seen  what  propor- 
tion of  the  whole  number  of  our  taxpayers  the  burdens  rest  with 
greatest  hardship,  therefore  it  behooves  us  to  exercise  the  largest 
wisdom  and  discretion  in  protecting  them  from  undue  oppression." 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  he  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for 
reelection,  hfs  public  duties  making  too  serious  encroachments  upon 
his  private  business.  During  his  administration  several  important 
public  improvements  were  made,  and  some  projected  which  have 
since  been  completed,  while  others,  notably  that  of  the  city's  furnish- 
ing its  own  electric  lights,  will  undoubtedly  result  in  favorable  action 
in  the  near  future. 

Mr.  Sayles  has  made  a  number  of  trips  to  Europe,  sometimes  for 
health,  and  at  other  times  for  health  and  pleasure  combined.    Among 


>    o 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  139 

the  countries  which  he  has  visited  are  England,  Scotland,  Ireland, 
France,  Belgium,  Holland,  Germany,  Austria,  Prussia,  Switzerland, 
Italy,  Denmark,  Norway,  Sweden  and  Russia.  He  is  fond  of  travel, 
and  his  elegant  residence  on  East  avenu-e,  in  the  suburbs  of  Paw- 
tucket,  contains  many  acquisitions  from  the  studios  of  famous  foreign 
artists.  He  also  finds  much  pleasure  among  his  horses  and  cattle, 
"Bryn  Mawr"  having  some  of  the  finest  blooded  stock  in  the  country. 

Besides  his  interest  in  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery  and  in  the 
Moshassuck  Valley  railroad,  of  which  he  is  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Sayles 
is  connected  with  various  enterprises  of  a  public  nature.  At  one  time 
he  was  major  of  the  Pawtucket  Light  Guard,  an  organization  which 
sent  a  large  number  of  men  into  the  field  during  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion. He  is  a  director  in  the  Slater  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket 
and  in  the  Merchants  National  Bank  of  Providence.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank  of 
Pawtucket,  and  is  identified  with  other  corporations  and  institutions 
in  Pawtucket  and  Providence.  He  was  not  only  the  first  signer  of 
the  call  for  a  Business  Men's  Association  in  Pawtucket,  but  was  its 
first  president,  holding  the  position  four  years  in  succession. 

In  addition  to  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery,  his  brother  and  himself 
are  the  owners  of  the  Lorraine  Mills,  also  situated  in  the  Moshassuck 
valley.  These  mills,  with  the  best  of  skill  and  machinery  known  to 
modern  times,  have  the  reputation  of  producing  the  finest  ladies' 
dress  goods,  known  as  French  cashmeres,  that  havvi  ever  been  manu- 
factured in  this  country,  challenging  comparison  with  the  best  French 
makers. 

Mar.  Sayles  married,  October  16th,  1861,  Deborah  Cook  Wilcox, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Deborah  (Cook)  Wilcox,  of  Pawtucket. 
Thomas  Wilcox,  Mrs.  Sayles'  grandfather,  served  in  the  revolution, 
and  was  one  of  the  daring  party  of  41,  led  by  Colonel  W^illiam  Barton, 
who  captured  General  Richard  Prescott  on  the  island  of  Rhode 
Island,  July  10th,  1778.  Mr.  Sayles  has  had  five  children:  Carrie 
Minerva  (Mrs.  Frederick  William  HoUs),  Frederic  Clark,  Benjamin 
Paris  (deceased),  Robert  Wilcox  and  Deborah  Wilcox.  Mr.  Sayles 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Central  Congregational  church  in 
Providence,  and  prominently  identified  with  its  interests. 

Albert  R.  Sherman,  son  of  Simon  P.  and  Hannah  G.  vSherman, 
was  born  in  Providence,  January  23d,  1838.  There  he  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  and  received  a  good  education.  When  about  18  years  of 
age  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  for  several  years. 
Returning  to  Providence  he  was  employed  by  the  A.  W.  Sprague 
Manufacturing  Company  in  1860,  as  master  mechanic,  and  held  that 
position  for  17  years.  During  August,  1860,  Mr.  Sherman  was  mar- 
ried to  Alma  W.  Tibbitts,  daughter  of  William  C,  of  Warwick.  Their 
union  was  blessed  by  two  children:  Charles  E.,  born  September  30th, 


140  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1861,  and  Albert.  The  first  child  died  quite  young,  the  other  is  still 
living.  Mrs.  Sherman,  died  November  17th,  1888.  In  Pawtucket  Mr. 
Sherman  has  been  connected  with  the  Fales  &  Jenks  Machine  Com- 
pany, United  States  Cotton  Company,  and  Hope  Thread  Company. 
He  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  city  and  is  an  inventor  of  no 
little  fame.  Since  1889  he  has  been  chosen  senator,  and  at  present 
occupies  that  office. 

Gideon  Lawton  Spencer. — A  history  of  Pawtucket  would  be  in- 
complete without  a  sketch  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  appears 
above.  Mr.  Spencer  was  born  in  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  September 
23d,  1803,  and  is  the  youngest  son  in  a  family  of  six  children  of  Law- 
ton  and  Martha  Spencer.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Niles,  who  was  for  many  years  high  sheriff  of  Kent  county.  His 
father  removed  with  his  family  to  what  is  now  Pawtucket  in  1810. 
He  only  attended  the  common  schools  three  weeks,  and  at  the  age  of 
ten,  his  father  being  overseer  in  the  Slater  Mill,  he  commenced 
work  in  that  mill,  receiving  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  a  week.  This 
he  followed  until  he  was  over  17  years  of  age,  when  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  John  Wood,  of  Pawtucket,  to  learn  the  tailoring  trade.  On 
arriving  at  manhood  he  commenced  the  merchant  tailoring  business 
himself,  and  was  the  second  one  in  Rhode  Island  to  open  a  custom 
tailor  establishment.  He  followed  this  business  till  1845,  and  he 
gained  such  a  reputation  among  the  Quakers  of  New  England  that 
he  made  garments  for  them  all  over  that  territory.  During  the  crash 
of  1829-80  in  Pawtucket  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  real  estate,  and 
after  relinquishing  his  business,  he  engaged  largely  in  the  purchase 
and  sale  of  real  estate  and  has  owned  at  one  time  as  high  as  150  to 
200  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  Providence  and  Pawtucket.  He  owns  to- 
day the  old  Slater  Mill  where  he  first  worked  as  a  child,  besides  other 
valuable  property  in  Pawtucket,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  tax-payers 
in  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the  state  commissioners  on  the  erection 
of  the  bridge  crossing  the  Blackstone  river,  and  has  been  since  the 
organization  of  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  one  of  its 
stockholders,  also  director,  and  is  the  only  one  living  of  the  original 
board.  Mr.  Spencer  is  director  in  the  Pawtucket  Institution  for  Sav- 
ings and  was  president  of  the  North  Providence  Bank.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  constitutional  convention  in  1841.  When  the  Paw- 
tucket Free  Library  was  a  stock  concern  he  donated  to  them  the  rent 
of  the  hall  they  occupied,  they  agreeing  to  make  a  free  library  of  it. 
He  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Job  Carpenter,  of  Providence,  and  of 
his  family  of  eight  children  five  are  living,  viz.:  Job  Lawton,  a  manu- 
facturer in  Pawtucket;  Amelia,  wife  of  Erastus  Sampson,  of  Boston; 
Annie,  Clara  wife  of  Frederic  Burlingame  of  Pawtucket,  and  Frank 
Gideon,  assistant  superintendent  of  the  Providence  &  Worcester 
railroad. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  141 

Henry  Ashton  Warburton,  manufacturer  of  cotton  thread,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Hyde,  Cheshire  county,  near  Manchester,  Eng- 
land, November  2d,  1837.  His  father,  Peter  Warburton,  was  a  Quaker, 
and  was  one  of  the  best  managers  of  cotton  spinning— so  considered 
—in  his  day.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Warburton.  They  raised  a  family  of 
nine  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  sons  were  thoroughly  drilled  in  all 
the  details  of  cotton  manufacturing,  and  put  to  work  early  in  life  in  the 
mills.  At  eight  years  of  age  Henry  Ashton  was  put  to  work  as  a  back 
boy,  working  on  cotton  mules.  One  half  of  the  day  he  spent  at  work 
and  the  other  half  at  school.  When  ten  years  of  age  his  work  in 
school  ceased.  When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  set  sail  with  his 
family  for  America.  He  died  in  Lawrence,  Mass.,  in  1879.  His  wife 
died  in  England.in  1851.  The  ship  that  brought  Mr.  Warburton  to 
America  left  England  May  1st,  1852,  and  arrived  at  Boston  on  the 
13th  of  June  following.  Mr.  Warburton's  first  work  in  America 
was  as  a  piecer  on  hand  mules  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire. 
During  the  time  spent  there  he  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of 
the  evening  schools,  but  in  the  year  1853  he  went  to  Lawrence,  Mass., 
thus  cutting  short  again  the  opportunities  of  securing  an  education. 
At  Lawrence  he  began  the  work  of  running  a  pair  of  mules  on  his 
own  account.  After  remaining  there  seven  years  he  returned  to 
Portsmouth  again.  In  1862  he  was  married  and  at  once  removed  to 
Ballard  Vale,  Mass.,  where  he  was  employed  cutting  files  by  machin- 
ery. In  1863  he  removed  to  Portsmouth  again  and  became  assistant 
overseer  of  cotton  spinning  for  his  brother,  who  was  overseer  in  the 
mill.  He  had  not  remained  there  long  before  he  was  transferred  to 
the  thread  department,  which  was  the  beginning  of  his  successful 
work  in  that  line.  He  remained  there  about  two  years,  then  went  to 
New  Market,  then  Exeter,  and  in  1867  became  assistant  overseer  for 
the  Hadley  Thread  Company  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  and  remained  there 
but  a  few  months,  when  he  became  overseer  for  the  Warren  Thread 
Company  at  Worcester,  where  he  remained  seven  years.  At  this  time 
the  proprietor  of  a  distillery  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  induced 
him  to  go  there  and  take  charge  of  his  interests.  He  wanted  a  man, 
he  said,  who  could  keep  sober  while  running  the  business,  and  pre- ' 
vailed  on  him  to  go.  He  finally  accepted  the  position,  was  in  charge 
of  the  distillery  three  years  and  three  months,  tested  every  barrel  of 
liquor  in  the  establishment  for  that  time  by  taste  and  smell,  but  never 
swallowed  a  mouthful  of  the  beverage  while  there  employed.  In  1877 
he  became  overseer  for  William  Warren,  thread  manufacturer,  of  New 
York  city,  of  the  thread  winding  department,  and  remained  there  till 
1880,  when  he  accepted  a  position  as  overseer  and  later  as  superintend- 
ent for  Stafford  &  Co.,  of  Pawtucket.  January  1st,  1886,  in  company 
with  James  C.  Roth,  he  purchased  the  spool  thread  interest  of  Stafford 
&  Co.  and  started  the  New  England  Thread  Company.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  present  successful  enterprise  of  this  firm,  managed 


142  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

wholly  by  Mr.  Warburton  because  of  his  great  experience  in  the  cot- 
ton thread  industry.  Mr.  Roth  was  in  charge  of  the  books.  February 
14th,  1889,  Mr.  Roth  died,  and  on  the  24th  of  May  following  Mr.  War- 
burton  purchased  all  interests  belonging  to  his  widow,  and  is  now  the , 
sole  owner  of  the  business.  He  employs  a  force  at  the  present  time 
of  80  hands,  and  does  a  business  of  $100,000  or  more  yearly,  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  thread  put  up  on  spools,  bobbins,  paper  tubes 
and  cones,  and  various  other  forms. 

Mr.  Warburton  is  a  man  of  excellent  abilities  and  of  indomitable 
energy,  and  takes  a  great  pride  in  turning  out  goods  of  a  quality  that 
cannot  be  surpassed  by  any  other  concern  in  the  country.  He  began 
here  under  somewhat  unfavorable  circumstances  and  against  the  ad- 
vice of  his  best  friends,  but  his  better  judgment  prevailed,  and  in  con- 
sequence it  is  now  with  difficulty  his  two  large  agencies  of  New  York 
city  are  supplied  with  his  products  of  manufacture.  His  goods  are 
also  called  for  by  parties  from  different  parts  of  the  whole  country 
outside  of  his  two  established  agencies.  During  the  five  years  just 
past  he  has  quadrupled  his  business,.and  it  is  still  increasing. 

On  September  8th,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  E.  Critchley, 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Critchley,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hamp- 
shire. They  have  three  children:  Franklin  E.,  Florence  E.  and  Harry 
A.  Franklin  E.  was  born  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  August  19th,  1863. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  When 
about  14  years  of  age  he  went  to  New  York,  where  he  spent  three 
years.  In  1880  he  came  to  Pawtucket  and  was  employed  by  his  father 
as  overseer  of  his  mills.  At  present  he  holds  the  position  of  superin- 
tendent. Since  his  arrival  in  Pawtucket  Mr.  F.  E.  Warburton  has  also 
been  overseer  for  the  Hope  Thread  Company.  Florence  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  H.  Grover,  who  is  Mr.  Warburton's  shipping  clerk,  and 
Harry  A.  is  in  school. 

Joshua  S.  White  is  a  native  of  Norton,  Mass,  born  November 
13th,  1818.  His  father  was  Zebulon,  son  of  Zebulon,  who  married 
Peggy,  daughter  of  Joel  White.  Mr.  White  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  followed  farming  as  an  occupation  until  1842,  when 
he  was  employed  by  his  father  in  the  iron  foundry  in  Pawtucket.  By 
his  faithfulness  to  this  business  and  with  the  money  he  had  saved  he 
was  able  to  commence  anew.  In  1860,  with  his  brother,  Mr.  White 
started  the  business  which  they  continued  together  for  20  years,  when 
he  became  sole  proprietor.  His  first  marriage  was  to  Sarah  P.  Inman, 
May  17th,  1848,  who  died  April  7th,  1850,  leaving  him  no  children. 
By  his  next  wife,  Harriet  Newell,  whom  he  married  May  4th,  1851,  he 
had  four  children:  Harriet,  born  November  9th,  1855;  J.  Ellis,  born 
March  24th,  1858;  William  Shaw,  born  February  28th,  1863;  and  Henry 
T.,  born  August  30th,  1868.     Mrs.  White  died  May  13th,  1888. 


^ng^byFajr^rruvyvUY 


-i^-^^^/ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  142a 

Benjamin  Fessenden.— Benjamin  Fessenden  was  born  in  Sand- 
wich, Barnstable  county,  Alass.,  on  the  13th  of  June,  1797.  His  father, 
William  Fessenden,  a  man  of  sterling-  character,  learned  the  art  of 
printing  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia:  subsequently  he  removed  to 
Sandwich,  where  he  married  Martha  Freeman  and  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business.  His  grandfather  and  great-grandfather,  of  the  same 
name  with  himself, were  graduates  of  Harvard  l)niversity,  and  his  great- 
grandfather was  a  Congregational  clergyman.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  General  Nathaniel  Freeman,  a  colonel  in  the  revolution, 
and  afterward  a  brigadier-general  in  the  militia.  His  mother's  brother, 
Nathaniel,  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  and  became  a  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  finally  a  member  of  congress,  hav- 
ing as  colleague  John  Quincy  Adams. 

William  Fessenden  had  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. Benjamin  was  favored  with  superior  home  advantages.  He  was 
fitted  for  college  at  the  Barnstable  Academy,  entered  Harvard  in  1S18, 
and  was  graduated  with  high  honor  four  years  later.  Among  his 
classmates  were  Honorable  George  Bancroft,  Honorable  Caleb  Cush- 
ing,  and  Reverend  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  D.  D.  In  scholarship  and  char- 
acter he  was  not  unworthy  of  the  distinguished  class  to  which  he  be- 
longed. As  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  the  Unitarian  denomina- 
tion he  studied  three  years  m  the  Cambridge  Theological  vSchool,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1820.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
Lexington,  Mass.  For  a  time  he  preached  in  Yarmouth,  in  the  same 
state,  for  the  venerable  Timothy  Alden.  In  1821  he  settled  with  the 
Unitarian  church  in  East  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  as  successor  to  Reverend 
James  Flint,  D.  D.,  and  was  ordained  September  19th,  1821,  the  sermon 
on  the  occasion  being  preached  by  the  gifted  Henry  Ware.  He  la- 
bored here  with  marked  success  for  four  years,  when  impaired  health 
compelled  him  to  relinquish  his  pulpit. 

In  1825  he  removed  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  where  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile affairs.  While  living  in  Pawtucket  his  views  in  regard  to  cer- 
tain religious  doctrines  underwent  a  radical  change,  and  renouncing 
some  of  his  old  beliefs,  he  became  an  evangelical  Christian;  he  also 
took  decided  ground  in  favor  of  temperance  and  in  opposition  to  Ma- 
sonry and  slavery.  From  this  time  he  worshipped  with  the  Baptists, 
but  did  not  become  a  member  of  that  denomination  until  a  number  of 
years  afterward. 

In  1833  he  settled  in  Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  and  connected  himself  with 
the  Abbott  Run  Company,  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  and,  so 
far  as  his  own  immediate  exertions  controlled  the  business,  he  had 
good  success.  Here  he  continued  for  32  years,  retiring  from  the  con- 
cern in  1865.  In  1855  and  in  1856  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
general  assembly  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island  and  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives.  In  1869  and  1870  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  state  senate.     Originally  a  whig,  he  became  a  republican  on  the 


142b  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

formation  of  the  latter  party,  and  always  maintained  a  deep  interest 
in  public  affairs.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  was  one  of  the 
committee  of  the  town  of  Cumberland  to  provide  for  the  families  of 
the  Union  soldiers.  In  1870,  at  the  age  of  73  years,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Valley  Falls,  and  filled  the  office  for  eight  years.  For 
25  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Valley  Falls  Baptist  Sunday 
school.  In  his  SOth  year  he  was  baptized  and  united  with  the  Valley 
Falls  Baptist  church,  to  which  other  members  of  his  family  belonged. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  1821,  he  married  Mary  Wilkinson,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Wilkinson,  of  Pawtucket,  of  the  distinguished  Wilkinson 
family  that  gave  to  Rhode  Island  so  many  men  of  mechanical  skill, 
enterprise  and  staunch  virtues.  Mrs.  Fessenden  (born  October  11th, 
1804)  inherited  the  strong  family  traits  of  intelligence,  kindness  and  de- 
cision of  character.  She  died  February  27th,  1888.  Mr.  Fessenden 
died  January  6th,  1881.  They  had  nine  children;  eight  sons  and  one 
daughter,  Mary  Wilkinson,  who  married  Honorable  William  F.  Sayles, 
of  Pawtucket.  Two  sons,  Russell  F.and  Robert,  are  the  only  children 
now  living.  Charles  H.  and  Robert  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion;  the  latter  being  an  officer. 

Benjamin  Fessenden  led  a  pure,  blameless  life,  and  was  alike  be- 
loved and  honored  in  the  home  circle  and  by  his  fellow  citizens.  His 
attainments,  virtues  and  activities  were  of  a  high  order.  Everywhere 
he  was  true,  gentlemanly,  kindly,  benevolent  and  scholarly,  ahvays 
delighting  in  the  society  of  the  wise  and  the  good.  Comprehending 
the  common  weal,  he  counted  all  public  interests  as  dear  as  his  own. 
While  his  strength  continued,  he  stood  forth  manfully  and  faithfully 
for  all  good  service.  As  a  fitting  termination  to  his  worthy  life,  his 
death  was  a  Christian  triumph,  full  of  serene  hope,  confidence  and  joy. 

Clark  Sayles  was  born  in  Glocester  (now  Burrillville),  R.  I.,  on 
the  18th  of  May,  1797.  He  was  the  son  of  Ahab  and  Lillis  (Steere) 
Sayles.  His  father  was  the  son  of  Israel  Sayles,  who  was  not  only  a 
well-to-do  farmer,  but  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  mechanical  genius; 
for  a  number  of  years  he  was  president  of  the  town  council  of  Gloces- 
ter, and,  during  the  war  of  the  revolution,  served  in  the  patriot  army 
under  General  Sullivan.  Clark's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Steere,  a  good  representative  of  a  worthy  Rhode  Island  family.  Mr. 
Ahab  Sayles  had  five  brothers:  Rufus,  Nicholas,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Rob- 
ert, and  a  sister,  Martha,  who  married,  first,  Alfred  Eddy,  and  second, 
Augustus  Winsor.  The  Sayles  homestead  lands  were  situated  between 
Pascoag  and  Chepachet,  on  the  line  that  finally,  in  1806,  divided  Bur- 
rillville from  Glocester,  leaving  the  family  mansion  in  Burrillville. 
The  children  of  Ahab  Sayles  were:  Azubah,  Lusina,  Mercy,  Nicholas, 
Clark,  V/elcome,  Lillis  and  Miranda;  only  Miranda  is  now  living  (1891). 
The  ancestors  of  this  very  respectable  family,  on  both  sides,  were  in- 
dustrious and  honored  farmers  of  the  old  type,  some  of  them  being 
Friends,  and  others  Baptists  in  their  religious  convictions. 


..-i 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  142c 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  home,  on  the  farm,  and 
in  the  common  schools.  For  many  years  his  teacher  was  William  Col- 
well,  afterward  cashier  of  the  Glocester  Exchange  Bank.  Both  at  home 
and  in  the  Chepachet  Library  he  found  and  eagerly  read  instructive 
books,  not  missing  a  "library  day"  for  many  years,  as  asserted  by  the 
librarian,  Mr.  Blackman.  When  about  18  years  of  age  he  engaged 
to  work  for  Mr.  Elias  Carter,  a  master  builder  in  Thompson,  Conn., 
with  whom  he  labored  in  Thompson,  and  subsequently  went  to  the 
state  of  Georgia  and  assisted  in  constructing  the  court  house  in  Burke 
county.  Upon  his  return  he  was  employed  in  building  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Milford,  Mass.  Finally  he  entered  into  business  for 
himself  as  a  master  builder,  erected  a  residence  for  his  brother  Nich- 
olas, and  again  went  to  Georgia,  where  he  constructed  dwellings  for 
planters  and  completed  a  large  hotel  at  Waynesboro.  Returning  from 
the  South,  he  built  the  meeting  house  in  Greenville,  Smithfield,  R.  I. 

In  the  spring  of  1822  he  removed  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  business  of  a  master  builder.  He  erected  numerous 
dwellings  for  David  Wilkinson;  inserted  a  middle  section  in  the  meet- 
ing house  of  the  First  Baptist  Society^  planned  and  built  the  first 
Congregational  church  in  Pawtucket  in  1828;  erected  a  church  edifice 
in  North  Scituate,  and  also  one  in  North  Attleborough,  Mass.  During 
all  this  time  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  coal  trade,  being 
the  first  man  to  introduce  coal  into  Pawtucket  by  vessels.  He  associ- 
ated with  himself  in  business  Mr.  Daniel  Greene,  and  in  the  great 
financial  panic  of  1829  the  firm  of  Clark  Sayles  &  Co.  assumed  to  a 
great  disadvantage,  as  the  result  proved,  the  business  interests  previ- 
ously carried  on  by  Mr.  Greene,  who  had  failed.  Mr.  Sayles  was 
chosen  a  director  of  the  New  England  Pacific  Bank,  of  whose  board  of 
13  directors  11  failed,  while  Mr.  Sayles  weathered  the  storm.  Chosen 
president  of  this  bank,  as  successor  of  Reverend  Asa  Messer,  D.  D., 
president  of  Brown  University,  Mr.  Sayles  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
institution  for  17  years,  and,  "  by  most  remarkably  skillful  financier- 
ing," brought  the  bank  safely  through  all  its  difficulties. 

In  1837,  closing  most  of  his  large  business  relations  in  Pawtucket, 
Mr.  Sayles  again  went  South  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  lumber 
trade  for  the  firm  of  which  he  was  the  head,  and  also  as  agent  of 
another  company,  operating  steam  saw  mills,  one  on  an  island  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Altamaha  river,  and  one  on  the  Savannah  river,  opposite 
the  city  of  Savannah.  After  remaining  in  the  South  in  the  lumber 
business  for  about  20  years  (having  his  family  with  him  during  some 
of  the  winters),  he  returned  to  Pawtucket.  Not  entering  again  largely 
into  business  for  himself,  he  assisted  his  sons,  William  Francis  and 
Frederic  Clark  (whose  sketches  appear  elsewhere  in  this  volume),  in 
purchasing  material  and  in  constructing  additional  buildings  to  their 
extensive  Moshassuck  Bleachery,  in  the  town  of  Lincoln,  R.  I.     He 


142d  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

was  also  the  general  superintendent  in  the  erection  of  the  beautiful 
Memorial  chapel  at  Sa3desville,  near  the  bleachery. 

He  was  a  strong,  energetic,  independent,  faithful,  incorruptible 
man.  In  politics  he  was  an  "old  line  whig,"  and  was  subsequently 
identified  with  the  republican  party,  but  would  only  accept  town 
offices,  his  purpose  being  service  to  his  fellow  citizens  rather  than 
securing  political  honors.  He  united  with  the  Congregational  church 
in  1832.  In  every  good  cause,  as  that  of  temperance  and  anti-slavery, 
education  and  moral  reform,  he  took  an  active  and  efficient  part,  and 
everywhere  proved  his  great  conscientiousness,  his  discernment,  and 
his  superior  judgment.  Few  men  have  been  more  esteemed,  trusted 
and  honored  than  he.  Reasonably  prospered  for  all  his  good  work 
and  large  enterprise,  he  was  still  more  successful  in  building  a  quiet 
but  grand  moral  character.  His  pleasant,  dignified  countenance,  and 
his  erect,  noble  form  indicated  the  inherent  and  cultivated  nobility  of 
his  nature  and  the  happy  proportions  of  his  cultivated  Christian  graces. 
He  was  affable,  kind,  sympathetic,  transparent,  decided,  firm  and 
persevering.  Though  modest,  he  was  self-poised,  self-reliant,  and 
serene,  the  model  of  a  true  gentleman.  By  Christian  faith  and  con- 
sistent service  in  a  long  life  of  private  and  public  rectitude,  he  was 
prepared  for  his  calm,  quiet  but  triumphant  death,  which  occurred 
February  8th,  1885,  in  his  88th  year. 

He  married,  December  25th,  1822,  Mary  Ann  Olney,  daughter  of 
Paris  Olney,  of  Scituate,  R.  I.  She  was  also  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church,  and  esteemed  for  her  strength  of  mind,  gentleness  of 
spirit,  soundness  of  judgment,  decision  of  character,  and  the  purity  of 
her  Christian  life.  She  died  September  11th,  1878.  Of  five  children, 
William  Francis  and  Frederic  Clark  are  the  only  ones  living. 


'/ 


^4 


^^y^/c      .^^-^7^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  TOWN  OF  EAST  PROVIDENCE. 

Oeographical  Description. — Its  People  and  Industries. — Purchase  and  Settlement  of  the 
Territory. — First  Planting  of  Roger  Williams. — First  Permanent  Settler. — First  Com- 
pact of  Seekonk. — Town  Incorporation  as  Rehoboth. — Highways,  Common  Pastures 
and  Early  Customs. — Destruction  by  King  Philip's  War. — Early  Schools. — The  Revo- 
lution.— Saltjjetre  Manufacture. — Bridges  over  the  Seekonk. — Organization  of  the 
Town  of  East  Providence. — Civil  List. — Statistics  of  Progress. — Public  Schools. — 
Highway  Districts. — Watcliemoket  Fire  District. — Police  Force. — Street  Lighting. — 
Town  Hall. — First  Meeting  House.— First  Congregational  Church.— Second  Congre- 
gational, Riverside. — Broadway  Chapel. — First  Baptist  Cluirch .—Second  Baptist. — 
First  Universalist.— St.  Mary's  Episcopal.— St.  Mark's  Episcopal.— Church  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  R.  C. — Haven  Methodist  Episcopal. — Union  Chapel. — Reliance  Lodge. 
I.  O.  O.  F.— Fraternity  Encampment.— Bucklin  Post,  G.  A.  R.— Farragut  Post.— 
Riverside  Cotton  Mills. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  township  of  East  Providence  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the  See- 
konk, or  Providence  river.  It  is  embraced  in  the  territory 
which  formed  the  western  part  of  Rehoboth  and  was  consti- 
tuted as  the  town  of  Seekonk  February  26th,  1812.  In  the  settlement 
of  the  boundary  question  the  westerly  part  of  Seekonk  was  annexed 
to  Rhode  Island  from  Massachusetts,  and  incorporated  as  a  town 
March  1st,  1862.  This  territory  is  about  seven  miles  long  and  a  little 
more  than  two  miles  wide,  and  contains  about  16  square  miles.  The 
land  is  rich  and  the  surface  rolling.  Ten-Mile  river,  which  forms  the 
eastern  boundary  on  the  north  end,  when  it  reaches  a  point  about 
three  miles  down  from  the  northeast  corner,  makes  an  abrupt  turn  to 
the  west  and  crosses  the  town  to  join  the  Seekonk.  The  central  and 
principal  village  of  the  town,  locally  known  as  Watchemoket,  lies  on 
the  western  border,  about  midway  between  the  north  and  south  ends. 
The  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  runs  from  this  locality  north, 
along  the  west  side,  and  the  Providence  &  Warren  railroad  from  the 
same  locality  runs  south,  along  the  river  side.  The  Boston  &  Provi- 
dence railroad  runs  from  the  same  central  locality  northeasterly,  out 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  the  town- 
ship is  well  supplied  with  railroad  facilities.  A  line  of  street  cars 
also  runs  through  the  compact  village,  making  frequent  communica- 
tion with  the  central  depot  of  the  Union  Railroad  Company  on  Market 
Square,  Providence. 

Besides  the  central  village  already  referred  to,  the  town  contains 
other  localities,  known  as  Rumford,  a  manufacturing  village  of  six  or 


144  HISTORV   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

seven  hundred  inhabitants,  on  Ten-Mile  river,  in  the  northern  part; 
Riverside,  a  summer  watering  place  on  the  Seekonk,  in  the  southern 
part,  having  about  200  inhabitants;  Omega,  a  village  of  about  the 
same  size;  Leonard's  Corner;  Cedar  Grove,  a  post  office  in  the  south- 
ern part  on  the  river,  and  Silver  Spring,  a  watering  place  on  the  river 
below  Watchemoket.  The  central  village,  which  has  been  rapidly 
increasing  in  population  and  improvement  during  the  last  decade,  is 
handsomely  laid  out,  and  has  graded  streets,  flagged  walks,  water, 
gas,  electric  lights,  many  handsome  buildings,  an  elegant  brick  town 
hall,  and  a  population  of  five  or  six  thousand.  The  town  has  three 
public  libraries,  viz.:  the  East  Providence  Free  Library,  containing 
1,800  volumes;  the  Riverside  Library,  of  1,520  volumes,  and  the 
Watchemoket  Library,  of  ],710  volumes. 

The  population  of  East  Providence  at  different  periods  since  its 
incorporation  as  a  town  has  been:  in  1865,  2,172;  in  1870,  2,668;  in 
1875,  4,336;  in  1880,  5,056,  and  in  1885,  6,816.  Of  its  population  nearly 
one-half  are  natives  of  Rhode  Island.  The  population  of  the  town 
are  largely  engaged  in  business  in  the  city  of  Providence.  Of  the  re- 
mainder a  considerable  number  are  engaged  in  manufacturing  indus- 
tries, in  the  shore  fishing  and  oystering,  and  in  agriculture.  The  town 
contains  more  than  100  farms,  besides  numerous  garden  patches.  Over 
500  acres  are  plowed  and  about  1,500  acres  are  kept  in  meadow,  while 
more  than  1,000  acres  are  devoted  to  pasturage.  The  cash  value  of 
farms  and  buildings  amounts  to  more  than  a  million  dollars.  Con- 
siderable milk  is  produced,  which  finds  a  convenient  market  in  the 
city,  and  garden  vegetables  are  cultivated  to  a  considerable  extent. 
The  potato  crop  is  one  of  the  most  important,  reaching  about  20,000 
bushels  a  year.  About  80,000  heads  of  cabbage  are  annually  raised, 
and  an  aggregate  of  six  or  seven  thousand  bushels  of  carrots,  beets 
and  turnips.  About  40,000  quarts  of  strawberries  are  among  the 
garden  products.  The  aggregate  value  of  farm  products  amounts 
annually  to  about  $110,000.  About  150,000  -bushels  of  oysters  are 
raised  annually  along  the  shore  of  this  town.  The  value  of  shell 
fisheries  of  the  town  amount  to  about  $150,000  a  year.  There  are  in 
the  town  18  manufacturing  establishments,  employing  a  capital  of 
$300,000  or  more,  and  employing  some  four  to  five  hundred  hands. 
The  aggregate  annual  product  amounts  to  about  one  and  a  quarter 
million  dollars.  During  recent  years  the  custom  of  catering  to  the 
popular  demand  for  breathing  places  on  the  water  front  for  the  people 
of  the  city  has  engrossed  considerable  attention,  the  shore  in  the 
southern  part  of  this  town  presenting  many  valuable  facilities  for 
that  purpose,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  convenience  of  access 
from  the  city,  beautiful  views  and  good  bathing  places.  Silver  Spring, 
Golden  Spring,  Riverside,  Cedar  Grove,  Bullock's  Point,  Camp  White 
and  Crescent  Park  are  seaside  resorts. 

The  territory  of  this  town,  since  its  settlement  by  white  men,  has 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  145 

been  at  different  times  a  part  of  two  different  states  and  of  three  dif- 
ferent towns.  It  was  originally  included  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  whose 
liberal  boundaries  then  comprised  the  present  towns  of  Rehoboth, 
Seekonk,  Attleborough  and  part  of  Swansea,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
East  Providence,  Cumberland  and  parts  of  Pawtucketand  Barrington, 
in  Rhode  Island.  The  first  purchase  of  land  in  this  extensive  domain 
was  a  tract  of  eight  miles  square,  purchased  of  Massasoit  in  1641,  for 
the  purpose  of  beginning  a  town  settlement.  This  embraced  sub- 
stantially the  present  towns  of  Rehoboth,  Seekonk  and  Pawtucket. 
A  second  tract  purchased  of  the  Indians  was  called  Wannamoiset,  and 
is  now  occupied  by  Swansea  and  Barrington.  A  third  purchase  lay 
northward,  and  included  territory  now  occupied  by  Attleborough  and 
Cumberland.  The  Wannamoiset  purchase  was  incorporated  as  the 
town  of  Swansea  in  1667,  and  the  northern  purchase  as  the  town  of 
Attleborough  in  1694.  Seekonk  became  a  separate  township  in  1812, 
taking  the  name  given  to  the  locality  by  the  Indians.  This  name, 
which  means  "  black  goose,"  was  given,  as  is  supposed,  in  recognition 
of  the  circumstance  that  great  numbers  of  wild  geese  used  frequently 
to  alight  in  the  Seekonk  river  and  cove,  a  custom  even  now  not 
obsolete. 

In  this  territory  Roger  Williams  first  pitched  his  tent  and  made 
some  movement  toward  establishing  a  settlement  during  his  w^ander- 
ings  from  the  edict  of  banishment.  About  the  middle  of  April,  1636, 
he  landed  at  a  place  now  called  Manton's  Neck,  and  planted  corn  and 
began  to  prepare  for  a  permanent  residence.  Being  apprised  that  he 
was  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Plymouth,  he  again  moved  forward, 
and  with  his  associates  located  the  permanent  settlement  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Seekonk  river.  The  dividing  line  between  the  states  of 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  remained  in  dispute  for  226  years, 
when  it  was  finally  settled  by  an  adjustment  which  gave  to  Rhode 
Island  the  territory  of  this  town  together  with  that  of  other  towns. 

The  first  settler  of  which  we  have  any  record  as  being  located  in 
Seekonk,  after  Williams  abandoned  his  first  attempt,  was  one  John 
Hazell.  He  was  residing  here  in  1642,  but  no  general  attempt  at  set- 
tlement was  made  until  the  spring  of  1644.  At  that  time  a  colony  of 
58  men,  with  their  families,  formed  a  settlement  and  gave  the  town 
the  name  of  Rehoboth.  This  colony  was  mostly  from  Weymouth 
and  Hingham,  Mass.,  and  came  here  under  the  leadership  of  Reverend 
Samuel  Newman.  The  meaning  of  the  name  Rehoboth  is  said  to 
have  been  suggested  by  the  fact  asserted  by  Mr.  Newman,  "the  Lord 
hath  opened  a  way  for  us."  The  homes  of  this  colony  were  built  in 
a  semi-circle  around  Seekonk  common,  opening  toward  Seekonk  river. 
In  the  center  of  the  semi-circle  stood  the  church  and  parsonage.  This 
circle  was  called  "  the  Ring  of  the  Town."  The  first  church  stood 
very  near  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  Congregational  church  of 
East  Providence. 
10 


146  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY. 

Among-  the  first  acts  of  the  town  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge, 
it  was  voted,  June  21st,  1644,  that  a  meeting  of  all  the  inhabitants 
should  be  held  every  fortieth  day,  to  consider  affairs  that  concerned 
the  colon}'.  On  the  3d  of  July  following,  a  compact  was  signed  as 
follows : 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  by  the  Providence  of 
God  inhabitants  of  Seacunck,  intending  there  to  settle,  do  covenant 
and  bind  ourselves  one  to  another,  to  subject  our  persons  [and  our 
property]  to  nine  persons,  any  five  of  the  nine  which  shall  be  chosen 
by  the  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  plantation,  and  we  do 
[pledge  ourselves]  to  be  subject  to  all  wholesome  [laws  and  orders 
made]  by  them,  and  to  assist  them,  according  to  our  ability  and  estate, 
and  to  give  timely  notice  unto  them  of  any  such  thing  as  in  our  con- 
science may  prove  dang-erous  unto  the  plantation,  and  this  combina- 
tion to  continue  until  we  shall  subject  ourselves  jointly  to  some  other 
government." 

The  following  names  are  appended  to  the  above  compact:  William 
Cheesborough,  Walter  Palmer,  Edward  Smith.  Edward  Bennett, 
Robert  Titus,  Abraham  Martin,  John  Matthewes,  Edward  Sale,  Ralph 
Shepherd,  Samuel  Newman,  Richard  Wright,  Robert  Martin,  Richard 
Bowen,  Joseph  Torrey,  James  Clark,  Ephraim  Hunt,  Peter  Hunt, 
William  Smith,  John  Peren,  Zachery  Rhoodes,  Job  Lane,  Alex.  Win- 
chester, Henry  Smith,  Stephen  ?ayne,  Ralph  Alin,  Thomas  Bliss, 
George  Kendricke,  John  Allin,  William  Sabin,  and  Thomas  Cooper. 

The  board  of  townsmen  instituted  and  empowered  by  the  fore- 
going compact,  was  elected  on  the  9th  day  of  December  1644,  and  was 
composed  of  the  following  men:  Alexander  Winchester,  Richard 
Wright,  Henry  Smith,  Edward  Smfth,  Walter  Palmer,  William  Smith, 
Stephen  Payne,  Richard  Bowen,  and  Robert  Martin.  The  "  towns- 
men "  were  a  body  ofBcial  which  stood  in  a  relation  to  the  town  some- 
what like  the  town  council  of  later  times,  but  having  larger  jurisdic- 
tion. It  was  a  body  common  in  the  very  early  organization  of  New 
England  towns,  but  soon  gave  place  to  other  means  of  administering 
town  affairs.  In  1646  the  people  of  this  town  submitted  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Plymouth  court,  and  were  incorporated  as  a  part  of  that 
colony,  under  the  name  of  Rehoboth.  The  original  58  settlers,  as 
shown  by  the  drawing  of  land  upon  the  great  plain,  June  9th,  1646, 
were  as  follows:  Stephen  Payne,  Widow  Walker,  Robert  Martin,  Ed- 
ward Gilman,  Ralph  Shepherd,  Richard  Wright,  Abraham  Martin, 
"The  Teacher,"  Will.  Carpenter,  Robert  Titus,  Walter  Palmer,  James 
Walker,  Alexander  Winchester,  Samuel  Butterworth,  William  Sabin, 
Thomas  Hitt,  Edward  Smith,'  Edward  Bennett,  Thomas  Clifton,  John 
Cooke,  Mr.  Browne,  William  Cheeseborough,  Ralph  Allin,  James 
Browne,  "The  Governor,"  William  Smith,  John  Sutton,  Job  Laine, 
Thomas  Cooper,  Thomas  Bliss,  John  Peram,  Joseph  Torrey,  John 
Holbrooke,    James    Clarke,    Edward    Sale,   George    Kendricke,    Mr. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  147 

Leonard,  Richard  Bowen,  Edward  Patteson,  John  Read,  John  Mat- 
thews, Matthew  Pratt,  Robert  Sharpe,  Ephraim  and  Peter  Hunt, 
Zachary  Rhodes,  John  Meggs,  John  Miller,  Thomas  Holbrooke, 
"  The  Schoolmaster,"  Mr.  Peck,  Richard  Ingram,  Isaac  Martin,  John 
AUin,  Henry  Smith,  Mr.  Newman,  "  The  Pastor,"  Obadiah  Holmes, 
and  Robert  Morris.  The  names  here  given  are  in  the  order  as  they 
drew  the  lots  numbered  consecutively,  from  1  to  58. 

Edward  Smith  was  the  first  surveyor  of  highways,  and  the  first 
order  for  the  establishment  of  a  highway  in  this  town  was  made  in 
December,  1650,  and  Peter  Hunt  was  the  first  town  clerk,  being  chosen 
at  the  same  time.  The  land  lying  northeast  of  wSeekonk  common,  be- 
tween the  new  road  from  Seekonk  to  Pawtucket  and  the  river,  extend- 
ing down  to  the  mouth  of  Ten-Mile  river,  was  by  order  of  the  town, 
June  11th,  1652,  allowed  to  lie  open  and  undivided  for  common  pas- 
turage for  many  years.  This  tract  was  called  the  ox-pasture,  and  an 
Indian,  called  Sam,  was  employed  to  take  charge  of  the  cows  and 
other  cattle  belonging  to  the  townspeople,  in  a  common  herd,  driving 
them  to  the  pasture  every  morning  and  bringing  them  back  at  night. 
It  is  said  that  he  was  so  faithful  in  the  execution  of  this  trust,  and  be- 
came so  popular  after  many  years  service  in  this  capacity,  that  he  was 
admitted  to  rights  in  the  plantation  as  an  inhabitant,  "  to  buy  or  hire 
house  or  lands  if  he  can,  in  case  the  Court  allow  it."  The  admission 
of  an  Indian  to  such  rights  of  citizenship  was  a  thing  almost  un- 
heard of. 

This  locality  was  the  scene  of  action  in  the  terrible  period  known 
as  King  Philip's  war.  In  July,  1675,  Philip  was  discovered  crossing 
Seekonk  plain,  and  the  Reverend  Noah  Newman,  son  of  the  leader  of 
the  settlement,  led  an  attack  against  him  with  such  success  as  to  kill 
a  number  of  the  Indians  without  any  loss  to  the  attacking  party.  The 
number  thus  killed  is  variously  estimated  at  from  12  to  30.  On  Sun- 
day, March  26th,  1676,  Captain  Michael  Pierce,  of  Scituate,  Mass., 
marched  from  Seekonk  common  with  a  force  of  63  English  and  20  of 
the  Cape  Indians  in  search  of  the  enemy.  Falling  into  an  ambuscade 
of  the  Indians  near  Valley  Falls,  Captain  Pierce  formed  his  men  into 
a  ring,  where  they  fought  thus  back  to  back  for  about  three  hours, 
until  55  of  the  English  and  10  Indians  had  fallen  dead  upon  the  field. 
Two  days  later,  that  is  on  March  28th,  1676,  the  "  Ring  of  the  Town  " 
was  burned  by  the  Indians  under  the  command  of  King  Philip,  de- 
stroying 40  houses  and  30  barns.  Only  two  houses  escaped— the  gar- 
rison house,  which  stood  near  the  place  later  occupied  by  the  house 
of  Phanuel  Bishop,  and  another  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  com- 
mon. The  latter  was  saved  by  an  arrangement  of  black  posts  stand- 
ing around  it  so  as  to  resemble  at  a  distance  a  strong  guard  of  men. 
The  fire  was  set  early  in  the  evening,  and  on  the  morning  of  next  day 
only  a  few  smoking  ash-heaps  remained  to  mark  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage, with  the  exceptions  already  noticed.     All  the  inhabitants  of  the 


148  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

town  except  one  sought  the  garrison  house  for  safety.  This  was  a 
strong  building,  which  the  Indians  were  wise  enough  not  to  attempt 
to  attack.  When  the  attack  upon  the  village  was  made  Robert  Beers, 
an  Irishman,  a  brickmaker  by  trade,  refused  to  flee  to  the  garrison 
house,  but  sat  down  in  his  own  house  and  engaged  himself  as  well 
as  he  could  in  reading  his  Bible,  declaring  that  nothing  could 
harm  him  while  he  was  thus  engaged.  But  he  fell  a  victim  to  his 
foolhardy  faith,  for  the  Indians  shot  him  through  the  window  and  he 
fell  dead  with  the  Bible  in  his  hands,  being  the  only  person  slain  on 
this  occasion. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  schoolmaster  was  a  recognized  fac- 
tor in  the  early  town  of  Rehoboth.  Robert  Dickson  was  engaged  in 
1699,  to  teach  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  for  six  months  for  ^13, 
one  half  to  be  paid  in  silver  and  the  other  half  in  lumber  at  current 
prices.  The  lumber  was  to  be  delivered  at  a  landing  place  at  the 
mouth  of  Ten-Mile  river,  where  Samuel  Walker  and  Sergeant  Butter- 
worth  had  a  saw  mill.  It  is  said  that  in  the  early  history  of  the  town 
there  were  wharves  built  out  into  the  Seekonk,  near  the  cove  which 
is  formed  by  the  wide  mouth  of  Ten-Mile  river.  Stores  were  erected 
here  and  considerable  trade  was  carried  on,  and  the  people  of  Provi- 
dence frequently  came  over  here  to  purchase  goods.  The  pay  of  the 
schoolmaster  gradually  rose  until  in  1709  John  Lynn  was  engaged  to 
teach  for  one  year  for  the  sum  of  i^29,  current  money.  The  school 
was  kept  in  different  sections  of  the  town  for  different  parts  of  the 
year,  so  as  to  give  residents  of  all  parts  some  convenience  in  attending 
it.  The  "  Ring  of  the  Town  "  and  the  neighborhood  on  the  east  of  it 
was  to  have  the  school  21  weeks;  Palmer's  River,  14  weeks;  Watche- 
moket,  13  weeks,  and  Captain  Enoch  Hunt's  neighborhood  and  the 
"  mile  and  a  half,"  9  weeks.  As  this  amounts  to  more  than  the  52 
weeks  of  the  year,  we  assume  that  Mr.  Lynn  had  an  assistant  part  of 
the  time,  or  that  the  school  day  was  shortened  so  that  the  teacher 
could  keep  two  schools  in  operation  during  the  same  week  for  a  part 
of  the  time. 

During  the  war  of  the  revolution  the  town  was  distinguished  for  a 
faithful  and  untiring  support  of  the  cause  of  independence.  The  town 
furnished  310  of  its  men  for  the  continental  army,  and  of  that  number 
37  were  commissioned  officers.  Saltpetre  was  manufactured  in  a  build- 
ing erected  for  the  purpose  near  the  mouth  of  Ten-Mile  river,  and  fur- 
nished to  the  government  in  large  quantities,  to  be  used  in  the  com- 
position of  gunpowder.  Some  extracts  from  a  letter  of  instructions 
from  the  town  to  its  representative  in  1773  will  show  the  spirit  of  the 
people  at  that  time.  They  write:  "  With  pleasing  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions we  trust  you  will,  in  this  day  of  general  oppression  and  invasion 
of  our  natural  and  inherent  rights  and  liberties,  join  in  every  salutary 
and  constitutional  measure  to  remove  those  constitutional  burdens 
and  grievances  that  this  Province,  and  America  in  general,  have  long 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  149 

and  justly  remonstrated  against."  They  then  declare  substantially 
that  the  British  ministry  "have  hitherto,  with  impunity,  profanely 
violated  the  faith  and  promise  of  a  king,  on  whose  royal  word  we 
made  the  most  firm  and  indubitable  reliance,  and  have  involved  this 
province  and  continent  in  the  utmost  distress  and  calamity."  But  not 
having  any  inclination  toward  an  exhibition  of  hostility  toward  the 
constituted  authority,  they  further  declare:  "  And  it  is  now,  and 
ever  has  been,  our  earnest  desire  and  prayer  that  there  may  never  be 
wanting  one  of  the  illustrious  House  of  Hanover  to  sway  the  sceptre 
of  Great  Britain  and  America,  in  righteousness,  as  long  as  the  sun  and 
moon  shall  endure." 

"  We,  your  constituents,  desire  and  expect  that  you  exert  yourself 
to  the  utmost  of  your  ability,  not  only  to  secure  our  remaining  privi- 
leges inviolable,  but  also  to  obtain  a  full  redress  of  all  those  many 
grievances  so  justly  complained  of— a  full  restoration  and  confirma- 
tion of  all  the  rights  and  privileges  we  are  justly  entitled  to  by  nature 
and  the  solemn  compact  aforesaid;  that  generations  yet  unborn  may 
know  that  this  town  has  not  been  dormant,  while  the  enemies  thereof 
have  been  vigilant  and  active  to  wrest  from  them  every  privilege  and 
blessing  that  renders  life  worthy  of  enjoyment." 

The  committee  of  correspondence  at  that  time  was  composed  of 
Ephraim  Starkweather,  Nathan  Daggett,  Thomas  Carpenter,  3d,  John 
Lyon,  Joseph  Bridgham,  and  William  Cole. 

The  following  list  of  men  who  served  in  the  company  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  Samuel  Brown,  in  Colonel  Nathaniel  Carpenter's  regi- 
ment, during  the  time  of  the  war,  is  preserved:  Sergeants — Amos 
Goif,  Miles  Shorey,  Remember  Kent,  Stephen  Burn;  corporals— Ezra 
French,  Elkanah  French,  Jacob  Allen,  William  Eddy;  alarm  men-- 
Amos  Handy,  Oliver  Read,  Jabez  Carpenter,  William  Daggett,  Jacob 
Shorey,  Nathan  Ide,  Daniel  Carpenter,  William  Titus,  Aaron  Read, 
Charles  Peck,  Ephraim  Walker,  Nathaniel  Phillips,  Azaheel  Carpen- 
ter, William  Sabin,  John  Bowen,  John  Shorey,  Leverrit  Gushing,  John 
Robinson,  Jonathan  Carpenter,  Training  Cand,  James  French,  John 
French,  John  Brown,  Caleb  Carpenter,  Nathan  Read,  David  Cooper, 
Ephraim  Carpenter,  Jedediah  Carpenter,  Job  Carpenter,  Eliphalet 
Carpenter,  Comfort  Chaffee,  John  Barker,  Amos  Whitaker,  Moses 
Walker,  Richard  Whitaker,  Noah  Newman,  Daniel  Perrin,  Samuel 
Woodward,  Nathan  Peckham,  Aaron  Lyon,  James  Carpenter,  David 
Read,  James  Bly,  Simeon  Read,  Benjamin  Gage,  vSamuel  Lyon,  Eph- 
raim Turner,  Thomas  Munro,  David  Hutchins,  Penewell  Carpenter, 
Samuel  B.  Chaffee,  Samuel  Carpenter,  Nathan  Newman,  Simeon  Hunt, 
Abraham  Ormsbee,  Ezekiel  Carpenter,  Noah  Fuller,  Benjamin  Orm.s- 
bee,  Samuel  Bowen,  Samuel  Allen,  2d,  John  Woodward,  Jabez  Perry, 
Jonathan  French,  Seba  French,  Nathaniel  Cooper,  Daniel  L  Perrin, 
Jacob  Carpenter,  James  Read,  Ebenezer  Short,  William  Slade,  Aza 
Bowen,  Abel  Medbury,  Josiah  Gushing,  jr. 


150  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

These  soldiers  were  sent  under  different  demands  to  do  military 
duty  at  different  points  in  service  of  the  continental  cause,  some  at 
Fishkill,  N,  Y.,  at  Tiverton,  at  Crown  Point,  at  Cambridge,  or  wherever 
else  the  needs  of  the  hour  called  them. 

Previous  to  the  year  1793  the  Seekonk  river  was  crossed  by  ferries 
at  Watchemoket,  and  at  the  site  of  the  present  Central  Bridge.  Bridges 
were  erected  about  the  year  mentioned  at  both  places.  The  first  team 
crossed  Central  Bridge  April  9th,  and  three  days  later  the  first  team 
passed  over  Washington  Bridge.  Both  these  bridges  were  carried 
away  by  a  freshet  in  1807,  and  after  being  rebuilt,  were  again  destroyed 
by  the  famous  September  gale  and  storm  of  1815.  A  marble  slab  once 
stood  near  Washington  Bridge,  upon  which  was  the  inscription: 
"  Washington  Bridge,  built  by  John  Brown,  Esq.,  1793,  this  monument 
is  erected  by  the  founder  and  proprietor  of  India  Point  as  a  testimony 
of  high  respect  for  the  great  illustrious  Washington."  The  monu- 
ment referred  to  was  probably  intended  to  mean  a  wooden  statue  of 
Washington  which  once  stood  near  the  stone,  but  which  was  washed 
away  and  lost  in  the  gale  referred  to.  In  1829  the  woodwork  of  Wash- 
ington Bridge  was  rebuilt,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr  James  C. 
Bucklin,  architect.  In  1875  it  was  repaired  and  strengthened  to  last 
a  few  years  until  the  construction  of  the  present  substantial  bridge 
near  the  same  site,  which  has  recently  been  completed.  The  con- 
struction of  this  bridge  was  authorized  by  an  act  of  the  legislature 
passed  March  28th,  1883,  and  the  work  was  completed  in  1885.  The 
old  Central  or  Red  Bridge  remained  a  toll  bridge  until  1869,  when  it 
became  impassable  by  reason  of  the  impact  of  vessels  upon  its  founda- 
tions in  their  attempts  to  pass  through  its  inconvenient  draw.  The 
present  free  bridge  was  opened  for  travel  July  16th,  1872,  having  been 
built  at  a  cost  of  $75,000.  Of  this  sum  $20,000  was  paid  by  the  state, 
$40,000  by  the  city  of  Providence,  and  $15,000  by  the  town  of  East 
Providence.  The  commissioners  who  acted  in  directing  its  erection 
were  James  C.  Bucklin,  C.  B.  Farnsworth  and  James  Y.  Smith. 

Let  us  turn  now  to  notice  more  particularly  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  town  as  a  body  corporate.  We  find  that  a  part  of  the  former 
town  of  Seekonk,  in  Massachusetts,  passed  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Rhode  Island  on  vSaturday,  March  1st,  1862,  and  was  at  the  same  time 
constituted  as  the  town  of  East  Providence.  At  the  request  of  the 
citizens  Governor  Sprague  gave  the  name,  and  immediately  after  12 
o'clock  on  the  day  mentioned,  the  governor  made  a  brief  speech  and 
announced  the  name.  Salutes  were  fired  at  sunrise,  at  noon,  and  at 
sunset,  stores  were  closed,  and  the  town  observed  it  as  a  holiday  and 
an  occasion  for  general  congratulation  and  jubilee.  A  town  meeting 
was  held,  at  which  Francis  Armington  read  the  proclamation  of  the 
governor,  under  which  it  was  held,  and  Albert  K.  Gerald  was  chosen 
moderator.  Henry  H.  Ide  was  elected  town  clerk.  Resolutions  of 
an  amicable  character  were  passed  addressed  to  the  town  of  Seekonk, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  151 

and  a  committee  immediately  dispatched  to  carry  them  to  the  town 
meeting  of  that  town,  which  was  then  in  session.  The  following 
officers  were  elected  at  this  first  town  meeting:  Tristam  Burges,  senator; 
Albert  K.  Gerald,  representative;  Francis  Armington,  Allen  J.  Brown, 
George  O.  Carpenter,  Daniel  vS.  Peck,  Austin  Gurney,  town  council; 
Francis  Armington,  treasurer;  Timothy  A.  Leonard,  town  sergeant; 
Daniel  S.  Peck,  Allen  J.  Brown,  John  A.  Wood,  assessors;  Thomas 
B.  Bishop,  collector;  George  H.  Read,  Harvey  S.  Kent,  Nathan  M. 
West,  constables;  Thomas  B.  Bishop,  William  S.  Munroe,  David  V. 
Gerald,  school  committee;  Thomas  G.  Potter,  Asa  Peck,  Robert  M. 
Pearce,  justices  of  the  peace;  and  Francis  Armington,  overseer  of  the 
poor. 

The  legislative  officers  of  the  town  since  its  organization  have 
been  as  follows:  Senators — Tristam  Burges,  1862-3;  Francis  Arming- 
ton, 1864-6;  George  O.  Carpenter,  1867;  Edward  D.  Pearce,  1868; 
Timothy  A.  Leonard,  1869  70;  Edward  D.  Pearce,  1871-2;  William 
Whitcomb,  1873;  Francis  Armington,  1874;  Timothy  O.  Leonard, 
1875;  Oliver  Chaffee,  1876-7;  Miles  B.  Lawson,  1878;  Alvord  O. 
Miles,  1879-80  ;  William  Whitcomb,  1881  ;  George  N.  Bliss,  1882  ;  Ed- 
ward C.  Dubois,  1883-4  ;  George  N.  Bliss,  1885-6 ;  Augustus  N.  Cun- 
ningham, 1887;  David  S.  Ray,  1888;  Andrew  J.  Anthony,  1889. 
Representatives— Albert  K.  Gerald,  1862;  William  A.  Carpenter, 
1863  ;  Henry  Ide,  1864;  Albert  K.  Gerald,  1865  ;  George  O.  Carpenter, 
1866-7;  George  N.  Bliss,  1868-72;  Albert  C.  Howard,  1873-4;  Alvord 
O.  Miles,  1875-8 ;  Oliver  Chaffee,  1879  ;  William  Whitcomb,  1880 ; 
Oliver  Chaffee,  1881-2  ;  Ellery  H.Wilson,  elected  May  23d,  1883,  to 
fill  vacancy  caused  by  death  of  Oliver  Chaffee,  1883-6  ;  Timothy  A. 
Leonard,  1887-8;  Ellery  H.  Wilson,  1889. 

The  following  have  been  members  of  the  town  council  for  the 
years  mentioned:  1862,  Allen  J.  Brown,  Francis  Armington,  Daniel 
S.  Peck,  George  O.  Carpenter,  Austin  Gurney  ;  1863,  Nathaniel  Cole, 
Daniel  S.  Peck,  Timothy  A.  Leonard;  1864,  Cole,  Leonard,  John  A. 
Wood;  1865,  Cole,  Luther  B.  Peck,  William  Daggett;  1866,  Cole,  Dag- 
gett, Leonard;  1867,  the  same;  1868,  Cole,  Rowland  G.  Bassett,  Charles 
A.  Cobb;  1869,  Oliver  Chaffee,  Joseph  B.  Gurney,  John  A.  Wood;  1870, 
Nathaniel  Cole,  Rowland  G.  Bassett,  William  Whitcomb;  1871,  Cole, 
Whitcomb,  George  H.  Read;  1872,  the  same;  1873,  Whitcomb,  Ed- 
ward D.  Pearce,  George  F.  Wilson;  1874,  Joseph  J.  Luther,  Galen 
Pierce,  Andrew  J.  Anthony;  1875,  Anthony,  Oliver  Chaffee,  William 
A.  Carpenter,  Samuel  S.  Barney,  Alfred  A.White;  1876,  Anthony, 
Barney,  White,  William  G.  Bliven,  James  N.  Bishop  ;  1877,  Anthony, 
Bishop,  Barney,  White,  William  A.  Carpenter;  1878,  Benjamin  Wil- 
son, Joseph  B.  Gurney,  William  G.  Bliven,  Thomas  L  Bentley,  Jesse 
Medbury;  1879,  Wilson,  Gurney,  Andrew  J.  Anthony,  John  Champ- 
lin,  Levi  S.  Winchester;  1880,  the  same  ;  1881,  Wilson,  Gurney,  An- 
thony, Samuel  S.  Barney,  Alfred  A.  White;  1882,  Wilson,  Gurney, 


152  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Anthony,  V/hite,  Alvord  O.  Miles ;  1883,  Wilson,  Gurney,  Anthony, 
Charles  C.  Weaver,  Levi  S.  Winchester;  1884,  Wilson,  Gurney,  An- 
thony, John  Champlin,  Alfred  A.  White;  1885,  Wilson,  Anthony, 
Gurney,  Champlin,  Levi  S.  Winchester  ;  1886,  the  same  ;  1887,  Charles 
C.  Weaver,  Alfred  Griswold,  George  J.  Norton,  Alfred  A.  White, 
Joseph  B.  Fitts;  1888,  Griswold,  Benjamin  Wilson,  Andrew  J.An- 
thony, Frederick  A.  Brigham,  George  W.  Whelden  ;  1889,  Wilson, 
Whelden,  Henry  F.  Anthony,  Benjamin  Martin,  Ira  D.  Goff. 

Town  clerks  have  been  as  follows  :  Henry  H.  Ide,  1862-70;  Charles 
L.  Hazard,  1871-4;  Ellery  H.  Wilson  {pro  tan.),  1875;  Charles  E. 
Scott,  1876-86  ;  William  \..  Sunderland,  1887  ;  Thomas  A.  Sweetland, 
1888,  to  the  present  time.  Town  treasurers  have  been  :  Francis  Arm- 
ington,  1862-4;  Thomas  Cole,  1865;  Francis  Armington,  1866-8;  Wil- 
liam Armmgton,  1869;  Francis  Armington,  1870-4;  Christopher 
Dexter,  1875-8;  Thomas  A.  Sweetland,  1879-87;  William  W.  Mun- 
roe,  1888,  to  the  present  time.  Since  the  town  was  made  a  probate 
district  in  1867,  the  following  have  served  as  judge  of  probate :  Na- 
thaniel Cole,  1867-81;  Oliver  Chaffee,  1882;  Benjamin  Wilson,  1883- 
6;  Francis  Armington,  1887;  Alfred  A.  White,  1888,  to  present  time. 

The  progress  of  the  town  in  material  value  is  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing figures  giving  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  in  the  town 
for  each  year,  followed  in  each  year  by  the  rate  of  tax  per  hundred 
dollars:— 1862,  $1,122,050,  rate  1.12^;  1863,  $1,085,650,  rate  .61;  1864, 
$1,182,075,  rate  .80;  1865,  $1,268,600,  rate  .68;  1866,  1,336,800,  rate  .73; 
1867,  $1,403,200,  rate  .75;  1868,  $1,538,700,  rate  .70;  1869,  $1,629,700, 
rate  .72;  1870,  $1,692,900,  rate  .80;  1871,  $1,885,100,  rate  .80;  1872, 
$2,151,475,  rate  .80;  1873,  $2,644,800,  rate  .95;  1874,  $4,524,400,  rate  .75; 
1875,  $4,565,700,  rate  .70;  1876,  $4,358,200,  rate  .80;  1877,  $4,072,875, 
rate  .80;  1878,  $3,964,405,  rate  .78;  1879,  $3,991,945,  rate  .92;  1880, 
$4,006,520,  rate  .72;  1881,  $4,057,060,  rate  .80;  1882,  $4,131,190,  rate  .84; 
1883,  $4,238,975,  rate  .80;  1884,  $4,687,560,  rate  .80;  1885,  $4,984,410, 
rate  .80;  1886,  $5,167,515,  rate  .80;  1888,  $5,500,643,  rate  1.00;  1889, 
$6,097,767,  rate  1.00. 

In  the  war  of  1861-5  the  people  of  this  town  proved  themselves 
true  to  the  traditions  of  New  England,  ready  to  sacrifice  their  prop- 
erty and  themselves  in  the  cause  of  the  national  welfare.  They  were 
prompt  in  sending  men  to  the  front,  and  liberal  in  providing  for  the 
wants  of  those  families  left  in  embarrassed  circumstances  by  the  en- 
listing of  their  supporters. 

The  public  schools  of  the  town  have  been  ably  and  liberally  main- 
tained. In  1862  and  1863  new  school  houses  were  built  in  districts 
Number  3,  4  and  8,  and  the  house  in  No.  1  was  raised  up  a  story,  mak- 
ing a  total  expense  of  about  $6,000.  In  1864  and  1865  school  houses 
were  built  in  No.  2  and  No.  7,  the  cost  of  which,  with  one  lot,  was 
$3,411.83.  An  addition  to  No.  1  was  built  in  1867-8  at  a  cost  of  about 
$4,000.     New  houses  were  built  in  Nos.  5  and  6  in  1869-70  at  a  cost 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  153 

of  $4,661.74.  Grammar  schools  No.  2  and  No.  8  were  built  about  1878 
at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000,  including  cost  of  a  lot.  The  present  Grove 
street  school  house,  No.  1,  was  built  in  1875-6  at  a  cost,  including 
the  lot,  of  $16,845.88.  A  new  school  house  was  built  in  district  No.  2, 
in  1879,  at  a  cost  of  $1,780.02.  A  new  school  house  was  built  at  Cedar 
Grove  in  1881  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,800.  The  school  house  on  the  corner 
of  James  street  and  Russell  avenue  was  built  in  1882-3,  and  cost,  includ- 
ing the  lot  and  grading,  about  $6,500.  An  addition  to  the  Union 
Grammar  school  house  was  made  in  1888,  which  with  its  furnishings 
cost  about  $5,000.  In  the  spring  of  1888  it  was  desired  to  re-arrange 
the  school  houses  so  as  to  use  the  Grove  avenue  house  for  a  high 
school  and  grammar  school,  and  to  provide  additional  buildings  for 
the  primary  departments.  In  carrying  out  this  design  a  lot  was  pur- 
chased of  Stephen  S.  Rich,  on  Williams  avenue,  for  $800,  and  a  build- 
ing was  erected  upon  it  during  the  year  at  a  cost,  including  furniture, 
of  a  little  more  than  $6,000.  This  was  intended  to  accommodate  the 
schools  which  previously  had  occupied  a  leased  building  on  Vine 
street. 

The  growth  of  the  schools  of  the  town  may  be  inferred  from  the 
following  figures,  showing  the  annual  appropriations  for  their  support 
from  year  to  year:  1862,  $500;  1868,  $1,000;  1864,  $1,200;  1865,  $1,200; 
1866,  $1,400;  1867,  $1,600;  1868,  $1,600;  1869,  $1,800;  1870,  $2,000;  187], 
$2,000;  1872,  $2,800;  1878,  $5,700;  1874,  $5,750;  1875,  $8,100;  1876,  $9,500; 
1877,  $9,500;  1878,  $11,106;  1879,  $10,804.68;  1880,  $10,847;  1881,  $10,- 
869.89:  1882,  $12,885.60;  1888,  $11,684.98;  1884,  $18,647.41;  1885,  $18,- 
678.85;  1886,  $16,124.58;  1887,  $19,705.41;  1888,  $19,248.86;  1889,  $28,- 
624.66. 

From  the  published  report  of  the  school  committee  for  the  year 
1889  we  learn  that  there  are  in  the  town  ]  ,734  persons  of  school  age — 
that  is,  between  the  ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years.  The  largest  num- 
ber of  pupils  registered  in  the  public  schools  during  one  term  was 
1,507.  The  number  of  children  reported  as  not  attending  any  school 
was  278.  An  evening  school  was  opened  in  the  Potter  Street  school 
house  November  12th,  1888,  and  ended  February  8th,  1889.  making  a 
term  of  18  weeks.  It  was  taught  by  a  principal  and  an  assistant,  and 
w^as  attended  wholly  by  boys,  85  being  enrolled  and  an  average  of  25 
attending.  The  schools  of  the  town  employ  'S8  teachers,  whose  weekly 
salaries  range  from  $15  for  principals  of  grammar  schools,  down  to 
$8  and  $7  for  assistant  primary  teachers,  the  principal  of  the  high 
school  receiving  $80.  The  number  in  attendance  in  the  different 
schools  was  as  follows:  High  School,  64;  Grove  Avenue  Grammar 
School,  165;  Mauran  Avenue  and  Williams  Avenue,  Grammar,  117; 
Intermediate,  67;  Primary,  109;  East  Providence  Centre,  Grammar, 
98;  Intermediate,  91;  Riverside,  Grammar,  85;  Primary,  175;  James 
Street,  Intermediate,  94;  Primary,  92;  Williams  Avenue  and  James 
Street,  Primary,  94;  Potter  Street,  Intermediate,  178;  Primary,  177; 


154  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Rumford,  No.  2,  91;  Broadway,  No.  B,  90;  Leonard's  Corner,  No.  4,  86;- 
Armington's  Corner,  No.  5,  87;  East  Providence  Centre,  No.  8,  91;  Near 
Paper  Mill,  No.  9,  94.  The  various  school  buildings  of  the  town  are 
estimated  in  value  as  follows:  District  No.  1,  house  and  furnishings, 
$4,188.57;  No.  2,  house  and  furnishings,  $2,280;  No.  3,  house  and  lot, 
$2,200;  No.  4,  house  and  lot,  $2,217.02;  No.  5,  house  and  lot,  $2,216.03; 
No.  6,  house  and  lot,  $5,209.31;  No.  7,  house  and  lot,  $1,266.41;  No.  8, 
house  and  lot,  $2,200;  No.  9,  house  and  lot,  $1,780.02;  Union  Grammar 
School  building,  $9,932.34;  Williams  iV venue,  house  and  lot,  $6,779.96; 
Mauran  Avenue,  house  and  lot,  $15,058.62;  James  Street,  house  and 
lot,  $6,491.72;  Grove  Avenue,  house  and  lot,  $16,195.88. 

The  town  of  East  Providence  was  divided  into  road  districts  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  vote  at  town  meeting  April  27th,  1863.  The  division 
was  as  follows:  Highway  District  No.  1. — Commencing  at  Barrington 
line  at  Bullock's  point,  thence  running  northeasterly  with  Barrington 
line  to  and  including  the  Warren  road,  thence  northerly  to  a  point  10 
rods  south  of  Captain  Martin  Rogers'  house,  thence  to  the  river,  leav- 
ing Halsey  place  on  the  north  side  of  the  line.  No.  2. — Commencing 
at  Barrington  line,  thence  northerly  to  a  corner  north  of  William  S- 
Munroe,  thence  to  Runnin's  bridge.  No.  3.— Commencing  at  the 
aforesaid  corner,  thence  westerly,  including  all  the  public  roads  to  a 
point  five  rods  west  of  Isaac  B.  Kent's  residence.  No.  4. — Commenc- 
ing at  the  northerly  line  of  District  No.  1,  thence  northerly  to  Wil- 
liam Ide's  stone  quarry,  and  from  westerly  line  of  No.  3  westerly  to  a 
point  half  way  between  A.  K.  Gerald's  and  John  Martin's.  No.  5. — 
Commencing  at  the  west  line  of  No.  4,  thence  westerly  and  southerly 
as  far  as  the  public  roads  go,  thence  northerly  to  Broadway,  thence- 
westerly,  including  the  turnpike,  to  India  Point  bridge,  thence  south- 
erly past  John  T.  Ingraham's  store  to  a  point  20  rods  west  of  Leon- 
ard's corner.  No.  6. — Commencing  at  the  northerly  line  of  No.  4, 
thence  north  to  a  point  just  north  of  and  including  Baster's  lane  from 
Broadway  to  Perry  "Barney's  house  and  at  the  east  line  of  No.  5,  thence 
east  to  the  state  line  at  Luther's  corner.  No.  7. — Commencing  at  the 
north  line  of  No.  6  at  Baster's  lane,  thence  northerly  to  a  point  just 
north  of  Cole's  bridge,  and  westerly  towards  the  cove  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  George  W.  Carpenter's  lot,  and  from  Broadway  running 
easterly  to  the  state  line.  No.  8. — Commencing  at  Broadway  Corners, 
thence  northerly  through  Omega  village  to  the  corner,  including  Ben- 
jamin Allen  and  George  Lawton,  and  from  the  west  line  of  No.  7  at 
Thomas  Cole's  westerly  to  the  corner  at  J.  B.  Pitts',  including  all 
public  roads  between  the  above  named  points  and  Central  Bridge  and 
District  No.  5.  No.  9.— Commencing  at  the  northerly  point  of  No.  7 
at  Cole's  bridge,  thence  easterly  and  northerly  to  a  point  at  the  top  of 
the  hill  just  north  of  Phanuel  Bishop's,  thence  easterly  in  a  direct  line 
to  a  point  half  way  between  the  Bridgham  place  and  Charles  Ru- 
dolph's, thence  southerly  to  state  line  at  Hunt's  bridge,  including  all 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  155 

public  roads  within  those  limits.  No.  10.— Commencino;  at  the  north- 
erly line  of  No.  8  at  Benjamin  Allen's,  thence  northerly  to  the  river 
to  Pawtucket  line,  thence  easterly  by  Pawtucket  line  to  state  line, 
thence  southerly  by  state  line  to  Central  Factory,  continuing  south- 
erly to  District  No.  9,  thence  westerly  to  first  mentioned  corner,  in- 
cluding all  public  roads  within  thOvSe  limits. 

The  thickly  populated  part  of  the  town  is  incorporated  as  the 
Watchemoket  Fire  District,  which  incorporation  was  effected  in  1880. 
Water  is  led  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  village,  there  being 
52,898  feet  of  mains  laid,  and  over  50  hydrants.  Water  is  supplied 
from  Pawtucket.  The  valuation  of  real  estate  within  the  limits  of 
the  fire  district  is  $2,155,431.  The  affairs  of  the  district  are  in  the 
hands  of  seven  fire  wardens,  a  clerk,  moderator,  three  assessors,  a 
collector  of  taxes  and  a  treasurer.  The  district  is  divided  into  five 
districts,  the  boundaries  of  which  are  as  follows  :  First  district  includes 
all  that  part  lying  west  of  Potter  and  north  of  Warren  avenues,  ex- 
tending to  the  river;  Second  district,  all  lying  south  of  Warren  and 
west  of  Lyon  avenues;  Third  district  is  bounded  by  Potter  street, 
Warren  avenue,  Broadway  and  Taunton  avenue;  Fourth  district  is 
bounded  by  Taunton  avenue.  Walnut  street  and  Waterman  avenue; 
Fifth  district  is  North  Broadway.  The  town  also  has  two  fire  engine 
companies — Watchemoket  Fire  Co.  No.  1,  and  Narragansett  Engine 
Co.  No.  2,  located  at  Riverside.  Both  these  are  supplied  with  engines 
and  other  apparatus;  and  the  first  numbers  57  and  the  other  50  men. 

T*he  town  maintains  a  very  efficient  police  force.  The  total  num- 
ber of  arrests  made  by  them  during  the  last  year  reported  was  172, 
and  for  the  year  before  178.  The  expense  of  maintaining  the  police 
force  for  several  years  past  has  been  as  follows:  1880,  $2,790;  1881, 
$3,404;  1882,  $3,356;  1883,  $3,314;  1884,  $3,756;  1885,  $5,165;  1886, 
$5,397;  1887,  $4,665;  1888,  $5,608;  1889,  $5,621. 

Street  lights  are  maintained  by  the  town  in  populous  localities. 
In  the  Northern  district  there  are  in  use  25  gasoline  and  12  oil  lamps 
with  posts  complete.  In  the  Southern  district  there  are  37  oil  lamps 
complete.  In  the  Watchemoket  district  there  are  59  gas  posts,  69 
gasoline  lamps  and  5  oil  lights  sustained  by  the  town.  Street  light- 
ing costs  the  town  about  $3,000  a  year.  The  expense  of  maintaining 
and  improving  the  streets  and  highways  of  the  town  is  something 
more  than  $10,000  a  year.  In  1887  it  exceeded  $11,000,  while  during 
the  first  half  of  the  decade  it  barely  exceeded  $7,000  in  any  year,  and 
sometimes  fell  considerably  below  it. 

The  town  has  an  elegant  town  hall,  erected  in  1889,  at  a  cost  of 
nearly  $50,000.  The  first  appropriation,  voted  in  1888,  was  $35,000, 
but  that  amount  did  not  complete  the  building.  A  spacious  lot,  prev- 
iously purchased  at  an  expense  of  about  $11,500,  furnishes  an  appro- 
priate site  for  the  building.  It  is  constructed  of  brick,  with  granite 
plinths,  in  the  first  story,  and  the  second  story  is  sided  with  shingles. 


L 


156  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  architecture  conforming  to  the  modern  composite  style.  The 
front  opens  toward  Taunton  avenue,  and  the  recessed  entrance  is  ap- 
proached by  a  flight  of  granite  steps.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in 
1888,  and  the  building  completed  in  the  latter  part  of  1889.  The 
grounds  surrounding  it  are  handsomely  laid  out.  The  old  town  hall, 
a  frame  building  two  stories  high,  stands  near.  The  upper  story 
contains  a  hall  which  is  let  for  entertainments  and  other  public 
gatherings.     The  building  is  estimated  in  value  at  $1,000. 

In  accordance  with  the  original  custom  in  New  England  towns  a 
tax  was  made  to  build  the  first  meeting  house.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  the  peculiar  sentiments  of  Rhode  Island  on  ecclesiastical 
matters  did  not  prevail  on  this  territory,  which  was  then  Massa- 
chusetts ground.  The  first  meeting  house  was  begun  in  1646,  and  so 
far  completed  in  the  following  year  as  to  be  used  for  religious  serv- 
ices. It  stood  where  the  tomb  now  is,  south  of  the  present  Congre- 
o-ational  church.  A  tax  for  finishing  the  house  was  levied  in  1648, 
and  in  1659  it  was  enlarged.  It  continued  in  service  until  1718,  un- 
less it  shared  the  fate  of  other  buildings  around  it  in  the  time  of 
King  Philip's  war,  and  was  rebuilt  immediately  after.  This  would 
seem  most  probable,  but  there  appears  no  record  of  it.  The  second 
church  was  erected  in  the  year  1718,  on  a  site  about  80  feet  eastward 
of  the  former.  The  house  having  been  completed  the  town  voted  on 
the  23d  of  December  "  that  the  rules  to  be  observed  in  seating  the 
new  meeting  house  for  the  Sabbath  are  as  followeth  :  Firstly,  to  have 
regard  to  dignity  of  person,  and  secondly  by  age,  and  thirdly  accord- 
ing to  the  charge  they  bare  in  respect  to  the  public  charges,  and  what 
charge  they  have  been  at  in  building  the  meeting  house."  A  com- 
mittee was  charged  with  the  execution  of  this  scheme.  That  house 
of  worship  stood  for  nearly  a  century.  It  was  torn  down  in  1814,  and 
a  part  of  the  lumber  was  used  in  the  erection  of  the  town  hall,  which 
from  that  time  to  the  completion  of  the  new  town  hall  was  in  use  for 
that  purpose.  The  house  now  used  by  the  Congregational  society 
was  erected  in  1810.  In  the  early  history  of  this  church  the  people 
were  called  together  at  the  beat  of  the  drum  instead  of  the  ringing 
of  a  bell.  The  seating  of  the  meeting  house,  in  some  such  manner 
as  we  have  noticed,  was  a  common  thing,  and  committees  were 
yearly  appointed  to  attend  to  the  business. 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Reverend  Samuel  Newman,  a 
man  of  great  literary  ability,  and  the  compiler  of  the  first  full  concord- 
ance of  the  Bible  in  the  English  language.  He  published  the  finst 
edition  in  London,  in  1643,  but  afterward  revised  it  while  pastor  of 
this  church,  the  last  edition  being  printed  in  London  in  1658.  His 
son,  Noah  Newman,  succeeded  him  as  pastor  of  this  church.  We 
should  not  forget  to  say  that  the  commonly  accepted  date  of  the 
formation  of  this  church  is  1643.  The  present  pastor.  Reverend 
Leonard  Z.  Ferris,  commenced  his  labors  with  this  church  June  1st, 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  157 

1888.  The  present  membership  is  169.  About  125  families  are  in- 
cluded in  the  congregation.  The  Sunday  school  numbers  232,  and  is 
in  excellent  condition.  The  membership  of  the  church  has  been 
depleted  within  the  last  year  or  two  by  the  withdrawal  of  members 
to  form  other  churches.  Such  churches  were  the  Union  church  at 
Luther's  Corners,  in  Seekonk,  and  the  Broadway  chapel  of  this  town. 

The  Second  Congregational  church  of  this  town  is  located  at  River- 
side, and  was  organized  in  1881.  It  is  in  a  very  hopeful  condi- 
tion. A  neat  church  has  been  built,  and  in  the  year  1888  friends  of 
the  society  presented  it  with  a  beautiful  parsonage.  The  present 
pastor.  Reverend  James  D.  Smiley,  commenced  his  preaching  to  this 
church  April  8th,  1888.  The  church  numbers  42  members,  and  the 
congregation  represents  about  80  families.  Mr.  E.  P.  Adams  is  the 
church  clerk,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  num- 
bers 160. 

A  mission  was  started  by  the  Congregational  church  in.  a  school 
house  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  village  of  East  Providence,  about 
October  of  the  year  1885.  From  this  Sunday  school  grew  other  reli- 
gious efforts,  and  finally  a  chapel  was  built  on  North  Broadway,  about 
the  year  1887.  It  was  dedicated  in  May,  1889.  During  the  same  year, 
a  few  months  later,  a  church  was  organized.  This  has  about  25  mem- 
bers. Reverend  L.  S.  Woodworth  supplies  the  pulpit  a  considerable 
part  of  the  time. 

Baptists  had  resided  in  this  town  for  some  time  before  any  church 
organization  was  matured.  From  1732  to  1794,  however,  the  element 
grew  strong  enough  to  organize  seven  churches  in  the  old  town  of 
Rehoboth.  The  youngest  of  these,  located  on  Seekonk  plain,  about 
three  miles  from  Providence,  was  the  beginning  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  East  Providence.  The  first  meeting  looking  toward  the 
organization  of  this  church  was  held  December  17th,  1793,  but  differ- 
ent opinions  were  entertained  in  the  matter  of  laying  on  of  hands  as 
a  vital  ordinance.  Nine  meetings  were  held  before  these  opinions 
could  be  reconciled,  and  on  November  11th,  1794,  it  was  agreed  that 
"  laying  on  of  hands  should  not  be  regarded  as  a  term  of  the  com- 
munion." The  church  was  organized  at  the  house  of  Miles  Shorey, 
November  27th,  1794.  The  19  constituents  members  were:  Caleb 
Mason,  Charles  Peck,  John  Brown,  John  Medbury,  Miles  Shorey,  Ezra 
Kent,  John  Perry,  Molly  Walker,  Abigail  Winsor,  Abigail  Wilson, 
Sybel  Ingraham,  Sarah  Shorey,  Hannah  Hayes,  Eunice  Harding, 
Rebecca  Braly,  Susanna  Mason,  Molly  Cole,  Silence  Carpenter,  and 
Johanna  Mason.  For  seven  months  the  church  worshipped  in  private 
houses.  The  first  meeting  house  was  dedicated  June  28th,  1795.  This 
house  was  thoroughly  renovated  in  1837,  and  stood  until  1879,  when  it 
was  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  present  edifice.  The  latter  house 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000,  and  was  dedicated,  free  of  incum- 
brance, December  30th,  1879. 


k 


158  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  Elder  John  P.  Jones.  He 
preached  here  before  the  formation  of  the  church,  being  then  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Second  Baptist  church  of  Newport.  He  was  ordained 
March  ISth,  1795,  and  continued  here  over  three  years.  Failing  health 
compelled  him  to  retire,  leaving  Elder  John  Pitman,  who  had  for  a 
few  months  been  his  assistant,  in  charge  of  the  flock.  The  latter  con- 
tinued for  17  years.  He  had  no  stated  salary,  but  depended  solely 
upon  the  free-will  offerings  of  the  people.  In  June,  1814,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  resign,  because  of  inadequate  support.  In  June,  1815,  Elder 
Jason  Livermore,  from  the  First  church  in  Maiden,  Mass.,  came  as  a 
pastoral  supply.  His  labors  were  closed  by  his  sudden  death  in  Jan- 
uary following.  In  March,  1816,  Elder  Pitman  returned,  and  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  July  24th,  1822.  The  salary  promised  him  was 
.$300  a  year.  During  the  24  years  of  his  pastorate  124  members  were 
received  into  the  church.  Elder  Ezra  Gowen  served  the  church  for 
nine  months  from  February,  1823,  and  24  were  added  to  the  church 
■during  this  time,  as  the  fruits  of  a  revival.  Reverend  Bartlett  Pease 
was  called  in  October,  1823,  and  continued  four  years  and  five  months. 
Reverend  Benjamin  Grafton  was  pastor  from  May,  1829,  to  June,  1831. 
During  his  ministry  the  present  parsonage  was  built.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Forendo  Bestor,  a  licentiate,  from  Hartford,  Conn.,  but 
.shortly  afterward  ordained,  and  who  continued  until  August,  1833. 
Henry  Clarke,  a  licentiate  of  Warwick  and  Coventry  church,  com- 
menced his  labors  here  October  1st,  1833.  He  was  afterward  ordained, 
.and  continued  three  years.  During  his  pastorate  101  were  added  to 
the  membership.  Reverend  John  Allen  was  the  immediate  successor, 
beginning  August  1st,  1837,  and  continuing  three  years.  During  the 
renovation  of  the  meeting  house,  in  1837,  services  were  held  in  the 
town  hall.  Revered  John  Welch  began  his  pastorate  in  November, 
1840,  and  continued  nearly  ten  years.  In  the  winter  and  spring  of 
1842  the  most  remarkable  revival  in  the  history  of  the  church  occurred. 
As  the  fruits  of  it  80  members  were  added  to  the  church.  Reverend 
H.  G.  Stewart  was  pastor  for  three  years,  from  x\pril  1st,  1850. 
Reverend  Alexander  Loiimer  followed,  for  13  months.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Reverend  George  Matthews  for  three  years,  and  he  by  Rev-" 
■erend  A.  H.  Stowell  for  two  years  and  nine  months.  Reverend  G.  P. 
M.  King  was  called  to  the  pastorate  in  November  1860,  and  continued 
four  years,  resigning  in  December,  1864,  and  shortly  after  joining  the 
army  in  connection  with  the  Christian  Commission.  A  vacancy  in 
the  pastorate  occurred  for  more  than  a  year,  the  longest  period  of  the 
kind  in  the  history  of  the  church.  Reverend  I.  Chesebrough  entered 
the  pastorate  April  1st,  1866,  and  continued  until  September,  1880,  a 
term  of  14^  years.  Reverend  Bailey  S.  Morse  succeeded  in  the 
pastorate,  from  April,  1881,  to  April,  1885.  Reverend  F.  J.  Jones 
began  his  service  of  the  church  August  1st,  1885,  being  ordained  in 
September,  and  remained  about  three  years.     Reverend  William  J. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  159 

Reynolds,  Jr.,  of  Phenix,  the  present  pastor,  commenced  his  labors  in 
June,  1889.  The  present  membership  is  115.  The  Sunday  school, 
which  was  founded  by  Deacon  Viall  jSIedbury.  in  18] 9,  numbers 
152,  and  has  a  library  of  300  volumes. 

The  Second  Baptist  church  of  East  Providence  had  its  beginning 
about  80  years  ago.  Reverend  Daniel  Rounds,  a  member  of  the  Third 
Baptist  church  of  Providence,  held  meetings  here,  in  the  then  town 
of  Seekonk.  in  1860,  and  from  those  meetings  17  converts  were  re- 
ceived into  the  Third  church.  In  July,  1860,  a  church  was  formed 
here,  the  constituent  members,  18  in  number,  being  dismissed  for  that 
purpose  from  the  Third  church.  A  Sunday  school  was  also  organized 
in  the  same  year.  A  house  of  worship  was  soon  after  erected.  In 
1880  the  membership  of  the  church  was  70.  It  now^  numbers  103. 
Reverend  William  Fitz  was  pastor  from  1882  to  the  end  of  1886;  and 
Reverend  J.  Stewart,  the  present  pastor,  followed  in  May,  1887.  The 
Warren  Baptist  Association,  to  which  this  church  belongs,  held  its 
119th  annual  meeting  with  this  church,  in  September,  1885.  The 
present  church  clerk  is  Mr.  A.  F.  Messenger,  and  the  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school  is  Mr.  Charles  H.  Finch.  The  school  numbers 
about  200,  with  an  average  attendance  of  more  than  100.  It  has  a 
library  of  400  volumes. 

The  First  Universalist  church  stands  on  a  spacious  lot  on  Taunton 
avenue  and  Alice  street.  The  parish  society  of  this  church  was  or- 
ganized in  1881.  Religious  services  were  held  for  a  time  in  Pierce's 
Hall.  A  handsome  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1882,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $8,000.  The  whole  amount  was  paid  so  that  the  church  was 
free  from  debt,  and  has  been  so  from  the  start.  Among  the  promi- 
nent original  members  of  the  parish  were  Raymond  Burr,  Nathaniel 
M.  Burr,  Philip  A.  Munroe,  David  Anthony,  Andrew  J.  Anthony, 
Timothy  A.  Leonard,  Alvord  O.  Miles,  Alfred  Griswold  and  Stephen 
S.  Rich.  A  church  organization  was  effected  in  1883.  A  Sunday 
school  had  been  organized  in  1881,  which  now  numbers  70  members. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Reverend  George  R.  Spink,  under  whose  pas- 
torate the  church  was  built.  He  remained  until  1885.  After  a  va- 
cancy of  about  six  months  Reverend  George  S.  Weaver,  D.D.,  began 
a  pastorate  October  12th,  1885,  which  continues  at  the  present  time. 
The  church  now  has  29  members  and  about  53  families  are  connected 
with  the  congregation. 

St.  Mary's  Protestant  Episcopal  church  was  started  as  a  mission  of 
St.  Stephen's  church,  in  Providence,  in  1871.  A  handsome  Gothic 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1872  on  Warren  avenue,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $5,000.  It  has  recently  (1889)  been  undergoing  some  change  in 
its  arrangement.  Prominent  supporters  of  the  cause,  who  were  active 
in  starting  the  church,  were:  Mrs.  Lydia  Pearce,  Mrs.  John  Arm- 
strong, Mr.  John  Armstrong,  Rufus  W.  Adams,  Captain  W.  Hall  and 
Mr.  Kilton.     The  first  rector  was  Reverend  Robert  Paine,  who  came 


160  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

as  deacon,  but  was  ordained  in  St.  John's  church.  He  remained  eight 
or  nine  years.  He  was  followed  by  Reverend  Lucius  Waterman,  who 
came  as  deacon  and  was  ordained  here,  and  remained  about  six 
months.  Reverend  Daniel  I.  Odell  followed,  coming  as  a  deacon  and 
being  ordained  in  Milwaukee,  remaining  here  six  or  seven  years. 
Reverend  Wilberforce  Wells  followed,  from  December,  1884,  to  July, 
1885.  Reverend  George  R.  Spink  began  officiating  in  October,  1885. 
and  continues  at  the  present  time.  The  church  wardens  are  William 
T.  Kilton  and  William  E.  Ripley.  The  present  number  of  communi- 
cants is  72.     The  Sunday  school  has  about  150  scholars. 

St.  Mark's  Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  Riverside  was  organized 
as  a  distinct  parish  in  1883.  Some  time  later  the  erection  of  a  houre 
of  worship  was  begun.  This  having  been  completed  and  paid  for, 
was  duly  consecrated  by  Bishop  Clark  October  25th,  1888.  In  speak- 
ing of  it  the  bishop  said:  "  It  was  an  occasion  of  great  interest  to  the 
people  of  this  vicinity,  and  under  the  active  ministry  of  the  present 
rector,  the  Reverend  Otis  O.  Wright,  with  a  spacious  and  attractive 
church,  free  from  all  incumbrance,  and  a  growing  population  to  draw 
upon,  we  may  look  forward  to  an  abundant  harvest  in  the  future." 
The  present  wardens  of  the  church  are  Amasa  Humphrey  and  James 
Mortin.  During  the  last  year  of  report  20  members  were  added,  mak- 
ing the  total  number  of  communicants  78.  The  Sunday  school  has 
about  70  members. 

In  recent  years  the  Roman  Catholic  population  has  increased  so 
much  that  provision  for  their  religious  needs  seemed  necessary,  and 
a  handsome  frame  edifice  was  erected.  It  stands  at  the  corner  of 
Taunton  Pike  and  Anthony  street,  on  a  lot  of  about  one  acre  of 
ground.  The  lot  also  has  upon  it  a  neat  parochial  residence.  The 
church  is  capable  of  seating  about  600  persons.  This  parish  was 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Reverend  F.  O'Reilly  from  1880  to  1887, 
and  since  the  last  date  has  been  in  charge  of  Reverend  John  Harty. 
It  is  known  as  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

Haven  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is  a  neat  edifice  occupying  a 
commodious  lot  on  Taunton  avenue.  Its  value  is  estimated  at  $7,700. 
The  Methodist  sentiment  had  been  gathering  strength  for  several 
years,  and  about  1877  the  house  of  worship  was  erected.  For  several 
years,  from  1876  to  1880,  at  least,  religious  services  were  conducted 
by  Reverend  Thom.as  Ely,  a  superannuated  resident  minister.  Rever- 
end Benjamin  F.  Simon  was  placed  in  charge  by  appointment  of  con- 
ference in  1880,  and  continued  until  1882.  He  was  followed  in  1888  by 
Reverend  Alexander  Anderson,  who  continued  until  1886,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Reverend  William  H.  Starr,  the  present  pastor. 
The  number  of  full  members  is  161.  A  flourishing  Sunday  school  is 
connected  with  it,  having  over  300  scholars,  and  an  average  attend- 
ance of  over  200  scholars  and  teachers.  Its  library  contains  nearly 
600  books. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUiNTV.  161 

A  Union  chapel  was  erected  at  Cedar  Grove  some  IT)  years  ago  or 
more.  It  has  been  used  by  different  denominations.  Reverend  A.  A. 
Cleaveland  conducted  services  from  1880  to  the  present  time. 

Reliance  Lodge,  No.  34,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  April  26th,  1874, 
by  Grand  Master  Gardner  T.  Swarts.  The  following  were  charter 
members:  Edward  S.  Luther,  Rufus  W.  Adams,  Clark  R.  Bugbee, 
Elmer  C.  Bugbee,  John  Champlin,  Franklin  M.  Cheney,  Thomas 
Eccles,  Orland  Freeborn,  James  C.  Hunt,  John  Wilbur,  William  H. 
Luther,  John  H.  Kenna,  Charles  E.  Pierce,  Edwin  S.  Straight,  John 
G.  Straight  and  Martin  Hunt.  The  first  officers  were:  E.  S.  Luther, 
N.  G.;  R.  W.  Adams,  V.  G.;  John  Wilbur,  R.  S.;  John  Champlin.  T.; 
Thomas  Eccles,  P.  S.;  C.  E.  Pierce,  M.;  E.  C.  Bugbee,  C;  J.  Straight, 
L  G.;  J.  H.  Kenna,  O.  G.;  E.  S.  Straight,  C.  The  following  are  past 
grands:  Rufus  W.  Adams,  John  Bowen.  E.  C.  Bugbee,  Cornelius 
Beard,  Charles  D.  E.  Briggs,  John  Champlin,  Charles  W.  Farrington, 
Cyrus  E.  Goff,  Edward  J.  Luther,  Edwin  B.  Lincoln,  Charles  E.  Pierce, 
Herbert  R.  Perkins,  Charles  A.  H.  Parker,  George  H.  Rounds,  John 
Wilbur,  Walter  E.  Townsend  and  Clarence  H.  Lovell.  The  Lodge 
numbers  at  present  144.  It  meets  every  Tuesday  evening  at  Odd 
Fellows  Hall  on  Warren  avenue. 

Fraternity  Encampment,  No.  17,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  April 
3d,  1875.  Its  charter  members  were:  Rufus  W.  Adams,  William  G. 
Bliven,  George  Dorrance,  Arthur  E.  Hill,  Charles  A.  Ingraham,  Ed- 
ward S.  Luther,  William  H.  Luther.  The  first  officers  were:  George 
Dorrance,  chief  patriarch;  Jacob  P.  Peterson,  high  priest;  Arthur  E. 
Hill,  senior  warden;  Charles  A.  Ingraham,  rec.  scribe;  Edward  S. 
Luther,  treasurer;  George  A.  Kendall,  fin.  scribe;  Rufus  W.  Adams, 
junior  warden.  The  leading  offices  have  since  been  held  successively 
by  the  following:  Chief  patriarchs,  Arthur  E.  Hill,  C.  A.  Ingraham, 
Rufus  W.  Adams,  John  Champlin,  J.  F.  Bowen,  C.  E.  Pierce,  Orland 
Freeborn,  C.  R.  Ross,  S.  J.  Dver,  J.  G.  Peck,  C.  F.  Allen,  E.  J.  Luther, 
Joseph  Taylor,  A.  H.  Vaughn,  Charles  A.  H.  Parker,  J.  R.  Wall,  C. 
Beard,  H.  R.  Perkins,  E.  B.  Lincoln;  high  priests,  George  A.  Kendall, 
C.  F.  Allen,  William  H.  McTwiggan,  C.  E.  Briggs,  Ferdinand  Whel- 
den,  W.  H.  McTwiggan,  E.  J.  Luther,  W.  H.  McTwiggan,  E.  J. 
Luther,  Albert  Vial,  Joseph  Taylor,  John  G.  Straight,  C.  Beard.  Pre- 
vious to  1881  the  term  of  service  was  six  months;  since  that  date  it 
has  been  one  year.  The  present  membership  of  the  encampment 
is  59. 

The  new  Odd"Fellows  Hall  on  Warren  avenue,  a  handsome  build- 
ing, was  commenced  April  1st,  1889.  It  is  built  of  wood,  60  by  47 
feet,  two  stories  high.  It  cost  about  $12,000.  The  upper  floor  is  used 
for  a  hall,  while  the  lower  floor  is  occupied  by  stores.  The  architects 
were  Messrs.  Gould  &  Angell,  and  the  contractor  was  John  Champlin. 

Bucklin  Post,  No.  20,  G.  A.  R.,  was  organized  October  26th,  1886. 
Its  officers  were  :  David  S.  Ray,  commander;  F.  B.  Butts,  senior  vice; 
11 


162  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY. 

William  F.  Comrie.  junior  vice;  A.  W.  Cunningham,  quartermaster; 
Orland  Freeborn,  adjutant;  George  E.  Kent,  chaplain;  B.  O.  Rhodes, 
surgeon;  James  Mellan,  officer  of  the  guard;  James  A.  Sherman, 
officer  of  the  day.  The  charter  members  of  the  Post  were  the  fore- 
going officers  and  32  others.  David  S.  Ray  was  commander  from  the 
organization  to  January  1st,  1889.  William  F.  Comrie  has  held  that 
office  since  the  date  mentioned.  The  number  of  members  at  the 
present  time  is  168.  The  Post  holds  weekly  meetings  every  Tuesday 
evening  in  a  hall  in  Chedel  Block.  The  present  officers  are:  William 
F.  Comrie,  commander;  Orland  Freeborn,  senior  vice;  Thomas  R. 
Salsbury,  junior  vice;  Leander  Baker,  quartermaster;  Fred.  A.  Burt, 
adjutant;  George  E.  Kent,  chaplain;  W.  G.  Bowen,  surgeon;  David 
H.  Oldridge,  officer  of  the  guard;  James  H.  Sherman,  officer  of  the 
day. 

Farragut  Post,  No.  8,  was  organized  May  9th,  1884.  The  charter 
members  were:  Fred.  F.  Wolcott,  Benjamin  C.  Clark,  George  W.  Pay- 
ton,  George  H.  Northup,  A.  C.  Johonnet,  Robert  Laird,  John  R.  Case, 
George  B.  Jenks,  Franklin  Monroe,  J.  J.  Moore,  Henry  B.  Warner, 
Willam  S.  Brown,  Frank  B.  Butts,  George  F.  Chapman  and  William 
H.  Martin.  The  location  of  the  Post  is  at  Riverside.  The  principal 
officers  for  1884  were:  F.  B.  Butts,  C;  George  V.  Chapman,  S.  V.; 
George  W.  Payton,  J.  V.;  Fred.  F.  Wolcott,  Q.  M.  The  officers  for 
1885  were:  George  F.  Chapman,  C;  George  W.  Payton,  S.  V.;  Albert 
P.  Johonnet,  J.  V.;  Frank  B.  Butts,  A.;  Fred.  F.  Wolcott,  Q.  M.  The 
officers  for  1886  were:  William  C.  Severance,  C;  William  S.  Brown, 
J.  v.;  F.  W.  Monroe,  A.;  Franklin  Monroe,  Q.  M.  For  1887:  George 
F.  Chapman,  C;  Fred.  F.  Wolcott,  S.  V.;  William  S.  Brown,  J.  V.;  E. 
P.  Adams,  A.;  Franklin  Monroe,  Q.  M.  For  1888:  Franklin  Monroe, 
C;  Isaac  H.  Rogers,  S.  V.;  Charles  F.  Sherman,  J.  V.;  Willard  C.  Sev- 
erance, A.;  George  F.  Chapman,  O.  M.  For  1889:  Franklin  Monroe, 
C;  Lsaac  H.  Rogers,  S.  V.;  Charles  F.  Sherman,  J.  V.;  Benjamin  L. 
Penno,  A.;  George  F.  Chapman,  Q.  M.      The  membership  numbers  44. 

Among  the  institutions  of  East  Providence  is  a  weekly  newspaper, 
the  East  Providence  Reeorel,  published  by  Sibley  &  Johnson.  It  is 
printed  in  the  city. 

The  Riverside  Cotton  Mills,  located  here,  were  established  in  1882, 
by  J.  P.  Campbell  &  Co.  They  occupy  a  building  about  50  by  200 
feet,  two  stories  high.  The  mills  contain  about  10,000  spindles,  and 
employ  about  200  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods.  The 
superintendent  is  Mr.  A.  W.  Mattison. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Andrew  J.  Anthony,  son  of  David  and  Catharine  (Barker)  Anthony, 
was  born  in  1833,  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  When  he  was  very  young  his  father  moved  to  what  is  now 
East  Providence.     He  first  engaged  in  the  cigar  manufacturing  busi- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  163 

ness  until  18  years  of  age,  his  father  being  then  in  that  business.  He 
afterward  learned  the  mason's  trade  in  Providence,  and  has  followed 
it  ever  since,  and  for  the  past  25  years  has  had  charge  of  all  the  Provi- 
dence Gas  Company's  buildings.  He  was  elected  in  1874  to  the  town 
council,  and  has  been  a  member  each  year  with  the  exception  of  1878 
and  1886.  until  elected  to  the  senate  in  1889.  He  was  also  president 
of  the  council  three  years.  He  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Martin  of  Seekonk,  Mass. 

Henry  F.  Anthony,  son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Harriet  (Martin)  An- 
thony, was  born  in  1855,  in  what  is  now  East  Providence  (then  See- 
konk, Mass.).  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  learned  the 
mason's  trade,  and  for  10  years  worked  for  his  father.  In  1881  he  be- 
came assistant  agent  for  the  P.  &  W.  railroad  at  East  Providence, 
and  in  1885  was  made  agent.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in 
April,  1889,  also  elected  president  of  the  board.  He  was  three  years 
assessor  of  the  fire  district.  He  married  Julia  O.,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liams A.  Burt  of  Fall  River. 

Francis  Armington,  son  of  Ambrose  and  Sally  (Jencksj  Arming- 
ton,  was  born  in  1820  in  East  Providence  (then  Seekonk),  in  the  stone 
house  on  Pawtucket  avenue,  built  by  his  father  about  1810.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  followed  the  business  of  pile 
driving  and  wharf  building  for  80  years.  He  married  Caroline  A., 
daughter  of  Jesse  Medbery,  Esq.,  of  East  Providence  (then  Seekonk). 
He  represented  the  town  of  Seekonk  in  the  legislature  of  Massa- 
chusetts, served  as  chairman  of  the  boards  of  selectmen  and  assessors, 
and  was  overseer  of  the  poor  in  that  town.  In  East  Providence  he 
was  president  of  the  first  town  council,  served  three  years  in  the  sen- 
ate, 12  years  as  town  treasurer,  also  held  the  offices  of  assessor,  pro- 
bate judg-e,  overseer  of  the  poor  and  auctioneer.  He  enlisted  the 
town's  quota  of  80  volunteers  for  the  war. 

Charles  C.  Balch,  son  of  S.  W.  and  Joanna  (Perkins)  Balch,  was 
born  in  1847  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  came  to  East  Providence  in  1886.  Previous  to  that  he  was  in  the 
produce  business  in  Boston.  He  married  Abby  M.,  daughter  of  Oliver 
and  Abby  M.  Chaffee,  of  East  Providence. 

Daniel  D.  Barney,  son  of  John  and  Ruth  (Viall)  Barney,  was  born 
in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1823,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade,  fol- 
lowing it  with  his  father  until  he  was  22  years  of  age.  Since  1865  he 
has  been  with  the  Rumford  Chemical  Works  as  their  farmer.  His 
first  wife  was  Henrietta  A.,  daughter  of  Caleb  Chaffee,  of  Seekonk. 
His  present  wife  is  Sarah,  daughter  of  Silas  Terry,  of  Fall  River. 
•  John  P.  Barney,  farmer  and  manufacturer  of  cider  and  vinegar,  is 
a  son  of  Perry  and  Rachel  (Peck)  Barney.  He  was  born  in  1851,  in 
East  Providence,  in  the  same  house  where  he  has  always  lived  and 
which  was  built  by  his  grandfather,  Jonathan  Barney.     He  was  edu- 


164  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

cated  at  Mowry  &  Goff's  and  Bryant  &  Stratton's,  Providence.  He 
married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  James  R.  Hornby,  of  Pawtucket,  R.  I. 
Their  children  are:  Perry  James,  born  1880,  died  1883;  Alice  Teel, 
born  1884;  Bessie  E.,  born  1886;  Earl  Clifford,  born  1888. 

Nathaniel  I.  Bishop,  son  of  Phanuel  and  Betsey  (Ide)  BiwShop,  was 
born  in  1829,  in  Seekonk,  now  East  Providence,  and  was  educated  at 
the  public  school.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  always  fol- 
lowed it.  He  moved  to  Providence  in  1858,  where  he  resided  for 
about  ten  years,  and  was  for  20  years  partner  with  William  C.  Daven- 
port, in  the  firm  of  William  C.  Davenport  &  Co.,  builders.  He  mar- 
ried Caroline,  daughter  of  Asa  Mason,  of  Seekonk. 

Frederick  A.  Brigham  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  Mass.,  in  1835,  and 
came  to  East  Providence  in  1872,  where  he  has  since  followed  the  real 
estate  business.  He  was  in  the  council  in  1888.  He  has  been  treas- 
urer of  Riverside  Congregational  church  since  its  organization,  and 
was  first  treasurer  of  the  Riverside  Free  Public  Library. 

Fred.  I.  Chaffee,  son  of  Oliver  and  Abby  Maria  (Gray)  Chaffee,  was 
born  in  1857,  in  East  Providence,  and  was  educated  at  public  and  high 
schools,  East  Providence,  and  at  Mowry  &  Goff's,  Providence.  He 
served  as  deputy  sheriff  for  two  years.  He  married  Inez,  daughter  of 
Alfred  and  Frances  Griswold,  of  East  Providence.  He  was  employed 
for  seven  years  in  the  Rumford  Chemical  Works,  and  about  1881 
began  the  manufacture  of  disinfectants.  He  was  burned  out,  but  im- 
mediately rebuilt  and  still  carries  on  the  business. 

J.  Irvin  Chaffee,  son  of  Oliver  and  Abby  M.  (Gray)  Chaffee,  was 
born  January  3d,  1861,  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  at  Mowry 
&  Goff's  classical  school  and  at  Brown  University,  Providence,  gradu- 
ating in  1883.  Before  graduating  he  began  to  teach  as  principal  in 
the  Grove  Avenue  grammar  school  in  the  fall  of  1882.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  he  started  the  East  Providence  high  school,  of  which  he  had 
charge  till  the  middle  of  November,  1889,  when  he  resigned  and  went 
abroad  for  two  months.  After  his  return  he  taught  until  the  follow- 
ing summer  at  Goff,  Rice  &  Smith's  school  in  Providence.  In  the  fall 
of  1890  he  entered  the  Johns  Hopkins  University  to  take  the  course 
in  mathematics.  In  1885  he  married  Bessie  W.,  daughter  of  John 
C.  and  Frances  A.  (Peck)  Marvel. 

A.  N.  Cunningham,  son  of  Joseph  N.  and  Sarah  A.  (Bishop)  Cun- 
ningham, was  born  November  5th,  1841,  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East 
Providence.  He  began  with  his  father,  who  was  a  civil  engineer,  and 
who  laid  out  the  Boston  &  Providence  road;  was  foreman  on  the  Bos- 
ton &  Providence  road,  under  Isaiah  Hoyt,  and  afterward  went  on  the 
construction  of  the  Boston,  Hartford  &  Erie,  under  E.  B.  Crane,  for  two 
years.  He  then  returned  to  the  Boston  &  Providence  road,  and  built 
over  the  road,  under  Mr.  Hoyt;  then  back  to  the  Boston,  Hartford  & 
Erie,  now  known  as  the  New  York  &  New  England  road,  under  N.  C. 
Munson,  for  two  years.    He  then  went  to  the  Connecticut  Valley  road 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  165 

and  took  a  contract  to  build  three  miles  of  road  from  Wethersfield  to 
Rocky  Hill,  then  went  to  work  for  Dillon  &  Clyde  to  finish  the  road. 
He  was  afterward  made  superintendent  of  the  construction,  under 
Hiram  Fowler,  and  then  appointed  roadmaster  and  superintendent  of 
bridges,  remaining  until  the  road  changed  hands.  He  is  now  an  as- 
sistant roadmaster  O.  C.  R.R.  He  was  educated  at  Seekonk  Academy, 
Opalic  Institute,  Attleboro;  M.  &  E.  Lyon's  private  school.  Providence, 
and  at  Brown  University.  He  is  chess  editor  on  staff  of  Providence 
Daily  Journal,  is  president  of  Spring  Vale  Cemetery,  and  moderator 
of  Watchemoket  Fire  District,  and  also  a  member  of  the  administra- 
tive board  of  that  district.  He  served  two  years  on  school  committee 
in  Windham,  Conn.  He  was  senator  from  East  Providence  in  1887. 
He  was  quartermaster  three  terms  of  Bucklin  Post,  No.  20,  G.  A.  R., 
and  is  now  commander  of  Farragut  Post,  No.  8.  He  served  in  the 
early  part  of  the  rebellion  in  Company  D,  2d  R.  I.  Volunteers,  was 
appointed  second  lieutenant  78th  N.  Y.  Volunteers  December  23d, 
1861,  and  at  the  time  of  the  consolidation  of  that  regiment  with  the 
102d  N.  Y.  held  by  appointment  the  rank  of  captain  in  Company  H; 
after  the  consolidation  he  returned  to  the  2d  R.  I.  regiment,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  by  order  of  the  war  department  at  Camp 
Hawes  Hill,  Va.,  July  31st,  1865.  He  married  Hattie  B.,  daughter  of 
George  W.  Frink,  of  Windham,  Conn. 

George  S.  Dean,  son  of  George  B.  and  Sarah  G.  (Sisson)  Dean,  was 
born  in  1832  in  Providence,  was  educated  in  public  schools  and  came 
to  East  Providence  in  1874.  He  first  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business 
in  Providence,  and  for  the  past  23  years  has  been  a  repairer  and  fin- 
isher of  pianos,  first  with  Henry  E.  Barney,  then  Henry  E.  Barney  & 
Son,  then  James  H.  Barney,  and  now  Ira  N.  Goff.  He  married  Mary 
J.,  daughter  of  Henry  E.  Barney,  of  Providence.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  school  board  in  1889. 

James  Dennis,  Jr.,  son  of  James  and  Anna  T.  (Lockwood)  Dennis, 
was  born  in  1842  in  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  and  was  educated  at  the  Friends' 
School,  Providence,  and  at  Haverford,  Penn.  He  came  to  East  Provi- 
dence in  1881.  He  married  Laura,  daughter  of  Oliver  vS.  Curtis,  of 
East  Providence.  He  is  engaged  in  the  business  of  raising  lettuce  for 
the  New  York  market. 

Jared  Carrington  Dodge,  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Elizabeth  (Dodge) 
Dodge,  was  born  in  1820  on  Block  Island,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1866  he  started  in  the 
sash,  blinds  and  planing  mill  business  in  Providence,  which  he  has 
carried  on  ever  since  at  the  same  place.  He  married  Olive  Paine,  a 
daughter  of  George  Washington  and  Sarah  Salisbury,  of  Barrington, 
Mass.  Their  children  are:  Horace  H.,  born  1844;  Francis  H.,  born 
1846,  died  1853;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  1848;  Charlotte  vShaw,  born 
1850;  Frank  H.,  born  1853,  and  Annie  L.,  born  1859.  Mr.  Dodge 
served  for  24  years  in  the  volunteer  fire  department. 


166  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

William  Wheaton  Ellis,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Wheaton)  Ellis, 
was  born  December  18th,  1838,  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  and  was  educated  at  the  English  and  Classical  school  of 
East  Providence.  He  learned  the  jewelry  business  and  followed  it 
three  years,  then  was  employed  by  the  Rumford  Chemical  Works,  re- 
maining four  years,  then  worked  for  the  Boston  &  Providence  railroad 
for  seven  years,  and  returned  to  the  chemical  works.  He  was  elected 
on  school  board  for  three  years,  and  was  for  two  years  of  that  time 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  was  elected  again  in  1889  for  three  years; 
also  elected  superintendent.  He  is  treasurer  of  Newman  Congrega- 
tional church,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years,  also  for  18  years  a 
trustee,  and  is  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  clerk  of  the  society. 
He  was  chosen  deacon  May  80th,  1872,  and  has  served  in  that  capacity 
for  more  than  18  years.  He  married  Sarah  H.,  daughter  of  Hezekiah 
and  Avis  N.  Blaisdell,  of  Providence. 

Joseph  E.  C.  Farnham,  son  of  William  H.  and  Lydia  H.  (Parker) 
Farnham,  was  bdrn  January  18th,  1849,  in  Nantucket,  Mass.,  and  is 
one  of  12  children  on  the  paternal  side,  and  one  of  nine  on  the  ma- 
ternal, his  father  having  been  twice  married.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  the  Sir  Admiral  Coffin  Academy  of  his  native 
town,  his  13th  birthday  being  his  last  day  at  school.  At  that  age  he 
left  home  and  lived  on  a  farm  for  one  year,  then  entered  the  printing 
office  of  the  Nantucket  Mirror,  remaining  one  year.  He  came  to  Prov- 
idence June  2d,  1864,  was  with  A.  Crawford  Greene  one  year,  and  one 
year  with  Knowles,  Anthony  &  Co.  In  March,  1866,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Providence  Press  Company,  continuing  until  March, 
1869,  then  went  with  Millard  &  Harker  for  one  year,  returning  in 
March,  1870,  to  the  Providence  Press  Company.  In  June,  1883,  he 
was  appointed  foreman  of  the  book  composition  department,  and  con- 
tinued with  the  company  until  October  1st,  1888,  when  with  Edwin 
H.  Snow,  under  the  firm  name  of  Snow  &  Farnham,  he  succeeded  the 
Providence  Press  Company.  Their  printing  establishment  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  state,  employing  about  40  hands.  From  1877  to 
1883  he  was  a  member  of  the  Providence  school  board,  serving  on  the 
committees  on  by-laws,  music  and  evening  schools.  His  term  would 
not  have  expired  until  1886,  but  in  1883  he  moved  to  East  Providence. 
He  was  appointed  on  the  school  board  of  East  Providence  in  June, 
1889,  by  the  town  council  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Miles  H.  Lawson,  and  was  immediately  elected  clerk  of  the  board  by 
the  committee.  At  the  annual  town  election  in  April,  1890,  he  was 
re-elected  a  member  of  the  school  committee  for  a  period  of  three 
years.  At  the  organization  of  the  school  board,  immediately  follow- 
ing the  election,  he  was  re-elected  clerk,  and  was  also  elected  super- 
intendent of  schools  of  the  town.  He  is  a  member  of  Franklin  Lodge 
of  Odd  Fellows,  No.  23,  of  Providence,  and  a  past  grand  of  the  same, 
has  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  trustee  of  his  Lodge,  and  was  dis- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  167 

trict  deputy  grand  master  for  two  years  over  four  of  the  Lodges  of 
the  city  of  Providence.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Fraternity  Encamp- 
ment, No.  17,  of  East  Providence,  and  is  a  past  chief  patriarch  in  this 
higher  branch  of  Odd  Fellowship.  He  was  in  June,  1887,  a  charter 
member  of  Providence  Council,  No.  1096,  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  of 
East  Providence,  and  was  made  the  first  past  regent  of  that  organi- 
zation. He  was  prominently  connected  with  the  Hope  Street  Meth- 
odist church.  Providence,  for  16  years,  and  for  nearly  eight  years  was 
Sunday  school  superintendent.  He  united  with  the  Haven  Methodist 
church.  East  Providence,  the  first  Sunday  in  November,  1883,  was 
soon  after  elected  a  member  of  the  official  board,  and  is  now  steward, 
class  leader,  treasurer  and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  that 
church.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  founders  of  the  Methodist 
Social  Union  of  Providence  and  vicinity,  elected  secretary  at  the  or- 
ganization January,  1881,  and  continued  in  the  office  until  January, 
1888,  when  he  was  elected  president,  declining  a  re-election  at  the  fol- 
lowing annual  election.  He  was  again  elected  secretary  in  Januar}-, 
1891.  He  has  been  for  some  years  a  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Providence  Branch  of  the  Indian  Rights  Association, 
which  embraces  in  its  membership  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
Providence.  He  joined  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in 
1867,  was  twice  vice-president,  and  is  now,  and  has  been  for  ten  years, 
a  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  He  is  chairman  of  the  member- 
ship committee,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  lecture,  missionary, 
publication,  finance  and  the  library  committees.  Being  deprived  of 
those  educational  privileges  enjoyed  by  most  boys,  he  was  led  to 
adopt  early  in  his  career  a  system  of  self  improvement,  which  has  al- 
ways been  maintained.  With  a  natural  thirst  for  knowledge,  he  was 
fortunate  in  the  selection  of  the  printing  trade — a  school  in  itself — 
added  to  which  an  early  formed  habit  of  reading  and  study  has 
served  to  more  than  make  up  for  the  loss  of  earlier  advantages.  It 
may  be  said  of  him  that,  so  far  as  the  practical  uses  of  education  can 
go,  he  is  a  well-educated  man.  Thus  has  he  been  able  to  fill  every 
position  to  which  he  has  been  called,  with  ability,  and  has  added  grace 
and  dignity  to  every  occasion  upon  which  he  has  been  selected  to  pre- 
side over  and  address  an  audience.  As  a  speaker  he  has  few  equals 
among  those  of  his  circle,  and  never  fails  to  entertain  and  interest  his 
hearers.  He  married,  October  11th,  1871,  Laura  S.,  daughter  of  Solo- 
mon and  Nancy  B.  (Manchester)  Greene  of  Providence.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Emma  Ellouise,  born  August  30th,  187o,  died  July  10th, 
1876;  and  William  Ellis,  born  July  5th,  1878. 

Joseph  B.  Fitts,  son  of  David  and  Delia  (Bucklin)  Fitts,  was  born 
in  1818,  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  public  schools.  He  learned  the  tanning  trade  which  he 
followed  in  his  early  days,  his  father  being  a  tanner  and  currier. 
About  1847  he  began  farming  and  afterward  turned  his  attention  to 


168  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

gardening,  which  he  has  followed  for  over  20  years.  He  served  in 
the  town  council  in  1887.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
Dennis,  of  Sandwich,  MavSS. 

David  Glover,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Hughes)  Glover,  was  born 
in  1832,  in  Prince  Edward's  Island,  and  was  educated  in  public 
schools.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  his  mother  a  native 
of  Massachusetts.  He  learned  the  carpenter  trade  in  1849,  came  to 
Providence  in  1863,  moving  to  East  Providence  in  August,  1887.  He 
has  always  followed  the  building  business.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  Mechanics'  Exchange  of  Providence.  He  married 
Catharine,  daughter  of  David  Creighton,  of  Prince  Edward's  Island. 

David  F.  Goff,  son  of  David  and  Clarissa  (Stacy)  Goff,  was  born  in 
1849,  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  in  Rehoboth,  and  came  to  East  Providence  in  1868. 
He  was  for  a  time  in  the  contracting  business  with  George  H.  Read 
in  building  bridges  and  wharves,  and  started  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  Providence  in  1874.  He  served  on  the  board  of  assessors  a 
number  of  years.  He  married  Rachel  I.,  daughter  of  John  Greene,  of 
Worcester. 

Ira  D.  Goff,  son  of  Cyrillus  and  Mary  A.  (Monroe)  Goft",  was  born 
in  1852,  in  Providence,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Provi- 
dence, and  came  to  East  Providence  in  1878.  He  has  always  followed 
the  jewelry  business,  and  also  established  a  periodical  store  at  River- 
side in  1886.  He  married  Annie  L.,  daughter  of  Henry  S.  Pine,  of  Attle- 
boro,  Mass.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  school  board  in  1888,  a 
member  of  the  town  council  in  1889,  and  foreman  of  Narragansett  Fire 
Company  No.  2,  in  March,  1889.  He  was  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the 
latter  for  seven  years  previous. 

Isaac  L.  Goff,  son  of  David  and  Clarissa  (Stacy)  Goff,  was  born  in 
1852  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  East 
Providence  and  Bryant  &  Stratton's  College,  Providence,  and  came  to 
East  Providence  in  1869.  He  started  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Providence  in  1871,  and  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  manufacturing 
jewelry  business  since  1879.  He  married  Ada  J.,  daughter  of  William 
R.  Richards,  of  Providence. 

Osmond  C.  Goodell,  son  of  Chester  and  Betsey  (Fuller)  Goodell, 
was  born  in  1835  in  Readsboro,  Bennington  county,  Vt.,and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  and  select  schools  of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts. 
He  came  to  East  Providence  in  1864,  for  two  years  was  employed  in 
a  fruit  store  in  Providence,  and  afterward  kept  a  restaurant  on  Canal 
street  for  six  years.  He  was  appointed  town  sergeant  and  served 
about  IS  years,  and  deputy  sheriff  about  17  years.  He  was  also  deputy 
U.  vS.  manshal  under  Marshal  Coggesall,  and  was  an  auctioneer  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  married  first,  Rosa  F.,  daughter  of  Ansel  Hicks  of 
Vermont.  His  present  wife  is  Eliza  B.,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah 
Read  of  East  Providence. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  169 

Joseph  B.  Gurney,  son  of  Harris  and  Eliza  (Shaw)  Gurney,  was 
born  in  1830  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  came  to  Providence  about  1840,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  school.  He  moved  to  East  Providence  in 
1865,  and  about  that  time  established  the  lumber  business.  He  was 
at  one  time  clerk  for  his  uncle,  Austin  Gurney,  one  of  the  oldest  lum- 
ber dealers  in  the  city.  He  served  for  nine  years  as  a  member  of  the 
town  council,  one  year  on  board  of  assessors,  and  eight  years  in  the 
volunteer  fire  department.  He  married  Susan  A.,  daughter  of  David 
Gale  of  Providence. 

Charles  F.  Harris,  son  of  Otis  G.  and  Louise  (Bicknell)  Harris,  was 
born  in  1857  in  Barrington,  R.  I.,  was  educated  at  Barrington  high 
school  and  in  Providence,  and  came  to  East  Providence  in  1882.  He 
was  for  nine  years  bookkeeper  for  the  Union  Eyelet  Company,  Provi- 
dence. Since  living  in  East  Providence  he  has  followed  farming.  He 
married  Esther  M.,  daughter  of  William  Whitcomb  of  Providence. 

Albert  Pierce  Hoyt,  son  of  D.  W.  and  Mary  E.  (Pierce)  Hoyt,  was 
born  November  29th,  1857,  in  Brighton,  Mass.,  came  to  Providence  in 
1864,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  grammar  and  high  schools  of  the 
city.  He  entered  Brown  University  in  1874,  graduated  in  1878,  and 
from  July,  1878,  until  his  death  was  connected  with  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  teller  of  the  same  from  December,  1880.  He  moved  to 
East  Providence  in  1884,  was  elected  a  member  of  school  board  in 
1885  for  two  years,  and  at  that  time  was  clerk  of  committee  on  schools. 
He  was  appointed  in  1887  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  in  1888  was 
elected  for  three  years  as  chairman  of  committee.  He  married  Annie 
L.,  daughter  of  J.  C.  Dodge,  of  Providence,  April  15th,  1884.  Jie  died 
October  7th,  1890. 

Isaiah  Hoyt,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sally  (Adams)  Hoyt,  was  born 
in  1812,  in  Bradford,  N.  H.  At  the  age  of  21  he  went  to  Boston  and 
was  employed  as  foreman  by  the  Boston  &  Providence  railroad  in  the 
work  of  constructing  the  road.  He  was  soon  after  made  roadmaster 
of  Fourth  division.  He  continued  with  the  corporation  until  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1888,  when  he  resigned.  At  the  close  of  his  50th  year  of  ser- 
vice the  corporation  presented  him  with  a  check  for  $500.  September 
12th,  1886,  he  was  presented  by  his  employees  of  the  railroad  with 
a  Waltham  gold  watch,  valued  at  $100,  as  a  token  of  their  esteem  and 
regard.  He  has  always  lived  in  East  Providence  since  he  started  with 
the  railroad  company.  He  married  Mary  i\nn  Janet,  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  Bishop,  of  Seekonk,  Mass. 

Edward  S.  Judkins,  son  of  Nathaniel  T.  and  Chloe  C.  (Brown)  Jud- 
kins,  was  born  in  1858  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  began  manufacturing  show 
cases  in  East  Providence  in  1883,  and  is  the  only  one  in  that  business 
between  New  York  and  Boston.  He  married  Corabell,  daughter  of 
Winslow  Hall,  of  Dover,  N.  H.     His  father  manufactured  carriages. 


170  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  carried  on  a  blacksmithing  business  on  the  same  place  for  over 
20  years. 

Alfred  J.  Kent,  son  of  Isaac  B.  and  Hannah  (Kent)  Kent,  was  born 
in  1849  in  Seekonk  (now  East  Providence),  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  married  Ella,  daughter  of  James  Turner,  of  Ports- 
mouth, R.  I.,  and  has  always  followed  farming.  He  was  collector  of 
taxes  in  1873. 

Timothy  A.  Leonard,  son  of  Carlton  R.  and  Sarah  (Cox)  Leonard, 
was  born  in  1822  in  what  is  now  East  Providence,  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives.  At  the  age  of  14  he  went  to  Central  Falls.  He  learned 
the  house  carpenter's  trade  in  Providence,  and  in  1847  returned  to  the 
old  place,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  business  has  been  carpentry 
and  pile  driving.  He  was  elected  to  the  senate  in  1869,  served  two 
years,  and  was  again  elected  in  1875,  serving  one  year.  He  was  also 
representative  from  1887  to  1889,  served  a  number  of  years  in  the 
town  council  and  as  assessor  of  taxes.  He  married  Martha,  daughter 
of  William  Jones,  of  Seekonk,  now  East  Providence. 

Joseph  J.  Luther,  son  of  Joseph  and  Fidelia  (Niles)  Luther,  was 
born  in  1834  in  Warren,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  came  to  East  Providence  about  1859.  He  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  jewelry  business,  and  was  in  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  J.  J.  Luther  &  Co.  in  Providence  for  five  years.  He 
has  for  the  past  six  years  been  with  Tilden  &  Thurber.  He  has  served 
on  the  town  council.  He  married  Sarah  T.,  daughter  of  C.  C.  God- 
frey, of  Providence.  His  father  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  went 
to  California  in  1849,  and  died  there  in  1850. 

William  H.  McTwiggan,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (McGill)  McTwig- 
gan,  was  born  in  1841,  in  Johnston,  R.  L,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Providence.  His  parents  came  to  this  country  in 
1841,  locating  in  Providence,  where  his  father  followed  the  mill  busi- 
ness. William  H.  also  operated  in  a  cotton  mill  a  few  years,  after 
ward  learned  the  machinist  trade,  which  he  has  followed  since  1866. 
In  1861  he  went  West  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  remaining 
there  until  1865,  when  he  returned  to  Providence,  and  in  1867  he 
moved  to  East  Providence.  He  served  first  in  the  Second  Nebraska 
Cavalry,  and  afterward  enlisted  in  the  Third  Iowa  Battery,  serving 
most  of  the  time  in  Arkansas.  His  father  served  in  the  Twelfth  R. 
I.  regiment.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  board  of  assessors  in  1889, 
and  re-elected  in  1890.  He  married  Ellen  M.,  daughter  of  Frink  L^. 
and  Mary  Dorrance  of  East  Providence. 

Benjamin  Martin,  son  of  George  and  Maria  (Medbery)  Martin,  was 
born  in  1847,  in  East  Providence,  then  Seekonk,  Mass.  He  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  21  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  has  always  followed.  He  married  Ella  L., 
daughter  of  John  A.  Wood  of  East  Providence.  He  was  elected  to 
the  town  council  in  1889. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  171' 

Daniel  Medbery,  son  of  Arnold  Rhodes  and  Keciah  (Peck)  Med- 
bery,  was  born  in  1827  in  what  is  now  East  Providence,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  married  B.  Maria,  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund S.  Comstock  of  East  Providence.  Mr.  Medbery  is  in  the  sixth 
generation  from  Medberys,  eighth  generation  from  Pecks,  and  ninth 
generation  from  Roger  Williams  on  his  father's  mother's  side.  His 
grandfather  was  Josiah,  son  of  John,  son  of  Thomas,  son  of  John. 

Jesse  Medbery,  son  of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Viall)  Medbery,  was 
born  in  1882,  in  Seekonk,  now  East  Providence,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  council  in 
1878.  His  grandfather  was  John.  His  great-grandfather,  Samuel, 
was  killed  in  the  revolution. 

James  P.  Millard,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Huldah  (Peck)  Millard, 
was  born  in  1827,  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until  15  years  of  age,  then 
learned  the  mason  trade,  worked  at  journey  work  until  1862,  and 
since  that  time  has  carried  on  business  for  himself.  He  married  first, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  William  Foster  of  Seekonk,  and  afterward  married 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Dawley  of  Providence.  His  third  wife  was  Mrs.  Almira 
Lawton  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  his  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Phebe 
R.  Carr  of  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Hannah  Tripp. 
His  father  was  a  mason  by  trade,  doing  his  last  work  on  the  old  Ar- 
cade building. 

William  W.  Munroe,  son  of  Burden  and  Lydia  (Baker)  Munroe.  was 
born  in  1837,  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  came  to  East  Providence  in  1863  and  established  him- 
self in  the  grocery  and  provision  business.  In  186;")  his  brother  be- 
came a  partner,  and  the  firm  has  since  been  known  as  W.  W.  Munroe 
&  Co.  He  was  elected  town  treasurer  in  1888.  He  married  Ellen  M., 
daughter  of  Deacon  Isaac  Goddard  of  Providence. 

George  J.  Norton,  son  of  George  J.  and  Ann  W.  (Smith)  Norton, 
was  born  in  1848,  in  Swansea,  Mass.,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm. 
At  the  age  of  16  years  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  service,  De- 
cember 12th,  1864,  at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  the  26th  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  and  was  discharged  May  12th,  1865,  at  close  of  war.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at  North  Swansea,  then  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  in  Pawtucket  of  Lewin  &  Kenyon,  came  to 
Providence  and  entered  the  employ  of  Peabody  &  Wilbur,  now  Fitz 
Herbert  Peabody  &  Son,  where  he  remained  for  15  years.  He  was 
afterward  for  a  short  time  with  Dexter  Gorton,  the  contractor,  and 
since  1886  has  been  foreman  at  City  planing  mill,  E.  R.  Randall,  pro- 
prietor. He'  came  to  East  Providence  in  1870.  He  has  served  on 
town  council,  was  elected  in  1886  one  of  the  water  commissioners, 
and  still  holds  that  office.  He  married  Emma  C,  daughter  of  Wel- 
come and  Abbie  W.  (Carpenter)  Barney  of  Rehoboth. 


172  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Horace  T.  Peck,  son  of  Bela  and  Lemira  Ann  Wheaton  (Peck) 
Peck,  was  born  in  1839,  in  Seekonk,  now  East  Providence,  R.  I.,  was 
educated  in  public  schools,  and  always  followed  farming.  His  father 
bought  the  place  in  1824  and  lived  there  until  he  died.  His  grandfa- 
ther was  Joel  Peck.  Mr.  Peck  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Humphrey  of  Swansea,  Mass 

James  G.  Peck,  son  of  Samuel  C.  and  Betsey  H.  (Chidsey)  Peck,  was 
born  June  27th,  1844,  in  Milford,  Conn.,  was  educated  in  the  public 
and  private  schools  of  Connecticut,  and  came  to  East  Providence  in 
1871.  He  first  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Peck  &  Bartlett,  and  continued  about  three  years,  after  which 
he  was  for  two  years  bookkeeper  for  Paine  &  Sacket.  He  was  then 
salesman  for  F.  H.  Richmond  &  Co.,  wholesale  paper  dealers,  and 
since  1879  has  been  with  C.  Sydney  Smith,  manufacturer  of  gold 
chains,  Eddy  street,  Providence.  He  has  been  postmaster  in  East 
Providence  since  January,  1886.  East  Providence  was  at  that  time  a 
fourth  class  office.  It  was  promoted  to  a  third  class  office  August, 
1888.  Mr.  Peck  married  Frances  H.,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Susan  L.  Bart- 
lett, of  East  Providence. 

Thomas  S.  Peck.,  son  of  Asa  and  Betsey  (Hale)  Peck,  was  born  in 
1827  in  Providence,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  learned  the 
mason  trade  with  his  father  and  has  followed  it  since  he  was  15  years 
■old.  He  came  to  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence,  when  he  was 
one  year  old.  He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Lloyd  Sutton.  He  served 
in  the  town  council  and  on  the  board  of  assessors.  His  father  also 
followed  the  mason  business. 

Henry  J.  Pickersgill,  son  of  William  C.  and  Laura  L.  (Francis) 
Pickersgill,  came  to  America  when  a  child  with  his  parents,  who 
located  in  Lowell,  Mass.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
is  a  machinist  by  trade,  but  for  the  past  twelve  years  has  followed 
farming.  He  came  to  East  Providence  in  1877.  He  served  in  the 
First  New  York  Infantry  two  years,  and  one  year  and  six  months  in 
the  16th  Massachusetts  Battery.  He  married  Elizabeth  P.,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Copeland  of  Bridgewater,  Mass.  His  father  was  a  civil  and 
mechanical  engineer  and  moved  from  Lowell  to  Manchester,  N.  H., 
and  from  there  to  Providence  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  super- 
intendent of  the  Providence  Tool  Company  from  1866  to  1874.  He 
then  returned  to  England  and  died  there  in  October,  1887. 

Galen  Pierce,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Candis  (Wheeler)  Pierce,  was 
born  in  1824  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools.  He  was  first  employed  as  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  for  C.  C. 
Godfrey  in  Providence^,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  was  for 
four  years  clerk  for  I.  T.  Tillinghast  in  same  business,  whom  he  after- 
ward bought  out  and  carried  on  the  business  for  himself  for  37  years 
at  India  Point.  He  came  to  East  Providence  about  1878,  and  was  for  a 
few  years  interested  in  the  grocery  business  under  the  firm  name  of 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  173 

Pierce  &  Rich.  After  giving  up  the  grocery  business  he  was  in  the 
dry  goods  and  shoe  business  tliree  years,  then  retired  and  gave  the 
business  to  his  son,  W.  B.  Pierce,  who  still  carries  it  on.  He  has  served 
in  the  town  council.  He  married  first  Phebe  Barney,  of  Providence. 
His  present  wife  is  Emily  F.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wilmouth,  of  East 
Providence.  His  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  carried  on  a 
large  business  for  a  number  of  years. 

David  S.  Ray,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  P.  (Graham)  Ray,  was  born 
in  1840  in  Gilford,  Ireland,  came  to  America  with  his  parents  (who 
located  in  Providence,  R.  I.)  when  about  six  months  old,  and  to  East 
Providence  about  1860.  He  was  in  the  First  R.  I.  Cavalry  during  the 
rebellion,  going  out  as  a  private  and  returning  as  a  quartermaster 
sergeant.  He  was  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  of  the  First  Bat- 
talion of  Cavalry  in  1877,  and  in  1879-80  succeeded  to  command  as 
captain.  He  was  four  years  commissary  on  Major  George  N.  Bliss' 
staff,  First  Battalion  Cavalry,  R.  I.  Militia.  He  served  with  rank  of 
colonel  in  the  department  of  Rhode  Island  G.  A.  R.,  and  served  with 
the  same  rank  on  the  national  commander-in-chief's  staff.  He  was 
the  original  commander  of  Bucklin  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  now  the  de- 
partment quartermaster  general  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island  for 
the  second  term.  He  was  three  times  elected  commander  of  Bucklin 
Post.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  in  1888,  refusing  to  accept 
the  nomination  in  1889.  He  married  Mary  H.,  daughter  of  Miles  B. 
Lawson  of  Providence,  formerly  of  Newport,  R.  I. 

Thomas  H.  Ray,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  P.  (Graham)  Ray,  was 
born  in  1842,  in  Providence.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Providence  and  Swansea,  Mass.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and 
afterward  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  He  followed  the  contracting 
business  for  about  six  years,  but  of  late  years  has  turned  his  attention 
more  to  the  real  estate  business,  doing  considerable  building.  He 
came  to  East  Providence  about  1866.  He  has  served  on  the  board  of 
assessors  and  is  one  of  the  building  committee  of  the  new  town  hall. 
He  was  delegate  to  the  republican  convention  in  New  York  in  1887, 
also  delegate  to  the  state  convention  from  East  Providence  in  1888. 
He  served  in  Battery  L,  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery.  He  married 
Jennie,  adopted  daughter  of  Abel  Sherman,  of  Middletown,  R.  I. 

S.  S.  Rich,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Sherman)  Rich,  was  born  in 
1846  in  Millville,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Providence  when  two  years  old. 
He  was  educated  in  public  and  high  school,  and  graduated  in  the  class 
of  '66.  He  was  first  engaged  as  clerk  m  the  grocery  business  for  one 
year.  He  then  established  for  himself  under  the  firm  name  of  Bal- 
com  &  Rich,  continuing  for  one  year,  then  with  his  father  went  into 
the  wholesale  grain  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Thomas  Rich  & 
Son  for  one  year,  and  in  1870  came  to  East  Providence,  starting  in  the 
grocery  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Pierce  &  Rich,  which  con- 
tinued about  five  vears,  and  since  1878  he  has  carried  on  the  business 


174  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

alone.  Hemarried  Eugenia,  daughter  of  Galen  Pierce  of  East  Provi- 
dence. 

William  E.  Ripley,  son  of  Charles  B.  and  Mary  I.  (Medbery)  Rip- 
ley, was  born  in  1843  in  Pawtucket,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Pawtucket  and  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  commercial  college. 
Providence.  He  left  school  when  16  years  of  age,  and  went  into  a 
grocery  store  as  clerk,  remaining  four  years.  He  then  entered  col- 
lege, and  in  1864  entered  the  employ  of  the  Brown  &Sharpe  Manufac- 
turing Company  of  Providence,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since. 
He  married  Alice  S.,  daughter  of  Henry  T.  Cheetham  of  Providence. 

Edwin  S.  vStraight,  son  of  William  P.  and  Sarah  T.  (Gardiner) 
Straight,  was  born  in  1838  in  West  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  afterward 
worked  for  about  seven  years  in  a  mill,  and  then  at  the  sash  and  blind 
business,  and  afterward  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  has  been  in  the 
■contracting  and  building  business  since  1867.  He  came  to  East  Prov- 
idence in  1862,  the  year  the  town  was  organized.  He  married  Lu- 
cinda,  daughter  of  Benjamin  West  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.  He  was  once 
overseer  of  the  poor. 

i\lbert  F.  Sutton,  son  of  Captain  William  and  Elizabeth  (Mathews) 
Sutton,  was  born  in  1839  in  Seekonk,  now  East  Providence,  and  was 
educated  at  Seekonk  academy  and  Scholfield's  commercial  school, 
Providence.  He  built  his  present  house  about  1873.  He  has  followed 
the  gardening  business,  and  has  also  turned  his  attention  considerably 
to  real  estate.  He  followed  the  sea  about  ten  years.  He  married  first 
Phebe,  daughter  of  George  Rice  of  North  Providence.  His  present 
wife  is  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  L.  Williams  of  Providence. 
His  father  was  a  sea  captain.  His  grandfather,  Robert  Sutton,  was 
■one  of  the  twelve  men  who,  disguised  as  Indians,  helped  to  burn  the 
"  Gaspee,"  at  Gaspee  Point.  His  grandmother  on  his  mother's  side 
was  a  Lawrence,  of  a  family  of  tories,  located  at  Rehoboth,  Mass. 

Thomas  A.  Sweetland,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Arnold)  Sweet- 
land,  was  born  in  1829  in  Providence,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  first  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  as  clerk  in  Prov- 
idence, and  afterward  established  himself  in  the  retail  business,  and 
then  in  the  wholesale  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Dudley,  Park- 
hurst  &  Co.,  from  1869  to  1879.  He  was  elected  town  clerk  in  April, 
1888,  and  was  for  nine  years  previous  town  treasurer.  He  was  re- 
■elected  town  clerk  in  April,  1889.  He  married  Charlotte  C,  daughter 
of  Elisha  C.  Wells  of  Providence. 

George  W.  Whelden,  son  of  Samuel  and  Lavina  (Burgess)  Whel- 
den,  was  born  in  1837  in  Providence,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  came  to  East  Providence  about  1882  and  established  himself 
in  the  general  merchandise  business.  He  was  previously  in  the 
business  m  Providence.  His  trade  was  machinist,  which  he  worked 
a±  for  about  six  years.     He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1888 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  175 

and  1889.  He  served  in  the  Tenth  R.  I.  Infantry.  He  married  Ella 
A.,  daughter  of  Amos  Clark  of  Cumberland. 

Benjamin  Wilson,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elona  (Carpenter)  Wilson, 
was  born  in  1833  in  East  Douglass,  Mass.,  was  educated  in  public  and 
high  school,  came  to  East  Providence  in  1864,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Rumford  Chemical  Works.  'He  has 
served  as  probate  judge,  was  president  of  the  town  council  nearly  ten 
years,  and  at  present  is  a  member  of  the  board. 

George  Francis  Wilson,  founder  of  the  Rumford  Chemical 
Works,  was  a  man  whose  life  proved  a  blessing  to  the  country  in 
which  he  lived.  It  was  well  for  the  greater  prosperity  of  the  country 
that  he  did  live,  and  no  greater  eulogy  than  this  can  be  passed  upon 
any  man.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  physique,  tremendous  energy 
and  inflexible  purpose,  and  not  more  distinguished  as  a  successful 
manufacturer  than  for  general  culture  and  energetic  discharge  of 
duty  in  business  and  official  life.  He  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  Mass., 
December  7th,  1818,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mercy 
Wilson,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  Roger  Wilson  of  vScrooby,  England, 
who  in  1608  fled  with  the  Puritans  from  religious  persecution,  and 
settled  in  Leyden.  Roger  Wilson  undoubtedly  transmitted  much  of 
his  sterling  intelligence  and  force  of  chara'cter  to  his  descendants,  Mr. 
George  F.  Wilson  bearing  in  his  person  the  evidences  of  a  robust  and 
unconquerable  stock.  Roger  Wilson  was  a  silk  and  linen  draper,  a 
man  of  wealth,  and  was  the  bondsmati  of  the  only  men  among  the 
Puritans  who  ever  obtained  the  freedom  of  the  city  of  Leyden — Gover- 
nor Bradford,  Isaac  Allerton,  and  Deggory  Priest;  and  it  is  recorded 
that  the  fitting  out  of  the  "  Mayflower"  was  greatly  due  to  his  liber- 
ality and  enterprise.  He  was  one  of  the  joint  stock  company  which 
equipped  and  started  for  the  new  world  that  famous  vessel,  though  he 
did  not  make  the  voyage  in  her  as  he  intended.  His  son  John  came 
to  America  in  1651,  from  whom  George  F.  Wilson  was  descended. 

George  lived  upon  a  farm,  attending  district  school  winters,  until 
at  the  age  of  17,  he  injured  his  hip  while  at  the  plow  so  as  to  affect 
his  gait  for  life,  and  was  apprenticed  to  Welcome  &  Darius  Farnum, 
of  Waterford,  Mass.,  to  learn  the  trade  of  wool  sorting.  The  reason 
he  gave  for  selecting  this  trade  was  characteristic  of  the  man.  "  That 
kind  of  work  cannot  be  done  in  the  night,  and  I  shall  have  all  my 
evenings  for  study."  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  had  mastered  his 
trade  and  also  had  made  drawings  of  every  machine  in  the  mill,  and 
fully  understood  the  entire  business.  Frederick  M.  Ballou  and  John 
W.  Wheelock  were  apprentices  with  Mr.  AVilson,  and  they  fitted  up  a 
room,  where  they  passed  their  evenings  together  in  study.  He  re- 
ceived flattering  credentials  from  his  employers  and  a  valuable  testi- 
monial, but  he  wished  for  a  better  education  before  commencing  in 
earnest  the  work  of  his  life,  and  having  added  to  previous  savings  by 
a  year   of  bookkeeping  for  Squire   Bezaleel  Taft,  of  Uxbridge,  he 


176  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

entered  the  academy,  at  Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.,  as  a  pupil,  and  after- 
ward became  a  teacher  there. 

In  1844*  he  went  with  his  newly-married  wife  to  Chicago,  traveling- 
by  canal  to  Buffalo  and  b}^  schooner  through  the  lakes.  Here  they 
opened  the  Chicago  Academy,  in  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church,  at 
the  corner  of  Clark  and  Washington  streets,  commencing  with  three 
scholars,  and  ending  in  1848,  when  they  decided  to  return  East,  with 
225  pupils,  among  whom  were  many  who  have  largely  contributed  to 
the  wonderful  progress  of  that  city.  While  thus  engaged  he  made 
several  important  discoveries  in  illumination,  and  concerning  the 
effect  of  heat  upon  oils  susceptible  of  use  for  that  purpose,  particu- 
larly as  applied  to  lighthouse  illumination,  and  also  patented  appara- 
tus in  connection  therewith,  and  a  lens  of  refracting  power  much 
superior  to  those  then  in  use  by  the  government.  He  was  not  un- 
mindful of  the  probable  future  of  Chicago,  and  did  much  by  his  col- 
lection of  statistics,  by  his  writings,  and  by  personal  effort  toward 
securing  the  commencement  of  her  first  railroad.  Considering  it  time 
to  engage  in  business  pursuits  he  sold  out  his  school  and  turned  his 
face  eastward  to  the  field  of  manufactures. 

From  1848  to  1854,  he  was  successively  in  the  employ  of  the  late 
Governor  Jackson  at  Jackson,  the  elder  Spragues  at  Quidnick,  and 
the  Atlantic  Delaine  Company  at  Olneyville.  In  January,  1855,  his 
studies  having  led  him  to  a  love  for  chemistry,  he  entered  into  a  part- 
nership with  Professor  E.  N.  Horsford,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  who  then 
held  the  Rumford  professorship  at  Harvard,  for  a  purpose  which  is 
best  expressed,  perhaps,  in  one  clause  of  their  agreement  made  at 
that  time,  somewhat  quaint  for  these  modern  days,  and  well  worthy 
of  record.  This  clause  declares  their  purpose  to  be  that  of  "  building 
up  a  chemical  manufacturing  establishment  of  respectability  and  per- 
manency, such  as  shall  be  an  honor  to  ourselves  and  our  children,  and 
a  credit  to  the  community  in  which  it  is  located,  and  which  shall 
afford  us  a  means  of  reasonable  support." 

How  well  their  intentions  were  realized  all  know  who  are  familiar 
with  the  manufacturing  interests  of  this  vicinity.  In  1856  or  '57,  the 
business  was  moved  from  Providence  to  what  was  then  Seekonk,  but 
which,  by  change  of  the  state  line,  has  since  become  East  Providence, 
and  the  firm  of  George  F.  Wilson  &  Co.  became,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued to  be,  the  Rumford  Chemical  Works,  and  the  names  of  its  pro- 
ductions are  now  household  words  in  this  country  from  one  ocean  to 
the  other.  Of  Professor  Horsford 's  profound  knowledge  and  research 
as  a  chemist,  were  born  the  preparations  which  bear  his  name,  while 
to  Mr.  Wilson's  genius  and  indomitable  energy  are  due  the  credit  of 
inventing  the  unique  apparatus  and  machinery  for  their  practical 
production,  the  creation  of  a  demand  for  articles  hitherto  unknown, 
and  the  building  up  of  a  successful  business  in  their  manufacture. 


^^.^;^^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  177 

How  much  this  means  is  comprehended  by  few.  The  man  who 
decides  to  enter  upon  the  manufacture  of  cotton  or  woolen  goods, 
iron  or  steel,  or  the  countless  articles  into  which  the}'  are  wrought, 
leather  goods,  or  any  of  the  many  staples  with  which  our  markets 
teem,  finds  ready  to  his  hand  the  necessary  tools  and  machinery,  and 
has  for  his  product  a  market  among  a  people  already  educated  to  its 
use.  With  Mr.  Wilson  none  of  these  conditions  existed.  He  started 
out  to  make  an  article  hitherto  unknown,  and  every  piece  of  appar- 
atus or  machinery  necessary  for  its  production,  from  the  furnaces  that 
received  the  raw  material,  to  the  machines  which  filled  the  finished 
packages,  including  even  the  mill  that  ground  the  product,  were  the 
results  of  his  marvelous  ingenuity,  his  intelligent  thought  and  patient 
experiment.  And  while  he  struggled  with  and  conquered  these 
problems,  hampered  by  insufficient  capital,  he  had  to  find  time  to 
make  known  to  consumers  a  new  article,  and  to  create  among  them  a 
demand  for  it  that  would  warrant  the  dealer  in  adding  it  to  his  stock. 
One  has  only  to  call  to  mind  the  countless  names  of  articles  and 
preparations,  many,  if  not  most,  of  them  of  undoubted  merit,  that 
have  from  time  to  time  stared  from  advertising  pages  and  dead  walls 
and  are  now  seen  no  more,  to  begin  to  appreciate  the  effort  and  out- 
lay necessary  to  establish  public  confidence  in  new  goods.  Mr.  Wil- 
son succeeded  where  many  fail,  and  lived  to  see  the  works  which  he 
founded  give  support  to  more  than  1,200  people,  and  the  land  in  the 
vicinity  of  their  location  increase  in  market  value  twenty  fold  in 
consequence  thereof. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  his  business  career,  Mr.  Wilson  manufactured 
a  general  line  of  chemicals  for  the  use  of  calico  printers  and  paper 
makers,  in  addition  to  the  specialty  for  which  the  works  have  since 
become  famous,  but  the  production  of  these  articles  was  discontinued 
after  a  few  years,  and  the  business  of  the  works  became  the  manu- 
facture of  pulverulent  acid  phosphate,  commonly  known  as  Hors- 
ford's  Cream  of  Tartar.  This  is  sold  under  that  name  in  bulk  in 
large  quantities,  but  the  greater  portion  of  this  article  which  the  works 
produce  is  put  up  by  them  in  the  form  of  Horsford's  Baking  Powder 
and  Rumford  Yeast  Powder.  A  little  later  they  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  the  medicinal  preparation  known  as  Horsford's  Acid 
Phosphate,  one  of  the  very  few  proprietary  preparations  of  which  the 
formula  is  published,  and  which  receive  the  endorsement  of  physicians, 
and  to-day  these  articles  are  household  necessities  throughout  this 
country,  while  the  Acid  Phosphate  is  sold  all  over  the  civilized  world. 

Mr.^Vilson's  thorough  knowledge  of  mechanical  principles  and 
appliances  was  well  known,  and  was  practically  exemplified  in  his 
own  business.  His  opinion  was  constantly  sought  upon  new  inven- 
tions, and  his  advice  by  inventors  struggling  with  mechanical  diffi- 
culties in  their  road  to  success,  many  of  whom  left  him  with  substan- 
tial assistance  in  addition   to  advice.     His  own   inventions  both  of 

12 


178  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

processes  and  appliances  were  numerous,  as  the  files  of  the  patent 
office  will  show.  Outside  of  the  business  of  the  works,  some  of  the 
most  important  are  an  improvement  in  the  manufacture  of  steel,  a 
revolving  boiler  for  paper  manufacturers,  and  important  discoveries 
in  illuminating  apparatus  for  lighthouse  use,  before  mentioned.  Mr. 
Wilson  resided  in  Providence  from  1852  to  1861,  during  which  time 
he  was  for  many  years  a  very  prominent  member  of  the  school  com- 
mittee, and  for  two  terms  served  the  city  in  the  house  of  represent- 
atives, in  1860  and  1861.  In  1861  he  removed  to  East  Providence, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  on  the  19th  of  January,  1883.  He 
was  four  times  elected  a  member  of  the  school  committee,  and  was 
also  one  of  the  town  council  of  1873. 

In  1872  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on 
him  by  Brown  University.  He  was  a  member  of  the  R.  I.  Historical 
Society,  the  Franklin  Lyceum,  the  Franklin  Society  and  the  Rhode 
Island  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Domestic  Industry,  and  for 
many  years  actively  participated  in  the  proceedings  of  all  of  them. 
His  interest  in  agricultural  matters  was  always  great,  and  the  con- 
tributions of  the  works  under  his  direction,  to  the  fairs  of  the  latter 
society,  both  of  stock  and  farm  products,  were  remarkable  for  excel- 
lence and  quantity.  He  was  an  extensive  reader,  a  deep  thinker,  pos- 
sessed of  a  mind  and  memory  of  no  common  order,  and  his  universal 
and  thorough  acquaintance  with  all  current  and  scientific  subjects  and 
with  literature,  astonished  all  who  knew  what  a  busy  life  he  led.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  married  in  1844  to  Clarissa  Bartlett,  daughter  of  Prescott 
and  Narcissa  Bartlett  of  Conway,  Mass.,  a  lady  of  fine  culture  and  in- 
telligence and  of  lovely  character.  To  her  is  attributed  a  large  meas- 
ure of  the  success  of  the  academy  at  Chicago,  in  which  they  were 
both  teachers,  and  she  was  indeed  a  helpmeet  to  him  in  the  days  of 
his  early  struggles  as  a  manufacturer.  Her  memory  is  held  in  loving 
reverence  by  many  of  the  employees  of  her  husband,  among  whom 
she  went  with  open  hand,  and  to  whose  necessities  in  sickness  and 
trouble  she  so  often  ministered.     Her  death  occurred  in  1880. 

In  his  will  Mr.  Wilson  bequeathed  to  Dartmouth  College  the  sum  of 
$50,000  for  the  erection  of  a  library  building,  and  to  Brown  University 
the  sum  of  $100,000  for  the  erection  and  equipment  of  the  Physical 
Laboratory  known  as  Wilson  Hall.  He  left  two  sons:  EUery  Hol- 
brook  Wilson  and  George  Francis  Wilson;  and  three  daughters:  Clara 
Frances  Penny,  Mary  Augusta  Wilson  and  Alice  Louise  Wilson. 

Ellery  H.  Wilson,  son  of  George  F.  and  Clarissa  (Bartlett) 
Wilson,  was  born  in  1848  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  republican 
convention  of  1880.  He  was  representative  from  1883  to  1887,  and 
speaker  of  the  house  from  1885.  He  was  again  elected  representative 
in  1889.     He  is  a  member  of  board  of  state  charities  and  corrections. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  179 

Levi  S.  Winchester,  son  of  Monroe  and  Nancy  (Flagg)  Winches- 
ter, was  born  in  1847  in  Lancaster,  Mass.  He  was  educated  in  public 
school,  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  He  came  to  East 
Providence  in  1872,  and  established  himself  in  the  grocery  business. 
He  was  burnt  out  February  17th,  1877.  The  building  was  immediately 
rebuilt,  and  he  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  until  he  sold  out  in 
1887.  Since  that  time  he  has  turned  his  attention  to  the  insurance 
business.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  appointed  at  Riverside,  and 
has  continued  to  serve  ever  since.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  a  number  of  years  at  different  times,  and  one  year  assessor. 
He  was  elected  foreman  of  the  Narragansett  Fire  Company,  No.  2,  in 
1878,  to  succeed  Samuel  English,  and  served  as  foreman  until  March, 
1889.     He  married  Lizzie  S.  Walcott,  of  Grafton,  Mass. 

John  A.  Wood,  youngest  son  of  Seth  and  Lois  (Luther)  Wood,  was 
born  in  1824,  in  Swansea,  Mass.  When  he  was  one  year  old  his  father 
moved  to  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence.  He  has  served  on 
town  council,  and  on  board  of  assessors.  He  married  Cynthia  E., 
daughter  of  Seril  Reed,  of  Seekonk. 

Seth  Wood,  son  of  Daniel  H.  and  Martha  H.  (Bliss)  Wood,  was  born 
in  1859  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  East  Providence,  R.  L,  and  was 
educated  at  public  school  and  University  grammar  school,  Providence. 
He  has  always  followed  farming.  He  married  Clara  E.,  daughter  of 
William  Brown,  of  Providence. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  TOWN  OF  NORTH  PROVIDENCE. 

General  Description. — Settlements  and  Physical  Features. — The  Original  Town. — Its 
Growth  and  Population. — Eepresentatives  in  the  General  Assembly. — Organization 
of  the  Present  Town. — Town  Officers  since  that  time.— Highways  and  Turnpikes. 
Woodville. — Its  Manufactures. — Graystone. — Centredale. — Its  Cotton  Factory. — 
Union  Library. — Roger  Williams  Lodge.— AUendale  and  its  Mills. — The  Baptist 
Cluu-ch. — Zachariah  Allen  Lodge. — Lymansville  and  its  Mills. — Roman  Catholic 
Church. — Fruit  HiU. — Valuation  and  Taxes. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  township  of  North  Providence,  the  smallest  both  in  territory 
and  in  population,  of  all  the  towns  of  the  county,  lies  on  the 
northern  border  of  the  city,  within  whose  expanding  limits  it 
will  doubtless  ere  long-  be  included.  Its  greatest  width,  at  the  west 
end  is  about  two  and  a  quarter  miles;  its  narrowest  part,  near  the  east 
end,  one  mile;  its  mean  length,  from  east  to  west,  three  and  a  half 
miles.  It  contains  a  little  more  than  five  square  miles.  This  territory 
is  occupied  by  an  agricultural  and  rural  community.  The  ever  undu- 
lating hills  afford  beautiful  landscapes.  As  one  wanders  over  these 
rural  roads  he  is  compelled  to  pause  here  and  there  to  drink  in  the 
inspiration  of  the  delightful  scenery  with  which  he  is  surrounded. 
From  an  elevation  amid  rocks  and  brambles  which  hint  the  primeval 
condition  of  the  country  he  looks  across  a  smiling  valley  that  lies 
below,  to  the  opposite  hillside,  checkered  with  field  walls  and  dotted 
here  and  there  with  farm  buildings,  while  just  beyond  he  catches  the 
smoke  of  a  factory,  and  away  in  the  hazy  distance  he  knows  that  the 
pulsations  of  a  busy  city  are  filling  the  surroundings  with  the  life  of 
ten  thousand  activities. 

The  principal  part  of  the  population  is  upon  the  western  border, 
where  the  beautiful  and  romantic  Woonasquatucket  gracefully  winds 
its  way  in  a  hundred  curves  among  the  rugged  hills,  and  offers  fre- 
quent sites  for  mills,  which  have  been  mainly  utilized  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  textile  fabrics.  These  industries  have  furnished  the  founda- 
tion for  four  small  factory  villages^Graystone,  Centredale,  Allendale 
and  Lymansville.  In  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  but  a  mile  or 
more  from  the  river,  is  a  small  and  ancient  settlement  known  as  Fruit 
Hill.  Another  similar  hamlet  is  that  of  Woodville,  in  the  center  of 
the  town.  At  the  latter  place  the  two  principal  thoroughfares  inter- 
sect each  other.     These  are  the  Douglass   Turnpike,  running  from 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  181 

Providence  to  Douglass,  Mass.,  and  the  Mineral  Spring  Turnpike,  run- 
ning through  the  town  from  east  to  west.  Through  this  central  sec- 
tion a  series  of  ponds  and  swamps  extends  across  the  town,  having 
their  outlet  through  West  river  into  the  Moshassuck.  Wenscott  res- 
ervoir is  a  large  body  of  water,  accumulated  by  a  number  of  small 
feeders,  and  discharging  through  the  channel  indicated.  It  lies  at  the 
series  referred  to,  on  the  northern  border  of  the  town.  The  Geneva 
Mill,  belonging  to  the  Narragansett  Worsted  Company,  is  located  on 
the  Providence  city  line,  and  receives  power  from  this  source. 

The  name  North  Providence  has  been  in  use  for  a  long  time,  but 
its  significance  has  been  various,  owing  to  radical  changes  in  its 
boundaries.  The  town  was  formed  from  the  original  town  of  Provi- 
dence June  13th,  1765.  Owing  to  dissatisfaction  in  the  boundary  line 
a  portion  was  reunited  to  Providence  J  une  29th,  1767.  Again,  another 
part  was  added  to  Providence  March  28th,  187B.  As  the  town  was  then 
formed  it  extended  easterly  to  the  Seekonk  or  Pawtucket  river,  and 
included  so  much  of  the  village  of  Pawtucket  as  lay  on  the  west  side 
of  that  river.  It  also  extended  southwardly  from  its  present  limits 
far  enough  to  reach  a  line  following  the  Woonasquatucket  river  down 
from  Manton  to  the  Upper  cove,  thence  running  across  northerly  to 
the  North  Burial  Ground,  which  it  bisected,  and  thence,  making  sev- 
eral angles,  along  North  street  and  Swan  Point  road  and  across  Swan 
Point  Cemetery  to  the  river.  The  territory  of  the  township  was  then 
more  than  double  what  it  is  at  present,  and  the  population  and  busi- 
ness interests,  as  well  as  its  wealth,  many  times  greater  than  those  of 
the  present  town.  In  the  course  of  time  the  growth  of  Providence 
continuing  to  encroach  upon  North  Providence,  the  population  be- 
came so  dense  on  the  sides  of  the  town  adjoining  Providence  and 
Pawtucket  that  a  division  seemed  necessary.  Such  a  division  as  was 
deemed  expedient  was  made  March  27th,  1874.  A  portion  was  an- 
nexed to  the  city,  making  the  Tenth  ward,  and  a  portion  was  annexed 
to  Pawtucket,  being  about  two  miles  of  the  easterly  end  of  the  former 
town.     The  act  went  into  effect  May  1st,  1874. 

The  boundaries  of  the  town  as  it  is  now  constituted  are  thus  de- 
scribed: On  the  north  by  Smithfield  and  Lincoln,  on  the  east  by  Paw- 
tucket, on  the  south  by  Providence  and  on  the  west  by  Johnston.  The 
former  growth  of  the  town,  as  well  as  the  effect  of  this  change  on  its 
population,  is  shown  by  the  following  figures  of  the  population  of 
North  Providence  at  different  dates:  1774,  830;  1776,  813;  1782,  698; 
1790,  1,071;  1800,  1,067;  1810,  1,758;  1820,  2,420;  1830,  3,503;  1840,  4,207; 
1850,  7,680;  1860,  11,818;  1865,  14,553;  1870,  20,495;  1875,  1,303;  1880, 
1,467;  1885,  1,478.  It  is  thus  probable  that  not  more  than  one- 
twentieth  of  the  population  remained  after  the  reorganization  in 
1874.  The  records,  as  well  as  the  principal  part  of  the  town,  went 
with  the  part  set  off  to  Pawtucket.  Hence  the  history  of  North  Provi- 
dence as  it  exists  to-day  is  of  recent  origin,  and  may  be  briefly  told. 


182  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  deputies  or  representatives  from  North  Providence  to  the 
general  assembly  since  1793  have  been  as  follows,  without  specifying 
the  particular  term  of  each  year  in  which  the  persons  named  served, 
as  in  early  years  different  men  were  elected  for  the  different  terms  of 
the  legislature:  1793,  Edward  Smith,  Jeremiah  Sayles;  1794,  Smith, 
Sayles,  Stephen  Jenckes,  Jr.;  1795,  Smith,  Jenckes,  Ezekiel  Whipple; 
1796,  Whipple  and  Jenckes;  1797,  Whipple  and  Jenckes;  1798,  Whip- 
ple and  Jenckes;  1799,  Whipple,  Jenckes,  Jonathan  Treadwell,  Stephen 
Abbott;  1800,  Jonathan  Treadwell  and  Stephen  Abbott;  1801,  Edward 
Smith,  Stephen  Jenckes,  Jonathan  Treadwell  and  Hope  Angell;  1802, 
Treadwell  and  Angell  and  Stephen  Olney;  1803,  Treadwell  and  Olney; 
1804,  Treadwell  and  Olney  and  Abraham  Wilkinson;  1805,  Olney  and 
Wilkinson;  1806,  the  same;  1807  to  1815,  inclusive,  the  same;  1816, 
Olney  and  Wilkinson  and  Samuel  Greene;  1817  and  1818,  Olney  and 
Greene;  1819,  Olney  and  Greene  and  Richard  Anthony;  1820,  Greene 
and  Anthony;  1821,  the  same;  1822,  Anthony,  Barney  Merry,  Lemuel 
Angell;  1823,  Anthony,  Merry,  Angell,  Lyndon  Jenckes;  1824,  Cyrus 
Whipple  and  Edward  Randall;  1825,  William  Chaffee  and  Edward 
Randall;  1826,  the  same;  1827,  William  Chaffee,  William  Harris, 
Thomas  Whipple  and  Barney  Merry;  1828,  Merry,  Chaffee  and  Whip- 
ple; 1829,  William  Chaffee,  Benjamin  Fessenden  Richard  Brown  and 
Nathan  A.  Brown;  1830,  Richard  Brown  and  Nathan  A.  Brown;  1831, 
the  same  and  Olney  Whipple;  1832,  Richard  Brown,  Olney  Whipple, 
William  Chaffee  and  Otis  Tiffany;  1833,  Richard  Brown,  Otis  Tiffany, 
Stephen  Randall,  Jr.,  John  H.  Weeden,  Stephen  Whipple  and  Eph- 
raim  Miller;  ]834,  Stephen  Randall,  Jr.,  John  H.  Weeden  and  Nathan 

A.  Brown;  1835,  Randall  and  Brown;  1836  to  1838,  the  same;  1839, 
the  same,  and  Edward  S.  Wilkinson;  1840  and  1841,  Stephen  Ran- 
dall, Jr.,  and  Edward  S.  Wilkinson;  1842,  the  same  and  Olney  Whip- 
ple; 1843,  Stephen  Randall,  Jr.,  and  Olney  Whipple;  under  new 
constitution,  which  makes  the  year  begin  with  May  session,  1843, 
Joseph  T,  Sisson,  James  Angell  and  Adams  Park;  1844,  the 
same;  1845,  Thomas  Davis,  Jerome  B.  Anthony  and  James  Angell: 
1846,  Thomas  Davis,  John  H.  Weeden,  and  Enoch  Brown;  1847,  Lem- 
uel Angell,  John  S.  Despau,  and  Enoch  Brown;  1848,  John  H.  Wee- 
den, Thomas  Davis,  and  Jesse  S.  Tourtellot;  1849,  Joseph  T.  Sisson, 
Thomas  Davis,  Jesse  S.  Tourtellot;  1850,  Thomas  Davis,  Joseph  T. 
Sisson,  Zelotes  Wetherell;  1851,  Davis,  Wetherell,  Edwin  Harris, 
Joseph  B.  Stone;  1852,  Davis,  Wetherell,  John  F.  Smith,  and  Joseph 

B.  vStone;  1853,  John  Tucker,  William  E.  Dodge,  Enoch  Brown;  1854, 
John  H.  Weeden,  vStephen  Olney,  Gardner  Reckard,  Jonathan  C. 
Kenyon,  Lucius  Damon;  1855,  Lewis  Fairbrother,  Benjamin  T.  Whit- 
man, Obadiah  Brown:  1856,  Fairbrother,  Brown,  Stephen  B.  Swan, 
James  L.  Wheaton;  1857,  Obadiah  Brown,  Philip  B.  Stiness,  Stephen 
B.  Swan,  James  L.  Wheaton;  1858,  Lemuel  M.  E.  Stone,  John  B.  Hart- 
well,  Thomas  P.  King,  Abial  Sampson;  1859,  the  same;  1860,  William 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  183 

M.  Bailey,  Lucius  B.  Darling,  Sumner  Fifield,  Christopher  Holden; 
1861,  Jerome  B.  Anthony,  Charles  A.  Boyd,  Lucius  B.  Darling,  Chris- 
topher Holden,  Jacob  Symonds;  1862,  the  same;  1863,  William  M. 
Bailey,  James  Davis,  Joseph  Cartland,  Hiram  H.  Thomas,  James  C. 
Collins;  1864,  Lemuel  M.  E.  Stone,  Albert  W.  Carpenter,  Herbert  E. 
Dodge,  Jesse  Metcalf,  Ralph  P.  Devereux;  1865,  Thomas  Davis,  Joseph 
E.  Despeau,  Amasa  M.  Eaton,  Charles  E.  Hall,  Pardon  Jenckes;  1866, 
Benjamin  F.  Carpenter,  James  Davis,  Charles  E.  Hall,  John  Morris, 
James  Millar;  1867,  Benjamin  F.  Carpenter,  James  Davis,  Joseph  F. 
Brown,  William  T.  Adams,  James  C.  Collins;  1868,  William  T.  Adams, 
Olney  Arnold,  William  R.  Walker,  Joseph  F.  Brown,  James  C.  Collins; 
1869,  William  R.  Walker,  William  T.  Adams,  William  W.  Blodgett, 
James  C.  Collins,  Joseph  F.  Brown;  1870,  Joseph  F.  Brown,  William 
W.  Blodgett,  Charles  A.  Boyd,  Benjamin  G.  Perkins,  Charles  E.  Gor- 
man; 1871,  Charles  A.  Boyd,  Ansel  D.  Nickerson,  Herbert  E.  Dodge, 
Heber  LeFavour,  Cyril  S.  Carpenter;  1872,  Henry  Armington,  Mas- 
sena  P.  Bacon,  James  C.  Collins,  Amasa  M.  Eaton,  Jesse  Metcalf;  1873, 
William  T.  Adams,  MassenaP.  Bacon,  Charles  E.  Chickering,  Herbert 
E.  Dodge,  Amasa  M.  Eaton,  Charles  E.  Hall,  John  L.  Ross;  1874,  Mas- 
sena  P.  Bacon,  Charles  E.  Chickering,  William  R.  Walker,  William 
T.  Adams,  Charles  E.  Hall,  Herbert  E.  Dodge,  Amasa  M.  Eaton;  1875, 
Benjamin  Sweet;  1876,  the  same;  1877-8,  James  C.  Collins;  1879, 
Olney  W.  Randall;  1880,  Lemuel  M.  E.  Stone;  1881,  the  same;  1882, 
Jame's  C.  Collins;  1883,  George  A.  Fenner;  1884,  James  C.Collins;  1885, 
Albert  L.  Andrews;  1886,  Charles  H.  Cozzens;  1887,  the  same;  1888, 
Gardner  G.  Clark. 

Under  the  constitution  the  following  have  represented  North  Pro- 
vidence as  senators  in  the  state  legislature:  Levi  C.  Eaton,  1843-5; 
John  H.  Weeden,  1845-6;  Pardon  P.  Jillson,  1846-8;  Lemuel  Angell, 
1848-50;  Stephen  Whipple,  1850-1;  Caleb  V.  Waterman,  1851-3;  Charles 
S.  Bradley,  1853-4;  Charles  E.  Swan,  1854-5;  Jonathan  C.  Kenyon, 
1855-7;  Lewis  Fairbrother,  1857-61;  Andrew  Jenckes,  1861-3;  William 
Grosvenor,  1863-4;  Lewis  Fairbrother,  1864-5;  Olney  Arnold,  1865-6; 
William  Grosvenor,  1866-8;  George  H.  Corliss,  1868-71;  Olney  Arnold, 
1871-2;  Charles  A.  Boyd,  1872-3;  Obadiah  Brown,  1873-4;  Daniel  W. 
Lyman,  1875;  William  H.  Angell,  1876-8;  Daniel  W.  Lyman,  1879-80; 
Lewis  S.  Woodward,  1881-2;  Daniel  W.  Lyman,  1883;  Ira  Olney, 
1884-7;  Andrew  J.  Wilcox,  1888. 

The  first  town  meeting  of  North  Providence  as  now  constituted 
was  held  June  1st,  1874.  The  town  council  since  that  time  has  been 
composed  from  year  to  year  as  follows:  1874,  Staunton  Belden,  Charles 
P.  Walker,  Edwin  S.  Thurston,  George  W.  Angell,  Henry  R.  Hill; 
1875,  William  H.  Wright,  Philip  A.  Sweet,  2d,  Albert  L.  Andrews, 
Henry  R.  Hill,  Jeremiah  S.  Olney;  1876,  William  W.  Wright,  Albert 
L.  Andrews,  Jeremiah  S.  Olney,  Philip  A.  Sweet,  2d,  John  H.  Hutch- 
inson; 1877,  Henry  R.  Hill,  Lemuel  M.  E.  Stone,  Albert  L.  Andrews, 


184  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Henry  D.  Olney,  Frederick  M.  Aldrich;  1878,  Martin  K.  Cowing, 
Benjamin  Sweet,  Ira  Hawkins,  Jr.,  Philip  A.  Sweet,  William  W.  Weld; 
1879,  William  W.  Weld,  Benjamin  Sweet,  Ira  Olney,  Philip  A.  Sweet, 
Louis  B.  Olney;  1880,  William  W.  Weld,  Benjamin  Sweet,  Ira  Olney, 
Philip  A.  Sweet,  Louis  B.  Olney;  1881,  William  W.  Weld,  Benjamin 
Sweet,  Ira  Olney,  Philip  A.  Sweet,  Olney  W.  Randall;  1882,  William 
W.  Weld,  Benjamin  Sweet,  Ira  Olney,  George  A.  Fenner,  Oren  T.  An- 
gell;  1883,  George  A.  Fenner,  Benjamin  Sweet,  Ira  Olney,  Henry  R. 
Hill,  Martin  W.  Thurber;  1884,  George  W.  Gould,  Benjamin  Sweet, 
Emor  B.  Whipple,  Martin  W.  Thurber,  Henry  H.  Handy;  1885,  George 
W.  Gould,  William  A.  Sweet,  Emor  B.  Whipple,  Martin  W.  Thurber, 
Henry  H.  Handy;  1886,  Albert  L.  Andrews,  William  A.  Sweet,  Walter 
S.  Seamans,  Henry  Mann,  Myron  H.  Hawkins;  1887,  Benjamin  Sweet, 
Charles  E.  Hall,  Jonathan  G.  Boss,  Albert  T.  Mansfield,  Andrew  J. 
Wilcox;  1888,  Benjamin  Sweet,  Charles  E.  Hall,  Jonathan  G.  Boss, 
Charles  A.  Towne,  James  A.  Burns;  1889,  Charles  A.  Towne,  Benja- 
min Sweet,  Ira  Olney,  Jonathan  G.  Boss,  James  A.  Burns. 

The  office  of  town  clerk  has  been  held  by  the  following:  George 
Eddy,  1874-5;  Thomas  H.  Angell,1880  to  the  present  time.  The  office 
of  treasurer  has  been  held  by  the  following:  William  H.  Angell,  1874- 
84;  Frank  C.  Angell,  1885  to  the  present  time. 

The  town  hall,  a  handsome  two  story  frame  building,  standing  in 
Centredale,  was  built  in  1880.  It  contains  four  cells  for  the  detention 
of  prisoners,  in  the  basement,  the  town  clerk's  offices  on  the  main 
floor,  and  a  convenient  assembly  room  on  the  second  floor. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  fact  that  the  town  is  intersected 
by  two  principal  thoroughfares,  the  Mineral  Spring  and  the  Douglass 
Turnpikes.  The  former  runs  east  and  west  through  the  town,  and 
was  chartered  in  1826,  as  a  branch  of  the  Smithfield  and  Glocester 
Turnpike  Company's  road.  About  two  years  later  it  was  set  off  as 
the  Mineral  Spring  Turnpike,  and  owned  by  Warren  Bacheldor.  It 
was  five  miles  long,  extending  from  Centredale  to  Pawtucket.  A  toll- 
gate  was  established,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Douglass  'Pike,  by  the 
house  of  Nicholas  White,  which  was  built  in  1831.  Douglass  Turn- 
pike was  chartered  in  1806,  and  runs  north  and  south  across  the  town. 
It  had  a  gate  upop  it  at  the  crossing  of  the  Mineral  Spring  'Pike. 
James  Smith  was  keeper  of  both  gates  about  the  year  1830.  Edward 
P.  Knowles,  once  mayor  of  Providence,  came  into  possession  of  the 
Mineral  Spring  'Pike.  He  sold  it  to  Clark  and  Gideon  Reynolds. 
The  town  bought  it,  for  four  hundred  dollars,  and  it  became  a  public 
highway  about  1867.  Besides  these  roads  an  extension  of  Lexington 
street,  in  Providence,  has  been  cut  through  the  neighborhood  of 
Woodville  in  1888-9.  The  Louisquisset  Turnpike  crosses  from  north 
to  south,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  taking  the  name  of  Charles 
street  after  it  enters  the  city. 

The  settlement  at  Woodville  is  quite  an  ancient  one.     The  Browns 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  185 

and  Whipples  were  prominent  old-time  families  and  used  to  own  large 
farms  here.  The  farm  of  Captain  Daniel  Smith,  who  died  in  1864, 
consisted  of  1,000  to  1,200  acres  in  this  neighborhood.  It  has  since 
been  divided  among  many  heirs.  The  Wanskuck  river  runs  down 
through  this  hamlet,  feeding  the  Geneva  Mills,  which  are  located  on 
the  line  between  the  town  and  Providence,  the  line  passing  through 
the  brick  mill.  This  hamlet  contains  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  school 
house,  besides  the  ruins  of  a  bleachery  and  dye  works,  and  a  silent 
workshop  where  various  business  has  been  done.  A  farmers'  chapel 
in  the  north  part  of  the  settlement  was  built  about  1880.  It  has  no 
regular  minister,  but  is  supplied  by  students  from  the  University.  A 
Sunday  school  was  organized  in  18S1,  which  now  numbers  53 
members. 

The  manufacturing  interest  of  this  hamlet  was  started  by  John  B. 
Wood,  in  1846.  He  established  a  manufactory  of  cocoanut  dippers. 
The  building  now  stands  unoccupied  just  west  of  the  bridge,  and  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Mineral  vSpring  road.  A  larger  establishment 
was  started  by  Clark  and  Gideon  Reynolds  about  1852,  as  a  cotton  and 
twine  mill.  At  a  later  date  Richard,  James  and  Michael  Parrington, 
three  brothers,  took  possession  and  ran  it  as  a  bleachery.  Bridge  & 
Parrington  then  ran  it  awhile,  when  the  latter  withdrew  and  George 
Bridge  ran  it  alone.  He  sold  out  to  Dempsey  Brothers,  who  carried 
it  on  as  a  bleaching  and  dyeing  establishment  until  April,  1882,  when 
it  was  burned  down.  While  in  operation  it  employed  about  100  hands, 
and  used  steam  power.     The  ruins  still  lie  unimproved. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town  lies  the  little  factory  village 
of  Graystone,  composed  of  a  single  factory,  deriving  power  from  the 
Woonasquatucket,  and  ten  or  twelve  houses.  The  factory  has  had  a 
varied  history,  but  is  now  unemployed,  though  it  is  supplied  with  the 
appliances  for  carrying  on  appropriate  work.  The  site  was  once 
occupied  by  a  family  of  Campbells  as  a  paper  mill.  A  cotton  factory 
was  started  by  the  Anthony  family  about  50  years  ago.  Its  business 
life  has  been  fluctuating.  About  ten  years  since  its  energies  were 
turned  to  the  manufacture  of  shoddy,  in  which  line  of  work  it  was 
last  engaged.  It  is  owned  by  Messrs.  James  Campbell  &  Son,  and  the 
machinery,  with  the  real  estate  connected  with  it,  have  an  assessed 
valuation  of  $14,000.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  sufficient  to  employ 
about  12  or  15  hands.  The  paper  mill  was  run  by  another  family  of 
Campbells,  different  from  the  present  owners. 

One  mile  lower  down  the  river  we  find  the  more  important  factory 
village  and  business  center  of  Centredale.  The  Angells  were  a 
prominent  family  in  the  settlement  of  this  locality,  and  still  occupy  a 
conspicuous  position  in  the  society.  The  first  house  built  here  i^  still 
standing,  being  something  more  than  100  years  old.  Nathaniel  and 
Halsey  Angell  are  old  residents  and  representatives  of  the  Angell 
family  in  this  locality.     Some    estimate    of   the   prominence  of  the 


186  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Angell  family  in  this  town  may  be  formed  from  the  fact  that  in  the 
assessment  of  the  town  the  family  name  is  far  ahead  of  that  of  any 
other,  representing  property,  mostly  real  estate,  to  the  aggregate 
value  as  assessed,  amounting  to  $91 ,340. 

The  village  of  Centredale  contains  a  hotel,  one  or  two  stores,  a 
public  library,  the  town  hall,  a  handsome  public  school  building, 
several  mechanic  shops,  a  factory  and  a  church.  The  church  is  not 
now  connected  with  any  society.  It  was  once  used  by  Baptists,  and 
again  by  Universalists,  and  perhaps  other  denominations  have  occu- 
pied it  at  times,  but  all  failing  to  use  it  permanently  it  reverted  to  the 
former  owners  and  is  now  owned  by  James  Halsey  Angell.  It  is 
used  as  a  public  hall,  for  the  accommodation  of  occasional  gatherings. 
It  was  at  one  time  called  a  Free-will  Baptist  church.  It  is  valued  at 
$1,000  on  the  town  assessment,  and  being  private  property,  is  taxed. 
The  village  school  is  a  handsome  modern  antique  structure,  and  was 
built  in  1886.  It  occupies  a  beautiful  site,  on  the  crown  of  a  graceful 
elevation,  embowered  in  foliage,  and  is  provided  with  a  rich  toned 
bell  in  its  tower. 

The  Centredale  Mill  is  an  old  stone  structure,  built  about  50  years 
ago  or  more.  It  was  formerly  owned  by  the  Anthonys,  but  for  20 
years  back  was  owned  by  Amos  N.  Beckwith,  and  more  recently  by 
the  Dyerville  Manufacturing  Company,  its  present  owners.  The 
assessed  valuation  of  its  real  estate,  including  houses  connected  with 
it  or  belonging  to  the  company,  was  $63,000.  The  mill  is  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods.  The  mills  were  greatly  damaged 
by  a  destructive  fire  in  September,  1889.  This  caused  a  suspension 
of  operations  for  the  present.  The  upper  floor  and  roof  were  burned 
out.  The  mills  comprise  two  buildings;  one  about  40  by  125  feet, 
two  stories  high,  and  the  other  144  by  40  feet,  three  stories  high. 
The  capacity  of  the  mills  when  in  operation  is  sufficient  to  employ  80 
to  100  hands.  They  are  run  in  connection  with  the  mxills  of  the  com- 
pany located  at  Dyerville,  a  few  miles  below  and  within  Providence 
city  limits.     The  class  of  goods  made  here  comprises  cotton  yarns. 

The  Union  Library  was  chartered  in  January,  1870,  as  a  stock 
company  enterprise.  The  library  was  opened  to  the  use  of  the  pub- 
lic July  4th  of  that  year.  The  project  had  been  set  on  foot  during 
the  5'-ear  1869,  and  money  had  been  raised  by  subscriptions  and  by  a 
fair.  A  building  was  erected  in  the  early  part  of  1870,  costing  $800. 
The  library  was  started  with  1,000  to  1,200  volumes,  and  now  contains 
over  2,000  volumes.  Mr.  Frank  C.  Angell  has  been  its  librarian  from 
the  start  to  the  present  time,  excepting  about  a  year  and  a  half.  The 
library  room  is  handsomely  furnished  with  carpet,  chairs,  tables  and 
pictures.  It  is  open  on  Tuesday  and  Friday  evenings,  and  is  well 
patronized.  From  80  to  100  volumes  in  an  evening  is  a  common 
number  to  be  let  out. 

Roger  Williams  Lodge,  No.  32,  F.  &  A.  M.,  began  work  under  a 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  187 

dispensation  January  27th,  1876,  after  a  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 
A  charter  was  granted  May  15th,  1876.  The  following  members  were 
named  in  the  charter:  Thomas  Wilmarth,  Alexander  Wilmarth  Har- 
rington, Charles  P.  Walker,  James  Halsey  Angell,  Frank  C.  Angell, 
James  C.  Collins,  Daniel  6.  Angell,  Rufns  W.  Harris,  Amasa  J. 
Smith,  LeRoy  Gavit  Weston,  William  Andrews,  Ansel  S.  Angell.  Cor- 
nelius M.  Capron,  George  F.  Angell,  John  Reed,  Almanzo  S.  Stone, 
James  V.  Dawley,  Jr.,  John  R.  Cozzens,  William  F.  Allison,  George 
F.  Stollard,  George  E.  Olney,  William  Rowley,  Jr.,  Oliver  P.  Sherman, 
Richard  W.  Greatorex,  Charles  E.  Nichols,  George  E.  Eddy,  Charles 
H.  Cozzens,  George  W.  Capron,  Henry  C.  Arnold,  George  W.  Stone, 
Henry  R.  Hill,  George  W.  Dorrance,  Lilley  B.  Mowry  and  Mial  S.  Al- 
drich.  The  first  officers  under  the  charter  were:  Thomas  Wilmarth, 
W.  M.;  Alexander  W.  Harrington,  S.  W.;  Charles  P.  Walker,  J.  W.; 
James  Halsey  Angell,  treasurer ;  Frank  C.  Angell,  S. ;  Rufus  W. 
Harris,  S.  D.;  A.  Jarvis,  J.  D.;  George  F.  Angell,  S.  S.;  William  F. 
Allison,  J.  S.;  James  V.  Dawley,  Jr.,  M.;  George  E.  Olney,  C;  Daniel 
O.  Angell,  S.;  Ansel  S.  Angell,  T.  The  Lodge  at  first  occupied  a 
room  opposite  the  railroad  station,  but  about  1880  moved  into  its  pres- 
ent very  attractive  quarters.  Here  it  has  a  very  nicely  furnished 
room  on  the  second  floor  of  Angell's  Block.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  Lodge  is  44.  A  pedestal  on  the  worthy  master's  plat- 
form was  made  from  a  piece  of  the  rock  on  which  Roger  Williams 
landed,  on  the  historic  occasion  of  his  first  arrival  on  the  site  of  Prov- 
idence. This  stone  was  secured  by  opportune  efforts  of  Mr.  Frank 
C.  Angell,  and  having  had  it  dressed  in  proper  shape  he  presented  it 
to  the  Lodge.  It  stands  about  three  feet  high.  The  Lodge  also  has 
a  very  fine  silk  banner,  worth  about  $100,  which  was  presented  by 
ladies  and  other  friends  of  the  Lodge. 

Allendale,  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Zachariah  Allen,  one  of  the 
prominent  and  enterprising  men  of  this  part  of  the  town  in  the  early 
years  of  the  century,  lies  on  the  river  a  mile  below  Centredale.  It 
contains  a  Baptist  church  and  the  mills  and  store  of  the  Allendale 
Manufacturing  Company.  The  village  is  mainly  owned  and  sup- 
ported by  the  mill  company.  Their  employees  are  Italians,  Canadi- 
ans and  Americans.  The  mills,  houses,  and  other  real  estate  of  the 
Allendale  Company  are  valued  by  the  town  officials  at  $78,000,  and 
their  machinery  in  the  mills  at  $85,000.  The  mill  was  built  by  Zach- 
ariah Allen  in  1822.  It  is  a  substantial  stone  building.  It  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  William  D.  Ely,  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Allen.  He 
associated  others  with  himself  as  the  Allendale  Company,  of  which 
he  is  yet  the  treasurer  and  chief  proprietor.  The  mills  employ  about 
200  hand^.  Important  additions  have  been  made  to  the  original  mill. 
Both  steam  and  water  power  are  used.  The  principal  work  of  the 
mill  is  the  manufacture  of  wide  cotton  sheetings.  About  12,000  spin- 
dles and  300  looms  are  kept  running.     Mr.  George  W.  Gould  is  the 


188  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

agent  of  the  company,  at  54  North  Main  street,  Providence.  The 
company  have  a  store  near  the  mill,  where  they  supply  their  employees 
and  others  with  provisions,  groceries  and  general  goods.  The  river 
has  a  fall  of  about  eight  feet  at  Centredale,  about  the  same  or  more 
here,  and  about  ten  feet  at  Lymansville.  The  products  of  these  man- 
ufacturing villages,  as  well  as  the  general  communication  of  the  peo- 
ple, is  afforded  transportation  facilities  by  means  of  the  Providence 
&  Springfield  railroad,  which  runs  along  the  west  bank  of  the  river, 
just  outside  the  limits  of  this  town. 

A  Baptist  church  was  built  at  Allendale  in  1847.  The  following 
description  of  it  was  given  in  the  report  of  Reverend  Henry  Jackson, 
in  his  account  of  the  churches  of  Rhode  Island  to  the  Baptist  State 
Convention  November  8th,  1853.  "  The  Allendale  Baptist  church  was 
built  in  1847,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  southwest  from  the  Fruit 
Hill  house.  It  is  situated  in  the  village  of  Zachariah  Allen,  Esq.,  a 
gentleman  of  high  moral  feeling,  who  contributes  liberally  towards 
the  support  of  the  church.  The  building  measures  22  by  40  feet,  has 
R  tower,  bell,  vestry,  and  27  pews,  seats  250,  and  is  estimated  at  $1,800. 
The  church  report  their  congregation  at  300,  with  an  average  of  150. 
They  sustain  the  ministry  by  subscription.  Julius  E.  Johnson,  an 
unordained  minister,  has  supplied  their  pulpit  on  the  Sabbath  for  two 
years.  The  deacon  is  Samuel  C.  Harrington.  The  population  in  the 
village  is  300. 

If  the  foregoing  report  is  correct,  and  we  have  no  means  of 
impeaching  it,  neither  the  village  nor  the  church  would  seem  to  have 
made  much  progress  in  the  last  40  years.  The  village  population  can 
hardly  exceed  the  estimate  given  then,  nor  will  the  average  congre- 
gations surpass  the  numbers  represented.  The  church  building  is  a 
neat  Gothic  stone  structure.  The  church  was  constituted  in  1850.  Its 
existence  in  recent  years  has  been  rather  uneventful,  no  settled  pastor 
having  been  installed  for  several  years,  and  but  little  change  taking 
place  in  the  membership.  The  pulpit  is  supplied  by  students  from 
Brown  University.  Prayer  meetings  and  Sunday  school,  however, 
are  reported  as  being  well  sustained.  The  present  membership  is  56. 
Mr.  George  W.  Thorpe  is  the  church  clerk.  The  Sunday  school  con- 
nected with  this  church  was  established  in  1847.  .  It  now  numbers  97. 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Lawton  has  been  superintendent  since  1877.  It  has 
an  average  attendance  of  54,  and  its  library  contains  250  volumes.  A 
mission  was  established  by  this  church  in  the  neighboring  town  of 
Johnston,  in  1877,  in  vSchool  District  No.  6,  where  it  was  held  in  the 
school  house.  A  new  chapel  was  built  there  in  1889.  The  Sunday 
school  organized  there  in  1878,  now  numbers  41.  Mr.  George  W. 
Thorpe  is  its  superintendent,  having  held  that  office  since  1^82. 

Zachariah  Allen  Lodge,  No.  1,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  organized  in  June, 
1888.  It  had  42  charter  members.  Its  first  officers  were:  George  W. 
Thorpe,  C.  T.;  Mrs.  Thomas  P.  Bassett,  V.  T.;  Charles  H.  Lawton,  T.; 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  189 

George  L.  Sutton,  C;  Charles  F.  Dawley,  S.;  Charles  S.  Cahone,  P.  C. 
T.;  Daniel  G.  Sunderland,  L.  D.;  Edwin  S.  Joslin,  M.;  Miss  Mabel 
Olney,  D.  M.;  John  Clarke,  G.;  Thomas  P.  Bassett,  F.  S.  The  office  of 
C.  T.  has  been  held  by  George  W.  Thorpe,  June  to  November,  1888; 
Thomas  P.  Bassett,  to  May,  1889;  George  W.  Thorpe,  to  November, 
1889.  The  Lodge  numbers  66  members.  It  meets  in  the  Baptist 
church,  on  Friday  evenings. 

The  factory  village  of  Lymansville  lies  in  the  extreme  southwest 
corner  of  the  town.  The  river  here  has  a  fall  of  about  ten  feet,  and 
affords  considerable  power.  The  village  presents  many  homes  of 
mill  operatives  that  are  models  of  neatness  and  examples  of  thrifty 
appearance  worthy  of  commendation.  They  are  ranged  along  the 
single  main  street  of  the  village,  which  lies  parallel  with  the  river, 
and  a  few  are  upon  side  streets  newly  laid  out,  A  number  of  houses 
have  been  recently  built.  The  village  has  a  pleasant  and  attractive 
appearance.  It  is  almost  entirely  sustained  by  the  manufacturing 
enterprise  of  the  Lymansville  Company.  This  enterprise  was  founded 
by  the  late  Daniel  W.  Lyman,  who  formerly  owned  all  the  land  in  the 
vicinity,  the  mills  and  many  houses.  His  estate  also  covers  property 
at  Fruit  Hill  and  elsewhere,  and  personal  property,  altogether  valued 
at  about  $50,000,  outside  of  the  factory  estate.  The  assessed  valuation 
of  the  factory  and  its  appurtenances  is  about  $80,000.  The  present 
company  assumed  control  of  the  mill  in  1884.  The  buildings  are  in 
the  form  of  a  cross,  being  80  to  100  feet  wide,  and  having  a  length  of 
370  feet  in  one  direction  and  312  feet  in  the  transverse.  They  are 
three  stories  high,  and  mainly  built  of  brick.  Mr.  A.  Albert  Sack  is 
the  agent  and  treasurer,  having  an  office  in  the  city.  The  goods 
manufactured  are  worsteds  and  yarns,  the  products  amounting  to 
$900,000  to  $1,000,000  in  value  per  annum.  About  400  hands  are 
employed.  This  is  said  to  be  the  only  establishment  in  the  country 
that  sells  and  delivers  goods  direct  from  the  factory  to  the  consumer. 
They  have  selling  offices  where  sales  by  samples  are  effected,  in  New 
York,  Boston  and  Chicago.  The  goods,  however,  are  kept  in  store  at 
the  works,  and  shipped  thence  direct  to  purchasers,  who  are  mainly 
manufacturing  consumers.  Steam  power  to  the  extent  of  about  600 
horse,  is  used  in  addition  to  the  water  power  at  hand.  Goods  are 
manufactured  complete,  from  the  raw  wool  to  the  cloth,  finished  and 
dyed.  Among  the  operatives  may  be  found  different  nationalities, 
Americans,  however,  predominating.  The  factory  buildings  contain 
about  117,000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  The  water  privilege  owned 
by  the  company  affords  about  250  horse  power.  The  stock  capital  of 
the  company  is  $500,000.  George  L.  Davis  is  its  president.  The  plant 
covers  160  acres.  The  dwellings  of  the  operatives  are  well  lighted, 
modern  buildings.  The  company  owns  some,  but  they  encourage 
the  operatives  to  build  for  themselves,  believing  that  they  thus  secure 
a  more  stable  and  thrifty  class  of  people.    Over  100  houses  have  been 


190  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

built  by  operatives  within  the  last  four  years,  while  during  the  same 
time  the  company  has  built  but  two. 

A  Roman  Catholic  church,  a  low,  wooden  structure,  stands  in  the 
north  part  of  the  settlement.  It  is  connected  with  the  church  at 
Manton,  within  the  city  limits.  It  is  in  size  about  54  by  50  feet,  with 
posts  about  10  feet  high.  It  has  afforded  a  meeting  place  for  the 
members  and  adherents  of  that  sect  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century, 
but  probably  on  the  establishment  of  religious  services  in  the  new 
church  at  Manton  the  use  of  this  building  will  be  suspended. 

In  regard  to  Fruit  Hill  and  its  church,  a  writer  in  1853  said  :  "  The 
Fruit  Hill  house  measures  30  by  60  feet.  It  was  built  in  1819,  seats 
300,  and  is  valued  at  $2,000.  It  has  60  pews,  with  a  congregation  of 
150,  averaging  80.  Reverend  John  C.  Welch,  of  Providence,  a  minister 
long  and  favorably  known  in  Rhode  Island  as  a  pastor,  supplies  their 
pulpit ;  his  labor  is  rewarded  with  tokens  of  good.  This  church 
would  probably  increase  their  usefulness  by  the  erection  of  a  new 
house.  The  lot  is  large  and  finely  situated,  surrounded  by  the  Fruit 
Hill  village.  A  large  agricultural  district  and  several  manufacturing 
interests  furnish  them  with  sufficient  encouragement  for  such  an 
enterprise.  The  Fruit  Hill  Classical  School,  taught  by  Stanton 
Belden,  Esq.,  is  also  here.  Mr.  Belden's  reputation  as  a  teacher  has 
ever  stood  high,  and  the  institution  is  worthy  of  a  liberal  patronage." 
This  house  stood  about  a  mile  northeast  from  Allendale.  The  church 
was  constituted  in  1818.  It  was  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  in 
1853  had  46  members,  and  paid  its  minister  a  salary  of  $260.  But  it 
afterward  declined,  and  its  membership  was  gradually  absorbed  by 
the  Allendale  church  and  by  a  Union  church  which  later  sprung  up 
here.  The  old  meeting  house  was  torn  down  several  years  ago. 
The  Union  church  has  a  membership  of  about  50,  but  no  regular 
preaching  services  are  maintained.     A  Sunday  school  is  kept  up. 

The  locality  of  Fruit  Hill  has  suffered  a  decline,  and  is  less  in 
point  of  business  enterprise  and  importance  than  ii  was  a  generation 
past.  It  is  now  only  a  farming  neighborhood,  having  no  stores  or 
other  business.  A  post  office  was  at  one  time  located  there,  but  it  was 
moved  to  Centredale.  The  high  service  reservoir  for  the  water  sup- 
ply of  the  city  is  located  here.  It  is  now  being  constructed,  and 
nearly  completed.  The  city  pays  this  town  $400  a  year  as  a  rental 
for  the  use  of  the  reservoir,  the  rent  to  begin  as  soon  as  the  work  is 
completed  and  the  water  let  on. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  in  the  town  of  North  Provi- 
dence amounts  to  $959,500;  the  valuation  of  personal  property  is 
$221,500.  The  heaviest  tax  payers  of  the  town,  those  whose  tax 
amounts  to  $100  or  more,  are  as  follows:  The  Allendale  Company, 
Edwin  G.  Angell,  James  Halsey  Angell,  Byron  Angell,  James  Camp- 
bell &  Son,  Martin  K.  Cowing,  Mary  H.  Cushing,  Dyerville  Manu- 
facturing Company,  Geneva  Worsted  Mills,  Stephen  M.  Greene,  by 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  191 

wife,  Ara  Hawkins,  Heaton  &  Cowing  Milling  Company,  Isaac  M. 
Lincoln  and  wife,  Daniel  W.  Lyman  estate,  The  Lymansville  Company, 
Julia  A.  Miner,  Mrs.  L.  D.  Newton,  Stephen  B.  Olney,  Robert  Pettis! 
and  the  Sun  Bleaching,  Dyeing  and  Calendering  Company. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Byron  Angell  is  a  son  of  William  H.,  he  a  son  of  William  W.,  and 
he  a  son  of  William  Angell.  His  mother  was  Orra  Ide.  He  was  born 
in  North  Providence  in  1856,  and  married  Emily,  daughter  of  William 
Ide  of  Glocester,  in  1882.  They  have  one  son  and  two  daughters.  He 
is  a  farmer  and  owns  and  occupies  the  farm  settled  by  William  Angell, 
his  great-grandfather.  William  H.  Angell  was  trial  justice  for 
North  Providence  for  twenty  years,  and  was  in  the  senate,  represent- 
ing North  Providence. 

Frank  C.  Angell,  born  in  1845  in  North  Providence,  is  a  son  of 
James  Halsey  Angell,  born  1822,  and  vSarah  A.  Angell,  born  1824. 
His  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  both  named  James,  and 
were  descendants  of  Thomas  Angell,  who  came  from  England  in 
Roger  Williams'  time.  In  1865,  Frank  C.  learned  harness  making, 
and  in  1877  engaged  in  that  business  for  himself  at  Centredale,  which 
he  still  continues.  In  February  of  1885  he  was  appointed  town 
treasurer  in  place  of  William  x\ngell,  deceased,  and  in  June  of  that 
year  -\yas  elected  to  that  office,  and  was  re-elected  in  1886,  1887,  1888 
and  1889.  He  is  librarian  of  the  Union  Free  Library  of  Centredale, 
having  filled  that  position,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  since  it 
was  established.  He  has  also  been  secretary  of  Roger  Williams 
Lodge,  No.  32,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Centredale,  since  its  organization  in 
1876.     His  father  has  been  the  society's  treasurer  during  this  time. 

George  W.  Angell,  born  in  North  Providence  in  1818,  is  a  son  of 
Lemuel,  he  a  son  of  Benjamin,  he  a  son  of  Stafford.  Lemuel  married 
Sally  Smith,  daughter  of  Nehemiah  Smith.  George  W.  was  married 
in  1840  to  Emily  M.  Mann,  of  New  Hampshire.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  is  living,  Thomas  W.  The  wife  died  in  1848.  He 
married  in  1849  Mary  J.  Manchester,  of  Tiverton,  who  had  three  chil- 
dren, none  living.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  several 
terms  and  held  other  town  offices.  His  father  was  elected  to  the  as- 
sembly and  senate,  several  terms  each. 

Moses  Angell,  deceased,  born  in  Johnston  in  1809,  was  a  son  of 
James  and  grandson  of  Isaac  Angell.  He  was  married  in  1886  to 
Mary  O.  Randall,  of  North  Providence.  They  had  three  children; 
one  son,  Isaac  L.,  who  died  young,  and  two  daughters,  Abbie  E.  and 
Rebecca  F.,  wife  of  Henry  W.  Bradford.  The  latter's  father  was 
Henry  W.  and  his  grandfather  Joseph  Bradford.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Whipple.  They  have  one  son,  Henry  L,  and  three 
daughters,  Carrie  A.,  Helen  M.  and  Abbie  A.  Mr.  Bradford  was  book- 
keeper in  the  Merchants  National   Bank  of  Providence  for  several 


192  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

years,  but  failing  eyesight  compelled  him  to  give  up  his  situation,  and 
he  has  since  been  living  a  retired  life.  The  family,  with  Mrs.  Brad- 
ford's mother,  occupy  the  Angell  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the 
family  for  three  generations. 

Thomas  H.  Angell,  born  in  1832  in  Providence,  is  a  son  of  William 
and  grandson  of  Fenner  Angell,  who  was  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
His  mother  was  Sydney  Smith.  He  was  married  in  1852  to  Patience 
J.,  daughter  of  John  Appleby.  They  had  nine  children;  four  are  liv- 
ing, one  son  and  three  daughters.  In  earl}'-  life  he  carried  on  the 
grocery  business  in  Providence.  He  settled  in  North  Providence  in 
1865.  He  was  elected  town  clerk  in  1880,  and  has  held  that  office  con- 
tinuously since,  also  notary  public  for  same  length  of  time,  and  collec- 
tor of  taxes  for  nine  years. 

George  T.  Batchelder  is  a  son  of  Parley  Batchelder.  His  mother 
was  Alzada  Barnes.  Parley  Batchelder  was  born  in  Barre,  Vt.,  in 
1794,  and  was  a  volunteer  from  that  town  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  set- 
tled in  Providence  county  about  1825.  George  T.  was  born  in  North 
Providence  in  1886,  and  was  married  in  1879  to  Lydia  A.  Fenner.  In 
1855  he  entered  the  store  of  Luther  Carpenter  at  Centredale,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  7th  Rhode  Island  In- 
fantry and  served  three  years;  then  returned  to  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Carpenter,  and  in  1886  purchased  the  business  and  has  carried  it  on 
since  that  time.  In  1883  he  was  elected  to  the  assembly  from  the 
town  of  Johnston.  In  1886  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Centre- 
dale.     He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Greenville. 

Henry  Beauregard,  born  in  Canada  in  1850,  is  a  son  of  Francois 
and  grandson  of  Ethiene  Beauregard,  who  came  from  France  and 
settled  in  Canada.  Henry  settled  in  Providence  in  1869,  and  for  16 
years  was  in  the  employ  of  the  American  Screw  Company.  In  1886- 
he  settled  in  North  Providence,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness. He  was  married  in  1867  to  a  Miss  Audet.  They  have  had  12 
children,  of  whom  five  sons  and  three  daughters  are  living. 

Jonathan  G.  Boss,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sally  (Austin)  Boss,  was 
born  in  Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  in  1833.  In  1858  he  married  Mary  L.  Bates, 
of  South  Kingstown.  They  have  three  daughters  living.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a  farmer.  He  settled  in  North  Providence  in  1875.  He 
was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1887,  1888  and  1889. 

Charles  E.  Corey,  son  of  Peleg  and  grandson  of  Joseph  Corey,  both 
of  North  Kingstown,  was  born  in  1819,  and  married  Mary  H.  Dawley, 
of  Exeter,  in  1841.  They  have  two  children — Mary  A.  and  James  V., 
who  served  three  years  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in  the  1st  Rhode 
Island  Cavalry.  Charles  E.  settled  in  North  Providence  in  1840,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  nine  years  spent  in  Woonsocket,  has  since  re- 
sided here.  In  early  life  he  was  employed  in  a  cotton  mill,  but  for 
the  past  20  years  has  been  a  farmer. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  193 

Martin  K.  Cowing  was  born  in  Warren,  R.  I.,  in  1807,  came  to 
Providence  county  about  1826  and  settled  in  Providence.  His  parents 
were  John  Cowing  and  Elizabeth  Kelley,  and  his  grandfather  was  also 
named  John  Cowing.  He  came  to  North  Providence  in  1836  and  en- 
gaged in  cotton  manufacturing.  He  was  married  in  1841  to  Amey, 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Phebe  Olney.  They  have  three  sons — Mar- 
cus M.,  Martin  K.  and  William  O.;  and  three  daughters — Susan  D., 
Grace  A.  L.  and  Lillie  M.  B.  Mr.  Cowing  retired  from  business 
several  years  ago.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  several 
terms. 

George  W.  Gould,  son  of  Abraham,  and  grandson  of  Ebenezer 
Gould  of  Vermont,  was  born  in  Middletown,  N.  Y.,  in  1838.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Eunice  Wakefield.  Mr.  Gould  settled  in 
North  Providence  in  1855,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Allendale 
Manufacturing  Company  as  clerk,  and  later  as  agent.  He  has  been 
secretary  of  the  company  since  1864,  and  is  at  present  secretary  and 
manager.  He  w3.s  superintendent  of  schools  of  North  Providence  for 
two  years,  and  president  of  the  town  council  for  a  like  period.  Mr. 
Gould  was  married  in  1856  to  Sarah  J.  Sweet.  They  have  one  son, 
George  A.,  and  a  daughter.  Bertha  Adelle.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Allendale  Baptist  church. 

Stephen  M.  Greene,  born  in  Scituate,  R.  I.,  in  1840,  is  a  son  of 
Stephen  A.,  he  a  son  of  Stephen,  he  a  son  of  William,  and  he  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Greene  of  Warwick.  He  was  married  in  1866  to  vSarah  W., 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  and  Susan  (Angell)  Olney.  He  was  in  the  war 
of  the  rebellion;  enlisted  June  6th,  1861,  and  w^as  discharged  June  18th, 
1864.  He  was  sergeant  in  Battery  A,  First  Regiment  of  R.  I.  Light 
Artillery,  and  was  in  all  the  prominent  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. He  is  past  master  of  Mt.  Vernon  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Providence  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  St.  John's  Com- 
mandery.  No.  1,  K.  T.,  Providence,  R.  L 

Charles  E.  Hall  is  a  son  of  George  Hall,  who  came  from  New 
Hampshire  and  settled  in  Warwick.  He  married  Freelove  Pendle- 
ton. Charles  E.  was  born  in  Warwick  in  1820,  and  was  married  in 
1845  to  Amey  S.,  daughter  of  James  Dawley  of  Exeter,  R.  I.  They 
have  one  son,  Henry  J.,  born  in  1846.  He  settled  in  North  Provi- 
dence about  1840,  and  has  been  a  farmer  and  contractor.  He  has 
been  elected  to  the  assembly  four  terms,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  town  council  several  years,  also  assessor  of  taxes,  and  overseer  of 
the  poor  one  year.     They  are  Baptists.  ^ 

Ara  Hawkins,  born  in  Glocester  in  i819,  is  a  son  of  Ara  and  Re- 
becca (Owen)  Hawkins.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Amey  Horton  of 
Glocester.  They  had  two  sons,  Everett  E.  and  Myron  H..  and  one 
daughter.  Avis  A.  The  wife  died  in  1858.  He  married  Mary  O. 
Knapp  of  Greenwich,  Conn.,  in  1860.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
town  council,  and  assessor  of  taxes.     He  is  a  Congregationalist. 

13 


194  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Rufus  W.  Harris,  born  in  North  Providence  in  1843,  is  a  son  of 
Smith  and  Margaret  M.  Harris,  grandson  of  John  Harris,  and  great- 
grandson  of  Welcome  Harris,  all  born  in  Smithfield,  R.  I.  Mr.  Rufus 
Harris  is  engaged  in  the  granite  business  at  GraniteviUe,  R.  I.  He 
has  represented  the  town  of  Johnston  four  years  as  representative. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  past  master  of  Roger 
Williams  Lodge.  He  married  in  1862  Julia  E.,  daughter  of  William 
Carey,  of  Johnston.  They  have  three  children:  Fred  R.,  born  1865; 
Dora  L.,  born  1867,  and  Edwin  M.,  born  1869. 

Henry  R.  Hill,  born  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  in  1837,  is  a  son  of  Shel- 
don and  Mercy  W.  (Randall)  Hill  of  Foster,  R.  I.  His  grandfather 
was  Jonathan  Hill,  also  of  Foster.  He  was  educated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity, class  of  1867.  He  was  married  in  1869  to  Sarah  A.,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  A.  Pray  of  Killingly,  Conn.,  who  was  an  exten- 
sive cotton  manufacturer  there.  They  have  one  daughter,  Annie  C. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  several  years,  and  has 
been  president  of  same,  and  overseer  of  the  poor  for  five  years.  He 
has  been  a  member  and  clerk  of  the  school  committee  of  the  town  of 
North  Providence  six  years.  He  was  appointed  by  the  supreme 
court  of  Rhode  Island  receiver  on  the  Vashti  W.  Angell  estate  pend- 
ing a  settlement  with  creditors,  and  had  charge  of  said  estate  about 
five  years.  This  estate  had  a  valuation  of  $250,000.  He  is  a  member 
of  Roger  Williams  Lodge,  No.  32,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Joseph  W.  Naylor  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Naylor.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Esther  Harrington.  They  came  from  England  and  settled 
in  Providence.  Joseph  W.  was  born  in  Lonsdale,  R.  L,  in  1839,  and 
was  married  in  1868  to  Susan  Noonan  of  Escoheag  Hill,  R.  L  They 
have  two  sons,  Joshua  J.  and  Amos  A.,  and  one  daughter,  Mary  M. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  14th  U.  S.  In- 
fantry, Company  H,  and  served  two  years.  He  then  entered  "the 
navy  and  served  over  two  years.  He  has  aUvays  been  a  farmer.  He 
settled  in  North  Providence  about  1875.  He  is  moderator,  and  has 
held  other  offices  in  the  town,  is  a  member  of  Eagle  Lodge,  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  of  Providence,  and  member  of  the  State  Beneficial  Association. 

Edwin  B.  Olney  was  born  in  North  Providence  in  1812.  His  father 
was  Charles  Olney,  and  his  grandfather  bore  the  same  name.  Charles 
Olney  married  Robey  Briggs  of  Johnston,  daughter  of  Peter  Briggs. 
Edwin  B.  Olney  married  Fanny  Allen  of  Woodstock,  Conn.,  daughter  of 
Captain  Consider  Allen  in  1833.  He  married  in  1854  Patience  Man- 
ton  of  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  for  his  second  wife.  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  a  carriage  manufacturer,  and  since  1840  has  been  engaged  in 
farming.  He  resides  on  the  farm  owned  by  his  grandfather,  Charles 
Olney. 

Ira  Olney,  a  farmer  of  North  Providence,  belongs  to  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  the  county.  His  ancestor,  Thomas  Olney,  was  con- 
temporary with  Roger  Williams,  and  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  195 

nence  in  the  early  history  of  the  state.  Ezra  Olney,  the  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  first  to  settle  in  what  is  now 
known  as  North  Providence.  He  located  upon  a  tract  of  land  of 
about  600  acres  in  extent,  covering  what  is  now  known  as  Fruit  Hill. 
His  son,  Cyrus  Olney,  the  father  of  Ira,  married  Patience  Mowry  in 
the  year  1814.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following  children:  Miranda, 
Sullivan,  Pamela,  Cyrus,  Edward,  Ira,  Augustus,  Jane  and  Samuel. 

Ira  Olney  was  born  on  the  homestead  place  in  North  Providence 
August  6th,  1824.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education  and 
has  remained  a  farmer  on  a  part  of  the  homestead  place,  handed  down 
to  him  from  his  grandfather.  In  1861  Mr.  Olney  was  married  to  Caro- 
line, daughter  of  Captain  Samuel  Thurber,  of  Providence,  who  was 
formerly  a  sea  captain  and  subsequently  a  custom  house  officer  in  the 
employ  of  the  government.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Olney  has  but  one 
child  living.  Miss  Carrie  Olney,  who  resides  at  home.  In  1861  Mr. 
Olney  erected  his  present  handsome  residence,  and  since  then  has 
built  a  barn  and  made  many  other  improvements.  The  land,  con- 
sisting of  80  acres,  is  very  valuable.  It  is  almost  within  the  city 
limits,  located  in  Providence  city.  North  Providence  and  the  town  of 
Smithfield. 

Mr.  Olnej'-  was  elected  to  the  town  council  of  North  Providence  in 
1878  and  held  that  office  five  consecutive  years.  In  1884  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  and  held  that  office  four  years.  Upon  his 
retirement  from  the  senate  in  1887,  he  was  again  elected  a  member  of 
the  town  council,  which  position  he  still  holds.  As  a  member  of  the 
state  senate,  he  served  on  some  of  the  more  important  committees, 
holding  for  two  years  the  chairmanship  of  the  committee  on  elections, 
was  a  member  of  the  finance  committee,  and  served  in  other  important 
capacities. 

Mr.  Olney  is  engaged  in  building  and  renting  tenements,  of  which 
he  now  owns  and  controls  25.  He  is  also  an  administrator  of  much 
experience,  having  settled  a  number  of  valuable  estates.  He  also  bor- 
rows and  loans  money  and  acts  in  various  ways  as  a  broker. 

Stephen  B.  Olney,  born  in  North  Providence  in  1822,  is  a  son  of 
Alfred,  and  grandson  of  Stephen,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  continental 
army,  and  a  son  of  Joseph  Olney.  Stephen  B.  was  married  in  1851  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  Harris,  of  Smithfield.  They  have  two 
children,  Stephen  H,  and  Mary  E. 

Nicholas  Reiner  was  born  in  Austria  in  1840,  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1867.  He  resided  at  Geneva,  North  Providence,  and  in 
1884  settled  at  Lymansville  in  the  same  town,  and  carries  on  a  large 
boarding  house  for  the  Lymansville  Manufacturing  Company.  He 
was  married  in  1869  to  Mary  Bergman.  They  have  one  son,  Nicholas, 
Jr.,  born  June  18th,  1873.  Mr.  Reiner  is  a  member  of  Herman  Lodge, 
No.  15,  Knights  of  Pythias. 


106  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Thomas  H.  Simmons,  born  in  Foster,  R.  I.,  in  1829,  is  a  son  of 
Eseck  and  Betsey  Foster  (Tucker),  and  grandson  of  Solomon  Simmons, 
all  residents  of  Foster.  Thomas  H.  was  married  in  1869  to  Julia  A. 
Ford,  of  Johnston.  They  have  one  son  and  four  daughters.  Until 
1849,  Mr.  Simmons  lived  on  a  farm.  At  that  time  he  went  to  Califor- 
nia, returning  in  1856,  and  about  20  years  ago,  settled  in  Centredale, 
North  Providence,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Daniel  Smith,  son  of  Edward,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  John 
vSmith.  They  had  eight  children.  Two  sons,  John  E.  and  Thomas 
H.,  and  one  daughter,  Frances  W.,  widow  of  Reynolds  S.  Wilcox,  are 
living.  John  E.  married  Abbie  Bullock.  They  have  no  children 
living.  Thomas  is  a  bachelor.  They  occupy  part  of  the  farm  owned 
by  their  grandfather,  Edward  vSmith. 

Henry  Stone  came  from  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  settled  in  North 
Providence.  He  married  Lucina,  daughter  of  Augustus  Winsor,  of 
vSmithfield.  Lemuel  M.  E.  Stone,  his  son,  was  born  in  North  Provi- 
dence in  1820,  and  in  1845  married  Caroline  L.  Phetteplace,  daughter 
of  Asa.  They  have  two  children:  Waterman  and  Caroline  P.  Mr. 
Stone  is  a  civil  engineer  and  surveyor.  He  has  been  chief  engineer 
and  builder  of  several  railroads;  and  was  superintendent  of  the  Prov- 
idence, Warren  &  Bristol  for  16  years.  He  has  represented  his  town 
in  the  assembly  several  years,  and  since  1882  has  been  commissioner 
of  dams  and  reservoirs  for  the  state. 

Benjamin  Sweet,  son  of  Emor  and  grandson  of  Philip  Sweet,  was 
born  in  Johnston  in  1832.  His  mother  was  Waity,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Manton.  He  was  married  in  1857  to  Olive,  daughter  of  Nelson 
Gardiner.  They  have  five  sons  and  seven  daughters.  He  was  elected 
to  the  assembly  in  1874  and  1875,  and  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  from  1877  to  1889,  with  the  exception  of  two  years.  He  has 
also  been  assessor  and  member  of  school  committee. 

Philip  A.  Sweet,  born  in  Johnston  in  1816,  is  a  son  of  Philip  and 
Ruth  (Angell)  Sweet,  and  grandson  of  Philip.  He  is  of  English 
descent.  He  was  married  in  1838  to  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Silas  Sweet. 
She  died  the  same  year.  In  1839  he  married  Hannah  Martin.  One 
son,  Albert  Sweet,  by  that  marriage,  is  living.  She  died  in  1852,  and 
he  married  Sarah  Thurston  in  1853.  They  had  one  daughter,  wife  of 
Louis  L.  Inman,  of  Burrillville.  Sarah  Thurston  died  in  1873,  and  in 
1874  Mr.  Sweet  was  again  married  to  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Erastus 
White.  Mr.  Sweet  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  carried  on  the  building 
business  for  fifty  3'ears.  He  has  been  member  of  the  town  council 
several  terms,  and  held  other  minor  offices  in  the  town.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Free  Baptist  church,  and  has  been  a  deacon  of  the 
same  for  over  thirty  years. 

Welcome  W.  vSweet,  brother  of  Philip  A.,  was  born  in  Johnston  in 
1819.  He  married  Martha  Irons.  They  have  two  sons:  Alfred,  who 
married   Josie  King,  and   Sanford,  who  married  Emeline  Salisbury. 


yiGcM^  TT'PXAU-^ 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  197 

Mr.  Sweet  is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free 
Baptist  church  of  Graniteville. 

Hartford  J.Tingley,born  in  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  October  24th,  1814, 
is  a  son  of  Lyman  and  grandson  of  Benjamin  Tingley.  He  was  in 
the  revolutionary  war,  and  was  a  member  of  Washington's  staff. 
Hartford  J.  Tingley's  mother  was  Ruth  A.  Harrington.  He  was  mar- 
ried May  15th,  1839,  to  Selina,  daughter  of  Henry  West,  of  Rehoboth, 
Mass.  She  was  born  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  in  May,  1815.  They  have 
three  sons:  Hartford  B.,  Xenephon  D.  and  Frederick  W.,  and  two 
daughters:  L.  Sophia  and  Inez  T.  Mr.  Tingley  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began  teaching  writing,  and  made 
that  his  business  for  twelve  years.  He  afterward  learned  the  trade  of 
machinist,  and  followed  it  for  twenty  years.  He  settled  in  North 
Providence  about  1857,  and  is  at  present  engaged  in  farming. 

Charles  A.  Towne  was  born  in  1848  in  Barre,  Vt.,  and  is  of  English 
descent.  He  is  descended  from  Oel  M.,  born  1816;  Thomas,  born 
1792;  Richard,  jr.,  born  1737;  Richard,  born  1700;  Thomas,  born 
1655  ;  Edward,  born  1628,  son  of  William  Towne,  who  was  born  in 
England,  and  was  married  in  the  old  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  Yar- 
mouth, England,  in  December,  1620.  He  came  to  Salem,  Mass.,  with 
his  family  about  1630.  Charles  A.  Towne  settled  in  Providence  in 
1879,  and  in  North  Providence  in  1880.  He  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  town  council  in  1888,  and  was  re-elected  in  1889,  and  was  president 
of  same  both  years.  He  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Towne  is  a  watchmaker 
and  has  carried  on  the  business  in  Providence  since  1886.  He  is 
captain  of  the  Providence  Marine  Corps  of  Artillery,  and  lieutenant 
in  the  Light  Artillery  in  the  active  militia.  Mr.  Towne  was  mairied 
in  1875  to  Marian  A.  Perry,  who  died  in  1884.  He  married  again  in 
1886  Lillie  B.  Barker. 

Benjamin  Whipple,  born  in  North  Providence  in  1811,  was  a  son 
of  Emor,  he  a  son  of  Ephriam,  and  he  a  son  of  Benjamin.  Emor 
married  Abigail  Brown.  Benjamin  Whipple  was  married  in  1834  to 
Mary  Allen.  They  have  two  sons  living,  Emor  B.  and  William  H. 
William  H.  was  born  in  1849  and  married  in  1869  to  Almira  Collins. 
They  have  two  daughters  and  one  son.  His  business  is  farming. 
The  farm  they  occupy  has  been  in  the  family  for  five  generations. 

Byron  S.  Whipple,  son  of  Weston  F.  and  Mary  Whipple,  was 
born  in  Smithfield  in  1856.  In  1879  he  engaged  in  business  in  Provi- 
dence, dealing  in  coal,  wood,  hay,  grain  and  fertilizers.  He  was 
married  in  1877  to  Ida  E.  Farewell.  They  have  two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

Walter  Wilson  Whipple,  wholesale  commission  merchant,  is 
one  of  the  few  young  men  who  has  made  a  fortune  for  himself  in 
early  life.  Considering  his  many  and  varied  adversities  in  starting 
out,  his  success  has  been  phenomenal.  He  is  the  son  of  Weston  F. 
and  Mary  (Watson)  Whipple,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Smithfield 


198  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

April  7th,  1858.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  old  homestead  place  in 
North  Providence,  where  he  remained,  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm  and  attending  the  district  school  until  14  years  of  age.  Having 
a  desire  to  follow  the  drug  business,  he  entered  the  employment  of 
Butts  &  Alason,  now  Mason  &  Chapin,  but  the  work  of  compounding 
medicines  proved  deleterious  to  his  health  and  after  a  clerkship  of  two 
years  he  was  obliged  to  seek  a  more  sanitary  occupation.  When  17 
years  of  age  he  sought  and  obtained  employment  in  a  grocery  store 
owned  by  Mr.  H.  S.  Sharpe  (now  bookkeeper  for  Mr.  Whipple),  but 
soon  afterward  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brown,  Whipple  & 
Co.,  retail  grocers.  The  beginning  of  this  enterprise  was  propitious 
enough,  the  firm  operating  two  stores  in  the  commencement,  but  it 
wound  up  in  a  few  months  in  a  state  of  bankruptcy,  being  able  to  pay 
60  cents  on  the  dollar  only. 

April  8th,  1878,  Mr.  Whipple  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Palmer 
Tanner,  of  Providence,  and  located  in  the  city.  In  the  meanwhile, 
having  somewhat  recovered  from  his  financial  surprises,  he  went  on 
the  road  with  a  horse  and  wagon,  trading  in  butter,  eggs  and  poultry. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  his  present  mammoth  industry.  Siiccess 
rapidly  followed  his  efforts  in  this  new  undertaking  and  in  due  time 
he  liquidated  all  former  indebtedness  of  Brown,  Whipple  &  Co.,  pay- 
ing off  all  claims  in  full.  In  1882,  when  24  years  of  age,  he  found 
himself  in  a  store  of  his  own  at  104  Canal  street.  In  1884  he  was 
obliged,  for  the  want  of  more  room,  to  move  to  his  present  quarters, 
since  which  time  his  progress  in  business  has  been  astonishingly 
rapid.  In  1888  he  established  a  large  packing  house  in  Oskaloosa, 
Iowa,  operated  under  the  style  of  Whipple  &  Co.  In  1884  he  estab- 
lished a  shipping  house  in  Corinna,  in  Maine,  but  recently  sold  the 
business  belonging  to  this  last  named  enterprise  and  confined  his 
efforts  to  Providence.  Newport,  Boston,  Fall  River,  and  other  towns 
surrounding  these  larger  places.  In  the  year  1889  a  business  of 
$300,000  was  done,  and  in  1890  one  of  $400,000. 

In  1885  Mr.  Whipple  moved  to  North  Providence  and  located  on 
Fruit  Hill,  where  he  has  continued  to  reside.  He  owns  a  magnificent 
property,  which  he  has  improved  at  great  expense,  making  of  it  an 
elegant  residence  and  a  delightful  place.  In  1889  Mr.  Whipple  was 
elected  as  a  representative  of  his  town  to  the  general  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  and  re-elected  in  1890.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Fruit  Hill  Detective  Society,  and  was  its  president  in  1888  and  1889. 
He  is  a  lover  of  fine  horses  and  owns  some  valuable  stock,  but  is  in  no 
sense  a  sporting  man.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Elk  Society.  The 
names  of  his  children  are  Mabel,  Gertrude  and  Florence. 

Andrew  Jackson  Wilcox,  state  senator  from  the  town  of  North 
Providence,  is  a  prominent  farmer  in  that  part  of  the  county,  and  a 
son  of  Reynolds  S.  and  Frances  W.  (Smith)  Wilcox,  also  of  that  town. 
His  father  was  formerly  of  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  but  years 


i 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  199 

ago  came  here  and  purchased  a  part  of  the  valuable  farm  known  as 
the  old  Daniel  Smith  homestead.  It  is  situated  on  the  old  Smithfield 
road,  about  three  miles  from  the  cit}',  but  now  within  easy  reach  of 
the  street  railway.  On  this  farm  Andrew  J.  Wilcox  was  born,  Janu- 
ary 24th,  1863.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  attending 
school.  Subsequently  he  completed  a  course  of  studies  at  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Academy,  and  later  still  at  Mowry  &  Goff's  Institute,  Provi- 
dence. In  1883  his  father  died,  and  on  June  27th,  1889,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Maude  I.  Barbour,  whose  parents  were  of  East 
Greenwich.  Mr.  Wilcox  owns  60  acres  of  very  valuable  land,  almost 
within  the  city  limits.  His  farm  is  stocked  with  a  valuable  herd  of 
25  milch  cows,  and  also  with  other  cattle,  necessitating  the  renting  of 
other  lands  near  by  for  grazing  purposes. 

Mr.  Wilcox  is  a  staunch  republican,  and  has  been  the  recipient  of 
the  popular  vote  of  the  citizens  of  his  town  for  public  office  for  sev- 
eral years  past.  In  1887  he  was  elected  to  the  town  council  of  North 
Providence,  and  in  1888,  1889  and  again  in  1890  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate.  He  was  not  only  the  nominee  of  his  party  in  the  last 
political  canvass,  but  of  the  democrats  as  well,  who  put  up  no  candi- 
date against  him.  In  the  senate  he  served  on  the  committee  on  elec- 
tions, and  was  also  a  member  of  the  committee  on  public  help,  acting 
as  chairman  of  that  committee  during  his  second  term  of  office.  He 
also  served  on  other  committees,  and  in  various  capacities.  ]\Ir.  Wil- 
cox is  public  spirited,  and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his 
town  and  county.  He  is  a  member  of  several  societies,  among  which 
are  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Rhode  Island 
Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  all  Domestic  Industries,  of  which 
he  is  a  member  of  the  standing  committee.  He  was  chosen  commis- 
sary, ranking  as  first  lieutenant,  on  the  staff  of  the  United  Train  of 
Artillery  of  the  Town  of  Providence,  one  of  the  oldest  organizations 
in  the  state.  He  served  two  years  in  this  capacity  and  declined  re- 
election. Mr.  Wilcox  is  the  father  of  one  child,  Reynolds  Baldwin 
Wilcox. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  TOWN  OF  SMITHFIELD. 

Incorporation. — Description. — Early  Records. — Highways. — Defense  of  the  Town  Authori- 
ties Against  Sundry  Persons. — Various  Proceedings  of  tlie  Town  Council. — The  Eevo- 
lutionary  Period. — The  Militia  Companies. — The  Cumberland  Rangers. — Legislation 
Against  Slavery. — Provision  for  the  Poor. — War  Expenses. — Division  of  the  Town. — 
The  Present  Town  of  Smithfield.— Town  Officers.— Public  Schools.— Early  Settlers.— 
Greenville:  its  Industries,  Churches,  Banks.  Library,  etc. — Spragueville. — Stillwater. 
— Georgia ville,  and  its  Mills,  Churches,  etc. — Enfield. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  town  of  Smithfield  was  originally  a  portion  of  the  town  of 
Providence.  Why  it  has  been  called  Smithfield  has  not  been 
satisfactorily  explained.  It  was  incorporated  February  26th, 
1730-1,  and  was  the  largest  town  in  the  state  but  one  in  population. 
The  preamble  to  the  act  of  incorporation  is  in  the  following  words: 

"  Forasmuch  as  the  Out  Lands  of  the  Town  of  Providence  are 
large,  and  replenished  with  Inhabitants  sufficient  to  make  and  erect 
three  Townships  besides  the  Town  of  Providence  and  the  Land  lies 
convenient  for  the  same;  which  will  be  of  great  Ease  and  Benefit  to 
the  Inhabitants  of  vsaid  Land,  in  transacting  and  negotiating  the  pru- 
dential Affairs  of  their  Town,  which  for  some  Time  past  has  been 
very  heavy  and  burthensome;  "  and  Smithfield,  Scituate  and  Glocester 
were  separated  into  independent  townships.  It  was  provided  that  the 
towns  were  to  "  have  each  their  proportion  of  the  interest  of  the  Bank 
money  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  towns  of  this  colony,  according 
to  the  sums  that  the  lands  lying  in  each  town  are  mortgaged  for;  and 
that  money  the  town  treasurer  of  Providence  has  advanced  for  the 
town  before  the  division  thereof,  be  repaid  him  out  of  the  whole  in- 
terest money,  before  division  thereof  be  made." 

The  territory  set  off  comprised  73  square  miles  of  land.  It  was 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Blackstone  river,  on  the  south  by  Johnston 
and  North  Providence,  on  the  west  by  Glocester,  and  on  the  north  by 
the  state  of  Massachusetts.  At  the  time  of  the  division  of  the  town 
the  western  boundary  was  the  east  line  of  Glocester  and  Burrillville, 
the  latter  town  having  been  set  off  from  Glocester.  Bounded  on  one 
side  by  the  most  important  river  in  the  state,  save  Providence  river, 
it  included  within  its  limits  the  Branch,  Moshassuck,  Woonasqua- 
tucket  and  Crook  Fall  rivers,  besides  other  smaller  streams  which 
benefitted  and  beautified  it. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  201 

In  its  physical  features  it  presented  an  attractive  but  diversified 
aspect.  Near  its  northern  extremity  rose  Woonsocket  hill,  the  high- 
est land  in  the  state,  towering  nearly  600  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  Oak,  walnut,  ash,  chestnut  and  birch  clothed  the  hills  with  a 
luxuriant  growth  of  trees,  while  the  valleys  were  rich  in  soil.  The 
lime  stone  quarries,  which  are  still  important,  were  early  utilized. 
The  town  also  possesses  valuable  water  power,  which  later  gave  con- 
siderable growth  to  the  population  and  an  impetus  to  the  manufactur- 
ing interests. 

The  record  of  the  first  town  meeting  is  as  follows,  the  orthography 
being  conformed  to  the  usage  of  the  present  day:  "  At  a  town  meeting 
called  by  warrant  under  the  hands  and  seals  of  Joseph  Arnold  and 
Jonathan  Sprague,  Jr.,  Esqs.,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  held  at  the 
house  of  Captain  Valentine  Whitman  in  Smithfield,  in  the  County  of 
Providence,  &c.,  on  the  17,  day  of  March,  Anno  Domini,  1730  or  31; 
whereof  Mr.  Jonathan  Sprague,  Jr.,  was  chosen  moderator  of  said 
meeting,  and  Richard  Sayles  was  chosen  town  clerk,  at  said  meeting, 
and  John  Arnold  chosen  the  first  town  councilman  at  said  meeting, 
and  Captain  Joseph  Mowry  chosen  the  second  town  councilman, 
Thomas  Steere  chosen  the  third  town  councilman,  Samuel  Aldrich 
chosen  the  fourth  town  councilman,  John  Mowry  chosen  the  fifth 
town  councilman,  Benjamin  Smith  chosen  the  sixth  town  councilman; 
John  Sayles  chosen  at  said  meeting  town  treasurer;  Uriah  Mowry 
-chosen  town  sergeant  at  aforesaid  meeting.  Joseph  Arnold,  Jun., 
chosen  sealer  and  packer  at  said  meeting;  David  Comstock  chosen  the 
first  constable,  Elisha  Steere  chosen  the  second  constable,  and  Joseph 
Herendeen,  Jr.,  chosen  the  third  constable.  Captain  Valentine  Whit- 
man and  Thomas  Smith  and  Joshua  Winsor  and  Jeremiah  Arnold 
were  chosen  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  town.  Job  Arnold  and  John 
Smith,  son  of  Joseph  Smith  *  Juyner,'  chosen  surveyors  of  the  high- 
ways. Hezekiah  Comstock  and  Daniel  Arnold  and  John  Dexter  Jun. 
and  Jonathan  vSprague  minor,  chosen  fence  viewers.  Joseph  Bagley 
and  Daniel  Matthewson  chosen  hemp  viewers.  John  Whitman  chosen 
pound  keeper.  John  Wilkinson  and  Charles  Sherlock  chosen  hog 
constables.  Richard  Sayles  accepted  and  was  engaged  according  to 
law  to  the  office  of  town  clerk  for  the  ensuing  year  before  Jonathan 
Sprague,  Justice,  the  day  and  year  above  said.  The  town  councilmen 
that  were  chosen  did  all  accept  and  was  engaged  according  to  law  to 
the  office  of  town  councilman,  before  Jonathan  Sprague,  Justice, 
the  day  and  year  above  said.  John  Sayles  did  accept  and  was 
engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of  town  treasurer,  before 
Jonathan  Sprague,  Justice.  Uriah  Mowry  did  accept  and  was 
engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of  town  sergeant.  David 
Comstock  and  Elisha  Steere  and  Joseph  Herendeen,  Jr.,  did  all 
accept  and  were  engaged  according  to  law  to  the  offices  of  con- 
stables.    Hezekiah   Comstock  and  Daniel  Arnold  and  John  Dexter, 


202  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Jr.,  and  Jonathan  Spragne,  minor,  did  all  accept  and  were  engaged 
according  to  law  to  the  office  of  fence  viewers.  Captain  Valentine 
Whitman  and  Thomas  Smith  and  Jeremiah  Arnold  all  accepted  and 
were  engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of  overseers  of  the  poor. 
Job  Arnold  and  John  Smith  both  accepted  and  engaged  according  to 
law  to  the  office  of  highway  surveyors.  Joseph  Arnold,  Jr.,  accepted 
and  was  engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of  sealer  and  packer. 
John  Whitman  accepted  and  engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of 
pound  keeper.  Daniel  Matthewson  and  Joseph  Bagley  both  accepted 
and  were  engaged  according  to  law  to  the  office  of  hemp  viewers.  It 
was  voted  at  said  meeting  that  the  27,  day  of  April  next  is  the  day 
perfixed  for  the  freemen  of  the  town  of  Smithfield  to  meet  together 
at  the  house  of  John  Sayles  in  Smithfield  in  order  to  choose  Repre- 
sentatives to  send  to  Newport,  next  May  Session,  and  also  to  send  in 
their  proxies  for  the  General  Officers  of  this  colony,  and  also  to  do 
other  business  as  is  necessary  for  said  town." 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1731  (N.  S.),  the  town  meeting  chose  its 
deputies  to  the  general  assembly,  provided  its  quota  of  jurors  for  a 
settlement  with  the  town  of  Providence,  and  voted  a  bounty  for  killing 
wild-cats  and  wolves.  In  1738,  a  pair  of  stocks  were  built,  and  a 
whipping  post  erected  near  the  house  of  John  Sayles. 

In  1738,  the  town  took  a  most  important  step  in  developing  its  re- 
sources, and  providing  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  its  inhabi- 
tants. This  was  the  passage  of  a  highway  act.  Before  this  time 
there  had  been,  in  Rhode  Island,  no  other  law  upon  this  subject 
than  the  laws  of  England,  which  were  of  course  but  ill  adapted  to  the 
circumstances  in  which  the  then  inhabitants  of  Smithfield  found  them- 
selves. The  act  passed  by  the  town  was  drawn  with  great  care  and 
a  precision  which  is  evidence  of  the  capacity  of  those  who  adopted  it 
for  self-government.  It  provided  for  the  appointment  of  surveyors, 
and  made  it  their  duty  to  inspect  the  roads  within  the  limits  of  their 
jurisdiction,  and  enough  of  them  w^ere  appointed  to  care  for  the  high- 
ways throughout  the  town;  specific  provision  was  made  for  the 
amount  and  character  of  the  work  to  be  done,  and  every  male  inhabi- 
tant of  the  town,  21  years  of  age,  and  able-bodied,  except  apprentices, 
slaves  and  idiots,  was  to  work  on  the  highway  six  days  in  the  year, 
and  eight  hours  a  day. 

In  1748,  the  population  of  Smithfield  was  4^50;  the  town  was  divided 
into  16  highway  districts,  the  persons  hereinafter  named  in  each  dis- 
trict being  the  surveyor  for  the  district  described. 

District  No.  1,  began  at  Patience  Arnold's,  so  to  extend  northwest- 
erly over  the  Branch  river,  and  all  the  roads  west  and  northwest 
of  said  river:  Daniel  Comstock,  Jr. 

District  No.  2,  began  at  vSamuel  Aldrich  (near  Union  village),  down 
where  the  new  road  turns  out  of  the  old,  and  by  the  new  and  the  old 
road  to  where  they  intersect  on  the  hill,  a  little  southeast  from  the 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  203 

Little  River  Bridge— also,  the  cross   road  by  Benjamin    Paine  and 
Uriah  Mowry  (on  Sayles  Hill):  John  Sayles. 

District  No.  3,  began  at  Locusquesset  Brook  (near  Lime  Rock),  and 
so  up  the  highway,  till  it  comes  to  where  two  roads  meet  on  the  hill, 
a  little  southeast  from  the  Little  River  Bridge:  Peter  Bellowe,  Jr. 

District  No.  4,  began  at  Locusquesset  Brook  to  Providence  line, 
also  the  Cross  road  by  Jonathan  Arnold's,  beginning  at  the  old  high- 
way by  the  Lime  Kiln,  to  end  where  said  highway  intersects  with  the 
highway  that  goes  by  Dr.  Jenckes— also  the  Cross  road  from  Abra- 
ham Scott  to  Pawtucket  river:  William  Whipple,  Jr. 

District  No.  5,  began  at  the  Old  Quaker  Meeting  House,  so  north- 
easterly and  northerly  to  Thomas  Lapham's  (near  Albion):  John 
Dexter. 

District  No.  6,  began  at  Thomas  Lapham's,  and  so  north,  to  Woon- 
socket  falls  (The  River  road  from  Albion  up):  Joseph  Lapham. 

District  No.  7,  began  at  Daniel  Wilbur's  to  Providence  line — also, 
from  the  same  place  to  Christopher  Brown's:  Benjamin  Cook. 

District  No.  8,  began  at  saw  mill  by  James  Appleby,  to  Thomas 
Sayles,  and  from  Elisha  Cook's,  toward  Providence  line,  till  it  comes 
to  Ebenezer  Herrendeen's:  Elisha  Cook. 

District  No.  9,  began  at  Glocester  line,  west  of  John  Sayles,  Jr.,  so 
easterly  by  Othonial  Matthewson,  thence  northeast  to  Woonsocket 
Falls — also  a  piece  from  Thomas  Sayles  to  aforesaid  road:  Othonial 
Matthewson. 

District  No.  10,  began  at  Ebenezer  Herrendeen,  down  to  Daniel 
Wilbur:  Thomas  Herrendeen. 

District  No.  11,  began  at  Providence  line,  near  Isaac  White's  to  the 
"  Logway,"  also  the  Cross  Road  from  Daniel  Angell,  to  the  Island 
Road:  Thomas  Steere. 

District  No.  12,  began  at  Abraham  Smith's  barn,  so  southeast  by 
Smith's  house,  to  Providence  line:  Leland  Smith. 

District  No.  13,  began  at  the  corner  of  Abraham  Smith's  fence, 
near  the  Baptist  Meeting  House,  thence,  northerly  by  Abraham 
Smith's,  so  up  the  "  Logway  "  to  Glocester  line,  also  the  cross  road, 
beginning  at  the  saw  mill  by  his  house,  thence  southerly  to  aforesaid 
road:  James  Appleby. 

District  No.  14,  began  at  Glocester  line,  by  Widow  Steere's,  to 
Providence  line,  all  below  Joseph  Carpenter's;  Samuel  Aldrich,  Jr. 

District  No.  15,  began  at  Glocester  line,  a  little  west  of  Benjamin 
Wilkinson,  thence  down  to  Providence  line— also  from  Resolved  Wa- 
terman's, thence  southwesterly  to  Glocester  line,  by  Snake  Hill:  Abra- 
ham Winsor. 

District  No.  16,  began  at  Glocester  line  near  Daniel  Matthewson, 
thence  northeasterly  by  his  house  to  Wainsocket  Falls,  till  it  meets 
Cumberland  in  the  middle  of  the  Bridge.  Also,  beginning  at  Patience 
Arnold's,  thence  down  to  District  No.  2.     (This  was  a  portion  of  the 


204  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Great  Road  to  Sayles  Hill,  and  South  Main  Street,  west  to  Burrill- 
ville):  Nathan  Staples. 

A  committee  was  appointed  at  the  first  town  council  to  arrange 
the  monetary  affairs  between  the  towns  of  Smithfield  and  Providence. 
At  this  meetingsundry  persons  were  ordered  before  the  town  council, 
of  whom  "  some  were  ordered  removed  from  the  town."  The  person 
cited,  if  recalcitrant,  was  forthwith  put  out  of  the  town  by  the  sergeant; 
if  he  returned  he  was  ordered  to  pay  a  fine  within  one  hour,  or  be 
stripped  naked  "  from  the  waist  upward  "  and  whipped.  It  is  to  the 
credit  of  the  town,  however,  that  when  one  Phebe  Thornton,  a  tran- 
sient person,  was  ordered  by  the  council  to  pay  a  fine  far  beyond  her 
means,  on  the  instant,  or  be  stripped  and  whipped,  that  Thomas  Steere, 
a  good  Quaker  who  was  so  many  years  president  of  the  town  council, 
was  not  present.  It  is  believed  also  that  the  wandering  Phebe  was 
not  scourged  severely. 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  held  on  the  16th  of  September,  1774, 
Captain  Arnold  Paine  and  William  Winsor  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  visit  the  town  of  Boston  and  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  the 
poor  of  that  town,  and  make  report  on  the  10th  day  of  October  next. 
Captain  William  Potter,  Peleg  Arnold  and  Stephen  Whipple  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  receive  the  directions  given  by  the  inhabi- 
tants for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  Boston.  At  a  town  meeting  held  on 
the  10th  of  October,  1774,  the  committee  aforenamed  made  a  verbal 
report,  and  the  town  "  welcome  for  the  above  service,  for  which  the 
town  returns  them  thanks."  "  Whereupon  it  is  Voted,  that  subscrip- 
tion papers  be  drawn  up  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  support  for  the 
poor  sufferers  of  Boston,  and  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  committee 
already  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  that  William  Potter,  Peleg 
Arnold  and  Stephen  Whipple  do  the  service  appointed  gratis;  to 
which  they  in  this  meeting  agreed  in  person;  and  that  the  subscrip- 
tion papers  with  receipts  be  returned  to  the  town  clerk's  office  of  this 
town,  to  the  intent  that  full  and  ample  satisfaction  may  be  made  in 
that  behalf."  The  result  of  this  action  will  be  seen  by  a  perusal  of 
the  following  letter  directed  to  Daniel  Mowry,  Jr.,  town  clerk: 

Boston,  November  2d,  1774. 
"  Gentlemen: 

"  By  the  hands  of  Captain  Stephen  Whipple  and  Mr.  William  Pot- 
ter, the  Committee  of  Donations  received  your  very  acceptable  pres- 
ent of  one  hundred  and  fifty  sheep.  The  Committee,  in  behalf  of  the 
Town,  return  our  grateful  acknowledgments  to  our  kind  and  gen- 
erous benefactors,  the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  wSmithfield  and  John- 
ston. Such  bounties  greatly  refresh  our  spirits,  and  encourage  us  to 
persevere  in  the  glorious  cause  of  true,  constitutional  freedom  and 
liberty.  We  consider  the  cause  as  common,  and  therefore  a  cause  in 
the  defence  of  which  all  North  America  ought  to  be  united;  and  it  af- 
fords us,  as  it  must  every  true-hearted  American,  a  peculiar  pleasure 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  205 

that  such  union  prevails  at  this  day,  as  bodes  well  to  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  North  America,  civil  and  religious. 

"  What  judgment  are  we  to  form  respecting  those  who  would  affect 
to  be  calm  and  unconcerned  spectators  in  this  day  of  trouble  and  dis- 
tress ?  But  what  shall  we  think  and  say  of  those  who  are  constantly 
endeavoring,  in  a  private,  and  when  they  dare,  more  open  manner  to 
carry  into  execution  a  plan  the  most  detestable,  and  calculated  for 
the  destruction  of  everything  accountedjvaluable  and  dear  in  the  eyes 
of  Americans.  Surely,  then,  Americans  must,  they  will,  exert  them- 
selves to  their  utmost  at  such  a  day  as  this. 

"The  inhabitants  of  this  town  are  called,  in  providence,  to  stand, 
as  it  were,  in  the  front  of  the  battle.  We  have  reason,  in  the  first 
place,  to  be  thankful  to  God,  who  hath  thus  far  helped  us,  and  nextly, 
to  our  generous  and  kind  benefactors,  by  their  affectionate  letters,  as 
well  as  their  timely  donations.  May  the  Lord  reward  them.  We 
greatly  need  wisdom,  direction,  prudence,  zeal,  patience  and  resolu- 
tion. Our  Christian  friends  may,  by  their  prayers  to  God,  contribute 
much  towards  a  happy  issue  of  these  severe  trials,  and  those  mercies 
which  are  the  fruit  of  the  prayers  of  faith  will  prove  mercies  indeed. 
But  we  have  not  time  to  enlarge. 

"  Inclosed  is  a  printed  half  sheet  respecting  the  conduct  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  improvement  of  the  charities  of  our  friends,  which  we 
hope  will  be  to  their  satisfaction. 

"  Gentlemen,  your  much  obliged  friends  and  fellow-countrymen. 

^  ^  P('r  order  of  the 

"  David  Jeffries.  -  ^         .  ^^        •      ,, 

\  Coininittee  on  Donations. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  20th  day  of  February,  1775,  Stephen 
Arnold,  Jr.,  Andrew  Waterman,  Thomas  Aldrich,  Elisha  Mowry,  Jr., 
and  Uriah  Alverson  were  appointed  a  committee  of  inspection,  agree- 
able to  the  eleventh  article  of  the  continental  congress,  and  Daniel 
Mowry,  Jr.,  and  Othniel  Matthewson  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
receive  the  town's  quota  of  fire-arms,  according  to  act  of  government, 
and  deliver  the  same  to  the  three  present  captains  of  the  foot  com- 
panies in  this  town  according  to  the  muster  rolls  in  number.  In  June 
of  the  same  year  Stephen  Whipple,  Joseph  Jencks,  Daniel  Angell, 
Arnold  Paine,  Peleg  Arnold,  Andrew  Waterman,  and  Elisha  Mowry, 
Jr.,  were  chosen  to  collect  100  fire-arms,  to  put  them  in  proper  repair 
for  battle  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  to  be  then  lodged;  one-third 
part  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Captain  Joseph  Jencks;  one-third  part 
at  Colonel  Elisha  Mowry 's,  and  the  other  third  part  at  Peleg  Arnold's; 
to  be  and  remain  for  the  use  of  the  town  on  any  invasion  that  may 
happen;  and  that  William  Potter,  Joseph  Jencks,  and  Sylvanus  Sayles 
be  a  committee  to  prize  said  guns.  Immediately  thereafter,  at  an 
adjourned  meeting,  it  was  voted  that  all  the  fire-arms  within  the  train 
band  of  the  first  company  in  the  town,  be  collected  at  the  dwelling 


206  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

house  of  Captain  Joseph  Jencks  within  the  week;  those  of  the  second 
and  third  companies  to  be  also  collected,  "  in  order  to  collect  one 
.hundred  of  the  best  quality  to  be  equipped  for  use  immediately." 

At  the  May  session  of  the  general  assembly,  1776,  certain  towns 
were  supplied  with  powder  and  lead;  and  to  Smithfield  was  appor- 
tioned 200  pounds  of  powder  and  400  pounds  of  lead.  At  the  June 
session  a  census  of  the  population  was  ordered,  and  Daniel  Mowry, 
Jr.,  was  the  committee  for  this  town.  All  the  salt  in  the  colony  was 
directed  to  be  divided  among  the  several  towns  at  the  rate  of  six 
shillings  per  bushel,  "  for  cash  only,"  and  Smithfield  was  allowed  15<) 
bushels.  A  new  distribution  of  salt  was  ordered,  Smithfield  being 
allowed  400^  bushels.  This  year  a  hospital  was  provided  "  to  intro- 
duce the  small  pox  by  inoculation." 

In  May,  1776,  John  Sayles,  Esq.,  was  assistant,  and  Daniel  Mowry, 
Jr.,  Esq.,  and  Captain  Andrew  Waterman  were  deputies.  The  general 
assembly  repealed  the  "Act  of  Allegiance,"  preceding  the  repeal  by 
this  preamble:  "  Whereas  in  all  States  existing  by  Compact,  Protection 
and  Allegiance  are  reciprocal,  the  latter  being  due  only  in  consequence 
of  the  former:  And  whereas  GEORGE  the  Third,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  forgetting  his  Dignity,  regardless  of  the  Compact  most 
solemnly  entered  into,  ratified  and  confirmed,  to  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  Colony,  by  His  illustrious  Ancestors,  and  till  of  late  fully  recog- 
nized by  Him — and  entirely  departing  from  the  Duties  and  Character 
of  a  good  King,  instead  of  protecting,  is  endeavoring  to  destroy  the 
good  People  of  this  Colony,  and  of  all  the  United  Colonies,  by  send- 
ing Fleets  and  Armies  to  America,  to  Confiscate  our  Property,  and 
.spread  Fire,  Sword  and  Desolation,  throughout  our  Country,  in  order 
to  compel  us  to  submit  to  the  most  debasing  and  detestable  Tyranny; 
whereby  we  are  obliged  by  Necessity,  and  it  becomes  our  highest 
Duty,  to  use  every  Means,  with  which  God  and  Nature  have  furnished 
us,  in  support  of  our  invaluable  Rights  and  Privileges;  to  oppose  that 
Power  which  is  exerted  only  for  our  Destruction." 

"  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  this  General  Assembly,  and  by  the 
Authority  thereof  it  is  enacted,  that  an  Act  intituled  'An  Act  for  the 
more  effectual  vSecuring  to  His  Majesty  the  Allegiance  of  his  Subjects 
in  this  his  Colony  and  Dominion  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations,'  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  repealed."  The  act  then 
went  on  to  provide  for  the  necessary  changes  in  the  terms  of  the  com- 
missions for  offices,  civil  and  military;  and  that  in  all  suits  and  proces- 
ses in  law,  reference  to  the  king  should  be  omitted,  and  they  should 
run  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority  of  "  The  Governor  and  Com- 
pany of  the  English  Colony  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions.' " 

Stephen  Hopkins  and  William  Ellery  were  appointed  delegates  to 
the  continental  congress.  A  committee,  one  of  whom  was  Andrew 
Waterman,  was  appointed  to  procure,  and  send  immediately  to  New- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  207 

port,  as  many  iron,  or  shod  shovels,  as  could  be  got,  and  to  procure 
to  be  made  as  soon  as  possible,  fifty  good  spades.  Elisha  Mowry,  Jr., 
Esq.,  was  chosen  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  vSecond  Regiment  of  Militia, 
in  the  county  of  Providence.  The  following  were  the  officers  of  the 
three  Smithfield  Militia  companies :  First  Company. — Captain,  Thomas 
Jenckes ;  lieutenant,  Samuel  Day;  ensign,  George  Streeter.  Second 
Company.— Ca.pta.in,  David  Eddy;  lieutenant,  Ebenezer  Trask;  ensign, 
Simeon  Ballou.  Third  Company. — Captain  Nehemiah  Smith;  lieutenant, 
James  Smith;  ensign,  Jesse  Smith. 

The  Smithfield  and  Cumberland  Rangers  were  incorporated  as  an 
independent  company.  The  company  having  chosen,  the  general 
assembly  appointed  the  following  officers:  Captain,  George  Peck;  first 
lieutenant,  Nedibiah  Wilkinson;  second  lieutenant,  Edward  Thomp- 
son; ensign,  Levi  Brown. 

In  1782  the  ratable  value  of  Smithfield  was  put  at  i;200,00(>.  The 
number  of  acres  in  the  town  was  estimated  to  be  35,236.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  town  was  2,217. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  June  2d,  1783,  the  following  vote  was 
passed:  "  We,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Smithfield,  in  town  meet- 
ing assembled,  being  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  iniquity  and  inhu- 
manity of  the  practice  of  enslaving  the  human  species,  and  being  fully 
convinced  of  this  standing  truth  that  all  men  are  born  to  an  equal 
right  of  liberty;  and  while  we  are  contending  for  the  inestimable 
privilege  ourselves,  to  be  acting  the  tyrant  over,  and  bringing  others 
into  abject  slavery  is  as  great  an  inconsistency  as  a  rational  being  can 
be  guilty  of,  and  sufficiently  evinces  that  such  people  are  only  craving 
it  for  themselves  for  their  own  enjoyment  without  possessing  the  spirit 
of  liberty  in  their  own  minds:  Therefore  we  instruct  and  direct  you 
our  Representatives  to  use  your  endeavors  and  influence  in  the  General 
Assembly,  to  procure  a  law  made  and  passed  that  no  ship  or  vessel 
shall  be  fitted  out  from  any  part  of  this  State  to  Africa,  unless  the 
Master  or  Captain  thereof  shall  give  bonds  in  such  a  sum,  and  be 
under  such  lawfull  restrictions,  regulations  and  obligations  as  the 
legislative  body  shall  seem  suitable,  and  deem  effective  to  debar  him 
from  purchasing  or  bringing  away  from  the  country  the  inhabitants,- 
and  making  slaves  of  them,  or  selling  them  for  slaves  in  any  of  the 
West  India  Islands  or  elsewhere." 

During  the  late  war  much  patriotism  was  exhibited  by  the  citizens 
of  Smithfield.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  look  after  the  condition 
of  those  families  whose  members  volunteered  in  the  service  of  the 
country,  and  in  January,  1862,  $181.43  was  appropriated  for  their 
benefit.  In  March  the  sum  so  applied  was  $527.32;  for  April  it  was 
$475,  for  May  $375.  Bounties  were  also  granted,  for  which  the  town 
treasurer  was  authorized  to  borrow  the  sum  of  $27,600.  From  year 
to  year  appropriations  were  made  which  made  the  total  war  expenses 
of  the  town  nearly  $40,000. 


208  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

At  the  June  town  meeting,  1870,  it  was  voted  that  "a  committee 
consisting  of  five  persons  be  appointed  to  confer  with  the  committee 
from  the  town  of  Woonsocket  in  the  matter  of  setting  off  and  annex- 
ing to  said  town  of  Woonsocket  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Smithfield." 
A  vote  was  taken  on  this  subject,  there  being  42  in  favor,  and  193 
opposed.  January  21st,  1871,  the  question  of  dividing  the  town  of 
Smithfield  into  three  towns  was  voted  for,  there  being  111  in  favor 
and  33  opposed. 

The  direct  action  which  resulted  in  the  division  of  the  town  of 
Smithfield  originated  in  a  petition  to  the  general  assembly,  at  its 
January  session,  1867.  This  petition  was  continued  to  the  May,  and 
again  to  the  January  session,  1868.  At  the  May  session,  1868,  the 
house  judiciary  committee  recommended  the  continuance  of  the  peti- 
tion, submitting  as  the  opinion  of  the  committee  that  some  action 
should  be  taken  by  the  town  tending  to  remedy  the  grievances  com- 
plained of  growing  out  of  the  present  organization  of  the  town  of 
Smithfield.  At  the  January  session,  1869,  the  majority— four  out  of 
five— of  the  joint  special  committee,  to  whom  this  matter  of  the  divi- 
sion of  the  town  had  been  referred,  made  a  very  elaborate  report, 
recommending  such  division.  A  minority  report  was  also  made.  The 
act  reported  by  the  committee  was  laid  on  the  table.  Another  petition, 
being  substantially  a  continuation  of  the  proceedings  commenced  in 
1867,  was  preferred  to  the  January  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
1870.  It  was  continued  to  the  May  session  and  then  to  the  January 
session,  1871.  After  repeated  hearings,  the  joint  special  committee, 
upon  the  open  or  tacit  agreement  of  the  parties  concerned,  recom- 
mended the  passage  of  the  bill  which  had  been  drawn,  and  the  town 
was,  by  the  general  assembly,  divided.  By  this  division  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town  was  decreased  from  12,315  to  2,857.  The  population 
of  Smithfield,  according  to  the  census  of  1885,  was  2,338. 

The  territory  now  comprised  in  the  town  of  Smithfield  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  North  Smithfield,  on  the  east  by  Lincoln,  on  the  south 
by  North  Providence  and  Johnston,  and  on  the  west  by  the  town  of 
Glocester.  Places  of  interest  in  the  town  are — Villages :  Georgiaville, 
Greenville,  Stillwater,  Enfield,  Spragueville  and  Knightsville.  Reser. 
voirs :  Cedar  Swamp,  Waterman,  Slacks,  Georgiaville,  Stillwater. 
Rivers:  Woonasquatucket  and  its  tributaries.  The  Harris  granite 
ledge  is  much  worked  and  prized  for  the  building  material  obtained 
from  it.  The  amount  of  real  estate  assessed  for  the  year  1888  was 
$1,233,000.     The  amount  of  tax  was  $12,721.80. 

The  town  treasurers  of  Smithfield  have  been:  John  Sayles,  1731- 
50;  Israel  V/ilkinson,  1750;  Stephen  Whipple,  1755;  Captain  John 
Angell,  1756-60;  Stephen  Whipple,  1761-9;  William  Buffum,  1770-2; 
Arnold  Paine,  1773-6;  Uriah  Alverson,  1777-85;  Stephen  Brayton, 
1786-91;  Robert  Harris,  1792-1811:  Isaac  Wilkinson,  1812-39;  Lewis 
Dexter,  1840-2;  Stafford  Mann,  1843;    Samuel  Clark,   1844;  Stafford 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  2(»9 

Mann,  1845-9:  Robert  Harris,  1850-4;  Henry  Gooding,  1855  (3; 
Thomas  Moies.  1857;  Reuel  P.  Smith,  1858-71;  William  Winsor,  1872 
-85;  Marshall  I.  Mowry,  1885-. 

The  town  clerks  have  been:  Richard  Sayles,  1781;  Joseph  Arnold, 
Jr.,  1732;  Daniel  Jenckes,  1783-42;  Joseph  Arnold,  1743-5;  Thomas 
Sayles,  1746-54;  Joseph  Sayles,  1755-9;  John  Sayles,  Jr.,  1759;  Daniel 
Mowry,  Jr.,  1760-1814;  Samuel  Mann,  1815-16;  Thomas  Mann,  1817- 
39;  George  L.  Barnes,  1840-2;  Orrin  Wright,  1843:  George  L.  Barnes, 
1844;  Orrin  Wright,  1845-9:  Stafford  Mann,  1850-4;  Samuel  Clark, 
1855-71;  Oscar  A.  Tobey,  1872-. 

In  the  year  1837  the  citizens  of  the  town  began  to  interest  them- 
selves particularly  on  the  subject  of  education.  At  this  time  the 
representatives  were  instructed  to  use  their  exertions  to  procure  the 
passage  of  an  act  authorizing  the  town  to  form  itself  into  school  dis- 
tricts, and  that  the  districts  might  tax  themselves  for  the  building 
of  school  houses,  and  might  appoint  each  for  itself  a  school  committee. 
In  1840  it  was  provided  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to 
examine  persons  proposing  to  teach  in  the  schools;  this  committee 
was  also  to  recommend  school  books  and  visit  the  schools.  The  first 
school  committee,  chosen  in  town  meeting,  consisted  of  Amos  D. 
Lockwood,  Nicholas  S.  Winsor  and  vSamuel  vS.  Mallery.  The  school 
committee  was  enlarged  so  as  to  consist  of  five  persons.  James  I. 
Harkness  was  appointed  on  the  school  committee  in  place  of  Mr. 
Lockwood,  who  declined  to  serve,  and  Thomas  D.  Holmes  and  David 
W.  Aldrich  were  added  to  said  committee.  In  1845  the  school  com- 
mittee was  reduced  to  three,  and  the  members  were  to  be  paid  one 
dollar  per  day  when  engaged  in  their  duties. 

In  1846  $2,000  was  appropriated  for  the  public  schools,  and  the 
committee  allowed  incidental  expenses  in  addition  to  one  dollar  a 
day.  In  1851  $3,000  was  appropriated  for  the  public  schools;  in  1852 
$4,500,  and  this  sum  continued  to  increase  till  the  division  of  the  town, 
just  prior  to  which  time  $18,000  was  appropriated  for  the  public 
schools  and  $1,000  for  evening  schools.  The  appropriation  for  Smith- 
field  in  1888  was  $5,341.99.  From  the  school  census  of  1888  we 
learn  there  were  ten  school  districts  in  the  town,  and  the  number  of 
scholars  in  attendance  was  as  follows:  public  schools,  414;  Catholic 
schools,  93;  select  schools,  4;  total,  511. 

Joshua  Winsor  is  the  parent  head  of  the  Winsor  family  in  this 
town.  In  1637,  we  find  his  name  with  12  others  in  the  town  of  Provi- 
dence, which  then  included  this  territory,  agreeing  to  a  compact  "  for 
the  public  good,"  and  on  July  27th,  1640.  he  and  38  others  signed  an 
agreement  for  a  form  of  government.  He  died  in  1679,  and  on  July 
8th  of  same  year  the  deed  of  his  lands  and  dwelling  house  to  his  son 
Samuel  was  recorded.  Samuel  Winsor  was  born  in  1644  and  married 
Mercy  Waterman  (widow  of  Resolved)  January  2d,  1677.  Joshua 
Winsor,  son  of  Samuel,  born  May  25th,  1682,  married  first  Mary  Barker, 

14 


210  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

October  18th,  1706.  She  died  December  30th,  1718;  and  for  his  second 
wife  he  married  Deborah  Harding',  December  3d,  1719.  Joshua  Win- 
sor  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  of  SmJthfield  for  some  time.  His 
children  were:  Sarah,  Joshua,  Samuel,  Susannah,  Mary,  Abraham  and 
John;  the  last  two  by  his  second  wife. 

The  Steere  family  are  descended  from  John  Steere  and  his  wife 
Hannah  Wickenden,  who  were  married  in  1660.  They  lived  in  a 
house  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  of  Moshosit  near  land  of  Thomas 
Olney,  Jr.  His  children  were:  John,  Sarah,  Dinah,  Thomas,  Jane, 
Ruth,  William,  Ann  and  Samuel.  Thomas  settled  in  that  part  of 
Providence  then  known  as  Smithfield.  He  was  married  twice.  His 
first  wife  was  Msltj  Arnold;  the  second  was  Mehitable  Plummer,  widow 
of  Samuel.  His  children  were:  Phebe,  Mary,  Thomas,  Richard,  Elisha. 
His  second  wife  had  no  issue.     He  died  August  27th,  1735. 

The  Mowry  family  are  descended  from  Roger  and  his  wife  Mary 
(Johnson),  early  settlers  of  Providence.  Roger  came  to  Providence 
about  1643.  In  1 655  he  was  appointed  by  the  court  of  commissioners  to 
keep  a  house  of  entertainment.  He  died  in  1666.  Henry  Mowry,  son 
of  Nathaniel  and  grandson  of  Roger,  was  a  settler  in  this  part  of 
Providence  county.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Bull,  whom  he  married 
November  27th,  1701.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah  Mowry  (widow 
of  John),  whom  he  married  January  4th,  1734.  He  died  September 
23d,  1759.  His  children  were:  Mary,  Uriah,  Jonathan,  Jeremiah, 
Sarah,  Elisha  and  Phebe.  Joseph,  a  brother  of  Henry  Mowry,  mar- 
ried Alice  Whipple,  June  3d,  1695.  Their  children  were:  Daniel, 
Joseph,  Oliver,  Alice  and  Waite.  From  the  children  of  these  two 
brothers  descended  most  of  the  families  now  known  by  this  name. 

Greenville  is  situated  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  town  and 
contains  three  churches,  two  banks,  one  hotel,  a  good  library  and  a 
number  of  stores.  The  village  was  named  in  honor  of  General  Nath- 
aniel Greene.  Resolved  Waterman  settled  here  in  1689.  The  descen- 
dants of  Joshua  Winsor  are  still  living  in  this  part  of  town.  The 
hotel  was  built  by  Resolved  Waterman  in  1733,  and  50  years  ago  it 
was  kept  by  Nicholas  S.  Winsor,  another  prominent  man  of  the  town. 

In  1822,  when  the  Baptist  church  was  raised,  there  were  but  five 
houses  in  the  place.  One  was  standing  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
William  Winsor's  residence.  It  was  owned  by  Smith  Jencks  and  was 
taken  down  in  1848,  at  which  time  the  present  house  was  erected.  Mr. 
John  Seaver  lived  at  that  time  in  a  house  just  back  of  the  hotel,  and 
the  two  houses  now  owned  by  Charles  P.  Allen  were  then  standing. 

As  early  as  the  year  1706  a  Baptist  church  was  erected  here,  and 
this  with  the  hotel  afterward  built  established  this  place  as  a  center. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  later  times  that  much  trading  was  carried 
on.  Joseph  Arnold  was  an  early  trader  in  the  village  and  kept  one 
of  the  first  stores  in  the  place.  The  building  stood  near  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Tobey's  store.      It  was  erected  during  the  first  years 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  211 

■of  the  present  century  and  was  burned  down  twice  and  blown  down 
in  the  September  gale  of  1869.  It  was  burned  in  July,  1870.  William 
Tinkham  kept  a  store  where  the  Library  Building  now  stands  as 
early  as  1840.  He  married  a  sister  of  Anthony  Steere,  who  afterward 
traded  in  the  same  place  for  20  years.  In  1858  John  McLaughlin  came 
to  the  place  and  established  a  store  under  the  Greenville  Bank.  This 
building  was  erected  in  1856.  In  1880  he  bought  out  the  tin  shop  of 
Daniel  Gorey,  and  moved  where  he  is  now  in  1865.  At  the  time  Mr. 
McLaughlin  came  to  the  place  William  Allen  and  wife  kept  a  millinery 
store  in  the  building  McLaughlin  now  occupies.  Anthony  Steere  was 
trading  in  the  building  where  the  library  is  now,  and  James  Burlin- 
game  kept  a  store  at  Knightsville.  John  Harris  had  a  blacksmith 
shop  and  William  Mowrya  paint  shop.  The  tin  shop  was  then  owned 
by  White  &  Gorey.  John  Wilkinson  built  the  store  now  used  in  part 
by  Walker  A.  Medbury  for  a  post  office  and  school  supplies  in  1877. 
Joseph  Arnold,  above  mentioned,  was  succeeded  by  Barnes  &  Sprague. 
William  Tobey  came  to  the  place  in  1852  and  traded  here  till  1878, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Oscar  A.  Tobey,  the  present  mer- 
chant.    The  new  store  was  built  by  William  Winsor  in  1870. 

The  hotel  previously  mentioned,  built  by  Resolved  Waterman  in 
1738,  is  now  owned  by  Albert  J.  Mowry.  About  the  year  1885  Nicholas 
S.  Winsor  ran  the  hotel  and  kept  the  post  office.  He  left  in  1845, 
going  to  New  York,  where  he  remained  till  1881,  when  he  returned. 
He  was  uncle  to  William  Winsor,  cashier  of  the  Smithfield  National 
Bank.  After  him  came  Edward  Evans,  Darius  Hawkins,  and  Lewis 
Moss,  who  came  when  the  Maine  liquor  law  went  into  effect;  Sidney 
Paul,  Darius  Hawkins  the  second  time,  William  Bishop,  Samuel  Cros- 
born.  Smith  Young,  then  Albert  J.  Mowry,  the  present  proprietor, 
who  purchased  the  property  and  moved  into  the  hotel  on  March  27th, 
1867.  The  travel  has  been  considerably  diverted  from  this  route  since 
the  building  of  the  Providence  &  vSpringfield  railroad. 

The  people  in  this  vicinity  have  maintained  a  post  office  for  time 
out  of  mind.  It  was  kept  in  the  hotel  by  Nicholas  S.  Winsor  from 
1885  to  1845.  After  him  William  Tobey  kept  it  for  years,  then  his  son 
Oscar  A.  Tobey  kept  it  for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  meantime 
George  A.  Smith  had  it  for  awhile.      The  present  postmaster,  Walker 

A.  Medbury,  took  the  office  July  8th,  1887.  John  Wilkinson  ran  the 
stage  and  carried  the  mail  40  years.  He  was  succeeded  about  the  year 
1874  by  Charles  O.  Greene,  who  carried  the  m:iil  till  the  present  con- 
tractor, Samuel  O.  Mowry,  took  the  route  about  the  year  1888.  There 
is  one  mail  a  day. 

The  Smithfield  Exchange  Bank  was  established  here  in  1828. 
Daniel  Winsor  was  its  first  president.      He  was  succeeded  by  Nathan 

B.  Sprague  in  1825.  His  successors  were:  Joseph  Cody,  from  1885  to 
1842;  Oliver  Batty,  from  1842  to  1858;  Elisha  Smith,  from  1858  to  1869; 
Benjamin  R.  Vaughn,  from  1869  to  1878;  and   Henry  E.Smith,  the 


212  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

present  executive.  In  1865,  the  bank  was  changed  to  the  national 
form.  It  has  a  capital  stock  of  $150,000.  The  cashier  was  Nicholas 
S.  Winsor,  from  1823  to  1845,  since  which  time  William  Winsor  has 
held  that  position.     Its  deposits  are  about  $581 ,000. 

The  Smithfield  Savings  Bank  was  organized  in  1872.  Benjamin 
R.  Vaughn  was  president  of  this  bank  from  1872  to  1878,  when  Simon 
R.  Steere  succeeded  and  is  still  president.  William  Winsor  has  been 
treasurer  since  1872. 

The  carriage  business  and  blacksmithing  have  been  carried  on 
here  many  years.  John  J.  Harris  and  Pardon  Angell  had  the  black- 
smith shop  before  the  war.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  Whipple  & 
Co.  before  the  building  was  burned  in  1870,  and  they  erected  the 
present  building.  The  firm  consisting  of  Andrew  B,  and  William  A. 
Whipple  dissolved  in  1882,  the  former  going  to  Providence,  but  after- 
ward returning.  Ethan  C.  Thornton  now  owns  the  woodshop,  and 
Horatio  N.  Walcott  the  iron  shop.  The  harness  business  was  run  by 
M.  N.  Joslyn,  who  came  here  in  1870,  and  ran  it  till  1873,  when  T.  F. 
Harris,  the  present  owner,  took  possession.  Pardon  Angell,  grandson 
of  Benjamin  Arnold,  an  early  settler  in  the  town  of  Smithfield,  has 
carried  on  the  undertaking  business  in  Greenville  for  a  number  of 
years. 

A  Baptist  church  was  erected  here  in  1706.  It  was  of  the  Six 
Principle  persuasion  and  an  offshoot  of  the  old  church  in  Providence 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Pardon  Tillinghast.  A  Mr.  John  Hawkins, 
a  member  of  Elder  Tillinghast 's  church,  held  meetings  for  a  consider- 
able length  of  time  in  this  part  of  the  town  of  Providence  and  finally 
became  ordained  as  their  minister.  His  successor  was  Elder  Peter 
Place,  who  was  very  successful  here  in  gathering  up  quite  a  following 
in  the  woods  of  Scituate  and  Glocester.  Samuel  Fish  was  ordained  to 
superintend  the  work  in  Glocester  and  Scituate,  also  in  Johnston. 
The  successor  of  Peter  Place  was  Joshua  Winsor  and  Edward  Mitchell 
was  assistant  to  Elder  Winsor.  He  lived  to  be  97  years  old.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  Elder  John  Winsor,  who  was  first  an  assistant 
to  Elder  Mitchell.  About  the  year  1791-2,  William  Bowen  was 
ordained  elder.  Elder  Miller  also  officiated  as  pastor  about  this  time. 
Mr.  Bowen's  society  withdrawing  from  this  place.  Elder  Winsor's 
church  gradually  diminished  in  number,  and  May  10th,  1806,  100 
years  after  its  organization,  it  had  ceased  to  exist. 

The  Free-will  Baptist  church  was  erected  here  in  1822.  It  stood 
as  it  was  built  till  1884,  when  the  old  galleries  were  taken  out,  and 
other  improvements  made.  The  society  was  organized  in  1820  by 
Elders  Joseph  White,  and  Daniel  Quimby.  From  the  town  records 
we  find  that  in  June,  1822,  Daniel  Winsor,  Daniel  Mathewson,  Jesse 
Foster  and  Stephen  W.  Smith  were  incorporated  by  the  name  of  The 
Baptist  Society  in  the  Southwesterly  part  of  vSmithfield. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  213 

Reverend  Joseph  White,  the  first  pastor,  remained  in  charg-e  until 
1827,  when  he  resigned.  The  services  were  held  in  the  lower  room 
of  the  old  academy  until  the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  in  1822. 
The  building  stands  on  land  donated  by  Major  Nathan  B.  Sprague 
and  Welcome  Seaver.  In  1827  Reverend  Reuben  Allen  became  pastor 
and  remained  in  charge  of  the  society  till  1839.  In  1843  Reverend 
Hosea  Quimby  followed  and  remained  two  years.  In  1846  Reverend 
Maxcy  Burlingame  took  charge,  but  remained  only  one  or  two  years. 
In  1853  Reverend  James  A.  McKenzie  became  pastor  and  remained 
four  years.  Following  him  came  Reverend  Richard  Woodworth  from 
1857  to  1873,  the  longest  pastorate  of  any  since  the  organization  of  the 
society.  Reverend  Charles  S.  Perkins  served  from  1873  to  1875,  when 
Reverend  Arthur  Given  succeeded.  Reverend  G.  A.  Burgess,  the  last 
pastor,  was  here  six  years.  G.P.Grant  and  Albert  Mowry  are  the 
deacons,  Daniel  Chandler  is  clerk,  and  William  Winsor  is  chairman 
of  the  board  of  trustees.     The  membership  numbers  about  100. 

St.  Thomas  Protestant  Episcopal  church  is  located  in  the  village 
of  Greenville.  The  first  Episcopal  service  was  held  in  Greenville  by 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Richmond,  who  came  to  this  village  by  invitation 
of  an  old  resident,  a  few  years  before  regular  services  were  established. 
In  the  summer  of  1849  the  Reverend  J.  H.  Eames,  D.  D.,  visited  Green- 
ville as  a  diocesan  missionary  and  preached  twice  in  the  First  Free- 
will Baptist  church.  Shortly  after  regular  Episcopal  services  were 
conducted  in  the  old  Green  Academy.  In  1851  land  was  given  by 
Mr.  Resolved  Waterman  for  the  erection  of  a  church,  which  was  com- 
pleted the  same  year,  and  on  the  9th  of  March  it  was  consecrated  by 
the  Right  Reverend  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw,  D.  D.,  LL.D.  The  structure 
is  of  stone  and  in  the  tower  is  a  peal  of  three  bells,  a  gift  of  the  first 
rector's  wife,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Eames,  who  also  gave  a  baptismal  font.  At 
this  time  there  were  but  two  communicants,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emery 
Fisk.  The  same  year  an  organization  was  effected  with  the  following 
officers:  Senior  warden,  J.  P.  Leonard;  junior  warden,  Emery  Fisk; 
vestrymen,  Daniel  Evans,  Sessions  Mowry,  Burrill  Bartlett,  N.  B. 
Sprague,  J.  S.  Steere,  Anthony  Steere,  William  L.  Killey. 

In  1866  extensive  repairs  were  made  upon  the  church  edifice  and 
among  these  was  the  putting  in  of  several  memorial  windows.  In 
1879  another  effort  was  made  to  beautify  the  church  and  grounds;  and 
additional  repairs  were  made  in  1889.  The  following  rectors  and 
ministers  have  been  in  charge  of  the  church:  Reverends  James  H. 
Eames,  D.  D.,  Benjamin  Babitt,  Benjamin  H.  Chase,  George  A.  Cogges- 
hall,  Eben  Thompson,  E.  R.  Sweetland,  Charles  H.  Baggs,  W.  Ingram 
Magill,  Charles  E.  Preston.  The  registered  membership  of  the  church 
is  79  and  the  following  organizations  are  connected  with  it:  St.  Thomas 
Guild,  St.  Margaret's  Altar  Society,  the  Young  Peoples'  Society  and 
the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society.  The  officers  of  the  parish  are:  Senior 
warden,  J.  A.  Estes;  junior  warden,  N.  L.Vaughn:  vestrymen,  William 


I 


214  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Clegg,  Daniel  W.  Latham,  Nathan  C.  Estes,  Joseph  A.  Estes,  Leonard 
C.  Lincoln;  clerk,  L  A.  Steere;  treasurer,  J.  A.  Estes;  organist,  Miss  Z. 
J.  Sprague;  sexton,  Marshall  W.  Mowry.  A  monthly  paper  is  pub- 
lished called  "St.  Thomas'  Register." 

The  citizens  of  Smithfield  have  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education.  We  find  the  Smithfield  Third  Library  Company 
was  chartered  by  the  general  assembly  in  1797.  The  Greenville  Free 
Public  Library  was  started  by  subscriptions  amounting  to  $300  and 
by  the  donations  of  valuable  books  by  some  of  the  public  spirited 
citizens  of  the  place  in  1883.  During  the  same  year  the  association 
was  incorporated,  the  officers  being  then  as  now:  W.  I.  Magill,  presi- 
dent; O.  A.  Tobey,  secretary;  William  Winsor,  treasurer;  vice-presi- 
dents, Reverend  Henry  Lapham,  Orra  A.  Angell,and  Josephine  Win- 
sor. The  association  purchased  the  store  property  of  William  Tobey 
in  1888  for  their  library  building.    The  books  number  2,300  volumes. 

Temple  Lodge,  No.  18,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  established  in  1824,  under 
a  dispensation  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  continued  many  years  before 
a  charter  was  granted.  Moses  Aldrich,  Enos  Olney,  Reuben  Mowry, 
Benjamin  Belknap,  Abraham  Winsor,  Charles  C.  Mowry,  Zephaniah 
Keech,  George  C.  Winsor  and  Thomas  R.  Eddy  were  the  prime 
movers  in  the  organization.  In  1826  the  society  went  into  a  formal 
organization,  the  officers  being:  Moses  Aldrich,  W.  M.;  Reuben 
Mowry,  S.  W.;  Elmer  Olney.  J.  W.;  Thomas  R.  Eddy,  treasurer; 
Zephaniah  Keech,  secretary;  Abraham  Winsor,  S.  D.;  George  W. 
Winsor,  J.  D.  This  organization  continued  intact  till  the  year  1831, 
when  it  ceased  to  exist  for  the  time  as  an  active  working  body.  Nich- 
olas S.  Winsor  was  the  last  secretary  of  the  Lodge  under  the  dispensa- 
tion. 

In  1866  the  new  hall  was  erected,  and  at  that  time  the  society  was 
revived  and  a  charter  granted.  The  officers  then  cho.sen  were:  John 
M.  Eddy,  W.  M.;  George  A.  Smith,  S.  W.;  Lorenzo  M.  Bailey,  J.  W.; 
Joseph  C.  Medbury,  treasurer;  Jerome  Burlingame,  secretary;  William 
Blanchard,  S.  D.;  Seth  H.  Steere,  J.  D.;  Benjamin  F.  Chase,  chaplain; 
Ethan  C.  Thornton,  marshal;  Lorenzo  Mowry,  tyler.  The  Centre- 
dale  Lodge,  No.  32,  was  taken  from  the  Greenville  Lodge,  which 
greatly  weakened  the  latter  in  point  of  number. 

There  are  three  mills  in  the  village  of  Greenville  and  its  vicinty. 
One  of  these  was  built  in  Knightsville  about  the  year  1845  by  a  com- 
pany consisting  of  Stephen  and  Albert  Winsor  and  William  Brown, 
and  was  run  under  the  name  of  Winsor  &  Brown.  In  1850  the  com- 
pany built  the  store.  In  1857  the  property  was  sold  to  Jeremiah 
Knight,  who  operates  it  now  for  the  manufacture  of  sheetings.  The 
mills  employ  50  hands.     Stephen  H.  Brown  is  superintendent. 

The  Winsor  Mill  was  built  about  the  year  1840,  by  Elisha  Steere. 
It  afterward  passed  into  the  hands  of  Polk  &  Steere,  Wanton  Vaughn 
and  others,  and  in  1888  J.  P.  &.  E.  K.  Ray,  of  Woonsocket,  took  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  215 

property.  They  employ  about  50  hands,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Daniel  F.  Chandler,  and  manufacture  plain  cotton  goods. 

The  Greenville  Manufacturing  Company,  successors  to  the  Smith- 
field  Woolen  Company,  make  fancy  cassimeres.  They  operate  a  four 
set  mill,  and  give  employment  to  about  70  hands.  The  property 
passed  into  the  hands  of  George  Howard  and  John  Maguire  in  De- 
cember, 1888. 

Spragueville  was  first  settled  by  Abraham  Smith,  in  1733,  and  a 
grist  mill  was  erected  some  years  after  and  two  houses  built.  About 
1824  Captain  Thomas  Sprague  purchased  the  privilege  and  erected  a 
mill.  This  property  afterward  came  into  the  possession  of  Wanton 
Vaughn  and  others.  It  was  then  called  the  Granite  Mill  Company. 
From  Wanton  Vaughn  it  passed  to  his  sons,  William  and  Charles 
Vaughn,  in  1871.  They  operated  the  store  in  connection  with  the  mill. 
In  1888  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Vaughn  took  possession  of  the  property.  In 
1886  the  mill  was  stopped,  but  was  started  again  in  January,  1889. 
There  are  in  operation  108  looms  and  6,500  spindles.  The  mill  is 
built  of  stone,  and  is  120  by  80  feet.  The  store  was  connected  with 
the  mill  till  1884,  and  since  then  has  been  owned  by  different  parties. 
Thomas  S.  Kielty  is  the  present  proprietor. 

Stillwater  is  located  on  the  Providence  &  Springfield  railroad, 
near  the  central  part  of  the  town,  and  is  the  seat  of  the  Stillwater 
Woolen  Mill  Company,  and  has  a  post  office.  The  land  here  was  set- 
tled by  David  Smith  in  1733.  In  1824  Israel  Arnold  and  his  brother 
Welcome  bought  the  land  of  Daniel  Smith's  descendants,  and  erected 
a  small  cotton  mill.  Afterward  this  property  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Joseph  Clark,  of  Johnston,  who  sold  it  to  Robert  Joslin.  The  mill 
was  burned  down  and  rebuilt  several  times.  In  1866  Edward  W. 
Brown  purchased  the  property,  and  with  others  built  a  fine  woolen 
mill  and  a  modern  village,  the  concern  being  known  as  the  Still- 
water Woolen  Company,  chartered  in  1867.  The  first  mill  of  this  com- 
pany was  burned  down.  The  present  structure  is  a  ten  set  mill  built 
of  brick,  130  by  52  feet,  with  one  ell  40  by  65,  and  one  45  by  32,  and 
is  five  stories  in  height.  This  mill  has  been  idle  during  the  past  few 
years,  but  when  last  in  operation  gave  employment  to  175  hands,  and 
manufactured  600,000  pounds  of  wool  annually,  making  450,000  yards 
of  cloth.  When  the  mills  were  in  operation  a  store  was  run  in  con- 
nection, by  the  company.  Henry  L.  Dempsey  has  kept  the  post  office 
for  several  years. 

A  flourishing  grist  mill  located  near  the  depot,  on  the  Woonas- 
quatucket,  is  owned  and  operated  by  A.  B.  Capron.  Originally  there 
was  a  saw  mill  at  this  point  owned  by  Nathan  Angell,  and  subse- 
quently a  grist  mill.  It  was  burned  December  19th,  1877.  The  prop- 
erty passed  from  Henry  Arnold  to  the  present  owner  by  whom  the 
present  mill  was  erected. 


216  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Georgiaville  contains  five  stores,  three  churches  and  a  post  office, 
and  is  the  seat  of  the  Bernon  Manufacturing-  Company.  James  Angell 
and  Elisha  Smith  built  houses  in  this  vicinity  in  1700.  Thomas  Owen 
settled  here  in  1752.  In  1755  John  Farnum  and  two  of  his  sons,  Joseph 
and  Noah,  came  from  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  and  purchased  of  Thomas 
Owen  his  house  and  land  and  commenced  the  business  of  blacksmith- 
ing,  having  also  a  forge  just  below  the  present  mill  of  the  Bernon 
Manufacturing  Company.  The  iron  ore  was  brought  from  Cranston, 
charcoal  being  used  for  smelting  it.  In  1760  John  Farnum  added  to 
his  house,  which  is  still  standing  in  good  repair.  Joseph  Farnum 
built  a  house  here  in  1770. 

The  village  of  Georgiaville  owes  its  origin  and  name  to  the  con- 
struction of  a  cotton  mill  in  that  locality  by  the  "  Georgia  Cotton 
Manufacturing  Company,"  in  the  year  1818.  The  original  company, 
composed  of  Samuel  Nightingale,  Samuel  G.  Arnold  and  Thomas 
Thompson,  built  a  stone  mill,  80  by  36  feet,  on  a  fall  of  18  feet  of  the 
waters  of  the  Woonasquatucket  river.  They  placed  therein  1,000 
spindles,  without  looms,  the  power  loom  not  having  been  introduced 
into  common  use  in  Rhode  Island  until  the  year  1817.  The  yarn  was 
spun  and  dyed  at  the  mill,  and  made  into  webs,  which  were  put  out  to 
be  woven  by  hand  in  various  parts  of  New  England. 

As  this  was  one  of  the  pioneer  mills  of  Rhode  Island,  a  retrospect- 
ive glance  at  the  records  of  this  old  establishment  will  disclose  the 
primitive  state  of  the  cotton  manufacture  at  its  commencement  there, 
and  serve  to  show  the  contrast  between  the  present  improved  processes 
and  those  of  past  days.  The  cotton  -was  at  first  picked  by  hand,  and 
was  distributed  over  the  country  in  small  parcels,  to  be  cleaned  of 
seeds  and  motes  by  industrious  housewives  and  their  children  gathered 
around  the  domestic  fireside.  The  loose  cotton  in  their  laps  sometimes 
took  fire,  and  accounts  of  burning  up  parcels  of  cotton,  and  also  the 
dresses  and  houses  of  the  industrious  cotton  pickers,  sometimes  formed 
a  part  of  the  business  correspondence.  The  price  paid  for  the  hand- 
picking  of  the  cotton  was  about  as  much  as  a  manufacturer  now  expects 
to  obtain  as  the  net  profit  for  the  labor  of  spinning  it.  Equally  remark- 
able was  the  price  once  paid  for  weaving  yard -wide  sheetings,  which, 
as  fixed  by  the  tariff  rate  for  No.  20  yarn,  as  printed  on  one  of  the  old 
weaver's  tickets,  appears  to  have  been  13  cents  per  yard.  This  is  the 
present  selling  price  of  similar  cloth.  For  weaving  gingham  the  price 
fixed  was  one  cent  additional  per  yard  for  every  different  color. 

Another  building  of  stone,  80  by  40  feet,  was  built  in  1828.  and  a 
third  addition  of  the  same  extent  in  1846.  After  the  power  loom  was 
introduced  in  1819  the  manufacture  of  ginghams  was  superseded  by 
that  of  sheetings.  The  number  of  spindles  was  gradually  increased 
from  1,000  in  the  year  1813  to  7,000  in  1853,  when  the  estate  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Zachariah  Allen. 

In  1871  the  company  was  incorporated  with  Moses  B.  I.  Goddard, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  217 

president,  and  Henry  Waterman,  treasurer.  In  1886  the  bondholders 
took  possession  of  the  property,  and  in  1889  it  became  incorporated 
tinder  the  style  of  the  Bernon  Mills  Company.  The  present  officers 
are:  J.  W.  Danielson,  president;  Royal  C.  Taft,  treasurer;  J.  Herbert 
Wells,  secretary.  The  company  make  print  goods  and  employ  about 
125  hands. 

The  first  act  of  incorporation  in  New  England,  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  constructing  reservoirs  for  the  supply  of  mills  in  seasons  of 
drought,  originated  with  the  mill  owners  on  the  Woonasquatucket 
river  in  the  year  1822.  The  following  gives  a  statement  of  the  several 
reservoirs  constructed  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Woonasquatucket 
river: 

Average       Superficial  acres, 
Acres.  depth.  1  foot  deep. 

The  Greenville  reservoir,  con- 
structed in  1822,  contains...     153  10  1.530 
The  Waterman  reservoir,  con- 
structed in  1837,  contains... .   318                  9                     2.862 
The  Thomas  Sprague  reservoir, 

constructed  in  1830,  contains     95  13  and  7  .815 

Hawkins'  reservoir 3(»  10  .300 

Bernon  Mill  Pond,  1853 133  17  .399 

Other  mill  ponds  about 150  2  .300 

Acres  land 879         Water  acres ....   6.196 

The  capacity  of  these  reservoirs  is  sufficient  for  the  storage  of  a 
supply  of  water  for  the  mills  below  them  during  four  months,  the  fall 
being  nearly  200  feet  of  descent  to  Olneyville. 

The  Georgiaville  Evangelical  Society  was  incorporated  in  1856. 
The  following  list  gives  the  names  of  the  incorporators:  James  H. 
Armington,  William  G.  Perry,  William  Patt,  John  C.  Westcott,  John 
R.  Perry,  AVilliam  H.  Hastings,  Daniel  Champlin,  Charles  Greene, 
Benjamin  A,  Winsor,  Thomas  Wood,  Ellery  Slocum,  Ethan  Sweet, 
Obed  Paine,  Mowry  Phillips,  Henry  C.  Arnold,  Elisha  Steere,  Zacha- 
riah  Allen,  Winsor  Farnum,  Simon  B.  Mowry,  William  Steere,  Ephraim 
Whipple,  Ashel  Angell,  Daniel  Angell,  Lyman  Arnold,  Nathan  Angell, 
John  A.  Mowry,  Charles  Cozens,  Jabez  W.  Mowry,  Ezra  Whitford, 
Robert  Harris,  John  S.  Appleby,  Arnold  Smith,  Henry  A.  Smith,  Silas 
Smith,  John  A.  Farnum,  Thomas  Mowry  and  Hezekiah  S.  Harris, 
together  with  others.  In  1857  the  charter  was  adopted  by  the  society. 
May  12th,  1856,  a  meeting  was  held  and  it  was  decided  to  build  a  house 
for  worship.  The  .subscription  paper  was  afterward  circulated  and 
$2,700  raised  for  that  purpose.  The  building  was  erected  on  a  lot  pur- 
chased of  Mr.  L.  Allen.  The  society  is  still  active,  and  of  great  use 
to  the  church. 

A  religious  society  of  Baptists  existed  here  a  number  of  years 
before  a  regular  organization  took  place.     The  house  of  worship  was 


218  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

erected  in  1857,  and  the  church  from  this  time,  being  assisted  by  a. 
well  organized  society,  prospered.  Reverend  Mowry  Phillips  was 
the  firat  pastor.  His  successors  were  George  W.  Wallace,  Mr.  Handy, 
M.  W.  Burlingame,  Lewis  Dexter,  John  P.  Ward,  F.  W.  George  (after- 
ward missionary  to  India),  and  the  Reverend  G.  B.  Cutler,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  who  took  charge  of  the  church  m  1885.  Samuel  W. 
Hubbard  is  deacon,  and  J.  B.  Newell  is  clerk.  The  church  member- 
ship is  about  100. 

St.  Michael's  church  was  established  here  by  Reverend  W.  J.Wise- 
man, who  erected  the  present  church  edifice  in  1876.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Reverend  James  Perkins,  he  by  Reverend  Thomas  Carroll, 
and  he  by  the  present  pastor.  Reverend  James  Fogardy,  in  October, 
1887.     The  membership  numbers  about  100  families. 

The  Universalist  church  is  of  recent  origin.  It  was  the  result  of 
missionary  work  done  for  years  by  Doctor  Thomas  Nutting,  an  old 
prominent  physician  in  the  place,  who  utilized  every  opportunity  given 
him  for  advancing  the  cause.  Doctor  Nutting  advanced  financial  aid, 
and  through  his  efforts  principally  the  present  church  edifice  was 
erected.  Doctor  Nutting  died  in  1886,  aged  76  years,  after  a  practice 
of  medicine  of  over  40  years.  His  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Carrie  I. 
Waldron,  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  The  only  pastor  the  church  has 
had  is  the  Reverend  Vincent  Tomlinson,  who  came  here  in  1886. 

H.  N.  Blanchard  is  the  oldest  trader  in  Georgiaville.  He  carries  a 
full  stock  of  goods  and  does  a  lively  business.  Richard  Tobin  suc- 
ceeded James  White  in  the  grocery  business  in  1873,  and  is  still  trad- 
ing. Patrick  Burke  runs  a  store  in  the  old  hotel  building,  used  for  a 
tavern  many  years.  He  succeeded  James  Barnes  in  1874,  and  run  the 
house  till  1883,  when  the  business  was  changed  from  a  hotel  to  a  store. 
J.  D.  Marston  succeeded  Philip  W.  Aldrich  in  1874.  He  took  the 
post  office  July  6th,  1886.  James  Loomis  erected  his  commodious 
building  for  the  purposes  of  general  trading  in  1873.  There  is  also  a 
blacksmith  and  wagon  shop  in  the  village,  run  by  W.  H.  Leete,  who 
began  here  in  1882. 

Enfield  is  a  hamlet  on  the  Providence  &  Springfield  railroad,  and 
consists  of  a  few  houses,  a  store  and  post  office,  and  is  the  seat  of  the 
Enfield  Mills.  Major  William  Smith  was  the  first  settler  in  this  local- 
ity. In  1813  the  late  Governor  Philip  Allen  purchased  land  of  Eseck 
Smith,  a  descendant  of  Major  William  Smith,  and  erected  a  small 
cotton  mill,  and  the  place  was  then  called  Allenville.  It  retained 
this  name  till  1881 ,  when  a  post  office  was  established  and  the  name 
changed  to  Enfield.  The  store  at  this  place  remained  the  property 
of  the  company  till  1879,  when  I.  B.  Sweet  took  the  business,  and  in 
1882  the  post  office. 

There  is  one  church  building  open  to  all  denominations,  and  in 
which  Reverend  G.  B.  Cutler,  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Georgiaville, 
frequently  holds  services.     In  1820  Governor  Allen  built  a  house  for 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  219' 

the  public  schools,  and  for  religious  worship  on  Sundays.  In  1849  the 
citizens  erected  a  school  house,  and  in  1851  Governor  Allen  built  a 
house  for  public  worship  and  gave  it  to  the  citizens  of  the  village. 
There  is  a  good  Sabbath  school  maintained  in  the  place. 

In  1857  the  mill  property  passed  from  Governor  Allen  to  Earl  P. 
Mason,  Henry  Lippitt  and  others;  in  1867  into  the  ownership  of  the 
Smithfield  Manufacturing  Corripany,  and  in  1879  to  William  H.  Pope,, 
who  runs  the  business  under  the  style  of  the  Enfield  Mills.  This 
company  manufacture  print  goods  and  employ  constantly  about  150 
hands.     Arnold  Knight  is  superintendent  of  the  works. 

The  Central  Union  church  is  situated  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
Providence  and  Douglass  turnpike,  in  the  extreme  north  part  of  the 
town  of  Smithfield.  The  building  is  a  neat  structure,  erected  in  1859,. 
and  dedicated  September  1st,  same  year.  The  society  was  chartered 
as  Smithfield  United  Society  in  January,  1862.  Preaching  is  supplied 
by  the  pastors  of  the  different  denominations.  A  good  Sunday  school 
is  connected  with  this  society,  and  a  valuable  library  of  500  volumes 
belongs  to  the  church. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

George  M.  Appleby  was  born  April  21st,  1818,  and  was  married 
twice.  His  first  wife  was  Phebe  Mowry,  and  his  second  wife  was 
Adah  F.  Smith,  whom  he  married  in  1844.  They  have  one  son,  born 
in  1850,  Jerome  H.  Appleby,  who  was  married  to  Emmiezette  Smith  in 
1875,  and  they  have  one  son,  born  in  1879,  George  H.  Appleby.  The 
Applebys  are  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Smithfield.  Mr.  George  M. 
Appleby  has  done  much  for  the  public  library  of  Greenville. 

Jabe  J.  Applebey,  born  in  1837,  is  the  son  of  James  Applebey,  born 
in  1798.  Jabe  J.  married  Susan  W.  King  of  New  York  in  1860.  They 
have  two  children:  James,  born  1865,  and  Leroy  J.,  born  1870.  Mr. 
Applebey  is  a  farmer  near  Spragueville,  and  holds  the  ofhce  of  col- 
lector of  taxes. 

John  S.  Appleby,  born  in  Smithfield  in  1830,  is  a  son  of  John  S. 
Appleby,  who  was  born  in  1785.  Mr.  John  S.  Apple.by,  Jr.,  is  a 
bachelor. 

Silas  S.  Appleby  is  a  retired  farmer.  He  was  born  in  Smithfield  in 
1812,  was  married  in  1837  to  Julia  Ballou,  and  they  had  .six  children: 
Daniel  A.,  F.  Marion,  Abby  M.,  Sidney  M.,  Emma  A.  and  Clara  A. 
Mr.  Appleby's  forefathers  came  from  England. 

Orrin  Barnes,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  the  town,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Peter  Barnes,  who  came  from  England  to  this  country 
about  the  year  1700.  He  is  the  son  of  Levi  Barnes,  who  occupied  the 
old  homestead,  one  of  the  oldest  houses  now  in  the  town.  Levi 
Barnes  was  the  father  of  Smith,  George  W.,  Orrin  and  Abby,  all  resi- 
dents of  Smithfield.  Orrin  Barnes  married  Estelle,  daughter  of 
Leonard  Allen,  in  1865,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Sarah  S.  Barnes.. 


220  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Samuel  S.  Brown  was  born  in  North  Kingstown,  R.  I.,  and  owns  a 
farm  together  with  his  brother,  S.  D.  Brown.  They  have  a  valuable 
cranberry  marsh,  which  averages  from  25  to  50  bushels  annually,  and 
raise  small  fruit  with  success.  Samuel  S.  Brown  married  Anna  W. 
Thompson,  of  Boston,  in  1870.     They  have  no  children. 

George  S.  Burroughs,  son  of  Samuel  N.  and  Mary  (Sherman)  Bur- 
roughs, was  born  in  Newport  county,  R.  I.,  February  22d,  1828,  and 
was  married  October  1st,  1855,  to  Mary  J.  Aldrich.  They  have  no 
children.     Mr.  Burroughs  is  a  farmer. 

Adin  Ballou  Capron,  member  of  the  general  assembly  of  Rhode 
Island,  is  Jhe  son  of  Carlile  W.  and  Abigail  (Bates)  Capron,  and  was 
born  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  January  9th,  1841.  In  1848  his  father  moved 
to  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  to  engage  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  here  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  time  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  war.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education,  being  a 
graduate  of  the  Woonsocket  High  School,  and  subsequently  the  re- 
cipient of  special  instruction  in  Westbrook  University,  near  Fulton, 
Maine. 

In  May,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Second  Rhode  Island  In- 
fantry, and  was  appointed  sergeant  of  his  company.  The  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  afterward  took  part  in  the  second 
Bull  Run  fight.  After  this  battle,  in  recognition  of  gallant  service, 
he  was  appointed  sergeant  major  of  the  regiment,  and  soon  after  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant.  In  December,  1861,  he  was  assigned 
duty  as  a  member  of  the  signal  corps.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  or- 
dered to  report  to  General  Butler  at  Ship  Island,  but  before  he  arrived, 
the  city  of  New  Orleans  had  surrendered,  and  having  been  taken  sick 
while  on  the  way,  he  was  ordered  back  and  sent  north  to  join  General 
McClellan  at  Harrison's  Landing,  immediately  after  the  seven  days' 
battles.  He  had  in  the  meantime  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant,  and  thereafter  he  was  connected  with  the  department 
staff  of  the  headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  After  General 
McClellan,  he  was  on  the  staff  of  Generals  Burnside,  Hooker  and 
Meade,  participating  actively  in  most  of  the  battles  till  the  close  of 
the  war.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  brevetted  captain,  and  sub- 
sequently major,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services.  His  examina- 
tion by  an  army  board  of  officers  to  a  position  in  the  regular  army 
was  in  accordance  with  an  act  which  had  passed  congress  March  3d, 
1863,  from  which  time  his  service  in  that  capacity  was  dated. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Capron  was  for  a  time  connected  with  a  publish- 
ing house  in  Chicago,  but  in  1866  he  returned  to  Rhode  Island  and 
entered  the  service  of  the  Lippitt  Woolen  Company  at  Woonsocket, 
where  he  remained  as  accountant  until  April,  1869.  He  then  accepted 
a  similar  position  for  the  Stillwater  Woolen  Mill  Company,  subse- 
quently becoming  their  superintendent  in  charge.  In  1872  the  mills 
at  this  place  were  burned,  and  he  was  employed  to  superintend  their 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  221 

re-erection.  He  remained  with  them  until  1875,  and  then  purchased 
the  mills  where  he  at  present  operates.  In  1877  the  property  was 
burned,  but  was  immedietely  rebuilt  and  enlarged,  and  now  gives 
employment  to  a  dozen  hands,  and  grinds  from  three  to  four  hundred 
car  loads  of  grain  annually. 

Mr.  Capron  was  elected  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  Rhode 
Island  legislature  in  1887  by  the  republican  party,  and  was  re-elected 
in  1888,  1889  and  1800.  He  was  a  vigorous  advocate  of  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  prohibitory  laws  while  constitutional  prohibition  was  the 
law  of  the  state.     He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  finance. 

Mr.  Capron  was  married  in  August,  1868,  to  Irene,  daughter  of  Otis 
D.  Ballou,  of  Woonsocket.  She  died  ten  months  afterward.  His 
second  marriage  was  in  April,  1874,  to  Phebe  A.,  daughter  of  John  A. 
Mowry,  of  Smithfield.  Their  children  are:  Helen  M.,  John  M.,  Adin 
M.  and  Almira  M. 

Mr.  Capron  is  a  member  of  the  Georgiaville  Universalist  church  and 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  at  that  place  ever  since 
the  organization  of  the  society. 

Mrs.  Ellen  Colwell  is  the  widow  of  Harris  W.  Colwell,  son  of  George 
and  grandson  of  David  Colwell.  Mrs.  Colwell  has  two  children:  ISIira 
E.,  born  1857,  and  Frank  S.,  born  1866. 

William  Gardiner  came  to  Smithfield  in  1857  from  Cumberland, 
Providence  county.  He  was  born  in  Exeter  in  1820  and  married  in 
1849  Dulcenia  B.,  daughter  of  William  H.  Gardiner.  They  have  three 
children:  Leander  E.,  born  1851;  Ida  E.,  born  1853;  and  Luella  D., 
born  1864.  Mr.  Gardiner  is  a  successful  farmer  and  has  refused  the 
ofhce  of  representative,  to  which  he  was  once  elected. 

Mrs.  Ella  L.  M.  Gavitt  is  an  adopted  daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Mowry, 
who  was  born  September  8th,  1804,  in  Smithfield,  and  was  a  son  of 
Aaron  Mowry,  born  March  3d,  1765,  in  the  same  town.  Aaron  Mowry 's 
father,  Stephen  Mowry,  was  born  in  1731,  and  his  father,  Uriah 
Mowry,  born  1705,  was  the  son  of  Henry,  and  he  the  son  of  Nathaniel, 
born  1644.  Three  brothers  of  the  Mowry  family  came  to  this  country, 
Nathaniel,  Roger  and  John,  and  from  the  three  brothers  are  descended 
the  Mowrys  of  to-day. 

George  P.  Grant  came  to  Providence  county  in  1855.  He  was  born 
in  England  in  1829  and  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife,  Lydia  C. 
Peckham.  he  had  seven  children.  Mrs.  Lydia  Grant  died  in  1873.  He 
married  Mrs.  Mira  Davis,  widow  of  Edward  Davis,  in  1881.  Mrs. 
Davis  had  one  daughter,  Susan  Mabel  Davis,  born  in  1866.  Mr.  George 
P.  Grant  is  a  farmer. 

Charles  E.  Ladoux,  born  in  Vermont  in  1854,  came  to  Providence 
county  in  1866,  was  married  in  1888,  and  has  one  child.  He  is  a  fore- 
man in  the  employ  of  the  P.  &  S.  railroad. 

Almira  S.  Mowry,  widow  of  John  A.  Mowry,  was  married  in  1839 
and  has  two  children  living:  Adelaide  R.,  born  in  1841,  and  Phebe  A., 
born  in  1850. 


222  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Alonzo  Percy  Mowry,  member  of  the  upper  house  of  the  state 
legislature,  was  born  December  20th,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  George  W. 
and  Hannah  Mowry,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Diana 
Aldrich.  Mr.  Mowry  received  his  education  in  the  common  school, 
supplementing  his  work  there  with  a  course  of  studies  in  some  of  the 
best  private  schools  and  academies  of  the  county.  He  attended  the 
Greenville  Academy,  the  Jencks  Mowry  school  in  Providence,  and 
the  Lapham  Institute,  North  Scituate.  When  22  years  of  age  Mr. 
Mowry  became  a  clerk  in  a  shoe  store  for  his  brother-in-law,  W.  K. 
Atwood,  in  Providence,  and  subsequently  established  himself  in  that 
same  line  of  business  on  Main  street  of  that  city.  He  traded  there 
and  afterward  in  Olneyville  seven  or  eight  years,  and  then  moved  on 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  still  resides.  The  place  is  one  of  the  old 
landmarks  of  the  county.  The  farm  consists  of  200  acres  of  land 
pleasantly  situated  and  valuable  for  farming  purposes.  The  house 
was  formerly  used  for  a  hotel  and  was  once  owned  by  Thomas  Paine, 
who  kept  tavern  there  a  number  of  years,  it  being  on  the  old  Powder- 
mill  turnpike  road,  where  there  was  much  travel  until  diverted  by 
the  introduction  of  railroads. 

Mr.  Mowry  is  a  very  retiring  man,  caring  little  for  public  notoriety, 
yet  the  people  of  his  town,  when  seeking  the  right  man,  selected  him 
for  state  senator  in  1882,  and  successively  nominated  and  elected  him 
to  that  office  every  subsequent  year  to  the  present  time.  He  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Smithfield  National  Exchange  Bank, 
and  trustee  in  the  Baptist  church  of  Greenville,  of  which  he  has  been 
a  member  since  187(1. 

In  1869  he  was  married  to  Minnie,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Betsey 
C.  Gavitt,  then  of  East  Providence.  Two  children,  Mattie  A.  and 
Bessie  M.,  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mowry. 

Harley  Mowry  was  born  in  1824  in  the  town  of  Smithfield,  and 
December  8th,  1851,  was  married  to  Lydia  W.  Brown.  They  have  one 
son,  Harley.     Mr.  Mowry  is  a  descendant  of  David  Mowry. 

Jabez  W.  Mowry,  named  for  his  uncle,  Jabez  W.  Mowry,  was  born 
July  29th,  1824,  and  married  Susan  Mowry.  They  have  two  children 
living:  Arabella  F.,  and  Abraham  L.,  who  is  postmaster  at  Smithfield. 
They  lost  one  son,  Roger  W.  Mr.  Jabez  W.  Mowry  has  represented 
his  town  17  years  in  the  legislature. 

Sidney  H.  Mowry  was  born  in  1848,  and  was  married  to  Bertha  D., 
daughter  of  James  Pratt,  in  1808.  They  have  four  children:  Edna  E., 
born  in  1870;  Mabel  S.,  born  in  1872;  Leland  B.,  born  in  1875;  and 
Sara  A.,  born  in  1882. 

J.  B.  Newell  was  born  in  Somerset  count3^  Maine,  in  1885,  came  to 
this  county  in  1877,  and  settled  in  Georgiaville,  where  he  has  charge 
•of  the  weaving  department  of  the  Bernon  Mills.  He  was  first  married 
to  Mary  E.  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Peru,  Oxford  county, 
Maine,  in  1839,  and  died  twelve  years  later  in  Lewiston,  Androscoggin 


V 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  223 

county,  Maine.  They  had  one  son,  Elmer  J.,  born  in  Lewiston,  m 
1864.  Mr.  Newell  was  married  to  Martha  E.  Loomis,  of  Smithfield,  in 
1878,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Eva  G.,  born  in  1880. 

Thurston  Phetteplace,  one  of  the  first  residents  of  Spragueville, 
still  resides  in  that  place,  and  was  born  there  in  1816.  He  married 
Hannah  F.  Phetteplace  in  1843. 

Charles  A.  Phillips  is  a  son  of  Smith  Phillips.  He  was  married  in 
1883  to  Ada  Fowler,  of  Providence.  They  have  two  children: 
Charles  H.  and  Jennie  M.  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  prominent  farmer  near 
Greenville. 

Henry  E.  Polk,  born  in  1832  in  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  is  a  son  of  Edward, 
Jr.,  and  grandson  of  Edward,  who  came  to  this  country  with  the  British 
army  in  the  days  of  the  revolution,  and  settled  in  Smithfield.  Edward, 
Jr.,  m.arried  Hannah  Smith  Slack,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Marcy 
(Waterman)  Slack.  They  had  five  daughters  and  three  sons,  Henry 
E.  being  the  youngest  son.     He  is  a  bachelor. 

Daniel  Smith  was  born  in  1832,  and  married  Sabra  J.  Baker  in 
1883.  They  have  one  daughter.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  large  land  owner  in 
Smithfield,  and  is  considered  a  successful  business  man. 

Henry  Esek  Smith,  president  of  the  National  Exchange  Bank, 
Greenville,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Smithfield,  February  27th,  1829. 
He  is  the  son  of  Elisha  and  Melissa  Smith,  and  a  descendant  of  Elisha 
Smith,  Sr.,  who  settled  at  Smith's  Mills,  now  John  Applebey's  place, 
near  what  is  now  known  as  Stillwater,  in  the  town  of  Smithfield,  in  an 
early  day.  Elisha  Smith,  Sr.,  had  two  sons,  Elisha  and  John.  Junia 
was  the  son  of  John,  and  the  father  of  Elisha,  who  was  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Elisha  Smith,  the  father  of  Henry  E.,  and 
Melissa  Smith  were  united  in  marriage  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1825.  He  was  a  man  of  force  and  character,  and  represented  his  town 
in  various  capacities  as  a  public  official.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
town  council  for  a  number  of  years,  a  representative  in  the  general 
assembly  for  a  long  time,  and  was  director  and  president  of  the 
National  Exchange  Bank,  Greenville,  for  many  years  also.  On  his 
mother's  side,  Henry  E.  Smith  is  a  descendant  of  John  and  Alice 
Smith,  who  came  from  England  with  Roger  Williams,  the  lineage 
being  as  follows:  John',  John',  William',  Daniel',  Emor',  Esek'  and  :Slel- 
issa',  who  was  the  mother  of  our  subject.  John'  was  the  town  clerk  of 
Providence  for  many  years,  and  its  representative  in  the  general 
assembly  from  1712  to  1729.  In  1730  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  build  the  county  court  house  and  jail.  William  Smith' 
was  also  a  very  prominent  man.  He  located  in  Smithfield  in  1713,  on 
a  thousand  acres  of  land,  probably  building  the  old  house  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Henry  E.  Smith.  He  married  Mary 
Sayles,  a  descendant  of  Roger  Williams,  and  his  son  Daniel  married 


4' 


224  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Susannah  Winsor,  another  descendant  of  Roger  Williams.  Emor, 
son  of  Daniel,  married  Sarah  Smith,  and  his  son  Esek  married  Desire 
Eddy,  whose  daughter,  Melissa,  became  the  mother  of  Henry  E. 
Smith. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  raised  a  farmer,  and  he  has  devoted 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  received  a 
common  district  school  education,  and  in  addition  to  this  attended  the 
Fruit  Hill  Classical  Institute  a  few  terms,  supplementing  the  work 
there  with  a  course  of  study  at  East  Greenwich,  leaving  that  institution 
of  learning  with  a  fair  education,  in  his  17th  year.  Work  was  then 
taken  up  on  the  farm  till  1853,  when  he  bought  the  store  at  Enfield 
and  ran  that  till  1856.  In  1856  he  again  renewed  his  connection  with 
the  farm,  directing  his  attention  principally  to  the  raising  and  im- 
proving of  the  finer  breeds  of  stock.  In  1857  he  erected  his  barn,  and 
since  then  he  has  been  identified  with  New  England  and  the  country 
generally  as  a  stock  raiser.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Domestic  Industry  in  1858,  and  has 
filled  many  and  important  positions;  as  a  member  of  the  standing 
committee;  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  vice-president  of  the  society. 
During  these  years  he  has  made  frequent  exhibits,  and  has  never  failed 
to  carry  off  some  first  premiums.  He  has  been  improving  largely 
upon  the  x'Vyrshire  breed,  and  his  barn  at  the  present  time  contains  35 
head  of'  Ayrshire  and  Jersey  milch  cows  of  his  own  breeding.  For 
the  past  35  years  Mr.  Smith  has  been  supplying  milk  to  the  people  of 
Providence.  In  1887  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Ayrshire  Breeders' 
Association  for  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Mr.  Smith  cares  little 
for  political  offices,  though  he  has  served  his  town  frequently  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town  council;  he  has  refused  to  run  for  the  general  assembly. 
He  has  been  president  of  the  National  Exchange  Bank  at  Greenville 
for  the  past  ten  or  a  dozen  years,  and  is  president  of  the  parish  organi- 
zation of  the  Universalist  church  at  Georgiaville.  December  16th, 
1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mercy  J.  Steere,  daughter  of  William  P. 
and  Mary  Ann  Steere.  They  have  four  children:  Frederick  Elisha, 
born  December  18th,  1863;  Helen  Parker,  born  June  1st,  1867;  Annie 
Melissa,  born  April  29th,  1877,  and  Alice  Mercy,  born  July  16th, 
1882. 

William  P.  Steere  was  a  man  of  considerable  force  and  character. 
He  was  in  lineal  descent  a  great-grandson  of  Thomas  Steere',  as  fol- 
lows: Elisha',  Stephen',  William*.  He  always  lived  in  the  town  of 
Smithfield,  and  was  honored  frequently  with-  positions  of  trust  and 
great  responsibility.  His  education  was  limited,  owing  to  the  circum- 
scribed opportunities  of  his  day,  although  he  pursued  a  course  of 
study  at  Bolton,  Mass.,  in  addition  to  the  common  district  school  cur- 
riculum of  his  times.     He  was  a  brother  of  the  well-known  Reverend 


^, 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  224a 

Martin  J.  Steere,  formerly  of  the  Baptist  but  latterly  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church.  He  was  born,  lived  and  died  on  the  farm  near  Still- 
water, where  George.  Sherman  now  resides.  He  was  in  the  town 
council  so  often  as  a  member,  and  took  such  a  lively  interest  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  town  that  but  little  of  moment  was  done  in  this 
part  of  the  country,  in  his  day,  without  counsel  from  him  and  his 
sanction.  He  Served  the  town  long-  .and  ably,  also,  in  the  general 
assembly,  and  here  again  his  ability  as  a  man  was  brought  into  requi- 
sition. He  was  born  July  4th,  ISIO,  and  died  July  6th.  1876.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1833,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Parker. .  She  was  born  July 
30th,  1813,  and  died  September  16th,  1800.  They  had  four  children, 
three  of  whom  survive  them.  Mercy  J.,  the  wife  of  Henry  E.  vSmith, 
is  prominently  identified  with  the  Universalist  society  of  Georgia- 
ville. 

Henry  W.  Smith,  son  of  Appleby  Smith,  was  born  in  1824,  and' 
married  Ann  E.  Farnum  in  1848.  They  have  two  children:  Emma, 
born  in  1853,  and  Henry  F.  Smith,  born  in  1862.  Mt.  Smith  is  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  butcher  at  Spragueville.  His  daughter,  Emma, 
married  Jerome  H.  Appleby,  and  his  son,  Henry  F.,  married  Jessie  H. 
Tobey. 

John  L.  Smith  is  a  son  of  Brown  wSmith,  and  grandson  of  Willard 
Smith.  Brown  Smith  was  born  in  1805,  married  Merinda  Lewis  in 
1829,  and  had  eight  children:  Juni,  born  in  1830;  Crawford,  born  in 
1831;  John  L.,  born  in  1832;  Elsa  Ann,  born  in  1834;  Brown,  born  in 
1837;  Albert  L.,  born  in  1839;  Sarah  A.,  born  in  1841;  and  Ellen  F., 
born  in  1843.  John  L.  Smith  is  a  bachelor,  and  lives  on  a  farm  at 
Georgiaville. 

Simon  Smith  is  a  son  of  Mowry  Smith,  who  was  born  in  1798  in 
Glocester.  Mowry  Smith's  father  was  Duty,  born  1765;  his  father  was 
Daniel,  born  1723,  and  his  father  was  Elisha,  born  1680.  They  were 
all  residents  of  Providence  county.  Simon  is  married  and  has  three 
children:  Phebe  L.,  Nettie  L.  and  Etta  A.  Mr.  Simon  Smith  was  born 
in  1828,  and  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in  1830. 

John  S.  Sprague,  born  in  Smithfield  August  13th,  1827,  is  a  son  of 
Nathan  B.  and  Sarah  Sprague.  Nathan  B.,  born  x\pril  7th,  1787,  in 
Johnston,  R.  I.,  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Sprague,  born  March  28th,  1713. 
Nathan  B.  had  five  children:  Esther  S.,  Maria,  Hannah  B.,  Daniel  and 
John  S.  Nathan  B.  Sprague  was  the  first  president  of  the  old  Smith- 
field  Exchange  Bank  of  Greenville,  and  was  a  member  of  the  general 
assembly  11  years,  and  speaker  of  the  house  one  year.  He  died  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son,  John  S.,  who  married  a  daughter  of 
George  T.  and  Alzada  Phetteplace.  They  have  two  children:  Nathan 
B.  and  Alzada  J.  Mr.  Sprague  is  engaged  in  farming  and  the  dairy 
business. 


224b  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Catharine  C.  Steere  is  a  sister  of  Stephen  Steere  and  lives  with  him^ 
Their  father  was  Elisha  Steere,  who  was  born  in  1783,  and  their  mother 
was  Esther  Appleby.  They  were  married  in  1815,  and  had  six  chil- 
dren: Sarah  A.,  born  in  1816;  Catharine  C,  born  in  1817;  Simon  S., 
born  in  1820;  Harriet  S.,  born  in  1823;  Stephen,  born  in  1824;  and 
Waity,  born  in  1825.  Stephen  Steere  married  Mary  E.  Arnold,  and 
they  have  had  one  son,  Elisha  A.,  born  in  1854.  Elisha  A.  married 
Phebe  O.  Mathewson  in  1879,  and  has  three  children:  Mary  M.,  Ruth 
E.  and  Charles  A, 

vStafford  G.  Stra-ight,  born  in  Kent  county,  R.  I.,  in  1838,  is  a  son 
of  Palmer  and  grandson  of  Daniel,  whose  father,  Nathan,  was  a  son  of 
Henry,  who  emigrated  from  Ireland  about  the  year  1690.  Stafford 
G.  was  married  to  Amanda  Green  in  1860.  They  have  had  seven 
children:  Ida  A.,  Mary  L.,  Daniel  P.,  William  L.,  Mehaley  P.,  Eva  A. 
and  Lilla  A. 

Ira  B.  Sweet,  born  in  1848,  is  a  son  of  Loring  B.  Sweet,  and  grand- 
son of  Brown  Sweet,  all  born  in  Smithfield.  Loring  B.  was  born  in 
1829,  and  married  Lucy  M.  Manchester,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  They  had 
four  sons:  Ira  B.,  born  1848;  Edward  E.,  born  1860;  Philip  M.,  born 
1854;  and  Loring  B.,  born  1856.  Ira  B.  Sweet  married  Almira  T. 
Sweet  in  1869.  They  have  had  two  children:  Clara  M.,  born  in 
1871,  and  Carlton  B.,  born  in  1880.  Mr.  Sweet  has  held  the  posi- 
tion of  postmaster  at  Enfield  since  the  office  was  established  in  1882, 
and  is  also  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  business  in  that 
place. 

Charles  Tucker,  son  of  Jackson  and  Freelove  Tucker,  was  born  m 
1847,  and  married  Ellen  C.  Jones  in  1875.  They  have  two  children: 
Cora  E.,  born  1877,  and  George  E.,  born  1883. 

Thomas  Tucker  is  a  son  of  Jackson  and  Freelove  Tucker,  who  had 
ten  children.  ]\Iary  E.  was  born  in  1839,  Thomas  in  1842.  William  A. 
in  1845,  Charles  in  1847,  Daniel  in  1854,  and  James  in  1856.  Thomas 
is  a  bachelor,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  near  Greenville  in  the 
town  of  Smithfield. 

Edmund  C.  Walling  was  born  vSeptember  18th,  1851,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  1872  to  Harriet  V.  Angell.  They  have  two  children:  Cora  A., 
born  July  22d,  1875,  and  Herbert  E.,  born  June  23d,  1878.  The  father 
of  Edmund  Walling,  Reuben,  was  born  July  23d,  1821;  his  father,  Clark 
Walling,  was  born  in  1803,  and  his  father  was  Ishmael.  They  were 
all  born  in  Providence  county. 

John  E.  Whipple  is  a  descendant  of  Captain  John  Whipple,  who 
was  born  in  England  in  1617,  and  came  to  Massachusetts  in  1630.  He 
was  married  to  Sarah,  at  Dorchester,  about  1640,  and  moved  to  Provi- 
dence county  in  1658.  .Mr.  John  E.  Whipple  was  born  in  Smithfield 
in  1842,  in  the  house  where  he  now  lives.     His  father's  name  was 


.      HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  225 

Ephraim  Whipple,  and  his  mother  was  Susan  Farnum.  John  E. 
married  in  1865,  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  Reuben  Arnold.  They  have 
three  sons:  John  H.,  William  A.,  and  George  F.  Mr.  John  E.  Whip- 
ple is  a  prominent  republican,  and  has  held  several  town  offices. 

Ezra  Whitford,  born  in  1815,  is  the  son  of  Joshua,  born  in  1781. 
Ezra  Whitford  has  lived  on  the  farm  he  now  owns  44  years.  He  has 
followed  blacksmithing  and  farming  all  his  life.  He  was  married  in 
1841  to  Lydia,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Young.  They  have  two  children: 
Dorcas  Ann,  born  1842,  and  Amey  Josephine,  born  1851.  Mr.  Ezra 
Whitford  has  a  collection  of  Indian  relics  he  picked  up  near  his  farm 
in  Smithfield. 

Edwin  P.  Williams,  born  in  Providence  count5^  in  1883,  is  a  son  of 
Cyrus  Williams,  born  in  1795.  He  married,  in  1850,  Nancy,  daughter 
of  Thomas  vSmith.  They  have  five  children:  Hannah  L.,  Doxy  A., 
Andrew  J.,  Nellie  T.  and  Nannie.  Mr.  Williams  served  in  the  war  of 
the  rebellion. 

Nicholas  Steere  Winsor,  deceased,  father  of  Josephine  E.  Winsor 
of  Greenville,  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  state.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  Joshua  Winsor,  who  came  to  America  either  as 
one  of  Roger  Williams'  first  party  or  the  second,  as  supposed  by 
some.  He  located  at  Providence,  making  a  purchase  of  the  Indians 
there  in  the  wilderness  about  the  year  1638,  being  one  of  20  who  paid 
the  ;^30,  the  amount  of  the  first  purchase  of  Providence,  with  Roger 
Williams  as  the  first  purchaser.  He  built  his  first  dwelling  house  on 
the  site  of  that  now  occupied  by  the  late  Arnold  Brown.  Samuel 
Winsor,  son  of  Joshiia,  married  Mere}''  Waterman,  widow  of  Resolved 
Waterman  of  Warwick,  and  youngest  daughter  of  Roger  Williams. 
He  was  the  first  to  settle  in  the  town  of  Smithfield.  He  was  born  in 
1644,  and  died  September  19th,  1705.  William  Winsor,  grandfather 
of  Nicholas,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  Whipple, 
and  their  son,  Duty,  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Duty 
Winsor  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Jonah  Steere  of  Glocester,  R.  I., 
a  revolutionary  soldier. 

Nicholas  Steere  Winsor  was  born  October  10th,  1797.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  town  of  Smithfield,  and  died  there  February  15th,  1885. 
In  common  with  most  farmers'  sons,  he  received  as  good  an  education 
as  the  country  district  schools  afforded,  after  which  he  attended  the 
Leicester  Academy  in  Massachusetts.  Following  this  he  taught 
school,  and  was  at  one  time  principal  of  the  popular  academy  at 
Greenville.  At  the  age  of  25  he  became  associated  with  the  Green- 
ville Bank,  and  was  its  cashier  thereafter  for  a  period  of  23  years, 
from  1822  to  1845.  He  was  also  a  director  in  the  bank,  and  one  of  its 
stockholders  from  the  time  of  its  organization.  He  was  postmaster 
of  the  village  for  15  years.  In  1845  he  went  to  New  York  and  be- 
came bookkeeper  and  corresponding  clerk  in  the  banking  office  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Amasa  S.  Foster,  and  remained  there  15  years.  At 
15 


226  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  expiration  of  that  time  he  removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
mained there  20  years,  from  1861  to  1881,  in  charge  of  his  father-in- 
law's  farm;  then  he  returned  to  Greenville  to  pass  the  few  remaining 
years  of  his  life  in  the  quietude  of  his  old  home. 

Mr.  Winsor  was  a  republican  in  politics  but  no  politician,  and 
cared  nothing  for  political  preferment.  In  1820,  under  Governor 
Nehemiah  Knight,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  Sixth  Regiment 
of  the  Second  Rhode  Island  Brigade,  and  held  that  position  still 
when  ordered  out  in  the  Dorr  War.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  but  he  cared  more  for  the  inner  circle  of 
his  own  domestic  hearth  than  all  these,  and  was  generally  found  pass- 
ing his  evenings  quietly  at  home. 

He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Foster,  of  Smithfield, 
R.  I.,  November  13th,  1831.  She  was  born  December  19th,  1806,  and 
died  in  February,  1842,  43  years  before  her  husband  died.  Miss 
Josephine  Winsor,  the  only  one  of  the  family  surviving,  was  born 
April  17th,  1837. 

William  Winsor,  son  of  Asa  and  Elizabeth  (Foster)  Winsor,  and 
for  45  years  cashier  of  the  National  Exchange  Bank,  was  born  at 
Greenville,  R.  I.,  November  12th,  1819.  His  father  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1870,  aged  82  years.  He  was  the  son  of  Duty  and  a  descendant 
of  Joshua  Winsor,  one  of  the  early  purchasers  of  Providence  from  the 
Indians  with  Roger  Williams,  as  before  mentioned.  The  old  home- 
stead now  occupied  by  William  Winsor  was  probably  erected  by  the 
father  of  Duty  Winsor.  Asa  and  Elizabeth  Winsor  had  six  children: 
Elizabeth,  Emily,  William,  Ethelbert,  John  and  Richmond. 

William  Winsor  was  raised  a  farmer's  boy,  receiving  his  educa- 
tion at  the  common  district  school,  and  at  the  Smithfield  Seminary, 
in  1841-2,  after  which  he  taught  school  one  or  two  terms.  In  March, 
1845,  he  entered  the  Smithfield  Exchange  Bank,  becoming  its  cashier 
in  July  of  that  year  as  the  successor  of  his  uncle,  who  had  held  the 
position  from  1822  to  that  time.  He  has  also  been  treasurer  of  the 
Smithfield  Savings  Bank  since  its  organization  in  1872.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  the  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Smithfield.  Under  Mr. 
Winsor's  term  of  official  life,  the  National  Exchange  Bank  has  en- 
joyed unprecedented  prosperity.  The  increase  in  its  capital  stock 
and  the  dividends  are  found  to  be  as  great  as  in  other  institutions 
similarly  circumstanced. 

Mr.  Winsor  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  First  Free 
Baptist  church  of  Smithfield,  having  been  under  the  ministerial  labors 
of  the  Reverend  Richard  Woodward  converted  to  God  April  4th,  1858. 
He  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  all  gospel  institutions,  has  been  trustee 
of  his  church  since  1872,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  general  conference 
in  1874.  He  has  always  been  a  liberal  man  with  his  means,  when 
necessity  called.  His  interest  was  manifested  in  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion in  purchasing  the  buildings  of  the  Lapham  Institute,  and  gener- 


W<n<£-^r?^^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  227 

ously  supporting  the  institution  himself  for  some  time.     He  has  also 
been  generous  in  his  gifts  to  Bates  College  and  to  Storer  College. 

Mr.  Winsor  married,  April  11th,  1844,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Elisha 
and  Esther  Steere,  of  Smithfield.  Her  father  was  a  Quaker  and  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  New  England.  By  this 
marriage  Mr.  Winsor  has  one  son,  Nicholas,  born  May  15th,  1866. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  CUMBERLAND. 

Description, — Connection  With  Rehoboth. — Early  Town  Action. — Town  Officers. — 
William  Blackstone. — Other  Early  Settlers. — Transportation. — The  Blackstone  River. 
— Bridge. — Mills  and  Manufactories. — Mines  and  Quarries. — Valley  Falls. — Manville. 
— Lonsdale. — Ashton. — East  Cvimberland. — Diamond  Hill. — Hawkins. — Berkeley. — 
Cumberland  Hill. — Education. — Churches. — Societies. — Biographical  Sketches. 

CUMBERLAND  was  one  of  the  five  towns  received  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  incorporated  January  27th,  1746-7.  It  became  a 
part  of  Providence  county  February  17th  the  same  year.  It 
was  called  in  earlier  times  Attleborough  Gore.  It  took  its  present 
name  from  William,  Duke  of  Cumberland.  A  part  of  the  town  was 
annexed  to  Woonsocket  January  31st,  1867,  and  the  town  has  since 
then  been  styled  the  mineral  pocket  of  New  England  on  account  of 
the  variety  and  richness  of  its  minerals. 

The  places  of  note  are  as  follows:  Villages. — Valley  Falls  (Cumber- 
land side);  Lonsdale  New  Village;  Berkeley;  Ashton  (Cumberland 
side);  Manville  (Cumberland  side);  Arnold's  Mills;  Diamond  Hill; 
Abbot  Run;  Cumberland  Hill;  Robin  Hollow;  Happy  Hollow;  East 
Cumberland.  Brooks  vnd  River.— Ahhot  Run  (Indian  name  Wawe- 
poonseag);  Burnt  Wood  Swamp;  Grant;  East  Sneech  Pond;  West 
Sneech  Pond;  Whipple;  Blackstone  river.  /////j-.— Cumberland; 
Beacon  Pole;  Granite  Quarry;  Copper  Mine;  Iron  Rock.  Ponds. — 
Sneech  (Indian,  Senetchenet,  and  proposed  name  Echo  Lake);  Little 
Valley  Falls;  Manville;  Ashton;  Abbot  Run;  Robin;  Happy  Hollow 
Burnt  Wood  Swamp;  Lonsdale  New  Reservoir.  Szvamps. — Burnt 
Nine  Mens'  Misery.  Historic. — Nine  Mens'  Misery  and  Nine  Mens'' 
Grave,  with  notable  rocks  on  Amasa  Whipple's  farm.  Catholic  Oak 
at  Lonsdale  New  Village,  so  named  by  the  late  Reverend  James  C. 
Richmond.  Unity  Furnace,  where  Manville  now  is,  was  well  known 
before  the  revolutionary  war  and  was  removed  about  1826.  Diamond 
Hill  Plains;  Old  Ballou  meeting  house,  built  about  1740,  near  Iron 
Rock  hill;  Duel  Hollow;  Study  hill,  the  site  of  William  Blackstone's 
residence  from  1635  till  his  death  1676,  and  also  the  site  of  his  burial. 
The  population  of  the  town  at  various  dates  since  it  was  set  off  by 
itself  has  been  as  follows:  1782,1,548;  1790,  1,964;  1800,2,056;  1810, 
2,210;  1820,  2,653;  1830,  3,675;  1840,  5,225;  1850,  6,661;  1860,  8,339; 
1865,  8,216;  1870,  3,882;  1875,  5,673;  1880,  6,445;  1885,  7,163. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  229 

The  town  of  Cumberland  is  situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
state.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  Massachusetts,  on  the 
west  by  Woonsocket  and  the  Blackstone  river,  which  separates  it  from 
Lincoln,  and  on  the  south  by  the  same  river.  It  is  irregular  in  shape, 
resembling  a  gore.  The  town  has  excellent  roads  and  a  special 
appropriation  is  made  annually  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the 
highways.  Two  beautiful  structures  span  the  Blackstone,  one  at 
Manville,  the  other  at  Valley  Falls.  In  all  there  are  12  bridges  in  the 
town. 

The  early  history  of  this  town  is  intimately  connected  with  that  of 
Rehoboth,  Mass.  About  the  year  1641  a  company  was  formed  at  Wey- 
mouth, Mass.,  consisting  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Newman  and  a  part 
of  his  congregation.  They  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Massasoit  and 
three  or  four  years  afterward  removed  to  this  new  purchase,  which,  at 
the  time,  was  called  Secuncke.  Here  around  the  Great  plain  (Seekonk 
plain)  they  erected  their  dwellings,  with  their  meeting  house  in  the 
center,  and  named  their  settlement  Rehoboth.  Here  the  first  settlers 
pitched  their  tents  on  a  tract  which  was  afterward  found  to  be  a  barren 
spot,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Indians  had  nearly  exhausted  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil.  Having  need  of  more  fertile  fields  on  which  to  pas- 
ture their  cattle  and  plant  their  corn,  the  town  employed  Captain 
Thomas  Willett  to  make  a  new  purchase  from  the  natives.  This  was 
consummated  in  1661,  and  Wamsutta,  the  son  of  Massasoit  and 
brother  of  King  Philip,  yielded  the  large  territory  which  was  after- 
ward known  as  the  "  Rehoboth  North  Purchase,"  and  which,  in  1694, 
was  incorporated  into  a  township  and  named  Attleborough. 

That  portion  of  this  territory  which  afterward  became  Cumberland 
was  for  many  years  in  controversy  between  Rhode  Island  and  Massa- 
chusetts. To  the  ignorance  and  carelessness  of  English  sovereigns 
these  troubles  were  mainly  due.  Probably  supposing  that  the  Narra- 
gansett  (Blackstone)  river  flowed  due  south,  they  bounded  Plymouth 
colony  on  the  west  by  the  river  and  Rhode  Island  on  the  east  by  a  line 
extending  due  north  from  Pawtucket  Falls  to  the  southern  line  of 
Massachusetts.  They  defined  the  southern  line  of  Massachusetts  to 
be  a  line  from  a  point  three  miles  south  of  the  southernmost  waters 
of  the  Charles  river. 

As  might  have  been  anticipated,  this  carelessness  resulted  in  Mas- 
sachusetts claiming  her  southern  line  to  be  nearly  as  far  south  as 
where  the  village  of  Manville  now  is,  and  in  Rhode  Island  claiming 
her  northern  line  to  be  even  farther  north  than  where  it  is  established. 
The  locality,  therefore,  became  famous  as  disputed  territory,  and  was 
known  as  the  Attleborough  Gore.  As  the  inhabitants  of  the  Gore 
were  more  in  sympathy  with  their  neighbors  of  Rhode  Island,  the 
officers  from  Massachusetts  were  frequently  sent  away  with  empty 
hands,  and  sometimes  with  sore  heads.  At  the  annual  Rhode  Island 
elections  officers  were  appointed  for  the  territory,  which  tended  to 


230  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

increase  the  strife,  and  conveyances  of  real  estate  thereon  were  placed 
upon  the  records  of  both  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts,  containing 
the  clause:  the  "  Gore  of  land  in  controversy  between  Massachusetts 
Bay  and  Rhode  Island."  The  northern  line  of  the  Rehoboth  North 
Purchase  has  never  been  definitely  settled.  The  point  "three  miles 
south  from  the  southernmost  waters  of  the  Charles  River  "  could 
never  be  satisfactorily  found.  Petitions  were  frequent  and  numerous, 
signed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Gore,  praying  to  be  set  off  to  Rhode 
Island.  In  1729  Attleborough  herself  prayed  to  become  a  member  of 
our  little  colony.  At  last,  in  1746,  by  a  decision  of  George  II.,  in 
council,  the  Gore  was  detached  from  Attleborough,  annexed  to  the 
county  of  Providence,  and  named  in  honor  of  William,  Duke  of 
Cumberland. 

The  first  election  of  officers  for  the  new  town  of  Cumberland  was 
made  February  10th,  1746-7,  the  inhabitants  of  Woonsocket  living 
east  of  the  river  participating  in  its  annual  elections  till  they  began 
housekeeping  for  themselves  January  31st,  1867. 

The  town  of  Cumberland  passed  through  a  period  of  agricultural 
development  after  the  war  of  the  revolution  until,  in  the  course  of 
time,  the  water  power  of  the  Blackstone  river  was  devoted  to  textile 
industries,  when  the  northern  portion  of  it,  now  known  as  Woon- 
socket, received  an  impetus  which  enabled  it  to  absorb  and  control 
the  political  power  of  the  town.  But  the  element  of  growth  for  this 
town  has  been  the  water  power  of  the  Blackstone  and  its  affluents, 
and  this  growth  has  been  co-extensive  with  that  of  Lincoln.  These 
towns  being  so  homogeneous,  attempts  have  been  made  repeatedly  ta 
have  them,  or  portions  of  them,  consolidated,  but  as  yet  no  such 
results  have  been  attained. 

The  first  officers  of  the  town  of  Cumberland  were:  Job  Bartlett, 
moderator  and  town  clerk;  Job  Bartlett,  Joseph  Brown,  David 
Whipple,  Jacob  Bartlett,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Ballou  and  William  Walcott, 
council;  James  Bartlett,  town  treasurer;  John  Grant  and  Nathaniel 
Cook,  constables;  David  Jenks  and  Richard  Darling,  overseers  of  the 
poor;  Nathaniel  vSissons  and  Jeremiah  Whipple,  fence  viewers;  Job 
Bartlett,  Israel  Whipple  and  Samuel  Peck,  deputies;  Jeremiah  Wilk- 
inson, Ichabod  Peck  and  Solomon  Aldrich,  surveyors  of  highways.  It 
was  voted  that  the  next  town  meeting  be  at  the  house  of  Joseph 
Brown. 

A  List  of  Town  Officers  {17Jf,6-18S9).—  Tozvn  Clerks:  Job  Bartlett,  1746; 
Daniel  Peck,  1748;  John  Dexter,  1751;  David  Dexter,  1766;  John  Dex- 
ter, 1768;  John  Singer  Dexter,  1785;  Jonathan  Carpenter,  1791;  John 
Rogers,  1799;  Stephen  Joslin,  1804;  Pardon  Sayles,  1830;  Lewis  B. 
Arnold,  1842;  Pardon  Sayles,  1854;  William  G.  Arnold,  1855;  F.  G.  Jill- 
son,  1865;  Horace  A.  Potter,  1865  to  1887;  Patrick  F.  Kinion,  to  1888; 
John  F.  Clark,  to  1889;  Patrick  F.  Kinion,  1889.  Tozvn  Treasurers: 
Samuel  Bartlett,  1746;  Uriah  Jillson,  1755;  Abner  Lapham,  1764;  Isaac 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  231 

Kelley,  1769;  Abiel  Brown.  1770;  Philip  Capron,  1775;  Nathan  Staples, 
1778;  Abner  Lapham,  1783;  Elijah  Brown,  1788;  Colonel  Simon 
Whipple,  1790;  Elijah  Brown,  1794;  John  Rogers,  1798;  Stephen  Joslin, 
1799;  Isaac  Raze,  1804;  Ariel  Cook,  1814;  Isaac  Raze,  1815;  Ariel  Cook, 
1816;  Isaac  Raze,  1818;  Arnold  W.  Jenckes,  1821;  Barton  Cook,  183^; 
G.  O.  Thompson,  1842;  William  Whipple,  1852;  George  Cook,  1855  to 
1885;  John  F.  Clark,  to  1887;  Conrad  Cook,  to  1888;  Charles  O.  Flagg, 
to  1889;  Cyrus  Taft,  1889.  Presidents  of  the  Couneil:  Job  Bartlett,  1746; 
Joseph  Brown,  1747;  Job  Bartlett,  1748;  Jeremiah  Whipple,  1754; 
Nathaniel  Robinson,  1764;  Jeremiah  Whipple,  1767;  Daniel  Wilkin- 
son, 1770;  James  Dexter,  1771;  John  Lapham,  1779;  Levi  Balloii,  1789; 
John  Lapham,  1790;  Levi  Bartlett,  1810;  Davis  Cook,  1816;  Levi  Bart- 
lett, 1818;  William  Whipple,  1819;  Jabez  Armsbury,  1821;  Levi  Cooke, 
1823;  Levi  Ballou,  1824;  Job  Jenckes,  1828;  Levi  Ballou,  1829;  Davis 
Cook,  1835;  Joseph  A.  Scott,  1839;  Davis  Cook,  1840;  Joseph  A.  Scott, 
1842;  Olney  Ballou,  1846;  Abner  Haskill,  1849;  Lyman  Burlingame, 
1852;  Fenner  Brown,  1854;  W.  H.  Whiting,  1855;  Davis  Cook,  1856; 
Turner  Haskell,  1861;  W.  E.  Hubbard,  1862;  Nathaniel  Elliott,  1863; 
James  M.  Cook,  1864;  J.  B.  Aldrich,  1865;  James  C.  Molten,  1866.  After 
the  division  of  the  town  frequent  changes  were  made  in  this  office, 
Andrew  J.  Currier  probably  holding  the  position  a  longer  time  than 
any  of  the  others. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  council  it  was  decided  to  give 
Daniel  Peck  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern  for  one  year.  Benjamin  Tower 
was  given  a  license  for  a  similar  purpose.  These  applicants  for 
licenses  were  required  to  pay  40  shillings  for  the  privilege  granted. 
The  attention  of  the  town  council  for  the  first  few  years  was  directed 
toward  public  highways.  There  are  now  22  highway  districts  in  the 
town,  and  sufficient  labor  and  money  are  expended  annually  to  keep 
them  in  the  best  of  repair. 

Cumberland  was  undoubtedly  the  first  of  the  towns  now  in  Rhode 
Island  where  a  permanent  settlement  was  made  by  English  white 
men.  The  particular  locality  was  at  Study  hill,  where  William  Black- 
stone  erected  his  mansion  which  he  named  vStudy  Hall.  Just  when 
he  came  is  unknown,  but  it  was  between  the  years  1634  and  1636. 
For  30  years  Blackstone  with  his  family  and  dependents  lived  alone 
and  in  amicable  relations  with  the  Indians,  his  only  intercourse  with 
white  men  consisting  in  occasional  trips  to  Providence  or  Rehoboth 
and  more  rare  visits  to  some  one  of  his  few  friends  in  Boston.  Owing 
to  the  importance  of  this  character  we  append  some  account  of  the 
events  of  his  life. 

Mr.  William  Blaxton  or  Blackstone,  sometime  a  student  of  Eman- 
uel College,  Cambridge,  took  his  bachelor's  degree  at  the  Univer- 
sity in  1617,  and  his  master's  degree  in  1621.  When  less  than  30 
years  old  he  came  to  America  with  his  friends  Maverick  and 
Walford,  accompanying  Robert  Gorges  in  the  expedition  which 
left   Plymouth,  England,  in  the  midsummer   of   1623.     This  expedi- 


232  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

tion  represented  the  whole  power  and  dignity  of  the  council  of 
New  England.  In  1624  Blackstone  built  himself  a  cottage  on  the 
peninsula  of  Shawmut,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Charles  river, 
called  Blackstone  Point.  He  was  hated  because  he  was  alleged  to  be 
trying  to  bring  the  established  church  to  the  new  country.  He  was 
charged  with  various  crimes,  his  house  burned  by  order  of  the  court, 
and  he  suffered  numberless  indignities.  In  1838  Maverick,  becoming 
discouraged,  went  back  to  England.  Thomas  Walford  was  settled  at 
Wishawamet,  now  Charlestown.  About  1630,  a  most  important  event 
for  Blackstone  happened  in  the  arrival  of  Governor  Winthrop,  with 
12  vessels  at  Salem.  The  Puritans  at  that  time  were  divided  into 
large  classes.  In  the  class  of  Pilgrim  fathers  were  those  who  had  fled 
from  England  to  Holland,  whence  they  came  to  the  colony.  They 
were  most  bitter  against  having  the  Episcopal  church  brought  to  the 
new  country.  The  other  class  were  like  Blackstone,  favorable  to  the 
church  and  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

To  this  class  Governor  Winthrop  and  his  followers  joined  them- 
selves. In  October,  1630,  Blackstone  was  made  a  freeman,  the  only 
objection  to  him  being  that  he  wore  a  canonical  coat,  as  a  clergyman 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  was  on  the  best  terms  with  the  Indians, 
but  after  a  few  years  of  religious  intolerance  he  was  compelled  to  sell 
his  property  and  move  to  a  new  home  in  the  wilderness.  In  1634  he 
sold  his  property  and  with  the  proceeds  bought  a  herd  of  cows  and 
went  to  the  south.  He  resided  at  Boston  about  ten  years.  Then  he 
took  up  his  journey  southward,  taking  his  beloved  books  with  him 
and  driving  his  herd  before  him.  On  he  went  until  he  came  to  what 
is  now  Lonsdale,  where  he  settled  permanently  on  a  place  he  called 
Study  hill.  The  cottage  was  placed  near  the  foot  of  the  hill  overlook- 
ing the  river.  Higher  up  the  hill  he  made  a  well  and  planted  the 
whole  hill  over  with  a  famous  orchard,  which  bore  the  first  apples  in 
Rhode  Island.  They  were  of  the  kind  called  Yellow  Sweetings. 
Then  came  Roger  Williams  and  settled  Providence.  Blackstone 
would  at  the  request  of  Williams  come  to  Providence  and  preach. 
His  library  contained  about  200  volumes  and  six  paper  covered  books, 
and  was  at  that  time  probably  the  largest  library  on  the  continent. 
It  was  destroyed  by  fire  with  his  house  in  King  Philip's  war,  which 
came  after  his  death. 

In  time  there  gathered  around  Blackstone  a  little  community  to 
hear  the  words  of  common  prayer  and  be  instructed  out  of  the  scrip- 
tures. On  July  4th,  1659,  he  married  Mistress  Sarah  Stephenson, 
Governor  Endicott  himself  performing  the  ceremony.  By  her  he  had 
one  son,  John.  After  his  marriage  he  continued  to  live  the  life  of  a 
student  till  he  died.  May  26th,  1675.  In  Blackstone  there  was  the 
highest  type  of  character.  He  had  that  perfect  combination  of  gentle- 
ness and  bravery  which  most  becomes  a  Christian  man.  Blackstone's 
grave  was  opened  May  6th,  1886.  The  Lonsdale  Mills  occupy  the 
land  where  he  lived  so  long  ago. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  233 

In  the  contest  with  Philip's  men  above  referred  to,  11  men  only, 
out  of  69,  survived.  This,  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war  against  King 
Philip,  was  fought  in  Lincoln,  two  miles  south  of  Blackstone's  former 
home.  Of  the  men  above  referred  to,  nine  were  taken  captive  by  the 
Indians  and  led  to  the  "  Nine  Mens'  Misery,"  one  mile  north  of  Study 
hill,  and  there  tomahawked.  Their  lifeless  remains  were  a  few  days 
afterward  found  by  a  searching  party  of  whites  and  interred  upon  a 
little  knoll  north  of  the  "  Nine  Mens'  Misery  "  rock,  and  the  spot  is 
now  marked  by  a  rude  mound  of  loose  stones.  After  the  war  the 
members  of  the  Blackstone  family  returned  with  other  families  and 
settled  upon  the  tract  of  land  known  as  Attleboro  Gore. 

The  Ballous  settled  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  town,  adjoining 
Woonsocket.  To  the  south  of  them  a  family  by  the  name  of  Cook 
settled.  Around  Diamond  Hill  the  Whipples  first  settled,  and  their 
descendants  are  found  in  this  vicinity  at  the  present  time.  To  the 
south  of  them  settled  the  Rogers,  while  to  the  east  the  Tingleys 
made  a  settlement.  The  Metcalfs  took  up  a  tract  of  land  lying  south 
of  the  village  of  East  Cumberland.  The  Wilkinsons  and  Pecks  took 
up  a  section  of  land  and  made  permanent  settlement  also  in  the  town. 
Jeremiah  Wilkinson  was  born  July  6th,  1741,  and  early  developed  a 
great  inventive  genuis.  He  was  a  worker  in  iron,  silver  and  gold. 
He  made  the  first  silver  spoons  used  in  this  vicinity.  At  an  early  age 
he  made  hand  cards  and  invented  a  machine  for  bending  wire  and 
cutting  it  at  the  same  time.  He  made  cards  for  carding  cotton  and 
wool  and  also  for  carding  horses  and  cattle.  He  afterward  invented 
a  machine  for  punching  holes  in  leather,  into  which  the  wires  were 
fastened.  He  also  invented  a  machine  for  stretching  the  wire  or 
•drawing  it,  which  was  the  first  machine  of  the  kind  attempted  in 
America.  His  invention  of  cold  cut  nails  is  of  world  wide  fame.  In 
April,  1776,  he  made  tacks  with  a  machine  of  his  own  invention.  He 
invented  a  machine  to  grind  stalks,  and  the  pomace  was  pressed  in  a 
common  cider  mill.  He  made  needles  and  pins,  and  sold  darning 
needles  during  the  revolutionary  war  for  one  dollar  each. 

The  property,  which  eventually  came  into  possessien  of  the  Ar- 
nold family,  east  of  the  river  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  com- 
prises that  territory  which  is  an  offspring  of  old  Cumberland,  and 
was  subsequently  held  under  the  Mendon  instead  of  the  Rehoboth 
proprietary.  May  19th,  1669,  the  general  court  of  Boston  granted  200 
acres  of  land  here  to  Samuel  Chapin,  of  Springfield,  for  services  ren- 
dered, but  as  he  never  came  here  to  reside,  in  1716  the  court  granted 
in  lieu  thereof  200  acres  to  his  son.  But  on  November  15th,  1710, 
Captain  Seth  Chapin  sold  about  40  acres  of  the  former  grant  to  John 
Arnold.  May  20th,  1711,  25  acres  were  laid  out  by  the  Mendon  pro- 
prietors to  James  Bick.  Lands  were  about  this  time  also  laid  out  to 
Jonathan  Sprague  and  Thomas  Sanford.  Bick's  homestead  was  a  lit- 
tle above  Ballou's  Bridge.     Sprague  lived  near  the  mill  of  the  Harris 


234  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUxNTY. 

Woolen  Company,  at  Mill  River.  William  Arnold,  the  son  of  John, 
purchased  the  whole  of  the  Bick  and  Sanford  estates,  and  a  portion  of 
Sprague's.  In  1719,  and  again  in  1749  lands  were  laid  out  to  Eben- 
ezer  Cook.  The  greater  part  of  the  lands  owned  by  Cook,  Royce, 
Sewell,  Chace  and  others  eventually  became  the  property  of  the  Al- 
drich  family. 

The  Dexter  family  also  settled  in  this  town.  They  were  all  de- 
scendants of  Reverend  Gregory  Dexter,  the  transatlantic  correspon- 
dent of  Roger  Williams,  and  elsewhere  mentioned.  James  Dexter, 
his  descendant,  was  the  first  to  settle  in  this  town.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  Messenger.  She  died  about  1860,  aged  99  years.  James  C. 
Dexter,  the  great  grandson,  now  owns  the  estate.  He  is  the  son  of 
Timothy  W.  Dexter.  The  descent  is  as  follows:  Gregory,  John, 
James,  James,'  Timothy  W.,  James  C.  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Kinsman  is  a 
granddaughter  of  James." 

The  Ballou  family  formed  what  was  known  for  a  century  as  the 
Ballou  neighborhood,  and  the  old  Ballou  church,  still  in  existence, 
was  built  about  1740,  just  north  of  the  Iron  Mountain,  and  is  in  about 
the  same  condition  as  when  the  first  settlers  gathered  there  in  the 
service  of  their  Creator.  The  building,  with  its  heavy  narrow  gal- 
leries, is  an  interesting  object  for  the  visitor  of  the  present  day. 
From  the  Ballou  family  sprang  the  mother  of  the  late  lamented  Presi- 
dent Garfield. 

Fenner  Brown  was  a  prominent  man  in  this  part  of  the  town.  He 
was  a  seafaring  man  in  his  younger  days,  but  settled  down  at  Cum- 
berland Hill,  where  he  became  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county. 
He  was  president  of  the  town  council  and  a  member  of  the  general 
assembly  many  years,  was  nominated  for  congress,  and  was  once  a 
candidate  for  lieutenant  governor,  but  he  belonged  to  the  weaker 
party  and  was  defeated. 

In  the  days  before  railroads,  stages,  chaises  and  horse-blocks  were 
the  things  talked  about  instead  of  depots,  express  and  accommodation 
trains  as  now.  But  both  the  horses  and  chaises  could  be  enjoyed  but 
by  the  favored  few.  It  is  said  of  the  celebrated  "  Squire  "  White,  the 
eminent  lawyer  of  Woonsocket,  known  not  only  for  his  abilities  as  a 
lawyer,  and  his  faithful  services  in  the  Dorr  war,  but  also  as  a  pedes- 
trian, that  he  would  seldom  wait  for  stage  coaches,  but  with  law  books 
and  briefs  under  his  arm  would  hasten  on  foot  to  Providence  and 
beat  the  coaches  every  time. 

About  the  year  1815  Abner  Cooper,  an  enterprising  man,  started 
a  public  conveyance  from  Providence  to  Worcester,  via  Woonsocket. 
It  was  a  one  horse  vehicle,  and  made  weekly  trips  between  these 
two  places.  About  1820  two  coaches  were  put  on,  one  going  down 
the  left  bank  of  the  river  and  the  other  down  the  right  bank, 
i.e.,  by  the  Cumberland  and  Smithfield  routes.  On  the  Cumberland 
route  the  driver  went  as  far  as  Coverdale  place,  and  another  driver 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  '235' 

continued  from  this  point  to  Providence.  Wheeler  being  the  name  of 
the  former  driver,  and  Aaron  White  the  latter.  In  1826  the  drivers 
went  through  from  Worcester  to  Providence.  Their  names  were:  John 
Prouty,  1826;  Hall  Bartlett,  1881;  Beriah  Curtis,  1838;  Samuel  Lawton, 
1887;  Aaron  White,  1889,  who  drove  till  the  stages  were  taken  off. 

When  the  Boston  and  Providence  coaches  lost  their  occupation  by 
the  introduction  of  railroad  facilities,  the  proprietors  thereof  put  on  a 
daily  line  from  Woonsocket  to  Providence  and  ran  down  the  Cum- 
berland side  of  the  river.  In  1840  Henry  Morris  was  discharged  by 
the  company  and  started  an  opposition  line  down  the  Smithfield  side, 
which  ran  for  two  years,  making  at  this  time  three  lines,  viz.,  the 
Morris  line,  the  Cumberland  line  and  the  Smithfield  line.  The 
drivers  on  the  Cumberland  line  were:  Israel  Wheeler,  1840;  David 
Briggs,  1842;  John  Hunting,  1844;  Governor  Tourtellot,  1845;  Charles 
Brown,  1846.  The  fare  from  Woonsocket  to  Providence  was  at  first 
75  cents.  It  was  afterward  reduced  to  50  cents,  and  at  one  time  was- 
but  25  cents. 

About  1882  the  people  began  to  realize  that  the  splendid  coaches 
so  loudly  boasted  of  did  not  always  come  up  to  time,  and  railroad 
projects  were  talked  of.  In  1843  the  Providence  Journal  estimated  the 
cost  of  a  railroad  between  Providence  and  Woonsocket  would  be  not 
over  $1,000,000.  There  was  some  objection  at  this  time  to  the  iron 
horse,  because  he  would  not  eat  the  hay  and  grain  the  200  horses  did; 
then  what  would  become  of  these  valuable  products  of  the  farm  ? 
However,  after  due  consideration  the  charter  for  the  road  was  granted 
at  the  May  session  of  1844,  and  on  August  9th,  1847,  the  locomotive 
engine  "  Lonsdale  "  arrived  at  Providence.  In  the  following  month 
the  transportation  of  freight  began.  The  road  was  formally  opened 
October  25th,  1847.  In  1878  the  branch  road  from  Valley  Falls 
through  the  town  was  opened.  The  accommodations  afforded  by 
these  railways  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  people  of  Cumberland. 

Although  the  Blackstone  river  is  the  dividing  line  between  the 
towns  of  Lincoln  and  Cumberland,  for  various  reasons  we  will  note 
the  history  of  it  here.  This  stream,  which  has  pursued  its  crooked 
way  for  so  many  ages,  has  been  called  the  vSeekonk,  the  Narragansett, 
the  Patucket,  the  Neetpiock,  the  Nipmuck,  the  Great,  and,  finally,  the 
Blackstone.  In  ancient  times  it  was  called  the  Blackstone  in  honor 
of  William  Blackstone,  but  not  until  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  did  this  name  come  into  general  use.  Before  the  construction 
of  dams  upon  this  river  salmon  were  very  plenty,  so  much  so  that 
they  formed  the  chief  article  in  the  farmers'  bill  of  fare.  In  earlier 
times  this  river  had  to  be  crossed  by  the  first  settlers  of  Providence 
emigrating  from  the  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  colonies.  Before 
the  time  of  bridges  they  had  what  were  known  as  wading  places.  The 
first  of  these  was  at  a  point  called  "Ware,"  now  Central  Falls.  The 
second  was  at  Blackstone's  "  Wading  place,"  now  Lonsdale;  the  third 


236  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY. 

was  at  Pray's,  now  Ashton;  the  fourth  was  at  vSenetchonet  island, 
now  Manville,  and  the  fifth  was  at  Woonsocket. 

The  town  now  has  twelve  bridges.  -The  most  important  are  those 
over  the  Blackstone  connecting  Cumberland  with  Lincoln.  Of  the 
principal  ones  early  built,  the  first  was  at  the  Falls.  It  was  constructed 
in  1736.  Toward  its  erection  the  legislature  appropriated  i^l28  and 
an  additional  sum  was  raised  by  subscription.  The  second  bridge 
was  raised  in  1762,  the  funds  being  supplied  by  a  lottery  authorized 
by  the  general  assembly.  The  third  bridge  was  built  in  1787,  the 
legislature  legalizing  a  lottery  for  the  purpose,  by  which  ^900  was 
raised.  The  bridge  of  1762  was  above  the  grist  mill  of  John  Arnold, 
and  the  one  built  in  1787  was  below  it.  In  1825  Dexter  Ballon  and 
David  Wilkinson  erected  a  stone  arch  bridge  from  the  Smithfield 
shore  to  the  island,  and  in  1833  Aaron  Rathbun  and  Cephas  Holbrook 
replaced  the  middle  bridge  with  a  stone  arch  bridge.  In  1861  this 
was  replaced  by  another  stone  arch  bridge.  In  1843  Mr.  Eugene  Mar- 
tin constructed  a  stone  arch  bridge  from  the  Cumberland  shore  to  the 
eastern  end  of  the  middle  arch  bridge.     This,  also,  has  been  replaced. 

Among  the  early  sites  of  manufacturing  in  this  town  was  what  is 
called  Robin  Hollow,  on  the  Abbot  Run  river.  The  first  manufactur- 
ing done  here  was  in  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  when  a  royal  license  was 
obtained  to  manufacture  tar.  At  this  time  there  was  a  dense  forest 
of  pine  in  this  locality  and  great  quantities  of  pitch  were  easily 
obtained  for  the  manufacture  of  this  product.  The  establishment  was 
continued  for  many  years. 

In  1797  Elisha  Waterman  purchased  one-third  of  the  property  at 
Robin  Hollow,  and  on  the  next  day  Benjamin  S.  Walcott  p'urchased 
the  remaining  two-thirds.  On  this  land  was  a  two  story  building  used 
as  a  dwelling  house  and  fulling  mill,  erected  by  Samuel  Chase.  This 
was  afterward  converted  into  a  mill  for  sawing  marble.  Near  this 
property  was  a  building  where  guns  were  bored,  and  a  blacksmith 
shop.  Farther  down  the  stream  was  a  furnace  for  casting  cannon. 
By  exchange  and  purchase  Waterman  and  Walcott  became  equal 
owners  in  1798.  They  erected  a  new  mill  at  the  easterly  end  of  the 
•dam  and  engaged  in  spinning  yarn.  The  cotton  was  picked  by  hand, 
then  spun  and  put  out  to  weave.  Boys  used  to  whip  the  cotton  as  it 
was  taken  from  the  bales.  This  mill  was  40  by  60  feet,  2  stories  high. 
April  16th,  1813,  Bennett  Whipple  purchased  one-fourth  of  Walcott's 
interest.  August  16th,  1816,  Walcott  sold  his  remaining  interest  to 
Elisha  Waterman  and  Knight  Whipple.  The  latter  sold  May  20th, 
1821,  to  Palimon  Walcott,  who  formed  a  partnership  with  Bennett 
Whipple,  and  they  conducted  the  mill  under  the  style  of  Whipple  & 
Walcott.  In  1824  they  erected  a  new  2  story  mill  on  the  site  of  the 
present  mill.  In  1829  the  firm  failed,  and  March  15th,  1830,  Elisha 
Waterman  purchased  the  business  at  public  auction.  Squire  French 
of  Pawtucket  bought  an  interest  in  the  business,  the  new  firm  assum- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  237 

ing  the  liabilities  of  the  old.  The  new  firm  was  named  Squire  French 
&  Co.,  and  was  composed  of  Elisha,  Richard  and  Elizabeth  Waterman, 
Sally  Thompson,  Daniel  S.  Cook  and  wife  and  Squire  French.  In  1850 
the  mill  was  burned.  Amasa  Whipple  soon  afterward  gained  control 
of  the  business,  and  a  new  mill  was  built,  80  by  40  feet,  two  stories  in 
height,  which  was  operated  in  the  manufacture  of  thread.  In  ISoS 
David  Ryder  became  owner  of  the  property.  In  1860  the  mill  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1865-6,  100  by  40  feet.  The  mill 
was  started  in  June,  1866,  and  in  the  following  October,  the  Cumber- 
land Mill  Company  was  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $75,000,  George 
L.  Littlefield,  president,  and  Olney  Arnold,  treasurer.  The  company 
began  operations  with  about  50  hands.  In  1882  an  addition  94  by  46 
feet,  three  stories  high  was  built,  and  the  capital  stock  was  increased 
to  $100,000.  In  1886  the  dam  and  bulkheads  were  washed  away  by  a 
freshet.  In  1887  Daniel  G.  Littlefield  became  president.  About  175 
operatives  are  employed,  and  the  goods  produced  are.  thread  and  warp 
yarns. 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  a  license  was  obtained  to  make  hollow 
ware.  Messrs.  Hatch  and  Wilmouth  then  erected  a  furnace  on  the 
west  side  of  Abbot  Run  river,  about  midway  between  Robin  Hollow 
and  the  Abbot  Run  factory,  and  called  Iron  Rust.  Cannon  were  made 
here  during  the  revolution.  Nothing  has  been  done  here  for  many 
years.  Daniel  Mowry  took  up  the  foundation  walls  in  1852  and  worked 
the  material  into  a  mill  dam  at  Robin  Hollow.  The  old  furnace  stood 
on  Hopkin's  lot  close  to  the  river.  On  the  south  side  of  Bishop's 
brook  at  its  junction  with  the  Abbot  Run  river  was  situated  this  ancient 
manufactory.  A  popular  name  at  one  time  was  the  "  Fog  Mill,"  the 
locality  being  peculiarly  subject  to  fogs. 

In  1820  the  Walcotts  built  a  factory.  It  was  30  by  40  feet,  with  an 
ell  16  by  24  feet.  They  commenced  operations  with  16  power  looms, 
the  yarn  being  spun  at  Hawkins'.  In  1832  Benjamin  Crowningshield 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  cotton  bats  and  continued  till  1836. 
Nails  were  made  here  afterward,  but  subsequently  the  mills  were  torn 
down. 

An  old  foundry  and  smelting  works  were  erected  in  1736,  about 
one  half  mile  south  of  East  Cumberland,  upon  the  west  side  of  Abbot 
Run.  The  ore  was  carted  here  from  the  ore  mine  a  few  miles  west  of 
this  place.  At  that  time  this  was  by  far  the  largest  foundry  in  the 
place.  It  was  run  under  a  license  from  George  II.  Cannon  were 
made  here  that  did  good  service  at  Louisburg.  After  the  revolution 
the  business  was  discontinued. 

On  the  west  side  of  Diamond  Hill  and  on  the  northern  branch  of 
the  west  fork  of  Abbot  Run,  is  located  what  is  known  as  Grant's 
Mill.  The  Tower  family  had  a  nail  factory  and  a  saw  mill  which  they 
operated  before  the  revolution.  The  nail  business  was  quite  exten- 
sively carried  on  here,  the  iron  being  obtained  at  Taunton.     The  mill 


-238  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

was  situated  a  few  rods  south  of  the  present  one.  Joseph  Brown 
owned  and  ran  the  privilege  a  few  years.  Joseph  Grant  built  a  new 
saw  and  grist  mill  about  1818.     Fenner  Grant  purchased  it  in  1848. 

The  Tingley  Mills  are  upon  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Abbot  Run 
river.  Job  Hathaway  owned  and  operated  a  saw  mill  many  years 
ago.  The  mill  was  torn  down  in  1836,  and  a  carriage  shop  erected  by 
W.  S.  White,  who  now  owns  and  runs  it.  Mr.  Hathaway  also  operated 
a  grist  mill  which  he  erected  near  this  place.  It  passed  through 
various  hands,  coming  into  the  possession  of  John  Arnold,  who  pur- 
chased the  property  in  1870. 

The  Peck  Mill  was  built  about  a  mile  above  Lonsdale.  Levi  Peck 
commenced  to  spin  yarn  here  about  1810,  but  the  water  power  not 
being  sufficient  it  was  abandoned  after  a  time  and  a  saw  mill  built  in 
its  place.     The  place  is  now  owned  by  the  Lonsdale  Company. 

Happy  Hollow  is  situated  a  short  distance  east  of  Valley  Falls,  on 
the  Abbot  Run  river.  A  small  cotton  factory  was  started  here  in 
1818,  by  Crawford  Titus.  It  was  a  wooden  structure  two  stories  high 
with  basement,  and  contained  about  2,000  spindles.  In  1825  a  square 
■brick  mill  was  built  by  Harris  &  Titus.  This  firm  failed  in  1829.  In 
1834  the  property  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Abbot  Run  Com- 
pany, Crawford  Allen,  Milton  S.  Morse,  Benjamin  Fessenden  and 
George  C.  Nightingale  being  the  members  of  the  firm.  The  brick 
mill  was  a  beautiful  three  story  structure  with  tower,  belfry,  etc.  It 
was  all  destroyed  by  the  freshet  of  1887.  The  Providence  water  works 
'has  its  pumping  engine  at  this  place. 

A  short  distance  south  of  Diamond  Hill  Jason  Newell  put  up  a  saw 
mill  about  the  year  1820.  It  was  built  on  the  west  fork  of  Abbot  Run. 
A  fulling  mill  was  in  operation  here  years  before  and  continued  till 
1838,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mr.  Newell  moved  a  few  rods 
■down  the  stream  and  then  built  a  new  saw  mill,  and  a  small  factory, 
25  by  40  feet,  two  stories  high.  Jesse  Whiting  leased  the  building 
first  and  used  it  as  a  machine  shop.  He  made  forge  machinery  and 
operated  a  trip  hammer  by  water  power.  Allen  Haskell  leased  the 
building,  put  in  six  looms,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  negro 
cloth.  In  1828  the  mill  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire,  but  was  imme- 
diately rebuilt  and  leased  by  Arnold  &  Sheldon,  who  occupied  it  as  a 
sash  and  blind  factory.  Subsequently  Tisdale  &  Thayer  operated  it 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  bats.  Alfred  Peck  then  leased  it  and 
occupied  it  about  14  years  for  a  boat  shop. 

The  saw  mill  at  this  place  has  been  run  by  the  Newell  family  since 
the  year  1838,  Mr.  Jason  Newell  owning  the  property  now.  Rawson 
&  Crowningshield  built  a  factory  here,  50  by  30  feet,  two  stories  high 
with  basement,  in  1840,  for  the  manufacture  of  yarn.  It  was  operated 
by  this  firm  till  1857,  when  Mr.  Crowningshield  died  and  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  surviving  partner.  In  1882  the  present  company 
was  organized,  consisting  of   A.  M.  Cargill,  president,  and  D.  O.  Car- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  289 

gill,  treasurer,  and  the  factory  was  changed  to  a  grist  mill.  This 
small  hamlet  is  upon  Abbot  Run,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  above 
Hawkins,  and  on  the  New  York  &  New  England  railroad.  W.  M. 
Rawson  formerly  kept  a  grocery  store  at  this  place  for  his  factory 
help.  It  is  now  kept  by  H.  C.  Rawson.  Willard  B.  Scott  is  station 
agent. 

It  is  generally  conceded  by  geologists  that  there  is  no  town  in  New 
England  richer  in  mineral  productions  than  Cumberland.  So  well 
M'as  this  fact  established  that  the  name  bestowed  upon  the  town  was 
taken  from  Cumberland.  England,  a  place  which  is  said  to  contain 
more  traces  of  the  various  valuable  metals  than  any  other  in  England. 
In  an  early  day  a  soapstone  mine  was  opened  just  back  of  Mo  wry 
vStaples'  house,  and  tons  of  this  product  were  sent  to  Providence  to  be 
used  as  lining  for  furnaces.  The  business  has  been  discontinued  since 
the  introduction  of  clay  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  Blackstone  Coal  Mining  Company,  Valley  Falls,  was  originally 
owned  and  operated  by  a  Boston  company.  The  digging  of  a  well  by 
Samuel  Chase  led  to  the  discovery  of  coal  in  that  region,  but  it  proved 
comparatively  valueless  as  a  product  for  fuel  and  the  project  was  aban- 
doned. About  1850  Edmund  N.  Clark  established  the  present  indus- 
try. The  coal  obtained  here  is  composed  of  a  large  percentage  of 
plumbago  and  carbon  and  makes  an  excellent  article  for  foundry 
facing.  The  present  building  was  erected  soon  after  the  late  war. 
The  coal  is  ground  finer  than  flour  and  to  what  is  known  as  14  bolts, 
and  in  this  shape  it  is  shipped  throughout  the  states.  John  L.  Clark 
was  associated  with  his  father  prior  to  his  death.  The  works  are  now 
owned  by  Edmund  Clark. 

The  granite  quarry  of  Diamond  Hill  has  been  worked  very  suc- 
cessfully. The  Diamond  Hill  Granite  Company  was  chartered  in 
June,  1877,  George  F.  Wilson,  president,  and  a  large  amount  of  money 
has  been  expended  to  place  the  enterprise  upon  a  permanent  founda- 
tion. Francis  B.  Fisher  is  now  proprietor  of  the  quarry,  and  is  oper- 
ating a  force  of  about  20  men. 

A  company  was  formed  about  1838,  consisting  of  Benjamin  G.  and 
Timothy  W.  Dexter,  Elisha  Waterman  and  Benjamin  Walcott,  to 
operate  a  coal  mine.  A  shaft  was  erected  about  three  rods  from  Mrs. 
Dexter's  house,  in  her  front  yard,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  A 
second  attempt  was  made  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  a  few  rods 
east  of  the  300  foot  shaft.  When  about  100  feet  deep  Benjamin  Dex- 
ter, a  son  of  Timothy,  was  killed  and  the  work  abandoned.  A  com- 
pany from  Maine  took  hold  of  the  mine  and  commenced  operations 
on  the  300  foot  shaft.  They  continued  work  on  the  mine  until  an- 
other life,  that  of  Joseph  Mason,  was  taken,  and  the  mine  was  again 
abandoned,  and  finally  the  coal  was  found  unprofitable  for  fuel  pur- 
poses. 

General  Leach,  of  Massachusetts,  opened  the  celebrated  gold  mine 


240  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

on  the  land  owned  by  Joseph  Burlingame,  but  it  proved  to  be  iron 
pyrites.  The  copper  mine  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Tower,  and  a  tun- 
nel 250  feet  long  run  into  the  hill,  while  shafts  more  than  100  feet 
deep  are  found  here,  but  it  all  has  proven  a  monument  of  disap- 
pointed hopes. 

The  celebrated  iron  mountain  is  situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  of  Cumberland  Hill.  The  ore  is  quite  pure,  and  considerable 
quantities  were  dug  and  used  in  foundries  in  years  past.  General 
Leach  used  quantities  of  it  in  his  foundries  in  Massachusetts,  and 
thought  favorably  of  it.  The  ore  bed  is  said  to  be  the  largest  in  New 
England. 

Lime  stone  is  found  here  on  Copper  Mine  hill.  No  experiment 
as  yet  has  been  made  as  to  its  commercial  value. 

Valley  Falls  (Cumberland  side)  is  the  largest  village  in  the  town. 
It  is  the  seat  of  the  town  house,  has  four  churches,  a  number  of  stores, 
and  has  always  been  a  center  for  manufacturing  purposes  since  the 
first  factory  in  the  place  was  built  by  Crawford  Titus  in  1818.  Wil- 
liam Harris  was  connected  with  the  mill  in  1822,  and  Valley  Falls 
was  more  picturesque  at  that  time  than  at  present.  The  advance  of 
civilization  has  robbed  it  of  its  natural  beauties.  The  alders  that 
fringed  its  glassy  pond,  and  the  groves  that  adorned  its  hills  have 
been  ruthlessly  swept  away. 

There  were  two  roads  that  passed  through  this  region.  One  was 
the  ancient  Rehoboth  road,  laid  out  December  10th,  1650,  by  the 
Rehoboth  proprietors,  four  rods  wide.  It  passed  through  the  village 
of  Valley  Falls,  going  up  the  east  side  of  the  river,  crossing  Abbot 
Run  at  that  place,  through  the  park  of  Mr.  Blackstone  at  Lonsdale, 
the  lands  of  the  Whipples,  the  Pecks,  Bartletts  and  others  over  Cum- 
berland Hill,  and  so  on  by  Crook's  to  the  Mendon  line.  The  other 
road  was  afterward  a  turnpike,  and  is  now  Broad  street.  These  two 
roads  were  connected  on  the  Cumberland  side  of  the  river  by  a  pri- 
vate way  which  came  out  of  the  last  mentioned  road  near  where  now 
stands  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  went  over  the  hill  where  stood  the 
mansion  of  William  Harris,  and  intersected  with  the  Rehoboth  road 
at  "  Happy  Hollow." 

Edward  Harris  in  1823  entered  the  ofhce  of  his  Uncle  William,  and, 
with  the  snug  little  capital  of  25  cents  in  his  pocket,  began  his  career 
in  life,  afterward  becoming  a  millionaire  of  Woonsocket.  In  the 
summer  of  1824  he  went  to  Albion,  where  he  continued  his  labors. 
He  at  first  received  $1.33  a  day  for  his  labors,  but  was  afterward  pro- 
moted to  the  superintendency  of  the  works. 

In  1824  Nathaniel  Dana  came  to  the  place  and  began  work  in  the 
mills  of  Mr.  William  Harris  and  Crawford  Titus.  In  1829  came  the 
great  crash.  Mr.  Dana  afterward  ran  the  mills,  leaving  there  in  1834, 
when  Harris  bought  back  the  whole  concern.  At  this  time  the  mill 
on  the  hill  was  burned,  after  which  Crawford  Allen  rebuilt  the  main 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  241 

part  and  operated  it  till  he  made  a  failure,  when  vSamuel  and  Horace 
Chace,  in  1880  or  1840,  took  possession,  since  which  time  the  pros- 
perity of  the  undertaking  has  been  marked.  Arnold  B.  Chace  now 
owns  the  mills  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  is  doing  a  thriving 
business.  The  prosperity  of  the  village  has  always  kept  pace  with 
that  of  the  mills,  but  its  greatest  growth  has  been  within  the  past  20 
years. 

In  common  with  all  manufacturing  centers  during  that  earlier 
period,  the  proprietors  of  the  mill  also  ran  the  store.  Upon  the  fail- 
ure of  Harris  in  1829,  Nathaniel  Dana  went  into  the  store  on  the  hill 
opposite  the  mill  and  kept  there  three  years.  He  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  calico  printing  business,  running  the  works  from  1889 
to  1848  successfully  and  controlling  as  many  as  70  block  printers  at  a 
time.  On  March  28th,  1848,  a  boiler  explosion  occurred  that  com- 
pletely blew  up  the  works,  killing  twelve  of  his  men  instantly  and 
ruining  his  business.  He  estimated  his  loss  at  $250,000.  Mr.  Dana 
then  went  into  the  store  again  and  traded  in  goods  till  1857,  then  sold 
his  stock  to  William  H.  Brown,  now  of  Providence.  After  him  came 
Olney  M.  Cooke,  who  was  here  in  1856.  He  sold  to  Mr.  Segar,  he  to 
Jenks  Follett.  Thomas  D.  Elsbree  was  in  that  store  also,  and  moved 
into  a  building  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  He  was  in  business 
from  1866  to  1885  and  was  succeeded  by  I.  Kibbee.  The  store  is 
now  owned  by  Walter  M.  Brown. 

A.  D.  Shaw  came  to  the  place  in  1858,  and  began  clerking  in  Mr. 
Cooke's  store.  He  began  trading  on  the 'Lincoln  side  the  day  before 
Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  and  continued  on  that  side  of  the  stream 
till  February  28d,  1888,  when  he  came  over  on  the  Cumberland  side, 
and  is  still  trading.  The  beautiful  Valley  Falls  store  structure  was 
erected  in  1882.  Mark  A.  Burnham  is  manager  for  the  company's  in- 
terest here,  also  for  the  one  in  the  Sprague  Building,  Central  Falls. 

John  Patterson  was  the  originator  of  the  drug  trade  in  the  place. 
He  owns  a  large  store  and  has  been  in  business  many  years.  He  began 
first  on  the  hill,  but  when  business  was  moved  on  Broad  street  he  left 
there  and  located  where  he  is  now. 

William  H.  Bolster  owns  the  principal  dry  goods  house  in  the  vil- 
lage. The  trade  in  dry  goods  naturally  all  went  to  Pawtucket  and 
Providence  until  attractions  of  unusual  character  drew  attention  here. 

Nathaniel  Dana  is  now  in  his  85th  year  and  is  the  oldest  merchant 
in  the  place.  He  and  his  brother,  George  Dana,  built  their  residences 
in  1845.  George  Dana  was  a  politician,  and  held  very  many  of  the 
principal  offices  of  the  towm  and  was  representative  and  senator  in  the 
general  assembly  many  years. 

The  Rhode  Island  Horse  Shoe  Company,  located  at  Valley  Falls, 
commenced  business  in  1867  under  the  style  of  the  Union  Horse  Shoe 
Company.  They  erected  commodious  buildings  on  Dyer  street,  just 
below  the  Point  Street  bridge.     The  succeeding  company,  of  which 

1(3 


242  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

F.  W.  Carpenter  was  elected  president,  C.  H.  Perkins,  agent,  and  W. 
R.  Comstock,  secretary,  was  organized  in  1872,  and  erected  large  and 
convenient  buildings  near  the  river.  They  erected  the  present  build- 
ings after  the  compan}^  was  formed.  They  employ  400  men  in  the 
manufacture  of  Perkins'  Patent  horse  shoes,  embracing  over  160 
styles. 

Boat  building  has  been  extensively  carried  on  since  it  was  brought 
into  the  town  by  Alexander  Thompson  in  1790.  It  is  said  that  in 
1815  there  could  be  counted  within  a  short  distance  of  East  Cumber- 
land and  Diamond  Hill  no  less  than  19  boat  shops. 

The  Providence  &  Worcester  Railroad  Company  have  their  large 
works  at  this  place,  and  under  their  master  mechanic,  Albert  Place, 
run  a  force  of  about  100  hands.  These  works  were  erected  in  1882, 
and  have  been  recently  leased  to  the  New  York  &  Boston  Railroad 
Company,  who  took  possession  June  10th,  1889.  The  new  depot  at 
Valley  Falls  is  one  of  the  neatest  little  structures  of  its  kind  to  be  seen 
in  this  vicinity.  It  is  a  handsome  brick  edifice  one  story  in  height, 
and  of  peculiar  shape,  with  the  usual  accommodation  rooms,  and  was 
erected  in  1883.     It'is  an  ornament  to  the  village. 

Manville  is  situated  on  the  Blackstone  river,  near  the  Woonsocket 
and  Lincoln  line.  Manufacturing  was  started  here  at  an  early  date, 
a  saw  and  a  grist  mill  being  in  operation  before  the  revolutionary 
war.  The  ore  obtained  from  the  iron  mountain  a  few  miles  distant 
was  worked  into  cannon  balls.  It  was  operated  by  Mr.  Lapham  and 
stood  between  mills  number  2  and  3.  A  Mr.  Bartlett  operated  a  tan- 
nery here,  and  before  that  a  grist  and  saw  mill  did  service  for  the 
early  settlers.  It  stood  on  the  site  just  in  front  of  Mill  No.  2.  The 
tannery  was  where  No.  3  Mill  now  stands.  Some  of  these  old  build- 
ings were  removed  in  1826,  others  in  1872,  to  make  room  for  the 
buildings  there  now. 

David  Wilkinson  owned  the  land  on  which  the  village  now  stands 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  in  1740,  and  in  that  year  deeded  it  to  Sam- 
uel Wilkinson,  who,  in  1747,  redeeded  it  to  David.  In  1759  David 
deeded  it  to  Benjamin  Wing,  of  Dartmouth,  Massachusetts.  Wing 
conveyed  it  to  Abner  Bartlett  in  1802,  and  in  the  deed  the  premises 
are  for  the  first  time  referred  to  as  a  water  privilege,  and  mention  is 
made  of  a  bridge  named  Unity  Bridge.  In  1803  Bartlett  sold  to  Luke 
Jillson,  who  conveyed  it  in  1805  to  Samuel  Hill,  Jr.,  of  Smithfield,and 
William  Aldrich,  of  Cumberland.  Samuel  Hill,  Jr.,  was  known  as 
Judge  Hill.  Hill  and  Aldrich  deeded  it  in  1811  to  Thomas  Man, 
Stephen  Clark,  George  Hill,  David  Hill,  Jesse  Brown,  George  Aldrich, 
Otis  Capron,  David  Wilkinson,  Alpheus  Ammidon,  Stephen  Whipple, 
and  Asa  Bartlett,  reserving  an  interest  to  themselves,  and  the  grantees 
were  styled  the  "Unity  Manufacturing  Company;" 

In  1814,  Aaron  Man,  father  of  Samuel  F.  Man,  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  Alpheus  Ammidon,  and  allusion  is  made  in  the  conveyance  to 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY,  243 

the  Unity  Cotton  factory,  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill  and  fulling  mill.  In 
1821,  the  Unity  Manufacturing  Company  sold  all  their  interest  in  the 
estate  to  William  Jenkins  and  Samuel  F.  Man.  In  1831,  Jenkins  and 
J\Ian  conveyed  one-fourth  part  of  the  estate  to  Arlon  Man,  brother  of 
Samuel  F.,  the  estate  having  been  considerably  enlarged  by  purchases 
of  adjoining  land  since  the  original  purchase  from  Wilkinson.  Sept- 
ember 28th,  1854,  the  heirs  of  Samuel  F.  Man,  and  William  and  Anna 
Jenkins,  conveyed  the  mill  estate  and  lands  to  the  Valley  Falls  Com- 
pany. In  1863,  the  Valley  Falls  Company  deeded  to  the  Manville 
Company,  then  composed  of  TuUy  D.  Bowen,  Henry  Lippitt,  William 
H.  Reynolds,  Charles  H.  Merriman,  Samuel  Chace,  and  Harvey 
Chace,  and  the  name  of  the  concern  was  changed  to  "  Manville  Com- 
pany." The  proprietorship  has  changed  somewhat  since  this  pur- 
chase, but  the  name  is  unaltered.  Tully  D.  Bowen  has  deceased,  and 
others  have  sold  out,  but  the  great  bulk  of  the  interest  remains  in  the 
same  names  as  in  1863. 

The  Manville  Company  was  incorporated  in  May,  1863.  The  stock- 
holders were  T.  D.  Benson,  John  H.  Taft,  Anthony  &  Hall,  H.  B.  Ben- 
son, Harvey  Chace  &  Sons,  R.  Handy;  Harvey  Chace,  president;  John 
A.  Taft,  treasurer  and  agent. 

At  an  early  day,  a  furnace  was  erected  here,  the  iron  ore  of  Cum- 
berland having  a  recognized  value  with  such  men  as  the  Wilkinsons 
and  those  connected  in  business  with  them.  Here  was  cast  hollow 
ware  of  various  kinds  needed  in  domestic  service.  The  saw  mill,  full- 
ing and  grist  mills  stood  where  the  brick  mill  now  stands.  Israel  and 
David  Wilkinson  were  relatives  of  Oziel  Wilkinson,  of  Pawtucket,  and 
in  a  very  considerable  degree  partook  of  his  love  for,  and  skill  in, 
mechanical  pursuits.  The  late  Joseph  Wilkinson,  of  Smithfield,  was 
a  cousin  of  the  David  Wilkinson,  of  Pawtucket,  who  invented  the  slide 
lathe.  Joseph  Wilkinson  was  a  man  of  quick  intellect  and  sound 
judgment.  He  would  never  engage  in  any  manufacturing  business, 
saying  that  where  a  difference  of  a  quarter  of  a  cent  a  yard  in  cloth 
would  make  or  ruin  a  man,  his  capital  should  not  be  risked.  He 
created  the  Hamlet  meadows  out  of  the  original  swamp,  and  arid 
sand.  He  also  directed  the  reclamation  of  the  land,  afterward  the 
Manville  meadows,  and  which  vSamuel  F.Man,  in  his  day,  took  a  great 
deal  of  pride  in  keeping  up  to  the  extreme  point  of  fertility,  which 
could  only  be  done  by  careful  irrigation. 

The  "  Mott  Dam,"  now  a  thing  of  the  past,  it  having  been  flowed 
out  by  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  Manville  Company,  was  the  subject 
of  an  eleven  years'  law  suit  between  Joseph  Wilkinson,  and  Jenkins 
and  Man.  It  was  situated  about  one  mile  below  the  Hamlet  village, 
and  was  nearly  five  feet  high.  John  Whipple  and  Richard  W.  Greene 
were  of  counsel  in  the  case,  Whipple  being  for  the  complainant,  Wilk- 
inson, who  owned  the  adjoining  land,  and  Greene  for  Jenkins  and 
Man.     Afterward  Thomas  A.  Jenckes  came  into  the  case,  with  Jndge 


244  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Greene  and  Thomas  Steere  as  counsel  for  Wilkinson,  and  after  the 
usual  fortunes  of  a  case,  where  both  parties  were  pertinacious  and 
all  the  counsel  able,  with  judgment  for  the  plaintiff  in  the  common 
pleas,  a  reversal  by  the  supreme  court,  a  new  trial  and  much  expense 
and  trouble,  the  case  was  finally  settled  by  junior  counsel  on  both 
sides,  one  at  least  of  them  never  having  been  forgiven  by  his  client 
for  doing  him  that  good  service.  Samuel  F.  Man  died  in  1847,  Joseph 
Wilkinson  in  1851;  they  were  neighbors  for  years,  and  although  oppos- 
ing litigants,  were  quite  capable  each  of  appreciating  the  abilities  of 
the  other.  The  Blackstone  flows  without  a  ripple  over  "  Mott  Dam," 
and  the  intellectual  vigor  and  varied  information  of  Samuel  F.  Man, 
and  the  keen  perceptions  and  cool  understanding  of  Joseph  Wilkinson 
are  only  occasionally  brought  to  mind  in  that  locality  where  once  they 
swayed  an  influence  respected  and  acknowledged. 

The  first  mill  was  built  at  Manville  in  1812.  It  was  four  stories  in 
height,  counting  the  attic,  100  by  32,  shingled  on  the  sides.  The 
present  mill  was  built  in  1826,  of  brick,  and  was  originally  139  by  42, 
five  stories  high.  In  1859,  32  feet  were  added  to  the  length,  and  in 
1862,  45  feet  more,  making  it  216  by  42,  with  an  ell,  added  in  1859,  80 
by  44.  At  the  same  time  turbine  wheels  were  put  in,  so  that  there 
were  six  stories  filled  with  machinery.  The  entire  machinery  has 
been  changed  since  1847.  By  purchases  of  real  estate,  and  improved 
machinery,  with  other  outlays,  the  value  of  the  Manville  property  has 
been  doubled  since  1866.  The  new  dam  is  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
very  finest  on  the  river.  It  is  constructed  of  large  hewn  granite;  is 
246  feet  long,  13  feet  in  width  at  the  bottom,  8  feet  on  top,  with  cap; 
18  feet  in  height  on  the  average,  and  rests  upon  solid  rock  its  entire 
length.  In  some  places  it  is  24  feet  in  height,  and  composed  of  stones 
10  to  14  feet  in  length,  and  2  feet  square.  It  was  commenced  August 
15th,  1868,  and  finished  in  three  months  and  one  day.  It  cost  about 
$32,000.  The  new  mill  is  350  by  76,  with  an  ell  76  by  36.  It  is  of  the  most 
solid  description.  It  is  built  of  hewn  granite,  the  stones  being  from 
six  to  eight  feet  in  length  and  18  inch  face  by  12  inches  in  depth.  It 
cost  about  $62,000.  The  work  done  on  the  trenches,  bulkheads,  etc., 
cost  $20,000.  The  fall  of  water  is  19  feet,  and  the  volume  sufficient  to 
drive  both  mills,  or  rather  the  three  mills.  Twelve  hundred  hands 
are  employed.  The  goods  made  here  now  are  fine  lawns  for  printing, 
these  having  taken  the  place  of  fine  shirtings,  which  were  equal  in 
quality  to  the  goods  of  the  New  York  Mills.  A  thousand  acres  of  land 
give  the  Manville  Company  "  ample  room  and  verge  enough  "  for 
agricultural  pursuits;  and  they  have  on  their  premises  some  of  the 
finest  building  sites  in  the  state.  The  village,  which  lies  on  the 
Smithfield  side  of  the  river,  is  well  built  on  wide  streets,  shaded  with 
beautiful  maple  and  elm  trees.  It  is  perfectly  kept  and  evinces  the 
results  of  careful  oversight. 

For  the  purposes  of  a  school  house  and  a  large  hall,  there  is  a  fine 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  245 

two  Story  building,  and  we  have  rarely  seen  better  furnished  rooms 
than  the  primary  and  intermediate  school  rooms  present.  Leading- 
up  to  this  building  and  the  church  which  stands  beside  it  is  a  wide 
and  pleasant  avenue  having  noble  trees  on  either  side.  Episcopal 
services  are  conducted  in  the  church  regularly,  and  the  edifice,  which 
will  seat  300  persons,  has  been  cushioned,  carpeted  and  handsomely 
painted  by  the  company.  The  present  officers  of  the  Manville  Com- 
pany are:  Mr.  Hall,  president;  W.  A.  Tucker,  treasurer;  Henry  F.  Lip- 
pitt,  agent;  H.  B.  Bowen,  secretary,  and  John  F.  Hamlet,  superinten- 
dent. 

Samuel  Clarke,  who  died  in  the  year  1817,  owned  the  Albion  priv- 
ilege, together  with  a  large  tract  of  iand  on  the  Smithfield  side  of 
the  Blackstone  river:  and  this  property  descended  by  will  to  his  two 
sons,  Samuel  and  Mowry  Clarke.  Samuel  sold  his  interest  to  Mowry, 
who  in  1822  deeded  it  to  Samuel  Hill,  Jr.,  of  Smithfield,  and  Abraham 
Wilkinson,  of  North  Providence,  who  were  the  first  to  improve  the 
water  power,  they  having  purchased  land  on  the  Cumberland  side  of 
the  river,  of  Jotham  Carpenter.  For  several  years  the  place  was  called 
Monticello.  In  1822,  Hill  and  Wilkinson  having  no  more  than  com- 
menced operations  by  building  a  dam,  Wilkinson  sold  to  Hill  his  in- 
terest in  the  53  acres  of  land  then  comprising  the  estate,  and  the  water 
power  bounding  on  the  Pawtucket  river,  for  the  consideration  of 
$1,500.  March  22d,  1822,  Samuel  Hill  sold  to  Joseph  Harris,  Preserved 
Arnold,  Daniel  G.  Harris  and  William  Harris,  Abraham  and  Isaac 
Wilkinson,  nine  undivided  tenth  parts  of  this  estate.  In  March,  1823, 
Mr.  Hill  sold  to  the  last  named  parties  his  remaining  tenth  part.  This 
company  erected  in  1823  the  old  stone  mill,  about  50  by  100,  four 
stories  high,  which  contained  108  looms.  In  1830,  the  interest  of 
Abraham  and  Isaac  Wilkinson  and  Samuel  B.  Harris,  who  had  in  the 
meantime  become  part  owner,  was  sold  at  sheriff's  sale  by  Mark  Aid- 
rich,  deputy  sheriff,  at  the  suit  of  the  Lime  Rock  Bank,  George  Wil- 
kinson, son  of  Abraham,  being  the  purchaser,  the  privilege  at  this 
time  being  known  as  Albion.  George  Wilkinson,  in  1833,  the  Harrises 
and  Preserved  Arnold  having  disposed  theretofore  of  their  interest, 
for  the  sum  of  $90,000,  sold  to  Horace  Waldo,  Francis  Waldo  and 
George  Trott,  Jr.,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  two  undivided  thirds  of 
the  Albion  estate.  The  Waldos  and  Trott  sold  in  1834,  to  William 
and  Christopher  Rhodes,  Orray  Taft,  Thomas  Truesdell  and  Robert 
Rhodes,  who  owned  the  entire  estate. 

Afterward  Orray  Taft  sold  his  interest  to  William  A.  Howard,  of 
Providence,  and  Thomas  Truesdell  sold  his  to  Robert  Rhodes.  In 
the  year  1864,  William  A.  Howard  deeded  his  interest  to  Harvey  and 
Samuel  B.  Chace.  During  the  few  years  previous  to  1854,  General 
Libbeus  Tourtellot,  later  of  Woonsocket,  was  superintendent,  and 
made  very  material  improvements  in  the  place,  adding  not  only  to 
the  value  but  to  the  beauty  of  the  village.      In  1854,  Harvey  and 


24:6  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Samuel  B.  Chace  purchased  three-eighths  of  this  estate,  and  in  the 
year  1856,  the  Albion  Company  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
general  assembly.  Afterward,  Robert  Rhodes  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  H.  and  S.  B.  Chace,  and  Samuel  B.  Chace  of  his  to  Harvey 
Chace,  who  transferred  to  the  Albion  Company,  which  then  first 
organized  under  the  charter. 

In  1832,  a  wooden  mill  was  erected  near  where  the  station  of  the 
Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  now  stands,  35  by  60,  which  was 
burned  in  1837.  Another  wooden  mill  was  built  in  1830,  by  George 
Wilkinson,  called  the  Green  mill,  about  40  by  120,  which  has  recently 
been  dismantled.  i\s  before  stated,  the  original  stone  mill  is  still  in 
operation,  and  on  the  north  is  now  joined  by  a  picker  and  carding 
room,  built  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  100  feet  in  length,  while  on  the 
south  is  the  new  mill,  built  of  brick,  120  by  52,  with  the  foundations 
laid,  and  wheel  in  for  an  additional  hundred  feet.  This  mill  is  six 
stories  in  height,  most  thoroughly  constructed,  and  has  a  large  and 
commodious  tower.  The  entire  mill  is  400  feet  in  length.  There  is 
also  a  cloth  room  and  office,  constructed  of  brick,  two  stories  high, 
40  by  60;  a  blacksmith  and  machine  shop  two  stories  in  height,  brick, 
and  in  the  upper  story  of  which  weaving  is  performed;  a  saw  mill 
80  by  25;  a  two  story  stone  store  house;  and  one  half  of  the  Green 
mill,  55  by  40,  to  be  used  as  a  store  house,  the  other  half  having  been 
transformed  into  an  imposing  tenement  house.  A  new  modern  dam 
was  erected  in  1854.     J.  H.  and  J.  Chace  are  the  present  proprietors. 

As  is  the  case  with  many,  if  not  most  of  our  manufacturing 
villages,  Albion  presents  to  the  traveller  by  rail  its  least  attractive 
aspect.  Indeed  the  village  is  hardly  to  be  seen  from  the  cars.  The 
tenements  are  mostly  situated  on  a  high  bluff  overlooking  the  river, 
and  are  very  pleasantly  and  even  picturesquely  placed. 

In  1856  the  Manville  Company  and  the  Albion  Company  gave  the 
land,  and  built  a  road  between  Manville  and  Albion,  along  the  river 
side.  In  1868,  as  a  continuation  thereof,  Messrs.  Harvey  and  Samuel 
B.  Chace  constructed  a  bridge  across  the  Blackstone  at  Albion,  and 
a  road  of  a  mile  in  length  to  the  Cumberland  Hill  road,  to  Providence. 
W.  F.  Brown  is  the  superintendent  of  this  concern,  and  Andrew  J. 
Currier  is  the  agent. 

Lonsdale  is  situated  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  upon  the  line 
of  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad.  In  1860,  the  Lonsdale 
Company  erected  here  a  large  brick  mill  250  by  50  feet,  four  stories 
high  with  attic.  In  1871  they  built  another  beautiful  mill  192  by  90 
feet,  four  stories  high.  In  1886  they  erected  the  Ann  and  Hope  Mill, 
one  of  the  finest  in  New  England.  The  mills  are  lighted  with  gas 
manufactured  by  the  company's  works. 

The  new  village  of  Lonsdale  is  almost  entirely  owned  by  the  Lons- 
dale Manufacturing  Company.  With  the  exception  of  one  block 
owned  by  Albert  M.  Whipple,  and  the  residence  of   Doctor  L.  F.  C. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  247 

Garvin,  the  entire  village  belongs  to  the  mills.  On  the  Cumberland 
side  the  village  contains  a  half  dozen  stores,  a  church,  a  public  hall, 
and  numerous  brick  tenements  for  the  employees.  Ground  for  the  new- 
large  mill  on  this  side  was  broken  June  16th,  1886.  The  building  was 
erected  by  Cutting  &  Bishop,  formerly  two  operatives  in  the  mills 
here.  The  mill  was  named  in  memory  of  the  wives  of  the  two  chief 
founders  of  the  company.  The  entire  front  is  684  feet  long.  The 
main  portion  is  498  feet  in  length,  100  feet  in  depth  and  4  stories  in 
height.  The  product  consists  of  sateens,  Hollands,  sheetings  and 
Lonsdale  cambric  muslins.  The  company  employ  800  operatives  in 
this  mill  alone.  They  employ  400  operatives  in  Mill  No.  4,  and  a  large 
number  on  the  Lincoln  side  of  the  river  besides. 

The  mercantile  interests  here  were  started  by  the  Lonsdale  Com- 
pany, and  managed  by  E.  B.  Bishop  for  many  years.  Mr.  Bishop  is 
one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  place  and  is  still  trading  on  an  extensive 
scale.  Joseph  Davis  has  also  done  business  in  the  place  for  many 
years.  Bishop  Brothers  have  a  store  that  would  do  credit  to  a  larger 
place.  The  firm  consists  of  W.  and  N.  S.  Bishop.  They  began  Sep- 
tember.lSth,  1876,  in  the  building  erected  by  Albert  Whipple  in  1875, 
and  are  still  trading  there,  employing  seven  clerks.  J.  Money  came 
to  the  village  in  1856.  He  built  his  store  in  1876,  and  James  Ryan 
his  place  of  business  in  1878.  James  H.  Hosier  has  also  an  extensive 
trade  in  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.  The  public  hall  was  erected 
by  Albert  M.  Whipple. 

Ashton  is  on  the  Blackstone  river,  tw^o  and  a  half  miles  above 
Lonsdale.  The  Lonsdale  Company  purchased  land  here  in  1863,  and 
in  1867  erected  a  large,  fine  brick  structure,  348  by  90  feet,  four  stories 
high,  surmounted  wnth  a  French  roof.  A  neat  and  convenient  station 
is  found  here  on  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad,  similar  in 
design  to  that  of  Berkeley.  The  mill  company  have  several  beautiful 
brick  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  their  operatives,  also  a  fine 
boarding  house  with  accommodation  for  50  boarders.  A  prominent 
feature  of  these  mills  is  the  excellent  arrangement  in  case  of  fire. 
Each  floor  can  be  deluged  at  once  in  case  of  necessity,  and  the  em- 
ployees are  afforded  means  of  escape  independent  of  the  towers.  They 
manufacture  cambric  muslin. 

There  are  several  stores  in  the  village  of  Ashton.  Charles  A. 
Whipple,  one  of  the  pioneer  traders,  started  business  many  years  ago 
and  carried  it  on  for  nearly  a  third  of  a  centur}-.  John  M.  Ryan,  near 
the  Whipple  vStand,  was  the  next  merchant,  and  he  is  still  operating. 
Next  in  order  was  a  Mr.  Kief,  then  John  Barnes,  William  Hartley  and 
George  D.  Follett.  Mr.  Follett  is  postmaster.  His  father,  Alfred 
Follett,  ran  the  poor  farm  for  about  20  years.  There  are  two  drug 
stores  in  the  village:  one  kept  by  Mr.  Fletcher,  the  other  by  John  E. 
Fogarty. 

St.  Joseph's  Church  is  located  at  Berkeley,  and  was  originally  one 


248  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  the  mission  districts  of  St.  Mary's  church,  Pawtucket.  November 
1st,  1872,  Reverend  J.  A.  Fitzsimons,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge 
of  the  new  field,  and  during  his  labors  two  churches  have  been  erected 
and  a  congregation  of  a  thousand  communicants  gathered.  The  old 
building  was  torn  down  and  worked  into  the  structure  of  the  present 
beautiful  edifice,  which  cost  $40,000.  It  was  dedicated  in  April,  1890. 
There  are  several  societies  connected  with  this  church,  viz.:  Sons  of 
Temperance,  Sons  of  St.  Joseph,  Altar  Society  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, and  the  Children  of  Mary. 

Diamond  Hill  is  situated  between  the  east  and  west  forks  of  Ab- 
bott Run,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town.  Here  is  found  the  larg- 
est mass  of  crystalized  quartz  in  New  England.  Among  its  rocks  arc 
a  great  number  of  metals.  Iron  ore  was  dug  here  a  great  many  years 
ago.  A  Mr.  Lapham,  who  had  a  smelting  furnace  at  Manville,  tested 
it.  and  pronounced  it  of  excellent  quality,  but  not  of  sufficient 
quantity  to  render  it  profitable.  Mr.  John  Gould  owned  the  entire 
hill  at  one  time,  and  spent  considerable  time  and  money  searching 
for  the  precious  metals. 

The  village  is  situated  nearly  south  of  Diamond  Hill.  It  contains 
a  hotel  and  store,  in  which  is  located  the  post  office,  established  here 
in  1852.  The  Rhode  Island  &  Massachusetts  railroad  was  built 
through  here  in  1877.  Diamond  Hill  is  familiarly  known  as  "  the 
Plain."  The  old  tavern  is  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Edwin  Cook,  de- 
ceased, and  the  store  by  A.  A.  Trask.  The  postmaster  is  Roscoe  D. 
Metcalf. 

The  Diamond  Hill  Quarry  is  operated  by  Francis  B.  Fisher,  and 
gives  employment  to  about  15  hands.  The  water  gate  for  the  Paw- 
tucket water  works  reservoir,  begun  here  in  1884  and  recently  finished, 
is  of  granite  taken  from  this  quarry,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  pieces  of 
work  of  the  kind  known.  The  grist  mill  and  saw  mill  have  been  in  the 
Newell  family  for  many  years.  Mr.  Jason  Newell  now  owns  the  prop- 
erty. 

A  Grange  was  organized  here  in  1887,  and  has  a  membership  of 
about  90  persons.  The  officers  in  1889  were:  Charles  O.  Flagg,  W. 
M.;  Henry  C.  Kent,  lector;  M.  Carpenter,  overseer;  D.  O.  Cargill, 
chaplain.     The  society  meets  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall. 

Hawkins  is  situated  on  the  Abbott  Run  three  miles  above  Robin 
Hollow.  About  1813  John  Walcott  and  Doctor  Nathaniel  Potter 
built  a  factory  here.  It  was  a  wooden  building  40  by  30  feet,  two 
stories  high,  with  basement,  and  was  operated  for  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  yarn.  Mr.  Potter  died  in  1825,  after  which  the  Walcotts  ran 
the  mill  until  1840.  John  Thorp  made  four  upright  looms  that  were 
placed  in  the  factory  in  1818.  These  looms  were  run  about  a  year 
when  they  were  cut  down  to  the  Scotchman's  flat  loom.  The  mill 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in   1845.     In   1850  William  Hawkins  purchased 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  249 

the  property  and  erected  a  saw  and  grist  mill.  In  1870  G.  W.  Haw- 
kins bought  the  property. 

Arnold's  Mills,  recently  named  East  Cumberland,  is  situated  a 
short  distance  from  Diamond  Hill,  and  upon  the  Abbott  Run  river. 
The  Arnold  family  improved  the  privilege  for  several  generations, 
and  gave  their  name  to  the  place.  Edwin  R.  and  Pardon  B.  Arnold 
are  descendants.  In  1784  Richard  Atwell  sold  the  privilege  to  William 
Walcott,  Daniel  Wilkinson  and  James  Streeter,  reserving  a  quarter 
interest  to  himself.  The  parties  immediately  erected  a  saw  mill. 
Amos  Arnold  afterward  bought  it,  and  it  remained  in  the  family  sev- 
eral generations.  A  grist  mill  was  erected  opposite.  The  saw  mill 
was  operated  till  1862.  In  1885  Taft  &  Carpenter  started  up  the 
mill,  and  are  still  operating.  Joseph  and  Ebenezer  Metcalf  built  a 
machine  shop  here  in  1825.  They  made  cotton  machinery  and  spin- 
ning frames,  which  were  famous  in  their  day. 

In  1840  Mowry  Taft  and  Charles  B.  Carpenter  purchased  the  prop- 
erty, but  made  no  improvements.  In  1850  these  parties  sold  to 
Charles  Metcalf,  who  made  one  spinning  frame,  a  very  fine  one,  since 
which  time  the  building  has  stood  idle  until  quite  recently.  It  is  now 
utilized  by  the  Nicholas  Brothers,  who  manufacture  straw  goods, 
and  employ  about  20  hands.  In  1875  Simeon  Derry  built  a  fine  new 
dam  to  take  place  of  the  old  dilapidated  one.  Mr.  Derry  also  erected 
a  carriage  repository  at  that  time,  and  did  a  considerable  business. 
He  was  the  first  postmaster  in  the  place,  establishing  the  ofhce  in  1873. 
Fred  W.  Voelker,  the  present  station  agent  and  tax  collector,  is  post- 
master. Mr.  Voelker  took  the  agency  of  the  depot  in  1884.  He  was 
unfortunate  when  10  years  old  to  break  his  leg,  and  when  18  years  of 
age  lost  his  arm  in  the  mill. 

Doctor  Metcalf  was  early  settled  here  as  a  physician,  and  left  a 
son  Draper,  who  practiced  here  a  life  time.  Doctor  Benjamin  Ting- 
ley,  of  more  recent  date,  has  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  physician. 
A  short  distance  west  of  this  place  is  the  William  Bishop  house.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  Methodists  in  America,  and  here  Jesse  Lee,  Lo- 
renzo Dow  and  other  preachers  of  note  found  a  friend  and  a  home. 
The  first  services  preached  in  the  town  were  at  this  house.  Among 
other  old  residents  here  were  Lewis,  John  and  Jabez  Walcott,  also 
Lewis  Arnold,  who  operated  a  trip-hammer  by  water  power.  He  used 
to  work  up  old  iron  into  picks,  chains,  bars,  etc.  The  business  has 
long  been  discontinued, 

Berkeley  is  situated  a  half  mile  below  Ashton,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad,  which  runs  between  the  village 
and  Blackstone  river.  The  name  of  the  place  was  bestowed  upon  it 
by  R,  H.  Ives,  in  honor  of  Bishop  Berkeley.  The  elegant  mill  here 
was  erected  in  1872,  and  the  addition  in  1881.  The  main  mill  is  300 
by  90  feet,  four  stories  high,  with  an  ell  20  by  90  feet,  three  stories 
high.     The  finest  class  of    cotton  goods,  cambric  muslins  and  fine 


250  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

shirtings  are  manufactured.  The  mill  is  connected  by  telegraph 
with  Ashton  and  Lonsdale.  The  title  of  the  company  is  the  Berkeley 
Manufacturing  Company.  W.  H.  Magee  is  superintendent  of  the 
mills.  He  succeeded  A.  P.  Sissons  January  8th,  1883.  The  mill 
operates  927  looms  and  employs  600  hands. 

Cumberland  Hill  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town, 
a  mile  east  of  Manville.  This  village  was  anciently  the  seat  of  the 
town  government,  and  even  yet  the  district  election  is  held  here. 
Up  to  1808  the  town  council  met  here,  but  since  then  their  meetings 
have  been  held  at  Valley  Falls.  The  old  Baptist  church  built  in 
1800,  and  the  academy  erected  the  year  after,  have  long  since  gone 
into  disuse.  Mrs.  Fenner  Brown,  now  97  years  of  age,  formerly 
attended  school  in  the  academy.  She  is  the  mother  of  Mrs.  William 
Weeden.  In  1843,  Fenner  Brown  built  the  Highland  House.  It  is 
now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Weeden,  and  is  rented  for  a  summer  board- 
ing house.  A  store  used  to  be  kept  on  this  site  oO  years  ago  by  Ariel 
Cook.     He  kept  there  for  30  years. 

The  Cumberland  Bank  was  organized  at  the  house  of  Captain 
Amos  Cook  on  the  First  Monday  in  January,  1823,  with  a  cash  capital 
of  $50,000,  and  the  charter  granted  by  the  Rhode  Island  legislature 
at  the  January  session  of  that  year.  The  first  board  of  directors 
embraced  the  following  names:  William  Jillson,  Samuel  Weather- 
head,  Ariel  Cook,  Philip  Thomas,  Smith  Arnold,  Turner  Haskell, 
Samuel  Shove,  Davis  Cook,  Dexter  Ballon,  Joseph  Whipple,  3d, 
Abner  Ballon,  Welcome  Farnum  and  Joseph  Underwood.  The 
affairs  of  the  bank  were  first  placed  in  the  hands  of  Aaron  White, 
an  attorney  of  Cumberland  Hill,  who  acted  as  cashier  until  the 
organization  was  in  working  order,  when  Alexander  Ballon  was 
chosen  cashier  and  continued  to  fill  that  position  until  1839.  He 
was  succeeded  by  George  Cook,  who  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the 
charter  expired  in  1885.  On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Jillson  at  the  end 
of  his  first  year,  Samuel  Weatherhead  was  elected  piesident  and 
served  for  13  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Arnold  W.  Jenckes,  and 
he  three  years  later  by  Alexander  Ballon  for  the  same  period.  The 
fifth  president  was  Davis  Cook,  whose  term  of  service  embraced  33 
years,  when  Otis  D.  Ballou  served  five  years,  Davis  Cook,  Jr.,  subse- 
quently holding  the  office  until  the  affairs  of  the  bank  were  wound 
up  by  statute  limitation  in  1885.  The  Cumberland  Bank  embraced 
the  national  system  in  1865,  and  became  the  Cumberland  National 
Bank.  Its  capital  was  three  times  increased  during  the  years  1827, 
1850  and  1853,  each  time  by  $25,000.  Its  board  of  direction,  when 
the  national  vSystem  was  adopted, included  the  names  of  Davis  Cook, 
Otis  D.  Ballou,  Warren  J.  Ballou,  Willard  Pierce,  Lyman  Bur- 
lingame  and  Albert  Cook.  The  directors  elected  at  the  last  meeting 
of    the    board   in   1885  were:    Davis    Cook,    Alexander     Thompson, 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  251 

Walter    S.    Cook,     Cyrus    Cook,     vStephen    W.    Ballou,    Edwin     R. 
Thomas  and  Edward  W.  Aletcalf. 

In  18B9,  at  the  January  session  of  the  general  assembly  a  school 
law  was  passed  under  which  the  town  of  Cumberland  elected  in  June 
following-  a  school  board  consisting  of  15  members.  The  board 
organized  by  electing  Olney  Ballou  president  "and  Fenner  Brown 
secretary.  They  apportioned  $1,052.84  among  the  districts  of  the 
town  in  1839.  In  June,  1841,  the  town  was  divided  into  20  districts. 
In  1877,  $10,020  was  apportioned  for  school  purposes  and  payments 
for  the  year  ending  April  30th,  1889,  were  $12,210.19.  Evening 
.schools  are  held  in  the  villages  of  Ashton,  Berkeley,  Lonsdale  and 
Valley  Falls.  Reverend  B.  H.  Lane,  the  superintendent,  reports  284 
different  scholars  enrolled  in  these  schools  and  the  work  done  as  very 
satisfactory. 

Early  churches  were  formed  in  the  town,  showing  that  the  people 
entertained  very  great  reverence  for  the  worship  of  their  Creator. 
William  Blackstone  was  not  only  the  first  settler  of  the  state  but  also 
the  first  minister  of  the  Gospel.  After  him  came  the  Ballou  meeting 
house,  previously  referred  to.  The  "Catholic  Oak,"  at  the  junction 
of  three  roads,  and  now  standing  in  the  village  of  Lonsdale,  shadow- 
ing the  locality  where  Blackstone  resided,  has  a  memorable  history. 
For  70  years  it  was  the  church  of  the  neighborhood,  meetings 
being  held  under  its  branches.  Here  Reverend  James  Cook  Rich- 
mond ministered  the  Episcopal  service  for  many  years  before  sufficient 
encouragement  was  given  to  justify  the  building  of  the  church  in 
Lonsdale.  Up  to  1860  services  were  habitually  held  here  by  some  of 
the  various  religious  denominations. 

The  Ballou  meetinghouse  was  erected  in  1700,  and  is,  without  doubt 
the  oldest  church  building  in  the  state.  The  pews,  altar  and  gallery 
are  unique  in  design.  The  former  members  of  this  congregation  lie 
buried  in  a  cemetery  of  three  acres,  which  borders  on  the  north  base 
of  the  Iron  mountain.  iV  neat  wall  encircles  this  hallowed  spot.  This 
church  obtained  the  deed  of  this  land  from  James  Ballou  in  1732.  The 
pastor  at  this  time  was  Josiah  Cooke,  who  had  ministerial  charge  of 
this  congregation  for  35  years.  Nathaniel  Cooke  was  pastor  for  about 
40  years.  There  has  been  no  settled  pastor  since  Elder  Place  was 
here,  and  at  present  all  denominations  are  privileged  to  hold  meetings 
here.  A  Sabbath  school  is  held  each  .Sunday  here.  Reverend  A. 
Ballou  preached  his  first  sermon  in  this  house. 

The  Friends  meeting  house  was  built  in  1809,  principally  through 
the  liberality  of  vSamuel  Hill.  The  house  is  located  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Lanesville  road,  about  a  half  mile  south  of  East  Cumberland 
village.  The  history  of  this  society  begins  with  the  early  settlement 
of  the  place.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  societies  of  Friends  in  the  state. 
The  building  is  a  two  story  building  about  30  feet  square. 

The  old  Baptist  church  at  Abbott's  was  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the 


2.")2  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Lanesville  road,  upon  the  site  since  occupied  by  D.  A.  Thompson's 
house,  and  was  built  about  the  year  1700.  It  was  a  wooden  structure 
two  stories  high,  with  a  large  gallery.  Its  size  was  30  by  60  feet.  It 
was  torn  down  in  1825.  Under  an  oak  tree  that  stood  in  front  of  this 
church  the  celebrated  Jemima  Wilkinson  made  her  first  speech. 

The  Cumberland  Catholic  Baptist  Society  was  chartered  in  1795. 
Abner  Bartlett  and  Whipple  Levitt  gave  an  acre  of  land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Mendon  road,  a  short  distance  south  of  the  present  church. 
It  was  built  in  1800  from  the  proceeds  of  a  lottery,  and  was  36  by  38 
feet.  About  1840  the  town  offered  to  repair  the  building,  which  offer 
was  accepted,  and  in  consideration  the  town  meetings  were  held  here 
until  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  year  1858.  This 
society  formerly  held  its  meetings  under  the  famous  oak  tree  at 
Lonsdale. 

Upon  this  same  lot  a  school  house  was  erected  and  chartered  as  the 
Cumberland  school  house  in  1795.  It  did  not  make  much  progress 
and  in  1800  another  charter  was  obtained  as  the  Cumberland  Academy 
Company.  A  building  was  put  up  about  this  time.  Later  another 
charter  was  obtained  as  the  Cumberland  Union  School  Company.  In 
1819  another  charter  was  obtained  for  a  new  society,  the  Cumberland 
Literary  Society.  This  united  with  the  other  societies  in  maintaining 
a  library  in  connection  with  the  school.  After  the  establishment  of 
the  public  school  system  in  1839  and  the  building  of  district  school 
houses  the  year  following,  the  enterprise  went  down.  The  building 
was  moved  off  the  land  and  is  now  used  as  a  dwelling  house. 

The  Cumberland  Hill  Baptist  church  was  formed  in  July,  1841. 
Reverend  Henry  G.  Stewart  was  ordained  pastor  in  August,  1841.  The 
church  had  30  members  and  the  Sabbath  school  70.  They  had  a 
library  of  225  volumes.  Reverend  James  W.  Russell  accepted  the 
pastoral  charge  June  2d,  1850.  The  succeeding  pastors  have  been: 
Reverends  Frederick  Wiley,  J.  D.  Donovan,  J.  P.  Burbank,  Matthew 
Colvin,  J.  G.  Richardson,  and  C.  Pray,  who  closed  his  pastorate  in 
1870,  since  which  supplies  have  been  made.  The  building  cost  about 
$3,000.  It  was  chartered  in  October,  1844,  and  is  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Mendon  road,  opposite  the  Episcopal  church. 

The  old  Episcopal  chapel  stands  opposite  the  Episcopal  church, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Mendon  road.  It  is  used  as  a  reading  room 
by  the  library  association  of  that  place. 

St.  John's  Episcopal  church  is  a  little  south  of  the  village  of  Ash- 
ton.  It  was  erected  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  It  is  beautifully  fin- 
ished on  the  inside  and  will  seat  300  persons.  Reverend  D.  G. 
Anderson  was  missionary  pastor  at  first.  Reverend  R.  C.  Booth  was 
the  first  settled  rector  in  1869.  He  was  followed  by  Reverend  N.  P. 
Balcom,  and  he  by  Reverend  Robert  Murray  in  1874,  the  present 
rector. 

St.  Mary's  Episcopal  Mission  church  was  opened  by  the  bishop  in 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  253 

1878.  It  was  erected  the  year  before  at  a  cost  of  $4,000  and  stands  on 
a  lot  given  by  Mrs.  Fenner  Brown.  Mrs.  William  A.  Weeden,  her 
daughter,  has  interested  herself  in  the  erection  of  this  building,  and 
the  success  of  the  enterprise  is  due  to  her  efforts. 

Cumberland  Universalist  church  was  erected  in  May,  1873,  at 
Chapel  Four  Corner^.  It  is  a  neat  wooden  structure  27  by  35  feet.  It 
was  dedicated  in  August,  1873,  and  cost  $2,800.  The  Universalist 
Sabbath  School  Society  was  organized  in  1866  and  was  chartered  in 
June,  1872.  Alexander  S.  Arnold  was  the  first  superintendent.  The 
building  is  50  by  32  feet,  with  an  ell  16  feet  square,  and  cost  $3,000. 

The  following  sketch  of  the  Valley  Falls  Baptist  church  was  con- 
tributed by  Reverend  B.  H.  Lane,  the  present  pastor: 

Religious  services  were  held  in  the  village  for  some  years  before 
a  church  was  formed.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1823, 
and  held  its  sessions  in  an  old  house  still  standing,  used  then  as  a 
school  house.  Afterward  a  room  was  fitted  up  in  the  mill  and  used 
for  some  years  as  a  place  of  worship.  A  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Benjamin  B.  Pierce  on  Monday,  August  20th,  1832,  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  forming  a  Baptist  church  in  Valley  Falls.  Twelve  men 
were  at  this  meeting,  among  them  two  whose  names  deserve  j=pecial 
mention  for  their  faithful  services  of  many  years — Benjamin  B.  Pierce 
and  Otis  Ingraham.  At  this  meeting  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to 
attempt  the  formation  of  a  church.  Reverend  Amos  Lefavor,  who 
was  present,  was  appointed  to  prepare  "  Articles  of  Faith  and  a  Cove- 
nant"  for  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  church.  A  second  meeting 
was  held  one  week  later,  when  arrangements  were  made  for  the  call- 
ing of  an  ecclesiastical  council  to  constitute  the  church.  Eight 
churches  were  represented  in  the  council,  which  met  September  3d, 
1832,  and  it  was  voted  to  organize  the  church.  The  service  of  recog- 
nition was  held  the  same  afternoon.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Reverend  R.  E.  Pattison,  of  Providence,  and  the  consecrating  prayer 
was  offered  by  Reverend  Amos  Lefavor,  who  became  the  first  pastor. 
There  were  25  constituent  members,  11  of  them  men.  Of  these  none 
are  now  living.  Seven  of  them  remained  members  of  the  church 
until  their  death.  Of  these  Deacon  Otis  Ingraham  walked  in  fellow- 
ship with  the  church  longer  than  any  other,  and  died,  beloved  and 
lamented  by  all,  in  1870.  He  served  as  deacon  from  the  first.  His 
associate  in  office  was  Benjamin  B.  Pierce,  a  good  man  and  true,  and 
their  faithful  service  greatly  aided  the  church  in  those  early  years. 
The  first  clerk  was  A.  F.  Wilcox,  who  held  the  office  for  one  year,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Joseph  L.  Bennett.  Reverend  Amos  Lefavor  was 
the  first  pastor,  and  received  a  salary  of  $300,  a  respectable  sum  for 
those  times. 

There  were  no  baptisms  until  1834,  when  two  women,  Hannah 
Merry  and  Laura  Barney,  were  baptized.  It  was  while  two  students 
from  Brown  University  were  supplying  the  pulpit  on  alternate  Sab- 


'254  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

baths, Haynes  and  D.  L.  Brayton,the  latter  still  living  and  kno^Yn 

as  the  aged  and  honored  veteran  missionary  at  Rangoon,  Burmah. 
During  this  year  37  were  added  to  the  church  and  the  membership 
more  than  doubled.  The  first  man  baptized  was  Andrew  Fairman, 
April  20th,  1834.  The  first  member  excluded  was  a  woman  "for 
neglecting  the  church,  using  profane  language  and  other  improper 
conduct.'"  Henry  Marchant  was  the  third  clerk,  and  held  the  office 
for  ten  years.  He  was  an  earnest  and  faithful  worker  and  devoted 
time  and  money  for  the  good  of  the  church. 

Our  honor  roll  contains  the  names  of  those  whose  service  stretches 
over  more  than  50  years.  First,  Mrs.  Mary  Wilkinson  Fessenden, 
who  united  with  the  church  in  1834.  For  many  years  she  sang  in  the 
choir,  and  led  the  service  of  song  in  the  devotional  meetings.  This 
honored  name — Fessenden — stands  connected  with  more  years  of  our 
history  than  any  other,  and  is  now  represented  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rus- 
sell Fessenden.  Our  honored  and  faithful  deacon,  Daniel  W.  Jenks, 
comes  next,  and  he  has  been  an  earnest  worker  more  years  than  any 
other  member.  Mrs.  Lucy  Chase  has  been  a  member  since  1837.  Mrs. 
Sally  Beal  was  received  by  baptism  the  same  year,  and  has  been  a 
faithful  member  ever  since.  Miss  Lucy  White,  better  known  as  the 
wife  of  Deacon  Jenks,  was  a  member  53  years,  till  her  death.  May  5th, 
1890.  Another  name  belonging  in  this  list  is  Lydia  Maria  Ingraham, 
the  daughter  of  the  first  deacon.  She  was  baptized  m  1838,  and  dur- 
ing that  year  46  united  with  the  church.  It  was  in  this  same  year 
that  Boham  P.  Byram,  a  student  from  Brown  University,  was  called 
to  the  pastorate.  He  became  acting  pastor  at  once.  The  most  prosper- 
ous and  happy  days  of  the  church  were  during  his  ministry  of  IS-g- 
years.  There  were  additions  to  the  membership  every  year;  65  were 
added  in  1842,  91  in  1843  and  50  in  1846. 

The  present  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  January  14th,  1840, 
and  the  next  day  Boham  P.  Byram  was  ordained,  and  set  apart  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  In  April  of 
the  same  year  letters  of  dismission  were  granted  to  37  persons  to  form 
a  Baptist  church  at  Lonsdale.  In  1841,  the  first  systematic  plan  for 
benevolent  work  and  aiding  the  various  societies  of  the  denomination 
was  adopted.  In  1844,  a  resolution  was  passed  expressing  the  sinful- 
ness of  American  slavery,  and  that  it  was  opposed  to  the  laws  of  God 
and  the  principles  of  humanity.  In  1846,  a  season  of  fasting  and 
prayer  was  held,  during  which  the  brethren  continued  all  night  in 
prayer.  The  result  was  that  many  persons  were  touched,  some  even 
who  did  not  attend  any  meeting.  They  could  not  sleep.  The  power 
of  God  seemed  to  rest  upon  them,  and  many  became  members  of  the 
church.  The  loyalty  of  the  people  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil 
war  may  be  seen  in  the  report  for  1861.  "  Out  of  a  population  of  1,500 
more  than  100  men  have  enlisted  in  the  army."  In  1866,  George  W. 
Gile,  a  student  of  Brown  L'^niversity,  was  called  to  be  pastor.     In  the 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  255 

freshness  and  vigor  of  his  young;  manhood  he  entered  upon  his  work. 
During  his  pastorate  the  prayer  meetings  were  well  sustained  and 
very  interesting.  This  unusual  thing  is  reported,  '-one  half  of  the 
mcDibcrsJiip  is  constant  in  attendance  upon  the  prayer  and  conference 
meetings."  This  year  three  persons  were  chosen  deacons — Daniel  W. 
Jenks,  who  still  holds  the  office;  Clark  Lawton  and  Edmund  N.  Clark, 
both  of  whom  honored  the  office  until  their  deaths.  Reverend  C.  W. 
Burnham,  the  tenth  regular  pastor,  was  called  September,  1871.  The 
house  of  worship  was  repaired  and  the  debts  paid. 

Reverend  E.  S.  Wheeler  was  the  next  pastor,  and  commenced  his 
service  October  1st,  1874.  The  congregation  increased,  and  all  the 
work  moved  along  pleasantly.  The  rooms  for  Sunday  school  and 
social  purposes  were  greatly  improved,  and  many  united  with  the 
church  during  his  pastorate  of  four  years.  The  next  pastor  was  the 
Reverend  D.  C.  Easton,  who  served  the  church  five  years.  During 
this  pastorate  a  debt  of  $1,500  was  paid,  and  two  men  honored  and 
respected  by  all  died;  Deacon  E.  N.  Clark  in  November,  1880,  who 
had  served  as  deacon  for  15  years,  and  Benjamin  Fessenden  in  Jan- 
uary, 1881.  He  was  a  man  of  broad  culture  aud  earnest  piety,  a  gen- 
tleman in  public  and  private  life.  Reverend  B.  H.  Lane  became 
pastor  November  1st,  1884.  The  house  of  worship  has  been  trans- 
formed and  improved  at  an  expense  of  more  than  $3,000,  the  roll  of 
membership  has  been  revised  and  additions  been  made  every  year. 
All  the  work  of  the  church  is  moving  along  pleasantly.  He  has  just 
entered  upon  his  seventh  year,  the  longest  pastorate  of  any  except  one, 
that  of  the  Reverend  Boham  P.  Byrom,  -Which  w^as  13^  years.  There 
have  been  additions  to  the  church  during  the  58  years  of  its  history 
every  year  except  six.  The  largest  membership  was  in  1849,  when 
282  were  reported.  Five  years  later  it  had  dropped  to  103.  The 
present  membership  is  120. 

There  have  been  ten,  or  possibly  more,  deacons  during  these  years. 
The  longest  period  of  service  was  that  of  Otis  Ingraham,  who  held  the 
office  from  the  first  organization  till  his  death,  37  years.  Our  present 
honored  deacon,  Daniel  W.  Jenks,  comes  next  in  length  of  service, 
having  held  the  office  faithfully  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

There  have  been  13  clerks  who  have  kept  the  records  in  a  faithful 
manner.  Twenty-three  years  of  the  records  were  written  by  the  hand 
of  Clark  Lawton,  who  was  almost  a  model  church  clerk.  The  finances 
of  the  church  have  been  wisely  managed,  and  were  never  in  better 
condition  than  now.  Nearly  800  members  have  been  connected  with 
the  church. 

The  Sunday  school  has  had  a  continuous  existence  for  67  years, 
and  has  always  been  a  moral  power  in  the  community.  It  has  been 
under  the  efficient  superintendency  of  Edmund  Clark  for  more  than 
25  years,  and  numbers  about  300  members.  The  history  of  ^^6  years 
of  church  life  cannot  be  told  in  a  brief  sketch.     The  roll  of  member- 


256  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ship,  the  names  of  pastors  and  their  years  of  service,  some  of  these 
outward  things  can  be  told;  but  then  there  is  another  history  of  toils 
and  earnest  service,  of  deep  anxieties,  of  prayers  and  tears,  that  can 
never  be  told.  The  meetings  and  the  partings,  the  joys  and  sorrows, 
are  known  only  to  Him  who  is  the  great  head  of  the  church.  He  only 
knows  thf^  full  and  complete  history  of  any  church. 

The  Methodists  were  very  early  in  their  ministerial  labors  at  this 
place.  In  the  days  of  William  Bishop,  previously  mentioned,  the 
worshippers  of  this  faith  gathered  themselves  together  here,  but  no 
house  of  worship  was  erected  till  1828,  when  the  present  two  story 
structure  was  built.  It  is  36  by  60  feet.  The  first  settled  pastor  was 
Peter  Sabin,  in  1833.  The  church  was  chartered  in  1867.  The  pas- 
tor, in  1889,  Lyman  G.  Horton,  who  had  acceptably  filled  the  pulpit 
three  years.  He  succeeded  W.  B.  Heath  in  the  pastoral  work.  The 
church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  maintains  a  good  Sabbath 
school,  under  the  superintendence  of  Charles  O.  Flagg.  The  building 
has  recently  been  repaired,  steam  heating  apparatus  being  added,  and 
other  additions  made. 

The  new  Methodist  church  at  Berkeley  was  erected  in  1889.  Rev- 
erend Charles  Smith  is  the  pastor.  Eli  Mills,  a  prominent  merchant 
in  the  place,  is  Sabbath  school  superintendent. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  erected  in  1886,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$4,000.  It  is  a  neat  wooden  building  that  does  credit  to  the  place. 
Religious  services  for  this  particular  denomination  were  held  here  at 
the  house  of  Deacon  William  S.  Broadbent  occasionally,  for  years  be- 
fore the  erection  of  the  house  of  worship.  Deacon  Broadbent  and 
wife  were  among  the  prime  movers  in  securing  a  religious  house  at 
Lonsdale  for  this  people,  and  the  erection  of  this  neat  edifice  stands 
as  a  monument  to  their  zeal  and  energy  in  the  cause.  Reverend  Mr. 
Montgomery  is  pastor  of  the  church. 

St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church.  Valley  Falls,  was  originally  in  the 
parish  of  St.  Mary's,  Pawtucket.  The  first  church  was  built  in  1860, 
and  the  building  dedicated  July  4th  of  that  same  year.  The  first 
resident  pastor  was  the  Reverend  Richard  O'Gorman.  He  left  in 
1864,  and  was  succeeded  by  Daniel  Mullen  in  August  of  that  year. 
From  1868  to  1872  it  was  under  the  spiritual  direction  of  Hugh  J. 
O'Reilley,  when  the  present  pastor,  Reverend  Thomas  Kane,  took 
charge.  The  building  was  erected  by  Father  Delaney.  In  1874  the 
church  was  enlarged.  In  1877  the  school  was  opened,  and  in  1878  the 
convent  was  started. 

The  Catholic  church  at  Ashton,  under  the  spiritual  control  of  the 
Reverend  Father  James  A.  Fitzsimons,  was  taken  from  the  parish 
of  vSt.  Patrick  in  1872.  Father  Fitzsimons  has  been  the  only  pastor. 
Under  his  guidance  a  membership  of  1,000  souls  has  been  obtained. 
The  handsome  new  edifice  was  dedicated  in  1889. 

A  society  of  Sons  of  Temperance,  No.  30,  was  organized  in  1866, 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  257 

with  30  members,  Samuel  O.  Chace,  W.  P.  The  society  meets  in  a 
fine  hall  erected  by  the  Valley  Falls  Company. 

St.  Joseph's  Total  Abstinence  Society  is  located  at  Ashton.  It 
was  organized  in  1873.     President,  John  Murray. 

Sovereig-ns  of  Industry  is  an  order  of  a  secret  nature,  and  has  a 
considerable  membership. 

Ashton  Lodge,  No.  3,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  instituted  or  chartered 
August  3d,  1877,  with  35  charter  members.  The  Lodge  meets  every 
Wednesday  evening  in  the  chapel  at  Ashton. 

'    BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

John  Barnes,  son  of  George  Barnes,  was  born  in  Accrington,  Lan- 
cashire, England,  in  1844.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1865,  and  to 
Cumberland  in  1869,  and  until  1874  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Lons- 
dale Company  at  Ashton.  At  that  date  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  doing  a  large  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1888.  He  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Moriah  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lime  Rock,  also  a  member  of  Foresters  of  Ashton.  He 
was  married  in  1872  to  Lydia  Hirst,  and  has  had  three  sons  and  five 
daughters,  of  whom  all  but  one  daughter  are  living. 

William  Bishop,  a  son  of  James,  was  born  at  Plymouth,  England, 
May  9th,  1809,  came  to  Providence  in  1856,  and  a  few  months  later 
settled  in  Lincoln.  He  was  a  ship  builder.  He  married  Sarah 
Hooper,  and  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  sons  are:  John 
W.,  born  1847;  William,  born  August  11th,  1850;  and  Nathaniel  S., 
born  November  29th,  1854.  The  daughters  living  are:  Rachel,  Annie, 
Sarah  and  Maria.  Eliza  is  dead.  John  W.  Bishop  is  a  resident  of 
Worcester,  Mass.  He  is  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  does  an  exten- 
sive business.  He  built  the  Ann  and  Hope  Mill  for  the  Lonsdale 
Company,  the  largest  and  best  building  of  the  kind  in  the  country. 
William  and  Nathaniel  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  in  1876  at  Lons- 
dale, which  they  conduct  at  the  present  date.  Nathaniel  married 
Annie  Tucker  of  Lincoln.  They  have  no  children.  William  married 
Millie  Atkins  of  Amherst.  Mass.  They  have  one  daughter.  Edith 
Bishop. 

William  H.  Bolster,  born  in  Scituate  in  1847,  is  a  son  of  Daniel  J. 
and  grandson  of  Rufus  Bolster.  His  m.other  was  Susan  E.,  daughter 
of  Captain  Lyman  Thayer,  of  Bellingham,  Mass.  From  1869  to  1877 
Mr.  Bolster  was  employed  in  stores  at  Blackstone  and  Grafton,  Mass, 
At  the  latter  date  he  came  to  Valley  Falls  and  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  and  men's  furnishing  trade,  and  still  continues  in  that  busi- 
ness. He  has  one  brother,  Daniel  J.,  a  resident  of  Millbury,  Ma.ss., 
who  has  been  connected  with  the  Worcester  Gazette  for  15  years.  He 
Avas  married  in  1882  to  Esther  M.,  daughter  of  Joseph  F.  Esten,  of 
Southbridge,  Mass.  They  have  two  sons,  William  A.  and  Herbert 
17 


258  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

R.,  and  one  daughter,  Marion  I.     Mr.  Bolster  is  a  member  of  Black- 
stone  River  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Fenner  Brown  was  born  in  Cumberland  October  21st,  1791,  and 
was  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Rhode  Island,  being 
a  son  of  Elijah,  he  a  son  of  Stephen,  he  a  son  of  Joseph,  he  a  son  of 
Henry,  and  he  a  son  of  Henry,  who  came  from  England  at  an  early 
date.  Fenner  Brown  was  one  of  Cumberland's  prominent  citizens  in 
his  day.  Several  years  of  his  early  life  were  spent  upon  the  sea,  and 
later  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a  democrat  and  always  took  an 
active  interest  in  political  affairs.  He  represented  the  town  of  Cum- 
berland in  the  general  assembly  for  many  years,  and  was  several 
times  elected  to  the  town  council  and  was  president  of  the  same.  He 
was  also  justice  of  the  peace  and  overseer  of  the  poor  for  several 
years.  He  was  married  in  1817  to  Sally  FoUett,  born  1794.  They 
had  two  daughters:  Caroline  A.,  born  1818,  and  Betsy  J.,  born  1819. 
Only  Caroline  A.  is  living.  She  married  William  A.  Weeden,  who 
was  born  in  Jamestown,  R.  I.,  in  1819,  and  died  in  1888.  Fenner 
Brown  became  a  communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in 
1868,  and  died  in  1869.  His  wife  still  survives  him,  living  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Weeden. 

David  O.  Cargill,  born  in  Cumberland  April  21st,  1850,  is  a  son  of 
Olne)'',  grandson  of  David  and  great-grandson  of  James  Cargill,  who 
owned  the  farm  now  occupied  by  David  O.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Rhobe  G.  Fales.  He  was  married  in  1877  to  Sarah  E.  Flagg. 
By  that  marriage  were  born  one  daughter,  Edna  M.,  and  two  sons, 
James  E.  and  John  Otis.  Mrs.  Cargill  died  January  25th,  1884.  May 
18th.  1885,  Mr.  Cargill  was  married  to  Effie  L.  Tarbox.  They  have 
two  daughters:  Alice  L.  and  Rhobie  L.  Mr.  Cargill's  farming  interests 
are  extensive,  in  addition  to  which  he  is  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness, having  a  mill  at  Abbott  Run. 

Edmund  Clark,  born  in  Salisbury,  Mass.,  June  11th,  1843,  is  a  son 
of  Edmund  N.  and  Sophronia  L.  Clark  (her  maiden  name  was  Locke), 
and  a  grandson  of  Seth  Clark,  who  was  a  prominent  man  in  Essex 
county,  Mass.  Edmund  Clark  came  to  Pawtucket  in  1856  and  in  1858 
removed  to  Valley  Falls  (Cumberland),  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  is  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  Blackstone  Coal  Mining  Com- 
pany, and  is  treasurer  of  the  same.  He  was  president  of  the  town 
council  in  1883-4.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  for  25  years.  He  has 
written  several  books  designed  for  the  Sabbath  school  and  has  con- 
tributed to  various  religious  publications. 

Davis  Cook. — Ariel  Cook,  the  grandfather  of  Davis  Cook,  resided 
in  the  town  of  Cumberland.  He  married  Dorcas  Whipple  in  1772. 
Their  son  Davis  Cook  was  born  in  1788,  and  married  to  Abigail  Ballou, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  1786.  Their  children  are  five  daughters: 
Almira  (married  Lyman  Cook),  Lucina,  Dorcas  (married  Elias  Ballou), 


'-n^'"byjr_  G Kertta'iv~^ ^- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  269 

Abigail,  and  Sarah  (married  Isaac  C.  Ballou);  and  two  sons,  Cyrus 
(born  in  Cumberland  1819,  unmarried)  and  Davis.  Davis  Cook  set- 
tled in  Cumberland,  where  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  an 
influential  and  respected  citizen.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  in  which  he  held  various  offices  and  represented 
his  constituents  in  the  state  legislature.  He  was  one  of  the  incorpor- 
ators of  the  Cumberland  Bank  and  its  president  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  5th  of  February,  1870. 

His  son,  Davis  Cook,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  born 
January  29th,  1826,  in  Cumberland,  with  which  town  he  has  during 
his  whole  life  been  identified.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
schools  at  Cumberland  Hill,  with  an  additional  winter  at  the  Smith- 
field  Seminary  at  Scituate.  He  first  engaged  in  work  on  the  farm, 
and  afterward  conducted  a  grocery  store  at  Cumberland  Hill  with 
success  for  20  or  more  years.  During  this  time  his  farming  enter- 
prises were  continued  and  still  occupy  his  attention,  though  the 
necessary  labor  is  performed  by  others.  He  was  on  the  4th  of 
December,  1872,  married  to  Frances,  daughter  of  James  Thompson  of 
Cumberland.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  republican  in  politics.  He  was  for  five 
years  president  of  the  town  council,  and  has  held  other  local  offices. 
In  1870-1  he  represented  the  town  in  the  Rhode  Island  legislature.  He 
was  for  30  years  a  director  and  for  ten  years  president  of  the  Cum- 
berland Bank,  now  extinct.  Mr.  Cook's  religious  faith  is  that  of  the 
Universalist  church,  with  which  he  worships.  His  services  are  much 
wsought  in  the  settlement  of  estates  and  in  kindred  trusts,  for  which 
his  long  experience,  no  less  than  his  unquestioned  integrity,  eminently 
£t  him. 

Andrew  J.  Currier,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Fall 
River  in  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  R.  Currier.  In  1868  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  Albion  Manufacturing  Company,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  agent  of  the  company.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council 
for  six  years  and  president  of  the  same  for  four  years;  was  a  member 
of  the  republican  state  central  committee  and  chairman  of  the  town 
committee  several  years.  He  was  married  in  1875  to  Lucy  vS.,  daughter 
of  John  L.  Clark.     They  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

James  C.  Dexter,  born  in  Cumberland  in  1836,  is  a  son  of  James  M., 
he  a  son  of  Timothy  W.,  he  a  son  of  James  Dexter,  who  with  two 
brothers,  John  and  Daniel,  settled  m  the  town  of  Cumberland.  Timo- 
thy W.  married  Sarah  Messenger.  James  M.  married  Phebe  Sanborn. 
James  C.  Dexter  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  he  was 
only  eight  months  old  and  resided  there  until  1862,  when  he  returned 
to  Cumberland,  owning  and  residing  on  the  old  Dexter  homestead, 
which  has  been  in  the  Dexter  family  nearly  150  years.  Mr.  Dexter 
Avas  married  in  1859  to  Sarah  Frances  Barrows,  a  native  of  Maine. 
They  have  three  daughters:  Fannie  ().,  now  Mrs.  Bryant;  Minerva  W., 
now  Reverend  Mrs.  Lane,  and    Hattie    B.,  now  Mrs.  England.     Mr. 


260  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Dexter  represented  the  town  of  Cumberland  for  the  years  1871,  1872 
and  1873;  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  for  three  years,  and  has 
held  many  other  offices  in  the  town.  He  is  a  member  of  Unity  Lodge, 
No.  34,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lonsdale,  and  a  member  of  the  Lonsdale  Epis- 
copal church. 

Thomas  D.  Elsbree,  son  of  James  and  Amelia  (FoUett)  Elsbree, 
was  born  in  Lincoln  in  1842.  He  engaged  in  mercantile  trade  in 
Valley  Falls  in  1866,  carrying  on  that  business  for  nearly  20  3^ears, 
retiring  in  1885.  He  was  elected  to  the  house  of  representatives  from 
Cumberland  in  1887-8,  and  has  been  a.ssessor  of  taxes  for  three  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  Superior  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Central  Falls, 
Washington  Lodge,  No.  4,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Union  Lodge,  No.  10, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Pawtucket,  Pawtucket  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  Holy  Sepul- 
chre Commandery,  No.  8,  of  Pawtucket,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Scottish  Rites,  of  Providence.  He  was  married  in 
1864  to  Sarah  E.  Arnold,  daughter  of  James  Arnold  of  Pawtucket. 

Edward  F.  Gurry,  born  in  England  in  1846,  is  a  son  of  Patrick 
Gurry.  He  came  to  this  country  the  same  year  and  settled  in  Cum- 
berland. He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  since  1875  has  carried  on  a 
meat  and  vegetable  market  at  Valley  Falls.  He  was  in  the  civil  war, 
being  a  member  of  the  12th  Rhode  Island  Infantry.  He  was  married 
in  1880  to  Miss  Virginia  W.  Tinney.  They  have  one  son,  Edmund 
Gurry.     Mr.  Gurry  is  a  member  of  the  G.A.R. 

Dutee  Johnson,  born  in  North  Providence  January  17th,  1844,  is 
one  of  a  family  of  14  children.  He  is  a  son  of  Dutee,  grandson  of 
Stukley  and  great-grandson  of  Benjamin,  all  of  whom  were  born  in 
Warwick,  R.I.  Benjamin  owned  at  one  time  a  large  part  of  the  land 
where  the  village  of  Washington  now  stands.  Mr.  Johnson  removed 
to  Bristol,  R.I.,  with  his  parents  when  quite  young  and  resided  there 
until  1861.  He  served  over  three  years  in  the  late  war;  was  senior 
lieutenant  in  the  Fifth  R.  I.  Artillery.  He  is  a  member  of  Slocum 
Post,  G.A.R. ,  of  Providence.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  came 
to  Cumberland  in  1881  and  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Rhode 
Island  Horse  Shoe  Company  since  that  time.  He  was  married  in  1867 
to  Julia  Langley.  They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  One  son 
and  the  daughters  are  living.  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  again  in  1884 
to  Fannie  L.  Avery. 

Addison  Kinsman,  born  in  Heath,  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  in  1810, 
is  a  son  of  David  and  Abigail  (Putnam)  Kinsman.  Addison  settled  in 
Cumberland  over  40  years  ago.  He  was  married  in  1861  to  Sarah  A. 
Dexter,  sister  of  James  M.  and  daughter  of  Timothy  W.  Dexter.  Mr. 
Kinsman  w^as  agent  at  Lonsdale  for  the  Providence  &  Worcester  rail- 
road for  twelve  years.  He  has  been  twice  elected  to  the  town  council, 
and  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  school  committee  eight  years,  and 
was  trustee  for  vSchool  District  No.  12,  Lonsdale,  23  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  Lonsdale  Episcopal  church. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  261 

Robert  G.  McMeehan  was  born  in  Providence  in  186;"),  and  is  a  son  of 
Robert  and  Margaret  (Mcintosh)  McMeehan.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  Cumberland  since  1884,  occupying  the  position  of  bookkeeper  with 
the  Lonsdale  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  Unity  Lodge,  No.  84, 
F.  &  A.  M. 

William  H.  Magee,  son  of  Johnson  and  Elizabeth  Magee,  was  born 
in  Eastport,  Me.,  in  1840,  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1871,  and  until  1881 
was  overseer  of  the  spinning  department  in  a  cotton  factory  at  that 
place.  He  came  to  Cumberland  in  1888  as  superintendent  of  the 
Lonsdale  Company's  Berkeley  Mill.  He  is  a  member  of  Solomon 
Temple  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  and  of  the  Chapter 
and  Commandery  of  Woonsocket.  He  was  married  in  1870  to  Emily 
A.,  daughter  of  N.  L.  Peck,  of  Woonsocket.  He  is  a  Baptist  and  she  a 
Universalist. 

Omar  Metcalf  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Lydia  B.  (Smith)  Metcalf  and 
grandson  of  David.  Charles  Metcalf  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  cotton  machinery  at  Arnold's  Mills.  Charles  and  Lydia  Metcalf 
had  a  family  of  six  children:  Horace  E.,  Omar,  Henry,  Sarah,  Mary  and 
Eunice.  Henry  and  Omar  own  and  reside  upon  the  Metcalf  home- 
stead, formerly  owned  by  their  grandfather. 

Thomas  Munroe  was  born  in  1842  in  Seekonk,  Mass.,  now  a  part  of 
East  Providence.  He  is  a  son  of  William  S.  and  Lucy  R.  (Weber) 
Munroe.  From  1869  to  1877  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Providence 
■&  Worcester  railroad.  He  came  to  Cumberland  in  1871  and  until 
1877  was  station  agent  at  Lonsdale.  Since  1878  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  coal  business  at  Lonsdale.  He  was  elected  to  the  town 
council  in  1885.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Unity  Lodge,  No.  34,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  of  Lonsdale.  He  was  married  in  1874  to  Ruth  W.  Grant. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Hattie  D. 

Jason  Newell,  son  of  John  and  Polly  (Grant)  Newell,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  in  1827.  His  grandparents  were  Jason  and  Sarah  (Spald- 
ing) Newell.  Jason  Newell  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1746  and  had  a 
family  of  ten  children:  Jabe,  born  1772;  Mary,  born  1778;  William, 
born  1775;  Sarah,  born  1777;  Amey,  born  1780;  Jesse,  born  1782;  Jason, 
born  1784;  John,  born  1788;  Spalding,  born  1790,  and  Nathaniel,  born 
1795.  Jason  Newell  was  married  in  1852  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Columbia  Tingley.  They  had  three  children:  Lsabel  F.,  Ellis  J.  and 
Mary  L.  Mrs.  Newell  died  in  1874,  and  in  1881  he  was  married  to 
Jennie  E.  Holmes.  Mr.  Newell  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  milling.  He  was  representative  from  Cumberland  for  three  years 
during  Governor  Sprague's  administration,  and  he  has  been  member 
of  town  council  several  years. 

John  A.  PoUitt,  born  March  6th,  1847,  in  Lincoln,  R.  L,  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Edna  Carter  Pollitt,  who  came  from  England  about  1844. 
He  was  overseer  of  the  weave  room  for  the  Lonsdale  Company  until 
his  death  in  1886.    He  moved  to  the  Cumberland  side  in  1862  and  ever 


262  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

after  resided  there.  He  was  a  member  of  Christ  Episcopal  church  of 
Lonsdale,  also  a  vestryman  for  a  great  number  of  years,  and  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  society.  They  had  four 
children,  John  A.  being-  the  only  one  living.  He  is  a  machinist  and 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  Lonsdale  Company  for  several  years,  but  for 
the  past  eight  years  has  been  engaged  in  farm.ing,  and  also  carries  on 
a  wood  yard.  He  is  a  member  of  Unity  Lodge,  No.  84,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Lonsdale.  He  was  married  in  1870  to  Margaret  J.  Simpson.  They 
have  two  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Gilbert  Walker  Pratt,  superintendent  of  the  Lonsdale  Company, 
has  been  employed  by  the  company  for  24  years.  He  is  a  native  of 
Taunton,  Mass.,  and  a  descendant  of  the  Walkers  of  the  old  colony, 
his  genealogy  tracing  to  Widow  Walker,  who  settled  in  Rehoboth, 
Mass.,  in  the  year  1632.  Mr.  Pratt  was  born  in  1833  and  resided  in 
Taunton  until  1866.  He  was  under  the  mechanical  instruction  of  the 
Mason  Machine  Works  for  14  years,  and  was  called  to  the  service  of 
the  Lonsdale  Company  in  1866.  He  is  a  strong  republican  but  averse 
to  holding  any  political  office. 

Halsey  C.  Rawson,  born  in  Cumberland  in  1847,  is  a  son  of  William 
M.  and  Caroline  A.  (Carpenter)  Rawson,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas 
Rawson,  who  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  William  M.  Rawson  re- 
sided in  Cumberland,  and  for  over  40  years  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  yarn.  He  represented  the  town  of  Cumberland  in 
the  assembly  an.d  also  in  the  senate,  and  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  several  years.  Halsey  C.  engaged  in  mercantile  trade  at  Abbott 
Run  in  1878,  and  conducted  that  business  until  1884,  at  which  time  he 
went  into  the  grain  business,  which  he  carried  on  for  two  or  three 
years.  In  November  of  1888  he  resumed  the  grocery  business.  He 
is  postmaster  at  Abbott  Run.  He  is  a  member  of  Jenks  Lodge,  No. 
24,  of  Central  Falls,  and  the  Canonchet  Tribe  of  Red  Men.  He  was 
married  in  1868  to  Esta  E.  Jencks  of  Cumberland.  They  have  two 
sons,  William  H.  an.d  Elbert  L. 

Stafford  W.  Razee,  born  in  Cumberland,  R.  I.  March  8th,  1827,  is 
a  son  of  Whipple  and  grand.son  of  Anthony  Razee.  He  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  at  Diamond  Hill,  R.  I.,  in  1849  and  in  1851  carried 
on  another  large  store  at  Attleboro  Falls,  Mass.  In  1854  he  sold  out 
both  stores  and  engaged  in  the  grain  business  at  28  and  29  South 
Water  street.  Providence,  which  he  continued  successfully  until  1864, 
in  the  m^eantime  leasing  a  portion  of  the  Perry  Wharf,  so  called,  on 
West  Water  street,  and  erecting  the  first  steam  grain  elevator  in 
Providence.  In  1864  he  connected  himself  with  Hon.  Edward  Harris, 
of  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  and  was  agent  of  the  Harris  Woolen  Company, 
and  a  member  of  that  company  until  1869.  In  the  latter  year  he  again 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  grain  business,  selling  only  in  car-load  lots, 
delivered  at  any  railroad  station  in  New  England.  He  was  also  a 
large  operator  in  the  hazardous  trade  of  Chicago  grain  "  options,"  and 


5.'^- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  263 

shipped  a  large  amount  of  grain  from  the  West  to  New  York  and  Bos- 
ton on  consignment. 

In  1863  and  1804  Mr.  Razee  represented  the  old  town  of  Smithfield 
in  the  general  assembly.  Since  his  residence  in  Cumberland  he  was 
elected  state  senator  for  the  years  1870,  1880,  1881  and  1882.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  directors  and  vice-president  of  the  Rhode  Island  & 
Massachusetts  railroad,  and  it  is  believed  that,  had  it  not  been  for  his 
untiring  efforts  in  its  interests,  the  road  would  not  have  been  built. 
This  road  now  forms  the  connecting  link  in  the  New  York  &  New 
England  system  between  Providence  and  Boston.  Mr.  Razee  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  was  elected  eminent  com- 
mander of  the  Woonsocket  Commandery  in  the  years  1860  and  1870, 
and  has  held  offices  in  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  the  Union  Guards, 
Central  Falls,  R.  I.,  in  May,  1863,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year  was 
elected  captain  of  the  company.  He  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Woon- 
socket Guards  in  April,  1867,  and  was  re-elected  the  following  year. 
Mr.  Razee  was  married  May  12th,  1851,  to  Eunice  P.  Metcalf,  daughter 
of  the  late  Joseph  Metcalf.  They  have  had  four  children:  Arlon  ]M., 
Alice  A.,  Abbie  H.,  and  Stafford  W.,  Jr. 

John  M.  Ryan  was  born  in  the  county  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  in 
1834,  came  to  this  country  in  1850,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
residence  in  the  state  of  New  York,  has  resided  in  Rhode  Island.  In 
1862  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  trade  at  Lonsdale.  In 
1875  he  built  a  large  and  commodious  store  at  Ashton,  where  he  does 
an  extensive  business.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  town  council 
in  1887.  He  was  trustee  of  the  Ashton  school  in  1885  and  again  in 
1889.  He  is  a  large  real  estate  owner.  He  has  been  trustee  of  St. 
Joseph's  church  at  Ashton  for  15  years  and  gave  the  land  upon  which 
it  stands.  He  was  married  in  1852  to  Mary  Finn.  They  have  six 
children  living:  Michael,  John  P.,  Katie,  Elizabeth,  Minnie  and 
Jessie. 

Cyrus  Taft,  born  in  Providence  in  1857,  is  a  son  of  Cyrus  Taft.  of 
Providence,  who  was  a  manufacturer  and  cotton  broker.  Mr.  Taft 
w^as  connected  with  the  Rhode  Island  Hospital  Trust  Company  as 
bookkeeper  for  nine  years.  He  settled  in  Cumberland  in  1887  and 
has  fitted  up  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  town.  He  was  elected 
town  treasurer  in  1889  and  re-elected  in  1890.  He  was  married  in  1886 
to  Harriet  A.,  daughter  of  John  A.  Taft,  who  was  formerly  president 
of  the  Manville  Company. 

Alexander  Thompson,  born  in  Cumberland  December  8th,  1834,  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Lucina  W.  (Sheldon)  Thompson,  grandson  of  Alex- 
ander, and  great-grandson  of  Alexander  Thompson,  who  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  They  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Mr.  Thompson  was 
married  in  1865  to  Sarah  A.  Grant.  He  was  one  of  the  assessors  of 
Cumberland  for  eight  years  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming. 


264  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

William  H.  Tobey  is  a  son  of  William  and  grandson  of  Archibald 
Tobey.  His  mother  was  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Lemuel  Angell  of 
North  Providence.  He  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1842.  He  began 
life  as  clerk  in  his  father's  store  at  Greenville,  R.I.,  and  was  afterward 
bookkeeper  and  paymaster  for  Pooke  &  Steere,  at  that  time  woolen 
manufacturers  at  Greenville.  In  1869  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Lonsdale  Manufacturing  Company  as  bookkeeper  and  paymaster,  and 
ever  since  has  held  that  position.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  council 
of  Cumberland  in  1886,  has  also  been  assessor  of  taxes,  and  is  chair- 
man of  the  republican  town  committee.  He  was  married  in  1865  to 
Emma  F.  Cook.     They  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Ornando  R.  Vose,  born  in  Lincoln  in  the  year  1835,  is  a  son  of  Alan- 
son  and  Abbie  Vose,  and  grandson  of  Amariah  Vose.  Alanson 
Vose  was  a  farmer,  but  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  kept  a  hotel 
and  store  at  Manville,  R.L  Ornando  R.  removed  to  Cumberland  about 
1855,  and  has  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married  in  1855  to 
Phebe  F.  Aldrich.  They  have  four  sons  living:  Fred.  I.,  Frank  E., 
Alfred  W.  and  Edgar;  and  two  daughters,  Mabel  and  iVbbie.  They 
lost  two  sons.  Mr.  Vose  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council.  In 
1888  he  moved  to  Cumberland  Hill  and  engaged  in  building  houses 
and  renting  tenements  very  successfully  at  Manville. 

Richard  Waterman,  born  in  Cumberland  in  1834,  is  a  son  of 
Amaziah  and  Hannah  (Lee)  Waterman,  grandson  of  James,  great-grand- 
son of  Elisha  and  great -great-grandson  of  Amaziah.  All  were  resi- 
dents of  Cumberland.  Richard  Waterman  married  Rebecca  S.  Car- 
penter. They  have  two  sons,  Elisha  A.  and  Byron  L.,  and  one 
daughter,  Elsie  G.  Mr.  Waterman  has  always  been  a  farmer.  The 
farm  he  occupies  was  settled  by  Elisha  Waterman,  his  great-grand- 
father. He  is  a  member  of  the  Canonchet  Tribe  of  Red  Men,  and  his 
son  Elisha  is  a  member  of  the  same  society,  and  a  member  of  Unity 
Lodge,  No.  34,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pawtucket  Chapter  No.  4,  and  Council 
No.  2. 

Joseph  D.  Weatherhead,  born  in  Cumberland  in  1815,  is  a  son  of 
James  and  grandson  of  Nathan  Weatherhead.  He  was  married  May 
22d,  1839,  to  Amy  M.  Thomas.  She  was  born  August  11th,  1818,  and 
died  January  10th,  1878.  They  had  three  children:  one  son,  Charles 
E.,  born  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  February  6th,  1844;  and  two  daughters, 
Catherine  T.,  born  in  Cumberland  July  24th,  1840,  and  Janette  E., 
born  in  Franklin  May  8th,  1850.  Mr.  Weatherhead  is  a  farmer  and 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  residence  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  and 
several  years  in  Illinois,  he  has  resided  in  Cumberland. 

Eliab  D.  Whipple,  born  in  Cumberland  in  1831,  is  a  son  of  Eliab 
and  Ardelia  C.  Whipple,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Comfort  Haskell. 
Eliab  Whipple  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and  he  a  son  of  Simon.  Mr. 
Whipple  was  married  in  1862  to  Sarah  Wheaton,  she  being  descended 
from  the  Ballous.      They  have  one  son,  Fenner  E.,  who  is  a  draughts- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  265 

man  in  Hartford,  Conn.;  and  two  daughters,  Cora  L.  and  Inez  L.,both 
teachers.  Mr.  Whipple  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1873,  was 
a  member  of  the  school  committee  for  ten  years  and  justice  of  the 
peace  for  15  years.     He  is  a  farmer. 

Pardon  R.  Whipple,  born  in  Cumberland,  October  5th,  1828,  is  a  son 
of  David  and  Hannah  (Reed)  Whipple,  grandson  of  Eleazer,  great- 
grandson  of  Eleazer,  and  great-great-grandson  of  William  Whipple. 
Eleazer  the  first  was  a  colonel  in  the  continental  army  during  the 
revolutionary  war.  He  settled  upon  the  land  now  owned  by  Pardon 
R.  William  Whipple  had  17  children,  and  when  the  youngest  son 
reached  the  age  of  21  all  of  them  were  living,  and  at  a  family  gather- 
ing they  with  their  parents  all  sat  down  at  the  same  table.  Pardon 
R.  was  a  mason  for  ten  years,  but  since  1858  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Emma  H.  Phillips,  of  Dartmouth, 
Mass.  The}^  have  two  daughters,  Carrie  E.,  now  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  and 
Almira  A. 

Josiah  Williams,  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  in  1842,  came  to 
this  country  in  1864,  settled  in  Rhode  Island,  and  came  to  Cumber- 
land in  1874.  He  is  a  contractor  in  the  Rhode  Island  Horse  Shoe 
Works.  He  is  a  member  of  What  Cheer  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  of  Iron  Hall.  He  was  married  in  1864  to  Diana  Darby. 
They  have  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Thomas  C.  Wood  was  born  in  Glocester,  R.  I.,  in  1880,  and  is  a  son 
of  Luther  Wood.  He  was  married  in  1859  to  Rachel  Alexander. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Emma  F.,  who  married  Watson  F.  Hastings. 
Mr.  Wood  is  a  farmer  and  resides  upon  and  owns  the  old  Razee 
homestead.  Near  the  house  stands  a  gigantic  elm  tree,  the  trunk 
measuring  nearly  20  feet  in  circumference.  The  town  of  Cumberland 
was  incorporated  in  1747,  and  Joseph  Razee  was  the  first  male  child 
born  within  its  limits  after  said  incorporation.  That  would  make 
Joseph  Razee  born  nearly  143  years  ago.  The  elm  tree  was  a  sapling 
when  Joseph's  father  built  his  house,  which  is  the  ell  still  standing, 
therefore  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  the  venerable  tree  is  upwards  of 
143  years  of  age.  It  is  said  that  when  Joseph's  father  was  building 
his  house,  it  was  broken  off,  which  caused  it  to  branch  out  nearer  the 
ground  than  other  elms  ordinarily  do.  Mrs.  Wood  is  a  daughter  of 
Ira  and  Frances  C.  (Sherman)  Alexander.  Ira  was  a  son  of  David, 
and  he  a  son  of  Roger,  all  of  whom  were  residents  of  Cumberland. 
Ira  Alexander  had  a  family  of  five  children.  One  daughter  died  in 
infancy,  and  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  living.  The  sons  are 
David,  born  1828,  and  George  S.,  born  1832.  The  daughters  are 
Rachel  F.  (Mrs.  Wood),  born  1834,  and  Charlotte  M.,  born  1843. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  WOONSOCKET. 

Description. — Origin  of  Name. — Early  Settlers  and  their  descendants. — Statistics. — Civil 
Organization.— Town  Officei-s.— City  of  Woousocket.— Officers  in  1889.— Fire  Depart- 
ment.— Water  Works. — Poor  Asylum. — Public  Thoroughfares. — Public  Houses  and 
Business  Places.— Post  Office.— Opera  House.— Banking  Interests.— Gas  Company.— 
Electric  Machine  and  Power  Company. — Sti-eet  Railway.— Manufacturinglndustries., 

The  beautiful  and  enterprising  city  of  Woonsocket  is  m  the  Black- 
stone  Valley,  on  the  Massachusetts  border,  and  is  16  miles  from 
tide  water,  at  Providence.  It  is  an  important  station  of  the 
Providence  &  Worcester  railroad,  and  is  also  on  the  Air  Line  railroad, 
86  miles  from  Boston.  The  population  has  increased  rapidly  the 
past  ten  years,  and  was  estimated  at  20,000  in  the  spring  of  1889. 
The  extensive  manufactures  of  cotton,  woolen  and  rubber  goods  are 
the  chief  industries,  but  there  are  also  the  usual  minor  interests 
found  in  a  prosperous  mill  city,  making  this  one  of  the  most  active 
places  in  the  county. 

The  area  of  the  city  is  8.4  square  miles,  irregular  in  form,  and 
while  mostly  along  the  river  it  embraces  some  well  defined  eleva- 
tions. These  are  locally  known  as  Logee,  Constitution,  Baptist  and 
Fairview  hills.  This  diversity  of  hill  and  dale  produces  attractive 
and,  in  a  few  places,  picturesque  surroundings,  which  are  enhanced 
by  the  tortuous  courses  of  the  streams  flowing  through  the  city.  The 
smaller  streams  bear  the  names  of  Mine  Run,  Cherry  and  Crook 
Fall  brooks.  Mill  and  Peter's  rivers,  while  having  a  larger  volume 
of  water,  are  really  creeks,  all  draining  into  the  Blackstone.  Several 
large  reservoirs,  constructed  on  these  streams,  are  objects  of  note,  the 
chief  being  the  Harris,  Social  and  Bernon  ponds. 

The  Blackstone  river  at  this  place  is  an  object  of  interest  and  im- 
portance, creating  and  fostering  the  business  life  of  the  city.  Its 
course  through  this  territory  is  described  by  a  rounded  letter  W,  al- 
most doubling  upon  itself  several  times,  and  passing  over  ledges  of 
rock  which  produce  natural  falls  and  rapids.  Its  name  was  given  in 
honor  of  William  Blackstone,  the  first  white  man  living  on  its  banks, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  who  was  also  the  pioneer  settler 
of  the  state.  It  has  also  borne  other  appellations,  as  the  Great  river, 
the  Seekonk,  the  Nipmuck,  the  Narragansett  and  the  Pawtucket, 
most  of  which  were  suggested  by  local  circumstances.      Although 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  267 

serviceable  at  many  points  in  its  course  the  Blackstone  is  especially 
valuable  here  on  account  of  the  falls,  named  by  the  Indians  Woo^/e- 
siickete.  This  aboriginal  title  also  applied  to  the  entire  section  of  the 
country,  and  was  the  source  from  which  the  name  of  the  city  was 
derived. 

As  to  the  reason  for  the  selection  of  this  name  by  the  Indians 
there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion,  some  claiming-  that  it  was  on  account 
of  Woonsocket  hill,  several  miles  distant,  and  nearer  which  the  so- 
called  Woonsocket  settlement  was  first  made.-  Others  are  equally 
positive  that  the  word  had  its  origin  from  the  naming  of  the  falls.  In 
a  state  of  nature,  the  waters  in  passing  over  one  of  the  large  rocks  in 
the  stream  had  worn  holes  in  the  rocks  below,  and  the  waters  falling 
into  these  holes  produced  a  deep-toned  sound.  The  primeval  sur- 
roundings intensified  these  noises  until  they  closely  resembled  thun- 
der. Connected  with  this  descent  of  the  waters  was  a  spray  or  mist, 
more  strongly  apparent  under  certain  conditions  of  the  atmosphere. 
These  conditions  were  understood  by  the  untutored  sons  of  the  for- 
est, and  were  used  by  them  in  foretelling  the  weather.  The  word  by 
which  they  expressed  their  ideas  of  thunder  was  Woonc,  and  for  mist 
or  a  fine  spray  they  had  the  word,  Siicketc.  It  will  be  seen  that  a 
simple  union  of  the  two  words  and  ideas  would  produce  Wooicsuckctc — 
the  place  of  the  thunder  mists. -f 

However  it  may  have  been  derived,  Wooiicsuckctc  as  a  name  became 
widely  known  among  the  aborigines,  but,  like  many  other  words,  it 
was  easily  perverted  in  writing,  and  becaine,  in  the  records  of  the 
olden  time,  Winsocket^Wauiisauket,  Wa2ins2Lcket,2indi\.\iQ  present  Woon- 
socket. Long  before  the  idea  of  a  city  at  this  point  was  dreamed  of, 
the  place  was  called  "  Woonsocket  Falls,"  and  the  place  where  the 
city  had  its  beginning  (now  the  suburb  of  Union  Village)  was  known 
as  Woonsocket  Cross  Roads. 

*  Woonsocket  hill,  in  North  Smithfield,  is  about  two  miles  southwest  from  Woon- 
socket. It  is  conspicuous  as  the  highest  elevation  in  Rhode  Island,  rising  258  feet  above, 
the  general  level  in  its  locality,  and  is  570  feet  above  high  tide  at  Providence.  On  the 
summit  is  a  ledge  of  granite  quartz  rock,  rough  and  angular,  and  there  are  also  talc  and 
mica  rocks.  Scrub  oak  trees  cover  the  sides  of  the  hill,  near  the  sumniit  of  which  is  a 
large  spring,  or  small  pond  of  water.  There  are  evidences  of  upheaval  and  volcanic 
origin,  which  have  not  been  affected  by  the  glacial  period.  Tiie  view  from  this  hill  is 
extended  and  entrancing. 

J.  Hammond  Trumbull,  the  eminent  American  philologist,  in  his  list  of  Rhode 
Island  Indian  names  (not  yet  published)  says: 

"  Woonsocket  Falls,''  on  Blackstone  river,  called  *'  Woonsaciit"  Falls,  1736  (R.  I. 
Col.  Rec.  IX..  p,  514);  "Wooiisoket,"  Lockwood's  map,  1819:  Woonsocket  Hill,  in  North 
Smithfield,  about  two  miles  southwest  from  the  falls,  "  Woo)isoqiiett,''  Pease  &  Nile's 
Gazetteer.  The  name  belongs  to  the  falls,  and  to  the  place  at  the  falls.  It  comes  from 
the  Massachusetts  Indian  Woovish  ( Narragansett,  Waumsu)  to  go  downwards, 
("  Waumsu,'"  downhill,  R.  Williams).  Compare  "  Woomsnonk,"  a  steep  descent,  and 
"  Woomsuonganit''  at  the  cliff  (Elliott  in  3  Chron.  xx.,  16).  Woomsank-it,  easily  cor- 
rupted to  Woonsocket,  denotes  the  place  of  steep  descent,  or  down-going.  Perhaps  the 
hill  was  named  independently  of  the  falls,  from  a  steep  descent. 

fS.  C.  Newman. 


-268  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Aside  from  the  quiet  beauty  of  this  section  of  the  country,  there 
were  fertile  little  vales,  sheltered  by  the  tree-crowned  hills,  which 
-attracted  the  Indians,  and  the}^  doubtless  appreciated  their  advan- 
tages as  readily  as  did  the  whites  in  subsequent  years.  Naturally, 
too,  in  passing  to  and  from  the  hills  of  Cumberland  and  Smithfield 
they  resorted  to  the  rapids  below  the  falls,  as  they  afforded  an  easy 
^c'rt:*^/;/^  place,  and  it  is  believed  that  near  them,  on  the  Smithfield  side, 
was  an  Indian  village.  The  aborigines  of  this  section  were  a  quiet 
people  and  they  lived  undisturbed  by  tribal  troubles,  being  scarcely 
influenced  even  by  the  crafty  and  warlike  King  Philip.  After  the  occu- 
pancy by  the  whites  a  number  of  Indians  lingered,  as  if  loath  to  leave 
the  scenes  of  their  youth,  and  they  did  not  become  wholly  extinct 
until  about  1820.  The  last  survivors  were  Isaac  Nish  Nouman  and 
Reuben  Purchase,  who  passed  to  the  spirit  land  about  the  period 
named,  after  having  lived  among  the  whites  of  the  Woonsocket  sec- 
tion until  they  were  very  old  men. 

The  story  of  the  settlement  of  the  whites  must  here  be  briefly 
told,  as  it  is  an  inseparable  part  of  the  pioneer  narratives  of  Cumber- 
land and  Smithfield,  out  of  which  Woonsocket  was  formed  centuries 
after  the  first  land  had  been  possessed. 

The  Smithfield  part  of  Woonsocket  was  originally  a  part  of  Provi- 
dence, one  of  whose  early  proprietors  was  Thomas  Arnold,  who  died 
in  September,  1674.  His  estate  was  divided  by  the  town  council  of 
Providence  between  his  widow  and  the  five  surviving  children.  This 
-estate  included  lands  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state,  in  what  be- 
came, the  town  of  Smithfield.  Richard  Arnold  was  the  oldest  of  his 
children,  and  his  sister  Elizabeth  was  married  to  Samuel  Comstock. 
To  these  two  were  allotted  the  upper  Smithfield  lands,  and  by  them 
were  the  first  improvements  made.  vSubsequently  the  title  to  these 
lands  was  in  dispute,  the  proprietors  of  Pawtucket  also  claiming  own- 
ership: but  this  controversy  being  settled,  the  town  of  Providence 
confirmed  the  title  to  the  lands,  which  Captain  Richard  Arnold  and 
Ensign  Samuel  Comstock  had  occupied  in  this  heated  period,  the  date 
of  the  new  grant  being  April  14th,  1707.  During  their  lives  they  held 
their  lands  in  common,  and  the  first  division  of  their  estates  was 
made  many  years  after  their  death.  This  was  done  by  their  heirs,  March 
26th,  1731.  By  this  division  the  Arnold  family  became  the  propri- 
etors of  the  greater  portion  of  the  lands  in  what  became  known  as 
the  Smithfield  part  of  Woonsocket;  and  the  Comstock  heirs  lived  on 
the  lands  west  and  beyond  the  present  Union  Village,  where  Samuel 
Comstock  had  built  his  first  house.  A  portion  of  Captain  Richard  Ar- 
nold's estate  was  also  included  in  the  present  town  of  North  Smith- 
field. 

Captain  Richard  Arnold  probably  never  lived  at  Woonsocket,  but, 
after  the  customs  of  those  times,  improved  his  lands,  coming  from  his 
home  in  the  Providence  settlement.     In  this  way  he  had  built  his  saw 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  269 

mill,  at  the  "  falls,"  in  1666,  before  the  death  of  his  father,  Thomas  Ar- 
nold. In  this  way,  too,  he  aided  his  sons,  Richard  and  John,  to  build 
homes  in  the  Woonsocket  section.  The  former's  house  was  put  up 
about  1690,  and  a  portion  of  it  still  remains  on  the  farm  of  Albert 
Mowry,  near  Union  Village.  On  the  death  of  Captain  Richard  Ar- 
nold, April  22d,  1710,  his  Woonsocket  estate  was  divided  among 
these  two  sons,  Richard  and  John,  the  former's  portion  beginning  at 
Union  Village  and  extending  westward;  while  the  latter's  extended 
eastward  to  the  "  falls." 

As  already  stated,  John  Arnold  was  living  upon  this  estate  at  that 
time,  and,  no  doubt,  was  the  first  permanent  settler  within  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Woonsocket.  His  place  of  habitation  was  long  known  as 
the  Ephraim  Coe  farm,  and  was  on  the  present  Providence  street. 
The  first  house,  built  about  1695,  was  simply  a  cabin,  having  a  large 
stone  chimney  and  steps  leading  to  the  attic  on  the  outside.  In  1712 
the  second  house  was  built  near  the  old  one,  and,  being  allowed  to 
stand,  became  the  oldest  residence  in  the  city,  withstanding  the 
storms  of  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  of  years  in  its  service  as  a 
farm  house. 

John  Arnold  was  married  in  the  year  his  first  house  was  built,  to 
Mary  Mowry,  of  the  town  of  Smithfield,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children, 
the  sons  being  William,  John,  Israel,  Daniel,  Anthony  and  Seth.  The 
daughters  married  members  of  the  Paine,  Lapham,  Bartlett  and  Malav- 
ery  families.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  upon 
his  land  the  meeting  house  was  built  in  1719.  After  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  that  time,  he  died  October  27th,  1756,  aged  85 
years,  and  was  buried  on  his  homestead  farm,  on  that  part  of  which, 
in  recent  times.  Willing  Vose  was  the  owner. 

Before  the  death  of  John  Arnold  he  had  sold  or  given  the  larger 
part  of  his  lands  to  his  sons,  and  by  the  terms  of  his  will,  in  1753,  his 
grandson,  Arnold  Paine,  became  the  owner  of  part  of  the  homestead 
farm.  Of  his  sons,  William  Arnold,  Esq.,  the  oldest,  appears  to  have 
been  very  prominent.  In  1727  his  father  presented  to  him  a  tract  of 
land,  the  northern  part  of  which  became  known  as  the  "  Old  Maids* 
Farm."  To  this  he  received  an  addition,  on  the  south,  in  1744;  and 
as  he  had  previously,  in  1729,  purchased  a  tract  still  farther  south,  he 
was  now  the  owner  of  all  the  land  north  of  the  present  South  Main 
street.  Near  this  thoroughfare  he  built  his  new  house,  which  was  a 
veritable  mansion  in  those  days.  It  had  originally  a  hip  roof,  but 
was  much  altered  in  appearance  by  being  several  times  remodeled. 
In  1755  the  lands  of  William  Arnold,  Esq.,  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
passed  to  his  son  Elisha,  and  from  him  they  descended  to  his  son 
Ezekiel.  The  latter  lived  at  the  "  Old  Maids'  Farm,"  which  received 
its  name  from  the  fact  that  upon  the  death  of  their  father,  Ezekiel, 
two  of  the  daughters,  Abagail  and  Lydia,  remained  the  occupants  of 
the  place,  becoming  old  maids.     Under  their  management  it  was  a 


■270  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

model  farm,  and  was  widely  known  for  its  fertility  and  neatness.  In 
1866,  this  farm  of  170  acres  was  purchased  by  the  Fairmount  Farm 
Company  for  $25,500,  and  much  of  it  has  been  subdivided  and  sold 
for  manufacturing  and  residence  purposes.  Upon  this  part  of  old 
William  Arnold's  estate  is  now  that  part  of  Woonsocket  called  "  Fair- 
mount;"  upon  the  southern  part  of  it  is  a  portion  of  that  part  called 
Olobe. 

John  Arnold,  the  second  son  of  John  Arnold,  the  original  settler, 
lived  on  a  farm  near  "  Logee  Hill."  In  1737  the  estate  was  presented 
to  his  son,  Moses,  who  afterward  purchased  a  farm  of  his  uncle,  Wil- 
liam, on  the  Cumberland  side,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death. 

Israel  Arnold,  son  of  John,  removed  to  Burrillville.  Daniel,  another 
son.  owned  lands  at  Union  Village  and  on  the  Cumberland  side. 
Anthony,  another  son,  received  60  acres  of  land  from  his  father  in 
1733.  They  were  at  the  "falls,"  and  included  "  the  island,  with  two 
•corn  mills  and  a  fulling  mill  thereon."  In  1739  he  sold  this  property 
to  his  brother,  Seth  Arnold,  and  removed  to  New  York.  This  Seth 
Arnold's  father  had  given  him  300  acres  at  the  "falls"  at  the  same 
time  that  Anthony  received  his  land,  which  having  passed  to  Seth, 
made  him  the  owner  of  what  has  since  become  the  business  part  of 
the  city.  He  lived  in  a  mansion  near  where  is  now  the  "  Globe  "  store 
building,  and  near  the  home  of  his  brother  William.  From  him  most 
•of  the  lands  descended  to  his  son  James  Arnold,  who  disposed  of  them 
by  sale  after  1814"''',  and  but  very  little  of  the  original  Arnold  lands 
here  remain  in  the  hands  of  descendants  of  the  first  settler. 

Another  settler  of  that  period  on  the  Smithfield  side  was  Philip 
Loja,  or  Logee,  who  lived  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  which  has  since 
borne  his  name.  His  brother,  Abraham,  lived  on  the  eastern  slope  of 
the  same  hill.  They  were  sons  of  Abraham  Logee,  of  Mendon,  who 
became  the  owner  of  the  land  in  1729.  Scarcely  a  ruin  is  left  of  the 
dwelling  place  of  Philip  Logee,  who  was  a  wealthy  and  prominent 
citizen. 

On  the  Cumberland  side  the  grants  of  lands  were  made  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  passing  from  the  original 
owners  by  sale  to  those  who  remained  to  become  identified  with  the 
place.  In  the  business  part  of  Woonsocket  these  purchasers  were  also 
members  of  the  Arnold  family.  One  of  the  first  grants  in  this  section 
was  made  by  the  general  court  at  Boston,  May  19th,  1669,  to  Samuel 
Chapin,  of  Springfield.  In  consideration  of  services  rendered  he  was 
to  receive  200  acres.  He  never  came  here  to  reside.  In  1710  Captain 
Seth  Chapin  conveyed  a  part  of  the  above  grant  to  John  Arnold. 
It  embraced  42^  acres,  lying  in  the  bend  of  the  river,  south  and  west 
of  a  line  running  from  where  the  Clinton  Mills  now  are  to  near  the 
upper  railroad  bridge.  This  was  part  of  the  60  acres  given  by  John 
Arnold  to  his  son  Anthony,  and  by  him  sold,  in  1739,  to  his  brother 

*See  Manufacturing  Interests. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  271 

Seth,  from  whom  they  descended  to  his  son  James,  practically  the  last 
Arnold  proprietor  at  the  "  falls." 

May  20th,  1711,  the  proprietors  of  Mendon  laid  out  25  acres  to 
James  Bick,  and  about  the  same  time  lands  were  laid  out  for  Jonathan 
Sprague  and  Thomas  Sanford.  Bick  lived  on  the  river,  near  the  pres- 
ent Doctor  Ballou  bridge,  and  the  Sprague  home  was  where  is  now 
the  Privilege  Mill  property.  Sanford  had  the  intervening  lot.  Nearly 
all  these  lands  were  purchased  by  William  Arnold,  Esq.,  the  oldest  son 
of  the  original  settler.  The  lands  granted  to  various  parties,  north 
and  east  of  this  tract:  to  Samuel  Thayer,  40  acres  on  Mill  river  in 
1705;  to  Jonathan  Richards,  55  acres  in  1721;  to  Ebenezer  Cook,  lands 
connecting  these  two  tracts,  in  1719  and  again  in  1749,  became  the 
property  of  Daniel  Arnold,  a  brother  of  William.  The  latter  sold  his 
lands  at  the  present  Monument  Square  and  north  to  his  nephew,  Moses, 
who  came  here  from  Logee  hill  to  become  the  first  settler  in  that  part 
of  the  city.  Daniel  Arnold  bequeathed  his  large  estate  to  his  grand- 
son, Joseph,  who  also  added  to  his  lands  here  by  purchase  from  the 
heirs  of  Moses  Arnold.  Joseph  Arnold  later  divided  his  Cumberland 
lands  among  his  sons,  Joseph  P.,  vSmith  and  Benjamin,  who  made  im- 
provements at  the  Cold  Spring  grove,  at  the  Harris  homestead  and  at 
other  places  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city. 

March  19th,  1705,  lands  were  laid  out  on  Peter's  river  to  Nicholas 
Cook,  which  later  passed  to  the  Aldrich  family,  who  also  became  the 
owners  of  lands  granted  to  Boyce,  Sewell,  Chace  and  others. 

Beyond  the  range  of  hills,  along  this  stream,  is  the  East  Woon- 
socket  section.  Its  inhabitants  are  now  mainly  agriculturists,  there 
being  no  public  places,  except  a  few  small  shops,  the  school  house  and 
a  fine  Grange  hall.  Some  of  the  original  farms  have  been  subdivided, 
and  parts  remain  in  the  hands  of  descendants  of  those  who  improved 
them.  The  names  of  Cook,  Bartlett,  Darling,  Jillson,  Gaskill,  Whipple, 
Wilcox  and  Smith  are  thus  honorably  perpetuated. 

The  Abner  Bartlett  farm  was  occupied  many  years  by  Levin  and 
Joseph  Bartlett.  Eber,  a  son  of  the  latter,  was  the  possessor  of  a  keen 
inventive  mind,  and  it  is  claimed  made,  in  his  little  farm  shop,  the  first 
horse  cultivator  in  this  country.  He  also  invented  a  stove.  Members 
of  the  Darling  family  were  also  gifted  with  mechanical  skill.  It  is 
claimed  that  the  honor  of  inventing  the  revolving  pistol,  which  has 
immortalized  Colonel  Colt,  should  belong  to  Barton  Darling,  who,  with 
his  brother  Benjamin,  had  a  shop  in  these  parts  where  he  had  manu- 
factured that  article  some  time  before  the  Colt  revolver  was  produced. 
It  is  said  of  Benjamin  Darling  that  he  was  an  active  adherent  of 
Thomas  W.  Dorr,  and  that  his  bravery  and  determination  prevented 
bloodshed  at  the  most  critical  period  of  those  troublous  times.  After 
the  Dorrites  had  taken  the  cannon  from  the  state  arsenal,  those  hold- 
ing them  threatened  to  fire  upon  whoever  should  attempt  to  recapture 
them.     A  party  of  the  "  Law  and  Order"  party  advanced  upon  one  of 


272  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  cannons  for  this  purpose,  when  just  as  the  "  Dorrites"  were  about 
to  discharge  the  gun,  Benjamin  Darling  rushed  through  the  crowd  and 
called  upon  it  to  desist,  saying  that  such  an  act  would  be  treason  to 
the  state,  etc.  To  prevent  firing  he  placed  his  hand  on  the  vent,  and 
kept  it  there  even  after  the  excited  cannoneers  had  passed  the  heated 
priming  rod  over  it  and  painfully  burned  it.  His  coolness  produced 
better  counsels  and  the  peace  was  preserved,  but  not  without  leaving 
the  stigma  of  traitor  upon  the  heroic  man.  The  Darlings  invented 
other  useful  articles,  but  failed  to  reap  pecuniary  benefit  from  them, 
and  Benjamin  lived  to  become,  in  his  extreme  age,  an  object  of  the 
town's  charity. 

Descendants  of  the  Jillson  family  attained  distinction  in  this  state 
and  Massachusetts.  The  old  farm  is  now  the  property  of  Stephen 
Wilcox.  On  it  has  been  discovered  a  spring  of  remarkably  pure  water, 
cool  and  possessed  of  medicinal  properties  , which  have  caused  it  to  be- 
come a  place  of  resort.  One  of  the  Jillson  daughters  was  married  to 
Paul  Smith,  who  purchased,  in  1784,  the  farm  on  which  now  resides 
his  grandson,  Albert  A.  Smith.  A  barn  erected  on  this  farm  in  1802, 
is  still  covered  with  the  original  shingles,  which  are  in  good  con- 
dition. 

The  census  of  1885  places  the  value  of  farm  lands  and  buildings 
m  the  town  at  $281,302,  and  gives  the  following  acreage:  Under  the 
plow,  295  acres;  meadows,  900  acres;  pastures,  621  acres;  woodland, 
423  acres;  unimproved,  210  acres,  making  a  total  of  2,452  acres  of 
lands  classed  as  agricultural.  This  acreage  was  embraced  in  59  farms, 
of  which  three  consisted  of  one  acre  only,  and  56  were  of  more  than 
one  acre.  The  average  product  per  acre  from  all  sources  was  valued 
at  $26.36. 

The  real  growth  of  Woonsocket  began  after  1810,  when  cotton 
manufacturing  was  here  begun,  and  the  increase  of  population  was 
slow  but  steady  until  the  completion  of  the  first  railroad  in  1847. 
From  that  time  there  have  been  several  periods  of  more  rapid 
growth,  brought  on  mainly  by  the  location  and  development  of  some 
large  industry.  Since  being  a  corporate  body  the  population  of 
Woonsocket,  at  different  periods,  has  been  as  follows:  1870,  11,527; 
1875,  13,576;  1880,  16,050;  1885,  16,199.  By  the  census  of  1885  there 
were  2,678  families  with  male  heads  and  538  with  female  heads,  the 
average  number  belonging  to  each  family  being  five  members.  Of 
the  population  in  1885  there  were  7,530  males  and  8,660  females.  The 
increase  of  the  latter  was  2  per  cent,  greater  than  the  former,  com- 
paring 1875  with  1885.  The  native  born  were  9,069,  and  7,121  were 
foreigners.  Nearly  5,000  of  the  natives  were  born  at  Woonsocket; 
60.9  per  cent,  of  the  inhabitants  were  single;  33.4  per  cent.,  married; 
5.6  per  cent.,  widowed,  and  .1  per  cent.,  divorced.  There  were  607 
more  dwellings  in  1885  than  1875,  and  the  increase  was  42.2  per  cent. 
The  material  was:  wood,  1,809;  brick,  106;  stone,  34. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  273 

The  first  residence  and  business  directory  of  Woonsocket  was  pre- 
pared in  1875-6  by  E.  S.  Metcalf  &  Co.,  wlio  tiave  since  issued  one 
biennially.  The  names  contained  were:  1875-6,  4,070;  1877-8,  4,499; 
1880-1,  5,057;    1884-5,  5,614;    1886-7.  6,024;    ]  888-9,  6,810. 

Although  the  organization  of  Woonsocket  as  a  separate  town  had 
been  agitated  many  years  before  it  was  accomplished,  it  does  not  ap- 
pear that  there  was  any  concerted  action  until  the  fall  of  1866,  when 
it  was  voted  at  a  town  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Cumberland  to  form 
out  of  that  body  a  new  town,  with  the  following  bounds:  "  Begin- 
ning at  a  point  in  the  middle  of  the  Blackstone  river,  directly  oppo- 
site the  center  or  middle  of  the  Crook  Falls  brook,  thence  running 
northeasterly  in  a  direct  line  to  the  easterly  corner,  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  new  road  (so  called),  leading  from  the  southwestern 
corner  of  the  town  of  Bellingham,  with  the  old  road,  leading  from 
the  Elder  Ballou  meeting  house  (so  called);  thence  northerly  with  the 
east  line  of  said  road  to  the  Massachusetts  state  line;  thence  along 
said  line  to  the  Blackstone  river  and  down  said  stream  to  the  point  of 
beginning." 

An  act  for  the  division  of  the  town  was  prepared  by  F.  G.  Jillson; 
and  Fenner  Brown,  E.  L.  Blake,  F.  G.  Jillson,  L.  W.  Ballou  and  J.  L. 
Brown  were  chosen  a  committee  to  assist  in  securing  the  setting  off 
and  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Woonsocket,  which  was  to  "  have  and 
enjoy  the  like  benefits,  liberties,  privileges  and  immunities  as  the 
other  towns  in  this  state  enjoy  and  are  entitled  to."  The  act  setting 
off  the  town  was  passed  January  31st,  1867,  and  at  the  March  meet- 
ing that  year,  Lyman  Burlingame,  John  A.  Corey  and  Herbert  F. 
Keith  were  appointed  to  set  up  suitable  boundary  stones  between  the 
old  and  the  new  town.  May  6th,  1867,  they  reported  that  this  work 
had  been  done  by  them. 

The  area  of  the  new  town  was  increased  four  years  later  by  the 
annexation  of  territory  from  the  town  of  North  Smithfield.  The 
official  action  in  Woonsocket,  leading  to  this  measure  was  taken  May 
6th,  1870,  when  the  town  voted  that  so  much  of  Srnithfield  as  is  in- 
cluded in  the  villages  of  Hamlet,  Bernon  and  Globe  should  be  added, 
and  Lyman  A.  Cook,  Latimer  W.  Ballou  and  Charles  Nourse  were  ap- 
pointed a  board  of  "  Commissioners  to  meet  a  similar  board  from 
Smithfield,  to  arrange  a  boundary  line  and  other  details  of  such 
annexation."  The  dismemberment  of  this  territory  had  been  bitterly 
opposed  many  years  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  Smithfield,  but  it  was 
accomplished  by  the  act  of  March  8th,  1871,  since  which  time  it  has 
been  a  corporate  part  of  Woonsocket.  As  one  of  the  conditions  of 
this  acquisition,  Woonsocket  paid  into  the  general  treasury,  on  May 
8th,  1871,  the  sum  of  $7,500,  being  the  annexed  territory's  proportion 
of  the  old  town's  debt.  The  entire  area  of  the  town  of  Woonsocket 
thus  became  8.4  square  miles. 
18 


274  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  bounds  of  the  town,  before  and  since  its  organization  as  a 
separate  body,  have  been  in  dispute,  and  particularly  has  the  Massa- 
chusetts line  been  the  subject  of  controversy.  Several  towns  in  that 
state  lay  claim  to  jurisdiction  to  the  old  Cumberland  section  of  the 
town,  Mendon  claiming  the  western  part  and  Dedham  that  part  east 
of  Peter's  river.  The  royal  decree  of  January  27th,  1746,  settled  the 
matter  only  in  a  general  way,  and  for  more  than  a  hundred  years 
longer  citizens  along  the  line  were  in  doubt  as  to  which  state  they 
owed  their  allegiance.  The  joint  commissions  of  the  states  made,  in 
March,  1862,  what  was  believed  to  be  a  formal  settlement  of  the  dis- 
pute,but  it  was  not  until  twenty  years  later  that  the  controversy  was 
finally  set  at  rest.  In  1883  granite  stones,  with  the  letters  R.  I.  cut  on 
the  south  face,  and  Mass.  on  the  north  face,  were  set  up  on  the  desig*- 
nated  line,  and  on  the  7th  of  December,  1883,  these  were  inspected  by 
the  governors  of  the  two  states  and  their  commissioners,  who  approved 
the  same.  On  their  return  the  party  was  dined  at  the  Woonsocket 
Hotel,  and,  since  that  time,  this  boundary  has  no  longer  been  a  dis- 
turbing factor. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1874,  a  town  seal  was  adopted,  the  design 
selected  being  similar  to  that  of  the  probate  court,  and  lettered: 
"  Town  of  Woonsocket,  Incorporated  1867." 

The  town  councils,  from  the  organization  of  the  town  until  the 
adoption  of  the  city  charter,  have  been  composed  of  the  following 
members: 

1867.  Clinton  Puffer,  president;  James  C.  Molten,  Lewis  F.  Cook, 
Joseph  L.  Brown,  George  A.  Grant. 

1868-9.  George  W.  Jenckes,  president;  Allen  Thayer,  B.  S.  Bur- 
lingame,  Jos.  B.  Aldrich,  Willis  Wales. 

1870.  Nathaniel  Elliott,  president;  Daniel  B.  Pond,  Edwin  B.  Mil- 
ler, vSeldon  A.  Bailey,  Alanson  Sweet. 

1871.  Nathaniel  Elliott,  president;  Daniel  B.  Pond,  John  A.  Ben- 
nett, Edwin  B.  Miller,  Seldon  A.  Bailey,  Albert  J.  Elwell,  Beth  T. 
Aldrich. 

1872-3.  Same  as  1871,  except  x\llen  Thayer  in  place  of  Daniel  B. 
Pond. 

1874.  A.  J.  Elwell,  president;  Nathaniel  Elliott,  Cyrus  Arnold,  L. 
C.  Tourtellot,  Albert  P.  Holley,  Allen  Thayer,  James  M.  Cook. 

1875.  A.  J.  Elwell,  president;  L.  C.  Tourtellot,  Cyrus  Arnold,  Al- 
bert P.  Holley,  John  H.  vSherman,  John  Currier,  John  Connolly. 

1876.  Francello  G.  Jillson,  president;  Moses  P.  Roberts,  John  H. 
Sherman,  William  E.  Grant,  John  A.  C.  Wightman,  Alanson  Sweet, 
Henry  M.  Grout. 

1877.  Walter  E.  Parker,  president;  John  H.  vSherman,  John  A.  C. 
Wightman,  William  E.  Grant,  Noah  L.  Peck,  George  H.  Grant,  Wil- 
liam H.  Goodale. 

1878.  Bradbury   C.    Hill,  president;  Henry  A.  Stone,  Albert  A. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  275 

Smith,  John  H.  Lee,  Ara  M.  Paine,  Henry  M.  Grout,  Moses  P.  Rob- 
erts, 

1879-80.  Clinton  Puffer,  president;  John  H.  Lee,  Ara  M.  Paine, 
Seth  S.  Getchell,  Edwin  R.  Scott,  Charles  H.  Horton,  Nathan  B. 
Arnold. 

188L  Charles  F.  Ballou,  president;  Joseph  B.  Aldrich,  George  ^I. 
Welles,  Joseph  Bouvier,  Edward  Thurber,  Henry  M.  Darling,  John  C. 
Darling. 

1882.  Charles  F.  Ballou,  president;  Cyrus  Arnold,  George  H. 
Grant,  George  W.  Miller,  Walter  E.  Smith,  Godfroy  Daigneault, 
Edward  A.  Mungeon. 

1883.  George  H.  Grant,  president;  Cyrus  Arnold,  J.  A.  C.  Wight- 
■  man,  George  W.  Miller,  Walter  E.  Smith,  Godfroy  Daigneault,  Ed- 
ward A.  Mungeon. 

1884.  John  A.  C.  Wightman,  president;  Cyrus  Arnold,  John 
Leech,  Israel  B.  Phillips,  Charles  N.  Brown,  John  R.  Waterhouse, 
John  B.  Fountain. 

1885.  Cyrus  Arnold,  president;  John  Leech,  Gilbert  L.  Staples, 
John  R.  Waterhouse,  Israel  B.  Phillips,  William  L.  Whipple,  Edouard 
Beaudry. 

1886.  Daniel  B.  Pond,  president;  Caleb  G.  Carr,  Edwin  O.  Ronian, 
James  Handley,  Charles  E.  Grant,  Charles  H.  McFee,  Erastus  Rich- 
ardson. 

1887-8.  Charles  H.  McFee,  president;  Caleb  G.  Carr,  Edwin  O. 
Ronian,  James  Handley,  Erastus  Richardson,  Gilman  Brown,  Victor 
Allaire. 

In  the  same  period  the  town  clerks  have  been:  1867-73,  Francello 
G.  Jillson;  1875-88,  Albert  E.  Greene.  For  a  like  period  the  town 
treasurers  were:  1867-8,  Herbert  F.  Keith;  1869-86,  Theodore  M. 
Cook;  1887-8,  Samuel  P.  Cook. 

The  rapid  growth  of  Woonsocket,  and  the  increase  of  its  diverse 
interests  created  a  desire  for  a  better  form  of  municipal  government 
than  the  town  afforded.  Accordingly,  on  the  13th  of  June,  1888,  the 
general  assembly  passed  an  "Act  to  Establish  the  City  of  Woon- 
socket." This  charter  was  adopted  by  the  citizens  of  the  town  No- 
vember 6th,  1888,  and  under  its  provisions  the  first  election  of  city 
officers  was  held  December  3d,  the  same  year.  These  were  qualified 
and  assumed  the  duties  of  their  several  offices  January  7th,  1889,  on 
which  day, the  wheels  of  the  city  government  were  set  in  motion.  In 
his  inaugural  address  the  mayor-elect,  George  H.  Grant,  called  atten- 
tion to  the  improvements  which  had  been  made  under  the  town  rule, 
and  hoped  that  they  would  augur  yet  better  things  under  the  direc- 
tion and  provisions  of  a  more  comprehensive  system  of  government. 
He  cited  as  the  evidences  of  what  had  been  gained:  "  An  efficient  po- 
lice force;  well  lighted  streets;  a  good  fire  department;  better  schools 
and  fine  school  property;  a  good  system  of  water  works;  extended  and 


276  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

improved  highways,  and  a  greater  thrift  and  enterprise  among  the 
people."  But  these  valuable  legacies  were  secured  not  without  cost, 
and  there  was  a  town  debt  of  $584,058.41,  which  the  city  assumed  as 
one  of  its  liabilities.  The  assessors'  valuation  at  this  time  was 
$9,805,475. 

Under  the  cit}'  charter  Woonsocket  was  divided  into  five  wards, 
each  of  which  was  entitled  to  elect  one  alderman  and  three  council- 
men.  In  these  and  in  the  mayor  is  invested  the  administration  of 
the  fiscal,  prudential  and  municipal  affairs  of  the  city,  whose  limits 
were  made  co-extensive  with  those  of  the  old  town.  The  other 
officers  are  elective  by  the  city  council,  and  embrace  a  long  list  in 
every  department  of  affairs. 

In  1889  the  principal  city  officers  were  the  following:  Mayor — 
George  H.  Grant;  aldermen — First  ward,  George  M.  Welles;  Second 
ward,  Richard  Barnett:  Third  ward,  John  J.  Heffernan;  Fourth 
ward,  James  E.  Cook;  Fifth  ward,  George  H.  Miller;  councilmen 
— First  ward,  George  Smith,  Odilon  T.  Paradis  and  John  North; 
Second  ward,  Uriah  Salley,  Etienne  N.  Janson  and  James  E.  Brad- 
ford; Third  ward,  Charles  H.  Horton,  William  Power  and  James 
R.  Gould;  Fourth  ward,  Darius  D.  Farnum,  James  C.  Molten  and 
Ariel  C.  Thomas ;  Fifth  ward,  Philippe  Boucher,  L.  Leprelett 
Miller  and  Frederic  Dulude;  clerk  of  the  council,  Louis  W.  Cook; 
city  clerk,  Albert  E.  Greene;  city  treasurer,  Samuel  P.  Cook;  city 
auditor,  Aram  J.  Pothier;  city  sergeant,  Horace  M.  Pierce;  clerk 
of  assessors,  William  C.  Mason;  collector  of  taxes,  Alphonse  Gaulin; 
judge  of  probate  court,  Charles  F.  Ballou;  clerk  of  probate  court,  Al- 
bert E.  Greene;  health  officer,  Doctor  George  W.  Jenckes;  coroner, 
Thomas  Z.  Lee;  chief  of  police,  John  G.  Currier. 

In  1889  the  police  force  of  the  city  consisted  of  the  chief,  a  lieuten- 
ant, a  sergeant  and  thirteen  men.  The  department  was  maintained 
at  an  expense  of  more  than  $13,000  per  year. 

The  unorganized  condition  of  Woonsocket  for  so  long  a  period 
made  it  necessary  to  secure  from  the  state  special  authority  to  organ- 
ize for  protection  against  fires.  The  need  for  such  a  measure  had 
been  made  apparent  by  the  disastrous  fires  of  March  25th,  1829,  and 
of  April,  1835,  which  was  so  far-reaching  in  its  effects  that  it  is  still 
called  the  "  Great  Fire."  Accordingly  the  "  Woonsocket  Fire  Corpor- 
ation "  was  organized  under  a  charter  granted  at  the  June  session  of 
the  general  assembly,  in  1836.  The  first  principal  officers  of  the  cor- 
poration were  the  leading  business  men  of  the  town.  The  wardens 
were:  vSmith  Arnold,  Willis  Cook  and  Dutee  B.  Aldrich.  George  C. 
Ballou,  Peter  J.  Cook  and  Edward  Harris  were  the  assessors  of  cor- 
poration taxes;  Elisha  T.  Read  was  the  collector;  Pardon  Sayles, 
treasurer,  and  O.  A.  Ballou,  secretary. 

The  corporation  retained  this  strong  moral  and  financial  support, 
and  developed  with  the  growth  of  the  town  until  it  was  the  owner  of 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  277 

valuable  apparatus,  and  had  a  fully  equipped  force  to  manage  the 
same.  The  mill  corporations  were  especially  active  in  this  support, 
and  some  of  them  provided  apparatus  on  their  own  account,  which 
was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  fire  corporation.  On  the  29th  of 
June,  1872,  the  corporation  became  the  owner  of  its  first  steam  fire 
engine,  which  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  It  was  built  by  Jef- 
fers,  of  Pawtucket,  and  was  manned  by  the  Woonsocket  Steam  Fire 
Engine  Company  No.  1.  This  company  had  previously  been  organ- 
ized as  the  Eagle  Hose  Company.  A  few  years  later,  another  steam 
fire  engine,  manufactured  by  Cole  Brothers,  of  Pawtucket,  was  pur- 
chased by  the  vSocial  Manufacturing  Company,  and  was  manned  by 
the  corporation  as  Steam  Engine  No.  2,  or  Social  Steamer.  There 
were  also  a  hose  company,  a  hook  and  ladder  company  and  a  company 
to  man  force  pumps. 

The  supply  of  water  for  use  in  case  of  fires  was  from  the  mill 
dams  direct,  and  from  eight  large  cisterns  and  the  mains  leading  to 
them.  These  cisterns  were  constructed  in  various  parts  of  the  town, 
and  hold  from  7,000  to  25,000  gallons  of  water.  The  mains  laid  are 
four  miles  long,  and  from  four  to  eight  inches  in  diameter.  Properly 
distributed  are  75  hydrants.  Water  was  supplied  by  seven-  service- 
able force  pumps,  which  when  fully  worked  gave  a  direct  pressure 
through  the  hydrants  of  120  pounds  to  the  square  inch.  When  all 
the  conditions  were  harmoniously  worked  the  system  was  quite  effec- 
tive, and  some  of  its  features  are  retained  by  the  present  department. 
The  affairs  of  the  corporation  were  last  managed  by  Henry  T.  Wales, 
George  Worrall  and  Charles  E.  Grant,  engineers;  Clinton  Puffer,  sec- 
retary, and  George  C.  Wilder,  treasurer. 

In  1885  the  property  of  the  corporation  passed  to  the  town  of 
Woonsocket  by  purchase,  and  the  present  fire  department  was  organ- 
ized. The  following  year  $7,000  was  appropriated  for  its  support,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1886  the  electric  fire  alarm  system  was  extended.  The 
same  season  a  fire  tower  was  erected  at  Church  and  Boyden  streets 
and  provided  with  a  heavy  bell.  In  the  spring  of  1889  the  alarm  sys- 
tem consisted  of  15  miles  of  wire,  three  bells  with  electric  strikers, 
one  15-inch  gong,  one  indicator,  three  electro-mechanical  tappers, 
three  diVect-action  tappers,  23  public  and  four  private  signal  boxes. 
George  Worrall  was  the  superintendent  of  the  system. 

The  extension  of  the  city  water  works  has  also  made  it  possible  to 
extend  the  lines  of  the  fire  department  and  thus  insure  greater  pro- 
tection against  fires,  and  the  appropriations  to  this  end  have  been 
liberal.  In  1889  $12,000  was  set  aside  for  the  purpose  of  maintenance 
and  general  improvement.  In  the  latter  class  was  included  the  erec- 
tion of  a  fine  two  story  frame  building  on  Clinton  street,  near  the 
Nourse  Mill,  for  the  use  of  Social  Steamer  Company.  It  is  very  com- 
plete in  all  its  appliances  and  was  first  occupied  in  January,  1889.  The 
old  armory  or  town  hall  has  been  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  Steamer  No. 


278  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1,  and  is  well  adapted  for  that  purpose.  The  quarters  of  the  Woon- 
socket  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  and  the  Monument  Hose  Com- 
pany are  also  comfortably  arranged,  and  the  apparatus  of  the  five 
companies  is  in  good  condition.  There  were  7,450  feet  of  rubber- 
lined  hose,  nearly  new,  and  attachment  was  afforded  by  849  hydrants, 
supplied  with  city  water.  The  engineers  of  the  department  were  Jay 
Xeill,  James  Farrar  and  William  H.  Smith.  The  enrolled  men  on 
the  force  numbered  58.  The  department  owned  four  horses  which 
had  been  efficiently  trained  for  their  work. 

In  the  period  of  eight  months  ending  January  1st,  1889,  the  de- 
partment had  given  18  responses  to  alarms  of  fires,  the  aggregate  loss 
from  which  was  $41,191.60.  Of  these  the  fire  at  Ray's  Cotton  mill,  at 
Jenckesville,  October  31st,  1888,  caused  a  loss  of  $17,695,  and  the  fire 
in  the  American  Block,  originating  in  the  office  of  the  Evening  Re- 
porter, December  23d,  1888,  entailed  a  loss  of  $8,449.60.  In  the  pre- 
ceding year  there  were  17  fires,  with  losses  aggregating  $29,243.76. 
The  prompt  action  of  the  department  in  many  cases  prevented  more 
disastrous  results,  and  the  efficiency  of  the  service  was  fully  demon- 
strated. 

In  this  place  a  brief  summary  of  the  most  important  fires  at  Woon- 
socket  may  appropriately  be  given.  In  the  nature  of  things  they  most 
frequently  occurred  in  the  mills,  although  every  class  of  buildings 
has  fallen  a  prey  to  the  devouring  element:  March  25th,  1829,  and  in 
April,  1835,  the  cotton  mills  of  Dexter  and  Hosea  Ballou  and  business 
houses  around  Market  Square;  January  23d,  1846,  the  cotton  mill  of 
George  C.  Ballou;  April  12th,  1858,  the  Baptist  church;  August  6th, 
1866,  Edward  Harris  Mill  No.  4;  May  22d,  1868,  the  old  St.  Charles 
Catholic  church;  June  13th,  1872,  the  Globe  planing  mill;  September 
8th,  1872,  the  fine  residence  of  the  Reverend  Ebenezer  Douglas;  July 
1st,  1874,  the  extensive  Social  Mills;  October  16th,  1875,  the  High 
School  building;  January  25th,  1882,  the  Providence  &  Worcester 
railroad  station  and  Edwards  Block. 

In  1889  George  Batchelor  was  the  marshall  of  the  city  fire  depart- 
ment, and  John  B.  Fountain,  Thomas  A.  Buell  and  Jay  Neill  were  the 
firewards. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  town,  after  1880,  awakened  a  desfre  for  a 
system  of  pure  water  supply,  and  the  construction  of  works  was  urged 
upon  the  council.  But  before  that  body  acted  in  the  matter,  the 
"  Woonsocket  Water  Works  Company  "  was  chartered  and  as  a  corpor- 
ation endeavored  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  town  in  supplying 
water  by  submitting  a  propositionto  that  end.  On  the  19th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1882,  the  town  appointed  Francis  L.  O'Reilly,  A.  J.  Elwell,  John 
W.  Ellis,  Charles  Nourse  and  James  C.  Molten  a  committee  "  to  con- 
sider the  whole  subject  matter,  as  presented  by  that  corporation."  In 
their  report  they  reccommended  that  a  survey  be  made  to  ascertain  the 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  279 

cost  of  such  works,  etc.  But  this  proposition  was  rejected  by  the 
council  the  same  month. 

Thereupon  the  company  determined  to  erect  the  works  on  its  own 
account,  and  in  the  spring  of  1888  it  contracted  with  George  H.  Nor- 
man to  build  them.  He  began  operations,  but  in  May,  1883,  he  aban- 
doned the  contract,  after  having  already  spent  several  thousand  dollars 
on  the  work.  In  July,  1883,  H.  G.  H.  Tarr,  of  New  York,  became 
interested  with  the  company  in  this  enterprise  and  under  his  direction 
work  was  begun  at  once,  with  John  W.  Ellis  as  the  civil  engineer  in 
charge  of  the  construction  corps.  Dams  for  reservoirs,  on  Crooks  Fall 
brook,  and  a  brick  pumping  station  at  that  place  were  built  that  year. 
A  stand  pipe  on  Logee  hill  was  also  begun.  The  laying  of  mains  and 
distributing  pipes  from  the  latter  place  was  done  on  contract  by  John 
B,  Rutherford,  of  New  Jersey,  who  began  that  work  in  April,  1884. 

In  June  of  that  year,  the  town  council  agreed  with  Horace  A. 
Jenckes,  Francis  L.  O'Reilly  and  George  H.  Grant,  of  the  Woonsocket 
Water  Works  Company,  for  a  supply  of  water  for  the  use  of  the  town, 
to  be  properly  distributed,  and  to  be  available  through  300  fire 
hydrants.  Operations  were  now  actively  pushed  and  the  works  were 
practically  built  in  1884.  Since  that  time  the  system  has  been  ex- 
tended and  the  works  perfected  until  they  were  in  first-class  condition. 
■  On  the  30th  of  October,  1884,  the  town  voted  by  120  yeas  and  56 
nays  to  buy  the  works  from  the  company  at  an  advance  of  $50,000 
over  the  amount  expended.  Oscar  J.  Rathbun,  Joseph  E.  Cole,  George 
A.  Wilbur,  Charles  F.  Ballou  and  John  McDonald  were  appointed  a 
committee  on  behalf  of  the  town  to  effect  the  purchase.  The  same 
committee  also  secured  the  necessary  legislation  to  bond  the  debt 
which  would  thus  be  incurred.  The  purchase  was  made  April  1st, 
1885,  and  the  price  paid  was  $298,612.62.  The  extensions  and  main- 
tenance of  the  works  have  since  cost  nearly  $100,000  more.  On  the 
11th  of  February,  1886,  the  dam  of  the  works  was  damaged  $7.0()0, 
100  feet  being  washed  away  by  the  freshet. 

The  water  supply  is  from  Crooks  Fall  brook,  in  North  Smithfield 
township,  the  dams  being  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  center 
of  the  city.  There  are  two  reservoirs,  about  1,000  feet  apart.  The 
upper  has  an  area  of  nearly  11  acres  and  holds  36,000,000  gallons.  The 
area  of  the  lower  is  8|-  acres  and  its  capacity  15,000,000  gallons.  These 
reservoirs  have  a  source  of  supply  from  seven  square  miles  of  con- 
tiguous country.  One  half  a  mile  distant,  on  Logee  hill,  is  a  stand 
pipe,  holding  339,400  gallons,  which  receives  and  stores  the  surplus 
pumped  water  forced  through  the  pipes  by  two  Worthington  pumping 
engines.  This  tank  is  on  an  elevation  239  feet  above  ]\Iarket  Square, 
and  when  full  gives  a  pressure  of  105  pounds  to  the  square  inch, 
enabling  a  stream  of  water  in  a  fire  hose  to  be  thrown  over  the  highest 
building  in  the  city.  On  the  same  hill  another  stand  pipe,  to  hold 
513,000  gallons  has  been  built.     In  1889  there  were  nearly  25  miles  of 


280  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

mains,  374  fire  hydrants,  nearly  800  meters,  and  over  900  services,  sup- 
plying about  2,400  families  and  350  other  consumers  with  nearly  300,- 
000  gallons  of  water  daily. 

The  works  are  profitably  maintained  and  in  the  past  year  the 
expenditures  have  been  but  two-thirds  of  the  receipts.  A  pleasing 
feature  of  the  system  is  the  maintenance  of  a  number  of  attractive 
drinking  fountains,  for  man  and  beast,  which  are  located  at  Market 
Square,  Monument  Square,  Greene  street  and  Hamlet  avenue,  Social 
and  Rathbun  streets,  Blackstone  street  and  Harris  avenue.  South 
Main  and  Mason  streets,  and  at  the  Harris  Institute.  The  water  is 
pure  and  its  average  temperature  is  about  55  degrees  Fahrenheit. 
Until  April  1st,  1889,  the  superintendent  of  the  works  was  Willard 
Kent.     At  the  date  named  he  was  succeeded  by  Byron  I.  Cook. 

The  appropriate  care  of  the  dependent  poor  was  a  matter  of  con- 
cern to  the  authorities,  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  town.  The 
war  had  impoverished  a  large  number  of  persons,  who  needed  aid 
until  they  could  adjust  themselves  to  new  conditions,  and  others  were 
absolutely  homeless.  To  relieve  the  former  liberal  appropriations 
were  made,  amounting  to  nearly  $9,000  in  1868;  to  dispose  of  the  lat- 
ter engaged  the  attention  of  various  town  committees  in  1867  and 
1S6S,  among  the  persons  so  serving  being  Alonzo  D.  Vose,  Peleg  J. 
Congdon,  John  A.  Corey,  Charles  Nourse,  D.  M.  Cook,  Edwin  B. 
]^Iiller,  Albert  J.  Elwell  and  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou.  But  it  appears  that 
for  many  years  only  temporary  provision  could  be  made  for  securing 
a  home  for  the  indigent,  but  often  worthy,  poor  of  the  town.  The 
present  asylum  was  provided  in  obedience  to  a  resolution  of  a  meet- 
ing, held  June  11th,  1883,  which  placed  the  matter  in  the  hands  of 
committeemen  Spencer  Mowry,  James  C.  Molten  and  Daniel  B.  Pond. 
They  purchased  twelve  acres  of  land,  on  Mason  street,  on  which  was 
erected  a  frame  building,  28  by  56  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  an  ell, 
20  by  23  feet,  which  was  fitted  up  for  asylum  purposes.  It  was  ready 
for  use  April  11th,  1884,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  J.  M.  Wheaton  as 
keeper.  Other  improvements  since  that  time  have  made  the  asylum 
a  very  creditable  institution.  In  December,  1888,  the  property  was 
valued  at  about  $9,000.  From  ten  to  fifteen  persons  find  a  good  home 
in  the  asylum  each  year,  and  are  maintained  at  an  expense  of  about 
$180  per  inmate.  The  entire  support  of  the  poor  in  the  city  is  about 
$6,000  per  year,  and  Edward  Thurber  was  the  overseer  of  the  poor  in 
1889. 

For  many  years,  even  after  the  settlement  of  what  is  now  Woon- 
socket,  there  were  no  clearly  defined  or  well  kept  roads  in  this  sec- 
tion, being  for  a  long  time  merely  paths  which  led  over  the  most 
favorable  conditions  of  ground.  Later  the  roads,  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  leading  from  Providence  to  points  in  Massachusetts,  and  their 
connecting  roads  were  made  the  subjects  of  town  records,  and  their 
courses  were  restricted  to  certain   limits.     One  of  these  north  and 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  281 

south  roads  was  long  designated  as  the  "Great  road,"  or  the  "  Smith- 
field  Mendon  road,"  since  it  passed  through  that  town.  It  ran  by  the 
Quaker  meeting  house,  through  Union  Village,  and  thence  into  Mass- 
achusetts near  the  house  of  Jedediah  Wilson.  In  1841  it  was  relaid  to 
pass  around  vSayles'  hill,  instead  of  over  it  as  before,  and  was  there- 
after improved  with  greater  care.  Its  companion  road,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  was  located  at  an  earlier  period  and  was  long  known 
as  the  "  Old  Rehoboth  road."  It  was  projected  as  early  as  1050  by 
the  proprietors  of  the  town  for  their  use,  "  or  for  any  that  shall  have 
occasion  to  pass  from  town  (Seekonk  Plain)  to  Providence."  Later 
it  became  better  known  as  the  "  Cumberland  Mendon  road,"  which 
term,  to  some  extent,  still  applies;  and  it  has  been  but  little  varied 
from  its  course  since  it  was  located. 

Leading  from  this  highwa}^  to  the  "  falls  "  and  beyond  were  two 
roads,  which  united  at  what  is  now  Monument  Square,  and  which 
have  developed  into  Social,  North  Main  and  Main  streets.  They  were 
a  part  of  the  east  and  west  thoroughfare  from  Massachusetts  to  Con- 
necticut and  probably  were  much  traveled.  In  1735  Ebenezer  Cook 
was  paid  ^40  by  the  town  of  Mendon  (which  claimed  jurisdiction  at 
that  time)  to  build  a  bridge  across  Mill  river,  on  the  former  road. 
The  north  part  of  these  roads  was  less  used,  but  also  received  atten- 
tion as  early  1750.  The  road  where  is  now  Main  street  proper  had 
some  sort  of  existence  before  1710,  probably  being  a  mere  path  to 
the  crossing  places  of  the  river.  One  of  these  was  at  the  ford  or 
"wading  place,"  below  the  falls;  and  the  other  was  the  "rafting 
place,"  near  where  the  Clinton  Mills  are.  Passing  from  these  locali- 
ties were  the  roads  forming  the  southern  or  western  connections 
between  the  Mendon  roads.  The  road  which  has  developed  into 
South  Main  street  was  located  about  1731,  but  in  the  next  hundred 
years  had  its  course  much  modified.  It  was  one  of  the  arms  which 
formed  the  widely  known  "  Cross  Roads  "  where  it  intersected  the 
"  Great  road,"  at  what  is  now  Union  Village,  and  which  circumstance 
caused  that  place  to  become  a  business  point.  The  old  Logee  Hill 
and  River  roads  are  perpetuated  by  streets  bearing  these  names,  and 
whose  course  is  much  the  same  as  when  located  in  1732.  Being  al- 
most parallel  with  the  "  Great  road  "  and  east  of  it,  this  highway  was 
popularly  called  the  "  East  road."  Intermediate  between  these  a 
road  was  laid  out,  May  23d,  1752,  which,  in  a  modified  form,  has  be- 
come Providence  street.  An  older  road  located  in  1731,  having  nearly 
the  same  course,  was  abandoned  after  this  had  been  opened.  Traces 
of  this  highway  remained  a  hundred  years  after  it  was  abandoned. 

The  first  account  of  the  building  of  a  bridge  at  the  "  falls  "  was 
in  1736,  when  the  colony  appropriated  one-half  its  cost.  The  other 
;^128  was  raised  by  private  subscription.  In  1762  a  better  bridge  was 
built  in  its  stead,  the  funds  being  secured  by  a  lottery,  authorized  by 
law,  which  provided  ;^1, 002  for  that  purpose.     Twenty-five  years  later 


282  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  legislature  legalized  another  lottery  to  build  a  bridge  across  the 
river,  by  means  of  which  i^900  was  raised.  A  new  site  was  selected, 
and  this  bridge  of  1787  was  several  rods  below  the  old  one,  near 
where  the  bridges  have  since  been.  It  was  swept  away  by  the  great 
freshet  of  February,  1807,  whose  magnitude  has  not  been  equaled 
since  the  settlement  of  the  country.  In  August,  1807,  the  work  of 
rebuilding  both  bridges  was  begun  by  the  towns  of  Smithfield  and 
Cumberland,  and  by  them  again  repaired  in  1825.  In  the  latter  year 
Dexter  Ballou  and  David  Wilkinson,  acting  for  Smithfield,  erected 
the  stone  arch  bridge  from  the  side  of  that  town  to  the  island.  A 
stone  arch  bridge  was  built  in  18B3  by  Aaron  Rathbun  and  Cephas 
Holbrook,  to  replace  the  middle  bridge.  This  was  itself  replaced  in 
1861  by  a  better  bridge  of  the  same  nature,  built  after  plans  by  S.  B. 
Cushing,  the  noted  bridge  architect.  In  1867  the  Hamlet  avenue 
bridge,  below  the  Groton  works,  was  built.  In  1868-9,  the  Doctor 
Ariel  Ballou  bridge,  so  called,  was  built  at  an  outlay  of  nearly  $4,000. 
All  of  these  bridges  have  since  been  kept  in  repair  by  liberal  appro- 
priations. 

Since  the  civil  organization  of  Woonsocket  large  sums  of  money 
have  been  expended  in  the  exten-sion  and  improvement  of  the  streets, 
thousands  of  dollars  being  spent  in  making  straight  their  courses.  In 
1869  the  lines  and  grades  of  the  streets  were  established  by  a  civil 
engineer,  and  the  work  of  paving  and  curbing  begun.  Since  1883 
Main  street,  from  Market  Square  to  Monument  Square,  has  been  paved 
with  granite  blocks.  In  1888  more  than  S3o,000  was  expended  on  the 
streets  and  bridges  of  the  city. 

While  these  improved  roads  and  bridges  afforded  better  communi- 
cation at  home,  the  need  of  superior  transportation  facilities  to  points 
abroad  was  early  apparent.  The  building  of  factories  along  the  Black- 
stone  steadily  increased  the  tonnage  of  freight.  Vast  quantities  of 
raw  material  were  to  be  brought  in  and  the  manufactured  goods  taken 
out.  The  freighter's  wagon  and  the  stage  coach  were  becoming  in- 
adequate to  perform  this  work.  Hence  a  canal  from  Providence  to 
Worcester  was  projected,  and  it  was  believed  that  its  construction 
would  still  more  fully  develop  the  resources  of  the  Blackstone  valley. 
It  was  intended  to  utilize  the  channel  of  the  river  as  much  as  possible 
and  thus,  following  the  windings  of  the  stream,  the  improvement 
would  be  about  45  miles  long.  From  Providence  to  Woonsocket  most 
of  the  canal  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1827,  after  several  years  had 
been  devoted  to  work  on  it  under  the  management  of  General  Car- 
rington.  Among  his  laborers  on  this  contract  was  Michael  Reddy, 
whose  name  has  passed  into  history  as  the  first  Irishman  to  make 
Woonsocket  his  permanent  home.  In  the  progress  of  the  work,  from 
Providence  up,  he  reached  the  town  in  the  fall  of  1826  and  remained 
here,  an  honored  though  humble  citizen,  until  his  death,  more  than 
half  a  centurv  later. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  283 

After  3'ears  of  trial  it  was  seen  that  the  canal  had  failed  of  its 
first  purpose.  By  it  transportation  was  slow  and  costly,  and  having 
so  many  locks  the  canal  was  expensively  kept  in  repair  for  use  a  few 
months  in  a  year  only.  The  stockholders  had  received  no  returns, 
and  it  only  required  the  agitation  of  the  matter  of  building  a  railroad 
along  the  same  route  to  convince  them  that  their  venture  would  better 
be  abandoned.  But  little  was  done  after  1840,  and  six  years  later  the 
Massachusetts  part  of  the  canal  was  sold  to  the  Providence  &  Worces- 
ter Railroad  Company  for  |i22,500,  while  in  Rhode  Island  the  property 
reverted  to  the  former  owners  of  the  land.  It  is  said  that  by  the  above 
sale  the  holders  of  canal  stock  realized  their  only  dividend,  about  one 
dollar  per  share. ^ 

Through  the  town  of  Woonsocket  the  course  of  this  almost-forgot- 
ten thoroughfare  was,  when  not  in  the  channel  of  the  stream,  mainly 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  It  thus  passed  out  of  the  stream,  after 
leaving  the  Massachusetts  line,  at  Buffum's  bridge,  thence  by  trench 
to  a  point  above  the  Doctor  Ballou  bridge,  where  it  again  entered  the 
river  and  remained  until  a  second  departure  was  made  above  the  dam 
at  the  "  falls."  From  this  point  it  passed  down,  crossing  Main  street 
where  Greene's  Block  now  is,  and  thence  across  the  "meadows,"  in 
the  line  of  the  present  mill  trench,  to  near  the  railroad  bridge,  where 
was  a  tow-bridge  across  the  river  to  the  Smithfield  side.  The  chan- 
nel of  the  river  was  now  used  until  near  the  Hamlet  dam,  when  a  cut 
was  again  made  across  the  land  to  a  point  into  the  river,  near  the 
present  bridge  at  Hamlet.  Below  the  "falls"  were  a  series  of  locks 
and  near  the  Lyman  Mill  was  a  basin  where  boats  lay  while  taking  on 
and  unloading  goods.  At  its  best  three  canal  boats  per  day  are  re- 
membered as  passing  through,  and  later  they  were  so  infrequent  that 
there  was  but  one  every  few  days. 

But,  if  the  canal  failed  as  a  means  of  transportation,  it  proved  to 
be  the  means  of  more  fully  developing  the  water  power  of  the  Black- 
stone  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  in  that  sense  its  projectors 
builded  wiser  than  they  knew.  iVlong  its  abandoned  course  numerous 
mills  were  erected,  and  now  the  demand  for  speedier  and  cheaper 
transportation  was  greater  than  ever.  To  the  progressive  the  solution 
of  the  problem  was  plain,  providing  a  railroad  could  be  built.  In  the 
minds  of  others  such  an  improvement  meant  the  expenditure  of  vast 
sums  of  money  and  disaster  to  the  occupations  of  the  farmer,  the  mer- 
chant and  the  hotel  keeper.  Hence  the  movement  to  build  a  railroad 
was  deferred  from  year  to  year.  As  early  as  1882  the  project  of  build- 
ing a  railroad  to  Boston  had  been  discussed  and  various  lines  were 
proposed  and  abandoned.  Thus  a  dozen  years  were  spent  in  discus- 
sion when  it  became  apparent  that  the  railroad  was  coming,  but,  alas, 
the  spoke  did  not  radiate  from  the  "  Hub  !"  The  feasibility  of  build- 
ing a  railroad  along  the  route  of  the  canal  was  set  forth  as  early  as 

*Richardson's  History,  p.  166. 


^84  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1843,  and  later,  it  was  demonstrated  that  such  a  road  would  also  pay 
well.  Because  of  this  belief  the  matter  was  pushed  energetically,  and 
at  the  May,  1844,  session,  the  Rhode  Island  legislature  chartered  the 
Providence  &  Worcester  Railroad  Company.  The  route  was  soon 
after  located  and  the  work  of  construction  begun. 

In  its  report  on  the  advantages  which  would  accrue  if  the  railroad 
were  built,  a  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  matter  said,  in 
regard  to  Woonsocket  and  vicinity: 

"1.  Hamlet — population  250,  contains  two  cotton  mills,  with  5,832 
spindles,  120  looms,  employing  67  females  and  74  males,  producing 
20,000  yards  of  cotton  cloth  per  week,  and  working  650  bales  of  cotton 
per  annum. 

Estimated  annual  tons  of  merchandise,  400. 
Estimated  sum  for  passengers,  per  annum,  $400. 
Estimated  sum  for  freight,  per  annum,  $700. 
"2.  Bernon — population,  750,  contains  two  cotton  mills  with  11,000 
spindles,  288  looms,  employing  175  females  and  75  males,  producing 
38,500  yards  of  cotton  cloth  per  week,  and  working  1,000  bales  of  cot- 
ton per  annum. 

Estimated  annual  tons  of  merchandise,  633. 
Estimated  sum  for  passengers,  per  annum,  $633. 
Estimated  sum  for  freight,  per  annum,  $1,266. 
"  3.  Woonsocket — population  4,000,  contains  17  cotton   mills,  with 
34,456  spindles,  812  looms,  producing  151,039  yards  of  cotton  cloth  per 
week,  and  working  5,251   bales  of   cotton  per  annum;  three  woolen 
mills,  with  10  sets  of  machinery,  producing  4,700  yards  of   cloth  per 
week,  and  working  281,500  pounds  of  wool  per  annum;  six  machine 
shops,  an  iron  foundry,  two  grist  mills,  a  saw  mill,  one  spool  and  bob- 
bin shop,  one  soap  manufactory,  two  wholesale  grocery  stores.  In  the 
mills  413  females  and  456  males  are  employed. 

Estimated  annual  tons  of  merchandise,  15,233. 
Estimated  sum  for  passengers,  per  annum,  $10,100. 
Estimated  sum  for  freight,  per  annum,  $30,466. 
"  N.  B. — It  should  be  stated  that  the  estimation  of  sums  from  pas- 
sengers was  based  on  that  estimated  to  be  received  by  stages." 

The  railroad  was  completed  for  the  transportation  of  freight  in 
September,  1847,  and  was  formally  opened  Monday,  October  25th,  the 
same  year,  when  stockholders  and  their  invited  guests,  numbering 
about  1,500  persons,  passed  over  the  route  to  Worcester,  where  they 
were  served  with  a  collation.  The  passenger  station  at  Woonsocket 
was  erected  in  August,  1847,  and,  with  some  repairs,  was  used  until 
the  summer  of  1872,  when  it  was  remodeled  at  an  outlay  of  $10,000. 
This  building  and  the  adjoining  Doctor  Edwards  block  were  destroyed 
by  fire  January  25th,  1882.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  the  present 
handsome  depot  building  was  begun  and  finished,  after  plans  pre- 
pared by  John  W.  Ellis.     It  is  a  brick  structure,  trimmed  with  free- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  285 

Stone,  and  has  a  slated  Gothic  roof.  Its  dimensions  are  47  by  164 
feet,  and  its  front  end,  on  Main  street,  is  two  stories  high,  the  lower 
part  being  adapted  for  business  purposes,  and  an  entrance  way  from 
the  street  to  the  depot.  The  interior  of  the  depot  is  finished  in  fine 
style,  having  all  the  modern  improvements,  and  it  is  claimed  that  this 
is  the  finest  local  station  in  New  England.  It  was  occupied  for  busi- 
ness March  11th,  1883.  P^or  many  years  B.  W.  Johnson  was  the  sta- 
tion agent,  faithfully  looking  after  the  interests  of  the  company  until 
June,  1879,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  efficient  agent,  Al- 
vertus  Dean. 

The  shipping  business  of  the  station  has  largely  increased  in  recent 
years  and  this  is  one  of  the  best  paying  points  on  the  road.  The  pas- 
senger traffic  has  also  proportionately  increased.  In  1885  there  were 
9  passenger  trains  each  way  per  day;  in  the  same  month  in  1889  the 
number  each  way  was  13  trains.  A  station  on  this  road  is  also  main- 
tained at  Hamlet. 

But  the  idea  of  having  a  direct  railroad  to  Boston  was  not  given  up 
even  when  the  above  road  was  assured.  It  was  deeply  rooted  in  the 
minds  of  some  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  town,  and  nothing 
short  of  its  realization  would  content  them.  Large  and  spirited  meet- 
ings were  held  in  Armory  Hall  in  the  fall  of  1846  and  the  spring  of 
1847,  in  which  the  principal  men  participated  and  gave  expression  to 
their  earnestness.  Unfortunately  for  the  fruition  of  their  hopes  and 
their  peace  of  mind  there  were  bitter  feelings  and  jealousies  awak- 
ened which  arrayed  individuals  and  corporations  of  this  and  neigh- 
boring towns  against  one  another,  and  what  might  have  been  advan- 
tageously adjusted  by  compromise  was  made  the  issue  of  contention. 
The  building  of  an  "  Air  Line  "  from  Boston  westward  was  charac- 
terized by  a  fierce  rivalry  for  the  position  of  a  station  on  the  line,  be- 
tween Waterford  and  Woonsocket,  in  which  the  latter  was  beaten, 
although  being  very  much  superior  as  a  commercial  point.  "  The 
genius,  will  and  money  of  Welcome  Farnum  prevailed,  and  the  Air 
Line  went  to  his  town — Waterford." 

After  the  lapse  of  years  the  project  of  an  extension  or  connection 
with  existing  roads  to  Boston  was  revived  and  prosecuted  with  better 
results.  A  branch  of  the  New  England  railroad  was  located  through 
Woonsocket,  and  November  16th,  1863,  trains  began  running  on 
schedule  time  from  the  town  to  Boston.  A  direct  mail  by  this  route  was 
soon  after  established,  and  the  advantages  for  which  the  town  had 
longed  so  many  years  were  in  a  measure  attained.  An  extension  of  this 
line  westward  was  begun  and  carried  forward  to  the  grading  of  the  road, 
when  work  was  discontinued.  The  framework  of  the  bridge  across 
the  Blackstone  was  swept  away  by  the  great  freshet  in  March,  1876, 
and  the  stone  piers  left  standing  were  carried  off  by  the  flood  of  Feb- 
ruary 11th,  1886.  It  is  proposed  to  use  the  grading  of  this  line  in  the 
construction    of  a  branch  road,  which,  being  done,  Woonsocket  will 


•286  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

have  at  last  a  western  outlet  and  also  become  a  station  on  an  "  Air 
line." 

The  traffic  of  the  New  England  road  has  steadily  increased  and  is 
much  heavier  than  in  former  years,  and  while  the  passenger  patron- 
age is  comparatively  light,  this  direct  line  is  a  great  convenience.  In 
1889  there  were  seven  trains  to  Boston  daily.  Since  March,  1878, 
Thomas  B.  Holden  has  been  the  station  agent,  succeeding  D.  Law- 
rence. 

A  history  of  the  public  houses  of  Woonsocket  would  be  incomplete 
without  an  account  of  the  pioneer  inns  of  Union  Village,  which  for 
nearly  a  hundred  years  was  the  real  Woonsocket.  For  that  space  of 
time  nearly  all  the  important  business  of  this  section  was  transacted 
within  the  narrow  limits  of  that  now  quiet  hamlet.  Where  are,  at 
present,  only  suburban  residences,  once  were  a  bank,  the  post  office, 
mechanic  shops,  two  stores  and  two  taverns.  The  latter,  after  the 
custom  of  the  times,  were  the  centers  of  business  and  social  life,  and 
their  reputation  extended  to  the  utmost  limits  of  the  lines  of  travel 
on  which  they  were  located,  and  which  carried  the  name  of  Woon- 
socket abroad.  There  courts  were  held,  and  those  in  attendance  en- 
tertained; town  business  transacted  and  a  general  interchange  made 
of  the  news  of  the  day  with  the  travelers  and  the  neighbors  assem- 
bled from  miles  around,  for  to  the  Woonsocket  Cross  Roads  went  all 
classes  of  people. 

These  taverns  were  kept  in  the  oldest  buildings  in  the  place.  The 
one  first  opened,  November  26th,  1733,  was  in  the  original  dwelling 
house  of  Hezadiah  Comstock,  which  was  built  about  1703,  and  was 
the  second  residence  at  this  point.  The  license  was  granted  to 
Joseph  Arnold,  who  leased  the  house  from  the  Comstock  family  until 
1744,  when  it  passed  to  him  by  purchase.  It  was  a  long  frame  build- 
ing with  the  end  standing  toward  the  street,  and  had  a  spacious  yard. 
In  the  latter  were  erected  stocks  for  the  punishment  of  condemned 
prisoners,  sentenced  by  the  court,  sitting  in  the  tavern.  Joseph  Ar- 
nold died  in  1745,  but  the  tavern  continued  to  be  kept  by  his  widow, 
Patience  (whose  maiden  name  was  Wilkinson),  until  the  fall  of  1763. 
The  landlord  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  prominence,  and 
had  many  good  qualities.  He  is  said  to  have  so  thoroughly  abhorred 
slavery,  that  on  his  yearly  visits  to  the  Newport  meeting  of  Friends 
he  would  not  stop  at  the  houses  of  those  who  held  slaves.  One  of  his 
sons  was  the  esteemed  Doctor  William  Arnold. 

The  second  tavern  was  opened  September  15th,  1739,  by  Thomas 
Arnold,  a  brother  of  the  iirst  landlord.  He  occupied  the  house  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  which  was  the  first  residence  in  the 
place,  having  been  built  in  1690,  by  James  Arnold.  This  landlord 
was  also  prominent,  and  was  known  in  the  later  years  of  his  life  as 
Judge  Thomas  Arnold.  He  died  in  1765.  In  1780  this  house  was 
■  enlarged  by  one  of  his  sons,  Peleg  Arnold,  and  was  kept  by  him  many 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  287 

years.  Like  his  uncle  and  his  father  he  was  a  controlling  influence 
in  public  affairs  of  this  section,  and  was  also  influential  in  state  mat- 
ters.    He  was  widely  known  as  Judge  Peleg  Arnold. 

In  the  present  century  there  were  also  two  inns  at  this  village, 
sustaining  the  relation  of  rivals  for  patronage.  The  one  on  the  east 
side  of  the  street  was  built  by  Marcus  Arnold,  and  Amasa  Bagley  was 
the  first  landlord,  keeping  the  house  one  year.  George  Aldrich  pur- 
chased the  property  and  moved  into  the  house  on  Christmas  Day, 
1807,  and  kept  the  tavern  until  1832,  when  it  became  a  private  resi- 
dence. The  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  street  was  built  by  Walter  Al- 
len, and  the  tavern  keepers  in  the  line  of  succession  were  Paul  Draper, 
William  Ayers,  Nathan  Mowry,  Seth  Allen,  Walter  S.  Allen  and  Otis 
Bartlett.  Of  these  the  Aliens  are  best  remembered  as  landlords. 
This  tavern  was  also  devoted  to  private  use  after  business  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  "  Falls." 

At  the  latter  place  the  first  record  of  a  public  house  appears  in 
connection  with  the  granting  of  a  license  to  retail  strong  liquors, 
March  3d,  1734,  to  William  Arnold,  Esq.  This  house  was  on  the  hill 
near  the  present  Globe  Mills,  and  appears  to  have  also  been  a  small 
store.  It  may  be  that  the  entertainment  of  the  public  was  only  an  in- 
cidental feature  of  its  business.  The  dwelling  house  of  James  Ar- 
nold, below  the  "  falls,"  was  properly  made  the  first  tavern  in  the 
present  city  of  Woonsocket,  and  Caleb  Adams  was  the  first  landlord. 
Cephas  Holbrook  succeeded  him  and  built  a  larger  house  on  the  same 
site,  about  1829.  The  enterprise  proving  too  great  for  him,  the  prop- 
erty passed  into  the  hands  of  a  hotel  company,  and  there  were  a  num- 
ber of  landlords,  among  them  being  Willard  and  Luke  Whitcomb, 
Charles  E.  Richards  and  Reuel  Smith.  April  14th,  1846,  Cook  &  Bal- 
lou  took  charge  of  the  hotel  as  the  owners,  and  not  long  afterward 
Otis  D.  Ballou  became  the  sole  proprietor.  He  kept  it  many  years, 
and  it  was  favorably  known  as  "  Ballou's  Temperance  Hotel."  The 
business  netted  him  a  competency  and  he  retired,  selling  out  to  Cook, 
Mason  &  Co.  Under  their  direction  the  place  again  became  known 
as  the  Woonsocket  Hotel,  and  earned  a  fine  reputation,  which  has 
been  retained  with  increasing  favor  until  this  day.  In  June,  1870,  the 
old  frame  building  was  removed  from  its  site  to  a  rear  lot,  and  the 
present  hotel  edifice  erected  thereon  by  the  proprietors.  It  is  of 
brick,  45  by  m  feet,  with  an  ell  45  by  58  feet,  four  stories  high,  and 
has  a  mansard  roof.  More  recent  refittings  have  supplied  the  modern 
appliances,  and  under  the  continued  management  of  Cook,  Mason  & 
Co.  it  is  one  of  the  most  popular  hostelries  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  town  the  "  Mechanics  Hotel  "  was 
kept  during  the  late  war  by  Albert  C.  Jencks,  who  sold  out  to  Lysander 
W.  Elliott  April  1st,  1867,  after  having  achieved  a  fine  reputation  as 
an  exemplary  landlord.  In  1869  the  new  proprietor  removed  the  old 
house  across  the  street  and  erected  a  new  hotel  on  the  site,  the  origi- 


288  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

nal  structure  being-  a  frame  42  by  110  feet,  three  stories  high  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  Mansard  story.  This  has  since  been  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  a  brick  block  on  the  north  ;  and  in  1888  the  capacity  of 
the  hotel  was  still  further  increased  by  the  use  of  several  stories  in 
the  Opera  House  Block.  The  modern  conveniences  have  been  em- 
bodied in  this  hotel's  arrangements  since  its  completion  in  July,  1870. 
At  that  time  it  received  the  name  of  Monument  House,  from  the 
location  of  the  soldiers'  monument,  near  by,  and  has  since  been  ably 
conducted  by  the  popular  landlord  and  proprietor,  L.  W.  Elliott. 

In  addition  to  these  two  principal  houses  there  have  been  other 
inns  which,  in  their  day,  accommodated  the  public  well.  In  1857, 
John  Livesy  kept  a  tavern  opposite  the  Harris  Block,  which  he  called 
the  Central  Hotel,  but  which  has  long  since  been  given  up  to  other 
uses.  On  the  Globe  side  was  kept  a  tavern,  of  some  note,  in  a  build- 
ing- which  was  afterward  transformed  into  a  boarding  house  for  the 
mill  near  which  it  stands. 

Among  the  other  public  buildings  in  the  city  the  old  Rathbun 
Block,  erected  in  1832,  stood  a  prominent  business  place  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  In  April,  1867,  it  was  sold  to  Charles  H.  Fletcher, 
who  erected  a  new  block,  bearing  his  name,  on  this  site.  In  1886  he 
remodeled  his  Music  Hall  at  an  outlay  of  $15,000,  and  opened  it  to  the 
public  the  following  year.  It  is  a  fine  place  of  amusement,  having  a 
stage  60  feet  square,  which  is  provided  with  elegant  scenery. 

The  old  Armory  Hall,  on  Bernon  street,  was  the  next  place  in  point 
of  age,  which  was  erected  for  public  gatherings.  It  was  built  in  the 
summer  of  1845,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  one-third  of  which  was  paid  by  the 
state,  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  part  of  the  building  was  to  be 
used  for  military  purposes.  When  the  hall  was  dedicated  it  was  made 
the  occasion  of  a  grand  ball,  at  which  the  music  was  furnished  by 
Dod  worth's  celebrated  New  York  band,  and  many  distinguished  people 
from  abroad  attended.  In  1884  the  town  appropriated  $10,000  to  pur- 
chase this  property  and  refit  it  for  public  uses.  In  1889  most  of  the 
building  was  occupied  by  the  city  fire  department,  the  other  city  offices 
being  in  buildings  more  centrally  located. 

In  1846  S.  S.  Waterman  erected  a  large  three-story  brick  block, 
in  what  is  now  the  central  part  of  the  city,  which  was  for  many  years 
an  attractive  public  building.  In  1865  the  property  was  purchased  by 
S.  S.  Foss  and  the  name  changed  to  Patriot  Block,  which  it  still  bears. 
This  building  was  the  most  conspicuous  object  in  that  part  of  the 
town  for  ten  years. 

In  1856  Edward  Harris  erected  the  block  which  bears  his  name 
south  of  the  above  building,  and  gradually,  since  that  time,  this  part 
of  the  town  has  become  the  center  of  trade.  The  block  is  62  by  96 
feet  and  is  three  stories  high,  the  material  being  brick  and  iron.  In 
the  lower  story  are  business  rooms;  the  second  story  is  devoted  to  the 
use  of  the  Free  Library;  and  the  third  story  forms  Harris  Hall.     It  is 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  289 

25  feet  high,  perfectly  ventilated  and  seats  2,000  people.  For  many 
years  it  was  the  finest  hall  in  the  stsCte.  It  was  opened  to  the  public 
December  23d,  1857,  and  the  Reverend  Doctor  Cheever  was  the  first 
speaker,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lyceum,  to  occupy  the  rostrum. 
Wendell  Phillips  spoke  in  this  hall  soon  after.  On  the  8th  of 
March,  1860,  Abraham  Lincoln  addressed  a  large  assemblage  of  people 
here,  many  being  brought  from  Providence  by  special  train.  While 
in  Woonsocket  he  was  the  guest  of  Edward  Harris.  Since  that  time 
the  hall  has  been  used  by  many  of  the  prominent  public  men  of  the 
country,  and  it  is  replete  with  historic  associations.  In  1868  this 
property,  valued  at  $90,000,  was  deeded  to  the  trustees  of  the  Harris 
Institute,  by  whom  it  has  since  been  controlled  so  judiciously  that  it 
has  appreciated  in  value. 

Cook's  Block,  opposite  the  above,  is  a  three  story  brick,  with  man- 
sard roof,  and  was  built  in  1867.  It  is  substantial,  containing  several 
banks.  Greene's  Block,  on  the  north,  was  built  in  1873.  About  the 
same  time  the  Hope  Block,  a  fine  three  story  brick,  was  built  at  the 
intersection  of  Main  and  Clinton  streets.  Unity  Block,  opposite,  was 
erected  in  1886.  Both  buildings  are  largely  used  for  office  purposes. 
The  Foss  Memorial  Building  is  farther  south,  on  Main  street,  and  was 
erected  in  1887  to  the  memory  of  S.  S.  Foss,  by  his  estate.  Its  orna- 
mental front  is  constructed  of  pressed  brick  and  tile,  and  it  is  very 
attractive.  On  this  site  was  a  building  in  which  was  opened  the  first 
exclusive  wholesale  store  in  the  city,  by  D.  M.  Cook  &  Co.,  in  April, 
1867. 

On  Main  street,  north,  the  Lapham  and  Miller  blocks  gave  charac- 
ter to  the  business  interests  of  the  town  before  1875,  and  the  hand- 
some Opera  House  Block,  completed  in  1888,  is  not  excelled  in  the  state. 
The  Linton  Block,  near  by,  built  the  same  year,  is  also  very  attrac- 
tive. An  earlier  fine  public  building,  on  North  Main,  was  the  Priv- 
ilege Store  Block,  erected  by  Edward  Harris  in  1865.  It  is  of  brick. 
60  by  106  feet,  and  affords  the  largest  business  rooms  in  the  city.  The 
upper  story  forms  a  hall,  but  as  the  building  is  too  remote  from  the 
center  of  the  city,  it  is  but  little  used. 

Eastward,  on  Social  street,  the  Social  brick  block  was  completed  in 
1878,  but  the  fine  hall  in  the  third  story  was  not  dedicated  until  May 
15th,  1874.     It  also  affords  spacious  rooms  for  stores  and  offices. 

For  many  years  the  principal  stores  of  the  town  were  kept  in  con- 
nection with  the  mills,  and  most  generally  in  their  localities.  But 
with  the  growth  of  the  town  came  a  separation  of  these  interests,  and 
several  good  stores  were  opened  by  parties  not  interested  in  the 
mills.  About  1840  Darling  &  Thayer  and  the  firm  of  Glackin  & 
Mason  had  stores  in  the  Rathbun  Block;  and  Ballou  &  Mason  were 
also  in  trade.  Near  the  same  time  Josiah  Perkins  was  the  bookseller, 
and  William  J.  Holder  was  a  dealer  in  tinware  and  stoves.  The  firm 
of  Darling  &  Thayer  continued  many  years,  and  Gilbert  Darling  of 
19 


290  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

that  firm  is  still  connected  with  the  mercantile  interests  of  the  city, 
in  another  line  of  trade.  After  1850  there  were  also  in  trade  Michael 
Feeley,  John  Wales,  Jr.,  George  Lapham,  Charles  W.  Filmore,  James 
Helme,  C.  E.  Aldrich,  F.  S.  Weeks  and  the  Woonsocket  Baking-  Com- 
pany, the  latter  continuing  in  business  until  the  present  time.  After 
the  war  for  the  Union  there  was  a  great  expansion  of  the  mercantile 
interests,  and  since  that  time  hundreds  of  firms  have  been  engaged 
in  business.  In  1889  there  w^ere  8  apothecaries,  12  dry  goods  stores, 
3  book  stores,  15  boot  and  shoe  stores,  6  clothing  stores,  40  groceries, 
3  hardware  stores,  6  furniture  dealers,  a  number  of  furnishing  and 
notion  stores;  and  every  department  of  trade  was  fully  represented  in 
the  business  interests  of  the  city. 

The  history  of  the  mail  service  of  Woonsocket  begins  with  the 
establishment  of  the  post  ofhce  at  Union  Village,  where  all  the  people 
in  these  parts  received  their  mail  many  years.  After  the  fashion  of 
those  days,  it  was  first  carried  on  horseback  to  and  from  the  principal 
points,  but  about  1815  Abner  Cooper  put  a  one-horse  vehicle  on  the 
route  from  Providence  to  Worcester,  which  made  the  trip  weekly. 
This  arrangement  he  continued  about  five  years,  and,  as  he  was  some- 
what of  a  poet,  his  announcements  were  usually  made  in  rhymes,  like 
this  couplet: 

"  Abner  Cooper  informs  his  friends 
That  April  next  his  quarter  ends."* 

Regular  mail  coaches  began  to  run  between  the  above  cities  about 
1820,  which  made  the  supply  of  a  daily  mail  possible,  as  the  routes 
were  so  arranged  that  Woonsocket  was  upon  two  lines  which  had  tri- 
weekly coaches.  Six  years  later  there  was  a  daily  stage  line  from 
Providence  to  Worcester,  and  thereafter  the  service  was  no  less  than 
twice  per  day.  Christopher  Almy  was  the  postmaster  many  years  at 
the  Union  Village  office,  which  was  discontinued  in  July,  1844.  Mean- 
time the  office  at  Woonsocket  proper  had  been  established,  in  1830, 
and  was  kept  in  a  building  erected  that  year  by  the  first  postmaster, 
Daniel  A.  Daniels.  This  house  stood  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Ber- 
non  streets,  and  the  post  office  was  kept  there  until  July  1st,  1867, 
when  it  was  transferred  to  the  Harris  Institute  building.  At  this 
place  rooms  were  especially  fitted  up  for  that  purpose,  and  have  since 
been  finely  maintained  for  the  convenience  of  the  public.  In  1889  it 
had  179  lock  and  400  call  boxes  in  addition  to  its  general  and  carrier 
delivery.  The  latter  system  was  inaugurated  July  1st,  1887,  with 
three  deliveries  per  day,  and  Oscar  E.  Haskell  was  the  first  superin- 
tendent of  the  carriers.  In  this  service  he  has  continued,  and  there 
were  in  all  seven  carriers,  one  of  whom  was  mounted.  For  the  quar- 
ter ending  July  1st,  1889,  they  delivered  64,648  pieces  of  mail. 

In  1841  John  Burnham,  later  more  familiarly  called  "  Uncle  John," 
was  appointed  postmaster,  and  by  his  courtesy  and  strict  attention  to 

*  Vide  Richardson,  p.  175. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  291 

his  duties  had  so  endeared  himself  to  the  community  that  he  was  con- 
tinued in  service  long-  after  the  opposite  party  came  in  power,  in  1861. 
In  the  latter  year,  William  Lindsey  was  appointed  his  successor,  but, 
after  serving  only  a  month  he  died,  when  Burnham  again  became  the 
postmaster.  Thus  he  continued  through  the  war  and  until  President 
Grant  appointed  Stephen  H.  Brown  as  his  successor.  After  several 
terms  of  very  acceptable  service,  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  George 
S.  Read,  also  an  excellent  postmaster  who,  in  turn,  gave  place  to  the 
present  efficient  incumbent,  Frank  A.  Campbell.  At  the  time  of  his 
appointment  by  President  Cleveland,  January  21st,  1888,  the  salary  of 
the  office  w^as  $2,300.  For  a  number  of  years  Moses  R.  Newell  has 
been  the  assistant  postmaster. 

Since  July  1st,  1865,  Woonsocket  has  been  a  money  order  office. 
In  1889  there  were  nine  mails  in  and  an  equal  number  of  mails  out, 
and  the  business  of  the  office  as  compared  with  former  years  shows  a 
steady  increase. 

The  Woonsocket  Opera  House  Company  was  organized  under  a 
charter  granted  in  June,  1887,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $100,000, 
and  was  authorized  to  erect  and  maintain  a  place  of  amusement  in  the 
city  of  Woonsocket.  Its  official  members  were:  President,  Edwin  B. 
Miller;  vice-president,  F.  L.  O'Reilly;  secretary,  Willard  Kent;  treas- 
urer, F.  G.  Gillson;  directors,  E.  B.  Miller,  H.  A.  Jenckes,  George  W. 
Cumnock,  F.  L.  O'Reilly,  L.  B.  Pease,  F.  S.  Weeks,  Jr..  and  Charles 
W.  Talcott. 

In  the  spring  of  1888  the  erection  of  the  opera  house  was  begun, 
on  an  eligible  site,  on  North  Main  street,  adjoining  the  Monument 
House.  Willard  Kent  was  architect  and  Horace  A.  Jenckes  the 
builder,  and  the  work  was  so  actively  pushed  that  the  building  was 
ready  for  occupancy  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  In  its  general  ap- 
-pearance  and  appointments  it  is  the  finest  public  building  in  the  city, 
and  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state.  The  entire  length  is  150  feet  and 
the  front,  which  is  four  stories  high,  is  70  feet  wide.  This  part,  ex- 
cept a  grand  entrance  way,  20  feet  wide  and  38  feet  long,  is  fitted  up 
for  stores,  offices  and  hotel  purposes.  The  style  of  architecture  is 
Romanesque,  with  a  castellated  finish.  In  the  massive  front  are  Gothic 
arches  and  cathedral  windows,  which  give  it  an  imposing  appearance. 
The  walls  are  of  brick,  very  strong,  and  rest  on  a  granite  foundation. 
The  trimmings  are  of  brown  stone.  The  interior  is  finished  in  the 
best  style  of  modern  theater  construction,  and  there  are  a  number  of 
easy  exits,  making  it  possible  to  empty  an  audience  of  1,500  people 
into  the  street  in  a  minute's  time.  The  parquet  floor  is  56  by  59  feet, 
and  there  are  a  balcony  and  a  gallery,  each  of  easy  access.  The  stage 
is  54  feet  deep,  65  feet  wide  and  64  feet  high;  and  it  is  provided  with 
all  the  most  approved  means  for  producing  scenic  effects.  The  fres- 
coing and  the  scene  paintings  are  extremely  beautiful,  the  richness  of 
the  decoration  being  excelled  by  no  other  theater  in  the  New  England 


292  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

states.  The  opera  house  cost  complete  about  $80,000,  and  is  not  only 
creditable  to  the  good  tastes  of  its  builders,  but  is  an  honor  to  the  city. 
It  was  opened  to  the  public  September  20th,  1888,  the  initial  perform- 
ance being  "  Ingomar,  the  Barbarian,"  by  Miss  Maud  Banks  and  her 
company.  The  receipts  were  $1,200  and  there  were  1,700  people 
present.     F.  S.  Weeks,  Jr.,  is  the  efficient  manager. 

The  banks  of  Woonsocket  are  highly  regarded  in  the  city  and  the 
state  for  their  solidity  and  the  conseryatiye  manner  of  their  manage- 
ment. They  represent  a  large  amount  of  capital  which  is  so  judi- 
ciously handled  that  good  returns  are  realized. 

The  oldest  of  these  monetary  institutions  was  chartered  in  Febru- 
ary, 1805,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and  was  called  the  Smithfield 
Union  Bank.  Its  place  of  business  was  at  Union  Village,  where 
a  building,  standing  on  the  cross  roads,  was  occupied.  The  yault  for 
the  yaluables  was  in  the  cellar  and  was  opened  to  the  touch  of  pond- 
erous keys.  Being  the  only  bank  at  that  time  in  northern  Rhode 
Island,  a  large  business  was  here  done,  from  which  circumstance  the 
hamlet  was  often  called  Bank  Village.  The  directors  were  represent- 
atiye  business  men  of  that  period,  and  the  first  board  was  composed 
of  Peleg  Arnold,  Stephen  Whipple,  Enos  Mowry,  Baruch  Aldrich, 
William  Buffum,  Duty  Winsor,  Jesse  Brown,  Walter  Allen,  Thomas 
Mann,  Simon  Whipple,  Thomas  Aldrich,  Elisha  Olney  and  Joel  Aid- 
rich.  Peleg  Arnold  was  the  first  president  and  Eliab  Wilkinson  was 
the  cashier.  On  the  17th  of  February,  1852,  the  bank  was  moyed  to 
the  yillage  of  Woonsocket,  to  the  building  since  occupied  by  it,  and 
the  capital  was  increased  to  $100,000.  This  arrangement  conduced  to 
the  prosperity  of  the  bank.  There  was  a  further  increase  of  capital 
to  $150,000  when  the  bank  was  reorganized  July  29th,  1865,  as  the 
National  Union  Bank,  which  name  it  has  since  retained. 

In  May,  1889,  the  bank  reported  a  circulation  of  $89,595,  and  had 
a  surplus  fund  of  $36,000.  George  S.  Read  was  the  president  and, 
since  March,  1878,  James  S.  Read  has  been  the  cashier.  In  addition 
to  the  two  already  named  the  cashiers  haye  been,  in  order  indicated, 
John  Osborne,  Charles  Osborne  and  Elisha  Thornton  Read.  There 
haye  been  six  presidents,  yiz.:  Peleg  Arnold,  Walter  Allen,  John 
Osborne,  Willis  Cook,  Bradbury  C.  Hill,  and,  since  September  23d, 
1885,  George  S.  Read.  The  present  directors  are  Peleg  W.  Lippitt, 
J.  S.  Read,  Arlon  Mowry,  W.  D.  Aldrich  and  G.  S.  Read. 

The  Woonsocket  National  Bank  was  incorporated  in  1828,  as  the 
Woonsocket  Falls  Bank,  and  its  office  opened,  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  street,  near  the  Ballou  mill.  In  a  few  years,  room  was  found  in 
the  second  story  of  the  brick  building,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Bernon  streets,  in  the  first  story  of  which  was  the  post  office.  The 
authorized  capital  was  $75,000,  which,  prior  to  1856,  was  increased  to 
$150,000.  In  1865  the  bank  was  reorganized  with  its  present  name 
and  the  capital  fixed  at  $200,000.     Two  years  later  the  location  of  the 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  293 

bank  was  changed,  the  present  spacious  offices  in  the  new  Cook  Block 
being  occupied.  Here  it  has  become  one  of  the  most  substantial  in- 
stitutions in  the  state.  In  1889  its  accumulated  surplus  fund  was 
$120,000,  and  the  undivided  profits  were  $12,560.  Its  bank  notes  in 
circulation  were  $176,690. 

Dexter  Ballou  was  the  first  president,  serving  until  1849.  From 
August,  that  year,  until  July,  1868,  Ezekiel  Fowler  held  that  office. 
Lyman  A.  Cook  succeeded  him,  being  followed  by  Ira  B.  Peck,  and 
he,  in  turn,  by  the  present,  J.  W.  Ellis.  The  first  cashier  was  Hiram 
Allen,  but,  in  1860,  the  Hon.  L.  W.  Ballou  was  elected  to  that  position, 
which    he  has  since    most  acceptably  filled.     In  recent  years  he  has 

had  the  assistance  of  younger  men Henry  L.  Ballou,  and,  since  his 

death,  the  present,  E.  C.  Francis.  The  last  board  of  directors  con- 
sisted of  Albert  Jenckes,  Latimer  W.  Ballou,  H.  L.  Ballou,  John  W. 
Ellis,  Cyrus  Arnold,  W.  O.  Burdon,  Frederick  Cook  and  George 
Reuter,  Jr. 

The  National  Globe  Bank  was  organized  as  the  Providence  County 
Bank  and  its  first  place  of  business  was  near  Lime  Rock,  in  the  town 
•of  Smithfield.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  directors,  held  at  the  house 
of  Jeremiah  Smith,  in  that  locality,  August  1st,  1831,  Daniel  Angell 
was  chosen  president,  and  Daniel  C.  Jenckes,  cashier.  On  the  25th  of 
October,  1834,  the  officers  reported  a  paid  up  capital  of  $5,000,  circula- 
tion of  bank  notes  to  the  amount  of  $500,  and  the  profit  out  of  the 
business  was  $45.73.  In  March,  1844,  the  capital  was  increased  to 
$50,000  and  the  name  changed  to  the  Globe  Bank  of  Smithfield.  At 
the  same  time  the  bank  was  moved  to  the  Globe  part  of  the  village 
of  Woonsocket,  occupying  a  building  near  the  Globe  Mills.  June 
19th,  1851,  the  capital  was  again  increased,  the  amount  being  fixed  at 
$100,000.  Six  years  later,  in  August  1857,  the  bank  was  moved  from 
the  Smithfield  side  to  Doctor  Allen's  brick  block,  opposite  the  Har- 
rison Mill.  It  became  a  national  bank  June  23d,  1865,  when  the 
name  was  adapted  to  the  change,  becoming  the  present  title.  The 
liandsome  building  in  which  the  bank  is  now  located  was  occupied  in 
•October,  1874,  and  is  the  first  building  in  the  city  erected  by  a  bank 
for  its  own  use.  It  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old  Cruff  house,  one  of 
the  pioneer  buildings  of  Woonsocket,  and  the  building  preceding  the 
bank  was  known  as  the  Coe  Block.  When  it  was  demolished,  in 
June,  1873,  the  walls  fell  down,  killing  a  boy  and  John  Sheffield,  a 
man  aged  70  years,  who  were  at  that  time  in  a  store  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  building.  The  bank  block  is  three  stories  high,  with  a  Man- 
sard roof  and  tower  at  the  south  end,  and  has  an  attractive  and  sub- 
stantial appearance.  The  material  is  brick,  trimmed  with  marble. 
It  is  valued  at  $18,000. 

vSpencer  Mowry  became  president  of  the  bank  in  1844,  and  served 
until  his  death,  in  August,  1887,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Arlon 
Mowry,  now  the  president.     There  have  also  been  but  a  few  cashiers. 


294  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Renel  P.  Smith  was  elected  to  that  position  April  4th,  1855,  which  he 
held  until  the  present  cashier,  Frank  E.  Farnum,  was  appointed  July 
1st,  1878.  In  1889  the  directors  were  Arlon  Mowry,  George  S.  Read, 
D.  D.  Farnum,  F.  E.  Farnum,  George  R.  Smith  and  William  C. 
Mowry. 

The  Citizens'  National  Bank  was  established  in  June,  1851,  as  the 
Citizens'  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $57,000.  Thomas  Steere  was  the 
president,  Olney  Arnold,  the  cashier,  and  the  place  of  business  was  in 
the  Eli  Pond  Block.  In  1865  the  bank  was  reorganized  under  the 
national  banking  laws  and  the  capital  increased  to  $100,000.  Later, 
the  banking  office  was  removed  to  the  Fletcher  Block,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1885,  when  a  more  pleasant  place  of  business 
was  secured  in  the  new  Archambault  Block,  where  are  now  the  offices. 
Thomas  Steere  was  succeeded  as  president  by  John  Ellis,  but,  since 
1860,  Oscar  J.  Bathbun  has  been  president..  There  have  been  four 
cashiers:  Olney  Arnold,  John  S.  Brown,  O.  J.  Rathbun,  and,  since 
1860,  W.  H.  Aldrich.  In  1889  the  directors  were:  O.  J.  Rathbun, 
James  P.  Ray,  Edgar  K.  Ray,  John  F.  Mansfield,  John  A.  Bennett, 
William  H.  Aldrich,  Cyrus  Arnold,  Oscar  J.  -Morse  and  Milton  Cook. 
The  capital  stock  remained  $100,000  and  the  accumulated  surplus 
was  $20,000. 

The  First  National  Bank  was  originally  organized  as  the  Railroad 
Bank,  for  which  a  charter  was  granted  in  May,  1851,  the  capital  stock 
being  $50,000.  When  reorganized,  in  1865,  with  the  present  name, 
the  capital  was  fixed  at  $107,000.  The  first  place  of  business  was  in 
the  Union  Block,  the  bank  moving  from  there  to  its  present  offices  in 
the  Cook  Block  in  the  fall  of  1867.  Edward  Harris,  as  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  bank,  continued  until  his  death,  in  1872,  when  his  place 
was  filled  by  Joseph  E.  Cole,  who  has  since  been  the  president.  Wil- 
liam Metcalf ,  the  first  cashier,  relinquished  that  position  in  1853,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  cashier,  Reuben  G.  Randall.  In  1889 
the  bank  notes  of  circulation  were  $96,300  and  the  accumulated  sur- 
plus was  $46,000.  The  board  of  directors  was  composed  of  Gilbert 
Darling,  Leroy  L.  Chilson,  John  Currier,  Aaron  B.  Warfield,  Joseph  E. 
Cole,  David  Bass,  R.  G.  Randall,  Darius  D.  Farnum  and  James  E. 
Cook. 

The  Producers'  National  Bank,  formerly  the  Producers'  Bank,  was 
organized  under  a  state  charter  in  May,  1852,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$50,000,  and  a  place  of  business  was  established  on  Monument  Square. 
In  January,  1879,  the  bank  was  moved  to  the  Edwards  Block,  and  in 
January,  1888,  to  its  present  fine  offices  in  the  Foss  Memorial  Build- 
ing. In  August,  1865,  the  bank  was  nationalized  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $160,000,  which  was  subsequently  increased  to  $200,000.  Libbeus 
Gaskill  was  the  first  president  and  served  until  October,  1864,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Nourse.  After  the  death  of  the  latter, 
in  March,  1886,  Charles  E.  Thomas  was  elected   president  and  still 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  295 

serves.  The  first  cashier,  Elijah  B.  Newell,  continued  until  January, 
1864,  when  Theodore  M.  Cook  was  appointed,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  cashier,  Samuel  P.  Cook,  in  August,  1885.  In  1889  the 
bank's  national  notes  outstanding  were  $174,700,  and  the  accumulated 
surplus  was  $75,000.  The  affairs  of  the  bank  were  controlled  by  direc- 
tors: George  C.  Wilder,  Charles  E.  Thomson,  Jervis  Cooke,  James  M. 
Cook,  R.  O.  Cooke,  Walter  E.  Parker,  S.  P.  Cook,  J.  B.  Farnum  and  S. 
B.  Aldrich. 

The  savings  banks  of  the  city  are  very  important  elements  in  its 
business  affairs  and  have  the  patronage  of  thousands  of  its  inhabit- 
ants. In  1885  the  total  amount  on  deposit  in  these  institutions  was 
$5,351,463.04,  and  the  number  of  depositors  was  10,862.  This  number 
was  69.1  of  the  entire  population,  as  reported  at  that  time.  The  oldest 
of  these  banks  is  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings,  which  was 
incorporated  in  July,  1845,  and  had  for  its  officers:  John  Osborne,  presi- 
dent; Aaron  Rathbun,  secretary,  and  William  Metcalf,  treasurer.  The 
institution  was  authorized  by  its  charter  to  receive  deposits  to  the 
amount  of  $100,000.  In  1851  the  charter  was  amended  to  make  the 
amount  $300,000,  and  again,  in  1856,  to  make  it  $750,000.  Subsequent 
legislation  has  still  further  increased  the  amount.  The  confidence  of 
the  public  in  the  bank  was  early  attested.  In  1850  the  deposits  were 
$70,000;  1855,  250,000;  1860,  $450,000;  1865,  $750,000;  1870,  $2,000,000; 
1889,  $4,295,926.76.  At  the  latter  period  there  were  8,952  depositors, 
and  there  had  been  paid  out  in  dividends  since  organization,  $3,645,- 
359.  The  lowest  rate  of  dividends  has  been  5  per  cent.  John  Osborne 
remained  president  until  May  18th,  1857,  when  Doctor  Ezekiel  Fowler 
succeeded  him.  George  Law  and  Willis  Cook  were  also  presidents, 
the  latter  from  1873  until  1882.  The  president  in  1889  was  Lyman  A. 
Cook.  Charles  E.  Ballou  was  the  secretary,  and  for  many  years  the 
Hon.  Latimer  W.  Ballou  has  been  treasurer.  His  ripe  experience  and 
rare  business  tact  have  contributed  much  to  the  great  success  of  the 
bank.  Its  place  of  business  is  with  the  Woonsocket  National  Bank. 
In  1889  its  board  of  investment  was  composed  of  Lyman  A.  Cook, 
Dexter  Clark,  James  M.  Cook,  Francello  G.  Jillson,  John  W.  Ellis  and 
Ira  B.  Cook. 

The  Citizens'  Savings  Bank  was  the  second  organization  of  the 
kind  at  Woonsocket.  It  was  established  in  July,  1853,  with  Ariel 
Ballou  president,  and  John  F.  Brown  treasurer.  The  place  of  business 
was  with  the  Citizens'  Bank.  In  1873  this  department  was  discon- 
tinued. 

The  Peoples'  Savings  Bank  began  business  in  September,  1857,  in 
the  rooms  of  the  Railroad  Bank,  in  the  Union  Block.  John  Osborne 
was  the  president;  Edward  Harris,  vice-president;  R.  G.  Randall, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  On  the  death  of  John  Osborne,  in  1862, 
Edward  Harris  became  president,  continuing  until  his  death  in 
November,  1872.     Bradbury  C.   Hill  succeeded  and  since  July  12th, 


296  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1886,  Joseph  E.  Cole  has  been  the  president.  In  all  this  period  R.  G. 
Randall  has  discharged  the  duties  of  treasurer.  Darius  D.  Farnum 
was  the  vice-president,  and  the  board  of  investment  consisted  of 
Joseph  E.  Cole,  O.  J.  Rathbun,  Darius  D.  Farnum,  David  Bass  and 
George  M.  Welles.  The  deposits  in  1889  amounted  to  more  than  one 
million  of  dollars,  and  there  were  about  1,600  depositors. 

The  Producers'  Savings  Bank  was  organized  June  22d,  1868,  and 
Nathaniel  Elliott  was  the  first  president;  William  O.  Mason  succeeded 
him  and,  since  April  20th,  1885,  Reuben  O.  Cooke  has  been  the  presi- 
dent. Theodore  M.  Cook  as  treasurer  was  succeeded  by  S.  P.  Cook, 
August  10th,  1885.  The  place  of  business  has  been  with  the  Pro- 
ducers' Bank,  and  the  affairs  of  the  bank  have  been  well  managed. 
In  1889  there  were  1,070  depositors,  who  had  $615,000  to  the  credit  of 
their  accounts;  $340,848.67  had  been  paid  out  as  dividends.  The 
board  of  investment  embraced  George  C.  Wilder,  William  O.  Mason, 
Charles  E.  Thomas,  A.  D.  Vose,  James  M.  Cook,  H.  Newton  Brown 
and  Edwin  B.  Miller. 

The  Mechanics'  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  in  1873,  but  did  not 
begin  business  until  1875.  An  office  has  been  maintained  with  the 
National  Globe  Bank.  R.  J.  Elwell  was  the  first  president  and  R.  P. 
Smith  treasurer.  Arlon  Mowry  and  F.  E.  Farnum  held  those  positions 
in  1889.  The  board  of  investment  was  composed  of  Arlon  Mowry,  E. 
M.  Mason,  George  S.  Read,  Andrew  Donahoe,  Erastus  Richardson,  A. 
B.  Warfield  and  George  R.  Smith.  The  deposits  amounted  to  $330,- 
000,  and  there  were  about  800  depositors. 

The  Woonsocket  Gas  Company  was  organized  February  17th,  1852, 
under  a  charter  granted  at  the  May  session  of  the  geneial  assembly, 
in  1851.  The  original  capital  was  $25,000,  which  was  soon  afterward 
increased  to  $80,000.  George  S.  Wardwell  was  the  first  president  and 
held  that  office  until  1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry  C.  Kim- 
ball, who  has  since  been  president.  Samuel  S.  Foss  was  the  secretary; 
John  B.  Walker,  treasurer,  and  Gardiner  Warren  the  first  superinten- 
dent. The  latter  and  Emory  Warren  built  the  works.  The  successive 
superintendents  after  him  were  Waldo  Earle,  Silas  P.  Walker,  Benja- 
min G.  Raymond,  C.  F.  Smith  and  the  present,  Zeuner  M.  Jenks. 
Since  1857  R.  G.  Randall  has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  company.  The 
capital  of  the  company  has  been  increased  to  $250,000,  and,  in  1889, 
its  affairs  were  directed  by  Henry  C.  Kimball,  O.  J.  Rathbun,  John  W. 
Ellis,  Henry  F.  Lippitt,  George  M.  Welles,  Joseph  E.  Cole,  James  P. 
Ray,  Frank  Harris  and  Gilbert  Darling. 

The  works  of  the  company  are  well  appointed  for  the  production 
of  gas  of  a  fine  quality,  which  is  stored  in  four  gasometers:  one  at  the 
works;  one  at  Harris  Privilege;  another  at  Fairmount;  and  the  fourth 
at  Blackstone.  There  are  about  30  miles  of  mains,  large  and  small, 
and  the  maximum  radiation  is  nearly  three  miles.  On  the  29th  of 
October,  1866,  gas  was  first  used  in  street  lighting  in  Woonsocket,  17 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  297 

posts  with  lamps  having  been  erected,  on  Main  street,  for  that  pur- 
pose. It  was  so  satisfactory  that  the  town  council  appropriated  $1,500 
for  street  lighting  in  1867.  The  product  of  gas  has  been  increased 
yearly,  and  was  33,336,000  cubic  feet  in  1889,  supplied  to  600  consumers. 
Arrangements  have  also  been  made  by  the  company  to  supply  electric 
lighting,  and  for  this  purpose  a  plant  was  erected  at  the  works  in  the 
season  of  1889. 

The  Woonsocket  Electric  Machine  and  Power  Company  was  incor- 
porated in  1883  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  began  operations  in  the 
spring  of  that  year,  in  Q.  W.  Talcott's  shop,  on  Main  street.  Fifteen 
arc  lights  were  first  burned.  The  venture  being  received  with  favor, 
larger  quarters  were  secured  in  the  American  Block,  where  two 
dynamos  were  operated  on  40  lights.  Of  these  12  were  paid  by  the 
town  council  for  public  lighting,  in  1885.  The  following  year  a  new 
plant,  with  larger  capacity,  was  established  on  Bernon  street,  in  which 
were  six  dynamos.  Another  move  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1887, 
when  the  present  plant  was  established  in  one  of  the  mills  of  the  old 
Woonsocket  Company,  in  Bernon.  It  is  thus  provided  with  facilities 
for  having  one  of  the  most  complete  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
the  state.  There  is  a  privilege  of  300  horse  power  which  can  be  sup- 
plemented by  steam  power  from  three  engines. 

In  1889  there  were  five  dynamos  for  incandescent  lights  and  six 
dynamos  for  arc  lights,  with  two  alternating  dynamos  in  reserve.  The 
system  employed  was  the  Thompson-Houston  and  there  was  a  capacity 
for  lighting  3,000  incandescent,  140  commercial  arc  and  110  full  arc 
lamps.  In  July,  that  year,  the  company  supplied  light  for  2,000 
incandescent  and  200  arc  lights,  70  of  which  were  used  in  street 
lighting.  There  were  also  20  electric  motors  in  use,  varying  from  one- 
eighth  to  15  horse  power.  The  system  as  employed  at  Woonsocket  is 
eminently  successful,  and  is  under  the  direction  of  Frank  S.  Pond, 
superintendent  and  electrician.  In  March,  1889,  the  capital  of  the 
company  was  increased  to  $200,000.  Doctor  A.  W.  Buckland  was  the 
president  and  Levi  C.  Lincoln  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
company. 

The  company  owning  and  operating  the  street  railway,  was  incor- 
porated in  May,  1886,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  But  the  first  cars  were 
not  run  until  August,  1887,  when  a  line  was  completed  from  Monument 
Square  to  Globe  village.  The  trackage  was  subsequently  extended, 
and  in  1889  it  was  six  miles  in  length.  The  limits  of  operation  were 
from  School  street,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Social,  to  the  western  part  of 
Globe;  from  the  upper  part  of  Bernon,  via  Park  avenue  and  Hamlet 
avenue,  to  the  Mill  Privilege,  via  North  Main;  and  from  the  latter 
street,  at  Monument  Square,  to  the  village  of  Blackstone,  via  Harris 
avenue.  A  well-ordered  central  station  was  maintained  in  the  depot 
of  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  on  Main  street.  There  were 
four  summer  and  six  winter  cars,  drawn  by  horses,  but  the  use  of 


298  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

electricity  as  the  motive  power  will  be  employed  at  an  early  day.  In 
October  and  November,  1887,  a  part  of  the  line  was  satisfactorily 
operated  b}^  a  Thompson-Houston  double  trolley  overhead,  but  was 
abandoned  on  the  refusal  of  the  necessary  franchises.  " 

The  business  of  this  company  shows  a  paying  increase.  In  the 
four  months  ending  September  1st,  1888,  there  were  125,735  passengers 
carried,  at  a  profit  over  operating  expenses  of  $1,767.47.  In  May,  1888, 
the  number  of  passengers  carried  was  21,017,  and  in  the  same  month, 
a  year  later,  the  number  was  29,917.  In  1889  the.  officers  of  the  com- 
pany were  the  following  board  of  directors:  Horace  A.  Jenckes,  presi- 
dent; F.  L.  O'Reilly,  vice-president;  Willard  Kent,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer; J.  P.  Ray,  E.  K.  Ray,  O.  J.  Rathbun,  L.  B.  Pease,  L.  L.  Chilson 
and  F.  G.  Jillson. 

MANUFACTURING   INTERESTS. 

Woonsocket  is  essentially  a  manufacturing  city  and  owes  its  exist- 
ence and  much  of  its  prosperity  to  the  improvement  of  the  water 
power  in  this  locality.  The  natural  falls  of  the  Blackstone  induced 
the  selection  of  that  spot  as  a  mill  seat,  in  the  infancy  of  the  settle- 
ments, and  its  manifest  advantages  prompted  further  improvements 
as  the  country  developed,  until  all  the  power  of  the  stream  here  has 
been  utilized.  The  total  fall  of  the  river,  from  the  brow  of  the  upper 
dam  to  the  Bernon  wheel  apron,  is  given  by  Erastus  Richardson  as 
81  feet  and  yielding  2,000  horse  powder.  This  has  been  carefully  and 
economically  divided  among  the  different  mill  owners,  whose  sites  are 
valuable  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  allotted  them  by  their  several 
purchases.  Although  this  power  is  wonderfully  helpful,  it  has  been 
found  insufficient  to  meet  the  demands  made  on  it  by  modern  machin- 
ery, and  in  every  instance  steam  has  been  supplied  as  an  adjunct. 
In  1810,  when  began  the  era  of  development  for  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  fabrics,  all  this  power  was  the  property  of  James  Arnold. 

The  smaller  stream,  northeast  from  the  "falls,"  and  flowing  into 
the  Blackstone,  has  long  borne  the  name  of  the  Mill  river.  Its  total 
fall  in  Woonsocket  is  60  feet,  giving  about  450  horse  power.  At  the 
period  named  it  was  the  property  of  Joseph  Arnold.  Here  are  two 
mill  seats,  and  the  lower,  which  has  a  fall  of  20  feet,  was  first  improved 
for  the  Social  Mill. 

Peter's  river,  almost  paralleling  the  latter  stream,  half  a  mile  fur- 
ther eastward,  gives  110  horse  power  in  its  fall  of  52  feet.  It  has  two 
sites,  which  were  owned,  in  1810,  by  Stephen  Wilcox. 

Small  powers  were  also  afforded,  before  the  country  was  so  much 
cleared  up,  by  the  little  stream  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  towm, 
locally  called  the  Iron  Mine  brook.  At  the  upper  power  was,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  century,  a  corn  mill  owned  by  Uriah  Jillson,  which 
ground  as  much  as  1,600  bushels  of  corn  per  year.  Burgess  Chase  was 
the  last  owner  of  the  mill,  which  has  been  removed  and  a  bridge  built 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  299* 

across  the  stream  where  was  the  mill  pit.  Next  below,  on  this  brook,. 
David  Bartlett  had  a  trip  hammer,  operated  by  water  power,  about 
1820,  where  Seth  Bartlett  later  had  his  shop.  He  was  an  excellent 
workman  and  made  many  scythes,  edge  tools  and  fine  forgings.  This 
site  has  also  been  abandoned.  Still  lower,  Stephen  Bartlett  had  a 
small  water  power  wood  lathe  and  made  rakes  and  farm  tools.  At 
this  place  is  now  the  wheelwright  shop  of  Benjamin  S.  Burlingame. 
A  power  lower  down  the  brook  operated  an  upright  saw  mill  for  Seth 
Cook  and  also  turned  a  lathe.  After  these  were  given  up  a  shop  for 
making  row  boats  was  carried  on  by  a  member  of  the  Cass  family,  but 
this,  too,  has  been  abandoned.  The  next  power  operated  machinery 
for  John  Cass,  more  than  50  years  ago,  to  manufacture  rakes,  scythe 
snaths,  etc.  At  times  he  employed  half  a  dozen  men.  In  a  more  lim- 
ited way  these  shops  are  still  occupied  by  Jervis  J.  Cass.  On  the  same 
brook,  near  the  Blackstone,  the  Cook  family  had  a  small  warp  mill,, 
which  has  long  since  been  given  up,  and  the  mill  dam  is  used  as  an 
ice  pond. 

Cherry  brook,  a  small  stream  emptying  into  the  Blackstone,  on  the 
Smithfield  side,  above  the  falls,  has  not  for  many  years  been  utilized 
for  manufacturing  purposes  and  was  never  much  used. 

The  water  power  of  the  Blackstone,  at  the  "  falls,"  was  the  first 
improved  to  operate  a  mill.  In  1666,  or  thereabouts,  the  owner  of  the 
land,  Richard  Arnold,  put  up  a  small  saw  mill,  a  short  distance  below 
the  present  upper  dam,  which  was  rebuilt  a  number  of  times,  in  the 
hundred  or  more  years  it  was  there  operated  by  the  Arnold  family. 
In  1708  Richard  Arnold  willed  a  part  of  this  property  to  his  son,  John, 
who  made  the  next  improvement  a  few  years  later,  putting  up  a  corn 
mill,  in  which  wool  was  also  carded.  It  was  below  the  saw  mill  and 
nearer  the  Smithfield  shore,  having  two  wheels,  one  above  the  other, 
in  the  stream,  to  furnish  the  power.  It  served  its  dual  purpose  many 
years  and  was  swept  away  by  the  flood  in  1807.  The  following  year 
James  Arnold  began  a  series  of  improvements  of  putting  up  six  build- 
ings, before  1818,  of  which  the  first  was  a  grist  mill.  The  upper  part 
of  this  was  also  used  for  carding  purposes  until  its  destruction  by  fire, 
March  25th,  1829.  Subsequently  the  present  old  grist  mill  of  Albert 
Mowry  &  Co.  was  erected  on  its  site. 

The  "  Winsokett  Iron  Mill,"  or  the  "  old  forge  "  or  "bloomery,"  as 
it  has  been  variously  called,  was  the  third  improvement  at  the  "  falls." 
It  was  erected  before  1720  by  a  number  of  Quakers,  among  them  being 
the  Hopkins,  Laphams,  Aldriches,  Jenckes  and  Scotts,  who  were 
associated  with  members  of  the  Arnold  family.  But  little  is  known 
of  the  nature  of  this  establishment,  yet  from  its  names  it  appears  that 
they  both  made  and  forged  iron  for  use  at  this  place.  The  ore  was- 
obtained  chiefly  in  Glocester,  although  it  is  not  improbable  that  some 
may  have  been  procured  at  "  Mine  hill,"  in  Cumberland.  During  the 
revolution  it  was  profitably  operated,  but  later  could  not  compete  with 


300  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDE^XE   COUNTY. 

furnaces  more  favorably  located.  It  appears  to  have  been  discontinued 
in  the  last  century.  The  "  Forge  "  was  near  the  other  mills,  and  the 
tenements  for  the  workmen  were  on  the  lot  where  are  now  the  rubber 
works.  One  of  these  small  buildings  was  later  removed  to  what 
became  the  corner  of  Main  and  Arnold  streets,  where  it  was  known 
as  the  "  Cruff  house,"  and  for  many  years  was  the  oldest  residence  in 
this  part  of  the  town.  Others  of  the  "  Forge  "  buildings,  were  swept 
away  in  1807.  In  the  later  years  of  the  "  Forge,"  or  after  it  was  aban- 
doned, a  scythe  factory  was  put  up  as  the  fourth  industry  in  the  place. 
When  this  work  was  suspended  the  building  was  converted  into  a 
blacksmith  shop,  and  as  such  it  was  used  a  long  time. 

A  short  time  before  the  war  of  1812  a  remarkable  interest  in  cot- 
ton manufacturing  had  been  developed  in  southern  New  England  by 
the  success  of  those  who  had  made  ventures  in  that  direction.  In 
northern  Rhode  Island  the  mills  of  Samuel  Slater  gave  sufficient  evi- 
dence of  the  profits  in  the  business,  and  led  many  to  long  to  become 
manufacturers.  They  were  afflicted,  as  Erastus  Richardson  has  so 
aptly  expressed  it,  "  with  the  cotton  mania,"  and  looking  only  upon 
the  possible  returns  which  the  business  might  afford  them,  hastily 
embarked  in  these  new  enterprises.  Naturally  their  zeal,  inexperi- 
ence and  overproduction  brought  on  many  failures;  and  sore  disap- 
pointments, if  not  actual  hardships,  often  followed  these  ventures. 
Yet  this  was  the  very  seed  which,  though  so  ruthlessly  scattered,  has 
under  more  skillful  cultivation  yielded  such  bountiful  harvests  and 
brought  plenty  where  before  was  scarcely  aught  else  than  poverty. 

At  Woonsocket  the  Social  Company  was  the  first  that  was  brought 
into  existence  by  this  new  promise  of  wealth;  and  its  ability  to  live 
was  all  the  stimulus  that  was  needed  to  bring  other  enterprises  into 
life,  whose  history  finds  place  in  the  following  pages. 

James  Arnold,  the  owner  of  the  lands  and  water  privileges  at  the 
falls,  at  this  period  of  development,  while  not  inclined  to  be  a  manu- 
facturer himself,  fostered  these  enterprises  by  giving  them  room  in 
the  buildings  he  had  erected,  their  readiness  for  occupancy  often  sug- 
gesting the  enterprise  itself;  and  after  he  had  once  made  disposition 
of  his  property,  the  work  of  improving  it  was  pushed  forward  with 
great  activity. 

These  sales  were  as  follows:  1.  May  12th,  1814,  to  Samuel  G.  Ar- 
nold and  Daniel  Lyman,  half  the  privileges  of  the  water  power,  and 
nearly  all  the  real  estate  from  the  present  Bernon  street  down  the 
river  to  the  Clinton  Mills,  almost  26  acres.  2.  April  25th,  1821,  to 
Daniel  A.  Daniels,  all  the  real  estate  east  and  south  of  the  above,  ex- 
tending to  the  river.  3.  October  8th,  1821,  the  building  and  site 
which  became  the  Lyman  Mill.  4.  June  1st,  1827,  the  "  Globe  es- 
tate," 5.  October  2oth,  1827,  the  "  Bernon  estate."  6.  The  "old  vSaw 
Mill  Lot." 

The  second  building  which  James  Arnold  had  put  up,  in  1810,  was 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  301 

a  shop  30  by  38  feet,  and  had  many  occupants,  but  was  made  note- 
worthy from  the  fact  that  in  it,  in  1819,  Welcome  Farnum  began  his 
career  as  a  woolen  manufacturer,  which,  at  Waterford,  Mass.,  made 
him  a  millionaire.  He  was  soon  joined  by  his  brother,  Darius  D., 
and  in  1822  had  larger  quarters  in  the  basement  of  Dexter  Ballou's 
mill  on  the  "sawmill  lot."  Here  each  of  the  brothers  sat  at  the 
loom,  weaving  satinets  of  such  superior  quality  that  a  very  ready  sale 
for  them  was  found,  so  that  when  they  left,  at  the  end  of  five  years, 
they  had  cleared  $16,000.  Others  of  the  pioneer  manufacturers  were 
less  fortunate,  and  being  depressed  by  the  stagnation  of  1829,  were 
not  able  to  sufficiently  recover  to  realize  the  fortunes  which  their 
pluck  and  enterprise  would  have  brought  them  under  more  favorable 
conditions.  Among  these  Woonsocket  sufferers  were  Samuel  B.  Har- 
ris, Thomas  A.  Paine,  Thomas  Arnold,  Marvel  Shove,  Hosea  Ballou, 
Daniel  A.  Daniels  and  Jonathan  Russell,  all  of  whom  have  passed  off 
the  stage  of  action. 

The  "  hard  times  "  were  followed  by  a  period  of  comparative  pros- 
perity. In  1840  there  were  twenty  mills,  having  48,750  spindles,  in 
which  1,163  persons  were  employed.  In  1855  the  mills  and  their  prod- 
ucts were  as  follows:  Ballou,  George  C.  &  Son,  print  goods;  Bartlett, 
John,  sheeting;  Clinton  Manufacturing  Company,  sheetings;  Cook's 
Cotton  Manufacturing  Company,  sheetings;  Globe  Mills,  print  goods; 
Groton  Company,  sheetings;  Hamlet  Manufacturing  Company,  sheet- 
ings; Harris,  Edward,  fancy  cassimeres;  Harrison  Mill,  sheetings; 
Jenckes,  William  A.  &  George,  print  goods;  Lyman,  J.  W.,  print 
goods;  Paine,  Daniel  N.,  satinets;  Social  Manufacturing  Company, 
sheetings;  Woonsocket  Company,  print  goods. 

In  1865  there  were  nineteen  cotton  mills,  of  which  but  seven  were 
in  operation  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  and  the  mill  owners  were 
distressed  by  labor  troubles.  Up  to  this  time  there  were  compara- 
tively few  foreigners  employed  in  the  mills.  In  1840,  of  the  nearly 
4,000  inhabitants,  but  305  were  foreigners.  In  1866  the  decay  of  the 
natives  began,  and  the  influx  of  foreigners  rapidly  increased,  an 
especial  element  being  found  in  the  French  Canadians,  who  were  now 
added  to  the  population  in  large  numbers.  In  1889,  of  an  estimated 
population  of  20,000  there  were  8,000  of  French  nativity,  nearly  all  of 
whom  derived  support  from  the  factories  and  mills  of  the  city. 

In  1885,  of  the  cotton  mill  operatives  there  were:  natives,  388 
males,  573  females;  Irish,  102  males,  148  females;  British,  76  males,  39 
females;  Canadians,  467  males,  642  females.  Woolen  and  worsted 
mill  operatives:  natives,  males,  151,  females,  224;  Irish,  males,  58, 
females,  70;  British,  males,  47,  females,  14;  Canadians,  males,  173, 
females,  127.  Rubber  workers:  natives,  346;  Irish,  276;  British,  16; 
Canadians,  6.  Machinists:  American,  106;  Irish,  15;  British.  7;  Cana- 
dian, 23;  German,  5. 

The  J.  P.  &  J.  G.  Ray  Mills.— This  firm  owns  and  operates  two  of 


302  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  oldest  cotton  mills  in  the  city — the  Lyman  and  the  Bartlett  Mills* 
The  first  of  these  is  a  large  frame  building,  which  is  the  oldest  struc- 
ture in  these  parts  used  for  factory  purposes.  It  was  erected  in  1814 
by  James  Arnold  and  was  the  fourth  of  his  series  of  buildings  con- 
structed to  attract  the  attention  of  manufacturers  to  this  point.  It  was 
occupied  in  the  fall  of  1817  by  Dexter  Ballon,  who  removed  to  it  the 
machinery  he  had  in  use  at  a  place  now  called  Ashton,  and  much  of 
which  he  had  personally  constructed.  There  were  five  cards  and  252 
spindles.  But  he  soon  procured  a  mule  of  180  spindles,  which  Lap- 
ham  Jeffreys  operated,  and  another  a  short  time  after,  which  was  run 
by  Joseph  Carroll.  The  cotton  picking  was  done  in  the  cellar  of  this 
building  by  a  man  named  Everett  until  1820,  when  the  Ballous  pro- 
cured a  picking  machine.  In  the  same  year  looms  were  purchased, 
Patty  Ballou  operating  two  of  them  for  $3  per  week.  About  the  same 
time  a  cloth-dressing  machine  was  purchased,  which  was  operated  by 
a  man  named  Southwick.  William  Jenckes  was  overseer  [of  carding, 
at  five  shillings  per  day,  and  James  Coe  kept  the  store  and  the  factory 
accounts  at  the  same  salary.  About  this  time  Dexter  Ballou  occupied 
the  first  and  second  stories,  and  Samuel  Shove  and  Gilbert  Brewster 
the  upper  stories.  The  latter  was  a  wool  spinner  and  here  used  a  self- 
operating  mule  which  was  his  own  invention,  and  was  the  first  article 
of  its  kind  so  employed. 

October  8th,  1821,  the  building  and  the  machinery  of  Dexter  Bal- 
lou were  conveyed  to  Daniel  Lyman,  and  that  family  owned  the 
property  about  half  a  century.  August  6th,  1867,  John  W.  Lyman,  of 
Providence,  sold  the  plant  to  the  present  owners,  who  also  operate  it 
in  conjunction  with  the  Bartlett  Mill,  but  the  name  of  Lyman  remains 
firmly  connected  with  the  mill.  The  building  is  ancient  in  appear- 
ance and  needs  to  be  replaced. 

The  old  Bartlett  Mill  was  erected  in  1827  by  Daniel  A.  Daniels  and 
is  a  four  story  stone  building,  40  by  65  feet,  having  a  capacity  for 
6,000  spindles.  In  this  mill  Daniels  was  a  cotton  spinner  until  the 
stringent  times  of  1829,  when  he  failed  and  assigned  to  Joseph  Rock- 
wood,  of  Bellingham,  Mass.  In  1831  the  property  passed  to  Dorr  & 
Allen,  and,  after  being  owned  by  Lemuel  May,  was  conveyed  to  John 
Bartlett  July  3d,  1840.  By  him  the  mill  was  owned  and  operated  16 
years,  from  which  circumstance  his  name  has  been  attached  to  it. 
Since  1863  the  mill  has  belonged  to  the  Ray  family.  In  1889  in  these 
two  mills  there  were,  operated  9,000  spindles  and  90  looms,  and  70  op- 
eratives were  employed.  These  two  mills,  the  Ballou  and  the  Jenckes- 
ville  mills,  all  operated  by  the  Ray  family,  were  superintended  by  the 
veteran  mill  man,  Colonel  L.  C.  Tourtellot,  who,  at  the  age  of  83  years, 
was  erect,  hale  and  vigorous.  Moses  P.  Roberts  was  the  paymaster 
for  the  firm,  and  Charles  H.  Gorton,  clerk. 

The  Ballou  Mill  is  on  the  first  manufacturing  site  below  the  falls, 
occupying  the  "old  saw  mill  lot,"  where  was  started  the   first   ma- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  303 

•chinery  in  the  city.  The  mill  is  a  massive  stone  structure,  erected  in 
1846  by  George  C.  Ballou,  and  fitly  perpetuates  the  name  of  a  family 
which  has  done  so  much  for  the  commercial  prosperity  of  Woonsocket. 
In  1889  it  was  owned  by  J.  P.  &  E.  K.  Ray,  and  was  operated  on  cot- 
ton goods,  Holland  shade  and  print  cloths.  There  were  16,000 
spindles,  252  looms  and  200  operatives. 

At  this  place  four  members  of  the  Ballou  family  were,  at  one 
time  or  other,  interested  in  manufacturing— Oliver  Ballou  and  his 
three  sons,  Dexter,  Hosea  and  George  C.  Dexter  Ballou  has  justly 
been  called  the  pioneer  of  cotton  spinning  at  Woonsocket,  the  honor 
applying  not  because  he  was  the  first  to  here  engage  in  that  occupa- 
tion, the  operations  at  the  Social  Mill  antedating  his  own  seven  years, 
but  he  was  the  first  to  here  demonstrate  the  possibilities  of  the  busi- 
ness by  using  improved  machinery,*  and  by  persevering,  in  spite  of 
■obstacles,  until  the  cotton  factory  was  recognized  as  the  very  life  of 
Woonsocket.  After  being  in  the  old  frame  mill  until  its  sale  to  Daniel 
Lyman,  in  1821,  Dexter  Ballou  and  his  father  leased,  May  1st,  1822, 
the  "saw  mill  lot"  of  James  Arnold,  on  which  to  build  a  new  mill, 
and  the  old  saw  mill  was  now  removed  to  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
to  the  place  where  the  Globe  plant  was  afterward  established.  On 
this  lot  they  erected  a  frame  mill,  33  by  70  feet,  with  stone  basement 
and  two  stories.  In  the  basement  were  W.  &  D.  D.  Farnum,  Samuel 
Shove  was  in  the  second  story,  and  Oliver  Ballou  &  Son  (Dexter)  oc- 
cupied the  rest  of  the  building.  In  1827  Oliver  Ballou  disposed  of  his 
rights  to  his  sons,  HovSea  and  Dexter,  who  now  occupied  the  entire 
building,  operating  as  Dexter  Ballou  &  Co.  In  less  than  a  year  Dex- 
ter Ballou  purchased  the  interests  of  his  brother,  Hosea,  and  became 
the  sole  owner.  The  latter  now  began  his  operations  on  Lot  No.  1, 
on  which  he  erected  the  first  brick  mill  in  Woonsocket.  He  was  a 
manufacturer  on  that  lot  until  1835,  when  he  began  operations  on  Lot 
No.  2,  where  he  erected  the  building  which  became  known  as  the 
Harris  Mill  No.  1.  In  1846  Hosea  Ballou  sold  this  property  to  Sea- 
grave  &  Harris  and  retired  from  the  village. 

March  25th,  1829,  the  mill  of  Dexter  Ballou  on  the  "  saw  mill  lot  " 
was  burned  down,  and  with  it  a  number  of  other  buildings  in  that 
locality;  but  the  brick  mill  of  his  brother,  Hosea,  on  Lot  No.  1,  re- 
mained. In  this,  Dexter- Ballou,  nothing  daunted,  resumed  his  cotton 
spinning,  and,  prospering,  erected  on  that  lot  what  became  widely 
known  as  the  Harrison  Mill.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  July  17th, 
1849,  he  was  also  the  owner  of  the  vSocial  Mill,  and  was  the  foremost 
manufacturer  in  Woonsocket.  He  was  a  practical  mill  man,  fearless, 
honest  and  thoroughly  devoted  to  his  chosen  occupation. 

Meantime,  the  ruins  of  the  cotton  mill,  on  the  "  saw  mill  lot,"  were 
being  utilized  by  George  C.  Ballou.  He  had  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade,  but  at  the  age  of  28  years  began  spinning  satinet  warps  in  com- 

*See  account  of  Ray  Mills. 


304  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

pany  with  his  brother,  Hosea,  at  Waterford.  After  the  fire  in  1829  he 
came  to.Woonsocket  and  carried  on  the  business  in  part  of  the  ruined 
mill  and  on  Lot  No.  1.  In  1839  he  purchased  the  old  "  saw  mill  lot  " 
property  and  built  up  the  old  mill  in  an  enlarged  and  improved  con- 
dition, in  which  he  engaged  actively  in  manufacturing.  After  six 
years  of  successful  operation  this  mill  was  again  destroyed  by  fire 
January  23d,  1846,  his  loss  being  $24,000.  But  not  discouraged  by 
what  seemed  a  calamitous  loss,  he  at  once  proceeded  to  erect  the  stone 
mill  now  on  that  site,  and  of  which  he  was  the  owner  until  it  passed 
to  the  Ballou  Manufacturing  Campany.  Of  this  corporation  he  was 
the  president  at  the  time  of  his  death,  March  25th,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  78  years,  fifty  of  which  he  had  actively  spent  in  the  manufactur- 
ing affairs  of  Woonsocket.  Like  his  brother  Dexter  he  was  aggres- 
sive in  his  operations,  becoming  interested  in  other  corporations  and 
building  mills,  whose  magnitude  was  a  marvel  in  those  days.  To  his 
will  and  energy  the  city  is  indebted  for  the  fine  Globe  Mill,  which  was 
built  under  his  personal  supervision  and  started  in  August,  1873. 
Unfortunately  this  enterprise  proved  too  heavy  a  burden  for  the 
Ballou  Manufacturing  Company,  and,  in  April,  1876,  it  was  forced  to 
make  an  assignment  to  Charles  H.  Merriman,  Addison  O.  Fisher  and 
Josiah  Lasell,  who  sold  to  the  heirs  of  George  C.  Ballou  the  old  stone 
mill,  where,  by  his  untiring  energy,  he  had  won  his  first  fortune.  In 
the  course  of  years  the  mill  passed  to  the  present  owners. 

The  Jenckesville  Mills.- -The  water  privileges  of  Peter's  river,  at 
this  point,  were  used,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  to  oper- 
ate small  mills  and  shops,  and  were  owned  in  1810  by  Stephen  Wil- 
cox. No  other  improvement  was  made  until  the  era  of  cotton  manu- 
facturing. In  1822  Job,  Luke  and  Moses  Jenckes,  who  had  up  to  that 
time  been  connected  with  the  Social  Company,  purchased  this  site 
and  began  the  work  of  establishing  cotton  mills  of  their  own.  That 
year  they  erected  a  stone  mill  at  the  upper  power,  which  was  the  first 
stone  factory  at  Woonsocket.  For  those  times  it  was  a  large  and 
imposing  building,  and  was  a  substantial  beginning  of  a  manufactur- 
ing hamlet,  which  has  from  that  time  been  known  as  Jenckesville, 
but  which  has  become  fully  included  in  the  bounds  of  the  city  by  its 
growth  in  that  direction. 

The  success  of  the  Messrs.  Jenckes  led  them  to  erect  another 
larger  and  finer  stone  mill  at  the  lower  power  in  1828,  and  also  to 
build,  the  same  year,  a  large,  square  three  story  brick  mansion  in  the 
same  locality.  Other  improvements  were  made  from  time  to  time, 
chief  among  them  being  brick  additions  to  the  upper  mill  for  spin- 
ning and  weaving  rooms,  and  the  addition  of  steam  power.  The 
property  was  owned  by  the  Jenckes  family  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  but,  March  3d,  1860,  it  was  sold  by  George  and  William  A. 
Jenckes  to  O.  J.  Rathbun.  Since  1872  it  has  been  owned,  and  the 
mills  have  been  operated  by  Ray,  Rathbun  &  Co.     In  1889  the  mills. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  305 

appeared  in  good  repair,  containing  12,000  spindles  and  210  looms, 
which  were  worked  on  cotton  print  cloths;  and  120  operatives  were 
employed,  under  the  superintendency  of  L.  C.  Tourtellot. 

The  Bernon  Mills.— The  value  of  the  Cumberland  purchase,  made 
by  Dan.  A.  Daniels,  April  25th,  1821,  was  greatly  increased  when, 
October  27th,  1827,  he  purchased  of  James  Arnold  a  tract  of  land  op- 
posite, on  the  Smithfield  side,  which  thus  gave  him  good  water  power 
privileges  at  a  new  point.  Here,  in  company  with  Jonathan  Russell, 
he  built  a  mill  the  same  year,  which  was  operated  by  these  parties  as 
the  Russell  Manufacturing  Company.  This  company  succumbed  to 
the  hard  times  in  1829,  which  wrecked  Mr.  Russell's  fortunes  as  a 
manufacturer,  "  and  he  retired  to  his  farm  in  Mendon,  where  he  died 
in  humble  circumstances.  He  was  a  man  of  ability  and  had  served 
as  one  of  the  commissioners  at  the  Treaty  of  Ghent.*  "  The  build- 
ings erected  by  the  company,  being  separate  from  the  other  parts  of 
the  town,  formed  a  little  hamlet,  which,  in  compliment  to  the  owner, 
received  the  name  of  Danville.  March  30th,  1831,  the  estates  of  Dan. 
A.  Daniels  became  the  property  of  Sullivan  Dorr  and  Crawford  Allen. 
Samuel  Greene  came  from  Pawtucket  to  manage  this  Woonsocket 
business  of  Dorr  &  Allen  and  until  his  death,  in  October,  1868,  he 
and  his  son  Paul  faithfully  performed  this  trust.  Under  their  intel- 
ligent and  judicious  direction  Bernon  became  a  model  manufactur- 
ing plant. 

The  firm  here  transacted  business  under  the  name  of  the  Woon- 
socket Company,  which  was  chartered  in  1832,  and  of  which  Crawford 
Allen  was  the  treasurer.  He  wisely  conceived  the  idea  that  beauty,  order 
and  neatness  would  elevate  the  moral  tone  of  his  employees  and  secure 
better  service  from  them;  and,  seconded  by  Samuel  Greene,  they  made 
a  radical  departure  from  the  factory  customs  of  that  day.  The  grounds 
were  tastefully  laid  out  with  broad  avenues  and  adorned  with  trees,  a 
better  class  of  tenements  were  erected,  and  everywhere  neatness  and 
order  prevailed.  The  place  now  received  the  name  of  Bernon,  in 
comipliment  to  the  persecuted  French  Huguenot,  Gabriel  Bernon,  who 
was  an  ancestor  of  Crawford  Allen  and  also  of  L.  C.  Tourtellot,  the 
master  mechanic  here  until  1849,  and  as  such  it  has  become  widely 
known. 

In  1859  the  company  added  to  the  buildings  already  in  the  plant,  a 
brick  and  stone  warehouse,  30  by  118  feet,  which  was  the  best  in  the 
town.  A  nev7  mill,  46  by  80  feet,  three  stories  high,  was  also  built. 
In  the  fall  of  1867  the  the  new  Bernon  dam  was  completed,  at  a  cost 
of  $30,000,  and  was  regarded  as  the  best  modern  structure  of  the  kind 
on  the  Blackstone.     It  was  195  feet  long. 

After  the  death  of  Crawford  Allen,  in  1871,  Moses  B.  I.  Goddard  be- 
came the  manager  of  the  estate  and  soon  still  further  enlarged  and 
improved  the  mills.     In  1872  he  supplied  steam  power,  building  a 

*  Richardson,  p.  170. 
20 


306  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

chimney  100  feet  high,  and  there  was  now  power  to  operate  15,000 
spindles  and  337  looms  in  the  manufacture  of  64  by  64  print  goods. 
Nearly  300  operatives  were  employed  under  the  direction  of  superin- 
tendent R.  G.  Cornell. 

The  later  history  of  the  company  was  not  one  of  prosperity.  In 
April,  1883,  its  fine  property  was  sold  for  $225,000,  the  purchasers 
being  a  board  of  trustees  of  the  interested  parties.  Subsequently 
other  disposition  was  made.  The  Electric  Light  Company  became 
the  owner  of  the  mills  and  water  right.  Other  parts  of  the  estate 
have  been  sold  for  building  lots  which  have  been  well  improved,  many 
fine  residences  being  erected  thereon.  The  past  few  years  a  part  of 
the  buildings  have  been  occupied  by  the  Valley  Falls  Mills,  as  a  weav- 
ing department  of  the  home  mills.  In  1889,  340  looms  were  thus 
operated  on  cotton  print  goods,  giving  employment  to  60  operatives. 
George  Smith  was  the  Woonsocket  superintendent. 

The  Globe  Mills.— On  the  first  of  June,  1827,  James  Arnold  sold 
six  acres  of  land,  on  the  Smithfield  side,  near  the  "  falls,"  and  one-fourth 
the  water  power  from  that  point,  for  $2,000.  The  purchasers  were 
Thomas  Arnold,  Thomas  A.  Paine  and  Marvel  Shove,  who  constituted 
the  first  Globe  Company.  They  built  a  cotton  mill,  36  by  72  feet, 
three  stories  high  and  attic,  in  which  were  2,000  spindles  and  50  looms, 
worked  on  cotton  cloth  and  warps.  A  corn  mill,  storehouse  and 
several  dwellings,  most  of  them  being  of  stone,  were  also  built.  Up 
to  this  time  the  locality  had  only  a  small  saw  mill  and  a  few  houses. 
In  1829  this  Globe  Company  failed,  and  Samuel  Shove  became  the 
owner  of  the  property.  He  erected  a  machine  shop  and  a  dwelling, 
but,  in  1834,  he  was  also  forced  to  assign  and  the  property  passed  to 
Thomas  Sprague  &  Sons.  One  of  these  sons,  Edward,  became  the  sole 
owner  in  1846.  Eight  years  later  he  deeded  that  property  to  B.  R. 
Vaughan  and  George  C.  Ballou,  and  in  1864  the  latter  became  the  sole 
owner. 

Under  the  direction  of  George  C.  Ballou  the  Globe  property  was 
improved  until  it  was  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state.  In  1867  he  erected 
steam  saw  and  planing  mills  opposite  the  cotton  mill,  occupying  a 
four  story  building.  In  1872  he  began  the  present  fine  Globe  Mill, 
which  was  completed  August  4th,  1873,  when  George  C.  Ballou  in  per- 
son fed  the  first  cotton  upon  the  moving  apron  of  the  lapper  in  this 
mill.  The  walls  of  this  building  are  of  stone,  five  stories  high,  and 
covered  with  mastic.  The  main  mill  is  72  by  308  feet,  with  an  ell  52 
by  146  feet,  making  the  entire  length  of  the  mill  454  feet.  The  rooms 
are  high  and  well  lighted,  there  being  in  all  560  windows.  In  the  ell 
of  the  building  an  immense  Corliss  steam  engine  was  placed,  which 
became  the  motor.  These  mills  were  now  operated  in  connection 
with  the  Ballou  Mill,  on  the  Cumberland  side,  by  the  Ballou  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  which  George  C.  Ballou  was  the  president,  and 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  307 

Stephen  Clark  superintendent,  and  about  1,000  operatives  were  em- 
ployed in  all  the  industries. 

In  1874  a  large  stone  warehouse  for  the  storage  of  cotton  was 
erected,  and  the  property  was  steadily  improved  till  the  death  of 
George  C.  Ballon,  March  2otli,  1876.  Spencer  Mowry  was  appointed 
administrator  of  the  estate.  In  April  following  the  Ballon  Manufac- 
turing Company  failed,  and  a  great  depression  ensued,  hundreds  of 
employees  being  out  of  work  all  the  season.  But  October  25th,  1876, 
the  Globe  estate  was  purchased  by  the  Social  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  the  mills  were  soon  thereafter  again  put  in  operation.  At 
the  time  of  the  purchase,  for  $363,000,  there  were  in  the  new  mill 
35,392  spindles,  and  8,586  in  the  old.  The  latter  building  was  re- 
moved in  1877,  and  since  being  owned  by  the  Social  Company,  the 
new  mill  has  had  new  machinery  supplied.  In  1889  there  were  41,040 
spindles,  933  looms  and  500  operatives.  The  aggregate  power  was 
1,000  horse,  750  being  supplied  by  steam,  and  250  by  the  three  water 
wheels  connected  with  the  machinery.  When  the  Social  Company 
took  possession  of  this  property,  W.  E.  Parker  became  the  superin- 
tendent. Since  March,  1887,  Charles  E.  Thomas  has  served  in  that 
capacity,  and  these  mills  are  again  enjoying  their  old-time  prosperity. 

The  Social  Manufacturing  Company  is  the  oldest  and  the  most  ex- 
tensive corporation  in  the  city.  Encouraged  by  the  success  of  Samuel 
Slater,  as  a  cotton  manufacturer,  a  company  was  formed  at  Woon- 
socket,  October  24th,  1810,  to  engage  in  the  operation  of  mills  at  this 
point.  The  associating  members  Avere  Ariel,  Abner  and  Nathan  Bal- 
lou,  Job  and  Luke  Jenckes,  Eber  Bartlett,  Oliver  Leland  and  Joseph 
Arnold.  The  latter  owned  the  land  on  which  it  was  proposed  to  erect 
the  factory,  and  was  the  prime  mover  in  this  pioneer  enterprise.  The 
articles  of  agreement  which  they  signed  stated  that:  "  Whereas,  a  con- 
nection hath  this  day  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing 
cotton  yarn  and  cloth  for  our  common  emolument,  to  be  called  the 
Social  Manufacturing  Company^'  etc.,  which  title  was  thus  early  selected. 
Sixteen  shares  of  $1,000  each  constituted  the  capital  stock,  and  each 
member  held  two  shares.  The  factory  site  embraced  a  little  more 
than  four  acres,  and  included  the  privileges  of  the  water  power  at 
that  point,  on  the  Mill  river.  Here  a  frame  building  was  erected  and 
supplied  with  carding  machinery  and  2,000  spindles.  On  account  of 
Its  diminutive  size  it  was  popularly  called  the  "  Pistareen,"  and  as 
such  was  known  as  long  as  it  was  used  as  a  mill. 

In  1814  Nathan  Ballon,  Oliver  Leland  and  Eber  Bartlett  were  no 
longer  connected  with  the  company,  and  in  1822  the  Jenckes  with- 
drew to  begin  their  operations  on  Peter's  river.  The  following  year 
the  Social  stock  was  owned  by  vSmith  Arnold,  nine  parts,  and  Arnold 
&  Earle,  seven  parts.  In  1827  they  erected  another  wooden  mill, 
which  from  its  shape  was  called  the  "  Castle."     Both  these  old  mills 


308  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

were  subsequently  used  in  the  construction  of  tenements  for  the  com- 
pany. 

In  ]March,  1839,  Arnold  &  Earle  began  operating  the  mills  as  ten- 
ants, and  in  1841  they  were  sold  to  Dexter  Ballou  for  $25,000.  He 
enlarged  the  plant  by  the  purchase  of  the  adjoining  lands  of  James 
Aldrich,  and  in  1841  began  the  erection  of  a  large  stone  mill.  To 
this  additions  were  made  at  different  periods,  a  large  brick  extension 
being  put  on  the  east  end  in  1872,  and  on  the  old  part  a  mansard  roof 
was  placed  the  same  year.  At  the  time  of  its  destruction  by  fire,  July 
1st,  1874,  this  was  one  of  the  best  mills  in  the  country.  The  conflag- 
ration was  caused  by  the  friction  of  the  main  belt  in  the  weaving 
room  in  the  central  part  of  the  building,  and  the  fire  spread  so  rapidly 
from  the  time  of  its  occurrence,  at  3  p.m.,  that  by  6  p.m.  nothing  but 
the  blackened  walls  of  the  main  mill  remained.  At  this  time  the 
building  had  a  front  of  600  feet,  most  of  it  five  stories  high,  and  an 
extension  to  the  rear  from  the  center  245  feet  long.  All  but  the  west 
end,  which  was  but  two  stories  high,  succumbed  to  the  flames;  50,000 
spindles  and  1,000  looms  were  among  the  machinery  destroyed,  and 
the  entire  loss  to  the  company  was  $500,000. 

The  work  of  rebuilding  on  the  foundations  of  the  old  mill  was 
immediately  begun,  the  new  structure  being  erected  throughout  of 
brick.  The  main  building  is  five  stories  high,  72  by  451  feet,  and  has 
a  flat  roof.  Two  towers  relieve  its  front,  on  Social  street,  where  the 
entire  length  of  the  building  is  601  feet.  On  the  north  is  a  wing, /our 
stories  high,  72  by  202  feet.  The  greater  part  of  the  mill  was  com- 
pleted the  year  of  the  fire,  but  since  that  time  further  improvements 
have  been  made,  among  the  latest  being  a  machine  shop  in  1889, 
which  is  40  by  100  feet. 

The  equipments  of  this  establishment  are  of  the  best  modern  make, 
for  the  manufacture  of  fine  cotton  goods,  and,  like  the  one  destroyed, 
the  mill  is  complete  in  all  its  departments.  In  1889  there  were  55,600 
spindles,  1,380  looms  and  650  operatives.  The  motive  power  was  steam 
from  a  1,000  horse  power  George  Corliss  engine,  in  addition  to  240 
horse  water  power.  In  1867  the  boarding  house  opposite  the  mill  was 
erected  and  was,  at  that  time,  one  of  the  most  imposing  edifices  of  its 
kind  in  Woonsocket.  It  is  33  by  93  feet,  with  an  ell  30  by  33,  and  is 
three  stories  high,  exclusive  of  the  basement.  A  part  of  this  building 
was  set  aside  as  a  hospital. 

In  1884  the  new  Social  office,  which  had  been  building  two  years, 
was  completed  and  has  remained  the  finest  in  the  state.  It  was 
planned  and  built  under  the  personal  direction  of  the  superintendent 
of  the  company,  Charles  Nourse,  and  by  an  ill  fatality  hastened  his 
death  March  1st,  1886.  At  the  hour  of  3  a.m.  the  rear  part  of  the  office 
was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  as  this  contained  the  private  rooms 
of  Mr.  Nourse,  he  was  so  active  in  his  efforts  to  save  it  that  he  brought 
on  a  paralytic  shock,  which  terminated  fatally  just  as  he  was  leaving 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  309 

for  his  home,  and  after  the  fire  had  been  controlled.  He  was  born  at 
Keene,  New  Hampshire,  in  1814,  and  was  a  thoroughly  skilled  mill 
•man,  clear  headed,  and  possessing-  a  remarkable  amount  of  energy, 
which  he  devoted  to  the  extension  of  the  business  of  the  company; 
and  under  his  direction,  from  1854  until  his  death,  its  finest  improve- 
ments were  made.  When  he  became  superintendent  the  company 
owned  17,000  spindles,  which  he  increased  to  125,000  spindles.  He 
had  secured  an  interest  in  the  company  and  for  a  number  of  years 
prior  to  his  death  had  also  been  its  president. 

The  Nourse  Mill,  erected  and  owned  by  the  Social  Company,  on 
Clinton  street,  is  a  worthy  memorial  to  the  enterprise  of  the  officer 
for  whom  it  was  named.  The  ground  for  these  fine  brick  buildings 
was  broken  April  16th,  1882,  and  five  acres  were  prepared  for  their 
site.  In  November,  1883,  the  mill  was  put  in  use  and  has  since  been 
successfully  operated.  The  main  building  is  96  by  474  feet,  and  has 
three  stories,  each  of  which  is  16  feet  clear  in  the  center.  Light  is 
afforded  by  382  double  windows.  A  cotton  house  is  80  by  97  feet  and 
two  stories  high.  The  picker  room  is  50  by  60  feet.  The  engine  and 
boiler  rooms  are  49  by  75  feet  and  49  by  59  feet.  In  the  former  is  a 
1,200  horse  power  George  Corliss  Tandem  engine,  which  is  the  only 
motor.  The  mill  has  fine  machinery,  there  being  40,000  spindles  and 
540  looms.     The  operatives  here  number  380. 

Although  this  mill  is  already  so  capacious,  an  addition  is  projected, 
150  by  350  feet,  and  22  feet  clear  in  its  one  story,  in  which  will  be 
placed  15,000  spindles,  when  the  Nourse  Mill  will  be  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  attractive  cotton  mills  in  the  state. 

Dexter  Ballou  was  the  proprietor  of  the  old  Social  Mills  until  his 
death  in  1849.  Five  years  later  the  present  Social  Manufacturing 
Company  was  incorporated,  and  for  many  years  the  officers  of  the 
corporation  were:  Orin  A.  Ballou,  president;  Henry  Lippitt,  treasurer; 
and  Charles  Nourse,  superintendent.  The  original  capital  at  the  time 
it  was  chartered  was  $150,000,  which  has  been  several  times  increased, 
being  $1,000,000  in  1889.  At  this  time  the  affairs  of  the  company  were 
managed  by  Charles  H.  Merriman,  president;  Henry  Lippitt,  treas- 
urer; Henry  Lippitt  &  Co.,  agents;  William  D.  Martin,  clerk  at  Provi- 
dence; George  W.  Cumnock,  superintendent  (since  June,  1886);  and 
Charles  E.  Thomas,  superintendent  of  the  Globe  Mills.  The  latter 
have  been  the  property  of  the  Social  Company  since  October,  1870,  and 
have  since  that  time  been  operated  as  a  part  of  its  manufacturing 
system. 

The  Eagle  Cotton  Mills,  on  the  Blackstone,  south  of  the  P.  &  W. 
railroad  bridge,  were  established  in  1831.  That  year  John  W.  Buffum 
leased  the  site  of  the  Arnold  heirs  and  a  mill  was  built  40  by  60  feet. 
Another  mill  was  afterward  built  and,  in  1867,  the  main  mill  was 
enlarged  to  41  by  198  feet,  four  stories  high,  of  stone.  There  were 
also  a  weaving  room  55  by  72  feet,  and  an  engine  room  21  by  43  feet. 


310  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

In  1888  another  weaving  room,  one  story  high  and  75  by  100  feet,  was 
built  and  other  improvements  have  been  made.  The  powers  are 
water,  175  horse,  and  steam,  80  horse.  In  1889  the  mills  were  oper- 
ated on  fancy  cotton  goods,  there  being  12,464  spindles  and  440  looms, 
and  250  operatives  were  employed,  under  the  superintendency  of 
George  H.  Grant,  who  has  had  charge  since  August,  1871. 

These  mills  have  had  many  names,  being  long  called  "  Buffum's," 
after  the  builder.  Later  they  became  known  as  "Law's  Mills,"  in 
compliment  to  George  Law,  the  popular  manager  many  years.  The 
Groton  Manufacturing  Company  next  owned  them,  but  since  May  1st, 
1884,  the  corporate  name  has  been  Eagle  Mills.  Of  this  tirm  Charles 
M.  Smith  was  president,  and  George  M.Smith  secretary  and  treasurer, 
succeeding  J.  Y.  and  A.  D.  Smith  as  owners.  Previous  to  these,  as 
owners,  from  August,  1835,  on,  were  Peter  J.  Cook  and  Samuel  Shove. 

The  Clinton  Mills,  occupying  a  very  fine  site  on  the  river 
below  the  railroad  bridge,  date  their  existence  from  the  spring 
of  1827.  That  year  Benjamin  and  Thomas  C.  Hoppin  began  the  first 
improvements  upon  lots  which  they  had  purchased  of  the  Lyman 
estate.  November  ]st,  1830,  they  conveyed  the  property  to  Edward 
Carrington,  who,  three  years  later,  took  in  John  H.  Clark  as  a  partner. 
Subsequently  the  latter  became  the  sole  owner,  and  in  1845  sold  out 
to  George  C.  Ballon,  Orin  A.  Ballon,  Samuel  P.  Rhodes  and  Peleg  A. 
Rhodes.  In  May,  1854,  the  mills  became  the  property  of  the  Clinton 
Manufacturing  Company  and  have  since  been  controlled  by  that  cor- 
poration. In  1889  Robert  Knight  was  the  treasurer,  B.  B.  &  R.  Knight 
the  New  York  selling  agents,  and  Ariel  C.  Thomas  superintendent. 
£.  R.  and  Fred.  A.  Thomas  have  been  former  superintendents. 

The  Clinton  Mills  are  large,  substantial  stone  buildings,  the  main 
mill  being  50  by  250  feet,  and  five  stories  high.  A  large  center  tower 
adds  to  its  appearance.  A  picker  room,  50  feet  square,  is  two  stories 
high,  and  there  is  a  cotton  house  50  by  125  feet.  In  1889  there  were 
22,000  spindles  and  512  looms,  operated  on  cotton  sheetings.  The 
motors  were  water,  250  horse  power,  and  steam,  150  horse  power;  and 
360  operatives  were  employed. 

The  Hamlet  Mills  are  at  the  lower  water  power  of  the  Blackstone, 
at  Woonsocket.  This  old  cotton  manufacturing  plant  of  Hamlet  was 
brought  into  existence  by  the  building  of  the  Blackstone  canal,  when 
one  of  the  contractors.  General  Edward  Carrington,  of  Providence,  saw 
the  advantages  of  this  place  for  factory  purposes.  In  1825  and  1826 
he  purchased  several  tracts  of  land  and  began  improving  them,  hav- 
ing Stephen  H.  Smith  as  his  resident  agent.  A  fall  of  9^  feet  was  se- 
cured by  the  dam  and  long  raceway  they  built,  yielding  nearly  400 
horse  power.  Spencer  Mowry  contracted  to  build  the  first  mill,  which 
contained  a  few  thousand  spindles.  Substantial  tenements  were  built 
and  a  mansion  erected  to  make  this  a  complete  factory  hamlet,  from 
which  arose  the  name  of  the  works.  Stephen  H.  Smith  remained  at  the 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  311 

head  of  the  concern  until  1842,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  George  vS. 
Wardwell  as  the  manager  of  the  estate  and  mills  belonging  to  Gen- 
eral Carrington,  who  died  in  1843.  He  remained  here  until  March, 
1859,  faithfully  discharging  his  duties,  and  being  one  of  the  most  pub- 
lic spirited  men  of  his  times.  In  the  year  last  named  Isaac  M.  Bull, 
a  nephew  of  General  Carrington,  became  the  owner  of  this  property 
and  John  A.  Bennett  took  charge  of  it  as  manager,  and  greatly  im- 
proved the  works.  He  was  succeeded  as  superintendent  by  Moses  P. 
Roberts  and  George  M.  Welles,  who  remained  until  the  change  of  own- 
ership. Isaac  M.  Bull  died  September  8th,  1884,  and  a  year  later  the 
mills  and  the  property  immediately  connected  with  it  were  sold  to 
Tarbell  &  Harris,  who  were  the  owners  until  January  1st,  1889,  when 
Frank  Harris  became  the  sole  proprietor.  vSince  July,  1888,  John  F. 
Worrall  has  been  the  superintendent. 

In  1886  a  steam  engine  of  150  horse  power  was  added  to  the  motive 
power,  and  since  that  time  new  machinery  has  been  supplied.  In 
1889  the  plant  embraced  about  45  acres  of  land,  the  estate  nearer  the 
city  having  been  placed  in  the  market  for  sale  as  building  lots  in 
1887-8.  The  works  presented  a  neat  appearance  and  the  mills  con- 
sisted of  a  main  establishment  40  by  276  feet,  five  stories  high,  one 
mill  50  by  100  feet,  two  stories  high,  and  another  40  by  40  feet,  three 
stories  high.  There  were  18,000  spindles,  387  looms  and  225  oper- 
atives.    The  product  was  fine  cotton  shirtings  and  print  goods. 

The  Harris  Woolen  Mills  industry,  which  for  more  than  half  a 
century  has  sustained  a  most  important  relation  to  the  affairs  of 
Woonsocket,  was  founded  by  Edward  Harris.  As  a  manufacturer 
of  woolen  fabrics  his  fame  was  more  widely  and  favorably  known 
than  that  of  any  other  American  mill  man.  Naturally  endowed  with 
many  extraordinary  qualities,  he  developed  them  still  more  in  his 
active,  energetic  life,  until  he  had  so  keen  a  perception  that  he  an- 
ticipated the  future  in  an  almost  unerring  manner,  and  projected 
enterprises  whose  wisdom  and  success  many  stood  ready  to  doubt, 
but  which  were  usually  profitably  realized.  This  perceptive  ability 
enabled  him  to  secure  men  who  would  heartily  co-operate  with  him 
in  carrying  out  his  plans,  and  to  appropriate  all  useful  means  to  a 
successful  end,  and  which  enabled  him  to  attain  a  distinguished  emi- 
nence which  is  still  universally  accorded  him.  Another  remarkable 
trait  in  the  life  of  this  man  was  his  philanthropic  feelings  toward  the 
town  in  which  he  achieved  his  success,  which  led  to  practical  mani- 
festations which  will  cause  his  name  to  be  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance long  after  the  history  of  his  mills  shall  have  been  obscured  by 
time.  When  he  passed  away,  November  24th,  1872,  he  was  not  only 
the  chief  woolen  manufacturer  in  the  Union,  but  he  was  also  entitled 
to  the  distinction  of  being  the  foremost  citizen  of  Woonsocket,  whose 
public  spirit  and  progressive  disposition  had  given  birth  to  the  era  in 


312  .  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

which  has  been  so  greatly  promoted  the  growth,  prosperity  and  cul- 
ture of  the  city. 

Edward  Harris  was  born  at  Lime  Rock,  this  county,  October  3d, 
1801.  In  his  childhood  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  New  York 
state  and  later  to  Ohio,  spending  his  youth  away  from  school,  and  his 
education  was,  in  a  large  measure,  self-obtained.  When  of  age  he 
returned  to  Rhode  Island  and  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle,  William 
Harris,  who  was  a  cotton  cloth  manufacturer,  at  Valley  Falls,  his  en- 
tire capital,  at  this  time,  being  a  stock  of  good  health  and  twenty-five 
cents  in  money.  In  1824  he  was  transferred  to  the  mills  of  the 
Harris  Brothers  at  Albion,  of  which  Samuel  Harris  was  the  agent, 
and  soon  became  superintendent.  In  November,  1828,  he  became  the 
agent  of  the  Harris  Lime  Rock  Company,  continuing  in  that  capacity 
two  years.  At  the  age  of  29  years  his  capital  had  increased  to  $2,500, 
and  borrowing  $1,000  more  from  his  father,  he  set  out  to  do  business 
for  himself. 

He  came  to  Woonsocket  and  March  26th,  1831,  purchased  the  first 
of  his  real  estate  here,  it  being  a  building  which  has  become  known 
as  "  Mill  No.  1,"  and  in  which  he  and  Edward  Seagrave  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  satinets.  This  site  had  been  improved  in  1812 
by  James  Arnold,  and  the  building  he  then  erected  was  first  occupied 
by  Daniel  Wilkinson,  in  the  manufacture  of  card  clothing.  Amos 
Whipple  was  the  next  occupant,  as  a  machine  builder.  Rufus  & 
Stephen  Thayer,  cloth  dressers,  were  the  next  occupants  and  owners. 
March  25th,  1829,  the  original  building  was  burned  and  the  Harris 
Mill  was  soon  after  erected.  In  1889  it  was  used  only  for  storage  pur- 
poses. 

The  satinet  business  of  Seagrave  &  Harris  prospered,  and,  July 
21st,  1835,  they  purchased  three  manufacturing  sites,  known  as  Lots 
Nos.  2,  3  and  6.  Upon  the  former  Hosea  Ballou  erected  a  cotton  mill 
upon  a  leased  site  in  1836,  selling  the  building  ten  years  later  to 
Edward  Harris,  and  in  a  repaired  condition  it  has  since  been  operated 
as  a  cotton  mill.  It  is  a  brick  structure  and  has  steam  and  water 
power.  In  1889  there  were  in  use  11,000  spindles  and  the  product 
was  satines,  employing  125  operatives.  Lewis  M.  Smith  was  the 
superintendent. 

Upon  Lot  No.  3  Edward  Harris  erected  in  1840  what  has  become 
known  as  Mill  No.  2,  in  which  was  commenced  in  1842  the  manufac- 
ture of  all  wool  cassimeres  in  fancy  patterns.  These  goods  proved  so 
popular  that  more  room  was  demanded,  and  in  1844  he  built  the  stone 
mill  on  the  west  side  of  the  street,  which  is  now  known  as  Mill  No.  3. 
Still  greater  capacity  being  necessary  to  meet  the  demands  for  these 
woolen  goods,  he  completed  in  1846  Mill  No.  4,  and  connected  the  two 
last  with  a  bridge  way.  In  these  three  mills  he  achieved  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  manufacturer  of  fancy  cassimeres  and  firmly  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  subsequent  great  fortune.     He  personall}^  inspected 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  313 

every  department  of  his  mills,  paid  particular  attention  to  designs 
and  patterns  for  his  goods,  and  using  nothing  but  the  best  material, 
produced  goods  whose  beauty  and  softness  of  finish  was  like  similar 
foreign  fabrics  in  nearly  every  respect. 

Several  accidents  have  occurred  at  mill  No.  4.  On  the  10th  of 
January,  1858,  the  foundation  of  the  northwest  corner  gave  way  and 
every  part  of  the  five  stories  fell  down  with  a  tremendous  crash,  but 
fortunately  injuring  no  one.  Again,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1866,  a 
part  of  this  mill  was  on  fire  and  five  girls  had  narrow  escapes  with 
their  lives  from  the  upper  story  of   the  building. 

In  1889  these  woolen  mills  were  operated  on  fine  cassimeres  with 
Daniel  W.  Senior,  as  superintendent,  and  Jarvis  H.  Arnold,  as  book- 
keeper. 

In  1850  Edward  Harris  bought  the  Elisha  Gaskill  farm,  and  Harris 
avenue  was  located  through  the  same.  On  the  north  side  of  this,  the 
Harris  mansion  was  built  soon  after. 

In  May,  1859,  Edward  Harris  bought  the  property  along  Mill  river, 
above  the  estate  of  the  Social  Company,  on  which  was  a  valuable 
water  privilege,  which  up  to  that  time  appears  to  have  been  over- 
looked by  manufacturers.  From  this  originated  the  name  "  Harris 
Mill  Privilege,"  and  the  subsequent  title,  "  Privilege  Mill."  In  the 
fall  of  1859  he  bought  other  lands  along  the  stream  and  constructed 
the  large  reservoir.  In  1860  the  foundation  of  the  mill  was  laid,  the 
building  being  completed  during  the  war.  It  is  a  massive  structure 
of  brick,  five  stories  high  and  442  feet  long,  and  when  set  in  operation 
in  1865  was  the  largest  and  finest  woolen  mill  in  the  United  States. 
To  the  water  power  of  this  mill  steam  power  was  added,  which  was 
generated  in  five  locomotive  boilers,  each  of  65  horse  power.  Septem- 
ber 5th,  1873,  one  of  these  boilers  exploded,  wrecking  the  engine 
house  on  the  south  side  of  the  mill  and  killing  the  fireman,  Patrick 
O'Neil,  and  a  Frenchman.     The  loss  of  property  was  $20,000. 

In  1865-6  most  of  the  other  buildings  on  the  Privilege  tract  were 
erected,  and  since  that  time  all  the  buildings  have  been  improved  and 
kept  in  good  repair.  In  1889  the  Privilege  Mill  was  operated  on  fancy 
cassimeres  for  men's  wear  and  worsteds,  being  in  every  department 
well  equipped.  James  Ashworth  was  the  superintendent.  In  all  the 
woolen  mills  of  the  company,  there  were  74  sets  of  cards  and  312 
looms.  When  fully  running  1,000  operatives  were  employed.  The 
plant  of  these  mills  contains  more  than  300  acres  of  land,  and  over  200 
buildings. 

This  immense  business  was  carried  on  personally  by  Edward  Har- 
ris until  1862.  when  it  was  assumed  by  the  present  Harris  Woolen 
Company,  which  was  incorporated  that  year,  with  a  capital  of  $800,000. 
Of  this  company  Edward  Harris  was  president  until  his  death  in  1872, 
when  Oscar  J.  Rathbun  succeeded  to  that  office,  which  he  has  since 
ably  filled.      Darius  D.  Farnum,  who  had  been  the  aid  of  Edward 


314  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 

Harris  in  founding  these  enterprises,  was  for  many  years  the  treas- 
urer of  the  corporation;  and  Joseph  E.  Cole  was  the  agent.  In  1889 
both  the  latter  offices  were  performed  by  Joseph  E.  Cole,  who  is  one 
of  the  veteran  mill  men  of  the  city. 

The  Lippitt  Woolen  Mills  rank  with  the  Harris  Mills  as  producing 
some  of  the  best  woolen  fabrics  manufactured  in  America,  and  as 
early  as  1867  the  company  made  an  exhibition  of  fancy  cassimeres  at 
the  American  Institute  in  New  York,  of  which  the  New  York  Tribune 
said:  "  In  quality  these  goods  are  equal  to  any  ever  made  in  this 
country  or  to  any  imported."  Since  that  time  the  mills  have  been  en- 
larged and  the  facilities  for  manufacturing  improved  until  they  are 
among  the  leading  establishments  in  the  city,  and  their  products  ever 
find  a  ready  sale.  There  were  in  1889  20  sets  of  cards,  94  broad  looms 
and  300  operatives  working  on  fancy  cassimeres,  worsteds  and  silk- 
mixed  coatings. 

The  principal  seat  of  this  industry  is  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Bernon  streets,  and  chiefly  on  Lot  No.  1,  of  the  so  called  Arnold  and 
Lyman  purchase,  near  that  corner.  On  this  lot  the  first  improvement 
was  made  in  1828  by  Hosea  Ballou,  who  erected  a  brick  cotton  mill, 
which  is  yet  a  part  of  the  plant.  Soon  after  he  built  a  frame  struc- 
ture for  a  store  house;  and  on  the  same  lot,  in  1828,  Willis  and  Lyman 
A.  Cook  had  a  wooden  shop.  All  these  buildings  stood  with  their 
ends  to  Main  street.  The  Hosea  Ballou  buildings  became  the  prop- 
erty of  Dexter  Ballou  in  1829,  and  were  used  by  him  after  that  year. 
Immediately  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bernon  streets  was  a  frame 
building  in  which  was  the  store  of  Daniel  A.  Daniels.  These  three 
frame  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  April,  1835,  but  the  brick 
cotton  mill  remained.  In  the  summer  of  1836  Dexter  Ballou  erected 
a  stone  cotton  mill  upon  the  site  of  the  Cook  machine  shop,  placing 
its  side  to  Main  street,  and,  later,  extended  it  to  join  the  old  Hosea 
Ballou  brick  mill.  These  now  became  known  as  the  Harrison  Cotton 
Mills,  which  name  they  retained  until  the  property  passed  to  the  pres- 
ent management  in  1865.  That  year  the  Lippitt  Woolen  Company 
was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  which  has  been  increased 
to  $400,000.  Of  this  corporation  Henry  Lippitt  has  for  many  years 
been  the  president,  and  Charles  H.  Merriman  the  treasurer.  In  1889 
the  affairs  of  the  company  at  Woonsocket  were  ably  carried  on  by 
vSuperintendents  Samuel  K.  and  William  H.  Bailey,  and  Erastus 
Richardson,  bookkeeper.  Jonathan  Andrews  was  a  former  superin- 
tendent of  the  mills. 

When  the  Harrison  Mills  became  the  property  of  the  Lippitt  Com- 
pany the  cotton  machinery  was  removed  and  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  begun,  the  mills  taking  the  present  name.  Soon  larger 
quarters  being  needed  the  corner  lot  at  Main  and  Bernon  streets 
was  secured  in  1870  for  ground  on  which  to  build  an  addition.  The 
brick  building  which  had  been  erected  thereon,  after  the  fire  of  1835, 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  315- 

was  demolished  to  make  way  for  the  five  story  brick  mill,  completed 
by  the  Lippitt  Company  in  1871.  It  is  48  by  82  feet  and  gave  room 
for  six  additional  sets  of  machinery. 

The  plant  of  "the  company  was  again  enlarged,  when  a  lot  on  the 
south  side  of  Bernon  street  was  purchased.  May  23d,  1872.  This  street 
was  located  September  21st,  1835,  the  pathway  to  the  river  previous  to 
to  that  time  being  in  the  rear  of  the  building  standing  on  the  lot  pur- 
chased. The  lot  was  occupied  after  1824  by  the  machine  shop  of 
Thomas  Arnold,  but  in  1836  it  became  the  property  of  Darius  Sibley 
and  Daniel  N.  Paine,  who  enlarged  the  building  and  made  a  cotton 
factory  out  of  it.  From  this  fact  it  was  long  known  as  the  Paine  Mill, 
although  occupied  by  him  but  a  few  years.  The  old  building  was  torn 
down,  and  in  1873  the  Lippitt  Company  erected  on  this  lot  its  fine 
four  story  office  and  warehouse.  '  The  structure  is  of  brick  and  stone, 
52  by  116  feet,  and  is  very  substantial. 

The  business  of  the  American  Worsted  Company  was  established 
in  1866,  by  W.  H.  S.  Smith-  and  R.  G.  Randall.  That  year  they  began 
the  manufacture  of  worsted  braids  in  a  frame  building  on  the  island,, 
and  succeeded  so  well  that  larger  quarters  were  demanded.  These 
were  secured  in  the  stone  mill  which  George  C.  Ballou  erected,  in  1868, 
and  which  was  occupied  about  a  dozen  years.  In  June,  1868,  the 
present  corporation  was  chartered  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  George 
C.  Ballou,  president,  and  R.  G.  Randall,  treasurer.  Subsequently  the 
capital  stock  was  increased  to  $250,000  and  the  business  transferred  ta 
the  present  plant  on  Main  street,  on  the  old  site  of  the  Woonsocket 
Machine  Company.  Here  operations  are  successfully  carried  on  with 
water  and  steam  as  the  motive  powers.  In  1889  the  products  were 
dress  braids,  cardigan  jackets  and  yarns;  3,000  spindles  were  used  in 
the  weaving  department.  Joseph  E.  Cole  was  president  and  R.  G. 
Randall,  treasurer. 

The  Enterprise  Company  was  organized  August  16th,  1870,  with 
an  authorized  capital  of  $500,000,  of  which  $115,000  was  paid  in  shares 
of  a  par  value  of  $50.  J.  D.  Nichols  was  chosen  president;  Reuel  P. 
Smith,  treasurer,  and  S.  N  Lougee,  superintendent.  A  lot  of  ground 
on  River  street  on  the  Fairmount  farm  (formerly  Old  Maids'  Farm) 
was  donated  by  the  proprietors  for  a  site  on  which  were  erected  build- 
ings of  stone,  quarried  on  the  farm  near  by,  and  thus  this  became  the 
pioneer  interest  in  this  locality.  The  mill  is  50  by  100  feet,  three 
stories  high.  A  boiler  and  engine  room  is  39  by  48  feet  and  two 
stories  high.  In  this  is  an  engine  of  75  horse  power,  which  is  the  only 
motor,  as  these  sites  have  no  water  power  privileges. 

In  this  mill  the  manufacture  of  lastings,  serges,  etc.,  was  begun 
and  carried  on  to  the  extent  of  35,000  yards  per  month,  180  hands 
being  employed,  at  an  outlay  of  about  $50,000  per  year,  6,000  pounds 

*Mr.  Smith  was  a  skillful,  practical  workman,  who  died  after  the  business  was 
established  on  a  successful  basis. 


316  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  wool  being  consumed  weekly,  besides  1,500  pounds  of  cotton  yarn 
For  a  long  time  it  was  one  of  three  works  of  the  kind  in  the  Union, 
and  the  business  prospered,  but  meeting  heavy  competition,  after  the 
lapse  of  a  dozen  years,  operations  were  suspended.  In  October,  1883, 
the  plant  was  sold  to  the  American  Worsted  Company  for  $42,300. 

After  standing  idle  several  years  the  mill  was  fitted  up  for  the 
Woonsocket  Worsted  Mills,  composed  of  Edwin  Wilcox  and  William 
R.  Cordingley,  of  Boston,  and  Edwin  Farnell,  who  established  their 
business  March  6th,  1887.  New  and  improved  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  worsted  yarns  was  supplied,  and  the  business  has 
been  placed  on  a  successful  basis.  Edwin  Farnell  is  the  superinten- 
dent of  the  100  operatives  employed.  In  1888,  a  neat  office  was  erected 
at  this  mill. 

The  second  enterprise  in  this  locality  was  the  planing  mill  and 
packing  case  factory  of  Charles  B.  Aldrich,  which  was  removed  to  this 
place  from  Waterford,  Mass.,  in  1872.  A  three-story  building,  120 
feet  long,  was  occupied,  and  the  establishment  prospered  a  number  of 
years. 

After  standing  abandoned  somiC  time  this  building  was  prepared  for 
a  mill  for  the  Perseverance  Worsted  Company,  which  was  incorporated 
in  May,  1883.  George  F.  S.  Singleton  was  elected  president,  and  J.  H. 
Singleton  secretary  and  treasurer.  These  gentlemen  are  also  the  active 
managers  of  the  business,  having  learned  the  art  of  manufacturing 
at  Grafton,  England.  Excellent  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of 
fine  fancy  worsted  for  men's  wear  has  been  placed  in  position^  and  is 
used  in  producing  $400,000  worth  of  goods  per  year. 

The  Glenark  Knitting  Company  became  a  corporate  body  in  1882, 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  This  was  increased  in  1888  to  $200,000,  in 
order  to  meet  the  demand  of  the  rapidly  growing  business  of  the 
company,  which  has  the  following  officers:  C.  B.  Fillebrown,  president; 
H.  A.  Follett,  treasurer;  Frank  A.  Morrill,  superintendent.  Work 
was  begun  in  the  manufacture  of  rubber  linings  in  the  old 
Sewing  Machine  building,  45  by  100  feet  long  and  four  stories  high. 
In  1885  a  brick  building  of  like  dimensions  was  erected  and  the 
capacity  of  the  works  doubled.  In  the  spring  of  1888  the  company 
purchased  the  property  of  the  owner,  Joseph  Banigan,  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  began  additional  improvements,  which  were  completed 
in  January,  1889.  A  dye  house  40  by  215  feet  was  erected,  in  which 
were  placed  two  100  horse  power  boilers.  The  smoke-stack  from  this 
house  is  120  feet  high  and  is  the  most  massive  in  the  city.  The  power 
in  the  old  buildings  was  also  increased.  The  works  contain  41  spoolers, 
170  knitting  machines  and  250  operatives  are  employed,  making  this 
new  industry  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  the  city.  The  products 
are  rubber  linings  and  Jersey  cloth,  which  are  placed  on  the  markets 
by  the  Boston  house. 

The  Glasgow  Hosiery  Mills  were  owned  in  1889  by  B.  Hawkins, 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  317 

and  were  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  worsted  and  woolen 
seamless  hosiery.  A  specialty  was  made  of  "  fast  "  black  wear.  Steam 
was  used  as  a  motor,  operating  21  knitting  machines  and  two  loopers. 
W.  H.  Kelley  was  the  first  to  carry  on  this  business. 

In  1826  Edmund  Bacon  built  an  iron  foundry  near  where  Bernon 
street  crosses  the  river,  and  had  in  1827  Rufus  Arnold  as  a  partner. 
They  soon  failed  and  the  business  then  was  discontinued.  Upon  this 
site  in  1865  D.  B.  Pond  erected  a  large  frame  building  which  became 
known  as  Pond's  Warp  Mill,  and  which  was  operated  by  the  builder 
on  cotton  until  1873.  It  was  then  used  for  the  manufacture  of  woolen 
goods  by  various  parties,  sometimes  in  connection  with  other  mills. 

In  1885  the  Bradford  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  L.  C.  Bass 
was  the  treasurer,  and  S.  C.  Lomas  superintendent,  used  part  of  this 
building  in  the  manufacture  of  silk  noils  and  yarns.  In  1886  the  com- 
pany was  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $50,000  and  the  old  officers 
continued.  The  machinery  consisted  of  two  sets  60-inch  cards  and  32 
looms,  which  were  operated  by  steam  and  water  power.  In  1887  W. 
R.  Watts,  of  New  York  city,  succeeded  to  this  business  and  has  since 
carried  it  on.  W.  Archer  is  the  superintendent.  A  specialty  is  made 
of  silk  machine  cloths  for  wipes.     Ten  operatives  are  employed. 

The  Leicester  Knitting  Mills  occupied  the  principal  part  of  this 
building  in  1889.  These  mills  are  owned  by  G.  H.  Baker  and  C.  E. 
Drew,  who  established  the  business  in  1883  in  Central  Block,  coming 
to  their  present  quarters  in  1884.  About  300  dozen  cotton,  worsted 
and  woolen  ladies'  underwear  are  manufactured  daily  by  the  65  oper- 
atives employed.  The  mills  are  supplied  with  6(1  knitting  and  15 
sewing  machines. 

The  business  now  carried  on  by  the  Kendrick  Loom  Harness  Com- 
pany was  established  in  1846  by  John  Kendrick,  and,  after  some  op- 
position was  recognized  as  a  separate  industry.  In  1851  he  removed 
to  Providence  and  established  the  main  factory  there,  retaining  this 
as  a  branch  factory.  After  being  superintended  man}'-  years  by  H.  C. 
Lazelle,  it  was  purchased  by  him  in  1878,  and  he  has  since  been  the 
proprietor.  In  1889  his  motor  was  water  and  steam,  and  there  were 
twelve  employees.  The  building  occupied  was  erected  in  1817,  and 
was  the  fifth  of  a  series  of  improvements  made  by  James  Arnold  in 
his  efforts  to  develop  the  property.  Among  the  earlier  occupants 
were  Sayles'  Thread  Mill  and  the  machine  shop  of  Thomas  Arnold,  a 
pioneer  builder  of  cotton  machinery. 

In  1875  Emmons,  Arnold  &  Co.  established  another  loom  harness 
and  reed  manufactory,  and  were  succeeded  the  same  year  by  H.  Jef- 
frey &  Co.,  the  proprietors  in  1889.  A  large  factory  building  on  Allen 
street  is  occupied,  and  15  operatives  are  employed. 

A.  Rowland  was  a  manufacturer  of  top  roll  covers,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1873  by  E.  F.  Taylor,  who  had  the  shops  several  years. 

In   1889  Seth  S.  Getchel  was  the  owner  of   a  factory  on  Bernon 


318  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Street  for  the  manufacture  of  spinning  frame  and  mule  cylinders,  and 
L.  H.  Nourse  had  a  jobbing  and  repairing  shop  in  the  same  locality, 
'both  industries  employing  about  a  dozen  hands. 

On  the  "  island  "  a  large  stone  building  was  erected  in  1874  for 
factory  purposes,  which  was  occupied  the  following  year  by  W.  H. 
Baxter,  with  his  harness  and  carriage  trimming  business,  which  was 
established  in  1858.  This  and  other  small  industries  have  found  a 
place  in  the  building.  The  Woonsocket  Oilless  Saddle  Company, 
George  A.  Metcalf,  manager,  was  on  Park  avenue  in  1889. 

A  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  built  by  H.  C.  Marsh, 
near  the  "  Clinton  Flats,"  was  bought  by  J.  C.  Fisher,  who  enlarged  it, 
in  1884,  and  supplied  machinery  to  be  operated  by  steam  power.  In 
1887  Stewart  Smith  and  Donald  Logan  became  the  proprietors,  and 
■have  extended  the  works,  employing  electric  power.  The  shops  have 
a  working  capacity  for  25  men. 

In  1874  Charles  W.  Talcott  established  his  plumbing  and  steam 
fitting  business  at  Woonsocket,  having  a  small  shop  under  the  Provi- 
dence &  Worcester  railroad  depot.  Since  1882  he  has  occupied  his 
present  spacious  shops  in  the  same  locality,  and  has  extended  his  busi- 
ness until  50  men  are  employed  in  the  different  departments  of  the 
factory.  The  Woonsocket  Brass  Furnace  Company,  James  Green- 
halgh,  manager,  has  its  shops  in  the  rear  of  No.  129  Main  street. 

The  Mason  Soap  Works  date  their  corporate  existence  from  Aug- 
ust 6th,  1877,  when  Thomas  A.  Buell  became  the  proprietor  and  has 
since  carried  them  on.  The  business  was  established  in  the  spring  of 
1838  by  Stephen  N.  and  William  Mason  and  was  owned  by  them  until 
March,  1843,  when  Stephen  N.  became  the  sole  owner,  and  so  con- 
tinued many  years.  He  was  a  prominent,  influential  citizen,  active  in 
the  affairs  of  the  town,  until  his  removal  to  Providence  in  1876.  The 
works  have  been  twice  destroyed  by  fire — in  1842  and  in  1888 — but 
have  been  rebuilt  to  a  better  condition  than  before  their  destruction. 
Mill  and  family  soaps  are  manufactured. 

Near  this  industry  are  the  works  of  the  Woonsocket  Brush  Com- 
pany, P.  E.  and  W.  S.  Thayer,  proprietors.  This  business  was  estab- 
lished on  Main  street  by  A.  Cook,  but  since  1880.  the  shop  on  Allen 
street  has  been  occupied,  John  W.  Abbott  being  the  first  owner  there. 
The  present  firm  has  been  the  proprietors  since  1884.  Mill  brushes, 
for  cleaning  machinery,  are  made  a  specialty.  Steam  power  is  used 
and  15  hands  are  employed. 

The  Perforated  Pad  Company  was  incorporated  in  November,  1882, 
with  a  capital  of  $40,000.  Palmer  Brown  was  elected  president,  and 
C.  H.  Horton,  treasurer.  These  officers,  with  the  addition  of  E.  C. 
Delabarre,  secretary,  and  C.  L.  Bailey,  superintendent,  served  in  1889. 
The  company  carries  on  the  manufacture  of  harness  parts,  covered  by 
patents  granted  R.  O.  Burgess,  and  its  yearly  output  is  about  $100,000 
worth  of  goods.     A  three  story  frame  building,  40  by  60  feet,  on  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  319 

old  furnace  lot,  is  occupied  and  60  hands  are  employed.  The  motor  is 
steam. 

F.  A.  Colwell's  Paper  Box  Factory  is  in  the  same  locality.  In  De- 
cember, 1882,  this  industry  was  begun  by  Palmer  Brown,  four  hands 
only  being  employed.  The  present  proprietor  has  extended  the  busi- 
ness, until,  in  1889,  there  were  60  employees,  producing  10,000  boxes 
per  day,  making  this  one  of  the  leading  minor  interests  of  the  city. 

The  business  of  the  Woonsocket  Baking  Company  was  established 
in  Bernon  by  U.  L.  Peck  &  Co.  In  1855  A.  D.  Vose,  W.  A.  Burlingame, 
and  E.  M.  Ballou  purchased  it  and  transferred  the  plant  to  its  present 
site,  on  Monument  Square.  Here  it  became  very  prosperous,  and  in 
1867,  when  A.  D.  Vose  &  H.  M.  Grout  were  the  proprietors,  14  men 
were  employed.  The  present  company  has  greatly  extended  the  busi- 
ness, employing  electricity  as  the  motive  power.  Frank  A.  Cooke  is 
superintendent  and  R.  O.  Cooke  treasurer  of  the  company. 

In  1865  Edward  Harris  erected  a  number  of  buildings  on  his 
"  Privilege  "  property,  one  being  intended  for  saw  and  grist  mills:  a 
large  two-story  brick  structure  was  designed  for  a  machine  shop,  and 
the  connecting  wing  for  a  furnace.  These  have  since  been  occupied 
for  various  purposes  and  some  of  them  have  frequently  been  unoccu- 
pied. The  same  year  Nathaniel  Elliott  put  up  several  manufacturing 
buildings  also  on  North  Main  street,  but  nearer  the  business  part  of 
the  town.  One  of  these  was  three  stories  high  and  50  by  105  feet.  It 
was  occupied  by  J.  S.  Clark  for  his  bobbin  factory;  N.  Elliott  as  a 
planing  mill,  and  William  E.  Coe  for  a  tape  and  binding  factory.  He 
employed  13  looms  and  20  operatives.  The  sash  and  blind  factory 
of  William  E.  Hubbard  occupied  the  second  building,  which  was  36 
by  72  feet;  and  the  grist  mill  of  Dexter  Clark  &  Co.  the  third  building. 
In  these  have  occurred  many  changes  of  firms,  business  and  owner- 
ship of  property. 

In  1868  Chase  &  Clark  began  the  manufacture  of  patent  power  and 
hand  loom  shuttles  and  bobbins,  continuing  until  1870,  when  A.  D. 
Clark  became  the  owner.  In  June,  1877,  he  died  and  the  Clark  Shuttle 
Works  were  then  carried  on  half  a  dozen  years  more  by  M.  W.  A. 
Clark,  when  the  machinery  was  removed  from  town. 

The  business  of  the  Woonsocket  Shuttle  Company  was  established 
in  1879  by  David  Bass  and  M.  Hawkins.  In  1881  they  sold  out  to  John 
Johnston  and  John  Shambow,  who  began  operations  with  the  above 
name.  They  occupy  a  part  of  one  of  the  Harris  buildings  and  manu- 
facture all  kinds  of  shuttles,  giving  employment  to  15  men. 

The  Woonsocket  Spool  and  Bobbin  Company  was  incorporated  in 
May,  1883,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000  and  the  following  officers:  Doctor 
A.  W.  Buckland,  president;  David  Bass,  treasurer;  Lewis  C.  Bass, 
secretary;  Benoni  Hawkins,  superintendent.  After  operating  several 
years  in  one  of  the  Harris  buildings  they  purchased,  in  1885,  the 
Nathaniel  Elliott  property,  and  erected  new  buildings  in  addition  to 


320  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

those  already  there,  to  adapt  them  to  their  business.  Here  the  manu- 
facture of  all  kinds  of  spools,  bobbins  and  shuttles  has  since  been 
extensively  carried  on,  employment  being  given  to  more  than  100 
persons.  In  1889  A.  W.  Buckland  was  the  president;  D.  M.  Edwards,' 
treasurer;  and  David  Bass,  superintendent. 

The  old  Hubbard  planing  mill,  on  this  property,  was  occupied  by 
A.  C.  Sibley,  who  has  been  the  tenant  since  1885.  His  business  was 
established  in  1879,  in  the  "  Privilege  "  building.  All  kinds  of  joiners' 
mill  work  is  made  and  24  men  are  employed. 

On  Allen  street  a  planing  mill  is  operated  by  Daniel  S.  Fuller,  in 
the  manufacture  of  blinds,  door  and  window  frames.  The  business 
was  established  in  1879.  Steam  from  a  40-horse  boiler  is  the  motor 
and  four  men  find  occupation. 

Since  1884  A.  B.  &  W.  E.  Capron  have  operated  the  grain  mill  on 
Arnold  street,  consuming  five  car  loads  of  wheat  per  week.  The 
motor  is  steam. 

Among  the  industries  of  a  recent  period  which  have  been  discon- 
tinued was  the  American  Twist  Drill  Company.  The  business  was 
established  in  1865  by  John  and  Thomas  Worrall  and  carried  on  by 
them  until  1874,  when  the  company  was  organized  with  Amos  Sher- 
man, president;  T.  H.  Worrall,  treasurer  and  agent.  The  factory  was 
last  in  one  of  the  Harris  buildings,  but  after  1880  the  machinery  was 
removed  out  of  the  state. 

The  Woonsocket  Horse  Nail  Company  was  incorporated  in  1875 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  Lyman  A.  Cook  was  the  president;  F.  M. 
Perkins,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  Joseph  Banigan,  agent.  George 
W.  Miller  as  superintendent  took  charge  of  the  works  in  the  summer 
of  1877,  and  for  several  years  the  business  was  successfully  carried 
on  in  a  building  now  forming  a  part  of  the  Glenark  Mills.  Here 
also  was  the  Narragansett  Horse  Nail  Company,  whose  affairs  were 
superintended  by  George  L.  Hall;  but  both  industries  have  passed 
away. 

The  Hautin  Sewing  Machine  Company,  in  which  Lyman  A.  Cook 
and  Joseph  Banigan  were  also  largely  interested,  had  its  factory  on 
this  site  until  1886.  An  unsuccessful  effort  was  made,  at  a  heavy  out- 
lay, to  manufacture  a  wax  thread  sewing  machine  for  leather  workers, 
and  was  not  given  up  until  the  machine  was  shown  to  be  impracticable 
in  the  hands  of  unskilled  operators.  January  28th,  1886,  the  stock 
was  sold  in  the  New  York  market,  and  a  new  company  was  there  or- 
ganized, with  a  capital  of  $250,000,  to  be  known  as  the  Wardwell  Sew- 
ing Machine  Company.  This  name  was  selected  in  compliment  to 
Simeon  W.  Wardwell,  the  superintendent  of  the  old  company,  who 
had  invented  an  improved  sewing  machine,  which  the  new  company 
purposed  to  manufacture.  The  present  company  was  incorporated 
under  the  laws  of  New  York,  and  chose  as  its  first  officers:  Joseph 
Banigan,  president;  Charles  H.  Reeves,  treasurer;  F.  M.  Wells,  secre- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  321 

tary.  Mr.  Wardwell  continued  as  superintendent,  and  the  works  re- 
mained at  Glenark  site  until  September,  1887,  when  Edwin  J.  Pierce, 
Jr.,  became  the  superintendent,  and  new  factory  quarters  were  se- 
cured in  the  lower  Bernon  Mill.  In  November,  1888,  Joseph  Banigan 
withdrew  from  the  company,  and  in  January,  1889,  Clarence  H. 
Scrymser,  of  New  York,  succeeded  him  as  president. 

The  company  has  added  to  the  manufacture  of  the  sewing  machine, 
models,  tools  and  parts  of  small  patents  in  which  skilled  labor  is  de- 
manded. It  has  also  lately  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Colum- 
bian Bar-Lock  Type  Writer,  with  capacity  to  produce  300  per  week, 
and  employing  200  men.  In  August,  1889,  a  new  plant,  now  the  fac- 
tory of  the  Woonsocket  Shuttle  Company,  was  occupied.  It  is  spa- 
cious, well  appointed  and  has  a  large  steam  power. 

The  Woonsocket  Machine  and  Press  Company. — In  1825  Willis 
and  Lyman  A.  Cook,  two  young  men  who  had  learned  the  machinist's 
trade  at  Valley  Falls,  came  to  Woonsocket  and  engaged  to  work  in 
the  shop  of  Thomas  Arnold,  which  had  been  opened  two  years  pre- 
viously in  a  building  which  stood  near  the  corner  of  Main  and  Bernon 
streets.  At  the  end  of  three  years  they  associated  Willing  Vose  with 
them,  and,  forming  the  firm  of  Willis  Cook  &  Co.,  opened  a  factory  of 
their  own,  in  the  same  locality  in  which  they  carried  on  the  machine 
and  foundry  business,  until  they  were  burned  out  in  1835.  A  new 
site  was  now  selected,  farther  north,  where  is  now  the  property  of  the 
American  Worsted  Company,  where  larger  shops  were  built  which  be- 
came known  as  the  Woonsocket  Furnace.  Soon  after  Willing  Vose 
withdrew,  and  the  Cook  brothers  continued  the  sole  owners  until 
January,  1868,  when  they  sold  the  works  to  Simeon  S.  Cook.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1873,  they  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  company,  organized  to 
operate  them,  under  the  name  of  the  Woonsocket  Machine  Company. 
The  capital  stock  of  this  corporation  was  $200,000,  and  as  the  scope  of 
manufacture  was  extended  to  embrace  a  greater  variety  of  machinery, 
its  operations  soon  demanded  larger  quarters.  These  were  secured  in 
the  new  plant  of  the  company  at  Fairmount.  The  first  building  there 
was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1879,  and  the  entire  works  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  new  site  in  the  course  of  a  few  years. 

In  1865  George  W.  Miller,  a  practical  machinist,  began  work  at 
Woonsocket,  locating  on  the  "island"  in  1866,  where  his  shop  was 
afterward  merged  with  the  rubber  works.  In  1879  he  began  buildmg 
rotary  cloth  presses,  which  had  been  perfected  by  him,  occupying 
shops  on  the  machine  company's  lot.  January  1st,  1884,  he  consoli- 
dated his  interests  with  those  of  the  machine  company,  and  the  new 
organization  now  took  the  name  of  the  Woonsocket  Machine  and 
Press  Company,  of  which  Stephen  N.  Mason  continued  president,  and 
George  W.Miller  became  superintendent.  William  S.  Hopkins  has 
also  served  many  years  as  the  treasurer. 

The  plant,  which  embraces  five  acres  of  land,  has  been  well  im- 
21 


322  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

proved  to  adapt  it  to  the  needs  of  the  businevSS.  The  shops  are  sub- 
stantial and  well  appointed,  the  main  building  being  three  stories 
high,  50  by  130  feet,  with  an  annex  60  by  100  feet,  one  story  high. 
The  pattern  house  is  50  by  100  feet,  and  two  stories  high.  The  motive 
power  is  steam  from  a  powerful  engine.  In  addition  to  the  building 
of  presses,  machinery  of  all  kinds  for  cotton  and  woolen  mills  is 
manufactured.     From  150  to  200  men  find  profitable  employment. 

The  Doctor  Seth  Arnold  Medical  Corporation  was  formed  August 
13th,  1872,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  to  succeed  to  the  business  of 
Doctor  Seth  Arnold,  as  manufacturers  of  proprietary  medicines.  The 
corporators  were  Doctor  Seth  Arnold,  L.  W.  Ballou,  James  M.  Cook, 
William  G.  Arnold  and  William  M.  Weeks.  Doctor  Seth  Arnold  re- 
mained at  the  head  of  the  corporation  until  his  death,  October  31st, 
1883.  He  was  educated  as  a  regular  physician,  but  in  1842  began  the 
manufacture  of  his  patent  medicines,  which  he  continued  alone  until 
the  date  above  given.  In  1868  he  sold  the  right  to  his  "  Balsam  "  to 
Gillman  Brothers  of  Boston,  and  since  that  time  the  operations  have 
been  limited  to  the  manufacture  of  "  Arnold's  Cough  Killer,"  "  Anti- 
Bilious  Pills,"  and  "Soothing  Cordial." 

The  first  place  of  business  was  on  Greene  street,  but  since  1875  the 
fine  laboratory  on  Park  avenue  has  been  occupied.  The  building  has 
a  fine  site  and  is  attractive  in  its  appearance  and  surroundings.  It  is 
a  frame  40  by  60  feet,  and  contains  fine  offices  and  store  rooms,  in 
addition  to  the  manufacturing  departments.  The  affairs  of  the  com- 
pany are  prosperous,  and  its  products  are  largely  sold  in  all  parts  of 
the  country.  In  1889  the  officers  were:  Olney  Arnold,  president  and 
treasurer;  Alexander  S.  and  Seth  Arnold,  secretaries. 

The  Bailey  Wringing  Machine  Company,  on  Social  and  Clinton 
streets,  was  chartered  in  June,  1865,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000,  in 
shares  of  $100  each.  John  Paine  Whipple  was  the  first  treasurer,  but 
died  not  long  after  the  company  was  formed.  The  article  which  has 
given  the  corporation  its  existence  and  prosperity  was  the  invention 
of  Selden  A.  Bailey,  a  poor  mechanic,  in  1859,  at  New  London,  Conn. 
The  following  year  he  moved  to  Wrentham,  Mass.,  where  the  firm  of 
Bailey  &  Sayles  was  formed  and  the  wringer  manufactured  on  a  larger 
scale,  continuing  until  the  death  of  his  partner,  in  1863.  The  follow- 
ing spring  Mr.  Bailey  became  a  resident  of  Woonsocket  and  joined 
Simeon  S.  and  B.  M.  Cook  in  forming  the  firm  of  Bailey,  Cook  &  Co., 
to  manufacture  the  wringer  still  more  extensively.  Work  was  begun 
in  a  shop  on  the  "  island"  and  the  business  soon  gave  evidence  of  such 
large  possibilities  that  this  company  was  organized  and  a  new  factory 
site  secured.  In  the  fall  of  1865  a  part  of  the  present  plant  was  pur- 
chased of  Willis  and  Lyman  A.  Cook,  who  became  interested  in  the 
new  company,  the  latter  serving  as  the  first  president. 

The  shops  on  this  property  were  erected  in  1845  by  Whipple  and 
William  Metcalf,  skillful  builders  of  cotton  machinery,  who  had  pre- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  323 

viously  occupied  shops  at  Globe  and  near  Market  Square,  and  where 
they  had  prospered  beyond  the  capacity  of  their  quarters.  In  their 
new  place  of  business  they  were  less  successful,  and  sold  the  property 
in  1856  to  the  Messrs.  Cook.  From  that  time  until  the  spring  of  1866 
the  buildings  had  been  occupied  by  various  parties.  The  expecta- 
tions of  the  Bailey  Company  were  fully  realized  and,  in  1876,  the  works 
employed  60  men.  At  that  time  the  officers  were  George  W.  Jenckes. 
president;  William  H.  Bailey,  secretary;  S.  A.  Bailey,  treasurer,  and 
J.  R.  Bailey,  superintendent.  Fifty  thousand  wringers  were  produced 
annually. 

Here  were  also,  about  this  time,  the  works  of  the  Bailey  Tool 
Company,  which  manufactured  all  kinds  of  carpenter's  tools,  and 
operated  from  1872  until  1880,  when  this  part  of  the  business  was 
sold  to  the  Standard  Rule  &  Level  Company,  and  the  interests  re- 
moved to  New  Britain,  Conn. 

The  Relief  Washing  Machine  Company  also  had  its  origin  in  the 
■enterprise  at  this  place,  and  was  incorporated  May  27th,  1875,  with 
Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  president;  Selden  A.  Bailey,  treasurer,  and  Daniel 
B.  Pond,  secretary  and  managing  agent.  In  subsequent  years  their 
goods  were  manufactured  out  of  town. 

The  works  of  the  Bailey  Wringing  Company  have  been  improved 
and  extended  to  give  still  greater  capacity.  In  1889  the  main  build- 
ing, which  is  40  by  120  feet  and  three  stories  high,  was  supplied  with 
a  hydraulic  elevator,  the  first  in  the  city.  A  well  appointed  office  on 
Social  street  was  erected  in  1884,  and  the  equipments  have  made  the 
production  of  225,000  wringers  per  year  possible.  In  1889  100  men 
were  employed,  and  the  affairs  of  the  company  were  directed  by 
Joseph  Banigan,  who  succeeded  L.  A.  Cook  in  1885  as  president; 
George  Renter,  Jr.,  treasurer;  Reuel  P.  Smith,  A.  B.  Warfield,  James 
Murray  and  Henry  F.  Lippitt.  A.  F.  White  was  the  superintendent, 
and  James  S.  Black,  the  bookkeeper. 

The  manufacture  of  the  Bailey  wringers  at  Woonsocket  brought 
into  existence  another  industry  whose  development  and  extent  has 
done  more  to  spread  the  name  of  the  city  abroad  than  all  the  other 
industries  combined.  The  rubber  rolls  used  in  the  wringers  were  at 
first  made  elsewhere,  but  S.  S.  Cook  determined  that  they  should 
be  made  here.  His  success  in  their  manufacture  on  a  small  scale  in 
the  fall  of  1864  led  to  making  other  mould  rubber  mork,  in  which  Ly- 
man A.  Cook  and  Joseph  Banigan  were  interested  with  him.  From 
this  sprang  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Works.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
years  S.  S.  Cook  disposed  of  his  interests  to  his  associates,  who  placed 
this  industry  in  the  care  of  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Company,  which 
was  incorporated  in  1867,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  Of  this  company 
Lyman  A.  Cook  was  president  and  Joseph  Banigan.  general  agent, 
and,  through  their  untiring  energy,  the  business  was  made  a  success 
from  the  time  the  manufacture  of  rubber  boots  and  shoes  was  begun. 


324  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Within  ten  years  the  works  at  the  "  island  "  covered  one  and  a  half 
acres,  one  of  the  buildings  erected  being  of  brick,  four  stories  high, 
and  50  by  160  feet  in  dimensions.  In  1876  180  cases  of  work  were  pro- 
duced daily  and  the  pay  roll  for  labor  amounted  to  $16,000  per  month. 
In  1882  it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  works,  and,  as  suitable 
ground  could  not  be  procured  at  the  old  plant,  a  part  of  the  manufac- 
ture was  transferred  to  Millville,  Mass.,  and,  since  that  time,  the  rub- 
ber boots  of  the  company  have  been  made  at  that  place.  At  the  time 
this  change  was  effected  L.  A.  Cook  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
company  to  Joseph  Banigan,  who  now  became  the  ruling  spirit  in  this 
enterprise. 

In  January,  1889,  the  works  employed  800  hands,  mostly  males,  and 
the  pay  roll  was  more  than  $25,000  per  month.  The  excellence  of  the 
products  of  the  Woonsocket  company  caused  a  demand  for  still  greater 
capacity  and  the  erection  of  new  works  was  now  urged.  After  some 
agitation  of  the  question  of  a  site,  the  Buffum  Island  lot  of  20  acres 
was  purchased  in  March,  1889,  on  which  to  erect  a  new  plant.  In  July 
of  this  year  the  first  buildings  were  here  begun  and  consist  of  a  main 
structure,  82  by  360  feet,  with  two  wings  at  the  ends  of  the  same,  each 
50  by  250  feet.  All  of  them  are  of  brick,  resting  on  granite  founda- 
tions, and  are  four  stories  high.  The  twelve  acres  of  floor  space  will 
be  fully  occupied,  and,  when  completed,  these  will  be  the  largest  and 
best  appointed  rubber  works  in  the  world.  More  than  1,500  men  will 
be  employed,  thus  largely  promoting  the  growth  of  Woonsocket. 

To  keep  pace  with  the  growing  demands  of  the  business  the  cap- 
ital stock  of  the  company  has  been  increased  from  time  to  time,  being 
$1,200,000  in  1889.  At  this  time  the  affairs  were  managed  by  Joseph 
Banigan,  president  and  general  agent;  Frederick  Cook,  treasurer; 
Frederick  T.  Comee  and  P.  J.  Conley,  superintendents.  In  the  latter 
capacity  John  F.  Holt  has  also  served. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  WOONSOCKET— (Concluded). 

The  Press. — Education. — Public  Libraries. — Churches. — Societies  and  Lodges. — The 
Woonsocket  Hospital. — Cemeteries. — Military  Affairs. — Bands. — ^Soldiers'  Monu- 
ment.— Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. — Sons  of  Veterans. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  periodical  press  of  Woonsocket  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  its  social  and  commercial  history  ever  since  the  first  venture 
was  made  in  1833.  That  year  the  IVcek/j'  Patriot  was  founded 
and  it  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time  as  one  of  the  ablest 
rural  papers  in  New  England.  Its  proprietors  were  Sherman  & 
Wilder,  who  established  a  publication  office  in  the  old  Rathbun  Block, 
on  Main  street.  In  a  short  time  William  N.  Sherman  became  the 
sole  owner  and  editor,  his  associate  retiring  to  form  the  firm  of  Hap- 
good  &  Wilder,  who  began,  in  1835,  the  publication  of  the  second 
paper  in  the  town,  TJic  Rhode  Island  Advocate.  This  enterprise  suc- 
ceeded but  nine  months,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  Patriot  was 
again  alone  in  the  journalistic  field  several  years. 

Early  in  1836  the  publication  of  the  Rainbow  was  begun  by 
I.  Robinson,  with  N.  Robinson  as  editor.  It  was  a  four  page  semi- 
monthly sheet,  devoted  to  "  Literary  Miscellany  and  the  Arts,"  and 
was  printed  in  a  room  over  the  post  office.  On  the  16th  of  April, 
1836,  it  claimed  to  have  1,000  subscribers  at  one  dollar  each,  having 
begun  five  issues  before  with  but  one  subscriber,  but  at  the  end  of  a 
year  it  was  discontinued. 

The  Independent,  a  paper  advocating  free  suffrage,  was  the  next  to 
claim  patronage.  It  was  removed  here  from  Providence,  during  the 
Dorr  times,  and  was  published  a  few  months  only  by  Walter  Sher- 
man.    Its  office  was  in  the  Union  Building. 

Near  the  same  time  TJic  Woonsocket  Sentinel  and  the  Thonipsonian 
Advocate  was  begun,  its  first  issue  being  February  16th,  1842.  It  was 
devoted  to  the  "  Reformed  practice  of  Medicine,  Health,  News, 
Temperance  and  Miscellany."  The  paper  was  issued  weekly,  by 
Mason  &  Vose,  and  was  a  folio  of  20  wide  columns,  $1.50  per  year. 
The  editors  were  Willing  Vose  and  Doctor  G.  W.  Davis.  Josiah  Per- 
kins had  charge  of  the  Washmgtonian  Department.  In  December, 
1842,  Doctor  J.  M.  Aldrich  was  added  as  another  associate  editor  and 
the  columns  of  the  paper  now  teemed  with  brilliant  and  aggressive, 
articles  on  the  Thompsonian  system  of  medicine.     In  March,  1843,  a 


326  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

new  set  of  editors  took  charge,  but  in  the  course  of  a  year  the  publi- 
cation was  suspended  for  lack  of  patronage. 

The  News-Letter,  published  by  Erastus  Fisher  in  1850,  was  the  next 
venture,  whose  existence  was  not  prolonged  beyond  the  year  in  which 
it  began. 

An  agricultural  semi-monthly,  The  Farm  and  Fireside,  next  entered 
the  lists,  January  5th,  1867.  It  was  published  by  S.  S.  &  G.  W.  Foss, 
from  the  office  of  the  Patriot,  and  was  an  able  and  enterprising  peri- 
odical. Failing  to  receive  proper  support  it  was  continued  but  one 
year. 

Until  1873  the  Weekly  Patriot  had  an  almost  undisputed  control  of 
the  newspaper  patronage,  having  some  years  as  many  as  9,000  sub- 
scribers. This  success  was  achieved  by  the  ability  and  enterprise  of 
its  editor,  Samuel  S.  Foss.  He  was  born  at  West  Boylston,  Mass., 
August  15th,  1821,  and  after  obtaining  an  academic  education  entered 
the  office  of  the  Patriot  as  an  apprentice,  in  the  spring  of  1837. 
Three  years  later  he  was  an  associate  editor,  and  in  1841,  purchased 
the  paper  from  William  N.  Sherman,  its  founder.  At  that  time  it 
had  a  circulation  of  500  and  a  poorly  equipped  office.  In  form  it  was  a 
six  column  folio  and  in  politics  it  was  whig.  He  added  improvements 
from  time  to  time  until  it  was  one  of  the  best  offices  in  the  country, 
using  in  October,  1873,  the  first  folding  machine  in  the  state.  In  1855 
he  removed  the  Patriot  from  the  Rathbun  Building  to  the  Waterman 
Block,  which  he  purchased  in  1865,  when  it  became  known  as  the 
Patriot  Building.  This  remained  the  home  of  the  paper  until  some 
time  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Foss,  August  6th,  1879.  He  was  a  man 
of  strong  and  fertile  brain,  immense  industry  and  so  persistent  in  his 
purposes  that  he  commanded  success.  Though  stern  in  his  principles 
and  of  unbending  integrity,  he  was  warm  hearted  and  steady  in  his 
friendships,  which  caused  him  to  be  highly  esteemed. 

German  W.  Foss,  a  twin  brother  of  S.  S.,  now  took  charge  of  the 
Patriot  and  conducted  it  until  his  death  in  1880.  Later,  Herbert  E. 
Holmes  edited  the  papers  for  the  Foss  estate,  which  sold  out  to  the 
Patriot  Printing  Company  in  March,  1881.  Of  this  firm  William  H. 
Goodale  and  T.  H.  Mann  were  the  managers.  August  4th,  1886, 
George  B.  Arnold  became  the  proprietor  and  the  paper  was  edited 
by  L.  B.  Pease.  January  17th,  1889,  the  latter  became  the  proprietor 
and  since  that  time  has  issued  the  paper  as  the  weekly  edition  of  the 
Daily  Evening  Reporter,  though  retaining  the  name  of  Patriot.  It  is 
an  eight  page  sheet  of  64  long  columns,  well  edited  and  is  independ- 
ent in  politics.  The  paper  is  well  sustained,  retaining  much  of  its 
former  large  rural  patronage. 

The  Daily  Patriot  was  established  in  1876  by  S.  S.  Foss,  the  first 
issue  being  on  the  evening  of  April  3d,  as  a  four  page,  20  column 
sheet,  at  one  cent  per  copy.  This  paper  at  once  found  a  popular 
place  in  the  community,  for  it  was  enterprising  and  attractive.     As. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  .  327 

an  adjunct  of  it  and  to  provide  still  better  facilities  Mr.  Foss  con- 
structed, at  his  own  expense,  a  telegraph  line  to  Providence,  opening 
an  office  in  the  Patriot  Building,  June,  1876,  for  the  transmission  of 
news  direct.  April  3d,  1878,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  six  columns 
per  page,  and  was  otherwise  improved  to  meet  the  wants  of  its  in- 
creasing patrons.  On  the  15th  of  March,  1881,  the  Daily  Patriot  was 
sold  to  L.  B.  Pease,  who  merged  it  with  the  F.vening  Reporter,  of  which 
it  had  been  so  keen  a  rival  until  1880,  that  many  poignant  passages 
appeared  in  their  columns. 

The  Evening  Reporter  was  the  first  daily  paper  published  at  Woon- 
socket.  Its  first  issue  was  October  1st,  1873,  as  a  small  four-column 
folio,  selling  for  one  cent  per  copy.  L.  B.  Pease  was  the  editor  and 
proprietor,  and  under  his  well  directed  management  it  has  since  re- 
mained, becoming  one  of  the  best  newspaper  properties  in  the  state. 
On  the  20th  of  March,  1876,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  a  five-column 
folio,  and  soon  afterward  reported  a  circulation  of  more  than  3,000 
copies.  Further  enlargements  were  made  October  1st,  1879,  to  six 
columns;  April  2d,  1883,  to  seven  columns;  and  December  16th,  1884, 
to  eight  columns.  At  this  time  a  morning  edition  was  started  but  dis- 
continued after  four  days.  In  1889  the  Reporter  had  an  average  daily 
circulation  of  5,747  copies.  It  is  printed  in  a  finely  equipped  office  in 
the  American  Block,  receiving  its  Associate  Press  dispatches  by  special 
wire.  Its  local  news  corps  is  well  organized  and  in  charge  of  trained 
men,  George  A.  Smith  being  managing  editor,  and  Major  J.  W.  Smyth 
and  F.  W.  Thurber  associates.  Arthur  S.  Pease  is  the  business 
manager. 

The  Valley  Repnbliean  was  begun  as  a  two  cent  daily  April  26th, 
1886,  and  was  a  large  seven-column  folio.  At  the  end  of  four  days 
the  price  was  reduced  to  one  cent,  the  size  being  maintained.  It  was 
published  by  Goss  &  Mann,  and  printed  in  the  Patriot  office.  When 
that  plant  was  sold  to  George  B.  Arnold,  August  4th,  1886,  the  paper 
was  discontinued.  It  had  good  press  privileges  and  was  a  fine,  well 
edited  sheet,  but  lacked  patronage  to  make  it  a  paying  venture.  This 
was  the  last  attempt  to  establish  a  daily  at  Woonsocket. 

T\^Q  Sunday  Journal,  issued  May  3d,  1885,  was  the  first  Sunday 
paper  published  in  the  city.  Its  proprietors  were  Edward  B.  Condon 
and  Maxime  L.  Bouret,  but  at  the  end  of  four  weeks  the  former  sold 
his  interest  to  his  partner,  who  continued  four  weeks  longer,  when 
the  publication  was  suspended.  It  was  an  attractive  28  column,  four 
page  paper,  but  failed  to  receive  the  patronage  it  claimed. 

Nezvtons  Textile  Gazette,  a  paper  devoted  to  the  interests  of  mill 
men,  was  established  in  July,  1883,  as  a  monthly  of  28  columns.  In 
April,  1885,  its  issue  as  a  semi-monthly  was  begun  and  continued  until 
October,  1888,  since  which  time  it  has  been  a  weekly.  In  connection 
with  its  book  premiums,  "  Newton's  Practical  Spinner,"  "  Newton's 
Carder"  and  "  Newton's  Weaver,"  it  has  attained  a  large  circulation, 


32S  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

its  list  showing  names  from  29  states.  Charles  M.  Newton  has  con- 
tinued the  editor  and  proprietor. 

The  High  School  Record  wa.s  established  by  the  pupils  of  the  high 
school  in  September,  1884,  and  has  since  been  published  monthly, 
during  the  school  year,  by  the  pupils  of  the  junior  and  senior  classes. 
It  is  a  neat  eight-page  journal,  of  24  columns,  filled  with  matter  per- 
taining to  the  school  interests  of  the  city. 

The  Courier  Canadicn  was  the  pioneer  French  paper  in  the  city, 
whose  publication  was  continued  about  six  months  in  1880.  The  pro- 
prietors were  Gagnon  &  Archambault,  with  C.  Tetreault  as  the  busi- 
ness manager.  The  issue  was  twice  per  week  and  the  paper  was  well 
edited,  but  was  not  sufficiently  supported  to  continue  at  this  place. 
It  was  removed  to  Worcester  and  consolidated  with  a  paper  of  that 
city;  and  future  attempts  to  establish  a  French  paper  at  Woonsocket 
have  been  equally  unsuccessful,  each  of  the  two  subsequent  ventures 
being  of  short  duration. 

In  1889,  Joseph  U.  Giguere  had  a  well  ordered  French  and  English 
book  and  job  office,  which  had  been  established  several  years;  William 
H.  Goodale  &  Co.  were  the  proprietors  of  a  fine,  large  steam  book  and 
job  printing  house;  and  Carl  C.  Wheelock  had  a  job  office.  These 
and  the  Reporter  s  establishment  afford  splendid  printing  facilities  for 
the  people  at  Woonsocket. 

Since  the  Quakers  predominated  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
section,  and  they  believed  that  the  welfare  of  the  community  depended 
upon  the  education  of  its  citizens,  it  is  but  natural  to  look  to  them  for 
the  first  efforts  to  establish  and  maintain  what  would  readily  develop 
into  a  system  of  free  schools.  Accordingly,  we  find  in  their  records, 
on  this  matter:  "  6th  mo.,  1771.  It  is  thought  necessary  yt  poor  chil- 
dren be  schooled." 

"4th  mo.,  1777,  Moses  Farnum,  Moses  Brown,  Thomas  Lapham, 
Job  Scott,  Elisha  Thornton,  vSamuel  Aldrich,  George  Arnold,  Ante- 
past  Earle  and  David  Steere  are  appointed  to  draw  up  a  plan  for 
establishing  2.  free  school  diX^on^  Friends." 

This  committee  reported,  two  months  later,  that  the  donation  of 
Rachel  Thayer  be  used  toward  the  support  of  a  school;  that  subscrip- 
tions for  that  purpose  be  received  at  each  preparative  meeting;  and 
that  a  teacher  be  procured  at  once.  It  was  further  recommended  that 
proper  measures  be  taken  in  regard  to  the  places  for  holding  the 
schools,  the  pupils  who  should  attend,  the  rules  which  should  govern 
them  and  the  teachers  to  be  employed.  The  report  was  given  a  favor- 
able acceptance  and  the  meeting  appointed  a  school  committee,  which 
was  probably  the  first  in  northern  Rhode  Island.  It  was  composed 
of  Thomas  vSteere,  Moses  Farnum,  David  Steere,  Moses  Brown,  Ezekiel 
Comstock,  Benjamin  Arnold,  Rufus  Smith,  Daniel  Cass,  George  Smith, 
Samuel  Aldrich,  Gardner  Earle,  David  Buffum  and  Thomas  Lap- 
ham,  Jr. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  J329 

Under  their  direction  schools  for  the  poor  were  taught  and  the  way 
was  paved  for  a  general  free  .school  system,  to  be  maintained  by  the 
towns.  The  time  for  such  a  movement  seemed  to  have  come  in  1800, 
when  the  town  of  Smithfield  voted  an  appropriation  of  $2,200  for  the 
maintenance  of  24  schools,  which  should  be  free  to  all.  This  measure 
appears  to  have  met  the  approval  of  a  majority  of  the  citizens,  for  a 
similar  sum  was  voted,  for  the  same  purpose,  in  August,  1802.  But 
for  some  reason  there  was  brought  about  an  antagonistic  sentiment 
which  was  so  strong  that  a  special  meeting  was  called  the  following 
month,  and  the  vote  was  repealed.  This  action  discouraged  the 
friends  of  free  schools,  and  for  some  time  their  support,  by  the  town, 
was  not  attempted.  But  through  the  zeal  and  enterprise  of  some  pub- 
lic-spirited women,  a  free  school  was  maintained  several  years  more. 
In  other  localities  the  more  progressive  neighbors  united  and  had  pri- 
vate schools  in  their  houses,  sometimes  with  success,  but  at  other 
times,  with  the  indifferent  teachers  in  charge,  these  schools  were 
rnere  travesties.  However,  the  general  effect  was  good,  and  when 
the  benefits  of  an  education,  as  revealed  in  the  academies  which  were 
now  maintained,  became  apparent,  there  was  formed  an  unchange- 
able purpose  that  all  should  enjoy  the  privilege  of  attending  school. 
This  determination  became  so  strong,  after  1820,  that  it  forced  the 
acceptance  of  free  schools  as  permanent  institutions  of  the  town. 

The  first  of  the  academies  which  helped  to  create  this  sentiment 
was  located  near  Slatersville,  and  the  genial  and  learned  Elisha 
Thornton,  the  Quaker  minister  of  that  period,  was  the  principal.  For 
30  years  prior  to  1800  he  labored  there  untiringly  to  promote  the 
cause  of  education,  and  succeeded  in  imparting  mental  and  moral  en- 
lightenment to  many  young  men  who  afterward  took  up  the  work  in 
other  localities  as  teachers  or  as  active  patrons  of  free  schools. 

In  its  own  locality  the  academy  at  Cumberland  Hill  radiated  an  in- 
fluence which  was  equally  conspicuous.  The  impress  of  such  teach- 
ers as  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  and  Ira  B.  Peck  was  potent  in  developing 
a  sentiment  favorable  for  general  education;  and  after  these  princi- 
pals had  retired  from  the  academy  and  became  business  men  of 
Woonsocket,  they  were  among  the  most  active  in  promoting  free 
schools  of  the  town."-'" 

The  old  Smithfield  Academy  at  Union  Village  exerted  a  more 
direct  influence  upon  Woonsocket  than  either  of  the  foregoing,  and 
was,  practically,  for  many  years,  the  high  school  of  the  place.  For  a 
long  time  it  maintained  the  distinction  of  having  cabinets  of  miner- 
als and  chemicals  equal  to  those  of  Brown  University,  and  had  also 
fine  apparatus.  The  institution  had  its  origin  in  an  act  of  the  general 
assembly,  passed  in  February,  1810,  when  Peleg  Arnold,  Richard 
Steere,  Ezekiel  Cbmstock,  Joel  Aldrich,  John  N.  C.  Baxter  and  David 

*  Ira  B.  Peck  became  distinguished  as  an  avithor  of  genealogical  works,  and  was 
also  a  noted  antiquarian. 


330  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Aldrich  were  incorporated  as  the  trustees  of  the  Smithfield  Academy, 
with  power  to  hold  property  to  the  amount  of  $5,000.  The  act  also 
authorized  Peleg  Arnold,  Marcus  Arnold  and  George  Aldrich  to  raise 
by  lottery  the  sum  of  $1,500  for  the  erection  of  buildings.  This  lot- 
tery was  divided  into  two  classes,  the  first  being  managed  by  George 
Aldrich  and  Arnold  Paine.  It  was  not  successful,  and  the  receipts 
were  not  enough  to  cover  their  personal  expenses.  The  second  class 
was  managed  by  George  Aldrich  and  Marcus  Arnold  with  more  fort- 
unate results.  They  were  able  to  pay  all  expenses  and  half  the  cost 
of  building  the  academy.  The  other  half  was  paid  by  Joel  Aldrich, 
who  subsequently  lay  claim  to  the  ownership  of  the  building;  and 
when  it  was  abandoned  for  school  purposes  it  was  sold  by  his  heirs, 
the  purchaser  removing  it  to  convert  it  into  a  dwelling. 

In  1811  the  school  was  opened  with  David  Aldrich,  a  son  of  Joel,, 
as  the  teacher.  He  died  in  1814,  and  Josiah  Clark  was  the  next 
teacher,  remaining  but  ashort  time.  John  Thornton  was  the  next 
principal,  and  remained  six  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Elisha  Thornton, 
the  former  principal  of  the  old  Slatersville  Academy,  and  like  his  fa- 
ther was  a  learned  man.  But  imlike  his  father  he  was  severe  in  his 
manner  and  methods,  which  affected  his  popularity. 

The  next  principal  was  George  D.  Prentice,  who  afterward  became 
so  favorably  known  as  the  poet-editor  of  the  Louisville  Journal.  He 
is  remembered  as  a  successful  teacher  and  genial  companion,  who  de- 
lighted to  ramble  over  the  hills  when  not  in  the  school  room.  It  is 
said  that  besides  "teaching  the  young  idea  how  to  shoot,"  he  was  an 
expert  at  shooting  with  the  pistol  at  marks  in  the  woods.  Caleb  Ward 
Wilson  was  another  esteemed  teacher,  but  soon  relinquished  the 
place  on  account  of  poor  health.  Christopher  Robinson  was  a  suc- 
cessful principal,  abandoning  the  teacher's  profession  for  that  of  the 
law,  which  opened  for  him  a  wider  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents. 

The  principalship  of  James  Bushee,  being  so  long  continued,  gave 
the  most  character  to  the  academy.  He  took  charge  of  the  school  in 
1830  and  remained  until  1853.  After  his  retirement  the  mission  of  the 
academy  appears  to  have  been  ended,  and  it  was  soon  after  perma- 
nently closed.  Mr.  Bushee  was  a  thorough  educator  and  labored 
effectively  in  moulding  the  character  and  directing  the  mental  train- 
ing of  hundreds  of  youths  who  attended  his  school.  He  removed  to  a 
neighboring  state,  but  in  1882  returned  to  Union  Village,  and  for  six 
years  taught  a  vSmall  private  school.  Here,  near  the  scenes  of  his 
former  labors,  he  died  December  20th,  1888,  aged  83  years.  A  fine 
row  of  linden  trees,  which  he  had  planted,  marks  the  site  of  the  old 
academy. 

Under  a  condition  of  things  which  had  limited  the  attendance  at 
school  to  but  a  few,  there  was  naturally  a  preponderance  of  ignorant 
youth,  uncouth  if  not  vulgar  in  manner,  and  having  but  a  vague  idea 
of  the  relations  which  should  exist  between  pupil  and  teacher.     When 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  331' 

the  free  school  syvStem  here  went  into  effect  the  population  was  in  a 
process  of  development,  reaching  a  point  where  physical  development 
was  considered  paramount  to  mental  culture,  and  hence  the  first 
teachers  of  these  schools  were  not  especially  noted  for  their  learning. 
One  of  the  chief  requisites  which  they  must  possess  if  they  wished  to 
be  employed  was  muscular  development,  so  that  they  could  effectually 
control  their  schools.  But,  happily,  a  better  state  of  affairs  soon  pre- 
vailed, and  "book  learning"  among  teachers  and  pupils  was  given 
a  proper  place  in  the  economy  of  school  government.  The  standard 
for  qualification  on  the  part  of  teachers  was  elevated,  and  the  com- 
munity learned  to  esteem  those  whose  skill  and  not  their  strength 
enabled  them  to  "  keep"  school. 

When  the  free  schools  were  established  there  were  within  the 
limits  of  the  present  city  of  Woonsocket  eight  districts,  two  on  the 
old  Smithfield  side  and  six  on  the  old  Cumberland  side.  In  the  for- 
mer part  the  schools  were  taught  at  Globe  and  at  Bernon.  At  the 
latter  place  a  building  was  leased  from  the  old  Woonsocket  Company 
in  1832,  which  was  used  for  more  than  80  years,  and  the  schools 
taught  in  it  were  generally  excellent.  In  1876,  a  new  site  for  the 
Bernon  school  was  secured  on  one  of  the  hills  on  that  side  of  the 
river,  where  a  very  fine  brick  structure  was  erected,  which  was  first 
occupied  in  September,  1876.  Seven  years  later  the  value  of  this 
property,  on  Grove  street,  was  reported  as  $14,808.  The  old  school 
house  site  has  become  the  property  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

The  fine  school  house  at  Globe  was  built  in  1841,  and  for  17  years 
the  schools  kept  in  it  were  supported  chiefly  by  the  state  fund,  there 
being,  consequently,  but  short  terms.  Later  more  interest  was  mani- 
fested and  longer  terms  were  taught  by  better  teachers.  In  1874  a 
very  fine  new  school  edifice  was  erected  for  this  part  of  the  town  on 
Providence  street  at  a  cost  of  more  than  $15,000.  This  house  was  ap- 
propriately dedicated  April  22d,  1875,  and  the  surroundings  have 
since  been  improved. 

On  the  Cumberland  side  there  were  in  1828  three  districts,  which 
were  soon  subdivided  until  there  were  six  districts.  Of  these,  No.  1 
embraced  that  part  around  the  "  falls."  Dexter  Ballou  was  the  com- 
mittee man  and  there  were  198  pupils.  No  2  included  first  Social  and 
Jenckesville,  but  the  latter  being  set  off  was  called  No.  17.  There  were 
74  pupils  and  Nelson  Arnold  had  charge  of  the  affairs  of  this  district. 
No.  2  had  Smith  Arnold  as  committee  man  and  70  pupils.  No.  3  em- 
braced the  country  part  of  the  town,  with  84  pupils  and  Reuben  Dar- 
ling commmittee  man.  In  1838  district  No.  19  was  formed  out  of  No. 
1,  there  being  145  pupils,  and  Ariel  Ballou  was  the  committee  man. 
Two  years  later  the  sixth  district  was  formed  out  of  No.  2  (the 
*'  Social  ")  and  was  called  No.  20.  Joseph  Smith  was  the  first  com- 
mittee man.  In  none  of  the  above  districts  was  there  a  noteworthy 
school  building,   and  several    of   them  rented  houses  for  school  pur- 


332  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTV. 

poses.      In  1845  the  pupils  in  the  six  districts  numbered  1,015    and 
$997.95  was  used  in  the  support  of  the  schools, 

The  following  year  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  consolidate  dis- 
tricts Nos.  1,  19,  2  and  20,  but  the  end  was  not  accomplished  until  the 
fall  of  1849.  November  30th,  that  year,  the  organization  was  fully  ef- 
fected, and  the  first  officers  chosen  were:  John  Boyden,  moderator; 
Olney  Arnold,  clerk;  Elijah  B.  Newell,  treasurer;  Christopher  Robin- 
son, Bethuel  A.  vSlocumb,  Robert  Blake,  trustees.  Meantime,  a  high 
school  building  was  being  put  up  for  the  use  of  the  new  district  on  a 
large  lot  donated  for  this  purpose  by  Edward  Harris.  It  was  a  frame, 
47  by  50  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  cost,  when  fully  completed,  about 
$13,000.  The  first  school  in  it  was  taught  in  the  winter  of  1849,  and  it 
was  used  until  its  destruction  by  fire  October  16th,  1875.  At  that  time 
the  property  with  its  fixtures  w^as  valued  at  $25,000.  The  school  was 
then  transferred  to  the  brick  block  of  the  Social  Company  until  a  new 
house  could  be  erected.  The  present  high  school  is  on  the  old  site, 
which  has  a  central  location  on  high  ground.  It  is  a  stately  two  story 
edifice,  erected  in  1876  by  Nathaniel  Elliott,  after  plans  drawn  by 
General  William  R.  Walker,  of  Providence,  and  cost  to  complete  nearly 
$40,000.  The  material  is  pressed  brick  and  stone,  resting  on  granite 
foundations,  forming  a  most  substantial  structure,  74  by  78  feet,  with 
extending  entrance  ways,  making  the  entire  length  105  feet.  The 
interior  of  the  building  is  divided  into  eight  spacious  rooms,  which 
are  finely  finished  and  well  supplied  with  furniture  of  modern  con- 
struction. 

In  other  parts  of  the  city  school  buildings  of  pleasing  architecture 
have  in  recent  years  been  erected,  and  in  1889  there  were  in  all  14 
buildings  whose  aggregate  value  was  about  $150,000.  These  school 
houses  were  known  as  the  High  School,  on  Boyden  street.  Grove 
street,  Providence  street,  Hope  street.  North  Main  street,  Social  street, 
Jenckesville,  Arnold  street.  High  street,  Fairmount,  Park  avenue, 
Clinton  street.  Summer  street  and  Union,  on  Mendon  Road;  and  in 
these  buildings  45  teachers  were  employed. 

The  consolidation  of  part  of  the  districts  of  the  town  proved  so  sat- 
isfactory that  efforts  were  made  as  early  as  1876  to  form  a  complete 
union  of  all  the  districts.  But  that  desirable  result  was  not  secured 
until  half  a  dozen  years  later.  At  the  June  town  meeting  in  1882  the 
Reverends  Charles  J.  White,  Eugene  E.  Thomas,  Charles  Nason,  Al- 
exander Anderson  and  Joseph  L.  Miller  were  appointed  a  committee, 
instructed  to  report  on  the  feasibility  of  the  consolidation,  which  was 
strongly  recommended  by  them.  An  act  was  passed  by  the  general 
assembly  in  January,  1883,  authorizing  the  measure,  and  the  consum- 
mation of  the  union  has  been  attended  with  the  best  results.  The 
standard  of  the  schools  has  been  elevated,  and  still  greater  proficiency 
has  been  attained.  The  course  of  study  pursued  in  these  schools  is 
very  comprehensive,  and  the  graduates  from  the  high  school  give  evi- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  3o3 

dence  of  a  training  equal  to  that  of  other  first-class  schools.  From  80 
to  90  pupils  are  enrolled  in  this  school  yearly.  The  principals  have 
been  men  of  learning  and  reputation  as  teachers,  whose  services  have 
usually  been  properly  recognized.  Among  them  have  been  Joseph 
Smith,  William  H.  Farrar,  H.  R.  Pierce,  Charles  A.  Chase,  Martin  A. 
Way,  Benjamin  Baker,  A.  J.  Eaton,  Miles  Whittlesey,  William  F. 
Palmer  and  J.  W.  V.  Rich,  the  latter,  with  three  associate  teachers, 
having  charge  of  the  school  in  1889. 

In  1888  the  enrollment  of  pupils  in  all  the  schools  was  2,697  and 
there  was  an  increase  in  the  percentage  of  attendance,  while  the  inter- 
est in  the  cause  of  education  was  noticeably  greater.  This  condition 
has,  to  a  considerable  extent,  been  brought  about  by  the  systematic 
and  well-directed  labors  of  the  superintendents  of  the  schools.  Those 
who  have  so  served  have  been  the  Reverends  Ebenezer  Douglas,  Rob- 
ert Murray,  Jr.,  C.  J.  White,  E.  E.  Thomas,  Mr.  Nathan  T.  Verry  and 
the  present  energetic  superintendent,  Frank  E.  McFee.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  these  duties  he  has  the  hearty  support  of  the  school  com- 
mittee, composed,  in  1889,  of  L.  L.  Chilson,  chairman;  George  A. 
Smith,  clerk;  James  S.  Read,  Edgar  M.  Slocomb,  Dr.  Robert  G.  Reed, 
Frank  E.  Farnum,  William  L.  Whipple,  Aram  J.  Pothier  and  James 
Murray. 

The  appropriations  for  the  support  of  the  schools  have  been  ex- 
ceedingly liberal,  in  recent  years  never  being  less  than  $20,000,  and 
being  from  all  sources  available,  in  1888,  as  much  as  $34,196.33.  A 
portion  this  amount  has  been  set  aside  for  the  maintenance  of  even- 
ing schools  free  to  all  who  may  choose  to  attend.  These  schools  were 
first  opened  October  4th,  1885,  to  continue  50  evenings  per  year,  with 
three  sessions  per  week.  More  than  300  persons,  of  ages  from  15  to 
50  years,  have  availed  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  these  schools 
by  being  regular  attendants.  In  many  instances  the  rudiments  of  a 
common  school  education  have  thus  been  acquired,  and  the  utility  of 
the  schools  has  been  so  fully  recognized  that  they  have  become  a  part 
of  the  educational  system  of  the  city. 

The  establishment  of  a  manual  training  school  is  also  projected, 
several  funds  for  that  purpose  being  available.  One  of  these  was 
created  by  the  will  of  Rachel  F.  Harris,  dated  January  27th,  1846,  in 
which  she  bequeathed,  in  trust,  to  Edward  Harris,  John  Boyden  and 
Ariel  Ballou,  30  shares  of  the  P.  &  W.  R.  R.  Company's  stock  for  such 
a  school.  At  a  later  day  Dexter  Ballou  bequeathed  15  shares  of  the 
same  stock  for  a  similar  purpose,  and  the  accrued  value  of  these  funds 
was,  in  1889,  about  $20,000.  Much  of  this  interest  in  these  matters 
was  inspired  by  the  Reverend  John  Boyden,  who  is  remembered  to 
this  day  as  one  of  the  most  devoted  friends  of  popular  education 
that  Woonsocket  has  ever  had.  For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  labored  earnestly  and  wisely,  when  the  system  of  free  schools 
was   yet    in   its    infancy.     His  example  has  been  worthily  followed 


334  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

by  many  citizens,  zealous  in  every  good  work,  who  have  here  ad- 
vanced the  cause  of  education  to  its  present  enviable  position. 

At  Woonsocket  the  value  of  the  public  library  as  an  adjunct  of 
education  was  early  admitted.  For  30  years  after  1800  a  small  but 
well  selected  librarj-  was  in  existence,  and  near  the  same  time  the 
"  Social  Library "  was  maintained  in  northern  Cumberland.  Both 
served  their  purposes  well,  preparing-  the  way  for  the  more  compre- 
hensive libraries  which  were  established  as  their  successors.  The  first 
of  these  was  the  Carrington  Library.  About  1850  Samuel  S.  Foss,  the 
public  spirited  editor  of  the  Patriot,  began  discussing  the  matter  in 
his  paper  and  urged  the  creation  of  a  fund  to  be  used  in  founding  a 
library,  which  should  embrace  the  best  books  of  the  day,  and  which 
should  be  accessible  to  all  upon  the  payment  of  a  small  fee.  Public 
interest  was  awakened,  and  Edward  Harris  told  the  editor  that  he 
would  give  $500  toward  an  enterprise  of  that  character,  provided  an 
equal  amount  would  be  subscribed  by  the  citizens.  The  proposition 
found  an  eager  acceptance  and  the  fund  was  soon  assured.  The  an- 
nouncement of  this  fact  prompted  George  S.  Wardwell,  the  manager 
of  the  Hamlet  Mills  of  the  Carrington  estate,  to  submit  another  propo- 
sition: That  the  estate  would  donate  another  $1,000  provided  that  the 
library  should  bear  the  name  of  Carrington.  This  proposition  was 
also  accepted  by  the  people  of  Woonsocket.  These  $2,000  constituted 
the  fund  from  which  arose  the  Carrington  Library  Association,  of 
which  Edward  Harris  was  the  first  president.  He  held  that  position 
several  years,  and  in  1855  his  associate  officers  were  Reverend  John 
Boyden  and  George  S.  Wardwell,  vice-presidents;  Charles  E.  Aldrich, 
treasurer;  Sullivan  Ballou,  secretary  and  librarian.  At  that  time  the 
library  had  3,000  volumes,  which  were  free  to  those  who  had  been 
constituted  members  by  the  payment  of  two  dollars  per  year.  In  1863 
there  were  3,891  volumes  in  the  library  and  the  association  had  124 
members.  There  were  also  13  patrons  who  had  paid  $100  each  for 
that  distinction.  After  the  Harris  Institute  was  established,  under 
such  favorable  auspices,  it  was  not  deemed  expedient  to  maintain 
separate  organizations  and  the  affairs  of  the  old  library  were  merged 
into  the  new. 

The  Harris  Free  Library  owes  its  existence  to  the  public  spirit  and 
generous  munificence  of  Edward  Harris,  and  it  will  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  him  who  did  so  much  to  advance  the  prosperity  and  well- 
being  of  Woonsocket.  Several  years  after  the  Carrington  Association 
had  been  formed,  he  withdrew  from  it  to  project  and  execute  plans 
for  an  institution  of  greater  proportions  and  more  extensive  scope. 
As  a  preliminary  of  this  object  he  erected,  m  1856-7,  the  Harris  Insti- 
tute building  in  which  to  provide  a  place  for  his  enterprises  a«  well  as 
to  secure  an  income  for  their  maintenance.  In  1863  he  secured  the 
passage  of  an  act  by  the  general  assembly  incorporating  Ariel  Ballou, 
Oscar  J.  Rathbun,  Joseph  E.  Cole,  Samuel  S.   Foss  and  Reuben  G. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  335 

Randall  as  the  "  Harris  Institute,"  and  in  June  of  that  year  he  pre- 
sented these  trustees  with  a  deed  of  the  foregoing  property,  to  be  held 
for  the  purposes  expressed  in  the  act.  This  property  was  valued  at 
$70,000,  and  it  was  stipulated  that  the  revenues  arising  therefrom 
should  secure  privileges  which,  under  moderate  restrictions,  might  be 
freely  enjoyed  by  all  the  citizens  of  Woonsocket  and  vicinity.  In 
September,  1863,  the  trustees  organized  by  electing  Doctor  Ariel  Bal- 
lon president,  R.  J.  Randall,  secretary,  and  O.  J.  Rathbun  treasurer. 
In  1889  the  latter  was  the  president,  and  R.  J.  Randall  was  both  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  Of  the  five  original  trustees  Samuel  S.  Foss  died 
in  1879,  and  his  place  was  filled  by  the  election  of  FrancelloG.  Jillson. 
The  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  in  1887  has 
not  yet  been  filled,  leaving  but  four  members  in  the  board. 

In  1865  Edward  Harris  added  to  his  previous  gift  a  donation  of 
$2,500,  to  be  expended  for  books,  which,  with  the  rentals  from  the 
building,  were  used  in  purchasing  about  4,000  select  volumes  for  the 
library,  in  rooms  prepared  for  it  in  the  second  story  of  the  Institute. 
This  was  formally  opened  to  the  public  in  October,  1868,  and  was  the 
first  free  library  in  the  state.  The  absorption  of  the  Carrington 
Library  increased  the  number  of  volumes  several  thousand,  and  in 
1878  there  were  9,166  volumes.  In  July,  1889,  there  were  11,744  books, 
on  every  department  of  literature,  some  of  them  rare  and  costly.  The 
circulation  of  the  library  for  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1889,  was 
26,092  volumes.     F.  G.  Jillson  was  the  first  librarian. 

In  1873  a  large  reading  room,  supplied  with  the  best  periodicals  of 
the  times,  was  added  to  the  library,  which  was  thereafter  kept  open 
daily  instead  of  twice  per  week  as  before.  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Bosworth 
now  became  the  librarian,  and  held  that  position  until  March,  1884, 
when  she  was  succeeded  by  the  present  efficient  incumbent.  Miss 
Anna  Metcalf.  The  reading  room  is  well  patronized,  and  the  taste 
for  reading  which  it  has  created  has  caused  a  corresponding  demand 
on  the  books  of  the  library.  These  agencies,  together  with  the  meet- 
ings and  lectures  of  the  Woonsocket  Lyceum,  held  in  this  hall  (and 
which  have  been  some  of  the  best  features  of  the  Institute)  have  been 
means  of  culture  whose  influence  on  the  community  has  been  truly 
elevating  and  refining. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  first  settlers  of  the  Woonsocket 
regions  were  Friends  and  their  descendants;  and  for  more  than  a 
century  the  Quaker  meeting  house  was  the  only  place  of  public  wor- 
ship that  was  maintained.  The  site  for  this  house  was  selected 
largely  on  account  of  its  central  and  accessible  location  for  those  who 
were  to  worship  in  it,  being  near  the  widely-known  Woonsocket 
Cross  Roads,  now  Union  Village.  It  is  outside  the  city  of  Woonsocket, 
but  adjacent  thereto,  and  as  its  entire  history  has  been  an  inseparable 
part  of  this  community,  a  brief  account  of  it  is  here  given. 

In  1719  an  acre  of  ground   was  purchased  on  the  old  Providence 


336  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

road,  at  the  place  called  the  "  Dugway,"  for  a  burial  place  for  the 
Friends.  Besides  being  centrally  located,  the  conditions  of  the  soil 
were  here  favorable  for  such  a  purpose,  the  land  lying  on  the  hillsides 
and  secluded  enough  to  give  it  that  privacy  which  we  so  well  like  to 
associate  with  the  resting  places  of  our  dead.  Upon  part  of  this  lot 
the  meeting  house  was  built,  and  the  records  pertaining  to  this  mat- 
ter are  as  follows:* 

"  10th  mo.  (December,  O.  S.)  9th,  1719.  Whereas,  this  meeting 
has  had  a  matter  in  consideration  about  building  a  meeting  house  at 
Woonsocket,  on  the  burial  ground  lately  purchased,  have  concluded 
to  build  a  meeting  house  twenty  feet  square,  and  John  Arnold  is  ap- 
pointed to  build  the  same,  the  heighth  thereof  left  to  him." 

"5th  mo.,  1720.  John  Arnold  is  desired  to  furnish  boards  to  seal 
the  same." 

"11th  mo.  9th,  1721.  John  Arnold  is  desired  to  go  on  and  finish 
the  same." 

"  10th  mo.  10th,  1727.  It  is  concluded  by  this  meeting  that  a  small 
meeting  house  be  built,  adjoining  to  the  meeting  house  at  Woon- 
socket." 

"  4th  mo.  11th,  1728.  John  Arnold  and  Thomas  Smith  appointed 
to  procure  suitable  stuff  for  the  same." 

"1st  mo.  28th,  1736.  It  was  concluded  to  finish  the  little  meeting 
house." 

"  7th  mo.  30th,  1738.  Thomas  Smith  and  Ichabod  Comstock  were 
appointed  to  complete  the  work." 

These  minutes  of  the  monthly  meeting  indicate  how  difficult  it 
was  to  provide  a  meeting  house,  and  show  how  long  continued  were 
the  efforts  to  build  a  small  addition  to  an  extremely  plain  house. 
The  trustees,  at  the  time  the  purchase  of  the  land  from  John  Arnold 
was  made,  for  a  consideration  of  ten  shillings,  were  Samuel  Wilkin- 
son, Jr.,  Samuel  Comstock,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Aldrich. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  years  the  capacity  of  the  meeting  house 
was  found  inadequate,  and  in  1755  a  larger  ell,  20  by  30  feet,  was 
built  in  place  of  the  small  one.  Twenty  years  later  this  was  removed 
and  a  building,  32  by  32  feet,  was  erected  in  1775.  In  a  repaired  con- 
dition that  house  was  used  nearly  75  years;  but  the  spirit  of  modern 
improvement  had  by  that  time  made  so  much  progress  that  the  quaint 
old  building  was  remodelled  throughout.  A  further  surprise  awaited 
the  members  after  these  improvements  had  been  made,  in  1849,  when 
Edward  Harris,  Welcome  Farnum  and  Joseph  Almy  provided  green 
blinds  for  the  windows.  So  the  house  stood  until  May  12th,  1881, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the  loss  being  estimated  at  $2,000.  A 
contract  was  soon  after  entered  into  with  John  B.  Fountain  to  erect 
a  new  house  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  to  cost  $4,000.  This  was  a  frame 
building,  36  by  50  feet,  with  a  high  basement  for  the  use  of  the  Sun- 

*  Friends'  Records,  vol.  2,  page  59. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY,  337 

day  school.  The  latter  was  occupied  in  the  fall  of  1881.  On  the  14th 
of  April,  1882,  the  church  was  again  damaged  by  an  incendiary  fire  to 
to  the  extent  of  ,^300,  but  was  well  repaired,  and  in  1889  presented  a 
neat  and  inviting  appearance.  The  cemetery  lacks  the  care  to  make 
it  the  attractive  spot  that  nature  has  suggested  it  might  be,  and  con- 
tains many  old  graves. 

The  monthly  meetings  at  Woonsocket  have  from  the  time  of  their 
institution  been  occasions  of  interest  to  nearly  all  the  original  families 
of  northern  Rhode  Island.  Its  members,  in  a  series  of  years,  were 
persons  bearing  the  names  of  Aldrich,  Allen,  Angell,  Arnold,  Ballou, 
Barker,  Bartlett,  Braley,  Buffum,  Brown,  Bennett,  Bronson,  Callom, 
Cargill,  Cass,  Chapman,  Comstock,  Cook,  Dyer,  Earle,  Farnum,  Gould, 
Gaskell,  Harris,  Hopkins,  Hill,  Jillson,  Lapham,  Mowry,  Mussey, 
Nichols,  Osborne,  Owen,  Packer,  Paine,  Potter,  Powers,  Read,  Rich- 
ardson, Rogers,  Smith,  Southwick,  Spencer,  vSteere,  Swett,  Thayer, 
Trask,  Thornton,  Varney,  White,  Whipple,  Wilkinson,  Wheeler,  Wil- 
son and  Wing. 

At  these  monthly  meetings  were  formulated  simple  but  exact  rules 
for  this  plain  people,  which  indicate  the  whole  line  of  their  conduct. 
The  sinful  and  innocent  pleasures  of  the  world  were  alike  strictly  for- 
bidden, and  at  an  early  day  such  things  as  "  husking  bees  "  at  night 
and  horse  racing  were  placed  under  the  ban.  Their  ideas  of  peace  pre- 
cluded the  idea  of  war,  no  matter  what  the  object  to  be  attained  by 
the  appeal  to  arms  ■w'as,  and  the  defense  of  their  homes  elicited  no 
quicker  response  than  the  effort  to  vindicate  a  principle.  Hence  pat- 
riotism found  no  lodgement  in  their  hearts,  nor  was  there  sufficient 
charity  to  condone  the  offense  of  those  of  Quaker  training  who 
aided  to  liberate  the  colonists  from  the  thralldom  of  a  foreign  power. 
Yet  withal,  this  was  a  goodly  people  and  the  general  conduct  of  their 
lives,  conformed  to  the  rules  of  their  church,  produced  good  citizenship. 
The  attendance  at  these  meetings  has  generally  been  large,  there  being 
400  present  when  the  present  new  meeting  house  was  first  occupied. 

The  attendance  at  the  first  day  and  midweek  meetings  is  compara- 
tively small,  but  sufficient  interest  has  been  manifested  to  keep  them 
up  with  regularity.  For  many  years  "  silence  "  was  their  marked 
feature  of  worship,  and  when  it  was  broken  by  the  voice  of  an  eloquent 
preacher,  the  effect  was  inspiring.  But  when  the  voices  of  their 
teachers  became  silent,  the  Quakers  became  lukewarm. •••  It  is  stated 
that  once  when  such  a  condition  existed  that  but  "ten  or  twelve  mem- 
bers assembled  for  worship  on  First  day,  and  many  of  these  during 
the  interval  of  silence  fell  asleep."  Happily  this  state  of  affairs  did 
not  prevail  long.  In  such  an  era  of  spiritual  depression  the  genial 
and  learned  Elisha  Thornton  became  the  minister,  and  carrying  his 
humanity  into  the  sacred  desk,  taught  so  eloquently  and  yet  so  devoutly 

*Richardson's  History,  p.  79. 
23 


338  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

that  sleep  was  out  of  question,  and  all  listened  enraptured  to  his  beau- 
tiful and  impressive  sermons.  Thus  he  preached  from  before  the  re- 
volution, for  about  30  years,  being  also  zealously  devoted  to  the  cause 
of  education  meantime,  when  he  removed  to  New  Bedford,  where  he 
spent  his  last  days  in  peace,  if  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts 
which  such  a  life  should  have  brought. 

A  minister  of  a  recent  period  was  Abel  Collins  Monroe,  who  came  to 
Woonsocket  in  1845,  and  was  one  of  the  preachers  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  August,  1883.  Lydia  B.  Cole  was  also  a  minister  in  this 
period.  Since  1884  the  meetings  have  not  had  the  teachings  of  a  regu- 
lar minister  much  of  the  time,  but  they  are  faithfully  continued  by 
about  30  members.  The  Sabbath  school  is  maintained  with  benefit 
and  interest,  about  100  members  attending.  For  many  years  James 
S.  Read  has  been  the  superintendent. 

The  early  history  of  the  Baptists  at  Woonsocket  cannot  be  given 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  the  records  by 
fire,  when  the  church  was  burned  April  12th,  1858.  That  place  of 
worship  was  dedicated  April  24th,  1834,  during  the  pastorate  of  the 
Reverend  Peter  Simonsen,  the  first  minister,  who  took  charge  of  the 
congregation  in  1833.  As  originally  built,  by  the  general  contribu- 
tions of  the  citizens  of  the  village,  on  the  Cumberland  side,  it  was  a 
small  and  plain  house,  which  had  been  enlarged  several  times  before 
its  destruction.  In  consequence  of  these  additions  the  house  bore  a 
more  ancient  appearance  than  was  warranted  by  its  age.  The  loss 
to  the  society  was  fully  covered  by  insurance,  and  in  the  fall  of  1858, 
a  new  edifice  was  begun  on  the  same  lot,  but  a  little  east  of  where 
the  old  house  stood.  This  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $6,000,  and  is  a 
frame,  43  by  76  feet,  with  projections  on  front  and  rear  ends  of  three 
feet  each.  The  tower  is  116  feet  high  and  was  adapted  for  the  use 
of  a  clock  and  bell,  which  were  placed  in  position  in  1860.  The 
church  itself  was  consecrated  May  26th,  1859,  and  the  attendant 
ceremonies  were  witnessed  by  large  congregations.  On  the  same 
day  the  Reverend  John  Jennings  was  publicly  recognized  as  pastor. 
In  1860  an  organ  was  purchased  through  the  efforts  of  Doctor  S.  B. 
Bartholemew,  and  four  years  later  the  yard  was  graded  and  enclosed 
with  an  iron  fence.  Repairs  since  that  time,  including  the  handsome 
interior  decoration  in  the  summer  of  1881  and  the  introduction  of 
steam  heat  in  1887,  have  made  the  church  attractive  and  comfortable 
to  those  who  worship  in  it.  On  account  of  its  central  location,  in  the 
business  part  of  the  city,  the  property  has  become  very  valuable. 
In  1889  the  principal  officers  of  the  Baptist  Society  were;  Clerk,  Rod- 
ney D.  Cook;  treasurer,  Otis  Hawkins;  deacons,  J.  A.  C.  Wightman, 
Rodney  D.  Cook,  Frank  P.  Lee,  T.  B.  Holden;  superintendent  of  Sun- 
day school,  Joseph  J.  Hulbert. 

In  the  Sunday  school  were  250  members  and  the  church  roll  bore 
the  names  of  340  persons,  a  number  of  whom   were    non-residents. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  339 

The  pastor  of  the  church  was  the  Reverend  wS.  W.  Foljambe,  D.  D., 
who  was  inducted  into  that  office  February  1st,  1888.  His  predeces- 
:sors,  since  the  organization  of  the  church  have  been  as  follows: 
1833-4,  Rev.  Peter  Simonsen;  1834-7,  Bradley  Miner;  1837-41,  Joseph 
Smith;  1841-3,  George  N.  Waitt;  1843,  Daniel  Curtiss;  1844-5,  Joseph 
B.  Damon;  1845-7,  Kaslet  Armine;  1847-51,  Luther  D.  Hill;  1852-8, 
Joseph  B.  Breed;  1859-63,  John  Jennings;  1863-4,  James  W.  Bonham; 
1865-6,  John  D.  Sweet;  1866-7,  Denzel  M.  Crane;  1867  73,  Sullivan  L. 
Holman;  1874-6,  Frederick  Dennison;  1876-84,  E.  E.  Thomas;  1884, 
M.  B.  Scribner;  1884-7,  J.  H.  Parshley. 

The  Baptists,  like  the  Methodists,  have  recognized  the  importance 
of  missionary  labors  among  the  French  Canadians  and  in  1809  the 
Reverend  N.  Cyr,  of  Vermont,  was  appointed  to  work  among  that 
class  of  people  in  the  manufacturing  centers,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Board  of  Home  Missions.  In  1873  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Reverend  J.  N.  Williams,  who  also  preached  at  Woonsocket  in  the 
Baptist  church,  continuing  at  intervals  until  1882.  He  was  followed 
by  the  Reverend  E.  Leger,  who  was  succeeded  in  1886  by  the  present 
minister,  the  Reverend  Frank  X.  Smith.  The  latter  has  been  hold- 
ing Sabbath  services  twice  per  month  at  Woonsocket  and  also 
preaches  at  Fall  River  and  Central  Falls.  At  the  former  place  he  had 
succeeded  in  gathering  a  band  of  40  people,  who  made  a  profession 
of  the  Baptist  faith,  but  owing  to  removals  the  number  has  been  re- 
duced to  25.  While  these  worship  in  the  French  language  and  have 
their  own  pastor,  they  hold  their  membership  in  the  regular  church, 
not  yet  having  been  organized  as  a  separate  congregation.  Under 
a  similar  arrangement  instruction  in  French  is  imparted  to  several 
classes  in  the  regular  Sabbath  school. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  is  the  youngest  Protestant  church 
in  the  city,  its  organization  having  been  effected  December  20th,  1886, 
when  18  persons  on  profession  of  faith,  and  29  by  letter,  united  in  the 
bonds  of  fellowship.  But  the  effort  to  secure  this  end  was  made 
earlier  that  year.  In  May,  1886,  the  Reverend  Joseph  W.  Sanderson, 
superintendent  of  the  N^.  E.  Board  of  Home  Missions,  arranged  to 
have  the  Reverend  John  Montgomery,  of  the  Lonsdale  church,  visit 
the  place  and  gather  together  those  who  entertained  the  Presbyterian 
faith.  This  led  to  a  call  for  a  meeting  in  Lyceum  Hall  July  19th,  1886, 
with  a  view  of  forming  a  congregation,  when  12  persons  responded, 
who  were  presided  over  by  the  Reverend  Thomas  A.  Reeves,  of  Mat- 
teawan,  N.  Y.  The  latter  spent  the  month  of  August  in  the  city,  hold- 
ing services  regularly,  which  were  attended  with  so  much  interest 
that  he  resigned  his  pastorate  in  Matteawan  in  October,  1886,  and  was 
transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Boston,  in  order  to  identify  himself 
more  fully  with  the  work  at  Woonsocket.  The  formation  of  the  con- 
gregation followed,  when  the  following  official  board  was  elected,  or- 
dained and  installed:  Pastor,  Reverend  Thomas   A.   Reeves;  elders. 


340  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Leander  Fisher,  John  D.  Griffith,  Martin  V.  B.  Knox,  Hugh  Peden,. 
deacons,  Peter  S.  Archibald,  Thomas  Booth;  trustees,  Alexander 
Brenton,  John  Bentley,  Thomas  Booth,  Leander  Fisher,  M.  V.  B. 
Knox,  Hugh  Peden,  James  Thompson. 

Since  that  time  meetings  have  been  regularly  held  in  Lyceum 
Hall,  and  the  congregation,  under  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  Mr, 
Reeves,  has  been  placed  upon  a  permanent  footing,  growing  in  num- 
bers and  influence  and  leaving  its  impress  upon  the  moral  life  of  the 
city.  In  January,  1887,  the  congregation  was  incorporated  by  the 
general  assembly  of  the  state,  and  in  the  summer  of  that  year  a  large 
lot,  on  the  corner  of  Bridge  and  Greene  streets,  was  purchased,  on 
which  is  being  built  a  church  planned  by  Architect  P.  D.  West.  Its 
design  shows  a  very  attractive  exterior,  and  the  main  audience  room 
will  be  54  by  60  feet  in  size,  with  the  floor  descending  from  the  street 
entrance  to  the  pulpit  platform.  When  once  completed,  it  will  afford 
a  spiritual  home  for  the  congregation  which  will  attract  many  more 
to  its  membership  and  increase  its  scope  for  doing  good.  In  July, 
1889,  there  were  69  active  and  nine  non-resident  members,  who 
also  maintain  a  Sunday  school,  of  which  John  D.  Griffith  is  the  super- 
intendent. 

The  following  account  of  St.  Charles  Catholic  church  is  from  notes 
by  James  W.  Smyth: 

It  is  believed  that  the  first  Roman  Catholic  who  took  up  his  perma- 
nent abode  at  Woonsocket  was  Michael  Reddy,  who  came  to  the  ham- 
let part  of  the  village  in  1826.  Two  years  later  mass  was  said  in  the 
hall  of  the  public  house  of  Walter  Allen,  at  Union  Village  by  Father 
Robert  D.  Woodley,  there  being  ten  persons  in  the  congregation  who 
participated  as  worshippers.  Subsequently  visiting  priests  came  from 
Pawtucket  and  Providence  and  said  mass  at  private  houses,  as  the  in- 
crease of  Catholics  was  very  slow.  In  the  early  part  of  1834  the  Rev- 
erend Fathers  Lee  and  McNamee  came  and  labored  a  short  time,  but 
to  the  Reverend  James  P'itten  was  allotted  the  work  of  establishing  a 
Catholic  parish  in  this  locality,  whose  influence  has  become  second  to 
none  other  in  the  diocese. 

Born  in  Boston  in  1805,  he  was  ordained  a  priest  in  1827.  In  his 
travels  as  a  missionary  he  came  to  Waterford  in  1834,  and  the  use  of 
the  school  house  there  being  denied  him,  he  said  mass  at  the  house  of 
Edward  McCabe.  At  Woonsocket  he  found  30  Catholics  whom  he 
met  at  private  houses,  but  finding  evidences  of  increasing  numbers, 
he  secured  an  old  hall,  in  which  worship  was  held.  He  soon  after 
formed  Woonsocket  into  a  station,  and  larger  quarters  were  demanded. 
These  were  found  in  the  hall  connected  with  the  public  house  of 
Reuel  Smith,  which  was  also  used  for  secular  purposes.  In  this  con- 
nection an  anecdote,  recorded  by  Erastus  Richardson,  in  his  account 
of  the  church,  finds  an  appropriate  place:  "On  a  certain  occasion,  in 
1841,  this  hall  had  been  let  to  a  dancing  party,  who  had   beautifully 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  341 

decorated  it  with  evergreens,  weaving  with  the  fragrant  boughs  and 
suspending  in  a  conspicuous  place,  the  following  motto:  'A  time  to 
dance.'  As  the  time  for  the  religious  services  drew  near,  Mrs.  Smith 
(the  wife  of  the  landlord,  who,  though  a  Protestant,  had  a  friendly 
feeling  for  the  Catholics),  with  the  evergreens  that  composed  the  word 
'  dance,'  substituted  another  word,  and  made  the  motto  to  read,  'A 
time  to  pray.' — thus,  by  a  very  simple  and  kindly  act,  not  only  trans- 
forming a  house  of  mirth  into  a  temple  of  worship,  but  even  making 
the  hands  of  the  profane  to  quicken  the  emotions  of  the  devout." 

In  1843  there  were  200  Catholics,  and  the  question  of  building  a 
•church  was  agitated.  Subscriptions  were  received  and  Edward  Mc- 
Cabe  was  appointed  treasurer  of  the  fund.  A  lot  of  ground  on  North 
Main  street  was  purchased  of  Dexter  Ballon,  and  Jarvis  Cook  was  en- 
gaged to  build  a  church  for  $2,000.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  40  by  60 
feet,  and  was  consecrated  by  the  Reverend  William  Tyler,  the  first 
bishop  of  Hartford,  in  October,  1846.  On  the  12th  of  the  same  month 
the  first  wedding  in  a  Catholic  church  at  Woonsocket  was  solemnized 
by  Father  John  Brady — Michael  McCarthy  and  Mary  McCormick. 
Soon  after  the  church  was  built  Father  Fitten  was  succeeded  by  the 
Reverend  Charles  O'Reilley,  who  remained  until  February,  1852.  In 
this  pastorate  the  church  became  too  small,  and  in  1848  it  was  en- 
larged. 

In  1854  a  pastoral  residence  was  built  on  the  lot  adjoining  the 
church;  the  vestry  was  built  in  1857,  and  in  1859  the  first  parochial 
school  house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $3,100.  At  this  time  it  was  found 
that  there  were  2,300  Irish  Catholics  in  Woonsocket  parish. 

In  1860  Edward  Harris  presented  the  parish  with  a  new  cemetery, 
containing  two  and  a  half  acres,  which  was  blessed  by  the  Reverend 
E.  F.  McFarland,  September  18th,  1860.  This  was  subsequently  en- 
larged to  contain  13  acres,  and  a  receiving  vault  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500.  The  cemetery  is  on  the  Milford  road,  in  the  state  of  Massa- 
chusetts, about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  church. 

Meantime,  the  Reverend  Hugh  Carmody  had  become  the  priest, 
and  remained  until  February,  1854.  The  Reverend  John  Brady  was  the 
priest  until  April,  1855,  when  Reverend  M.  McCabe  was  called  to  the 
care  of  the  parish.  Under  his  devoted  and  energetic  labors  the  congre- 
gation outgrew  the  capacity  of  the  old  church,  and  in  1863  the  collection 
of  funds  for  a  new  church  was  begun.  This  work  went  on  favorably, 
and  when  Father  McCabe  was  transferred  to  vSt.  Patrick's  church, 
Providence,  January,  1866,  he  left  the  parish  free  from  debt  and  a  fund 
of  §10,200  secured  for  the  new  edifice.  He  was  followed,  January 
31st,  1866,  by  the  Reverend  F.  J.  Lenihan,  the  young  poet,  author  and 
silver-tongued  orator,  who  soon  became  very  popular  in  the  parish. 
In  his  hands  the  building  fund  grew  apace  so  that  in  the  spring  of 
1867  the  old  church  was  moved  to  an  adjoining  lot  and  the  work  of 
building  a  new  one  begun.     Sunday,  June  16th,  1867,  the  corner  .stone 


342  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

was  laid  in  the  presence  of  3,000  people  who  had  been  led  to  the  site 
in  a  procession,  marshalled  by  Captain  James  W.  Smyth.  The  stone 
was  placed  in  position  by  the  Reverend  Father  McFarland,  and  the 
work  of  building  the  beautiful  edifice  went  rapidly  forward.  In  the 
midst  of  these  active  labors  Father  Lenihan  was  stricken  down  by 
death.  He  was  buried  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  church  lot,  in 
August,  1867,  and  a  few  years  later  the  parish  erected  a  substantial 
granite  monument  over  his  grave.  The  scholarly  Father  Bernard 
O'Reilley  was  the  next  priest,  but  the  active  business  affairs  which  de- 
manded his  attention  were  not  congenial  to  him,  and  he  left  in 
December,  1868,  to  engage  in  literary  pursuits  in  New  York  city.  In 
the  period  of  his  ministry.  May  22d,  1868,  the  old  church  building,  on 
the  Elliott  lot,  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  the  meetings  of  the  parish 
were  then  held  in  the  Armory  and  later  in  Harris  Hall. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  1869,  the  Reverend  Father  M.  McCabe  was 
transferred  from  Providence  to  this  parish,  and  he  has  since  that  time 
been  the  beloved  pastor.  He  devoted  himself  with  vigor  to  complete 
the  church,  raising  $36,000  more  for  that  purpose,  and  watching  every 
detail  of  the  building  until  it  was  ready  for  dedication,  October  16th, 
1871.  The  ceremonies  were  performed  by  Bishop  McFarland,  assisted 
by  Father  McCabe  and  the  Reverend  R.  J.  Fulton,  of  Worcester,  Mass. 
It  is  an  imposing  edifice  of  Northbridge  granite,  75  by  164  feet,  and 
has  sittings  for  nearly  1,800  people.  The  altars  are  very  massive  and 
the  adornments  in  the  interior  are  in  fine  taste  and  beautifully  finished. 
The  church  cost  about  $80,000  and  is  an  appropriate  monument  of  the 
zeal  and  faithfulness  of  the  members  of  the  parish,  acting  under  the 
guidance  of  Father  McCabe.  To  improve  the  architecture  of  the 
church  he  caused  a  vestibule  tower  to  be  erected  in  the  summer  of 
1889,  at  a  cost  of  $9,000.  It  is  of  the  same  material  as  the  church  and 
its  dimensions  are  21  by  21  feet  and  96  feet  high.  In  the  upper  part 
of  the  tower  is  a  bell,  weighing  4,000  pounds.  Directly  opposite  the 
church  a  large  priest's  house,  valued  at  $10,000,  was  erected  in  1881, 
and  on  an  adjoining  lot  will  be  erected  a  large  block  for  the  use  of 
the  societies  connected  with  the  church. 

In  the  fall  of  1867  a  desirable  property  was  bought  near  the  church 
for  convent  purposes,  on  which  new  buildings  were  placed  at  a  later 
day.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1869,  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  took  charge 
of  this  as  the  Convent  of  St.  Bernard,  and  have  since  maintained 
schools  of  a  high  character,  which  are  well  patronized.  In  1889  Sister 
Anastatia  was  the  directress.  ^  St.  Charles'  school,  before  mentioned, 
and  St.  Michael's  are  also  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  and  are 
attended  by  nearly  500  pupils.  The  latter  school  building,  on  River 
street,  was  the  gift  of  Father  McCabe  to  the  parish,  in  1878,  and  is 
worth  $8,000.  All  these  temporalities  of  the  parish  are  in  charge  of 
the  usually  constituted  board  of  control,  the  lay  members  of  which  in 
1889  were  Doctor  P.  H.  Madden  and  John  F.  Holt. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  343 

Connected  with  the  church,  and  valuable  auxiliaries  in  its  parish 
work,  are  several  important  societies,  which  are  well  maintained.  One 
of  these,  the  Ladies'  Benevolent  Aid  Society,  was  organized  March 
29th,  1868,  with  Mrs.  Joseph  Banigan,  president;  Mrs.  William  Ker- 
wick,  secretary;  and  Mrs.  James  W.  Smyth,  treasurer.  The  society 
has  greatly  alleviated  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  and  performed  much 
charitable  work.  The  Christian  Doctrine  Society  was  organized  Sun- 
day, August  13th,  1871,  and  Daniel  Holt  was  the  first  president;  James 
Murray,  secretary;  and  Reverend  John  Kelley,  treasurer.  Its  object 
was  to  conduct  the  boys'  Sunday  school  and  to  provide  teachers  there- 
for. A  library  was  established  as  soon  as  the  society  was  formed, 
which  has  since  grown  to  be  a  valuable  feature  of  its  work.  The 
Christian  Doctrine  Lyceum  is  closely  allied  to  the  latter  and  its  scope 
is  indicated  by  its  name.  Its  organization  dates  from  1870,  and  with 
little  exception  regular  weekly  meetings  have  since  been  held.  In 
1889  John  V.  Heffernan  was  the  president. 

Warmly  interested  in  these  aids  has  always  been  Father  Michael 
McCabe,  for  20  consecutive  years  the  pastor.  He  was  born  of  well-to- 
do  farmers  in  Leitrim,  Ireland,  in  1826,  and  was  well  instructed  in  his 
youth.  In  1851  he  came  to  America  and  entered  the  seminary  at 
Providence  and  later  the  theological  seminary  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
which  he  left  in  1854  to  return  to  Providence  to  be  ordained  to  the 
priesthood.  At  Woonsocket  he  has  seen  his  parish  grow  until  it 
numbers  more  than  3,600  members,  with  over  $100,000  worth  of  prop- 
erty, yet  he  serves  as  unostentatiously  as  when  he  first  came.  Truly 
has  it  been  said  of  him:  "  He  is  to  the  parish  like  a  common  father, 
whose  advice,  instruction  and  benevolence  have  been  the  consolation 
and  protection  of  a  thousand  homes."  In  1879  he  was  appointed  vicar- 
general  of  the  diocese  of  Providence,  and  since  1887  has  been  a  Can- 
onical pastor  to  the  parish.  In  his  labors  as  a  priest  he  has  been 
assisted  by  the  Reverend  P.  Farley,  the  Reverend  J.  Mahon  and 
others. 

The  Church  of  the  Precious  Blood  is  an  offshoot  of  St.  Charles 
church,  and  is  composed  almost  exclusively  of  French  Canadian  Catho- 
lics. Prior  to  the  separation  the  mother  church  had  assistant  priests 
for  the  French  people,  separate  worship  being  often  held.  Among 
the  priests  of  the  old  parish  who  so  served  were  the  Reverends  Law- 
rence Walsh,  in  1866;  James  A.  Princen,  in  1867;  F.  Belanger,  in 
1868-9;  and  Austin  D.  Bernard  from  1870.  Under  the  latter,  in  1872, 
a  separate  organization  was  effected  and  the  parish  of  Du  Prccicux 
Sang  formed.  The  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  hall  over  the  Harris 
Privilege  store,  but  the  rapid  growth  of  the  congregation  soon  made 
it  possible  to  acquire  separate  church  property.  August  27th,  1873,  a 
very  eligible  lot  was  purchased  for  a  building  site,  in  Bernon,  where 
the  corner  stone  for  a  large  edifice  was  laid,  October  2yth,  1874.  The 
ceremonies  attending  this  act  were  participated  in  by  all  the  Catholic 


344  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

societies  of  the  town,  besides  a  large  assemblage  of  people  who  pro- 
ceeded thither  from  St.  Charles  church.  The  stone  was  blessed  by 
A^icar  General  Lawrence  McMahone  and  the  sermon  in  French  was 
preached  by  the  Reverend  A.  Villeneune,  of  Montreal.  The  edifice 
thus  begun  w^as  to  be  of  brick  and  stone,  69  by  168  feet,  70  feet  high, 
and  to  be  set  off  with  a  corner  tower  172  feet  high.  Later  this  plan 
was  slightly  modified  as  to  the  height  of  the  towers.  The  exterior  of 
the  building  was  finished,  except  the  south  tower,  which  was  but  72 
feet  high  and  was  to  be  carried  up  15  feet  more,  and  the  basement 
was  already  occupied  for  public  worship,  when  the  church  was 
destroyed  by  a  gale,  February  2d,  1876.  The  wind  blew  furiously 
from  the  northwest,  at  the  rate  of  67  miles  per  hour,  and  the  air  was 
so  filled  with  dust  and  ice  javelins  that  sight  was  almost  obscured. 
The  roof  was  loosened  from  the  building,  and  the  walls  separating,  it 
was  dropped  down,  carrying  with  it  everything  except  the  east  wall 
and  the  towers,  and  causing  a  loss  to  the  parish  of  about  $25,000.  In 
a  short  time  the  work  of  restoration  was  begun  and  the  basement  was 
again  speedily  fitted  up  for  worship.  Work  upon  the  main  church 
progressed  more  slowly  and  the  completed  edifice  was  not  ready  for 
dedication  until  July  27th,  1881.  As  consecrated  its  principal  features 
are  the  same  as  those  of  the  original  church,  being  plain  but  impres- 
sive in  its  appearance.  The  interior  is  beautifully  decorated,  and 
there  are  three  altars,  the  main  one  being  33  feet  high.  There  is  an 
organ,  31  feet  high,  and  in  the  tower  are  five  finely  toned  bells.  The 
church  accommodates  nearly  2,000  people  and  the  parish  has  more 
than  6,000  members.  Adjoining  the  church  lot  a  commodious  priest's 
house  has  been  erected,  and  near  by  is  the  convent  and  academy  of  the 
Lcs  Dames  de  Jesus  Marie,  a  substantial  brick  building,  in  which  a  largely 
patronized  school  is  maintained.  To  provide  more  spacious  accommo- 
dations a  larger  convent  will  be  erected  in  the  same  neighborhood, 
upon  foundation  walls  which  have  already  been  laid.  A  number  of 
parish  schools  of  a  primary  grade  are  also  supported  and  are  attended 
by  hundreds  of  pupils.  The  interests  of  the  parish  were  for  a  number 
of  years  in  care  of  the  Reverend  Father  A.  D.  Bernard,  and  have  been 
successfully  continued  and  increased  by  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev- 
erend Charles  Dauray,  who  has  for  a  dozen  of  years  been  the  priest. 
The  entire  temporalities  of  the  parish  are  estimated  worth  more  than 
$100,000. 

The  St.  Vincent  De  Paul  Beneficial  Society  was  organized  in  1878 
as  an  auxiliary  of  the  church  work  among  deserving  members  of  the 
parish,  [n  1889  its  principal  officers  were:  Solomon  Breault,  presi- 
dent; Alphonse  Gaulin,  vice-president;  Philip  Boucher,  secretary; 
Godfrey  Daigneault,  treasurer.  Other  church  societies  have  recently 
been  organized,  and  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  following  account  of  the  Universalist  Society  and  church  is 
from  notes  by  the  pastor. 


HISTORY    OF   TROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  345 

As  early  as  1821  Reverends  Hosea  Ballou,  Thomas  Whittemore 
.and,  later,  David  Pickering-,  William  S.  Balch  and  others  preached 
the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation  in  the  village  of  Woonsocket 
Falls,  using  for  that  purpose  groves,  school  houses  and  unfinished 
factories.  There  was  great  opposition,  but  as  it  was  unwise  and 
ill-tempered  it  only  multiplied  believers  in  this  doctrine.  October 
25th,  1834,  a  permanent  society  —  The  Woonsocket  Universalist 
Society  of  Young  Men — was  formed  at  the  hotel  of  Luke  Whit- 
comb,  when  the  following  officers  were  chosen:  Christopher  Robin- 
son, president;  Jonathan  Wales,  vice-president;  Lewis  H.  Bradford, 
secretary;  William  O.  Bisbee,  treasurer;  Willis  Cook,  Aaron  Rathbun, 
Albert  Jenckes,  Eliab  M.  Ballou,  William  J.  Holder,  prudential  com- 
mittee. 

The  constitution,  by-laws  and  charter  were  largely  the  production 
of  Christopher  Robinson,  who  was  president  of  the  society  till  1840. 
Public  worship  was  somewhat  irregular  till  April  8th,  1840,  when  a 
church  edifice  costing  $6,000  was  dedicated.  Since  that  time  there 
has  been  no  interruption  of  the  proper  work  of  a  religious  society. 
The  church,  situated  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Church  streets,  has 
been  several  times  enlarged,  remodelled  and  refitted,  and  is  now 
worth  $25,000.  Its  seating  capacity  is  somewhat  over  five  hundred, 
and  the  pews  are  always  well  rented.  The  average  of  annual  current 
expenses  for  the  last  score  of  years,  at  least,  has  not  been  less  than 
$4,000.  This  sum,  large  for  a  country  parish,  has  been  raised  so 
promptly  that  an  empty  treasury  has  never  been  known  by  the  pres- 
ent pastor.  Indeed,  the  financial  management  of  the  society  has  been 
almost  phenomenal.  Before  the  house  was  dedicated,  the  money 
■question  was  debated,  and  it  was  decided  that  Christians  could  scarcely 
show  their  interest  in  religion  better  than  by  prompt  payment  of 
their  debts.  It  was  voted  to  pay  one  quarter's  rents  and  subscriptions 
in  advance,  and  that  the  treasurers  rigorously  enforce  the  rule.  Un- 
der these  instructions  the  work  has  been  a  success  in  the  charge  of 
W.  O.  Bisbee  four  years;  L.  W.  Ballou,  five  years;  C.  H.  Metcalf,  two 
years;  Bradford  Knapp,  20  years;  H.  L.  Ballou,  18  years. 

The  society  has  received  bequests  as  follows:  Willis  Cook,  six 
years  president  of  the  society  and  31  years  chairman  of  its  prudential 
-committee,  $4,000;  Hannah  Law,  $500;  W.  A.  and  J.  A.  Miller,  $1,0()0; 
Francis  M.  Perkins,  member  of  the  prudential  committee  and  chair- 
man for  22  years,  real  estate  valued  at  $7,000;  Ira  B.  Peck,  $1,000. 
These  bequests  are  set  apart  as  memorials  of  the  donors,  and  are 
known  as  funds  bearing  the  names  of  these  generous  friends,  the  in- 
come of  which  alone  is  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  church  and  Sunday 
school. 

From  the  first  the  society  has  been  fortunate  in  having  prominent 
business  men  identified  with  it.  Its  first  president,  Christopher  Rob- 
inson, now  livineat  a  venerable  age,  for  a  long  time  a  leader  of  the 


846  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Rhode  Island  bar,  a  member  of  congress  and  consul  at  Peru,  still 
maintains  his  interest  in  the  society.  John  Burnham,  for  one  year 
president,  was  for  many  years  the  loved  and  honored  postmaster. 
Willis  Cook,  the  next  chairman,  was  president  of  one  of  our  banks, 
and  member  of  the  firm  of  Willis  &  Lyman  Cook.  Aaron  Rathbun 
was  a  successful  manufacturer.  L.  W.  Ballon,  LL.D.,  for  38  years 
president,  and  now  holding  that  position,  has  been  member  of  con- 
gress, and  is  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings,  and 
cashier  of  the  Woonsocket  National  Bank.  Edwin  R.  Thomas  and 
Charles  Nourse,  vice-presidents,  were  superintendents  of  great  cor- 
porations. John  Ellis,  Elijah  Newell,  A.  D.  Vose,  J.  B.  Aldrich,  H. 
L.  Ballou,  F.  M.  Perkins,  J.  W.  Ellis,  Charles  E.  Thomas,  G.  A.  Whip- 
ple, W.  N.  Cook,  holding  important  offices  in  the  society,  were  men 
at  the  front  in  all  that  belongs  to  the  best  interests  of  the  city.  These 
men  and  many  others  of  kindred  spirit  have  taken  and  still  take  a 
pride  in  doing  their  part  toward  making  the  financial  management  of 
the  society  a  success.  The  society,  though  recently  greatly  afflicted 
in  the  loss  by  death  of  some  of  its  most  active  and  infiuential  mem- 
bers, still  maintains  full  and  hopeful  ranks.  Thus  far  there  never 
has  been  anything  but  harmony  in  its  membership. 

The  church  connected  with  the  society  was  formed  November  22d, 
1843,  with  42  members,  of  whom  Sarah  J.  Boyden  (widow  of  Reverend 
John  Boyden),  L.  W.  Ballou,  Cyrus  T.  Cook,  G.  W.  Davis  and  wife, 
Louisa  Jenckes,  Alvira  Newell  and  Arnold  Jillson  were  living  in  the 
summer  of  1889.  Nelson  Jenckes  and  Benedict  Roys  were  the  first 
deacons,  Willis  Cook  was  appointed  in  April,  1865,  upon  the  death 
of  Nelson  Jenckes;  E.  R.  Thomas,  in  1858,  upon  resignation  of  Mr. 
Roys;  George  L.  Bartlett,  1859;  A.  D.  Vose,  1862;  W.  N.  Cook,  1879; 
Charles  E.  Thomas,  1887.  The  last  four  are  still  living  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  their  duties. 

The  church  had  in  1889  252  living  members;  129  have  died  or  been 
transferred.  The  church  undertakes  to  cultivate  the  religious  life, 
to  watch  over  and  encourage  its  membership  and  to  carry  the  gospel 
to  the  destitute.  It  cares  for  the  poor,  visits  the  sick  and  aids  in  many 
reforms.  It  has  full  charge  of  the  Sunday  school,  which  for  many 
years  has  numbered  from  350  to  413  pupils,  L.  W.  Ballou  having  been 
its  superintendent  for  47  years.  F.  E.  Luke,  A.  D.  Vose,  W.  G.  Bar- 
rows, and  H.  L.  Ballou  have  served  as  assistant  superintendents; 
F.  M.  Perkins,  Charles  E.  Ballou,  E.  Charles  Francis,  Samuel  P.  Cook, 
John  R.  Boyden,  S.  G.  Smith  and  A.  F.  White  as  librarians  or  assist- 
ant librarians.  There  have  been  321  children  baptized.  Over  100 
have  entered  the  church  from  the  Sunday  school.  The  Sunday 
school  has  been  self-sustaining  since  1840,  when  it  was  organized. 

The  church  has  an  active  Ladies'  Association,  numbering  79  mem- 
bers, a  Home  Mission,  numbering  about  60 members,  a  Girls'  Humane 
vSociety,  whose  object  is  to  aid  the  hospital,  the  Society  for  the  Preven- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  347 

tion  of  Cruelty  to  Children,  and  the  Society  to  Prevent  Cruelty  to  Ani- 
mals, also  a  Young-  Peoples'  Mutual  Improvement  Association,  whose 
exercises  are  literary  and  social.  Temperance  has  always  had  a 
hearty  advocacy  in  this  church.  From  the  first  communion  to  the 
last  no  wine  with  alcohol  has  been  used.  The  church  has  repeatedly 
declared  the  duty  of  its  membership  to  abstain  from  all  intoxicating 
beverages,  and  237  of  the  pupils  in  its  Sunday  school  have  taken  the 
pledge  of  total  abstinence. 

There  have  been  but  two  pastors;  the  Reverend  John  Boyden, 
who  died  September  28th,  1869,  and  Reverend  Charles  J.  White,  who 
began  his  pastorate  in  February,  1870.  Mr.  Boyden  was  almost 
an  ideal  pastor.  "  The  root  of  the  matter  was  in  him."  Spiritual 
minded,  consecrated,  indefatigable,  loving  everybody  and  every  good 
thing,  he  won  a  crown  of  glory  in  the  eyes  of  all  who  honor  good- 
ness. His  name  became  a  household  word  in  the  vicinity,  and  the 
denomination  to  which  he  belonged  delighted  to  think  of  him  as  a 
saint.  Written  upon  his  monument,  in  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  are  the 
appropriate  words,  "  Being  dead,  he  yet  speaketh."  His  presence 
was  like  a  benediction  to  his  congregation  and  his  preaching  was 
characterized  by  a  devout  belief  in  the  fullness  of  the  fatherhood  of 
God  and  the  universal  brotherhood  of  man.  In  1870  the  church  in- 
stituted the  pleasing  custom  of  setting  aside  a  day  for  the  purpose  of 
decorating  the  beloved  pastor's  grave,  which  has  yearly  been  observed 
with  unabated  interest. 

For  over  20  years  pastor  White  has  faithfully  served  this  people 
and,  in  the  language  of  one  of  his  parishioners,  "  By  his  urbanity,  his 
kindness,  and  his  many  virtues  he  has  endeared  himself  to  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact."  -^ 

The  following  sketch  of  St.  James  Episcopal  church  was  prepared 
from  notes  by  the  rector. 

The  first  meeting  of  Episcopalians  in  the  present  city  of  Woon- 
socket  was  held  at  the  house  of  Miss  Adelphia  Warren,  in  a  room  she 
had  set  aside  for  a  private  school.  She  was  a  Congregationalist,  but 
was  willing  to  aid  in  the  advancement  of  the  good  work  by  any  act 
that  Christian  courtesy  could  suggest  and,  hence,  hospitably  offered 
the  use  of  this  room,  on  the  corner  of  High  and  Arnold  streets. 
Later  meetings  were  held  in  a  room  in  the  Bernon  Mills,  until  the 
Bernon  school  house  was  built,  when  that  was  used. 

Doctor  Crocker,  of  Providence,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  ministers 
who  was  urged  by  his  devotion  to  the  church  to  visit  this  place  to  ad- 
minister its  rites.  He  frequently  walked  from  Providence  after  his 
service  in  the  morning  at  that  place  to  hold  meetings  here  in  the 
afternoon.  Remaining  all  night  with  his  good  friends,  the  Greenes, 
he  would  return  to  his  home  on  foot  the  next  day.  Such  zeal  could 
not  fail  of  good  results  and  the  organization  of  the  parish  of  St. 
James  followed,  April  1st,  1832. 
*  Richardson,  p.  83. 


348  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

In  May,  the  same  year,  it  was  duly  chartered  by  the  general  as- 
sembly, on  the  petition  of:  Samuel  Greene,  James  Wilson,  Jr.,  Joseph 
M.  Brown,  Rufus  Arnold,  Ariel  Ballon,  Jr.,  Philip  C.  Bryant,  Willard 
B.  Johnson,  Edmund  Bacon,  Aaron  White,  Jr.,  Edward  Harris,  Darius 
Sibley,  Philip  B.  vStevens,  Thaddeus  C.  Bruce,  John  W.  Buffum,  Daniel 
Wilkinson,  Stephen  H.  Smith,  Henry  Williams,  Alexander  S.  Streeter. 

At  this  time,  Joseph  M.  Brown  was  the  minister  and  thus  became 
the  first  rector  of  the  parish.  He  was  much  interested  in  the  building 
of  a  church,  which  it  was  voted,  September  7th,  1832,  to  erect,  and  ad- 
vanced considerable  money  from  his  personal  resources  to  that  end, 
taking  the  ownership  of  a  number  of  pews  as  a  return.  He  resigned 
his  rectorship  August  16th,  1835,  and  long  after  he  had  left  there  was 
difficulty  in  effecting  a  settlement  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  him- 
self and  the  parish. 

The  church  was  consecrated  with  impressive  ceremonies,  May  16th, 
1833,  by  Bishop  A.  N.  Griswold,  of  the  Eastern  diocese,  assisted  by  the 
rector  and  visiting  ministers  from  the  neighboring  churches,  who,  to- 
gether with  the  vestry  and  corporation,  marched  in  procession  to  the 
new  place  of  worship.  In  1838  later  repairs  were  m^de  on  the  build- 
ing, so  as  to  afford  better  support  for  the  roof  and  tower,  and  the  gal- 
lery was  extended.  Again,  in  the  spring  of  1848,  the  church  was 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  transepts,  and  the  old  organ  was  replaced 
by  a  new  one,  costing  $800.  An  exchange  of  property  with  the  Woon- 
socket  Company  also  took  place,  putting  the  real  estate  in  different 
shape  from  its  first  purchase.  A  donation  of  a  fine  communion  set, 
by  Mrs.  Samuel  Greene,  in  1851,  was  one  of  the  principal  events  of 
that  year. 

In  1856  the  church  edifice  was  extensively  remodeled.  The  tran- 
septs were  removed,  and  one  of  them  was  taken  to  Hamlet,  where  it 
serves  as  a  school  hoUvSe.  Towers  were  added  to  the  lengthened  build- 
ing, the  architecture  of  which  was  now  changed  to  the  Romanesque 
order.  With  its  stained  glass  chancel  window  and  its  modernized  in- 
terior, the  church  presented  an  attractive  appearance.  There  was  a 
seating  capacity  for  600  persons,  and  about  $4,000  was  spent  in  mak- 
ing these  improvements.  A  pleasing  incident  in  connection  with 
these  repairs  was  the  presentation  of  a  fine  clock  for  the  gallery  loft, 
by  Perley  Matthewson,  of  Providence,  as  a  memorial  of  his  experience 
in  this  church. 

During  the  Dorr  troubles,  in  1842,  when  a  company  of  soldiers  was 
stationed  at  Woonsocket,  some  of  them  were  quartered  in  churches 
and  school  houses.  St.  James'  church  was  one  of  the  last  so  used,  and 
when  Samuel  Greene,  as  one  of  the  officials  of  the  church,  was  applied 
to  for  permission  to  occupy  the  building,  he  replied  to  the  demands 
of  the  quartermaster:  "  There  hang  the  keys;  but  as  one  of  the  war- 
dens of  the  church,  I  protest  against  the  use  of  the  church  for  such  a 
purpose."     The   night  Mr.  Matthewson  spent  in   this  building  was 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  349 

dreary  and  long,  with  no  means  of  telling  the  passing  hours.  Hence 
his  conception  of  the  fitness  of  the  gift  of  a  clock,  though  he  expressed 
the  hope  that  no  one  might  ever  wish  for  one  in  the  church  under  the 
same  circumstances  that  placed  him  there. 

The  church  was  again  consecrated  December  31st,  IS.'iG,  by  Bishop 
Clark,  the  congregation  meantime  having  worshipped  in  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  Globe  village.  Other  improvements  of  a  temporal 
nature  were  soon  after  made  through  the  liberality  of  friends  of  the 
parish,  among  them  being  the  gift  of  a  rectory  by  Crawford  Allen, 
who  also  was  the  donor  of  a  chapel  and  minor  gifts,  in  1868,  which 
have  since  kept  him  in  grateful  remembrance.  In  1875  repairs  to  par- 
ish property  to  the  amount  of  $900  were  carried  on  by  the  Woman's 
Aid  Society;  and  in  the  same  year  new  by-laws  for  the  corporation 
were  drawn  up  by  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou.  In  1883  the  Edwin  Aldrich 
house  was  purchased  for  a  rectory,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  and  the  parish 
being  freed  from  debt  and  having  an  active  disposition,  various  im- 
provements have  been  projected  which  will  be  realized  in  the  near 
future.  Chief  among  these  are  the  renovation  of  the  chapel  and  the 
building  of  a  parish  house,  containing  parlors,  gymnasiums  and  read- 
ing rooms,  which  will  greatly  enhance  the  already  valuable  parish 
property,  and  permit  the  exercise  of  a  practical  Christianity  toward 
the  community  at  large. 

The  parish  was  without  a  rector  from  the  time  Rector  Brown  left, 
August  15th,  1835,  until  the  fall  of  1835,  when  the  Reverend  Henry 
Waterman  took  the  rectorship,  which'  he  held  until  November  1st, 
1841,  when  he  took  charge  of  St.  Stephen's  church.  Providence.  In 
this  period  64  persons  were  confirmed,  the  largest  number,  23,  being 
in  1839.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Reverend  Aziel  Dorr  Cole,  from 
November  1st,  1841,  to  July  1st,  1845,  about  four  years,  when  there 
were  21  persons  confirmed,  and  the  number  of  communicants  was  77. 
The  fourth  rector  was  the  Reverend  Baylies  P.  Talbot,  who  entered 
upon  these  duties  September  7th,  1845,  and  continued  until  his  death, 
September  5th,  1865.  A  few  months  previous,  while  sitting  in  his 
study,  he  was  injured  by  a  stroke  of  lightning  and  never  recovered 
from  the  shock,  but  passed  away  while  on  a  visit  to  Claremont,  N.  H. 
He  was  an  active,  earnest  man,  consistent  in  all  his  works,  and  the 
memory  of  his  good  deeds  is  well  preserved  by  a  mural  tablet  in  the 
church.     During  his  ministry  211  persons  were  confirmed. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  1865,  the  Reverend  Robert  Murray 
became  the  fifth  rector  and  so  continued  until  July,  1872,  when  he 
resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  His  earnest  work  in  this  period 
was  crowned  by  the  confirmation  of  116  persons,  the  largest  number 
being  29  in  1866.  His  successor  was  the  Reverend  James  F.  Powers, 
from  vSeptember,  1872,  until  July,  1873,  wl;en  he  resigned  to  take 
charge  of  a  church  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  splendid 
oratorical  attainments,  and  had  greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  con- 


350  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

gregation  in  the  short  time  he  was  the  rector,  in  which  office  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Reverend  Joseph  Lyons  Miller,  the  rector  from 
January  5th,  1874,  until  January,  1883.  In  that  period  97  persons  were 
confirmed.  The  Reverend  Charles  W.  K.  Morrill  became  the  eighth 
rector,  September,  1883,  and  remained  until  September  1885,  confirm- 
ing in  that  period  16  persons. 

The  ninth  and  present  rector,  the  Reverend  William  Sheafe  Chase, 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  St.  James  parish  December  1st,  1885.  His 
earnest  labors  have  brought  an  increase  of  membership,  93  persons 
having  been  confirmed  up  to  July,  1889,  making  the  entire  membership 
of  the  parish  322.  At  the  same  time  the  Sunday  school  had  306  mem- 
bers: For  many  years  Waldo  V.  Wales  was  its  superintendent. 
Horace  F.  Simonds  was  at  the  head  of  the  school  in  1889. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  under  the  charter,  Samuel 
Greene  was  elected  senior  warden,  which  position  he  held  till  his 
death,  in  1868,  except  during  the  year  1843,  when  William  Booth  held 
that  position.  The  office  of  junior  warden  has  been  held  by  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Thaddeus  Bruce,  1832;  James  Wilson,  Jr.,  1833;  Eli 
Pond,  1834-41;  William  Booth,  1842;  George  S.  Wardwell,  1844-59; 
Peleg  W.  Lippitt,  1860-1;  Lyman  A.  Cook,  1862-8;  P.  J.  Congdon, 
1869-71;  Stephen  N.  Mason,  1872-6;  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou,  1877-82; 
Henry  Andrews,  1883.  The  clerks  have  been:  Daniel  Wilkinson, 
1832-3;  Henry  P.  Baldwin,  1835-7;*  Welcome  B.  Sayles,  1838-42;  John 
B.  Walker,  besides  being  treasurer  six  years,  served  31  years  as  clerk, 
1843-74,  and  the  carefully  kept  records  of  the  vestry  and  corporation 
attest  the  fidelity  of  his  service;  George  B.  Arnold,  1874-87;  Jam.es  E. 
Cook,  1888.  The  office  of  treasurer  has  been  held  as  follows:  Philip 
B.  Stiness,  1833;  Jesse  Whiting,  1834;  John  B.  Walker,  1836-41;  Ran- 
dall Holden,  1842-3;  Stephen  N.  Mason,  1844-50;  Brigham  Spalding, 
1851-3;  George  C.  Wilson,  1855-6;  Stephen  N.  Mason,  1857-73;  Joseph  L. 
Brown,  1874-8;  Edgar  M.  Slocomb,  1879-88;  N.  D.  Woodworth,  1889. 

There  have  been  some  long  terms  of  service  on  the  vestry,  notable 
among  them  being  those  of  Eli  Pond,  from  1834  to  1876;  Wil- 
liam Booth,  1838-54;  William  Booth,  Jr.,  1858-81;  Stephen  N.  Mason, 
1840-76;  Hardin  Knight,  1855-85;  L.  C.  Tourtellot,  1837-48,  and  from 
1876  to  the  present  time.  Among  other  names  which  appear  as  mem- 
bers of  the  vestry,  are  those  of  Isaac  M.  Bull,  1868-78;  R.  K.  Ran- 
dolph, 1877-81,  and  Paul  Greene,  1870-75. 

In  1889  the  vestry  was  composed  of  Lyman  A.  Cook,  senior  warden, 
first  elected  to  vestry  in  1859;  Henry  Andrews,  junior  warden,  1876; 
L.  C.  Tourtellot,  1837;  .O.  J.  Rathbun,  1861;  George  H.  Miller,  1876; 
George  W.  Miller,  1878;  Edgar  M.  vSlocomb,  1879;  John  North,  1882; 
James  E.  Cook,  1886;  Mark  Hough,  1886;  George  M.  Welles,  1886; 
Charles  F.  Ballou,  1887;  Henry  P.  Abbott,  1888;  H.  F.  Simonds,  1888; 
Seth  Arnold,  1888;  James  E.  Cook,  clerk;  N.  D.  Woodworth,  treasurer; 
Mrs.  Ida  M.  Teston,  assistant  treasurer. 

♦Removed  to  Michigan  and  became  governor  of  that  state. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  361 

The  parish  has  a  number  of  societies  connected  with  it,  which  are 
valuable  auxiliaries  in  promoting  general  or  specific  work  of  the 
church.  The  principal  ones  are:  St.  Andrew's  Brotherhood,  embracing 
among  its  members  some  of  the  leading  young  men  of  the  city;  St. 
James  Guild,  the  Girls'  Friendly  Society,  and  the  Woman's  Aid  So- 
ciety. The  latter  is  a  very  effective  organization  and  was  brought 
into  existence  soon  after  the  church  was  formed,  as  a  sewing  circle, 
but  after  1873  changed  its  name  to  the  present  title.  The  presidents 
have  been:  Mrs.  Samuel  Greene,  Mrs.  B.  P.  Talbot,  Mrs.  Charles  E. 
Aldrich,  Mrs.  Henry  G.  Ballou,  Miss  Mary  Brownell  and  Mrs.  Lettie 
Arnold. 

The  Globe  Congregational  Church. — About  1830  there  came  to 
Woonsocket  a  woman  of  strong  Christian  character,  who  had  much  to 
do  with  the  introduction  of  Congregationalism,  and  who  was  for  many 
years  a  devout  member  of  the  church  she  helped  to  organize  several 
years  later.  Miss  Delphia  Warren  first  established  a  Sunday  school 
at  her  house,  on  the  corner  of  Arnold  and  High  streets,  and  there  on 
the  24th  of  December,  1834,  the  following  eight  persons  were  consti- 
tuted the  above  church:  Miss  Delphia  Warren,  Mrs.  Adelia  Pike, 
Abner  Rawson,  Mrs.  Martha  Rawson,  Joseph  Greene,  Joseph  R.  Greene, 
Miss  Martha  A.  Greene  and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hill.  Six  had  a  former 
church  connection,  presenting  letters,  and  two  united  on  profession  of 
faith.  The  same  day  the  Reverend  E.  P.  Ingersoll  was  ordained  their 
first  pastor.  On  the  4th  of  January,  1835,  the  holy  communion  was 
administered  to  this  band  for  the  first  time,  the  meeting  being  held 
in  the  Dexter  Ballou  school  house,  which  was  the  general  preaching 
place  until  a  church  was  provided. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Ingersoll  was  dissolved  at  the  end  of  nearly 
ten  months,  October  13th,  1835,  the  congregation  having  at  that  time 
23  members.  For  a  period  of  about  six  years  there  was  no  pastor  and 
no  public  services  were  held.  In  consequence  the  interest  had  so 
much  decreased  that  when  the  Reverend  Seth  Chapin  began  his  labors 
as  a  missionary  of  the  Rhode  Island  Home  Mission  Society  he 
found  that  there  remained  in  the  village  February  14th,  1841,  but 
eight  members,  just  the  original  number,  which  led  him  to  say:  "  This 
is  a  striking  instance  of  the  fulfillment  of  God's  gracious  promise,  that 
the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  the  church.  Like  the  burn- 
ing bush,  they  had  not  been  consumed."  Five  days  later,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  at  the  house  of  the  faithful  Delphia  Warren,  it  was  voted  to 
resume  the  ordinances  of  the  church.  In  July,  the  same  year,  at  a 
meeting  held  at  Adelia  Pike's,  also  one  of  the  original  members,  the 
■Reverend  Seth  Chapin  was  invited  to  act  as  pastor  during  his  continu- 
ance with  them,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  means  to 
erect  a  church.  This  project  was  so  far  encouraged  that  in  October, 
1841,  the  Congregational  Society  of  Woonsocket,  in  Smithfield,  was 
constituted  a  corporate  body  by  legislative  enactment.     The  corpora- 


352  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 

tors  were:  Samuel  Withington,  Edward  Spragtie,  Silas  W.  Plympton,. 
Lyman  Cook,  George  W.  Steere,  Arnold  Briggs,  Edward  H.  Adams, 
Ozias  M.  Morse,  Simeon  Newton,  Thomas  A.  Paine,  Hiram  Bennett, 
Daniel  F.  Knapp,  David  Daniels  and  Seth  Chapin.  The  society  was 
empowered  to  hold  property  of  every  description,  not  to  exceed  in 
value  $20,000.  Funds  were  collected  at  home  and  abroad,  some  of  the 
contributions  being  very  liberal.  At  Providence  good  Deacon  Chapin 
headed  the  list  with  $1,000.  In  1842  the  Reverend  Perry  was  the 
stated  supply  and  December  1st,  the  same  year,  the  Reverend  Edwin 
Leigh,  of  Andover  Seminary,  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor. 

The  church  edifice,  a  frame  structure,  on  the  hill  above  the  Globe 
Mills,  was  completed  for  dedication  in  June,  1843,  and  on  the  same 
day  the  Reverend  Leigh  was  ordained  pastor,  which  position  he 
occupied  until  May  22d,  1844. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  1843,  it  was  voted  that  new  articles  of  faith 
be  adopted,  and  that  unfermented  wine  should  be  used  at  communion, 
thus  early  taking  a  radical  position  on  the  temperance  question.  At 
this  meeting  Silas  W.  Plympton  was  ordained  a  deacon  of  the  church. 

Following  the  Reverend  Leigh  came  the  Reverend  James  M.  Davis, 
as  a  supply,  in  October,  1844,  and  as  settled  pastor  June  10th,  1845. 
He  had  preached  with  so  much  acceptance  that  there  were  80  mem- 
bers, and  the  congregation  was  admitted  to  membership  in  the  Rhode 
Island  Consociation,  Simeon  Newton  being  the  first  delegate.  Mr. 
Leigh's  pastorate  was  dissolved  after  six  years,  much  against  the  wishes 
of  the  congregation,  which  greatly  esteemed  him  and  his  wife.  In 
this  period,  April  oth,  1848,  Robert  Blake  was  ordained  deacon,  and 
since  that  time  has  consistently  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office. 

For  a  period  the  church  had  no  pastor,  but  the  pulpit  was  supplied, 
in  the  summer  of  1852,  by  the  Reverend  William  W.  Belden;  and 
December  21st,  1853,  the  Reverend  Levi  Packard  was  installed  and 
remained  as  pastor  until  October  16th,  1855,  when  he  was  compelled 
to  retire  on  account  of  poor  health.  The  church  was  now  closed  most 
of  the  time  until  April  15th,  1857,  when  the  pulpit  was  again  occu- 
pied by  supplies,  until  July  19th,  1857,  when  the  Reverend  Theodore 
Cooke  commenced  a  pastoral  service  which  continued  about  eight  years. 
He  was  a  scholar,  with  broad  and  liberal  views,  very  sympathetic  and 
devoutly  consecrated  to  his  work.  The  memory  of  his  worth  continues 
until  this  day. 

The  Reverend  James  E.  Dockray  next  filled  a  year's  pastorate,  be- 
ginning August  1st,  1867.  Two  weeks  later  letters  of  dismission  were 
granted  to  14  persons,  members  of  the  church,  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
mitting them  to  unite  with  others  in  forming  a  new  Congregational 
church  in  the  Cumberland  part  of  Woonsocket.  In  September,  the 
same  year,  Daniel  N.  Paine  and  Lyman  Cook  were  elected  deacons  of 
the  old  church. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  353 

After  a  period  without  a  pastor  the  Reverend  H.  E.  Johnson  began 
a  ministry  in  1869,  which  was  continued  about  three  years,  when  he 
became  pastor  of  the  East  Providence  church.  He  was  an  unassum- 
ing man,  but  exemplary  in  his  life,  and  had  the  esteem  of  the  entire 
Christian  community.  On  the  27th  day  of  January,  1873,  the  Rever- 
end W.  S.  Stockbridge  became  pastor,  and  so  continued  until  July, 
1874.  He  was  a  large-hearted  man,  and  a  practical  Christian,  but 
there  was  no  particular  growth  in  this  period. 

November  15th,  1874,  the  Reverend  B.  F.  Parsons  became  the 
joint  pastor  of  this  church  and  Plymouth  chapel,  and  remained  two 
years.  This  arrangement  conduced  to  the  general  good  of  both 
societies,  as  it  resulted  in  bringing  them  together,  thus  forming  one 
strong  church  in  the  place. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1877,  the  Reverend  George  W.  Brooks,  of 
the  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  was  here  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  church.  Under  his  ministry  new  life  was  infused  in  the 
united  church  and  it  became  self-supporting,  the  first  time  in  its  his- 
tory. To  celebrate  this  freedom  from  dependence  on  the  Rhode 
Island  Home  Missionary  Society,  which  had  aided  it  40  years,  an  ap- 
propriate jubilee  meeting  was  held  January  25th,  1882.  Mr.  Brooks 
was  a  most  faithful  pastor,  but  he  was  constrained  to  leave,  and  his 
relations  to  the  church  were  dissolved  by  a  council  held  May  8th, 
1883.  He  was  not  only  a  good  pastor,  but  was  ever  ready  to  aid  what- 
ever tended  to  promote  the  general  good  and  education,  and  temper- 
ance always  found  in  him  a  warm  friend. 

After  a  vacancy  of  a  year  the  Reverend  M.  S.  Hartwell  became 
the  pastor  in  April,  1884,  and  served  with  acceptance  two  years.  In 
December,  1884,  the  church  celebrated  its  first  semi-centennial  anni- 
versary, and  was  at  that  time  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

In  January,  1887,  the  Reverend  Edwin  S.  Gould  became  the  stated 
supply  of  the  church,  and  so  continued  until  January,  1889.  In  June 
of  the  same  year,  the  present  incumbent,  the  Reverend  Judson  V. 
Clancy,  entered  upon  a  similar  engagement.  He  had  for  his  associate 
officers  of  the  church:  Deacons,  Robert  Blake,  Edwin  Salley  and 
Henry  L.  Cooke:  clerk,  Henrietta  J.  Paine;  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent, Henry  M.  Greene. 

In  1887  the  church  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  renovated  at  an 
outlay  of  $2,000,  and  now  has  a  modern  appearance.  The  funds  for 
this  purpose  were  raised  mainly  by  the  different  societies  of  the  parish, 
among  them  being  the  Ladies'  vSewing  Circle,  Globe  Workers  and 
Young  Peoples'  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

In  the  fall  of  1889  the  church  had  90  members,  and  the  Sabbath 
school,  which  has  been  well  sustained  for  nearly  50  years,  had  175 
belonging.  It  is  unusually  well  supplied  with  works  of  reference,  and 
has  a  good  circulating  library. 

In  February,  1867,  a  new  Congregational  society  was  formed  in 
23 


354  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  which  had  a  promising  membership, 
composed  partly  of  those  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  Globe  church 
to  forward  this  movement.  A  commodious  frame  house  of  worship 
was  erected,  on  Spring  street,  the  same  year,  which  received  the 
name  of  Plymouth  chapel,  and  the  Reverend  Ebenezer  Douglass  was 
inducted  into  the  pastoral  office.  In  January,  1873,  that  relation  was 
dissolved,  and  for  the  next  few  years  the  congregation  had  the  same 
pastor  as  the  mother  church,  with  which  it  soon  after  united.  For 
many  years  the  chapel  has  been  standing  unoccupied,  and  in  1889 
bore  unmistakable  evidence  of  its  unused  condition. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1836.  For 
many  years  the  population  of  Woonsocket  was  composed  almost  ex- 
clusively of  factory  operatives,  who  fr.equently  removed,  making  it 
difficult  to  maintain  a  church  organization,  long  after  Methodism  had 
been  preached  here.  But  in  order  to  make  the  effort  to  found  a 
church  more  effectual,  the  old  Northbridge  circuit  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Conference  was  divided,  in  1884,  and  Woonsocket,  Slatersville 
and  Blackstone  were  constituted  a  new  circuit,  bearing  the  former 
name,  with  the  Reverend  Wells  Walcott  as  the  preacher  in  charge. 
Hanson  Arnold  and  Elijah  Sherman  served  as  class  leaders.  The 
members  were  poor,  and  it  required  much  effort  to  collect  the  preach- 
er's allowance  for  rent,  fuel  and  table  expenses,  amounting  to  what 
now  seems  the  insignificant  sum  of  $140;  but  it  was  the  day  of  small 
things,  and  the  germ  from  which  has  grown  a  vigorous  congregation. 

In  1835  the  Reverend  Hiram  Cummings  became  the  preacher  for 
two  years,  and  soon  after  coming  set  measures  on  foot  to  secure  a 
house  of  worship,  being  aided  in  this  work  by  Hanson  Arnold,  John 
Erwin,  William  Holmes,  George  Aldrich  and  John  Cullom,  as  an  ad- 
visory committee.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  they  reported  any 
plan  for  action.  About  this  time  John  Cullom  was  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher.  In  April,  1836,  William  Holmes,  George  Aldrich  (3d),  John 
Erwin,  Elijah  H.  Sherman,  Stephen  R.  Fielding,  Hardin  Hopkins  and 
Hanson  Arnold  were  chosen  as  a  board  of  trustees,  who  purchased  a 
site  for  a  church  building,  May  9th,  1836,  and  the  work  of  erecting 
the  same  was  soon  after  begun.  It  was  dedicated  during  the  ministry 
of  Mr.  Cummings,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  Reverend  Jona- 
than Horton.  Having  now  its  own  house  of  worship,  which  in  that 
period  was  fine  and  commodious,  the  society  acquired  influence  and 
speedily  increased  its  membership.  In  1838  especially,  while  the 
Reverend  Ephraim  Scott  was  in  charge,  a  large  number  were  added, 
and  the  class  leaders  reported  a  marked  increase  of  interest  in  spirit- 
ual matters.  The  Sunday  school  had  90  members,  11  teachers  and 
one  Bible  class.  In  all  27  members  were  added  to  the  church.  The 
subsequent  ten  years  were  uneventful  in  the  history  of  the  church, 
there  being  rather  a  decline  than  a  growth,  on  account  of  the  strin- 
gency of  the  times,  which  caused  the  removal  of  some  members  and 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  355 

made  it  difficult  to  maintain  the  financial  standing  of  the  society. 
But,  in  1848,  there  appears  to  have  been  a  turn  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  and  new  power  was  imparted  to  the  whole  body,  which  in- 
creased so  that,  in  1853,  the  church  succeeded  in  freeing  itself  from 
a  debt  which  had  long  burdened  it. 

A  few  years  of  depression  soon  followed,  after  which  again  came 
an  era  of  spiritual  and  financial  prosperity  which  made  it  possible  to 
improve  the  church  edifice.  This  was  done  in  1860  at  an  outlay  of 
$3,000.  The  building  was  raised  and  a  lecture  room  and  vestry  fur- 
nished in  the  basement.  The  yard  was  also  graded  and  fenced.  In 
this  work  Edward  Harris  and  others,  not  members  of  the  church,  aided 
in  a  substantial  manner.  The  church  was  again  formally  opened  for 
religious  worship  October  10th,  1860.  Three  years  later,  while  the 
Reverend  David  H.  Ela  was  in  charge,  as  fine  a  parsonage  as  there 
was  at  that  time  in  the  conference  was  built  on  a  lot  donated  by 
Edward  Harris.  In  1889  this  property  was  valued  at  $2,800  and  the 
church  building  at  $8,000,  both  being  controlled  by  a  board  of  trustees, 
of  which  Joseph  E.  Cole  was  the  president;  Doctor  A.  W.  Buckland, 
secretary;  and  Ezra  Sugden,  treasurer.  The  latter  property  has  been 
made  comfortable  by  recent  repairs,  but  the  erection  of  a  new  church 
on  the  old  site  at  an  early  day  is  contemplated,  in  order  to  afford  bet- 
ter accommodation  for  the  growing  congregation.  In  1889  there  were 
176  members  and  the  appointment  ranked  as  a  station  in  the  Provi- 
dence district  of  the  Southern  New  England  Conference,  the  Reverend 
Dwight  A.  Jordan  being  the  presiding  elder. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  church  its  pastors  have  been:  1834, 
Reverend  Wells  Walcott;  1835-6,  Hiram  Cummings;  1837,  Daniel  K. 
Bannister;  1838,  Ephraim  Scott;  1839-40,  Richard  K.  Livesey;  1841, 
Apolos  Hall;  1842,  Ebenezer  Blake;  1843,  Hebron  Vincent  (1  mo.); 
1843,  Cyrus  C.  Munger;  1844-5,  S.  W.  Coggeshall;  1846-7,  Warren 
Emerson;  1848  9,  Charles  H.  Titus;  1850,  George  H.  Wooding;  1851-2. 
John  Lovejoy;  1853-4,  Philip  Crandon;  1855-6,  George  C.  Bancroft; 
1857-8,  E.  B.  Bradford;  1859-60,  William  Livesey;  1861,  Thomas  Ely; 
1862-3,  David  H.  Ela;  1864-5,  J.  W.  Willett;  1866-7,  Edward  A. 
Lyon;  1868-9,  Edward  H.  Hatfield;  1870-1,  W.  McKendree  Bray; 
1872,  Charles  Nason;  1873-4,  Nathan  G.  Axtell;  1875-7,  J.  E.  Hawkins; 
1878-9,  Albert  P.  Palmer;  1880-2,  Alexander  Anderson;  ,1883-5,  John 
W.  Willett;  1886-8,  James  H.  Nutting;  1889,  Howard  E.  Cooke. 

The  Reverends  J.  W.  V.  Rich  and  Henry  E.  Benoit  were  local 
preachers.  The  latter  also  serves  as  missionary  among  the  French 
Canadians,  in  the  vSouthern  New  England  Conference,  and  has  vigor- 
ously prosecuted  the  work  of  evangelization  among  them  since  the 
summer  of  1888.  In  July  of  that  year  he  began  a  series  of  tent  meet- 
ings, which  awakened  much  interest  among  that  class  of  people,  as 
well  as  opposition  from  those  opposed  to  such  measures;  but  they  were 
successfully  continued  until  the  end  of  the  season.     Mr.  Benoit  had  a 


356  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

valuable  auxiliary  in  this  work  in  the  paper,  Lc  MctJiodistc  Franco- 
American,  which  he  published  and  gratuitously  circulated  ever}^  week. 
This  sheet  became  the  official  organ  of  the  church  in  November,  1888, 
and  appears  to  serve  its  purpose  well.  In  April,  1889,  the  office  of 
publication  was  removed  from  Woonsocket  to  New  York  and  its  sphere 
of  usefulness  was  much  increased  by  giving  it  a  more  extended  circu- 
lation. These  missionary  labors  have  been  zealous  and  full  of  good 
results. 

The  Methodist  Sunday  school  at  Woonsocket  has  been  well  main- 
tained and  had  in  1889  an  enrollment  of  175  members.  There  was  a 
well-selected  library  of  700  volumes  and  other  requisites  for  carrying 
on  the  work  in  an  interesting  manner. 

The  Second  Advent  church  is  the  result  of  the  preaching  of  the 
Reverend  Joseph  Miette,  who  came  occasionally  from  Warwick  as  early 
as  1885  and  held  meetings  on  Main  street.  A  society  was  formed  in 
the  spring  of  1887,  which  had  a  small  but  active  membership,  believ- 
ing in  the  second  coming  of  Christ.  Soon  steps  were  taken  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship,  and  A.  A.  Fowler,  Oscar  Bennett,  E.  E.  Morse, 
Henry  Jeffrey  and  E.  Morse  were  chosen  trustees  of  the  temporal 
affairs  of  the  church.  A  lot  was  purchased  on  Greene  street  and  Park 
avenue,  on  which  was  built  a  frame  church,  32  by  45  feet,  costing 
$3,300,  which  was  dedicated  July  15th,  1887,  by  the  Reverend  E.  A. 
Stockman,  of  Boston,  and  Pastor  Miette.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
a  neat  parsonage,  valued  at  $3,500,  was  completed  on  Park  avenue,  and 
all  the  property  was  free  from  incumbrance.  Under  the  continued 
pastorate  of  Reverend  Mr.  Miette  the  church  has  prospered,  having  in 
July,  1889,  30  devoted  members,  who  also  have  maintained  a  good 
Sunday  school  since  the  organization  of  the  church. 

The  agitation  of  the  temperance  question  early  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  the  native  citizens  of  Woonsocket.  This  led  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  number  of  societies,  which  were  intended  to  give  better  ex- 
pression to  these  opinions  on  the  drink  habit.  Some  of  the  societies 
were  short  lived,  but  others  continued  until  there  were  fruitful  results 
as  the  effects  of  their  labors.  In  1842  there  was  a  strong  Washing- 
tonian  Society,  of  which  A.  S.  Daniels  was  the  secretary.  Four  years 
later  there  were  at  least  half  a  dozen  temperance  societies;  and  in 
1849  the  Irish  citizens  were  also  enlisted  in  the  work,  forming  their 
Father  Mathew  Society.  In  1855  there  was  a  flourishing  Female 
Temperance  Society,  of  which  Mrs.  O.  D.  Ballou  was  the  president. 

Fountain  Division,  No.  4,  S.  of  T.,  was  organized  under  a  charter 
dated  March  8th,  1858,  wherein  12  persons  are  named  as  members. 
Samuel  H.  Cottrell  was  the  first  W.  P.;  and  Moses  B.  Thayer  the  R.  S. 
This  body  has  since  maintained  its  existence,  though  greatly  varying 
in  its  prosperity  and  the  number  of  its  members.  Several  hundred 
have  belonged.  The  last  officers  installed  were:  W.  P.,  Fred.  E.  Math- 
ewson;  W.  A.,  Emma  Southwick;  R.  S.,  A.  D.  Vose;  T.,  Charles  E. 
Dallman. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  857 

The  Good  Templars  were  not  so  fortunate  in  perpetuating  their 
•societies.  Enterprise  Lodge,  No.  49,  so  flourishing  at  one  time,  has 
been  discontinued,  and  so  has  Re-Union  Lodge,  No.  6L  The  latter 
was  chartered  February  8th,  1875,  with  eight  members.  John  Worrall 
was  the  chief  templar;  Francis  J.  Brady  the  secretary,  and  Caleb  E. 
Ward  the  treasurer. 

Woonsocket  Temple  of  Honor,  No.  6,  was  organized  May  17th, 
1865.  In  1873  there  were  225  active  members  and  a  complete  organi- 
zation, which  was  continued  a  dozen  years  longer.  After  this  there 
was  such  a  lack  of  interest  that  it  was  decided  to  surrender  the  char- 
ter, which  was  done  July  14th,  1888.  William  J.  Milan  was  the  last 
W.  C.  T.,  and  Seth  Arnold  the  recorder. 

The  Woonsocket  Reform  Club  was  organized  Ma}^  11th,  187G,  and 
incorporated  February  16th,  1878,  with  54  charter  members.  Its  first 
•officers  were:  L.  B.  Pease,  president;  J.  R.  Robertson,  vice-president;  J. 
R.  Penhallow,  secretary;  and  James  Austin,  treasurer.  After  this  the 
organization  was  well  kept  up  seven  years  longer,  meetings  being  held 
with  great  regularity,  when  there  was  less  effort  and  consequently 
less  success  m  effective  work.  In  the  period  of  its  aggressive  life  the 
club  was  a  powerful  factor  in  temperance  reform  and  was  the  means 
of  securing  pledges  to  total  abstinence  from  nearly  3,000  people. 
Meetings  of  great  interest  were  held,  which  were  addressed  by  some 
of  the  leading  orators  of  the  country,  and  other  agencies  were  em- 
ployed to  quicken  the  work  and  to  reclaim  drinking  men.  Within  the 
past  few  years  the  meetings  have  been  suspended,  but  the  organization 
has  not  been  abandoned.  The  last  officers  were:  L.  B.  Pease,  presi- 
dent; James  W.  Smyth,  secretary,  and  John  Worrall,  treasurer. 

The  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  organized  March 
10th,  1880,  and  soon  became  a  valuable  coadjutor  of  the  foregoing 
society.  In  more  recent  times  it  has  been  the  principal  exponent  of 
•open  temperance  work  in  the  city.  Through  its  efforts  the  various 
elements  in  the  churches  have  been  crystalized  into  an  aggressive 
factor  and  many  have  become  actively  engaged  in  this  philanthropic 
movement.  When  organized  the  officers  of  the  union  were:  president, 
Mrs.  James  T.  Maynard;  vice-presidents,  Mrs.  Dexter  Ballon,  Mrs.  Ira 
B.  Cook,  Mrs.  John  A.  Wightman,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Paine,  and  Miss  Abbie 
Battye;  treasurer,  Mrs.  William  G.  Barrows;  corresponding  secretary, 
Mrs.  John  W.  Ellis;  recording  secretary.  Miss  Esther  Osborne.  The 
latter  has  filled  the  office  indicated  many  years,  serving  in  1889.  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Paine  was  president,  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Bigelow,  treasurer. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in  the  fall 
of  1865  and  had  for  its  officers:  Alexander  Ballou,  president;  Angello 
Rowland,  James  S.  Read,  J.  I.  Hotchkiss  and  F.  H.  Miette,  vice-presi- 
dents; Horace  D.  Paine,  corresponding  secretary;  Henry  C.  Sayles, 
treasurer;  Charles  B.  Green,  auditor;  Francello  G.  Jillson,  librarian; 
William  H.  Aldrich,  Rodney  Cook  and  G.  W.  Talbot,  directors.    Meet- 


368  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ings  were  statedly  held  in  Templars'  Hall,  in  the  Patriot  Building,  but 
after  several  years  the  activity  of  the  association  was  less  marked,  and 
later  the  meetings  were  altogether  discontinued. 

After  the  lapse  of  years,  a  second  society  was  formed  May  13th, 
1883,  25  persons  associating  themselves  for  this  purpose.  In  the  course 
of  a  few  months  this  number  was  more  than  doubled,  and  the  society 
had  a  bright  future.  Its  officers  were  as  follows:  President,  J.  A.  C. 
Wightman;  vice-president,  A.  D.  Moore;  recording  secretary,  Howard 
Schofield;  corresponding  secretary,  Frank  P.  Lee;  treasurer,  Lewis  C- 
Bass.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  this  association  also  discontinued 
its  meetings  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  there  being  not  enough  in- 
terest to  warrant  their  continuance,  and  since  that  time  the  work  of 
the  association  has  practically  been  abandoned. 

The  Young  Men's  Mutual  Association  was  first  organized  in  1882, 
but  on  the  11th  of  October,  1885,  it  was  reorganized  on  a  new  basis. 
In  the  fall  of  1888,  when  its  meetings  for  the  season  were  resumed,, 
the  association  had  54  members  and  property  valued  at  $500.  A  neat 
hall  in  Unity  Block  is  maintained,  and  the  affairs  are  managed  by  a 
board  of  officers  composed  of  the  following:  President,  George  W. 
Miller,  Jr.;  vice-presidents,  Clyde  Dudley  and  Charles  D.  Southwick- 
secretary,  James  Jewell;  treasurer,  Arthur  S.  Pease;  financial  secre- 
tary, John  Keller. 

The  Choral  Association  is  one  of  the  latest  of  the  social  and  mu- 
sical organizations  of  the  city,  dating  from  June,  1889.  It  is  composed 
of  100  active  and  about  200  associate  members,  whose  purpose  it  is  to 
study  and  execute  classical  and  modern  mnsic.  Three  concerts  per 
year  are  projected.  The  first  directors  were:  F.  E.  Holden,  George 
F.  Higgins,  F.  E.  Farnum,  Alvertus  Dean,  Zeuner  M.  Jenks,  S.  E.  Buz- 
zell,  F.  E.  Kettlety. 

The  Business  Men's  Association  was  organized  December  10th,, 
1882,  at  a  meeting  called  for  this  purpose,  when  30  names  were  placed 
on  the  roll  of  membership.  Its  object  is  to  foster  the  business  inter- 
ests of  the  city  of  Woonsocket  and  to  aid  in  whatever  will  promote 
that  end.  These  aims  have  met  with  a  sympathetic  response  in  an 
increased  membership  and  an  unabated  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  association.  A  few  months  after  its  organization  there 
were  75  members,  whose  meetings  were  held  m  a  hall  appro- 
priately dedicated  February  27th,  1883.  The  first  officers  were: 
President,  Charles  Nourse;  secretary,  William  C.  Mason;  treas- 
urer, Henry  L.  Ballou;  directors,  Charles  F.  Ballou,  C.  H.  Pond, 
E.  H.  Ronian,  Joseph  Brown,  Jr.,  J.  A.  Elwell  and  F.  S.  Weeks, 
Jr.  In  1889  the  association  had  100  members,  a  surplus  in  its 
treasury,  and  was  flourishing.  At  this  time  the  officers  were:  Presi- 
dent, James  Murray;  treasurer,  Charles  E.  Ballou;  secretary,  George  S. 
Read;  directors,  S.  P.  Cook,  George  R.  Smith,  Nelson  H.  Mowry,  W. 
H.  Cole,  William  C.  Mason  and  Frank  Harris. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  359 

The  Father  Mathew  Benevolent  Total  Abstinence  and  Aid  vSociety 
of  Woonsocket  is  a  flourishing  org-anization.  In  1888  Father  Mathew 
began  the  temperance  labors  which  have  made  his  name  immortal, 
signing  his  own  pledge  to  total  abstinence  on  the  10th  of  April  that 
year,  when  he  accompanied  the  act  with  the  stirring  words:  "Here 
goes,  in  the  name  of  God,"  Reverend  Theobald  Mathew.  His  ex- 
ample acted  like  a  contagion  upon  his  countrymen,  and  in  the  course 
of  a  few  months  150,000  of  his  beloved  Irish  had  signed  a  similar 
pledge.  Extending  his  labors  to  other  countries  he  came  to  America 
in  1849,  and  among  other  points  visited  Woonsocket.  The  occasion 
was  fittingly  recognized,  and  he  was  escorted  to  St.  Charles  Catholic 
church  by  a  large  procession  of  people,  where  a  speech  of  welcome 
was  made,  to  which  the  reverend  father  replied,  and  then  proceeded  to 
carry  out  the  work  of  the  mission  in  which  he  was  engaged.  At  this 
time  he  was  described  as  a  person  of  distinguished  and  benign  ap- 
pearance, whose  very  presence  was  a  benediction,  inspiring  reveren- 
tial homage. 

The  above  society  was  accordingly  organized  in  1849,  on  the  10th 
of  October,  and  was  duly  chartered  in  January,  1861.  Its  first  presi- 
dent was  John  Doyle;  Patrick  Callan  was  the  secretary,  and  Edward 
McCabe  the  treasurer.  Since  the  existence  of  the  society  many  hun- 
dreds of  people  have  had  membership  in  it,  and  its  work  has  been 
promotive  of  much  good  in  this  community.  Meetings  are  regularly 
held  in  the  hall  at  St.  Charles  church,  and  John  F.  Murphy  was  the 
president,  and  the  Very  Reverend  M.  McCabe  was  chaplain  in  the 
spring  of  1889. 

The  Shamrock  Benevolent  Aid  Society  was  organized  in  1858,  and 
chartered  in  1860.  After  flourishing  a  few  years  the  events  of  the 
civil  war  affected  it  to  such  an  extent  that  its  meetings  were  discon- 
tinued. Later,  October  25th,  1868,  a  similar  society  was  formed,  with 
Daniel  McNally,  president;  Patrick  Hopkins,  secretary,  and  James 
Smith,  treasurer.  This  soon  called  to  its  membership  a  large  number 
of  intelligent  Irishmen  and  prospered. 

Catholic  Knights  of  America,  St.  Charles  Branch,  No.  507,  is  a  so- 
ciety of  more  recent  organization,  dating  from  June  21st,  1887.  It  is 
a  social  and  beneficiary  order,  assuring  benefits  of  from  $500  to  $5,000 
on  death  of  its  members.  Up  to  July,  1889,  St.  Charles  Branch  had 
one  death,  Peter  Groves,  and  a  thousand  dollar  benefit  was  paid.  The 
branch  is  prosperous,  having  in  1889  35  members,  and  the  following 
principal  officers:  president,  Thomas  F.  Howe;  vice-president,  James 
W.  Smyth;  recording  secretary,  John  F.  Ryan;  financial  secretary, 
Michael  F.  Tunney;  treasurer,  Thomas  J.  Rowen;  representative  to 
State  Council,  John  J.  Heffernan. 

Several  divisions  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  have  been 
organized  at  Woonsocket,  one  of  which.  No.  4,  has  discontinued  its 
meetings  at  this  place.     It  was  organized  January  16th,  1873,  and  five 


360  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

years  later  had  eighty  members.  Division  No.  6  is  more .  purely  a 
branch  of  the  Order.  It  was  organized  October  23d,  1872,  and  incor- 
porated April  1st,  1873,  the  charter  being  granted  to  George  Williams, 
Thomas  B.  Smith,  John  Reynolds,  James  Conway  and  Thomas  Cal- 
laghan  and  their  associates.  This  body  has  flourished,  having  more 
than  one  hundred  members,  who  maintain  monthly  meetings.  Divi- 
sion No.  8  was  organized  December  28th,  1872,  and  became  an  incor- 
porated body  July  6th,  1875.  James  O'Reilley  was  the  first  president; 
Patrick  Healy,  vice-president;  William  Meagher,  secretary;  John 
Grimes,  treasurer.  It  was  formed  out  of  No.  10  Division,  of  Black- 
stone,  and  soon  had  an  active  membership.  This  prosperity  has  con- 
tinued, and  semi-monthly  meetings  are  held. 

St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society  is  the  oldest  social  and  beneficial  society 
in  the  place  among  the  French.  It  was  organized  January  26th,  1868, 
and  chartered  in  May,  1869.  Joseph  Page  was  the  first  president; 
Alexis  Brunette,  secretary,  and  Homer  Page,  treasurer.  A  spacious 
hall  has  been  appropriately  furnished,  and  the  society  has  a  large 
membership.  There  is  a  well-selected  library,  and  a  good  fund  in  the 
treasury.  In  1889  the  principal  officers  were:  Chaplain,  Reverend 
Charles  Dauray;  president,  Philip  Boucher;  honorary  president,  L.  J. 
Le  Boeuf ;  vice-president,  Jean  Baptiste  Fontaine:  recording  secretary, 
Louis  Lalumiere;  corresponding  secretary,  Gilbert  Laporte;  treasurer. 
Doctor  J.  C.  Maranda;  physician.  Doctor  Joseph  Hils;  librarian,  Elie 
Plasse. 

L'Institut  Canadien  was  founded  November  25th,  1876,  and  incorpor- 
ated in  April,  1878.  Its  motto:  "  S'Instruiere  et  S' Avmscr Miitucllcmcnt ,'' 
indicates  its  purpose.  The  first  officers  were:  Chaplain,  Charles  Dauray; 
president,  Gedeon  Archambault;  recording  secretary,  L.  P.  Demers; 
corresponding  secretary,  Joseph  Boucher;  treasurer,  P.  Lavallee;  librar- 
ian, H.  Soly.  The  society  maintains  a  fine  library  and  reading  room, 
which  is  accessible  to  members  every  evening.  Dramatic  entertain- 
ments and  an  annual  soiree  are  given,  whose  proceeds  are  devoted  to 
the  relief  of  the  poor,  the  society  thus  being  a  useful  factor  in  the 
place. 

A  number  of  labor  and  other  organizations  have,  for  a  time,  had 
an  existence  in  the  city,  but  their  suspension  or  discontinuance  have 
made  it  difficult  or  impossible  to  secure  data  for  an  authentic  account 
of  the  same,  and  none  is  here  attempted. 

The  Woonsocket  Agricultural,  Horticultural  and  Industrial  Society 
has  maintained  a  prosperous  existence  for  many  years.  A  very 
successful  fair,  held  at  Woonsocket  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  repeated 
with  equally  gratifying  results  in  1866,  demonstrated  the  fact  that 
under  proper  management  such  meetings  could  be  annually  main- 
tained for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  Accordingly,  at  the  January 
session,  1867,  the  above  society  was  incorporated  with  the  following 
board  of  officers:  President,  Stephen  N.  Mason;  vice-presidents,  H.  S. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  361 

Mansfield,  John  Currier,  D.  B.  Pond  and  John  A.  Bennett;  treasurer, 
Charles  E.  Aldrich;  secretar}^  W.  H.  Jencks;  auditor,  S.  S.  Foss.  The 
organization  thus  effected  under  legal  authority  has  been  fully  main- 
tained, and  the  annual  fairs  have  been  held  with  scarcely  an  abated 
interest.  These  exhibitions  have  been  an  incentive  to  the  interests 
they  aim  to  promote,  there  being  a  marked  improvement  in  the  differ- 
ent departments  since  they  were  first  held.  They  have  also  been 
made  the  occasions  of  pleasant  social  re-unions  of  the  industrial 
classes  of  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  In  June,  1870.  the  society 
purchased  the  Citizens  Union  Park,  about  two  miles  from  the  city,  for 
$3,250,  and  has  still  further  improved  it  for  its  purposes.  The  park 
embraces  20  acres  of  land,  well  enclosed,  and  on  which  are  a  number 
of  permanent  buildings  for  exhibition  purposes.  There  is  also  a  good 
half-mile  race  course  and  a  commodious  grand  stand,  which  are 
frequently  used  by  a  driving  association.  In  connection  with  the  fair 
on  this  ground  certain  departments  under  the  management  of  lady 
members  of  the  society  are  exhibited  at  Harris  Hall.  Many  thousands 
of  dollars  are  paid  out  in  premiums.  The  officers  of  the  society  in 
1888,  when  th^^  23d  fair  was  held,  were:  President,  John  Leech;  vice- 
presidents,  Arlon  Mowry,  L.  B.  Pease,  H.  M.  Taft  and  Andrew  Dona- 
hoe;  treasurer,  Arlon  Mowry;  secretary,  James  H.  Rickard;  auditor, 
Aaron  B.Warfield;  superintendent  of  hall,  Mrs.  L.  B.  Pease;  chief 
Tnanshall,  Arthur  S.  Pease. 

Among  the  many  Lodges  connected  with  the  various  secret  orders, 
which  have  been  established  at  Woonsocket,  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No. 
13,  A.  F.  &.  A.  M.,  takes  precedence  in  age  and  relative  importance. 
It  was  organized  under  a  dispensation  granted  January  23d,  1810,  and 
its  first  meetings  were  held  at  the  academy  at  Cumberland  Hill.  At 
that  place  a  hall  for  the  use  of  the  Lodge  was  built  the  following  sum- 
iner,  and  was  dedicated  in  September.  After  working  under  a  dispen- 
sation more  than  a  year,  a  charter  was  granted  to  28  members,  Septem- 
ber 25th,  1811. 

By  an  act  of  the  general  assembly  in  February,  1812,  the  Lodge 
became  a  body  politic  and  entered  upon  a  prosperous  existence,  which 
■continued  until  the  era  of  anti-Masonic  feeling.  From  December, 
1833,  until  June  17th,  1837,  no  meetings  were  held,  but  at  the  period 
last  named  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  was  appointed  to  gather  up  the  books 
and  records  of  the  Lodge  with  a  view  of  resuming  them.  A  failure  to 
comply  with  the  terms  of  the  charter  caused  its  forfeiture,  after  a  few 
years,  and  it  was  not  restored  until  the  fall  of  1848.  December  12th 
that  year,  the  last  meeting  was  held  at  Cumberland  Hill,  the  next 
being  held  December  25th,  at  Woonsocket,  to  which  place  the  Lodge 
had  transferred  its  records.  The  Lodge  retained  the  ownership  of  the 
old  hall  until  August,  1853,  when  it  was  sold  to  Fenner  Brown.  At 
Woonsocket  meetings  were  first  held  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  and 
from  185C  to  1858  in  Pond's  Block.     In  the  latter  year  a  good  hall  was 


362  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

secured  in  the  Patriot  Building,  which  was  used  until  a  more  desirable- 
hall  in  the  new  Cook  Building-  became  the  home  in  the  fall  of  1867. 
This  was  thoroughly  refitted  in  1888,  and  is  now  a  very  fine  hall, 
which  is  also  used  by  the  other  Masonic  bodies  of  the  city. 

In  November,  1861,  the  Lodge  appointed  a  committee  to  procure 
the  bodies  of  the  brethren,  John  S.  Slocum,  Sullivan  Ballou  and  Sam- 
uel James  Smith,  who  had  been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in 
order  that  they  might  be  interred  at  their  homes,  with  the  rites  of  the 
order.  In  this  epoch  of  time  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  was  the  grand  mas- 
ter of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state,  serving  from  May,  1861,  until 
May,  1865.  After  the  war  the  Lodge  greatly  prospered  in  numbers 
and  finances  until  1877,  when  a  period  of  stagnation  began,  which 
continued  several  years.  In  more  recent  times  the  Lodge  has  again 
flourished,  having  in  1889  several  hundred  members.  At  this  time 
the  principal  officers  were:  W.  M.,  Alexander  Gilbert;  vS.  W.,  Byron  I. 
Cook;  J.  W..  George  C.  Knight;  treasurer,  Charles  E.  Ballou;  secretary, 
John  North;  S.  D.,  Ralph  W.  Cook;  J.  D.,  George  W.  Hazelhurst,  Jr. 
Among  other  members  who  rose  to  distinction  in  the  order  was  Hosea 
Ballou.  He  became  a  Mason  February  15th,  1818,  and  was  made  a 
master  Mason  March  16th,  1818.  He  died  May  29th,  1883,  aged  90 
years,  being  the  oldest  master  Mason  in  that  part  of  the  country,  if  not 
in  the  Union. 

LTnion  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  5,  received  its  charter  March  9th, 
1859,  organizing  with  14  members  and  principal  officers:  H.  P.,  Sam- 
uel Greene;  K.,  Thomas  A.  Paine;  S.,  Ariel  Ballou;  treasurer,  Spencer 
Mowry;  secretary,  Pardon  Sayles.  The  Chapter  has  been  very  pros- 
perous, and  in  1889  had  nearly  200  members,  whose  principal  officers 
were  the  following:  H.  P.,  Caleb  L.  Knight;  K.,  Seth  S.  Getchell;  S., 
George  W.  Hazelhurst,  Jr.;  secretary,  William  C.  Mason;  treasurer, 
Jonathan  B.  Farnum;  chaplain,  L.  C.  Tourtellot. 

Woonsocket  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  No.  4,  was  constituted  March  8th, 
1869,  Francillo  G.  Jillson  being  the  first  illustrious  master.  Soon 
there  was  an  encouraging  membership,  reaching  at  one  time  80.  In 
1889  the  number  reported  was  less,  but  the  affairs  of  the  council  were 
in  good  condition.  The  officers  were:  Moses  P.  Roberts,  T.  I.  M.;  Luke 
A.  Wood,  D.  M.;  Nelson  H.  Mowry,  P.  C.  of  W.;  Israel  B.  Phillips, 
treasurer;  Ira  W.  Arnold,  recorder;  George  J.  Baldwin,  chaplain. 

Woonsocket  Commandery,  K.  T.,  No.  23,  was  granted  a  dispensa- 
tion under  date  of  January  31st,  1867,  and  under  authority  of  the  same 
the  first  meeting  was  held  February  8th,  1867.  But  it  was  not  until 
September  19th,  1867,  that  the  commandery  was  fully  organized  under 
its  charter.  Since  that  time  regular  conclaves  have  been  held  and  a 
large  membership  has  been  enrolled.  Among  its  officers  in  1889 
were  these:  Seth  S.  Getchell,  E.  C;  George  W.  Miller,  G.;  George  W. 
Hazelhurst,  Jr.,  C.  G.;  George  J.  Baldwin,  P.;  Nelson  H.  Mowry,  S.  W.; 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  363 

George  C.  Knight,  J.  W.;  E.  Charles  Francis,  treasurer;  Samuel  P. 
Cook,  recorder. 

St.  Paul's  Conclave,  No.  4,  Knights  of  the  Red  Cross  of  Rome  and 
Constantine,  was  instituted  December  r)th,  1873,  with  13  charter  mem- 
bers, under  authority  granted  by  the  Grand  Imperial  Council  of  Illi- 
nois. Later  it  passed  under  the  authority  of  the  Imperial  Council  of 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  The  chief  officers  in  1889  were:  A. 
♦A.  Pevey,  sovereign;  Ira  W.  Arnold,  viceroy;  L.  C.  Tourtellot,  S.  G.; 
R.  Olney  Cooke,  treasurer.  L.  C.  Tourtellot  was  also  the  Division  In- 
tendent  General  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  connection  with  the  Masonic  interests  of  the  city  a  brief  account 
of  the  Masonic  Mutual  Relief  Association  of  Northern  Rhode  Island 
may  appropriately  be  given.  It  was  organized  February  4th,  1874, 
and  the  home  office  established  at  Woonsocket,  from  which  place  the 
business  of  the  association  has  since  been  transacted.  The  field  of  opera- 
tion being  limited,  the  membership  of  the  association  has  never  been 
large,  but  its  affairs  have  been  satisfactorily  administered  to  those  who 
have  become  connected  with  it.  The  officers  in  1889  were:  president, 
Willard  Kent;  secretary,  George  A.  Whipple;  treasurer,  Charles  E. 
Ballou;  directors,  William  E.  Hubbard,  Moses  P.  Roberts,  E.  L.  Sim- 
mons, John  Leech,  A.  C.  Smith,  James  E.  Cook,  John  Hackett. 

Woonsocket  Lodge,  No.  10, 1  O.  O.  F.,  is  an  old  and  honored  Lodge  in 
the  important  order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Its  meetings  exclusively  at  Woon- 
socket have  been  longer  held  than  those  of  any  other  Lodge,  and  con- 
tinue to  be  occasions  of  unabated  interest.  The  Lodge  was  chartered 
August  1st,  1845,  with  nine  members.  Prior  to  the  occupancy  of  the 
present  fine  hall,  in  the  Patriot  Block  (which  was  dedicated  June  22d, 
1876),  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  Fletcher  Building.  Its  present 
home  is  beautifully  furnished,  the  property  of  this  nature  being 
valued  at  $2,000.  Exclusive  of  this  the  Lodge  owns  property  to  the 
amount  of  $8,000,  and  the  whole  is  controlled  by  trustees  Latimer  W. 
Ballou,  George  W.  Miller,  Sr.,  and  John  North.  The  Lodge  has  also 
a  large  membership,  the  number  in  1889  being  260,  whose  principal 
officers  were:  Frank  P.  Lee,  P.  G.;  Howard  A.  Pratt,  N.  G.;  George 
W.  Miller,  Jr.,  V.  G.;  George  Bruton,  secretary;  Stephen  Magown, 
financial  secretary;  E.  W.  Wheelock,  chaplain. 

Eureka  Lodge,  No.  28,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is  an  offshoot  of  No.  10,  and  was 
chartered  October  29th,  1872,  with  ten  members.  It  soon  called 
within  its  ranks  a  large  membership,  and  in  1880  moved  into  its  own 
hall  in  the  Greene  Block.  This  was  fitted  up  at  an  expense  of  $1,400, 
and  was  a  very  pleasant  place  of  meeting  several  years.  Since  the 
spring  of  1888  the  meetings  have  been  held  in  the  hall  of  No.  10.  In 
1889  Eureka  reported  150  members,  property  worth  $3,500,  and  the.se 
officers:  Charles  E.  Clark,  N.  G.;  H.  A.  Bowen,  V.  G.;  M.  Jacobson,  F. 
S.;  F.  P.  Fenton,  R.  S.;  James  E.  Cook,  treasurer. 

Closely  connected  with  the  foregoing  two  Lodges,  and  partaking 


364  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  their  general  prosperity,  is  ]\Iinerva  Lodge,  No.  4,  D.  of  R.,  which 
was  organized  with  17  members.  This  number  had  been  increased 
to  150  in  the  summer  of  1889,  and  in  other  respects  the  Lodge  was 
very  flourishing.  At  this  time  it  had  as  its  principal  officers:  Mrs. 
Herbert  F.  Walker,  N.  G.;  Mrs.  John  Campbell,  V.  G.;  Mrs.  Harriet 

C.  Rice,  R.  S.;  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Savage,  F.  S.;  Mrs.  Arlon  Jillson, 
treasurer. 

Palestine  Encampment,  No.  3,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  under  a' 
■charter  granted  October  1st,  1845,  and  the  first  meetings  were  held  at 
Newport.  October  10th,  1848,  the  Encampment  was  removed  to 
Woonsocket,  where  it  was  afterward  reorganized  under  a  new  charter, 
granted  February  2d,  1857.  In  the  main  it  has  had  a  flourishing  ex- 
istence, reporting,  in  1889,  150  members,  an  invested  fund  of  $1,600, 
and  these  officers:  John  M.  Park,  C.  P.;  E.  W.  Wheelock,  H.  P.;  Charles 
E.  Clark,  S.  W.;  Howard   A.  Pratt,  J.  W.;  Samuel  W.  Smith,  S.;  John 

D.  Griffith,  P.  S.;  William  H.  Goodale,  T. 

Canton  Woonsocket,  No.  9,  P.  M.,  was  organized  in  December, 
1886,  with  32  members.  Two  deaths  of  members  have  since  occurred, 
and  a  like  number  of  new  members  have  been  admitted.  The  Can- 
ton has  been  partially  uniformed,  and  has  participated  in  several 
creditable  public  parades,  under  the  command  of  these  officers:  George 
W.  Miller,  senior  commander;  Charles  E.  Clark,  lieutenant;  Howard 
A.  Pratt,  ensign.  It  promises  to  become  an  important  feature  of  Odd 
Fellowship  at  Woonsocket. 

Myrtle  Lodge,  No.  1,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  instituted  at  Woon- 
socket April  28th,  1870,  with  nine  charter  members,  and  its  first  offi- 
<iers  were:  Alfred  Allen,  P.  C;  William  C.  Boyden,  C.  C;  H.  M. 
Pierce,  V.  C;  N.  P.  Nutter,  K.  of  R.  S.;  D.  N.  Paine,  M.  of  E.;  Charles 
S.  Sanders,  M.  of  F.;  B.  M.  Usher,  I.  G.;  John  F.  Driscoll,  O.  G.;  Wil- 
liam H.  Whitman,  M.  of  A.  The  Lodge  has  enjoyed  a  fair  degree  of 
prosperity,  and  meets  in  a  neatly  furnished  hall  on  Market  square. 
It  has  had  about  100  members. 

Woonsocket  has  an  unusual  number  of  beneficiary  orders,  some  of 
which  have  already  been  noted  in  connection  with  the  churches, 
which  give  them  encouraging  support.  Others  have  become  well  es- 
tablished on  their  own  merits,  while  a  few  are  yet  in  the  formative 
•condition. 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  1269,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted 
November  29th,  1878,  with  14  charter  members,  and  F.  G.  Jillson.  dic- 
tator. Since  that  time  it  has  prospered,  having  in  1889  53  members. 
Up  to  June,  1889,  there  had  been  four  deaths  in  the  Lodge,  each  at- 
tended by  a  $2,000  benefit.  In  July,  1889,  the  officers  were:  Arlon  Jill- 
son, D.;  William  H.  Stafford,  V.  D.;  E.  W.  Wheelock,  G.;  L.  L.  Chilson, 
R.;  R.  G.  Reed,  F.  R.;  N.  D.  Woodworth,  treasurer;  George  H.  Grant, 
chaplain;  George  W.  Jenckes,  John  Leech,  and  William  H.  Goodale, 
trustees. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  365- 

Court  Fidelity,  No.  6626,  A.  O.  F.,  was  organized  in  1880,  and  in 
1889  its  officers  were:  T.  C.  Donahoe,  C.  R.;  William  Owens,  S.  C.  R.; 
E.  J.  Cassidy,  F.  S.;  James  Coyne,  R.  S.;  Richard  Padden,  treasurer'; 
John  Wren,  S.  W.;  Frank  Morin,  J.  W.  At  the  same  time  the  officers 
of  Conclave  No.  58  were:  E.  Frank  Pierce,  C;  Elzeard  Gingras,  V.  C; 
Charles  E.  Donahoe,  adjutant.     Both  the  above  are  fairly  prosperous. 

Edward  Harris  Lodge,  No.  200,  Sons  of  St.  George,  was  instituted 
February  23d,  1886,  and  has  since  been  successfully  maintained. 
Among  the  officers  have  been:  James  Bennett,  W.  P.;  James  Randall, 
W.  V.  P.;  John  Hatfield,  W.  M.;  Lewis  J.  Broughton,  W.  S.;  Jonathan 
Battey,  W.  T.;  J.  B.  Greenhalgh,  trustee.  Semi-monthly  meetings 
are  held  in  a  pleasant  hall  on  Main  street. 

Roger  Williams  Council,  No.  696,  R.  A.,  had  for  its  board  of  offi- 
cers in  1889  the  following:  Regent,  E.  N.  Kingsbury,  M.  D.:  vice-re- 
gent, Z.  M.  Jenks;  past  regent,  E.  B.  Young;  orator,  N.  D.  Wood- 
worth;  secretary,  Dwight  C.  Lord;  collector,  Frank  A.  Cooke;  treas- 
urer, James  E.  Cook;  chaplain,  Charles  H.  Darling.  It  includes  among 
its  members  some  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  city,  and  is  well 
supported. 

United  Order  of  the  Golden  Cross,  No.  311,  was  instituted  March 
24th,  1887,  with  90  charter  members.  Of  these  John  A.  C.  Wightman 
was  N.  C;  F.  E.  Holden,  K.  of  R.,  and  C.  F.  Hixon,  treasurer.  In 
July,  1889,  G.  F.  Higgins  was  the  presiding  officer  of  the  98  members. 
It  is  to  be  noted  in  connection  with  the  death  of  the  two  members  of 
the  order,  at  Woonsocket,  that  the  payment  of  benefits  to  their  fami- 
lies was  made  within  three  weeks  after  the  death  of  the  assured.  The 
meetings  are  held  in  St.  George's  Hall,  and  both  sexes  are  admitted 
to  membership. 

Woone-Sou-Kete  Tribe,  No.  8,  I.  O.  of  R.  M.,  was  instituted  May 
6th,  1887,  and  has  since  had  a  prosperous  existence,  its  meetings  being 
held  weekly  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Hall.  The  officers  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1889  were:  Prophet,  Adelbert  I.  Thompson;  sachem,  Henry  S. 
Sanborn;  senior  sagamore,  James  M.  Scholefield;  junior  sagamore, 
William  R.  Buffington;  chief  of  records,  John  S.  Simmons;  keeper  of 
wampum,  Joseph  F.  Miller. 

Ballou  Assembly,  No.  85,  R.  S.  of  G.  F.,  was  instituted  in  May,  1887, 
and  E.  W.  Wheelock  was  the  first  ruler.  The  organization  was 
effected  with  156  charter  members,  which  number  has  been  main- 
tained, with  Adelbert  Roberts  as  the  ruler  in  July,  1889.  H.  S.  Hough- 
ton was  the  secretary,  and  James  E.  Cook  the  treasurer.  One  member 
has  died  since  the  institution  of  the  assembly,  Alexander  Tonge,  in 
the  spring  of  1889. 

Branch  No.  783,  Order  of  Iron  Hall,  was  instituted  in  June,  1888, 
and  a  year  later  had  39  members,  to  whom  benefits  ranging  from  $200 
to  $1,000  had  been  assured.  In  this  period  two  members  of  the  branch 
deceased.     Among  the  last  officers  were:  Chief  justice,  E.  A.  Thayer;, 


366  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

vice-justice,  Edwin  Salley;  accountant,  F.  P.  Fenton;  adjuster,  J.  C. 
Heath;  cashier,  H.  C.  Lazelle;  trustees,  E.  N.  Kingsbury,  F.  D.  Cross- 
man,  C.  J.  Daniels. 

Ames  Lodge,  No.  8,  A.  O.  U.  W.— In  1873  a  Lodge  of  this  order, 
with  the  name  of  Burnside  Lodge,  No.  2,  was  organized  at  Woon- 
socket,  but  in  the  course  of  two  years  interest  in  it  had  so  much 
declined  that  it  was  deemed  best  to  surrender  the  charter.  This  was 
done  and  the  remaining  members  were  transferred  to  the  Blackstone 
Lodge,  No.  46,  in  which  they  had  membership  many  years.  Mean- 
time interest  in  the  order  was  again  awakened  and  on  August  1st, 
1888,  the  present  Lodge  was  instituted,  with  59  charter  members,  of 
w^hom  27  had  a  former  Lodge  connection.  In  July,  1889,  there  were 
86  members,  whose  interesting  meetings  in  St.  George's  Hall  gave 
this  body  a  place  among  the  most  successful  Lodges  in  the  state,  and 
as  no  death  has  occurred  a  considerable  fund  has  accrued.  The  prin- 
cipal officers  were:  P.  M.  W.,  George  F.  Higgins  (also  Grand  Lodge 
deputy);  N.  N.,  William  H.  Goodale;  F.,  Matthew  Marty;  O.,  Ezra  P. 
Sugden;  F.  S.,  James  S.  Blake;  R.,  George  Bruton. 

The  New  England  Order  of  Protection  was  instituted  July  24th, 
1888,  with  40  members,  and  the  officers  named  below  :  Doctor  R.  G. 
Reed,  junior  P.  W.;  T.  C.  Page,  W.;  H.  S.  Houghton,  V.  W.;  D.  C. 
Lord,  secretary;  S.  P.  Cook,  treasurer;  J.  J.  Hulbert,  chaplain;  H.  M. 
Dudley,  G.  W.  Lathrop,  and  N.  D.  Woodworth,  trustees. 

Border  Grange,  No.  3,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized  at  the  Union  school 
house,  at  East  Woonsocket,  i\pril  26th,  1887,  with  54  charter  members. 
Its  name  was  selected  on  account  of  the  fact  that  the  Grange  is  near 
the  Massachusetts  line  and  many  of  the  members  are  from  that  state. 
The  first  officers  were:  Master,  Henry  W.  Pickering;  overseer,  W.  H. 
Jillson;  lecturer,  Albert  A.  Smith;  secretary,  Etta  Rhodes;  treasurer, 
Henry  M.  Darling.  These  officers,  with  the  exception  of  a  new  over- 
seer, Edwin  F.  Pickering,  and  a  new  secretary,  Ednor  P.  Crooks,  also 
served  in  1889.  The  increase  of  membership  and  the  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  Grange  were  so  encouraging  that  a  hall  for  its  use  was 
built  on  a  commanding  site  near  the  crossing  of  the  Diamond  Hill  and 
Mendon  road,  the  lot  for  this  purpose  being  donated  by  Edwin  B. 
Miller.  The  edifice  was  planned  by  P.  D.  West,  and  is  exceedingly 
attractive.  The  material  is  wood,  the  dimensions  being  30  by  55  feet. 
There  is  a  basement,  eight  feet  high,  fitted  up  for  entertainments, 
and  the  main  hall,  18  feet  high,  arranged  for  the  meetings  of  the 
Order  and  for  public  gatherings  in  this  community.  It  contains  a 
piano  and  the  nucleus  of  a  museum  and  a  library,  which  have  awak- 
ened great  interest  among  the  hundred  members  of  the  Grange.  The 
hall  was  dedicated  November  25th,  1888,  as  the  finest  of  its  kind  in 
New  England.  At  this  place  it  elicits  universal  admiration  for  it's 
elegance  and  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  erected.  The  entire  prop- 
erty is  valued  at  more  than  $3,000. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  367 

The  Woonsocket  Hospital  owes  its  existence  to  the  forethought  of 
Doctor  Ezekiel  Fowler,  who  also  made  the  first  generous  provision  for 
its  erection  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  its  benefits  could  be  enjoyed. 
He  died  July  28d,  1868,  and  by  the  terms  of  his  will  left  a  fund  of 
.$6,000,  which  should  be  devoted  to  this  laudable  purpose.  This  fund 
was  to  be  held  in  trust  by  his  friend,  the  Honorable  Latimer  W.  Bal- 
lou,  and  to  be  available  was  to  be  specifically  used  within  25  years. 
Deeply  impressed  with  the  full  sense  of  this  stewardship,  the  fund 
was  so  carefully  handled  by  Mr.  Ballou  that  it  soon  doubled  its  origi- 
nal proportions  and  led  him  and  others  to  see  the  possibilities  of  the 
fund  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  for  its  use.  In  1873,  by  the 
•death  of  George  Law,  another  fund  of  $28,000  was  available  for  some 
charitable  object,  and  on  proper  representation  and  compliance  with 
the  request  of  his  executors,  was  also  secured  for  the  hospital.  Their 
request  implied  a  legal  corporation,  which  was  created  by  the  general 
assembly  in  May,  1873.  By  that  act  the  Woonsocket  Hospital  was 
chartered  with  the  following  incorporators:  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou,  Lati- 
mer W.  Ballou,  Thomas  Steere,  Paul  Greene,  Ira  B.  Peck,  George  C. 
Ballou,  Stephen  N.  Mason,  Willis  Cook,  Darius  D.  Farnum,  Joseph  E. 
Cole,  Francello  G.  Jillson,  Joseph  B.  Aldrich  and  Reuben  G.  Randall. 
The  corporation  was  empowered  to  hold  property  to  the  amount  of 
not  exceeding  $300,000,  and  the  same  was  to  be  exempt  from  all 
taxation. 

An  unsuccessful  effort  was  made  the  same  year  to  enlist  the  town 
•of  Woonsocket  in  the  movement  to  build  a  hospital,  by  making  it  a 
part  of  the  corporation,  and  similar  efforts  in  1880  and  again  in  1884 
were  attended  with  no  better  results.  Meantime,  the  agitation  of  the 
matter  awakened  interest  in  the  project  and  created  the  hope  that  the 
hospital  would  soon  become  a  reality.  In  1881  the  corporation  chose 
a  board  of  trustees  and  selected  as  officers:  President,  Doctor  Ariel 
Ballou;  secretary,  F.  G.  Jillson;  treasurer,  L.  W.  Ballou.  A.  J.  Elwell, 
J.  B.  Aldrich  and  John  W.  Ellis  were  appointed  to  prepare  plans  for 
laying  out  grounds  and  erecting  buildings  thereon.  In  1883  a  tract 
of  20i  acres  of  land  for  a  hospital  site  was  purchased  of  Jervis  C.  Cass, 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  city.  This  was  subsequently  enlarged 
to  24  acres.  It  is  elevated  and  well  drained,  and  while  removed  from 
the  bustle  of  the  city,  is  sufficiently  near  the  main  parts  to  be  easily 
.accessible.  It  was  covered  with  a  natural  growth  of  trees,  some  of 
which  have  been  removed  and  the  grounds  graded  and  laid  out  into 
-drives  and  walks.  In  the  center  of  the  graded  spot  the  erection  of 
the  hospital  was  begun  in  the  fall  of  1887,  following  plans  prepared  by 
N.  P.  Wentworth,  of  Boston.  The  contract  work  was  done  by  William 
F.  Norton,  under  the  direction  of  a  building  committee  composed  of 
John  W.  Ellis,  Doctor  George  W^  Jenckes  and  Joseph  B.  Aldrich. 
The  hospital  is  on  the  cottage  plan  and  in  general  appearance  re- 
sembles the  upper  part  of  the  capital  letter  H.     It  consists  of  two  long 


368  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

sections  or  wards,  and  a  main  building  which  forms  a  connecting  cor- 
ridor, yet  each  building,  having  its  own  entrance,  is  in  a  sense  separate. 
The  interior  has  been  arranged  in  accordance  with  the  best  ideas  of 
modern  hospital  construction.  The  rooms  are  light  and  airy,  and  are 
provided  with  such  appliances  as  will  co"nduce  to  the  health,  comfort 
and  cheerfulness  of  patients.  There  are  electrical  connections  and 
the  city  water  is  supplied.     The  cost  of  building  was  $20,000. 

The  hospital  was  appropriately  dedicated  July  19th,  1888,  when 
addresses  were  made  by  John  W.  Ellis,  Hon.  L.  W.  Ballou,  Hon.. 
Thomas  Steere,  Doctor  Joseph  Hils,  C.  H.  Merriman  and  others.  The 
dedicatory  prayer  was  by  the  Reverend  C.  J.  White.  A  report  was 
read  showing  that  the  Doctor  Fowler  fund  now  amounted  to  $35,0ro, 
that  the  Law  fund  was  $35,000  and  that  donations  had  also  been  made 
by  Francis  Perkins,  $8,000;  Willis  Cook,  $1,500;  Thisba  Andrews, 
$1,000;  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou,  $2,000;  Albert  G.  Wilbur,  $1,000.  Joseph 
Banigan  donated  $5,000  on  the  day  of  dedication.  Since  that  time  a 
number  of  friends  have  rriade  smaller  but  timely  donations,  and  the 
hospital  has  not  lacked  means  to  carry  on  its  work.  Miss  Imogene 
Slade  was  installed  as  the  first  matron,  and  there  have  been  nine 
patients  under  her  care  at  one  time.  The  first  death  was  that  of  John 
A.  Kendall,  October  30th,  1888,  who  was  taken  to  the  hospital  after 
being  fatally  injured  on  the  railroad.  The  medical  staff  of  the  hospi- 
tal is  composed  of  local  physicians  of  the  city,  who  have  divided  them- 
selves into  sets  of  six  for  this  gratuitous  service,  each  set  to  serve  one 
year.  The  first  staff  was  organized  in  September,  1888,  and  consisted 
of  Doctors  George  W.  Jenckes,  W.  C.  Monroe,  Joseph  Hils,  J,  J. 
Baxter,  Henry  W.  Stillman  and  A.  M.  Paine.  In  1889  the  officers  of 
the  hospital  corporation  were:  President,  Hon.  Latimer  W.  Ballou;: 
secretary,  F.  G.  Jillson;  treasurer,  Henry  L.  Ballou;  trustees,  Thomas 
Steere,  L.  W.  Ballou,  William  H.  Andrews,  J.  B.  Aldrich,  A.  J.  Elwell, 
O.  J.  Rathbun,  Dexter  Clark,  George  W.  Jenckes  and  John  W.  Ellis. 

An  account  of  the  cemeteries  maintained  by  the  Friends  and  the 
Catholic  churches  has  already  been  given  in  the  foregoing  sketches 
of  those  bodies.  One  of  the  oldest  places  of  interment  within  the  city 
limits  is  the  Paine  or  Arnold  burial  ground,  near  Providence  street. 
It  was  used  as  early  as  1756,  when  John  Arnold  was  there  interred. 
In  recent  years  it  has  been  used  only  by  descendants  of  that  family, 
and  although  small,  lacks  care  in  its  keeping.  The  Bernon  burial 
ground  is  of  more  recent  origin,  but  also  bears  a  neglected  appear- 
ance. The  Baptist  grave  yard  was  well  located,  and  was  much  used 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  it  was  found  to  be  too  near  the  center  of 
business  to  be  continued.  Hence  it  was  abandoned  and  in  July,  1874, 
Nathaniel  Elliott.  F.  G.  Jillson  and  Cyrus  Arnold  were  appointed  a 
committee  by  the  town  to  vacate  it.  Most  of  the  bodies  inhumed  there 
were  re-interred  in  the  Union  Cemetery,  opposite  the  Friends'  meet- 
ing house,  south  of  the  city.     The  site  of  the  old  grave  yard,  east  of 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  369 

the  Air  Line  railroad,  remains  unimproved.  Provision  has  been  made 
for  a  burial  place  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  city  by  the  purchase 
of  a  tract  of  land  of  four  acres,  from  H.  L.  Cook,  for  that  purpose.  In 
1882  the  town  voted  to  plat  and  improve  the  same  and  to  call  it  Edge 
Hill  Cemetery.     As  yet  that  work  has  not  been  performed. 

But  of  Oak  Hill  Cemetery  the  citizens  of  Woonsocket  may  justly 
be  proud.  It  is  conveniently  located  and  nature  has  there  bestowed 
her  advantages  and  charms  with  a  lavi'sh  hand.  The  little  hill  was 
crowned  with  a  natural  forest  and  at  its  base  flows  the  little  Mill 
river,  separating  this  spot  from  the  business  interests  beyond.  It  was 
first  laid  out  in  1857,  by  the  owner  of  the  land,  Edward  Harris,  and 
was  named  by  him.  He  began  beautifying  the  grounds  and  built  a 
fine  receiving  vault.  On  the  24th  of  May,  1860,  he  deeded  in  gratuity 
this  property,  consisting  of  16  acres,  to  a  board  of  trustees  for  the  use 
of  the  people  of  Woonsocket,  and  it  has  since  been  controlled  by  that 
body.  Under  their  direction  the  plans  of  the  donor  have  been  further 
carried  out  and  improvements  made,  including  the  building  of  jf  gran- 
ite entrance  way.  Many  interments  have  here  been  made,  including 
former  leading  citizens,  whose  resting  places  are  marked  by  attractive 
monuments. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery  was  composed 
of  Edward  Harris,  president;  Willis  Cook,  vice-president;  Reuben  G. 
Randall,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Daniel  N.  Paine,  Latimer  W.  Ballon, 
Samuel  S.  Foss  and  Peter  Simpson. 

Owing  to  the  recent  organization  of  Woonsocket  as  a  distinct  polit- 
ical body,  it  is  difficult  to  prepare  a  separate  account  of  the  military 
operations  in  which  its  citizens  were  engaged.  The  records  of  these 
matters  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  mother  towns.  A  brief  refer- 
ence only  to  each  period  which  was  characterized  by  the  events  of  war 
is  here  made. 

Traditionary  accounts  are  given  of  a  skirmish  between  the  Mdiites 
and  Indians  in  the  time  of  King  Philip's  war,  at  some  point  in  the 
woods,  in  what  is  now  the  southern  part  of  the  city;  but  they  are  not 
clear  enough  to  be  fully  accepted.  It  is  clear,  though,  that  this  part 
of  the  country  was  not  wholly  free  from  fears  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
and  for  mutual  protection  there  was  a  military  company  in  existence, 
which  had  the  following  members,  some  of  whom  lived  in  this  city: 
Captain  Jonathan  Mowry,  Lieutenant  Ananias  Mowry,  Ensign  Thomas 
Arnold,  Clerk  Samuel  Aldrich,  Surgeons  John  Phillips,  Nathaniel  Sta- 
ples and  Aaron  Herenden;  Sergeants  Henry  Blackmore,  Richard 
Sayles,  Jr.,  Thomas  Herenden  and  John  Sayles,  Jr.;  Corporals  John 
Harris  and  Obadiah  Herenden;  Elish-a  Mowry,  John  Melavory,  Fran- 
cis Herenden,  Thomas  Walling,  Moses  Arnold,  William  Bates,  John 
Mann,  Joshua  Phillips,  Ezekiel  Goldthwaite,  Ebenezer  Thornton, 
Joseph  Arnold,  Jr.,  John  Mowry,  minor,  William  Comstock,  John 
Smith,  Ichabod  Comstock,  John  Phillips,  Daniel  Phillips,  Stephen  Sly, 
24 


370  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Jabez  Brown,  Edward  Bisnap,  Edmund  Arnold,  Thomas  Lapham,  Is- 
rael Wilkinson,  Philip  Logee,  Anthony  Comstock,  Elisha  Arnold,  Noah 
Herenden,  Amos  Sprague,  James  Cook,  Jr.,  Daniel  Sayles,  Gideon 
Comstock,  Benjamin  Thompson,  Nathaniel  Mann,  Moses  Mann,  Sam- 
uel Cook,  Daniel  Arnold,  Jr.,  Thomas  Beedle,  John  Blackman,  Jr., 
Elisha  Dillingham,  George  Wilbour,  Thomas  Cruff,  Thomas  Cruff,  Jr., 
Richard  Sayles,  Jr.,  Joseph  Buffum,  Benjamin  Paine,  Oliver  Mann, 
Andrew  Mann,  Ebenezer  Howard,  Ezekiel  Mowry,  Stephen  Inman, 
John  Knox,  Seth  Cooke,  John  Comstock,  John  Aldrich,  minor,  John 
Aldrich,  Jr.,  Samuel  Sprague,  Samuel  Bassett,  Jeremiah  Brown,  Sam- 
uel Tucker,  Abel  Inman,  John  Mann,  Jr.,  vSylvanus  Sayles,  Richard 
Aldrich,  Enoch  Arnold,  Benjamin  Buffum,  Jr.,  Nathan  Paine,  Benja- 
min Buxton,  Jeremiah  Ballard,  Daniel  Mann,  Jr.,  James  Weatherhead, 
Daniel  Cass,  Joseph  Hicks,  James  Buxton,  Jonathan  Arnold,  Daniel 
Sprague,  Caleb  Callom,  Job  Phillips,  Peter  Cooke,  Roger  Darbey,  Jo- 
seph Lapham,  Ezekiel  Sayles,  Daniel  Walling,  Benjamin  Cooke,  Heza- 
diah  Comstock,  Jr..,  Uriah  Arnold,  Samuel  Goldthwaite,  James  Bassett, 
Theophilus  Blackman,  Daniel  Comstock,  Jr.,  John  Harris,  Richard 
Spencer,  Henry  Aldrich,  Elijah  Aldrich,  Samuel  Fisk,  Nathan  Sta- 
ples, Richard  Arnold,  Jr. 

In  the  struggle  for  independence  there  was  considerable  apathy 
shown  by  the  people  of  this  section,  on  account  of  their  Quaker  train- 
ing and  their  consequent  aversion  to  war.  Judge  Peleg  Arnold  ap- 
pears to  have  been  one  of  the  few  active  in  the  patriot  cause,  and  his 
house  at  the  Cross  roads  was  headquarters  for  those  in  sympathy  with 
him.  In  1780  he  was  chosen  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Bat- 
talion of  Providence  county;  and  from  1786  to  1790  he  was  a  delegate 
to  congress. 

The  war  of  1812  was  not  heartily  approved  by  the  people  of  this 
section,  who  held  the  same  view  of  it  as  the  citizens  of  many  other 
localities  of  New  England.  But  the  so-called  Dorr  war  in  1842  aroused 
a  wonderful  amount  of  latent  military. spirit.  Each  party  for  su- 
premacy in  the  state  had  its  adherents  in  this  place,  and  as  some  had 
developed  into  active  partisans,  Woonsocket  naturally  became  the  base 
of  their  operations.  The  friends  of  Thomas  W.  Dorr,  of  whom  Aaron 
White,  Esq.,  was  one  of  the  foremost,  gave  expression  to  their  opin- 
ions in  public  meetings  and  through  the  columns  of  the  Independent, 
which  was  published  here  in  those  troublous  times.  These  means  had 
moulded  public  sentiment  to  such  an  extent  that  the  members  of  the 
State  Militia  Company,  while  in  command  of  Captain  John  Worrall, 
transferred  their  allegiance  and  equipments  to  the  "  Dorrites."  But 
the  "  Law  and  Order  "  party,  not  discouraged,  had  a  volunteer  com- 
pany rendezvous  at  this  place  to  protect  their  interests,  and  for  a  short 
space  of  time  it  was  feared  that  the  rival  factions  might  here  come  to 
the  "  clash  of  arms  "  instead  of  at  Chepachet.  Troops  were  quartered 
in  some  public  buildings  and  in  "  Holder's  Block."     The  latter  had 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  371 

sheet  iron  shutters  placed  in  the  windows,  pierced  with  loop-holes  for 
the  use  of  the  musketeers;  but  fortunately  it  was  not  called  on  to 
afford  resistance  to  the  rebellious  "  Dorrites."  After  holding  posses- 
sion of  the  town  a  day  and  a  night,  which  was  wild  with  rumors  of 
attack,  these  troops  were  dispersed  to  their  homes  with  the  glad  tid- 
ings that  the  "war  "  was  at  an  end. 

In  the  Mexican  war  John  Glackin,  John  B.  Batchelor,  Philip  and 
Robert  Melville  and  a  few  others  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Ninth  Regi- 
ment, U.  S.  A.,  of  which  company  Glackin  was  commissioned  second 
lieutenant  February  24th,  1847.  He  was  one  of  the  first  merchants  of 
the  town,  and  is  remembered  as  a  gay,  dashing  young  man  when  he 
went  away,  but  returned  broken  in  spirits  and  fortune,  and  died  be- 
fore the  lapse  of  many  years. 

But  prior  to  the  Mexican  war,  the  military  spirit  of  the  place  had 
been  cultivated  by  the  organization  of  militia  companies.  The  first 
of  these  that  was  noteworthy  was  the  Woonsocket  Light  Infantry,  or- 
ganized about  1840,  and  deprived  of  its  charter  in  1842,  because  the 
members  had  espoused  the  cause  of  Thomas  W.  Dorr.  In  October,  the 
same  year,  the  Woonsocket  Guards  were  organized  as  another  militia 
company.  Arnold  Briggs  was  the  first  captain,  and  most  of  its  mem- 
bers belonged  to  the  "  Law  and  Order  "  party.  This  soon  after  led  to 
the  organization  of  a  rival  company,  more  favorable  to  the  other  ele- 
ment, which  received  the  name  of  the  Cumberland  Cadets.  On  the 
30th  of  May,  1844,  under  the  new  militia  law,  these  two  companies 
united  to  organize  into  a  skeleton  regiment,  taking  the  name  of  the 
Woonsocket  Guards.  There  were  70  men  and  the  following  officers: 
Colonel,  L.  C.  Tourtellot;  lieutenant  colonel,  John  Glackin;  major, 
Orin  A.  Ballou;  captain,  William  O.  Bisbee;  adjutant,  E.  H.  Sprague; 
paymaster,  R.  P.  Smith;  commissary,  Asa  N.  Holbrook. 

In  the  summer  of  1845  the  state  aided  in  building  a  public  hall  in 
which  was  the  armory  of  this  military  organization,  which  now  be- 
came one  of  the  fixed  institutions  of  the  place.  Colonel  Tourtellot  re- 
mained in  command  many  years,  and  under  his  instructions  a  high 
degree  of  efficiency  was  attained,  many  of  the  principal  citizens 
becoming  skilled  in  military  tactics,  and  familiar  with  the  usages  of 
war.  Hence,  when  the  rebellion  broke  out  there  was  a  quick  demand 
for  its  suppression  by  the  "  Guards,"  a  large  proportion  of  whom  became 
officers  in  the  various  volunteer  organizations,  and  a  number  lost  their 
lives  while  leading  their  commands  into  battle.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  those  from  Woonsocket  and  vicinity  who  served  as  officers  in 
the  rebellion,  and  nearly  all  had  been  former  members  of  the 
"  Guards  ": 

Allen,  John  A.,  mustered  May  2,  '61,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft;  Oct. 
30.  '61,  captain,  Co.  I,  4th  Inft.;  Nov.  20,  '6L  major.  4th  Inft. 

Ballou,  Sullivan.  May  2,  61,  major,  2d  Inft.;  July  23,  '61,  killed  Bat- 
tle Bull  Run. 


372  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Batchelor,  J.  B.  May  2,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft.;  Oct.  5,  '61, 
sergeant,  Co.  B.  3d  Art.;  July  8,  '62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  Sept.  15, 
'63,  sergeant,  Co.  B,  3d  Cav. 

Bartholomew,  E.  S.  May  2,  61,  corporal,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft.;  Oct.  9, 
'61,  sergt-major,  3d  Art.;  May  21,  '62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  E,  3d  Art.;  June 
16,  '62,  killed  Battle  James  Island. 

Brown,  Stephen  H.  June  6,  '61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  Sept.  28, 
'61,  captain,  Co.  D,  2d  Inft.;  June  9,  '64,  major,  2d  Inft. 

Brownell,  D.  L.  Sept.  6,  '62,  sergeant,  Co.  H,  7th  Inft.;  June  30, 
'63,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  E,  7th  Inft. 

Capron,  Adin  B.  June  5,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  July  22,  '61, 
sergt-major,  2d  Inft.;  Oct.  11,  '61,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  D,  2d  Inft.;  July  24, 
'62,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  E,  2d  Inft.;  Oct.  14,  '73,  U.  S.  Signal  Corps. 

Capron,  Willis  C.  Dec.  14,  '61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  D,  1st  Cav.;  Nov.  16, 
'63,  captain,  Co.  D,  1st  Cav. 

Clark,  Albert  B.  Oct.  5,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  May  21,  '63, 
2d  lieut.,  Co.  E,  3d  Art. 

Daniels,  Percy.  Sept.  6,  '62,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  E,  8th  Inft.;  April  30, 
'63,  captain,  Co.  E,  7th  Inft.;  July  5,  '64,  lieut.  colonel,  7th  Inft. 

Grant,  George  H.  May  2d,  '61,  ensign,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft.;  Dec.  16, 
'61,  captain,  Co.  D,  5th  Art. 

Greene,  Albert  E.  May  2,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft.;  Oct.  9, 
'61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  June  1,  '63,  captain,  Co.  B,  3d  Art. 

Greene,  Charles  H.  Oct.  30,  '61,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  B,  4th  Inft;  Nov.  20, 
'61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  B,  4th  Inft.;  May  2,  '63,  captain,  Co.  B,  4th  Inft. 

Greene,  George  W.  Oct.  5,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  July  8, 
'62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  Jan.  21,  '63,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  B,  3d  Art. 

Hackett,  John.  Oct.  5,  '61,. sergeant,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  Feb,  3,  '64,  2d 
lieut.,  Co.  F,  3d  Art.;  June  22,  '65,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  F,  3d  Art. 

Hubbard,  William  E.     Oct.  13,  '62,  captain,  Co.  F,  12th  Inft. 

Jenckes,  Allen.  Oct.  30,  '61,  quartermaster-sergeant,  4th  Inft.; 
Jan.  13,  '63,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  D,  4th  Inft.;  Sept.  26,  '63,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  D, 
4th  Inft. 

Jenckes,  Leland  D.  May  2d,  '61,  private,  Co.  D.,  1st  Inft.;  July  21, 
'61,  prisoner  at  Bull  Run;  May  23d,  '62,  released  from  Salisbury,- 
N.  C. 

Jillson,  F.  G.  May  2,  '61,  corporal,  Co.  K,  1st  Infnt.;  May  26,  '62, 
1st  lieut.,  Co.  G,  9th  Inft. 

Kent,  Levi  E.  Oct.  30,  '61,  captain,  Co.  F,  4th  Inft.;  Aug.  11,  '62, 
major,  4th  Inft. 

Lindsey,  William  H.  Oct.  13,  '62,  sergeant,  Co.  F,  12th  Inft.;  Jan- 
1,  '63,  sergeant-major,  12th  Inft.;  Jan.  4,  '63,  lieut.,  48th  N.  J.  Inft. 

Pierce,  Edwin  A.  Oct.  30,  '61,  corporal,  Co.  E,  4th  Inft.;  Aug.  11, 
'62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  B,  4th  Inft.;  Feb.  18,  '63,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  G,  4th  Inft. 

Pierce,  Henry  R.  Dec.  16,  '61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  D,  5th  Art.;  March 
14,  '62,  killed  at  Newburn. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  373 

Read,  George  S.  Oct.  5,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  B,  3d  Art.;  vSept.  1,  '63, 
2d  lieut.,  Co.  B,  3d  Art. 

Russell,  E.  A.  June  5,  '61,  sergeant-major,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  July  22, 
'61,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  G.,  2d  Inft.;  Oct.  28,  '61, 1st  lieut.,  Co.  C,  2d  Inft.;  Oct. 
10,  '62,  captain,  Co.  A,  2d  Inft. 

Simpson,  Peter.     May  2,  '61,  captam,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft. 

Small,  R,  W.  June  5,  '61,  quartermaster-sergeant,  Co.  K,.  2d  Inft.; 
Sept.  23,  '64,  1st  lieut.  and  quartermaster,  2d  Inft. 

Smith,  S.  James.  June  6,  '61,  captain,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  July  21,  '61, 
killed  at  Bull  Run. 

Steere,  Thomas.     May  2,  '61,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  K,  1st  Inft. 

Tourtellot,  L.  C.     Oct.  3,  '61,  captain,  Co.  B,  3d  Art. 

Waterhouse,  J.  R.  June  6,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  Oct.  28, 
'61,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  May  19,  '63, 1st  lieut.,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft.;  June 
28,  '63,  captain,  Co.  I,  2d  Inft. 

Watson,  Charles  S.     May  26,  '62,  captain,  Co.  G,  9th  Inft. 

Whitaker,  H.  J.  May  26,  '62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  G,  2d  Inft.;  Nov.  21, 
'62,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  A,  2d  Cav. 

Wilbur,  George  A.  Sept.  6,  '62,  2d  lieut.,  Co.  E,  7th  Inft.;  April 
30,  '63,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  K,  7th  Inft.;  July  1,  '63,  captain,  Co.  K,  7th  Inft. 

Williams,  Henry  P.  Dec.  16,  '61,  sergeant,  Co.  D,  5th  Art.;  Feb. 
14,  '63,  1st  lieut.,  Co.  H.  5th  Art. 

Woonsocket  was  keenly  alive  to  the  necessity  of  providing  men 
and  means  to  prosecute  the  war,  and  although  not  acting  in  a  corpor- 
ate capacity  at  that  time,  its  influence  on  the  towns  of  which  it  was  a 
part  caused  them  to  give  an  earnest,  loyal  response  to  all  the  demands 
made  by  the  nation  upon  the  state.  During  the  war  there  were  camps 
of  rendezvous  and  instruction  at  the  village.  At  Camp  Tourtellot,  of 
which  Colonel  Levi  E.  Kent  was  the  commandant,  a  military  muster 
was  held  December  18th,  1863,  of  the  following  troops:  Ninth  Regi- 
ment, R.  I.  Militia,  Colonel  William  E.  Hubbard;  Smithfield  Battalion 
of  Infantry,  Captain  T.  West;  Woonsocket  Cavalry  Troop,  Captain  O. 
J.  Rathbun;  Pawtucket  Cavalry  Troop,  Captain  C.  N.  Mancha;  Woon- 
socket Light  Battery,  Captain  George  A.  Grant. 

A  line  of  march  was  formed  at  the  P.  &  W.  depot,  which,  headed 
by  the  American  Band,  proceeded  to  Camp  Tourtellot,  where  the 
troops  were  inspected  by  Generals  Arnold  and  Tourtellot.  Roast 
beef  was  served,  after  which  was  a  review  by  Governor  Smith,  when 
the  troops  were  marched  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  town  under 
command  of  General  Olney  Arnold,  who  dismissed  them  at  5  o'clock. 
A  large  crowd  witnessed  the  muster.  Another  military  event  soon  fol- 
lowed. Company  I,  of  the  Second  R.  I.  Regiment,  visited  the  town 
June  10th,  1864,  and  was  tendered  an  enthusiastic  ovation;  and  subse- 
quently the  citizens  expressed  in  a  public  way  their  appreciation  of, 
and  gratitude  to,  the  men  who  helped  to  perpetuate  the  Union. 

Of  the  population  of  Woonsocket,  in  1885,  139  had  served  in  the 


374  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Union  army  and  seven  in  the  navy.  There  were  also  21  soldiers' 
widows,  of  whom  20  received  pensions.  Liberal  support  has  been 
given  to  families  made  dependent  by  the  fortunes  of  war. 

After  the  war  for  the  Union  interest  in  military  matters  was  main- 
tained to  the  extent  of  keeping-  up  the  organizations  of  three  com- 
panies until  within  a  few  vears.  For  their  better  accominodation  the 
state  erected  a  new  armory,  on  Arnold  street,  which  was  completed 
for  occupancy  in  December,  1873.  It  was  a  very  substantial  and  attrac- 
tive structure  of  brick  and  free-stone,  having  a  main  hall,  50  by  70 
feet,  which  is  lighted  by  14  large  windows.  At  each  front  corner  is  a 
large  square  tower,  containing  private  rooms  for  the  different  organi- 
zations. The  north  tower  is  three  stories  high  and  is  surmounted  by 
a  flag-staff.  When  first  used  it  quartered  the  Woonsocket  Guards,  the 
Mitchell  Guards  and  Sherman's  Battery  of  Light  Artillery.  In  1889 
the  sole  occupant  of  the  armory  was  Company  D.,  Second  R.  I.  Militia. 
This  battalion  had  36  well  drilled  men,  and  its  commissioned  officers 
were:  Captain,  F.  M.  Cornell;  first  lieutenant,  Frank  M.  Lally;  second 
lieutenant,  Walter  I.  Pierce. 

Although  not  strictly  a  branch  of  the  military  service,  the  connec- 
tion is  intimate  enough  to  here  permit  brief  mention  of  the  musical 
organizations  which  have  animated  the  military  and  other  public 
gatherings.  The  United  Brass  Band  of  16  pieces,  led  by  Augustus 
Brown,  supplied  the  music  in  1845  and  the  years  following.  Later 
bands  were,  for  a  short  time  only,  kept  together.  June  22d,  1865,  was 
formed  the  Woonsocket  Cornet  Band,  which  became  a  very  proficient 
organization  and  whose  fame  has  been  extended  far  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  state.  In  January,  1874,  it  was  duly  chartered  by  the 
general  assembly.  The  first  leader  was  E.  A.  Paine,  under  whose 
management  it  won  many  laurels,  whose  number  and  brightness  was 
largely  increased  under  the  next  leader,  B.  W.  Nichols.  He  was  the 
musical  director  many  years.  William  Sparry  and  Joseph  A.  Emidy 
have  also  been  leaders  of  the  band,  which  is  still  successfully  kept  up. 
Among  other  bands  of  this  period  have  been  the  Union,  the  Mechanics' 
and  the  Social  bands. 

Woonsocket  was  the  first  town  in  the  state  to  take  decisive  action 
to  erect  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  its  dead  Union  soldiers.  In  the 
first  year  after  its  organization,  June  15th,  1868,  Samuel  S.  Foss,  F.  G. 
Jillson  and  George  A.  Wilbur  were  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain 
the  cost  of  a  suitable  monument  and  to  report  at  the  September  meet- 
ing. They  recommended  the  erection  of  a  monument  upon  land  be- 
longing to  Lysander  W.  Elliott,  near  his  hotel,  and  the  town  appro- 
priated $5,000  to  begin  the  work.  A  contract  was  made  with  J.  G. 
Batterson,  of  Hartford,  to  erect  the  monument  of  the  celebrated 
Westerly  granite,  and,  a  year  later,  the  fitness  of  selecting  him  to  exe- 
cute this  work  was  approved  by  the  citizens.  It  is  a  substantial  pile, 
consisting  of  a  heavy  base,  die  and  shaft,  surmounted  by  a  life-size 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  S7p 

figure  of  a  Union  soldier  in  the  infantry  service,  standing  at  "  a  rest " 
and  loosely  enveloped  in  his  great  coat.  The  proportions  are  well 
preserved,  and  the  monument  stands  about  35  feet  high.  At  the  base 
is  a  double  curbing,  of  dark  Cumberland  granite,  which  was  placed  in 
position  by  Ariel  C.  Whipple,  of  Diamond  Hill,  and  is  in  pleasing  con- 
trast with  the  lighter  granite  of  the  monument.  One  side  of  the  die 
bears  the  inscription  of  erection: 

IN   GRATEFUL  REMEMBRANCE   OF 

HER  BRAVE  SONS,   WHO,    DURING 

THE  GREAT  REBELLION, 

GAVE   THEIR  LIVES  THAT   THE  REPUBLIC   MIGHT   LIVE, 

THE  TOWN  OF   WOONSOCKET 

ERECTED   AND   DEDICATED  THIS  MONUMENT, 

MAY   28,    A.    D.,    1870. 

On  the  other  sides  of  the  die  are  cut  the  names  of  those  from  Woon- 
socket  and  vicinity  who  yielded  up  their  lives  in  defense  of  their 
country,  namely: 

Captain: 

S.    JAMES   SMITH. 

Lieutenants: 

HENRY   R.    PIERCE 
ERASMUS    S.    BARTHOLEMEW. 

8ergea7its: 

HENRY  A.  GREENE 

GEORGE  J.  HILL 
JOEL  F.  CROCKER. 

Coipotmls: 

THOMAS  J.  KELLEY 
JOHN  FORD. 

Privates: 

WILLIAM   H.    ACKLEY 
HENRY   C.   DAVIS 

JOHN   HARROP 

HUGH    MELVILLE 

LEANDER  A.    ARNOLD 

PATRICK  KELLEY 

MATTHEW  QCTRK 

ALBERT    H.   BALL 

EDWIN  JOSLIN 

PATRICK    O' CALLAHAN 

ABNER    HASKILL.    JR. 

SAMUEL    S.    SMITH 

JOHN  PRAY 

GEORGE   W.    STEARNS 

EMERY   FISKE 

ROSWELL  HATCH 

MICHAEL  BURNS 

MICHAEL  DRENMAN 

GEORGE  REIO 

THOMAS  GRAY 

WILLIAM   FARRAR 


376  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 


HENRY  CONBOY 

ISAAC  W.  GREENUP 

DANIEL  W.  BURNHAM 

MARCUS  L.  SMITH 

HENRY  E.  TESTON 

BERNARD  HOGAN 

JOHN  BURKE 

LEVI  SIMMONS 

NEHEMIAH   K.  SHELDON 

THOMAS   LEWIS. 


The  shaft  bears  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  the  foregoing- 
were  killed:  Bull  Run,  Fredericksburg,  Winchester,  Salem  Heights, 
Gaines'  Mill,  James  Island,  Newbern,  Fort  Pulaski. 

The  monument  was  dedicated  with  impressive  ceremonies  on  the 
28th  of  May,  1870.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day  the  arrival  of 
Governor  Padelford  and  his  staff  was  announced  by  a  salute  of  15  guns, 
fired  by  the  Woonsocket  Light  Artillery.  After  this  the  following 
procession  was  formed,  by  the  chief  marshal.  Colonel  L.  C.  Tourtellot: 

Police, 
Under  command  of  Chief  B.  A.  Slocum. 

Military  Escort, 

Colonel  J.  R.  Waterhouse,  Commanding. 

Woonsocket  Light  Artillery, 

Captain  H.  J.  White,  4  guns,  70  men. 

Woonsocket  Cornet  Band, 

B.  W.  Nichols,  leader,  25  pieces. 

Woonsocket  Guards, 

Captain  Albert  E.  Greene,  48  muskets. 

Company  "  E,"  R.  L  Guards, 

Captain  J.  A.  Seddy,  38  muskets. 

Smithfield  Rifles, 

Captain  P.  D.  Hall,  32  rifles. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

Department  Officers, 

Smith  Post,  No.  9,  &c.,  &c. 

Mechanics'  Cornet  Band, 

T.  Hudson,  leader,  20  pieces. 

Rescue  Engine  Company, 

Captain  N.  F.  Chase,  40  men. 

Eagle  Hose  Company, 

Captain  Philip  E.  Thayer,  20  men. 

Social  Hose  Company, 

Captain  James  Pickford,  12  men. 

Citizens. 

After  parading  through  some  of  the  principal  streets  the  concourse 
proceeded  to  the  Harris  Institute,  where  patriotic  speeches  were  made 
by  distinguished  citizens. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  377 

The  monument  has  been  enclosed  by  an  iron  railing  and  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  L.  W.  Elliott,  who  has  been  its  custodian 
since  its  erection.  Its  presence  in  this  locality  has  changed  the 
nomenclature  of  the  buildings  and  the  square,  the  name  of  the  latter 
being  changed  from  Mechanic  to  Monument  Square,  which  has  become 
one  of  the  most  attractive  public  places  in  the  city. 

Not  long  after  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  began  its  work  of 
banding  together  the  survivors  of  the  rebellion,  a  post  was  established 
at  Woonsocket  and  named  for  Captain  S.  James  Smith,  who  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  But  this  first  attempt  to  maintain  a  Post  was, 
for  various  causes,  so  little  encouraged  that  after  a  few  years  the  charter 
was  surrendered,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  interest  in  these  matters  still 
prevailed.  An  Association  of  Veterans  was  next  organized,  in  1879, 
which  continued  its  meetings  several  years,  until  the  purposes  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  became  better  understood  in  this  community,  when  the  vSmith 
Post  was  reorganized,  September  1st,  1884.  The  hopes  of  the  friends 
of  the  order  have  been  fully  realized  in  No.  9.  A  large  membership 
has  been  gathered  (more  than  200  belonging),  and  in  the  treasury  has 
been  accumulated  a  fine  fund  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  memorial 
hall.  About  $7,000  of  this  fund  was  netted  -  at  a  fair  held  in  May, 
1888.  At  present  the  meetings  are  held  in  a  neat  hall  on  Main  street, 
and  in  1889  the  officers  were:  P.  C,  Seth  S.  Getchell;  C,  James  H. 
,Rickard;  S.  V.  C,  Thomas  A.  Buell;  J.  V.  C,  James  Proctor;  chap- 
lain, Leonard  S.  Allen;  surgeon,  John  S.  Simmons;  adjutant,  Peter 
Reilly;  Q.  M.,  Stephen  H.  Brown. 

Camp  No.  10,  Sons  of  Veterans,  was  established  at  the  hall  of  Smith 
Post,  January  11th,  1889,  with  31  members  and  the  following  princi- 
pal officers:  Captain,  George  R.  Smith;  first  lieutenant,  William  S. 
Preston;  second  lieutenant,  Walter  R.  Williams;  first  council,  Fred.  E. 
Whittaker;  second  council,  H.  C.  Pierce;  third  council,  Charles  E. 
Wheelock;  first  sergeant,  A.  A.  Hudson;  aid  on  state  staff,  Charles  S. 
Parish.  The  Camp  has  had  an  encouraging  increase  of  members  and 
appears  to  be  established  on  a  permanent  basis. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Joseph  Barton  Aldrich.— Moses  Aldrich,  of  Mendon,  Mass.,  the 
remote  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  a  noted  preacher 
in  the  Society  of  Friends.  His  son,  Robert  Aldrich,  came  to  Cumber- 
land, R.  L,  about  the  year  1740,  and  settled  on  the  old  homestead.  He 
was  one  of  the  owners  and  treasurer  of  the  Old  Forge,  located  at  Woon- 
socket before  the  war  of  the  revolution.  His  son  Amos  married  Sally 
Cook,  of  Warwick,  R.  I.,  one  of  whose  eight  children  was  Joseph  C. 
Aldrich,  born  in  Cumberland  April  13th,  1787,  died  June  21st,  1851. 
He  married  Aseneth  Gaskill,  of  Blackstone,  Mass.  The  fifth  child 
among  a  family  of  twelve  children  was  Joseph  Barton  Aldrich,  the 
subject  of  this  biography. 


378  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

He  was  born  December  3()th,  1824,  on  the  homestead  in  Cumber- 
land, now  embraced  in  the  city  of  Woonsocket,  and  has  during  the 
whole  of  his  life  resided  at  or  near  the  scene  of  his  birth.  He  was 
employed  on  the  farm  in  summer  and  a.ttended  the  district  school 
during-  the  winter  months  until  the  age  of  16,  continuing  thus  engaged 
until  the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  devoted  several  months  to  travel  in 
the  West. 

In  vSeptember,  1853,  he  opened  a  store  in  Woonsocket,  very  soon 
established  a  prosperous  trade,  and  continued  his  career  as  a  merchant 
until  1863,  the  year  of  his  retirement  from  trade.  Since  that  date 
Mr.  Aldrich  has  not  been  engaged  in  business,  but  has  found  active 
employment  in  the  management  of  his  real  estate  interests  and  in  the 
settlement  of  various  estates,  notably  that  of  the  late  George  Law,  of 
Woonsocket.  This  embraced  several  charitable  bequests,  one  of  which 
was  conditional.  Through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Aldrich,  the  sum  of 
$28,000  was  donated  to  the  Woonsocket  Hospital,  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee.  Much  of  his  time  has  been  devoted  to  the  interests  of  this 
charitable  institution.  He  was  form^erly  a  director  of  the  Citizens' 
and  Globe  Banks,  and  is  a  trustee  of  both  the  People's  Savings  Bank 
and  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery.  Mr.  Aldrich  was  in  early  life  a  demo- 
crat, but  previous  to  the  war  gave  his  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party.  He  has  never  aspired  to  office,  and  only  from  a  sense  of  duty 
served  in  the  town  council  and  as  assessor.  He  is  a  member  and 
was  formerly  one  of  the  prudential  committee  of  the  Universalist 
church  of  Woonsocket. 

Mr.  Aldrich  was  married  on  the  9th  of  May,  1855,  to  Marcia  A., 
daughter  of  William  Law,  of  East  Killingly,  Conn.,  who  died  August 
29th,  1867.  He  was  a  second  time  married  June  9th,  1870,  to  Cyrena 
J.,  daughter  of  the  late  Willis  Cook,  of  Woonsocket. 

Victor  Allaire,  born  in  1844  in  St.  Ours,  Richelieu  county,  Quebec, 
came  to  Woonsocket  the  same  year  that  President  Buchanan  was 
elected,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  years,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Woonsocket.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  worked  at  that 
for  seven  years,  and  in  1866  took  up  the  mason's  trade,  which  he  has 
since  carried  on.  He  is  now  contractor  and  mason,  and  has  contracted 
to  furnish  all  the  stone  for  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Works.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  town  council.  He  married  Malvina  Aubin,  of 
vSt.  Felix,  Valoix,  Quebec,  in  1865. 

Cyrus  Arnold,  son  of  Cyrus  and  Ruth  (Arnold)  Arnold,  was  born 
in  1815  in  Smithfield,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
came  to  Woonsocket  in  1842.  He  first  went  into  the  grocery  business, 
and  afterward  in  the  mill  in  1847,  and  was  superintendent  for  George 
C.  Ballou  for  about  thirty  years.  He  served  seven  terms  as  member 
of  the  general  assembly,  five  terms  in  town  council,  and  was  president 
once.     He  is  vice-president  of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank  and  direc- 


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HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  379- 

tor  in  the  Woonsocket  Machine  and  Press  Company.     He  married 
Celia.  daughter  of  George  C.  Ballon,  in  1846. 

Samuel  K.  Bailey,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Kerton)  Bailey,  was 
born  in  England  in  1832,  and  came  to  America  in  1 843  with  his  parents, 
who  located  first  in  Southbridge,  Mass.  His  father  followed  farming 
for  20  years  in  Dudley,  Mass.,  bnt  was  brought  up  in  the  woolen  busi- 
ness and  for  a  number  of  years  before  was  boss  spinner  for  George 
Marsh,  at  Burrillville.  Samuel  K.  was  boss  finisher  12  years  in  Bur- 
rillville;  afterward  superintendent  for  C.  H.Whipple,  Plainville;  then 
superintendent  of  the  Babcock  &  Morse  Steam  Woolen  Mill  at  Wester- 
ly four  years;  superintendent  at  Versailles,  Conn.,  six  years;  superin- 
tendent for  the  Rock  Manufacturing  Company,  Rockville,  Conn.;, 
superintendent  for  the  Empire  Woolen  Mills,  Clayville,  N.  Y.,  for  six 
years,  and  since  1883  superintendent  of  The  Lippitt  Woolen  Com- 
pany's Mills,  Woonsocket.  He  married  in  1853  a  daughter  of  William 
Cogswell,  of  England.  His  present  wife  is  Alma,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Harrington,  of  Killingly,  Conn.     He  married  her  in  1884. 

Charles  E.  Ballou,  son  of  Eliab  M.  and  Mary  (Cushman)  Ballou, 
was  born  in  1846  in  Woonsocket.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Woonsocket  National  Bank  and  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings- 
since  1864,  is  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Business  Men's  Association, 
treasurer  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  13,  and  treasurer  of  the  Masonic 
Mutual  Relief  Association.  He  married  Emma  G.,  daughter  of  Reuben 
O.  Cooke,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1868.  His  father  learned  the  trade  of  a 
mason,  which  he  followed  for  many  years,  and  later  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  Woonsocket  Baking  Company  and  died  in  1857. 

Latimer  W.  Ballou,  the  son  of  Levi  Ballou  and  Hepza  Metcalf,. 
was  born  at  Cumberland,  R.  L,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Ballou  neigh- 
borhood, March  1st,  1812.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  and  acade- 
mies in  the  vicinity  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age  of  16,  finding 
the  employments  of  the  farm  neither  suitable  to  his  strength  nor  con- 
genial to  his  tastes,  repaired  to  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  learned  the  art 
of  printing  in  the  office  of  the  University  Press.  In  1835,  in  company 
with  Messrs.  Metcalf  &  Torry,  he  established  the  Cambridge  Press,  and 
continued  it  until  1842,  the  date  of  his  removal  to  Woonsocket,  where 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1850  he  was  chosen  cashier  of 
the  Woonsocket  Falls  Bank,  and  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Institu- 
tion for  Savings,  which  positions  he  continues  to  hold.  These  institu- 
tions owe  much  of  their  prosperity  and  present  standing  to  his  wise 
administration.  Brought  by  his  official  position  into  close  relations 
with  the  business  and  economic  interests  of  the  town  and  state,  he  has 
had,  during  a  whole  generation,  a  continually  increasing  share  in  the 
shaping  of  them.  As  counsellor  or  as  arbitrator  his  services  have  been 
for  many  years  in  almost  constant  demand.  He  is  the  president  of 
the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  and  was  sole  trustee  of  the  Ezekiel  Fowler 
Hospital  Fund,  which  has  since  .been  absorbed  in  the  W^oonsocket 


380  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Hospital,  of  which  he  is  also  the  president.  In  the  year  1871  he  spent 
several  months  in  Europe,  devoting  a  large  part  of  his  time  to  the 
advancement  of  business  trusts  with  which  he  was  charged. 

Mr.  Ballou  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  republican 
party  in  the  state.  In  1860  he  was  presidential  elector  on  the  Lincoln 
and  Hamlin  ticket.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  labored 
indefatigably  for  the  enlistment  and  comfort  of  soldiers,  and  while 
the  enlisted  men  were  in  the  field  was  the  cheerful  adviser  of  their 
families  at  heme,  and  to  a  great  extent  the  unpaid  medium  of  com- 
munication between  them.  Throughout  the  war  his  services  were 
unabated.  In  1872  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  republican  con- 
vention at  Philadelphia  w^hich  nominated  Grant  and  Wilson.  He  was 
elected  representative  to  the  44th,  45th  and  46th  congresses  success- 
ively, and  served  as  a  member  of  the  committees  on  education, 
labor,  patents  and  printing.  In  the  committee  he  was  by  long  experi- 
ence and  training  especially  fitted  to  act,  and  here  he  made  his  presence 
felt.  By  hiembers  of  all  parties  his  opinions  were  respected  and  he 
himself  honored  as  a  man  of  incorruptible  integrity. 

Of  his  addresses  in  the  house  of  representatives,  perhaps  the  most 
important  was  the  one  reviewing  the  relation  of  the  national  banks  to 
the  currency  of  the  government.  In  the  opinion  of  competent  judges 
no  more  concise,  logical  and  effective  exposition  of  the  subject  was 
given  before  congress.  His  bill  asking  for  the  appointment  of  a  com- 
mission to  consider  the  subject  of  a  reform  in  the  orthography  of  the 
English  language,  grew  out  of  his  interest  in  the  cause  of  education, 
and  the  conviction  that  the  acquisition  of  the  rudimentary  branches 
of  instruction,  by  wise  and  uniform  action,  may  be  greatly  facilitated. 
The  leading  colleges  and  more  than  50  educational  institutions  of  the 
country  have  in  general  terms  sustained  his  views.  He  was  for  many 
years  treasurer  of  Dean  Academy  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  and  is  now  its 
president. 

Mr.  Ballou  married,  October  20th,  1836,  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Ruth  Hunnewell,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  a  lady  of  many 
rare  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  who  died  June  24th,  1879.  Their 
children  are:  Mary  Francis,  Sarah  Jane,  Henry  Latimer  (deceased), 
and  Marie  Louise  (deceased).  Mr.  Ballou  carried  to  Washington  the 
atmosphere  of  a  refined  domestic  life.  He  entered  heartily  into  the 
various  charitable  and  philanthropic  movements  of  that  city,  and  was 
•especially  active  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  holding  year  after  year 
the  vice-presidency  of  the  Congressional  Temperance  Society.  Early 
in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church.  For  40  or 
more  years  he  has  held  the  superintendency  of  the  Sabbath  school  at 
Woonsocket,  and  a  greater  part  of  the  time  has  been  president  of  the 
society.  He  is  at  the  present  time  president  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Universalist  Convention.  His  interest  in  the  cause  of  Christianit}^ 
warm  and  deep  at  first,  has  never  abated,  and  most  effectively  has  he 


— '^y:.:l'/.t,_iU 


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HISTORY    OF   TROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  381 

labored  to  promote  the  religious  and  moral  welfare  of  society.  ^Ir. 
Ballou  had  conferred  upon  him  by  Tufts  College  the  honorary  degree 
of  LL.  D.  in  1887. 

Henry  Latimer  Ballou,  the  son  of  Latimer  and  Sarah  A.  Ballou, 
was  born  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  October  14th,  1841,  and  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Woonsocket  the  following  year.  His  education  was 
received  at  the  public  schools,  supplemented  by  a  business  course  in 
a  Boston  commercial  college.  Improving  these  opportunities  with 
study  in  leisure  hours,  he  became  broadly  educated,  and  a  gentleman 
of  refinement  and  polish.  In  1861  he  entered  the  Woonsocket  National 
Bank  and  'Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings,  as  clerk,  becoming 
assistant  cashier  and  assistant  treasurer  in  1876.  Since  that  date,  when 
his  father,  the  cashier  of  the  National  Bank  and  treasurer  of  the  In- 
stitution for  Savings,  was  elected  to  Congress,  he  had  been  the  active 
executive  officer  of  both  these  institutions.  He  was  also  prominently 
connected  with  several  local  business  enterprises,  having  been  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Company,  and  an  active 
director,  as  also  director  of  the  American  Worsted  Company,  of  the 
Woonsocket  Machine  and  Press  Company,  and  the  Bailey  Wringing 
Machine  Company.  Mr.  Ballou  was  treasurer  for  many  years  of  the 
consolidated  school  district,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Woonsocket 
Business  Men's  Association  since  its  formation.  He  also  held  the 
position  of  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Hospital  Corporation. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ballou  was  a  republican,  and  while  ever  desirous 
for  the  advancement  of  his  party,  nevertheless  believed  that  a  party 
should  stand  for  something  more  than  mere  success  at  the  polls.  His 
influence  was  as  wide  as  the  state,  and  always  with  a  tendency  to  hold 
the  party  to  higher  aims.  He  believed  in  the  might  of  right.  He  was 
gifted  with  the  power  of  prescience,  saw  further  than  most  men,  and 
was  a  leader  of  his  party  in  many  popular  movements,  as  in  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Bourn  amendment  for  the  extension  of  the  suffrage,  the 
ten  hour  law,  temperance  legislation,  and  convenient  hours  at  polling 
places.  Neither  did  he  hesitate  to  identify  himself  with  what  he 
deemed  a  morally  just  cause  which  might  be  unpopular.  In  all  the 
business  interests  with  which  he  was  connected  he  was  faithful  to 
every  trust  and  duty.  He  not  only  filled  with  conscientious  care  every 
office  to  which  he  was  appointed,  but  was  a  wise  and  judicious  coun- 
sellor to  all  desiring  advice  regarding  investments,  or  in  the  settle- 
ment of  estates.  In  such  relations  he  manifested  both  wisdom  and 
unselfishness,  bestowing  his  counsel  in  so  kindly  a  manner,  that  the 
seeker  felt  assured  of  his  sincerity  and  friendship.  In  the  popular 
mind  Mr.  Ballou  was  thought  of  as  a  trustworthy  and  successful 
banker  rather  than  as  a  manufacturer,  though  the  industries  of  the 
town  owed  much  to  his  enterprise  and  forethought. 

The  arduous  duties  which  occupied  his  mind  finally  began  to 
tell  upon  a  constitution,  not  robust.      Chosen  as   a    delegate   to  the 


382  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

republican  convention  held  in  Chicag-o  in  1888,  he  made  preparations 
to  attend,  but  at  the  last  moment  gave  his  place  to  an  alternate. 
Seeking  the  more  genial  climate  of  Southern  California  he  rallied  for 
a  time,  but  finally  succumbed  to  the  malady  which  occasioned  his 
death  on  the  22d  of  May,  1889.  In  his  demise  Woonsocket  lost  one 
of  her  most  prominent  and  worthy  citizens.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Universalist  church  and  assistant  superintendent  of  its  Sunday 
school;  a  Christian  man — Christian  in  faith,  Christian  in  hope,  and 
Christian  in  his  daily  life. 

Mr.  Ballou  was,  October  6th,  1868,  married  to  Susan  A.,  daughter  of 
the  late  Willis  Cook  of  Woonsocket.  Their  children  are:  Latimer 
Willis,  Marie  Louise  and  Roland  Hunnewell. 

Richard  Barnett,  born  in  1844  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  was  educated 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  and  vSouth  Kingstown,  R.  L  He  enlisted  in 
the  Second  R.  I.  Regiment,  1861,  and  reenlisted  in  the  Second  U.  S. 
Infantry  in  1864.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1805  as  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store  for  Horace  Cook.  He  established  business  for  himself 
in  1877.  He  was  assistant  chief  of  fire  department  and  afterward 
chief.  He  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Second  ward  upon  the  forma- 
tion of  the  city  government.  He  married  in  1865  Lucinda  J.,  daughter 
of  George  Campbell  of  Woonsocket. 

Richard  C.  Bartlett,  son  of  Elishaand  Martha  (Inman)  Bartlett,  was 
born  in  1825  in  what  was  then  Cumberland,  now  Woonsocket,  and  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools.  He  worked  in  the  mill  until  he  was 
26  years  old  and  for  two  years  at  brickmaking;  then  worked  at  the  car- 
penter trade  for  three  years,  and  in  1855  located  on  his  present  farm, 
where  he  has  since  that  time  carried  on  farming  and  the  milk  business. 
His  father  followed  farming  until  he  was  20  years  of  age,  afterward 
learned  the  stone  cutting  trade  and  always  followed  it.  He  worked 
on  the  Blackstone  canal,  putting  in  locks  and  dams.  His  grandfather 
and  great-grandfather  were  named  Joseph,  and  his  great-great-grand- 
father was  Moses.'  He  married  Emeline  White,  daughter  of  William 
Lawrence  of  Appleton,  Maine,  in  1868. 

David  Bass. — Simeon  Bass,  the  grandfather  of  David  Bass,  married 
Hannah  Sawyer.  Their  children  were  three  sons:  Ebenezer,  Simeon 
and  David.  David  was  born  February  8th,  1798,  in  Peterboro,  N.  H., 
where  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  was  spent,  his  regular  pur- 
suits being  those  connected  with  a  farmer's  life.  He  married  Mary 
Eaton  of  the  same  town,  whose  children  were:  David,  Jr.,  born  March 
3d,  1821;  Eben,  in  1823;  Mary,  in  1825;  William  E.,  in  1827;  Charles, 
in  1829;  Lewis  G.,  in  1831;  Samuel  W.,  in  1888,  and  Martha  J.,  in  1886. 
Mary  married  Matthew  R.  Moore,  and  Martha  J.  became  the  wife  of 
George  Emory. 

David  Bass,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  is  a  native  of  Deering, 
N.  H.,  with  which  locality  his  early  years  are  associated.  He  was  a 
pupil  of  the  district  school  until  the  age  of  eleven,  after  which  his 


a^y?y^-<--^^     ^ c/-  CL^-d-^ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  883 

education  was  limited  to  nine  weeks  'of  study  during  the  year,  the  re- 
mainder of  th&time  being  devoted  to  his  father's  farm,  and  to  such 
desirable  employment  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  neighborhood.  His 
first  introduction  to  the  world  outside  his  home,  was  in  the  city  of 
Boston,  where  he  was  variously  employed  for  four  years.  On  the  1st 
of  May,  1845,  he  married  Rebecca  J,,  daughter  of  Stephen  H.  Carr  of 
Deering.  Their  children  are:  Mary  A.,  deceased,  wife  of  Lyman  H. 
Fulton;  Martha  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  14;  Lewis  C,  a  resident  of 
New  Bedford,  married  to  Mary  L.  Lomas;  and  Viola  E.  Mr.  Bass  on 
his  marriage  returned  to  New  Hampshire  and  resumed  his  early  oc- 
cupation, that  of  a  farmer.  In  1859  he  removed  to  Antrim,  in  the 
same  state,  and  under  the  contract  system  then  in  vogue,  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  shovels  and  hoes.  Continuing  thus  employed  for 
four  years,  he  then  returned  to  the  farm,  which  in  1864  he  sold,  and 
began  in  the  city  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  the  manufacture  of  spools  and 
bobbins.  This  business  was  afterward  removed  to  Lawrence,  in  the 
same  state. 

Mr.  Bass  subsequently  spent  three  years  in  his  former  home,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  became  a  resident  of  Woonsocket.  Here 
he  assumed  control  of  the  Woonsocket  Spool  and  Bobbin  Company, 
which  under  his  successful  management  has  become  one  of  the  im- 
portant industries  of  the  town.  The  business  has  largely  increased 
in  dimensions,  employs  12.")  hands,  and  supplies  the  markets  of  the 
United  vStates,  Canada  and  Mexico.  Mr.  Bass  is  a  director  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  and  the  Peoples'  Savings  Bank.  He  is  a  republican 
in  politics,  but  neither  a  politician  nor  an  office-seeker.  His  religious 
sympathies  are  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  his 
children  are  members. 

George  Batchelor,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Townrow)  Batch- 
elor,  was  born  in  1800  in  London,  England.  His  father  came  to 
America  in  1854,  and  located  in  St.  John,  N.  B.,  and  from  there  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1865,  working  first  in 
the  mills  and  in  the  grocery  business,  until  he  started  the  grocery 
business  for  himself  in  1880.  He  is  fire  marshal,  also  served  as  such 
under  the  town  government.  He  has  been  town  sergeant.  He  was 
foreman  of  Steamer  Company  No.  1,  and  also  a  member  of  board  of  fire 
engineers,  and  is  license  commissioner.  He  married  ^lary  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Miller  of  Woonsocket,  in  1870. 

Jonathan  Battye,  son  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Holden)  Battye,  was 
born  in  1834  in  England,  came  to  America  and  located  in  Woonsocket 
in  1853.  He  worked  first  in  the  mills  for  about  two  years,  then  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  working  at  that  about  three  years,  and  for  a  time 
did  carpenter  work  for  Edward  Harris.  He  afterward  had  charge  of 
different  departments  of  mills  up  to  superintendent.  He  established 
himself  in  the  grocery  business  in  1876,  and  has  been  engaged  in  that 
ever  since,  also  in  buying  and  selling  real  estate.     He  married  Mary, 


384  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

daughter  of  James  Halliwell  of  Woonsocket  in  1856.  He  was  educated 
in  England  and  Woonsocket.  He  served  twice  in  town  council  at 
different  times.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board'  of  assessors  and  clerk 
of  the  school  district. 

Philippe  Boucher  was  born  in  1859  in  wSt.  Barthelemi,  Quebec,  was 
educated  in  Berthier  College,  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1872,  and  first 
worked  in  the  Hamlet  and  Social  Mills.  He  established  his  present 
business  of  grocer  in  1880.  He  married  Darinaine,  daughter  of  Louis 
Menard,  of  Cuntrecoeur,  Canada,  in  1882.  He  is  president  of  the  St. 
Jean  Baptiste  Society,  and  also  president  of  Ligue-du-Sacre-Coeur  So- 
ciety. He  was  elected  councilman  from  the  Fifth  ward  upon  the 
formation  of  the  city  government. 

Joseph  Bouvier,  son  of  Francis  and  Tharsile  (Normandin)  Bouvier, 
was  born  in  1845  in  St.  Simon,  Province  of  Quebec,  and  came  to 
Woonsocket  with  his  parents  in  1863.  He  first  began  working  in  the 
mills,  a  short  time  afterward  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  off  and 
on  for  about  three  years,  was  also  in  the  tinware  business  for  two 
years,  and  in  1868  started  for  himself  in  the  grocery  business.  He 
was  married  in  1867  to  Celina,  daughter  of  Pierre  Vincellette,  of  Water- 
ville,  Maine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  assessors,  and  was  mem- 
ber of  the  town  council  two  years. 

Reverend  John  Boyden  was  born  May  14th,  1809,  in  Sturbridge, 
Mass.  He  was  ordained  in  Berlin,  Conn.,  in  1830,  preached  in  Dud- 
ley, Mass.,  six  years,  and  in  1840  became  pastor  of  the  New  Society  in 
Woonsocket,  where  he  continued  for  thirty  years.  He  died  in  1869. 
He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Ichabod  Jacobs,  of  Scituate,  Mass.,  in 
1831. 

John  R.  Boyden,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Jacobs)  Boyden,  was  born 
August  22d,  1838,  in  Dudley,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Woonsocket  when 
only  two  years  old  with  his  parents.  He  was  educated  at  the  high 
school,  Woonsocket,  where  he  graduated,  and  then  entered  Tufts  Col- 
lege. He  taught  school  in  Woonsocket  and  at  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  and 
afterward  entered  the  employ  of  Woonsocket  Rubber  Company  as 
treasurer,  and  was  there  until  he  died  in  1867.  He  married  A.  Olivia, 
daughter  of  Willis  Cook,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1862.  They  had  one  son, 
John  R.,  w^ho  is  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Woonsocket. 

James  E.  Bradford,  son  of  Charles  W.  and  Clarice  (Horton)  Brad- 
ford, was  born  in  1850  in  vSmithfield,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  was  first  employed  in  the  finishing  department  of  a  mill. 
He  established  business  for  himself  as  contractor  and  builder  in  1876. 
He  married  Harriet  T.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Wales,  of  Woonsocket, 
in  1868.  He  was  elected  councilman  for  the  Second  ward  upon  the 
formation  of  the  city  government. 

Oilman  Brown,  son  of  Laban  and  Annie  M.  (Mowry)  Brown,  was 
born  in  1828  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  married  first  to  Sally  S.,  daughter  of  Ahas  Mowry,  of  Smith- 


E-^^tryrGKeTncmNy^ 


a  ^^ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  885 

field,  in  1851.  He  married  his  present  wife,  Ann  Eliza  Amanda, 
daughter  of  Leander  Fenner,  of  North  Providence,  in  1868.  Mr. 
Brown  has  been  head  farmer  in  charge  of  the  Harris  farm  since  1870. 
He  has  served  as  member  of  town  council,  and  was  elected  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  in  1889. 

Alphonzo  Watson  Buckland,  D.D.S.— The  earliest  representa- 
tive of  the  Buckland  family  in  New  England  was  Thomas  Buckland, 
who  was  made  a  freeman  in  Massachusetts  in  1635,  became  a  resident 
of  Windsor,  Conn.,  as  early  as  1638,  and  died  May  28th,  1662.  Tem- 
perance, his  widow,  died  July  26th,  1681.  In  the  direct  line  of  descent 
were  Timothy,  son  of  Thomas;  Jonathan,  son  of  Timothy;  Alexander, 
son  of  Jonathan;  Erastus,  son  of  Alexander;  Lorenzo  M.,  son  of  Erastus, 
and  lastly  the  subject  of  this  biography,  who  is  the  son  of  Lorenzo  M. 
Buckland.  Erastus  Buckland,  the  grandfather  of  Alphonzo  W.,  mar- 
ried Sally  Heath.  Their  son,  Lorenzo  M.,  was  born  February  7th. 
1810,  in  Broad  Brook,  Hartford  county,  Conn.,  and  married  Julia 
Hull,  of  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  on  the  3d  of  August,  1811. 

Alphonzo  W.,  the  fourth  child  of  this  union,  was  born  at  Washing- 
ton, Van  Buren  county,  Iowa,  June  19th,  1843,  and  in  early  childhood 
removed  to  Broad  Brook,  Conn.,  where  his  youth  was  spent.  His  ele- 
mentary education  was  begun  at  the  district  school,  his  studies  con- 
tinued at  the  Wesleyan  Academy  at  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  and  at  the 
Providence  Conference  Seminary,  at  East  Greenwich,  R.  I.  He  had 
meanwhile  at  intervals  added  to  his  slender  means  by  teaching  school. 
Determining  to  enter  the  service  during  the  late  war  as  an  attache  of 
the  signal  service,  he  was  diverted  from  his  purpose  by  an  advan- 
tageous offer  to  repair  to  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
spent  nearly  three  years.  Doctor  Buckland,  soon  after  his  return  and 
on  the  10th  of  October,  1866,  married  Helen  Augusta  Marble,  daughter 
of  Joel  Waters  Marble,  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  Harding,  of  vSouth- 
bridge,  Mass.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are  three  daughters: 
Florence  M.,  Alice  M.  and  Bessie  M. 

Doctor  Buckland,  after  his  marriage,  chose  dentistry  as  his  profes- 
sion, and  removing  to  Philadelphia,  began  his  studies  under  the  pre- 
ceptorship  of  Doctor  Charles  A.  Kingsbury,  graduating  from  the  Phila- 
delphia Dental  College  in  1871.  Having  previously  located  in  Woon- 
socket,  he  returned  and  there  established  himself  in  his  profession. 
He  speedily  acquired  a  reputation  for  skill  as  an  operator,  and  with  it 
an  extended  practice.  Among  his  professional  confreres  in  the  state 
he  enjoys  an  enviable  position,  and  his  clinics  before  the  classes  in 
the  various  New  England  colleges  are  highly  valued.  His  status  in 
the  profession  may  well  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  is  a  member 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Dental  Science.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  New  England  Dental  Society,  of  the  Rhode  Island  Dental 
Society,  and  of  the  Rhode  Island  Board  of  Registration  in  Den- 
tistry. 

25 


386  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTV. 

Doctor  Buckland  is  president  of  the  Woonsocket  Electric  Machine 
and  Power  Company,  and  of  the  Woonsocket  Spool  and  Bobbin  Com- 
pany, and  director  of  both  the  Producers'  and  the  People's  Savings 
Banks.  He  is  connected  by  membership  with  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Woonsocket,  and  is  a  member  of  both  its  board 
of  stewards  and  trustees.  He  is  a  member  of  Washington  Lodge, 
No.  70,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Windsor,  Conn.;  of  Union  Chapter,  No.  5,  and 
of  Woonsocket  Commandery,  No.  23,  of  Woonsocket,  of  which  he  is 
past  commander.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Washington  Lodge,  No. 
1269,  Knights  of  Honor,  and  of  various  other  social  and  protective 
organizations. 

Frank  A.  Campbell,  son  of  Patrick  and  Jane  (Mercer)  Campbell, 
was  born  in  1858  in  Providence,  R.L,  and  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1879. 
He  established  his  business  of  merchant  tailor  in  1880.  He  was  tax 
collector  in  1886-7,  and  is  postmaster  of  Woonsocket,  taking  the  office 
in  1888.     He  was  married  to  Delia  Burke,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1883. 

Joseph  P.  Childs,  son  of  John  Burnap  and  Polly  (Ganson)  Childs, 
was  born  in  1815  in  Pittsfield,  Vt.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1840 
and  was  employed  in  a  hotel  a  number  of  years.  He  then  carried  on 
the  grocery  business  a  number  of  years  and  afterward  went  into  the 
florist  business  and  followed  that  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  died  in 
1883.  He  was  at  one  time  sheriff.  He  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Robert  Smith,  of  Bellingham,  Mass.,  in  1844. 

Leroy  L.  Chilson,  son  of  Nathan  and  Susan  R.  Chilson,  was  born 
in  1833  in  Bellingham,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  district  and  select 
schools  of  Bellingham  and  North  Providence.  He  taught  school  in 
Mendon,  Blackstone  and  Pawtucket.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1868 
and  purchased  from  F.  S.  Weeks  the  stationery  business  that  he  has 
since  carried  on.  He  was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  and  for 
10  or  12  years  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  president  of  the  same 
since  the  formation  of  the  city  government.  He  married  Fannie  E., 
daughter  of  Preston  Warfield,  of  Blackstone,  Mass.,  in  1858. 

Joseph  E.  Cole.— Isaac  Cole,  of  Sandwich,  in  the  county  of  Kent, 
England,  and  the  progenitor  of  the  family  represented  by  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  came  to  America  with  his  wife  Joan  and  two  children 
in  the  ship  "  Hercules,"  and  settled  in  Charlestown,  Mass.  Their  son 
John  Cole,  in  1651,  married  Susannah,  youngest  daughter  of  William 
and  Ann  Hutchinson,  the  latter  of  whom  was  banished  from  the 
colonies  on  account  of  her  religious  faith.  Of  the  ten  children  of  this 
marriage  William  Cole  died  in  1734.  He  married,  in  1701,  Ann 
Pinder,  whose  children  were  nine  in  number.  Their  eldest  son,  John, 
the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  being  Mary  Bissell.  They  had  six  children,  of 
whom  Captain  John  Cole,  born  July  6th,  1749,  died  May  15th,  1825. 
He  married  Virtue  Davis,  to  whom  were  born  children:  William, 
Thomas  Bissell,  William  Davis,  Mary,  Edward,  Esther,  Isett,  Hannah 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  387 

and  Lucy.  Edward  Cole,  the  fourth  son,  was  born  x\pril  18th,  1780, 
and  died  February  5th,  1852.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Pierce  in  1815.'  Their  children  were:  Sarah  Ann,  Maria,  Sybil 
Pierce  and  Joseph  Edward. 

Their  only  son,  Joseph  Edward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
November  18th,  1824,  in  North  Kingstown,  R.  I.,  where  upon  the  farm 
owned  by  his  father  his  youthful  years  were  spent.  His  first  educa- 
tional advantages  were  received  at  the  country  schools,  after  which  he 
attended  successively  the  Wickford  and  East  Greenwich  academies. 
He  then  for  a  period  employed  the  winter  months  in  teaching,  and 
spent  the  summer  in  the  varied  duties  pertaining  to  a  farmer's  life. 
He  was  for  a  year  and  a  half  in  charge  of  the  school  at  Wakefield  and 
met  with  much  success  in  his  avocation.  Being  desirous  to  enter  the 
arena  of  business,  Mr.  Cole,  in  his  22d  year  removed  to  Providence  as 
bookkeeper  and  clerk  in  a  drug  and  dye  house,  and  later  accepted  a 
position  as  bookkeeper  in  a  print  works  in  Johnston,  R.  I.  Here  he 
remained  four  and  a  half  years,  and  in  1854  effected  an  engagement 
with  Edward  Harris  at  Woonsocket.  He  was  very  successful  soon 
after  in  establishing  a  growing  trade  in  Boston,  and  made  his  presence 
felt  in  the  management  of  this  extensive  business.  In  1857  he  was 
given  an  interest  and  confined  his  attention  specially  to  the  finances 
and  the  trade  which  had  been  successfully  built  i^p  in  Boston.  The 
happy  result  of  this  venture  led  Mr.  Harris  to  open  a  house  in  New 
York  for  the  sale  of  the  fabrics  of  his  mills,  and  it  devolved  upon  Mr. 
Cole  to  organize  the  business  at  that  point.  This  he  accordingly  did 
and  remained  in  that  city  until  the  enterprise  was  an  assured  success. 

This  extensive  manufacturing  interest  was  subsequently  reorgan- 
ized as  the  Harris  Woolen  Company,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  part- 
ners and  treasurer  of  the  organization.  Mr.  Cole  was  made  president 
of  the  Woonsocket  First  National  Bank  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Harris, 
and  is  also  president  of  the  People's  Savings  Bank.  In  1876,  on  a 
reorganization  of  the  American  Worsted  Company,  he  was  solicited 
to  accept  the  presidency  and  still  fills  that  office.  In  politics  Mr.  Cole 
is  a  staunch  republican  and  has  been  to  some  extent -identified  with 
local  political  issues.  He  was  for  nine  years  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  part  of  this  time  its  president.  In  1888  he  represented  his 
constituents  in  the  state  senate,  and  acted  as  chairman  of  the  finance 
committee  of  that  body.  His  religious  support  is  given  to  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Cole  is  a  member. 

Mr.  Cole  married,  October  12th,  1857,  Mary  K.,  daughter  of  William 
L.  and  Mary  Ann  Peckham,  of  Bristol,  R.  I.  Their  children  are: 
Edward  Peckham  (deceased),  Walter  Hutchinson,  Mary  Louise  and 
Frederic  Pierce. 

Henry  L.  Cook,  son  of  Zebina  and  Phila  (Bartlett)  Cook,  was  born 
in  1840  in  Woonsocket,  then  Cumberland,  and  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools.     He  first  engaged  in  farming  and  the  ice  business. 


388  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

was  on  the  police  force  for  four  years,  and  afterward  for  four  years 
was  superintendent  of  streets.  He  married  Olive  B.,  daughter  of  Lu- 
man  Hardy,  of  Carroll,  N.  H.,  in  1861. 

Ira  B.  Cook,  son  of  Aquilla  and  Olive  (Bates)  Cook,  was  born  in 
1842  in  Bellingham,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Bellingham  and  Woonsocket,  and  at  the  Bernardston  Academy,  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  married  in  1866  to  Ida,  daughter  of  Carlile  W. 
Capron,  of  Woonsocket.  Mr.  Cook  served  in  the  42d  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  went  out  lieutenant  and  was  afterward  made  captain  of 
Company  B.  On  his  return  from  the  war  he  took  up  the  brush  man- 
ufacturing business  as  manager  for  his  father,  who  carried  on  the 
business  in  Woonsocket  for  many  years.  At  the  death  of  his  father 
he  sold  the  business  and  retired.  He  is  at  present  interested  in  real 
estate  in  Chicago,  is  a  director  in  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Sav- 
ings, and  one  of  the  board  of  investment,  also  a  director  in  the  Ameri- 
can Worsted  Company. 

James  E.  Cook,  son  of  Davis  T.  and  Abby  (Hoag)  Cook,  was  born 
in  1851  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
was  married  in  1879  to  Annie  W.,  daughter  of  John  T.  Carter,  of  Salem, 
Mass.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  town  council,  filled  the  position 
of  clerk  of  the  republican  town  organization  for  several  years,  was  for 
six  years  a  member  of  the  school  committee,  and  chairman  of  the 
board  two  years.  He  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Fourth  ward  upon 
the  formation  of  the  city  government  in  1888,  and  elected  president  of 
the  board  in  January,  1889.  Mr.  Cook  is  teller  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Woonsocket. 

Joseph  B.  Cook,  son  of  Zebina  and  Phila  (Bartlett)  Cook,  was  born 
in  1837  in  what  was  then  Cumberland,  now  Woonsocket.  and  was  edu- 
cated at  the  district  school.  He  was  married  in  1878  to  Millsa,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Lake,  of  Cumberland.  They  have  two  children,  Joseph 
B.  and  Millsa  S. 

Willis  and  Lyman  Arnold  Cook,  sons  of  Levi  and  Rhoda  (Dar- 
ling) Cook,  were  born  in  the  town  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.;  Willis,  Sep- 
tember 5th,  1803,  and  Lyman  A.,  December  15th,  1805.  Their  father, 
a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  was  a  member  of 
assembly,  and  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  town.  There  being  but 
two  years  difference  in  the  ages  of  the  brothers,  they  were  naturally 
brought  together  on  the  farm  and  at  school  during  the  winter  months. 
This  association  ripened  into  an  almost  life-long  partnership  at  Woon- 
socket, covering  50  years  of  development  of  the  town,  in  which  they 
bore  no  small  part.  Leaving  home  at  the  ages  of  17  and  18  respec- 
tively, they  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  at  which  they  worked,  turn- 
ing their  pay  over  to  their  father,  until  the  last  year  of  their  minority, 
when  each  bought  his  time  for  $100,  and  continued  work  at  day  wages. 
Saving  a  portion  of  their  earnings  each  year  until  1828,  they  that 
year  formed  a  copartnership  with  Willing  Vose  for  the  building  of 


stor 


edn- 


tarn- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  389 

machinery,  under  the  firm  name  of  Willis  Cook  &  Co.  They  con- 
ducted a  successful  business  until  burned  out  in  1835.  Leasing 
ground  and  water  power  they  soon  after  built  a  foundry  and  machine 
shop,  and  made  various  improvements  in  the  property.  Mr.  Vose  at 
a  later  date  withdrew  from  the  company. 

In  1846  they  added  to  their  business  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
goods,  continuing  it  for  12  years,  when  they  leased  this  mill  to  other 
parties,  but  continued  the  foundry  and  machine  works.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  the  first  15  years'  lease  it  was  renewed,  and  within  the 
second  term  they  purchased  the  whole  property,  including  a  large 
•estate  on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  where  they  erected  dwell- 
ings, store  and  office  buildings,  the  last  of  which,  completed  in  1868, 
is  known  as  Cook's  Block,  now  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  town. 
The  mill  property  was  sold  in  1868,  at  which  time  they  retired  from 
the  machine  business,  but  retained  their  other  landed  estates.  A  few 
years  later  the  copartnership  of  50  years  duration  was  dissolved  by 
mutual  agreement,  Willis  purchasing  the  company's  real  estate,  while 
Lyman  invested  in  other  manufacturing  interests.  This  long  business 
association  is  remarkable  in  its  uniform  record  of  integrity  and  un- 
questioned financial  credit  and  stability  during  the  whole  time. 

In  politics  Mr.  Willis  Cook  was  an  old  line  whig,  an  active  and 
earnest  opponent  of  the  Dorr  party,  and  later  prominently  identified 
with  the  republican  party.  He  served  at  different  times  as  a  member 
•of  the  general  assembly,  but  did  not  seek  political  offices,  often  refus- 
ing when  asked  to  accept  them.  During  the  greater  part  of  his  busi- 
ness career  he  was  connected  with  the  Smithfield  L^'nion  Bank,  as 
director  from  1833,  and  as  president  of  that  corporation,  now  the  Na- 
tional Union  Bank,  continuously  from  1862  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  11th,  1882.  He  was  one  of  the  original  incorporators 
of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings  in  1845,  was  subsequently 
a  trustee  and  director,  and  in  1873  was  made  its  president.  He  con- 
tributed largely  to  its  success,  by  attention  to  its  investments,  and  ad- 
vice in  its  management.  He  was  an  active  director  of  the  Woonsocket 
Gas  Company,  and  the  American  Worsted  Company. 

Mr.  Cook  was  from  early  life  interested  in  the  subject  of  religion. 
He  founded  his  belief  upon  the  views  of  universal  salvation,  as  pro- 
claimed by  Reverend  Hosea  Ballou,  and  through  his  influence,  with 
that  of  others,  various  Universalist  divines,  including  Mr.  Ballou, 
were  induced  to  expound  their  faith  to  the  people  of  Woonsocket. 
Mr.  Cook  assisted  in  -establishing  the  first  Sunday  school  in  Woon- 
socket, a  union  school  for  all  denominations.  In  1834  he  with  others 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  a  LTniversalist  society,  and  later  a  vSun- 
day  school  and  church.  He  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  until  1879  a  member  of  the  prudential  committee,  when  ill 
health  compelled  his  withdrawal.  He  contributed  largely  toward  the 
support  of  the  society,  and  was  influential  in  its  growth  and  pros- 


390  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

perity.  He  was  disting-iiished  for  immovable  integrity  and  upright 
ness,  for  his  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  town, 
state  and  nation,  for  thoroughness  in  all  he  undertook,  and  for  sound 
judgment  in  matters  of  business. 

Mr.  Cook  married  July  3d,  1828,  Cyrena  Thayer,  daughter  of 
Moses  and  Anna  (Paine)  Thayer,  of  Mendon,  Mass.  Their  children 
are:  Eliphalet  S.,  Horace  C.  (deceased),  Ann  Janette  T.,  Madora  (Mrs. 
R.  G.  Randall),  Cyrena  J.  (Mrs.  J.  B.  Aldrich),  A.  Olivia  (Mrs.  J.  R.  Boy- 
den),  Susan  A.  (Mrs.  Henry  L.  Ballou)  Ednah  L.  (deceased),  and  Ger- 
trude (Mrs.  R.  A.  Bullock,  deceased). 

Mr.  Lyman  A.  Cook,  in  addition  to  the  partnership  business  of  the 
brothers,  has  been  active  in  the  organization  and  promotion  of  several 
other  manufacturing  interests,  which  have  been  successful,  given  em- 
ployment to  many,  and  contributed  to  the  growth  of  this  and  other 
localities.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Bailey  Wringing 
Machine  Company,  and  on  its  incorporation  was  elected  its  president. 
He  was,  in  1863,  elected  president  of  the  Woonsocket  National  Bank 
and  held  the  same  position  in  the  Pawtucket  Hair  Cloth  Company, 
the  Hautin  Sewing  Machine  Company,  and  the  Narragansett  Nail 
Company.  He  was  also  a  large  owner  in  the  Lawrence  Felting  Mills 
at  Millville,  Mass.,  and  is  a  director  in  the  Providence  &  Worcester 
Railroad  Compan3^  and  president  of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for 
Savings.  He  has  also  from  time  to  time  held  considerable  interests  in 
other  mechanical  and  mining  enterprises. 

Mr.  Cook  has  not  been  an  active  participant  in  politics,  but  has  at 
various  times  represented  the  town  in  both  branches  of  the  general 
assembly.  Formerly  a  whig,  he  is  now  allied  to  the  republican  party. 
In  religion  he  for  many  years  worshipped  with  the  Baptists,  and  later 
at  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member  and  the 
senior  warden.  He  has  always  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  organi- 
zations with  which  he  was  interested. 

Mr.  Cook  married  vSeptember  22d,  1830,  Lavina  B.  Smith.  They 
had  three  children:  George  Smith  (deceased),  Henry  Lyman  (deceased) 
and  Edward  Lyman.  Mr.  Cook  has  always  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  energy,  tenacity  of  purpose  and  integrity  having 
characterized  all  the  actions  of  his  life.  He  is  still,  though  advanced 
in  years,  much  interested  in  the  city  of  his  residence. 

Reuben  Olney  Cooke.— Silas  Cooke,  the  grandfather  of  Reuben 
O.  Cooke,  was  a  resident  of  Pelham,  Mass.,  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  married  Joanna  Darling,  whose  son,  Reuben  Cooke,  was  a  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Franklin,  Mass.  The  wife  of  the  latter  was  Martha  Whipple 
of  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  to  whom  were  born  children;  Elias,  Lyman, 
Elmira  (Mrs.  John  Chilson,  deceased),  Didama  (Mrs.  Orren  Chilson, 
deceased),  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Foster,  deceased).  Alpha  (Mrs. 
W.  B.  Darling,  who  was  a  second  time  married  to  Fenner  Cook,  de- 
ceased), and  Reuben  O. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  391 

Reuben  O.  was  born  June  22d,  1822,  in  Bellingham,  Mass.,  and 
when  six  years  of  age  removed  with  his  father  to  Franklin  in  the 
same  state.  He  attended  the  common  and  high  school,  and  the  Smith- 
field  Academy,  after  which  the  duties  pertaining  to  the  farm  occupied 
his  attention  until  his  twentieth  year.  He  then  came  to  Woonsocket, 
spent  a  year  in  a  machine  shop  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  remaining  thus  employed  for  two 
years.  After  a  brief  residence  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Cooke  estab- 
lished himself  again  in  Woonsocket  in  the  auction  business,  and  con- 
tinued for  four  years  to  maintain  a  profitable  patronage.  In  1856  he 
began  a  grocery  and  drug  business,  which  was  in  turn  sold,  and  in 
1873  the  flourishing  baking  business,  which  is  still  continued  on  Main 
street,  was  purchased. 

Mr.  Cooke  was  married  May  30th,  1847,  to  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of 
Eugene  T.  Martin  of  Woonsocket.  Their  children  are:  Emma  G.,  wife 
of  Charles  E.  Ballou;  Frank  A.,  who  has  an  interest  in  his  father's 
business;  Ferdinand  E.  and  Irving  L.,  who  are  also  engaged  with  their 
father  in  the  bakery. 

Mr.  Cooke  is  a  director  in  the  Producers'  National  Bank  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Producers'  Savings'  Bank.  He  is  a  member  of  Morning 
Star  Lodge,  No.  13,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Union  Chapter  No.  5,  and  Woonsocket 
Commandery  No.  23,  as  also  of  Woonsocket  Council,  R.  &  S.  M.,  No.  4, 
and  Providence  Consistory,  A.  &  A.  S.  R.  Mr.  Cooke  is  a  republican, 
but  not  active  in  the  arena  of  politics.  He  has  held  some  local  offices, 
but  usually  declined  such  official  distinctions. 

Samuel  P.  Cook,  son  of  A.  Lindsey  and  Mary  H.  (Phillips)  Cook, 
was  born  in  1852  in  Albion,  R.  I.,  and  was  educated  at  the  high  school, 
Woonsocket.  He  married  Lucia  G.,  daughter  of  Lucius  M.  Moses  in 
1883.  Mr.  Cook  has  been  connected  with  the  Producers'  Bank  since 
1870,  is  cashier  of  the  Producers'  National  Bank,  and  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Producers'  Savings  Bank.  He  was  elected  town  treas- 
urer in  1885,  serving  since  that  time,  and  was  elected  city  treasurer 
upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government. 

G.  W.  Cumnock,  son  of  R.  L.  and  Margaret  (Goodlet)  Cumnock, 
was  born  in  1855  in  Mason,  N.  H.,  was  educated  in  public  schools  of 
Mason,  and  at  the  age  of  17  went  to  Lawrence  Academy,  Groton, 
Mass.,  graduating  from  the  scientific  department  in  1877.  He  started 
in  the  spinning  department  of  the  Great  Falls  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  afterward 
went  to  Fall  River,  starting  in  the  picker  house  of  the  Robeson  Mills, 
in  which  place  he  learned  to  run  every  machine  in  the  carding  depart- 
ment. He  then  went  to  the  Pacific  Mills,  Lawrence,  Mass.,  in  charge  of 
the  carding  department,  remaining  two  years.  He  next  engaged  with 
the  Saratoga  Victory  Manufacturing  Company  to  change  their  Hori- 
can  Mill  from  fancy  goods  to  plain  print  goods  so  that  one  man  could 
superintend  all  their  mills.     He  was  afterward  offered  the  manage- 


392  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 

ment  of  the  Piedmont  Mills,  Piedmont,  S.  C,  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
South,  which  he  refused.  He  afterward  made  arrangements  with  the 
Whitin  Machine  Works,  Whitinsville,  Mass.,  to  serve  a  term  of  years 
at  building  and  engineering.  They  were  the  most  thorough  builders 
of  cotton  machinery  in  the  country.  He  entered  their  works  in  1881, 
remaining  until  1886.  He  worked  up  plans  for  a  small  cotton  mill, 
which  he  exhibited  at  the  World's  Industrial  and  Cotton  Centennial 
Exposition  held  in  New  Orleans  in  1884-5,  which  took  the  grand  gold 
medal.  He  remained  in  the  South  as  selling  agent  for  the  Whitin 
Machine  Works,  placing  their  machinery,  locating  mills  and  general 
engineering  until  1886.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  general  manager 
of  manufacturing  for  the  Social  Manufacturing  Company. 

Godfroy  Daigneault  was  born  in  1849  in  the  province  of  Quebec, 
where  he  was  educated.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  when  he  was  17 
years  old,  and  first  worked  in  the  mills  for  one  year,  then  learned  the 
carpenter  trade,  working  in  Providence  two  years,  and  continued  in 
the  business  until  1874,  when  he  established  his  meat  business.  He 
also  has  a  meat  business  in  Blackstone,  which  he  started  in  1886,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  coal  and  wood,  stone  and  teaming  business,  and  real 
estate.  He  has  been  a  member  of  St.  John's  Society  since  1868,  and 
was  twice  a  member  of  the  town  council.  He  married  Elmire,  daugh- 
ter of  Levi  A.  Archambault,  of  St.  Hyacinth,  P.  O.,  in  1870. 

Henry  M.  Darling,  son  of  Ellis  B.  and  Tamzin  (Hoag)  Darling,  was 
born  in  1839  in  Woonsocket,  at  that  time  Cumberland,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  He  has  served  twice  as  a  member  of  the 
town  council.  In  1863  he  was  married  to  Juliett,  daughter  of  William 
Smith  of  Blackstone. 

Alvertus  Dean,  son  of  James  M.  and  Patience  W.  (Holbrook)  Dean, 
was  born  in  1851  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  at  the  Woon- 
socket high  school.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  P.  &  W.  rail- 
road since  1873,  four  years  as  clerk  at  Woonsocket,  then  agent  at 
Milford,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  in  1879  he  succeeded  B. 
W.  Johnson  as  agent  at  Woonsocket.  He  was  married  in  1878  to 
Sarah  L.,  daughter  of  Isaac  N.  Crosby  of  Milford,  Mass.  His  father 
was  for  many  years  superintendent  of  mills. 

Frederic  Dulude  was  born  in  1859  m  Chambly,  Quebec,  came  to 
Woonsocket  in  1870,  and  established  his  present  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Dulude  &  Trahant,  in  1881.  The  firm  was  dissolved  in 
1883,  and  the  business  has  since  been  carried  on  by  him.  He  married 
Azilda,  daughter  of  Fran9ois  Breault,  of  St,  Simon,  Quebec,  in  1877. 
He  was  marshal  in  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society,  and  connected  with  it 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  elected  councilman  from  Fifth  ward 
upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government. 

Daniel  M.  Edwards,  M.  D.,  son  of  Azariah  and  Catharine  (Mann) 
Edwards,  was  born  in  Lincoln,  Penobscot  county,  Maine,  in  1844, 
graduated  at  Michigan  University  in  1867,  and  is  a  member  of  R.  I. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  393 

Medical  Society.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1869  and  practiced 
medicine  until  1888.  He  became  a  stockholder  in  the  Woonsocket 
Spool  &  Bobbin  Company  in  1885,  and  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
same  since  April,  1888.  He  erected  the  Hope  Building  in  1877,  built 
the  Edwards  Block  in  1878  and  the  bobbin  shop  in  1885.  He  was 
married  in  1870  to  Laura,  daughter  of  Doctor  Ariel  Ballou  of  Woon- 
socket. He  was  with  the  1st  Maine  Heavy  Artillery  from  1808  until 
the  regiment  was  mustered  out. 

L.  W.  Elliott,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Malinda  (Caswell)  Elliott,  was 
born  in  1834  in  Middleboro,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  at  11  years  of  age  and  first  worked 
in  the  mills  three  or  foUr  years,  then  worked  for  his  brother  in  the 
grocery  business.  He  afterward  established  himself  in  the  teaming 
business,  which  he  carried  on  for  seven  or  eight  years  and  later  kept 
a  boarding  and  livery  stable  in  Providence  for  about  three  years.  In 
1868  he  went  into  the  hotel  business  in  Woonsocket  in  company  with 
William  O.  Mason.  Mr.  Mason  was  only  interested  for  about  eleven 
months,  since  which  time  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Mr. 
Elliott.  About  1869  the  present  house  was  built,  called  the  Monu- 
ment House  (the  old  one  being  moved),  and  a  hall  in  connection, 
known  as  Elliott's  Opera  House,  which  has  of  late  been  altered  into 
an  extension  to  the  hotel.  Mr.  Elliott  married  Hannah  T.,  daughter 
of  James  Townsend,  of  Sheffield,  Vt. 

John  W.  Ellis.— Seth  Ellis,  the  grandfather  of  John  W.  Ellis, 
resided  in  Medfield,  Mass.  His  son,  John  Ellis,  married  Almira  A. 
Fisher,  also  of  Medfield.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are:  Charles 
H.,  John  W.,  William  F.  and  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  Allen  F.  Ballou. 
John  W.  Ellis,  the  second  son  in  order  of  birth,  is  a  native  of  Woon- 
socket, where  he  was  born  September  7th,  1845,  and  to  which  town 
his  father  removed  in  1839.  He  was  educated  at  the  New  Hampton 
Institution,  graduating  in  1863,  and  at  once  engaging  in  the  profes- 
sion of  civil  engineering.  From  that  date  he  began,  unaided,  his 
career  of  signal  success.  During  the  years  1864-5  he  was  employed 
on  the  western  terminus  of  the  Boston,  Hartford  &  Erie  railroad,  and 
from  1865  to  1867  as  assistant  engineer  on  the  extension  of  the  New 
London  &  Northern  railroad.  From  1867  to  1869  he  acted  in  the  same 
capacity  for  the  Troy  &  Greenfield  railroad,  and  in  the  latter  year 
returned  to  Woonsocket,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  established 
himself  in  the  general  engineering  business.  Since  that  date  Mr. 
Ellis  has  prosecuted  his  profession  and  been  identified  with  many  of 
the  important  interests  of  the  locality.  In  1873  he  was  made  chief 
engineer  of  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad,  and  continued  to 
fill  the  duties  involved  in  the  holding  of  this  office  until  the  leasing  of 
the  property  to  another  corporation  in  1888.  During  this  period  the 
road  was  largely  reconstructed,  new  and  capacious  depots  erected,  and 
important  bridges  built.     He  was  the  engineer  on  the  construction  of 


394  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  Woonsocket  water  works,  and  on  the  sale  of  the  franchise  and 
works  to  the  town  in  1885,  was  made  chairman  of  the  board  of  water 
commissioners,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Mr.  Ellis  has  been  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  thej^development  of 
the  business  and  public  interests  of  Woonsocket,  and  is  identified  with 
nearly  every  public  movement  and  many  financial  enterprises  of 
magnitude.  He  is  president  of  the  Woonsocket  National  Bank,  a 
member  of  the  board  of  investment  of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for 
Savings,  and  one  of  its  most  trusted  advisers,  director  of  the  Woon- 
socket Gas  Company,  member  of  the  committee  on  management  of 
the  Woonsocket  Gas  Company,  trustee  and  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee  of  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  member  of  the  committee  on  sale  of 
the  Woonsocket  Manufacturing  Company's  property,  commissioner  of 
topographical  survey  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  water  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Woonsocket,  trustee  and 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Woonsocket  Hospital,, 
member  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  and  the  incumbent 
of  many  other  offices  of  more  or  less  importance.  In  addition  to  these 
varied  trusts  he  has  for  years  been  engaged  in  a  general  engineering 
business  throughout  the  New  England  states. 

Mr.  Ellis  in  his  religious  views  sympathizes  with  the  doctrines  of 
the  Universalist  church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  prudential  committee 
of  the  Universalist  Society  of  Woonsocket.  He  was  married  May  23d, 
1870,  to  Mary  F.  Howe,  daughter  of  Eben  Howe  and  Hannah  H.  San- 
born, of  New  Hampton,  N.  H.  Their  children  are:  John,  Walter  H., 
Harry  E.  (deceased),  Edith  A.  and  Marion. 

Darius  D.  Farnum,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Minerva  (Buxton)  Farnum,. 
was  born  in  1827,  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1844, 
and  was  for  35  years  connected  with  the  late  Edward  Harris  and  the 
Harris  Woolen  Company,  first  as  bookkeeper  and  afterward  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  company.  He  held  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  consolidated 
school  corporation  for  several  years.  He  is  a  director  in  the  First 
National  and  National  Globe  banks.  He  was  elected  councilman  from 
the  Fourth  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government.  He  was 
married  in  1851  to  Adeline,  daughter  of  Peter  Darling,  of  Cumber- 
land. 

William  I.  Follett,  son  of  Isaac  and  Ann  E.  (Remington)  P'ollett, 
was  born  in  1834,  in  Smithfield,  now  Lincoln,  and  was  educated  in  the 
district  school.  He  came  to  Woonsocket,  locating  on  his  present  farm, 
in  1877.  He  learned  the  cooper's  trade  and  followed  it  for  20  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  followed  farming.  He  married  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Harris,  of  Smithfield,  in  1856. 

John  B.  Fountain,  son  of  Charles  and  Sophia  (Oliver)  Fountain, 
was  born  in  1837  in  Canada,  and  was  educated  in  Canada.  He  came 
to  Woonsocket  in  1863,  and  learned  his  trade  with  Hubbard  &  Page^ 
being  with  them    three   years.     He  was  afterward    foreman   for  N. 


i 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  395- 

Elliott  for  ten  years,  and  in  1878  started  business  for  himself  as  con- 
tractor and  builder.  ^He  married  Ella,  daughter  of  Nelson  Praray,  of 
Woonsocket,  in  1864.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  town  council,  is 
a  member  of  the  school  committee  of  the  Fifth  ward,  also  warden. 

E.  Charles  Francis,  son  of  Eben  and  Mary  (Hunnewell)  Francis, 
was  born  in  1851,  in  Utica,  N.  Y.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1870, 
and  entered  the  Woonsocket  National  Bank  as  clerk,  was  afterward 
teller  and  is  now  assistant  cashier.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Cambridge,  Mass.  He  married  Gertrude,  daughter  of 
Charles  Nourse,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1886.  Mr.  Francis  is  one  of  the 
assessors  of  taxes,  and  was  colonel  on  Governor  Littlefield's  staff. 

Irving  Gaskill,  son  of  Elisha  and  Sarah  (Steere)  Gaskill,  was  born 
in  1842,  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
high  school  of  Woonsocket.  He  followed  the  ice  business  for  five 
years,  the  rest  of  the  time  farming.  He  served  in  the  9th  Infantry 
and  3d  R.  I.  Cavalry.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
James  Phillips,  of  Scotland. 

A.  Gaulin,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Marie  (Lamothe)  Gaulin,  was  born 
in  1845,  in  St.  Hugues,  Canada.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  with  his 
parents  in  1867  and  worked  first  in  the  mills  for  nine  months,  then  in 
the  grocery  business  for  D.  Sylvester  for  five  years,  and  in  1872  started 
in  the  grocery  business  for  himself,  which  he  carried  on  about  four- 
teen years.  Since  1866  he  has  been  in  the  real  estate  business.  He 
was  married  in  1873  to  Elmire,  daughter  of  Felix  Marcoux,  of  St. 
Barthelemi,  Canada.     He  was  elected  tax  collector  in  1889. 

Emerson  Goddard,  son  of  Emerson  and  Mary  (Smith)  Goddard, 
was  born  in  1819,  in  Orange,  Mass.  He  learned  the  daguerreotype 
business  in  Boston,  went  from  there  to  Fitchburgh,  thence  to  Nan- 
tucket Island,  and  in  1846  came  to  Woonsocket,  where  he  has  since 
carried  on  the  photograph  business.  He  was  the  first  moderator 
when  the  town  was  set  off,  for  two  years,  was  five  years  on  school  com- 
mittee and  president  one  year.  He  started  the  Commandery  in  Woon- 
socket in  1867,  was  master  of  the  Lodge  and  high  priest  of  the  Chap- 
ter, an  officer  in  the  Grand  Lodge  seventeen  years,  and  deputy  grand 
high  priest  in  the  Chapter  five  years.  He  married  Jane  E.,  daughter 
of  Elisha  Addington,  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

James  R.  Gould,  son  of  James  and  Mary  Ann  (Springer)  Gould, 
was  born  in  1829,  in  Providence,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1861,  and  has  since  been  con- 
nscted  with  the  Woonsocket  Baking  Company  as  foreman.  He  married 
Harriet,  daughter  of  Daniel  Darling,  of  Blackstone,  Mass.,  in  1849.. 
He  was  elected  councilman  of  Third  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the 
city  government. 

George  H.  Grant.— Eliphus  and  Mary  (Whipple)  Grant  were  the 
grandparents  of  George  H.  Grant.  His  father,  Arunah  Grant,  mar- 
ried Eliza  Darling  of  Wrentham,  Mass.    The  children  of  this  marriage 


396  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

are:  William  D.,  Charles  E.,  George  H.  and  several  who  died  in  youth. 
George  H.,  the  eldest  of  the  living  children,  was  born  December  11th, 
1837,  in  Woonsocket,  where  with  the  exception  of  brief  intervals  he 
has  since  resided.  His  education  was  begun  at  the  public  schools, 
from  which  he  entered  the  Smithfield  Seminary  in  North  Scituate  and 
later  graduated  from  the  Woonsocket  High  School.  Desiring  to 
become  master  of  a  self-supporting  trade,  he  entered  the  machine 
shops  of  Edward  Harris  and  spent  three  years  as  an  apprentice  to  the 
trade  of  a  machinist.  He  then  found  employment  in  Woonsocket, 
and  afterward  in  Providence. 

In  1861,  while  engaged  in  the  former  town,  during  the  outbreak 
of  the  late  civil  war,  he  entered  the  service  as  lieutenant  of  Company 
K,  First  Regiment  Rhode  Island  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run.  Returning  at  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment 
period  of  three  months,  he  raised  a  company,  which  was  merged  into 
the  Fifth  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  known  as  Company  D,  of  which 
he  became  captain.  He  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Island, 
Newbern  and  at  the  taking  of  Fort  Macon. 

Mr.  Grant  was  compelled  by  ill-health  to  resign,  and  on  returning 
to  his  native  town  resumed  his  trade,  having  soon  after  been  made 
foreman  of  the  machine  shops  and  foundry  of  Edward  Harris.  Three 
years  later  he  accepted  an  engagement  with  the  Groton  Manufactur- 
ing Company  as  foreman  of  their  machine  shops,  and  continued  this 
relation  for  one  year,  after  which  he  became  the  superintendent  of 
the  mills.  In  1883  this  industry  was  reorganized  as  the  Eagle  Mills, 
of  which  he  is  the  superintendent. 

Mr.  Grant  has  been  a  lifelong  and  ardent  republican.  He  has  been 
for  several  years  a  member  of  the  town  council,  and  a  portion  of  this 
time  its  president.  On  the  incorporation  of  Woonsocket  as  a  city,  he 
had  the  honor  of  being  elected  its  first  mayor,  which  office  he  now 
holds.  He  is  a  member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  13,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  Union  Chapter,  No.  5;  of  Washington  Lodge,  No.  1269,  Knights 
of  Honor;  of  Woonsocket  Lodge,  No.  10,  I.O.O.F.,  and  of  Smith  Post, 
No.  9,  G.A.R.,  all  of  Woonsocket.  He  worships  with  the  congregation 
of  the  Universalist  church. 

Mr.  Grant  was  in  1865  married  to  Ellen  F.,  daughter  of  Franklin 
Rand,  of  Pawtucket.  Their  children  are:  Harriet  E.,  wife  of  James  E. 
Pratt,  of  Woonsocket;  George  F.,  Edwin  S.,  Ellen  F.  and  William  H. 

Albert  E.  Greene  was  born  in  1839,  in  North  Scituate,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Woonsocket  in  1849.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Louisa 
(Phillips)  Greene — the  former  born  in  Coventry,  the  latter  in  Scitu- 
ate. He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Woonsocket.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1871,  Edna  F.,  daughter  of  vStephen  L.  Sprague,of  Providence. 
He  was  clerk  in  the  post  office  previous  to  going  to  the  war.  He  en- 
listed in  the  First  R.  I.  Infantry  and  was  appointed  first  sergeant.  After- 
ward he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  in  Company  B,  Heavy  Artillery, 


to. 


TOTVPE,     E.    BIERSTA 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  397 

and  was  made  captain  in  January,  1863.  He  was  clerk  for  N.  Elliott, 
contractor  and  builder,  from  1870  to  1874.  He  was  elected  town  clerk 
in  1874,  and  served  in  that  office  until  elected  city  clerk  upon  the  for- 
mation of  the  city  government. 

James  Handley  was  born  in  1856,  in  Smithfield,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Ann  (Hourigan)  Handley.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools.  He  learned  the  trade  of  moulder  and  worked  at  that  four 
years.  He  engaged  in  the  meat  business  in  Woonsocket  in  1877  un- 
der firm  name  of  Handley  &  Coulahan,  which  continued  five  years, 
and  since  that  time  has  carried  it  on  himself.  He  served  several  years  on 
the  democratic  town  committee,  and  served  as  highway  commissioner. 
He  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Catholic  Knights,  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Union  Brass  Band,  also  the  Woonsocket  Tem- 
perance Brass  Band.  He  was  twice  elected  to  town  council.  He 
married  Kate,  daughter  of  Charles  Riley,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1884. 

Edward  Harris,  son  of  David  F.  and  Lydia  (Streeter)  Harris,  was 
born  in  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  October  3d,  1801,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Woon- 
socket November  24th,  1872.  In  early  childhood  his  parents  removed 
to  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  remained  until  1818,  when  their  son 
became  a  resident  of  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  were  spent  at  home,  his  time  being  employed  in  farming, 
studying  and  teaching  school.  What  he  lacked  in  literary  attainments 
he  made  good  in  critical  observance  of  men  and  things,  thus  laying 
the  foundation  of  character  that  fitted  him  to  become  one  of  the  ablest 
business  men  of  the  country. 

In  1823  he  returned  from  the  West  to  his  place  of  nativity  with  25 
cents  as  his  capital,  and  became  assistant  in  the  counting  house  of  his 
uncle,  William  Harris,  then  an  extensive  manufacturer  at  Valley 
Falls,  R.  I.  In  1824  he  entered  the  Albion  Mills,  then  owned  by  Wil- 
liam and  Samuel  Harris,  and  Isaac  Wilkinson.  He  first  worked  for 
his  Uncle  William,  and  then  for  his  Uncle  Samuel,  at  $1.33  per  day, 
saving  at  the  end  of  eighteen  months  $106,  which  was  devoted  to  the 
payment  of  his  debts.  During  the  second  year  he  received  higher 
wages,  and  promotion  to  the  superintendence  of  the  factory,  which  he 
held  until  1828.  In  November  of  that  year  he  became  the  agent  of 
the  Harris  Lime  Rock  Company,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lime, 
and  held  that  position  until  November  1st,  1830.  In  1831,  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $3,500,  saved  from  his  earnings,  with  the  exception  of  $1,000, 
borrowed  from  his  father,  he  bought  a  small  woolen  mill  known  as 
"  Number  1  "  of  the  Harris  Woolen  Company,  with  one  set  of  ma- 
chinery, situated  on  the  Blackstone  river  at  W^oonsocket,  and  in  March, 
1831,  began  the  manufacture  of  satinets,  with  Edward  Seagrave  and 
Willard  B.  Johnson  as  associates.  A  decline  in  woolen  goods  necessi- 
tated his  relinquishing  this  enterprise,  and  Mr.  Harris  returned  to  the 
Albion  Mill,  still  retaining  an  interest  in  his  satinet  mill.  During  the 
following  year  the  advance  in  his  fabrics  netted  him  $5,000,  and  this 


398  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

may  be  taken  as  the  starting-  point  of  his  great  business  success.  Dis- 
solving the  partnership  in  1837  he  ever  after  carried  on  business 
alone.  In  1836  his  stone  mill  in  Woonsocket  was  built,  designated  as 
mill  "  Number  2,"  in  which  he  began  the  manufacture  of  his  "  merino 
cassimere,"  and  in  1842  he  produced  all-wool  fabrics,  extensively 
known  as  "  Harris  Cassimeres."  In  1844  was  built  factory  "  Number 
3,"  a  large  brick  and  stone  structure  in  the  central  part  of  Woon- 
socket. In  1845  factory  "  Number  4  "  was  erected,  and  work  com- 
menced in  it.  All  these  mills  were  run  by  water  from  the  Woonsocket 
Falls,  supplemented  by  steam  power,  and  are  known  as  the  "  old 
mills."  They  contained  25  sets  of  wool  cards,  and  produced  12,000 
yards  of  "  Harris  Cassimeres"  per  week.  Cotton  mill  "  Number  5" 
has  7,000  spindles.  In  1860  Mr.  Harris  commenced  his  mill  "  Number 
6,"  called  the  "  New  Mill,"  just  north  of  the  town,  on  Mill  river,  and 
this  was  the  last  great  work  of  his  life.  It  is  442  feet  in  length,  60  feet 
wide,  and  five  stories  high,  containing  a  Corliss  engine  of  175  horse 
power,  and  a  water  wheel  of  28  feet  breast  and  40  feet  diameter,  capa- 
ble of  running  the  whole  mill.  The  mill  has  25  sets  of  woolen  ma- 
chinery for  producing  fancy  cassimeres  and  staple  woolens.  It  was 
finished  and  set  in  operation  in  1865.  Connected  with  it  are  a  dye 
house,  picker  house,  foundry,  planing  and  saw  mills,  and  80  houses 
with  250  tenements. 

Mr.  Harris  made  over  250  styles  of  cassimeres  a  year,  having  for 
his  standard  of  work,  "  make  the  best  goods  possible."  His  attention 
to  the  details  of  his  immense  business  was  no  less  diligent  than  that 
to  the  outlines  of  his  plans,  and  he  as  critically  studied  the  characters 
of  his  principal  employees  as  he  did  the  capacity  of  the  larger  water 
wheels.  It  was  thus  clearly  a  misfortune  for  one  to  be  found  "  out  of 
gear  "  or  "  wrongly  balanced."  He  would  not  be  restricted  to  the  usual 
customs  of  trade,  and  stipulated  an  exclusive  agency  with  a  heavy 
dealer  in  New  York  on  condition  that  all  notes  taken  for  "  Harris  Cas- 
simeres "  should  be  kept  by  themselves,  and  that  no  notes  from  those 
holding  or  dealing  in  slaves  should  be  put  in  that  package.  In  1855 
he  opened  a  warehouse  in  New  York  city,  and  made  his  bills  payable 
two  months  shorter  than  those  of  other  houses,  allowing  from  two 
and  a  half  to  five  per  cent,  to  his  patrons  for  early  payments,  thus  be- 
ing surer  of  his  pay  and  suffering  much  less  than  others  in  the  crisis 
of  1857.  When  others  suspended,  he  bought  supplies  cheaply  and 
drove  his  mills  vigorously.  When  others  declined  all  credits  in  1861, 
Mr.  Harris  allowed  three  months  credit,  and  thus  increased  his  busi- 
ness. His  robust  constitution,  clear  head  and  great  energy  carried 
him  through  responsibilities  of  great  magnitude.  Rising  early  he  at- 
tended to  the  details  of  his  extensive  business,  and  would  not  trust  to 
others  what  he  could  do  himself.  His  various  milling  interests  he  in- 
corporated into  the  "  Harris  Woolen  Company,"  to  be  continued  as 
such  after  his  death. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  89<) 

While  Mr.  Harris  was  amassing  a  great  fortune  he  was  mindful  of 
the  welfare  of  others.  There  is  reason  to  believe  the  sum  of  his  do- 
nations was  half  a  million.  He  spent  about  $10(),()()0  constructing  new 
streets  in  Woonsocket.  He  also  donated  the  site  for  the  Woonsocket 
High  School,  the  site  for  a  district  school,  and  the  land  for  the  Oak 
Hill  Cemetery.  In  June,  1863,  he  donated  to  his  townsmen  the  ele- 
gant block  and  grounds  known  as  the  "  Harris  Institute,"  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  the  moral,  intellectual  and  social  improvement  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity.  It  embraces  a  free  library,  a  large 
hall  for  free  lectures,  and  on  the  ground  floor  three  stores  and  the 
post  office,  from  which  there  is  an  increasing  revenue  for  the  support 
of  the  lectures  and  increase  of  library,  the  whole  building  and  site 
having  cost  Mr.  Harris  $75,000.  He  gave  $2, 500  to  form  the  nucleus 
of  a  library,  which  now  has  more  than  8,000  volumes. 

To  the  banking  institutions  of  Woonsocket  Mr.  Harris  contributed 
largely  in  patronage  and  influence.  He  was  one  of  the  originators 
and  the  first  president  of  the  Railroad  Bank,  organized  in  1851,  after- 
ward known  as  the  First  National  Bank,  and  held  the  office  until  his 
death.  In  1862  he  became  president  of  the  People's  Savings  Bank, 
which  office  he  filled  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  middle  life 
he  was  a  member  of  both  branches  of  the  Rhode  Island  general  as- 
sembly. He  was  a  strong  opponent  of  intemperance  and  slavery,  and 
intimate  with  the  leading  abolitionists.  While  known  as  such  he  was 
desired  to  omit  his  name  from  his  fabrics  to  increase  the  Southern 
sales.  Instead  he  ordered  his  name  placed  on  both  ends  of  each 
piece  of  cassimere.  He  contributed  much  to  the  anti-slavery  cause, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  emancipation  of  the  slave.  While  John  Brown 
was  a  prisoner  under  sentence  of  death,  Mr.  Harris  wrote  him  a  very 
Christian  and  consoling  letter,  enclosing  a  check  for  $100  for  his  be- 
reaved family.  This  was  received  and  acknowledged  in  a  letter  written 
by  John  Brown  the  day  before  his  execution.  Mr.  Harris  married 
first,  December  2d,  1885,  Rachel,  daughter  of  Moses  Farnham,  of  Black- 
stone,  Mass,  who  died  February  7th,  1846.  Their  children  were: 
David  F.  and  Rachel  F.  (deceased),  wife  of  Oscar  J.  Rathbun,  of  Woon- 
socket. The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Harris  was  Abby  P.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Metcalf,  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.  Their  children  were:  Joseph 
M.,  Emma  G.,  Isabel  and  Helen.  Joseph  M.  died  in  Berlin,  Prussia, 
October  21st,  1872. 

Frank  Harris  is  the  grandson  of  William  Harris,  who  married 
Sarah  Wilkinson,  daughter  of  Abraham  Wilkinson,  of  Pawtucket. 
His  father  was  Abraham  Wilkinson  Harris,  one  of  the  argonauts  of 
'49  to  the  Pacific  coast  and  now  a  resident  of  Kingston,  New  Mexico. 
He  married  Hannah  Bucknell,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Bucknell  and 
Eliza,  his  wife.  The  children  of  this  union  are:  Elizabeth  Vila  (de- 
ceased), Frank,  Anne  Wilkinson,  and  William.  Frank,  the  eldest 
son,  was  born  April  12th,  1855,  on  a  ranch  near  Centreville,  California, 


400  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

where  he  resided  until  his  eleventh  year,  the  date  of  his  removal  to 
Providence.  With  the  exception  of  intervals  of  travel,  much  of  his 
youth  was  spent  in  Wrentham,  Massachusetts.  Here  he  prepared  for 
college  and  entered  Brown  University,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1878. 

Mr.  Harris  immediately  began  mercantile  life  as  accountant  for 
Addison  Q.  Fisher,  of  Providence,  and  was  for  three  years  employed 
in  that  capacity,  .subsequently  being  admitted  as  a  partner  tinder  the 
firm  name  of  Fisher  &  Harris,  brokers  and  commission  merchants. 
On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Fisher  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Charles  F.  Tarbell,  of  Providence,  the  firm  three  months  later  pur- 
chasing the  Hamlet  Mills  at  Woonsocket.  On  the  first  of  January, 
1889,  Mr.  Harris,  having  secured  the  interest  of  his  partner,  became 
the  sole  owner  of  this  extensive  milling  property.  By  the  judicious 
expenditure  of  means  many  improvements  have  been  made  in  the 
various  departments  and  the  products  of  the  mills  brought  to  a  high 
state  of  perfection  under  their  present  ownership. 

Mr.  Harris  is  a  director  of  the  Woonsocket  Gas  Company  and  of 
the  Woonsocket  Business  Men's  Association,  member  of  the  Calumet 
Club  and  of  the  Slater  Club  (protective  association),  both  of  Provi- 
dence, and  of  the  New  England  Manufacturers'  Association.  Aside 
from  his  membership  in  the  Providence  Press  Club  he  is  not  identified 
with  other  social  or  business  organizations.  His  brief  residence  in 
Woonsocket  has  precluded  active  participation  in  local  political  affairs, 
though  he  was  elected  alderman  in  the  fall  of  1889.  His  religious  belief 
is  in  harmony  with  the  creed  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  which 
he  is  a  member. 

Mr.  Harris  married,  October  20th,  1886,  Ellen,  daughter  of  the  late 
Samuel  H.  Reynolds,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  representatives  of  the  bar  of  that  state. 

Benoni  Hawkins,  son  of  Elisha  and  Rhody  C.  (Comstock)  Hawkins, 
was  born  in  1844  in  Coventry,  R.  I.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Coventry.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1870  and  first  went 
to  work  in  the  spool  and  bobbin  business,  and  in  1871  went  into  part- 
nership in  the  firm  of  Bass  Bros.  &  Co.  They  dissolved  and  the  busi- 
ness was  sold  to  a  Fall  River  corporation,  he  going  with  them.  After- 
ward he  bought  out  the  American  Spool  Company,  of  Westerly,  and 
moved  it  to  Woonsocket,  running  it  four  years.  He  sold  an  interest 
to  David  Bass,  the  business  afterward  being  sold  to  Thisell,  Lamson  & 
Welch.  He  was  interested  in  the  Woonsocket  Yarn  Company  for  six 
years,  and  in  the  Woonsocket  Lumber  Company  six  years.  He  also 
ran  another  lumber  business  under  the  name  of  B.  Hawkins  &  Co.; 
afterward  sold  his  lumber  business  to  the  Woonsocket  Spool  &  Bobbin 
Company,  having  an  interest  in  that  company  until  April,  1888.  He 
then  started  the  Globe  Knitting  Company  in  partnership  with  Henry 
S.   Houghton,  which  was  dissolved  at  the   end   of   four  months,  and 


^^ 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  401 

run  by  him  alone  until  August,  1889,  when  he  sold  out  to  Stiles  & 
Green.  He  served  in  Company  C,  First  R.  I.  Cavalry,  three  years,  and 
was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  for  a  time  in  Libby  Prison.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  first  wife  Lillie  G.,  daughter  of  Leander  Duncan,  of  Staf- 
ford, Conn.  In  1884  he  married  his  present  wife,  Elizabeth  A., 
daughter  of  Thomas  Mills,  of  Scotland. 

John  F.  Holt  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah  Holt,  of  Lancastershire, 
England,  who  marrried  Martha  Mclntire,  of  Buzby,  Lanarkshire,  Scot- 
land. Their  son  John  F.,  was  born  February  14th,  1824,  and  spent  his 
boyhood  until  his  tenth  year  in  Scotland,  his  native  heath.  He  began 
work  at  the  age  of  nine  years  in  a  cotton  factory  in  Glasgow,  and  later 
continued  the  same  employment  in  Manchester,  England.  With  a 
desire  to  seek  a  wider  and  more  attractive  field  for  his  energies  in  the 
new  world,  he  sailed  for  America  in  1851,  and  located  in  Providence, 
where  he  entered  the  extensive  works  of  the  Providence  Rubber 
Company.  Fifteen  years  he  remained  thus  employed,  thoroughly  ac- 
quainting himself  with  this  branch  of  industry,  then  under  the  man- 
agement of  E.  M.  Chaffee,  and  finally  becoming  superintendent  of  a 
department  of  the  works.  Then  removing  to  Bristol,  he  erected  the 
machinery  and  placed  in  successful  operation  that  section  of  a  factory 
devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  rubber  boots  and  shoes,  of  which  he  was 
the  superintendent. 

Mr.  Holt  was  in  1867  summoned  to  Woonsocket  as  the  general  su- 
perintendent of  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Company.  In  this  responsi- 
ble office  he  remained  for  20  years,  retiring  in  1887  from  its  active 
management,  but  retaining  his  interest  as  a  director  and  as  one  of  the 
principal  stockholders.  The  high  estimate  in  which  the  services  of 
Mr.  Holt  were  held  by  this  company  can  best  be  indicated  when  on 
the  occasion  of  his  retirement  it  was  resolved  by  the  board  of  direc- 
tors "that  on  receiving  the  declination  by  Mr.  John  F.  Holt  of  a  re- 
election to  the  the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  mills  of  this  company, 
an  office  so  efficiently  and  ably  filled  by  him  for  20  years,  and  under 
whose  intelligent  oversight  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes  was 
first  inaugurated  in  these  works,  which  goods  have  come  to  be  of  the 
first  rank  and  reputation  in  this  country,  and  who  has  thus  contrib- 
uted largely  to  our  financial  prosperity,  we  desire  by  this  vote  to 
express  our  high  esteem  for  him,  both  as  a  skillful  artisan  and  manu- 
facturer and  as  a  business  associate  and  friend.  The  official  relations 
thus  terminated  we  shall  ever  esteem  most  pleasant  recollections,  with 
warm  personal  regard  for  him  and  m  his  welfare." 

Mr.  Holt  was  married  in  1843  to  Margaret  Lowry,  daughter  of 
James  Lowry,  of  Manchester,  England.  They  have  three  surviving 
children.  Mr.  Holt  and  his  family  worship  at  St.  Charles  Barromeo's 
Roman  Catholic  church  at  Woonsocket,  of  which  he  is  a  member  and 
a  trustee. 


402  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

William  S.  Hopkins,  son  of  William  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Hop- 
kins, was  born  in  1849  in  Providence.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in 
1879,  and  was  first  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  Woonsocket  Machine 
Company,  afterward  the  Woonsocket  Machine  &  Press  Company,  and 
was  made  treasurer  in  1885.  He  married  Lucy  M.,  daughter  of  Albert 
Briggs,  in  1879. 

C.  H.  Horton,  son  of  Otis  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Kingsley)  Horton,  was 
born  in  1850  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  came  with  his  parents  to  Woonsocket 
at  the  age  of  12  years,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the 
high  school.  He  was  clerk  in  the  post  office  three  and  one-half  years 
under  Major  Stephen  H.  Brown,  and  in  1870  went  to  Mattoon,  Ill.,and 
kept  books  for  Day  &  Sprague  two  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Woonsocket  and  carried  on  the  notion  business  four  years,  afterward 
the  shoe  business,  and  since  that  time  has  been  connected  with  the 
Perforated  Pad  Company,  which  he  started  in  1878,  and  of  which  he 
is  treasurer  and  general  agent.  He  served  two  years  in  town  council 
and  was  elected  councilman  from  the  Third  ward  upon  the  formation 
of  the  city  government.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  E. 
Casto,  of  Mattoon,  111.,  in  1871. 

William  E.  Hubbard,  son  of  Elisha  and  Amelia  (Turner)  Hubbard, 
was  born  in  1826,  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  place.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1847  and  began  the 
business  of  contractor  and  builder,  which  he  has  carried  on  ever  since 
with  the  exception  of  the  time  he  was  in  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  the 
12th  R.  I.  V.  in  1862  as  private,  and  became  captain  of  Company  F. 
He  served  as  president  of  the  town  council  in  1888,  and  was  also  presi- 
dent once  before.  He  was  moderator  most  of  the  time  for  20  years. 
He  was  for  a  long  time  a  member  and  president  of  the  Woonsocket 
Lyceum.  He  was  married  first  in  1846  to  Martha  W.,  daughter  of 
Orin  Chilson,  of  Bellingham,  Mass.  His  present  wife,  whom  he 
married  in  1856,  is  Ruth,  daughter  of  Jefferson  Scott,  of  Woon- 
socket. 

Etienne  N.  Janson  was  born  in  1885,  in  St.  Ro.salie,  Quebec.  He 
came  to  Woonsocket  in  1858  and  ran  a  saw  mill  for  George  Ballou, 
then  went  to  Fall  River  and  started  business  there  in  company  with 
his  brother,  and  in  1877  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  and  returned 
to  Woonsocket  and  started  his  present  business  of  grocer  and  market- 
man.  He  married  Angeline,  daughter  of  Augustus  Lemery,  of  Slaters- 
ville.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1888,  and  re-elected 
councilman  of  the  Second  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  govern- 
ment. 

Horace  A.  Jenckes  was  of  the  eighth  generation  of  the  Jenckes 
family  in  America.  His  grandfather.  Job  Jenckes,  was  the  largest 
owner  of  the  vSocial  Manufacturing  Company  at  its  foundation  in  1810, 
and  when  he  withdrew  he  founded  the  village  and  mill  at  Jenckesville 
in  1822. 


YPE,     E.    BIERST* 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  403 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  September  23d,  1841,  in  the 
brick  house  at  Jenckesville,  known  as  the  Jenckes  homestead,  within 
the  present  city  limits  of  Woonsocket.  His  parents  were  Nelson  and 
Deborah  (Morse)  Jenckes.  His  mother  belonged  to  an  old  Uxbridge 
family.  He  received  a  preliminary  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Woonsocket.  In  1855  he  went  to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where  he  studied  in  a 
commercial  college  for  one  year.  He  returned  to  Woonsocket  in 
1856,  and  entered  the  Citizens'  bank,  where  he  occupied  the  position 
of  teller  for  about  18  months.  He  resigned  this  position  on  account 
of  poor  health.  He  subsequently  opened  a  grocery  store  in  Center- 
dale,  this  state,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  and  then  returned 
to  Woonsocket  and  opened  a  grocery  and  provision  store  at  Jenckes- 
ville in  a  building  which  stands  opposite  the  lower  Jenckesville  mill 
on  Social  street,  and  which  is  now  used  as  an  office  by  Ray,  Rathbun 
&  Co.,  owners  of  the  Jenckesville  mills.  He  sold  this  store  in  1862, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  became  a  recruiting  officer  for  the  United 
States  government.  He  resigned  this  position  to  enter  the  town 
clerk's  office  at  Cumberland  as  recording  clerk.  At  a  subsequent 
period  he  became  bookkeeper  for  Nathaniel  Elliott,  at  the  latter's 
lumber  yard  office,  North  Main  street.  In  a  short  time  he  was  given 
full  control  of  the  business  of  his  employer  as  a  contractor,  builder 
and  lumber  merchant.  In  his  capacity  of  general  superintendent  he 
worked  hard,  allowing  himself  but  little  rest.  City  Clerk  Albert  E. 
Greene,  who  was  bookkeeper  for  Nathaniel  Elliott  at  that  time,  says 
that  the  deceased  was  one  of  the  hardest  working  men  he  ever  came 
in  contact  with.  He  further  adds  that  he  worked  not  only  all  day, 
but  also  late  into  the  night,  and  was  often  obliged  to  trespass  on  the 
Sabbath  in  order  to  keep  up  with  the  vast  amount  of  labor  which  fell 
to  his  lot  to  perform.  In  1874  he  formed  a  contracting  and  building 
copartnership,  under  the  firm  title  of  Jenckes,  Page  &  Co.,  the  other 
members  of  the  firm  being  Joseph  Page  and  P.  J.  Conley.  This  part- 
nership was  in  time  dissolved,  the  deceased,  however,  still  continuing 
the  business  of  contractor  and  builder.  His  next  progressive  step 
was  the  organizing  of  the  Franklin  Rubber  Company,  the  first  start  of 
which  was  made  in  Woonsocket.  These  works  were  subsequently 
located  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  in  buildings  erected  under  his  supervision. 
He  remained  superintendent  of  these  works  for  a  few  years,  and 
finally  resigned.  His  successful  efforts  to  establish  water  works  in 
Woonsocket,  and  the  establishment  by  him  and  others  of  the  Woon- 
socket street  railway  and  building  of  the  Woonsocket  Opera  House 
are  enterprises  of  such  recent  date  as  to  be  fresh  in  the  minds  of 
every  resident. 

He  was  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  in  this  vicinity  and  one  of  the 
principal  owners  of  the  Jenckes  Teaming  company. 

At  the  same  time  that  he  was  engaged  in  business  schemes  of 
magnitude,  to  the  details  of  which  he  was  giving  personal  attention. 


404  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

he  was  interesting  himself  in  public  affairs  and  becoming  a  power  in 
politics.  He  was  always  a  republican  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  his  party,  although  never  holding  an  elective  office  except 
that  of  representative  in  the  general  assembly  in  1878-9.  He  was 
long  an  acknowledged  leader,  and  during  his  leadership  could  have 
been  elected  to  any  office  in  the  gift  of  his  party  which  he  desired  to 
hold.  He  was  a  member  of  the  republican  town  committee,  before 
the  town  merged  into  a  city,  and  a  member  of  the  state  central  com- 
mittee and  of  the  national  committee  from  1884  to  1888,  one  of  his 
last  duties  in  this  connection  being  attendance  at  the  meeting  in 
Washington  in  the  spring  of  1888,  which  called  the  presidential  con- 
vention at  Chicago.  He  also,  as  a  member  of  the  committee,  attended 
the  national  convention.  In  1880  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  national 
republican  convention  that  nominated  Garfield  and  exercised  consider- 
able influence  there. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Jenckes  had  marked  individuality.  In  busi- 
ness, as  intimated,  he  was  a  man  of  mighty  energy.  To  this  he  added 
a  boldness  of  conception,  a  breadth  of  view,  that  often  startled  con- 
servative associatfes,  although  he  usually  converted  them  to  his  views. 
He  was  in  this  respect  a  type  of  the  kind  of  American  business  men 
that  are  building  cities  and  creating  great  states  on  this  continent. 
His  mind  was  tireless — particularly  in  the  last  decade  of  his  life — in 
setting  on  foot  new  projects,  most  of  which  were  in  the  nature  of 
public  improvements.  Of  course  he  carried  out  only  a  small  part  of 
them.  There  were  limitations  with  which  ^ he  struggled — capital' 
was  not  always  to  be  had  in  sufficient  quantity,  and  worse, 
in  the  midst  of  his  activities,  his  health  began  to  fail.  But  no 
one  who  looks  about  the  young  city  of  Woonsocket  can  fail  to  realize 
that  what  he  did  set  on  foot  and  carry  through  has  made  it  a  modern 
city  in  something  more  than  population  and  form  of  government,  and 
has  made  it  a  far  more  desirable  place  of  residence.  Beside  the  street 
railway,  the  water  works  and  the  opera  house,  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  erection  of  dwellings  of  an  attractive  style  of  architec- 
ture. In  his  varied  business  career  he  had  reverses,  but  undaunted 
he  met  them  with  redoubled  energy  and  determination  to  win  in  the 
end. 

In  politics — in  the  management  of  campaigns,  the  handling  of  men 
and  the  carrying  of  measures — Mr.  Jenckes  found  a  most  congenial 
employment.  He  was  for  at  least  a  dozen  years  pre-eminent  in  the 
republican  councils  of  the  town  and  state,  and  not  unknown  in  the 
nation.  The  habit  of  hard  work  and  never  surrendering,  the  knowl- 
edge of  men,  a  personal  magnetism  that  made  his  friends  adhere  to 
him  and  serve  him— a  strong  development  of  what  might  be  termed 
"  the  political  sense,"  an  addition  to  the  senses  which  some  men  in 
this  country  have— made  him  remarkably  successful.  He  always  paid 
his  political  debts  to  allies  and  opponents,  and  to  the  latter  he  was- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  405 

manly  and  open  in  his  warfare.  It  was  his  way  to  say  to  a  man  to 
whom  he  was  opposed,  "  I  am  against  you  and  I  will  fight."  For  two 
or  three  years  previous  to  his  death  he  was  less  interested  in  politics 
than  formerly.     Mr.  Jenckes  died  on  the  1st  of  October,  1889. 

John  Johnston,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (McQueen)  Johnston,  was 
born  in  1848  in  Glasgow,  Scotland.  He  came  to  America  and  located 
in  Woonsocket  in  1871,  working  first  for  the  A.  D.Clark  Shuttle  Com- 
pany until  1881.  He  then,  in  company  with  John  Shambow,  bought 
out  Bass  &  Hawkins,  of  the  Woonsocket  vShuttle  Company.  He  was 
married  in  1873  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Alexander  Watt,  of  Ren- 
frewshire, Scotland.  He  was  educated  in  Scotland,  and  there  he  also 
learned  his  trade. 

Levi  C.  Lincoln,  son  of  Samuel  and  Olive  (Cook)  Lincoln,  was  born 
in  Providence  in  1858,  and  was  educated  at  Mowry  &  Goff's  school, 
Providence,  graduating  in  1875.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1877,  was 
first  employed  in  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  and  while  there  became 
connected  with  the  Electric  Machine  &  Power  Company  as  treasurer, 
and  since  1883  has  been  general  agent.  He  married  Nettie,  daughter 
of  Joseph  R.  Bailey,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1877. 

Very  Reverend  Michael  McCabe,  son  of  Patrick  and  Ann  (Gray) 
McCabe,  was  born  in  1826  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1851,  and 
was  educated  in  the  seminary  at  Baltimore.  He  was  ordained  in  1854, 
after  which  he  remained  in  the  Cathedral  from  June,  1854,  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1855,  when  he  came  to  Woonsocket  as  pastor  of  St.  Charles' 
church.  After  being  in  Woonsocket  eleven  years  he  went  to  Provi- 
dence in  charge  of  St.  Patrick's  church  for  three  years,  and  in  1869 
returned  to  Woonsocket,  where  he  has  been  ever  since. 

Frank  A.  McKenna,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (McCarron)  Mc- 
Kenna,  was  born  in  1852  in  Lowell,  Mass.  He  came  to  Woonsocket 
in  1880  and  established  the  undertaking  business,  having  previously 
worked  at  the  business  in  Providence.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order 
of  Foresters  and  the  Catholic  Knights  He  married  Margaret  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Michael  Connolly,  of  Smithfield,  in  1879. 

Amos  Marshall,  born  in  1824  in  Yorkshire,  England,  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Greenwood)  Marshall.  He  came  to  America  first  in 
1851,  staying  one  year  and  returning  to  England.  He  came  again  in 
1857,  and  in  1858  located  at  Woonsocket,  going  to  work  in  the  mills. 
For  twelve  years  he  had  charge  of  woolen  weaving  in  Boston,  Carolina, 
Clayville,  N.  Y.,  and  Philadelphia.  He  established  the  mineral  water 
business  in  1877  in  Woonsocket.  He  married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Batchelor,  in  1863. 

Edwin  Ballou  Miller.— Jonathan  Miller,  the  fatherof  the  subject 
of  this  biography,  who  was  a  farmer  and  a  boat  builder,  lived  and  died 
in  the  town  of  Cumberland.  By  his  union  with  Polly,  daughter  of 
Oliver  Ballou  of  the  same  town,  were  born  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Louisa,  Almina,  Lorenzo.  Leander,  Almon  G.,  Clemen- 


406  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

tina,  Edwin  B.,  Solyman  and  Lewis  L.  Edwin  B.  w^as  born  in  Cum- 
berland on  the  20th  of  April,  1824,  and  until  the  age  of  21  remained 
at  home,  attending  the  country  school  and  assisting  his  father  in  his 
varied  pursuits.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  came  to  Woonsocket 
and  engaged  as  foreman  for  his  uncle,  who  cultivated  a  farm  and 
operated  a  cotton  mill;  on  the  death  of  the  latter  still  continuing  in 
the  employ  of  his  sons. 

Mr.  Miller  soon  after  this  began  an  independent  business  career  as- 
the  purchaser  of  a  livery  stable,  which  he  managed  for  a  brief  time. 
In  1855  he  embarked  in  the  ice  business  and  at  the  same  time  began 
operations  in  real  estate,  which  he  has  successfully  continued  until 
the  present  time,  being  one  of  the  largest  builders  and  real  estate 
operators  in  the  city.  For  25  years  he  supplied  the  citizens  of  Woon- 
socket with  ice  and  was  also  a  considerable  dealer  in  lumber,  as  well 
as  a  farmer.  In  1861  he  began  the  erection  of  stores  and  tenements, 
which  industry  has  been  carried  on  for  many  years.  Some  of  these 
he  sold,  others  are  rented.  The  number  of  houses  he  has  built  within 
the  city  limits  will  aggregate  50  or  more,  of  which  he  still  owns  half 
the  number. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  republican  in  his  political  faith  and  has  for  many 
years  filled  such  local  offices  as  member  of  the  town  council  (before 
Woonsocket  became  a  city),  assessor  of  taxes  and  commissioner  of 
highways.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  for  the 
session  of  1888-9.  He  was  formerly  a  director  of  the  National  Globe 
Bank  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  the  Producers'  Savings  Bank  of  Woon- 
socket. 

Mr.  Miller  was,  in  1849,  married  to  Lydia  A.,  daughter  of  Luman 
Hardy,  of  New  Hampshire.  Their  children  are:  Henry  F.,  deceased; 
Mary  Estelle,  wife  of  Francis  S.  Weeks,  Jr.;  Medora,  deceased;  Ellen 
Frances,  deceased;  Ida  E.,  wiie  of  Stafford  C.  Clow;  Adelaide  L.,  mar- 
ried to  Clarence  C.  Andrews,  and  Edwin  P.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Miller 
occurred  February  15th,  1886. 

George  H.  Miller,  son  of  Lorenzo  D.  and  Loretta  W.  (Darling) 
Miller,  was  born  in  1840,  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  came  to  Woonsocket  in 
1853,  and  was  educated  in  the  high  school.  He  served  three  years 
during  the  rebellion  m  Troop  D,  First  R.  I.  Cavalry,  entering  as  a 
private  and  returning  quartermaster-sergeant.  He  was  on  detached 
service  as  private  orderly  to  General  Duffie,  and  in  active  service 
during  the  whole  of  his  enlistment,  going  through  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  with  Sheridan,  and  was  also  with  Kilpatrick,  Custer  and  Merritt. 
He  grew  up  in  the  ice  business  with  his  uncle,  and  in  1880  succeeded 
to  the  business.  Coal  was  added  in  1888.  He  was  elected  alderman  of 
the  Fifth  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government.  He  was 
married  in  1866  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Albert  C.  Vose,  of  Lincoln. 

George  W.  Miller  was  born  in  Germany  in  1837,  and  came  to  Woon- 
socket when  16  years  of  age.      He  was  first  employed  in  the  Woon- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  407 

socket  Company's  cotton  mill  for  six  years,  then  was  employed  in  the 
Woonsocket  Iron  Foundry  until  1865.  He  then  started  a  repair  shop, 
which  he  ran  alone  one  year,  and  then  took  in  as  partner  Joseph  Bani- 
gan.  One  year  later  he  bought  out  Mr.  Banigan  and  carried  the  business 
on  alone  until  1869,  and  then  sold  out  to  the  Woonsocket  Rubber  Com- 
pany, remaining  with  that  company  until  1879.  He  then  started  again 
in  the  machinist  business  and  carried  it  on  until  January,  1884,  then 
consolidated  with  the  Woonsocket  Machine  and  Press  Company.  He 
served  as  member  of  the  town  council  for  two  years.  He  was  married 
in  1858  to  Katherine,  daughter  of  Jacob  Graff. 

James  C.  Molten,  son  of  M.  and  Sarah  (Cutter)  Molten,  was  born  in 
1822  in  Newport.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1842  and  engaged  in 
the  furnishing  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  &  J.  C.  Molten, 
which  continued  until  1846,  then  by  J.  C.  Molten  until  1880,  when  he 
retired.  In  1844  he  married  Susan  E.,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Amy 
(Smith)  Bacon,  of  Providence.  He  was  representative  to  the  general 
assembly  in  1858,  served  on  school  committee,  was  member  of  town 
council  in  1866-7,  is  school  trustee,  and  has  served  before.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  People's  Savings  Bank  for  18  years.  He  was 
elected  to  the  city  council  from  the  Fourth  ward  upon  the  formation 
of  the  city  government  in  1888,  and  was  elected  president  of  council 
in  January,  1889. 

James  Murray,  son  of  Edmund  and  Margaret  (Connolly)  Murray, 
was  born  1846,  in  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  1856,  located  at  Man- 
ville,  R.  I.,  and  in  1868  came  to  Woonsocket.  He  married  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Matthew  Hayden,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  1887.  He 
was  elected  moderator  in  1886  and  1887  and  re-elected  in  1888.  He  has 
been  for  three  years  member  of  school  board  and  is  chairman  of  prop- 
erty committee;  was  president  of  temperance  society  and  president  of 
Business  Men's  Association.  He  established  his  present  business  of 
boots  and  shoes  in  1873. 

William  F.  Norton  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1847,  and  came  to 
America  in  1853,  locating  in  Albion,  R.  I.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in 
1868,  and  went  to  work  for  the  Harris  Woolen  Company,  where  he 
learned  his  trade,  remaining  four  years.  Then  he  went  to  Chicago,  re- 
maining four  years,  and  after  the  great  fire  returned  to  Woonsocket, 
where  he  has  been  ever  since,  establishing  his  business  of  contractor 
and  builder  in  1884.  He  married  Kate,  daughter  of  John  Franey,  of 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  in  1875. 

Charles  Nourse  was  born  in  Keene,  Cheshire  county,  N.  H., 
November  19th,  1814.  He  was  the  fourth  child  of  Silas  and  Rebecca 
(Carpenter)  Nourse.  He  received  such  education  as  the  schools  of  that 
time  offered  Being  of  a  mechanical  turn  of  mind  he  chose  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  preference  to  the  farmer's  life,  under  which  he  was 
reared.  He  worked  at  his  trade  till  1851,  when  he  became  interested 
in  cotton  manufacture. 


408  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Mr.  Nourse  was  married  to  Mary  Antoinette  Heywood,  daughter 
of  the  late  Ephrahim  Heywood  of  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  November 
12th,  1840,  by  whom  he  had  three  daughters.  The  love  and  fidelity 
which  he  then  pledged  was  fulfilled  with  a  constancy  which  knew  no 
wavering  until  her  sudden  death,  IJecember  11th,  1870. 

Mr.  Nourse  came  to  Lonsdale,  R.  L,  in  1848,  to  superintend  the 
carpentry  and  machine  setting  of  the  Lonsdale  Company.  In  1851  he 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  cotton  mills  at  Ashton,  R.  L  In 
1854  he  assumed  the  superintendency  of  the  Social  Mills  of  Woon- 
socket,  R.  I.,  w^hich  position  he  held  till  his  sudden  death,  March  1st, 
1886.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  Social  Manufacturing  Company 
in  January,  1877,  at  which  time  he  had  become  a  considerable  owner 
of  its  stock.  In  1882  the  new  Nourse  Mill  was  built  and  named  in 
honor  of  its  president  and  superintendent. 

Mr.  Nourse  was  elected  president  of  the  Producers'  Bank  in  1864, 
and  re-elected  president  of  the  Producers'  National  Bank  in  1865, 
which  office  he  held  till  his  death.  He  was  six  years  a  director  in 
the  New  England  Cotton  Manufacturers'  Association,  and  its  vice- 
president  in  1878.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Woonsocket 
Business  Men's  Association.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Providence 
Board  of  Trade.  He  belonged  to  the  Woonsocket  Commandery  of 
Knights  Templar. 

Mr.  Nourse  was  married  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Anna  Teston,  March 
13th,  1872,  by  whom  he  had  no  issue. 

As  a  manufacturer  Mr.  Nourse  ranked  high.  He  was  exceptionally 
devoted  to  his  calling.  He  was  an  early  riser,  and  for  many  years  he 
rarely  failed  to  be  in  or  about  his  mills  before  the  starting  of  the  ma- 
chinery. He  was  methodical,  prompt,  exact  and  quick  to  perceive  and 
adopt  new  advantages. 

In  politics  Mr.  Nourse  was  a  republican.  In  his  early  days  he  be- 
longed to  the  old  whig  party,  but  on  the  formation  of  the  republican 
party  he  eagerly  transferred  his  allegiance  to  that  organization.  The 
great  moral  issues  which  convulsed  the  country  from  the  inception  of 
that  party,  enlisted  his  sympathies  to  the  fullest  degree.  He  was  radical 
in  speech  and  act.  He  found  ample  scope  in  his  party  for  the  execu- 
tion of  his  political  doctrines.  Clear  as  he  was  in  his  views,  he  seldom 
spoke  in  public.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Cincinnati  Convention  in 
1876.     He  was  state  senator  in  1877  and  again  in  1878. 

Mr.  Nourse  was  an  active  member  in  the  Woonsocket  Universalist 
Society.  Although  he  was  a  regular  attendant  and  a  liberal  supporter 
of  the  Universalist  church,  he  never  became  a  member  of  that  com- 
munion. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Nourse  was  ever  ready,  by  word  and  deed,  to 
promote  any  measure  which  tended  to  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  spent  the  best  of  his  days.  In  all  his  going  in 
and  coming  out  before  the  people  he  was  courteous,  deferential,  atten- 


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HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  409 

tive,  liberal.  He  was  especially  mindful  of  the  feelings  and  comforts 
of  the  thousands  of  beings,  which,  from  time  to  time,  came  under  his 
supervision.  He  was  fond  of  young  men  and  delighted  in  their  pros- 
perity. In  his  home  he  was  cheerful,  indulgent  and  generous.  He 
was  hospitable  and  social  in  his  nature,  and  he  was  never  happier  than 
with  a  houseful  of  neighbors  with  a  large  sprinkling  of  the  young. 
He  is  mourned  alike  by  old  and  young,  and  the  tender  memory  which 
he  leaves  behind,  is  the  best  commentary  on  his  happy  and  useful 
life. 

John  Osborne.-'^— The  impress  made  by  John  Osborne  upon  the 
memory  of  those  who  knew  him,  is  largely  due  to  his  marked  dignity 
of  character.  The  chief  events  of  his  life  can  be  quickly  told,  but  it 
is  far  more  difficult  to  give  a  distinct  picture  of  his  personality.  He 
was  the  son  of  Marble  and  Elizabeth  (Hanson)  Osborne,  and  was  born 
in  Dover,  N.  H.,  February  17th,  1784.  His  father  fought  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  but  soon  afterward  entered  the  Society  of  Friends, 
perhaps  in  recoil  from  the  cruelty  involved  in  war.  The  simple  faith 
in  which  John  Osborne  was  nurtured,  and  to  which  he  always  adhered, 
was  dear  to  him,  yet  catholicity  was  one  of  his  characteristics.  Neither 
his  mind  nor  his  heart  could  be  satisfied  without  a  large  outlook.  His 
desire  for  knowledge  led  him  to  save  his  earnings  and  go  to  Smith- 
field,  R.  L,  at  the  age  of  22,  to  attend  the  school  of  Elisha  Thornton. 
The  instruction  and  inspiration  afforded  by  that  gifted  teacher  were 
always  a  pleasant  subject  of  reminiscence  with  his  pupil,  but  the 
young  man's  connection  with  the  school  was  brief.  He  soon  accepted 
an  invitation  to  act  as  temporary  cashier  of  the  Smithfield  Union 
Bank. 

After  a  short  residence  in  Boston,  New  York  and  Providence,  Mr. 
Osborne  returned  to  Smithfield  to  becom_e  cashier  of  the  bank.  This 
position  he  retained  until  1840.  Upon  resigning  it  in  favor  of  his 
son,  he  was  elected  president,  and  he  continued  to  serve  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  his  death,  fulfilling  his  duties  with  fidelity  and  judgment 
which  commanded  the  confidence  of  the  community.  When  the  bank 
was  somewhat  embarrassed,  he  voluntarily  relinquished  a  part  of  his 
salary— an  act  which  was  highly  appreciated  by  his  associates,  inas- 
much as  the  salary  paid  by  a  country  bank  was  small,  and  Mr.  Os- 
borne had  no  other  resources  for  the  maintenance  of  his  family. 
From  1846  to  1857  he  was  president  of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for 
Savings,  and  from  1857  until  his  death,  president  of  the  People's  Sav- 
ings Bank  of  Woonsocket. 

His  clear  and  vigorous  mind  grasped  with  interest  the  elements 
and  many  of  the  details  of  common  law.  His  neighbors  relied  largely 
upon  this  knowledge,  and  it  was  quite  customary  to  secure  his  services 
in  writing  wills  and  other  legal  documents. 

In  1816  Mr.  Osborne  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Walter  Allen, 

*  By  Katharine  H.  Austin. 


410  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  Bank  Village.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Allen,  this  family  joined  his 
two  unmarried  daughters  in  the  occupancy  of  his  attractive  estate. 
Mr.  Osborne's  love  of  nature  was  strong,  and  he  took  pleasure  in 
beautifying  this  home  by  planting  shrubbery  and  otherwise.  On  the 
smaller  territory  that  he  had  hitherto  occupied,  he  had  had  for  many 
years  a  fruit  garden  which  he  personally  tended,  and  which  was  ad- 
mired as  a  model.  In  these  tranquil  pursuits  his  life  was  passed.  As 
he  moved  among  his  fellows,  his  presence,  at  once  unassuming  and 
dignified,  genial  and  yet  touched  with  a  delicate  reserve,  won  the  re- 
gard of  old  and  young,  cultured  and  ignorant.  Although  conserva- 
tive in  his  tastes,  he  was  a  public  spirited  citizen,  studying  with  inter- 
est the  progress  of  events,  and  cherishing  a  strong  faith  in  free 
institutions. 

In  the  Society  of  Friends  he  held  various  responsible  positions. 
For  many  years  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  committee 
chosen  by  the  New  England  yearly  meeting  of  Friends  to  supervise 
its  boarding  school  in  Providence.  In  1828,  when  dissension  was  pre- 
vailing among  the  Friends  of  Ohio,  he  was  one  of  a  small  committee 
appointed  to  visit  that  yearly  meeting  in  the  hope  of  adjusting  the 
difficulty.  As  there  were  no  railroads,  the  journey  was  made  by  stage 
coach  and  private  conveyance.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osborne  were  elders  in 
the  Society  of  Friends,  that  is  to  say,  they  were  selected  as  counselors 
to  the  ministers,  out  of  regard  for  their  good  judgment  and  spiritual 
discernm.ent. 

Mr.  Osborne's  excellent  physical  health  seemed  a  fitting  exponent 
of  his  intellectual  and  moral  condition.  To  him  might  naturally  be 
applied  the  familiar  words  of  the  Roman  poet:  "  integer  vitcvy  His 
earthly  life  was  suddenly  ended  by  apoplexy,  on  April  98th,  1862. 

Odilon  T.  Paradis  was  born  in  1852,  in  St.  Guillaume,  Quebec,  and 
was  educated  there.  He  came  to  the  Uniteci  States  first  in  1868, 
residing  in  Blackstone,  Mass.  He  soon  returned  to  Montreal,  and 
came  to  Woonsocket  in  1878  and  established  his  present  business  of 
tea  merchant,  having  stores  in  Woonsocket,  Southbridge,  Lowell, 
Chicopee  and  Gardner,  Mass.  He  now  retains  only  the  Woonsocket 
store.  In  1880  he  began  to  issue  the  French  Directory,  and  in  1882 
changed  it  to  the  French  Almanac,  and  in  1887  to  the  Catholic  Annual, 
or  L'Annuaire  Catholique,  a  publication  that  has  achieved  much  suc- 
cess, and  been  endorsed  by  high  ecclesiastical  authorities.  He  is  con- 
nected with  St.  Jean  Baptiste  and  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  beneficial  socie- 
ties. He  married  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Pierre  Larivee,  of  Canada,  in 
1874. 

Francis  M.  Perkins.— The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  biography 
were  Josiah  and  Melintha  (Smith)  Perkins,  whose  children  were:  Anna 
M.,  Andrew  J.,  Jane  M.,  Francis  M.,  Charles  H.,  Eliza  J.  and  Louisa 
A.  Francis  M.  Perkins  was  born  in  Middleboro,  Mass.,  July  25th, 
1839,  and  while  yet  a  child  removed  with  his  parents  to  Woonsocket. 


■^0^  WB- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  411 

On  completing  his  education  in  the  public  schools  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  book  and  periodical  business.  Subsequently  entering-  the  grocery 
trade  with  Daniel  A.  Cook,  he  continued  this  business  association  for 
several  years,  and  later  formed  a  co-partnership  with  George  C.  Wilder 
in  the  same  branch  of  trade,  in  both  of  which  ventures  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful. In  1868  he  was  made  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Rubber 
Company,  and  continued  in  this  position  until  his  death.  May  10th,  1885. 
On. assuming  this  responsibility  the  capital  stock  of  the  company,  in 
which  he  was  a  shareholder,  was  $125,000.  It  now  represents  a  capital 
of  $1 ,500,000.  Mr.  Perkins  was  also  a  stockholder  in  the  Bailey  Wring- 
ing Machine  Company,  and  a  director  in  both  the  Woonsocket  National 
Bank  and  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  connected  with  Morning  Star  Lodge, 
No.  14,  of  that  Order. 

In  all  his  undertakings,  whether  of  a  business  or  social  character, 
he  displayed  remarkable  energy,  was  faithful  to  every  trust,  honest  in 
his  dealings  and  efficient  to  a  remarkable  degree  in  his  undertak- 
ings. Active  yet  quiet  in  all  his  works,  he  moved  still  onward  to 
success  with  a  determination  and  a  purpose  that  were  praiseworthy 
in  the  highest  degree.  He  knew  no  faltering  steps  and  walked  not  in 
doubt  or  fear.  Discerning  what  he  undertook  with  a  clear  vision,  and 
guided  by  the  unflinching  courage  of  his  convictions,  he  accomplished 
his  work.  Mr.  Perkins  felt  great  interest  in  the  Universalist  church 
and  Sunday  school,  in  the  former  of  which  he  was  leader  of  the  choir, 
and  in  the  latter  musical  director  and  librarian.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  prudential  committee  of  the  society.  A  keen  lover  of 
music,  many  of  his  musical  compositions  were  rendered  in  connection 
with  the  church  festivities,  and  received  with  many  marks  of  appre- 
ciation. 

Mr.  Perkins  was  married  December  19th,  1865,  to  Ella  F.,  daughter 
of  George  C.  Wilder,  of  Woonsocket.  Harold  W.  is  the  only  survivor 
of  three  children. 

LeRoy  Bidwell  Pease,  the  eldest  of  the  seven  children  of  Walter 
Raleigh  and  Sophia  (Bidwell)  Pease,  was  born  at  Enfield,  Conn.,  Feb- 
ruary 2d,  1842,  in  the  paternal  homestead  that  has  been,  and  is  now, 
in  the  possession  of  the  family  since  the  settlement  of  the  town  in 
1680.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  still  resides  on  the  land 
purchased  from  the  Indians  on  the  above  date,  as  did  seven  genera- 
tions preceding.  On  his  mother's  side,  also,  he  is  endowed  with  the 
blood  of  the  Puritans,  the  Bidwells  having  been  among  the  first  settlers 
of  East  Hartford,  Conn.  When  Mr.  Pease  was  but  four  years  of  age 
his  parents  removed  to  Manchester,  Conn.,  where  his  father,  who  was 
a  contractor  and  builder,  began  the  erection  of  buildings  for  the  now 
world-famed  Cheney  vSilk  Works.  Leroy  soon  after  entered  the  public 
schools  of  Manchester,  and  completed  his  education  at  Professor  J.  C. 
Howard's  private  academy  for  boys  at  East  Hartford. 


412  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Immediately  he  entered  the  Good  Samaritan  drug  store  at  Hart- 
ford, and  began  reading  medicine,  but  two  years  later,  having  a  desire 
to  learn  the  newspaper  business,  entered  the  employ  of  Curtis  B.  Wells, 
publisher  of  the  Tolland  County  Gazette  at  Rockville,  Conn.  Remain- 
ing here  until  the  fall  of  1859,  he  returned  to  Hartford  and  worked  as 
a  journeyman  printer  until  October  26th,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  First  Connecticut  Light  Battery,  serving  until  October 
20th,  1862,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  being  one  of 
the  "  lucky  ones"  to  profit  by  a  general  order  reducing  the  number  of 
officers  and  men  in  light  batteries.  Returning  to  Hartford,  he  filled 
various  positions  on  the  newspapers  of  that  city.  New  Haven  and  New 
York,  until  November  23d,  1863,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  A, 
First  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery,  and  served  until  mustered  out  of 
the  service  on  September  25th,  1865,  several  months  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  During  a  portion  of  this  time  he  was  engaged  in  special  ser- 
vice for  the  government. 

After  the  war  the  newspaper  business  was  resumed  in  New  York 
and  Hartford,  and  in  the  summer  of  1870  Mr.  Pease  went  to  Provi- 
dence. After  short  engagements  on  the  Journal  and  Herald  of  that 
city,  he  went  to  Woonsocket  and  entered  the  employ  of  Samuel  S. 
Foss,  publisher  of  the  Patriot,  on  November  10th,  1870.  Here  he  re- 
mained until  a  few  days  prior  to  October  1st,  1873,  on  which  date^he 
started  the  first  daily  in  Woonsocket,  TJie  Evening  Reporter,  having  been 
since  engaged  in  its  publication  and  during  which  time  he  has  pur- 
chased the  Patriot  and  other  competing  publications. 

In  1874  Mr.  Pease  married  Helen  A.,  youngest  daughter  of  Colonel 
Samuel  S.  Mosely  of  Hampton,  Conn.  They  have  three  children: 
Arthur  S.,  Albert  L.  and  Helen  L.  Mr.  Pease  has  never  held  political 
office.  He  has  devoted  much  time  to  temperance  and  philanthropic 
work,  and  is  interested  in  most  of  the  semi-public  improvements  of 
his  adopted  city.  His  newspaper  business  yields  him  a  comfortable 
living,  and  he  enjoys  the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Israel  B.  Phillips,  son  of  Nathan  and  Amey  (Fords)  Phillips,  was 
born  in  1823,  in  Scituate,  and  was  educated  at  the  Scituate  Academy. 
He  established  himself  in  the  undertaking  business  in  North  Provi- 
dence in  1863,  and  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1870,  where  he  carried  on 
the  business  until  he  sold  out  in  1883.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
town  council  twice.  He  married  in  1849,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Seril 
Peck,  of  Attleboro,  Mass.  She  died  in  1855  and  he  married  again  in 
1857,  Abby  G.,  daughter  of  Mowry  Lapham,  of  Smithfield,  now 
Lincoln. 

Aram  J.  Pothier,  son  of  Julius  and  Domitilde  (Dallaire)  Pothier, 
was  born  in  1856  in  Quebec,  and  was  educated  at  Nicolet  College, 
Quebec.  His  parents  located  in  Woonsocket  about  20  years  ago.  He 
has  been  connected  with  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings  since 
1875,  has  been  a  member  of    the  school  committee  for  four  years. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  413 

represented  the  town  in  the  legislature  from  1887  to  1889,  and  was 
commissioner  for  Rhode  Island  to  the  Paris  Exposition  in  1889.  He 
was  elected  city  auditor  of  Woonsocket  upon  the  formation  of  the 
city  government. 

William  Power,  son  of  Patrick  George  and  Maria  (Lyons)  Power, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  in  1833.  His  father  was 
a  lawyer  of  prominence  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter  of  a  wealthy 
Waterford  merchant.  He  came  to  America  in  1847  and  in  1848  to 
Woonsocket.  He  established  his  present  business  of  grocer  in  I860. 
In  1854  he  was  married  to  Johanna,  daughter  of  Timothy  McCarthy, 
of  Providence.  He  was  elected  councilman  of  the  Third  ward  upon 
the  formation  of  the  city  government. 

Reuben  G.  Randall,  son  of  David  and  Ruth  (Allen)  Randall,  was 
born  in  1826,  in  Richmond,  N.  H.,  and  was  educated  at  the  Friends' 
school,  Providence.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1843,  and  was  first 
employed  in  the  counting  room  of  Dexter  Ballou  &  Co.  for  eight 
years.  In  1853  he  became  connected  with  the  First  National  Bank  as 
cashier,  which  position  he  has  held  since.  He  was  made  treasurer  of 
the  People's  Savings  Bank  in  1857,  and  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Gas 
Company  in  1859.  He  is  also  the  president  of  the  American  Worsted 
Company.  He  married  for  his  first  wife,  Sylvia  Harrington.  His 
present  wife  is  Medora  C,  daughter  of  Willis  Cook,  of  Woonsocket. 
He  married  her  in  1856. 

Oscar  Jenckes  Rathbun,  son  of  Aaron  and  Julia  E.  Rathbun,  was 
born  in  V/oonsocket,  R.I.,  March  12th,  1832.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained at  the  Worcester  high  school,  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  the  Clinton 
Liberal  Institute,  Clinton,  N.Y.,  after  which  his  business  career  was 
begun,  at  the  age  of  19,  as  clerk  in  the  mercantile  establishment  of 
his  father,  located  in  his  native  place.  Aaron  Rathbun  died  in  1854, 
leaving  all  his  interests  in  the  hands  of  his  son,  meanwhile  advising 
him  to  abandon  mercantile  life,  which  was  not  to  his  taste,  and  em- 
bark in  business  as  a  manufacturer.  In  deference  to  this  expressed 
wish  and  in  consonance  with  his  own  inclinations,  he  at  once  relin- 
quished the  career  of  a  merchant,  and  settled  his  father's  estate.  In 
1856  Hon.  Latimer  W.  Ballou,  at  that  time  cashier  of  the  Woonsocket 
Falls  National  Bank,  called  upon  Mr.  Rathbun  and  requested  his 
assistance  in  the  bank.  Not  desiring  to  make  banking  the  business 
of  his  life,  he  accepted  the  office  conditional  upon  its  relinquishment 
when  other  plans  were  fully  matured.  The  next  year  he  was  ap- 
pointed cashier  of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Citizens'  Savings  Bank,  which  positions  he  filled  until  1860. 

During  the  latter  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  F.  Harris, 
daughter  of  Edward  Harris,  and  to  fhem  were  born  two  children: 
Mabel,  wife  of  Chester  B.  Smith,  and  Edward  Harris.  The  death  of 
Mrs.  Rathbun,  which  occurred  in  1872,  was  the  occasion  of  deep  grief  to 
her  family.     She  was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 


414  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

church,  not  only  exerting  a  religious  influence  on  those  around  her, 
but  exercising  charity  and  performing  many  kind  and  loving  acts  to 
people  of  less  ample  means.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Rathbun,  who 
had  been  a  member  of  the  corporation  of  the  Universalist  church, 
severed  his  connection  with  that  body,  and  became  a  constant  attend- 
ant upon  the  services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  a  vestryman. 

In  1860  Mr.  Rathbun  completed  negotiations  begun  the  previous 
year,  for  the  purchase  of  the  Jenckesville  Cotton  Mills,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1872,  when  the  property  was  sold,  he  retaining  a  half 
interest.  On  the  organization  of  the  Harris  Woolen  Company  he  was 
made  secretary,  and  on  the  death  of  Edward  Harris  in  1872,  became 
president  of  the  corporation,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He  is  in  addi- 
tion to  this  identified  with  other  interests  as  president  of  the  House- 
hold Sewing  Machine  Company,  of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  of  the 
Woonsocket  Street  Railway,  and  director  in  the  following  organiza- 
tions: The  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad,  the  Mercantile  Insurance 
Company,  the  Equitable  Fire  &  Marine  Insurance  Company,  the 
Franklin  National  Bank,  the  American  Wood  Paper  Company,  the 
Ray  Woolen  Company,  the  Woonsocket  Gas  Company,  and  the  Rhode 
Island  Tool  Company.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Harris  Institute, 
and  of  the  William  J.  King  estate.  Mr.  Rathbun  has  led  an  active 
business  life  and  found  neither  leisure  nor  opportunity  for  an  ex- 
tended political  career.  He  has,  however,  been  for  two  terms  repre- 
sentative in  the  state  legislature,  and  was  lieutenant-governor  of 
Rhode  Island  from  1882  to  1884. 

George  S.  Read,  son  of  Elisha  T.  and  Harriet  A.  (Stockbridge) 
Read,  was  born  in  1842  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  high  school,  Woonsocket,  and  Friends'  School,  Provi- 
dence. He  served  in  the  Third  R.  I.  Heavy  Artillery  as  private,  cor- 
poral, sergeant  and  lieutenant.  He  served  part  of  the  time  with  Bat- 
tery M,  U.  S.  Troops.  He  was  postmaster  of  Woonsocket  from  1879 
to  1888.  He  was  in  the  house  of  representatives  in  1888.  He  married 
Lavilla  A.,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Eliza  C.  Allen,  of  Franklin,  Mass., 
in  1867. 

James  S.  Read,  son  of  Elisha  T.  and  Harriet  A.  (Stockbridge) 
Read,  was  born  in  1835  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  at  Worcester  Academy.  He  was  married  to  Laura  A., 
daughter  of  Abner  Aldrich,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1861.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  last  town  council,  and  is  member  of  school  board,  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Globe  school  district.  Since  his  father's  death  in  March, 
1878,  he  has  been  cashier  of  the  Union  National  Bank,  his  father  hav- 
ing been  cashier  of  the  same-  bank  for  31  years.  His  grandfather, 
George  Read,  was  an  old  settler  of  Woonsocket.  His  grandfather,  on 
Ills  mother's  side,  Horatio  Stockbridge,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
but  an  early  settler  of  Woonsocket. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  415 

James  H.  Rickard,  son  of  George  and  Sarah  C.  ( Helme)  Rickard, 
was  born  in  ]838  in  Pomfret,  Conn.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1866 
and  established  himself  in  the  grocery  business,  having  previously 
been  in  the  business  in  Pomfret.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  a  private  academy  at  Abington,  Conn.  He  has  for  the 
past  fifteen  years  been  in  the  contracting  and  real  estate  business. 
He  served  with  the  18th  Connecticut  Regiment  about  two  years  as 
private,  and  was  with  the  19th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  serving  with 
them  about  two  years.  He  is  commander  of  vSmith  Post,  No.  9.  He 
was  married  in  1874  to  Abby  S.,  daughter  of  Seth  Welld,  of  Woon- 
socket. 

A.  C.  Sibley,  son  of  Ira  and  Sophronia  (Shumway)  Sibley,  was 
born  in  Oxford,  Mass..  in  1855.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1877, 
working  first  for  C.  B.  Aldrich,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Aldrich  he 
continued  the  business,  establishing  himself  first  on  North  Main 
street  in  1879,  afterward  moving  to  River  street,  and  to  his  present 
place  in  1885. 

Albert  A.  Smith,  son  of  Clark  and  Phelenia  (Clark)  Smith,  was 
born  in  Woonsocket  in  1834,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools. 
He  was  elected  representative  once  on  the  republican  ticket,  and 
twice  on  the  democratic  ticket,  served  one  year  in  the  town  council, 
was  a  member  of  school  committee  when  the  town  was  organized  and 
at  the  time  the  city  government  was  formed.  He  served  in  the  1st 
R.  I.  Cavalry,  and  after  a  year's  service  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran 
Corps.  He  was  married  in  1852  to  Eveline  M..  daughter  of  Elisha 
Sherman,  of  Bellingham,  Mass. 

George  Smith,  sen  of  Richard  and  Eliza  (Hopkins)  Smith,  was  born 
in  1815  in  Portsmouth,  Va.,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Burrillville, 
R.  I.,  when  four  years  old.  He  had  charge  of  mills  for  the  Valley  Falls 
Company,  at  Valley  Falls,  for  31  years  before  coming  to  Woonsocket. 
He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1875,  being  at  the  time  proprietor  of  a  yarn 
mill  at  East  Blackstone.  He  was  subsequently  superintendent  of  Har- 
ris Number  5  Cotton  Mill,  head  of  the  Woonsocket  Yarn  Company, 
superintendent  for  a  year  of  the  cotton  mill  at  Farnumsville,  Mass., 
and  since  April,  1886,  superintendent  of  the  Bernon  Cotton  Mill,  now 
operated  by  the  Valley  Falls  Company.  He  married  Lavina  C, 
daughter  of  Meldier  White,  of  Central  Falls,  in  1836.  He  was  mem- 
ber of  town  council  of  Cumberland  one  year,  and  was  elected  council- 
man from  the  First  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government. 

Charles  W.  Talcott,  son  of  James  Tudor  and  Sarah  (Hutchings) 
Talcott,  was  born  in  1844  in  Manchester,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1867,  and  first  ran  a 
steam  engine  for  the  Bailey  Wringing  Machine  Company  for  about 
six  years.  He  ran  an  engine  for  N.  Elliott's  wood  working  establish- 
ment about  two  years,  then  at  the  Privilege  Mill  two  years,  and  at  the 
Globe  Mill  one  vear.     In  1874  he  established  himself   in   the  steam, 


416  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

gas  and  water  pipe  business  and  contracting.  He  laid  all  the  mains 
for  the  Woonsocket  water  works  when  they  were  put  in,  and  was  one 
of  the  prime  movers  in  the  water  works.  He  is  a  director  in  the 
Woonsocket  Opera  House.  He  served  in  Company  K,  20th  Connecti- 
cut Infantry.  He  married  Alma  E.,  daughter  of  David  Jewell,  of 
Hebron,  N.  H. 

Ariel  C.  Thomas,  son  of  Edwin  R.  and  Ann  Eliza  (Cook)  Thomas,  was 
born  in  1857  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  high  school,  Woonsocket,  and  at  the  Friends'  School,  Providence. 
He  has  occupied  various  positions  in  the  Clinton  Mill,  having  been 
connected  with  it  for  13  years,  and  has  been  superintendent  and  agent 
for  the  past  two  years.  His  father  was  agent  for  the  same  company 
for  33  years.  He  married  Nellie  M.,  daughter  of  Alvin  Parker,  of 
Blackstone,  Mass.,  in  1880.  He  was  elected  councilman  for  the  Fourth 
ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government. 

Charles  E.  Thomas. — The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Thomas  were 
Philip  and  Amy  (Jenks)  Thomas.  His  parents  were  Edwin  R.  and 
Ann  E.  (Cook)  Thomas,  to  whom  were  born  children:  Ella,  Charles  E., 
Mary  A.  (widow  of  Theodore  M.  Cook),  Cora  E.  (wife  of  Samuel  R. 
Harris),  Ariel  C,  John  D.  (deceased),  Fred  A.,  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy.  Charles  E.  Thomas  was  born  in  Manville,  Providence  county, 
December  17th,  1850,  and  came  to  Woonsocket  with  his  parents  in 
1854.  On  attaining  a  suitable  age  he  entered  the  public  schools,  and 
concluded  his  studies  at  the  Friends'  Academy.  He  in  1869  became 
an  employe  of  the  Clinton  Manufacturing  Company  of  Woonsocket, 
first  as  an  accountant  and  later  as  superintendent  of  the  mills,  with 
the  various  departments  of  which  he  had  previously  become  familiar. 
After  a  business  connection  with  this  company  extending  over  a 
period  of  18  years,  his  services  were  transferred  to  the  Globe  Mills  of 
Woonsocket,  of  which  he  is  now  the  efficient  superintendent.  A  de- 
tailed description  of  these  mills  and  their  workings  having  been  given 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  identified  with  various  important  business  organi- 
zations in  the  city  of  his  residence.  He  is  president  and  a  member  of 
the  board  of  direction  of  the  Producers'  National  Bank,  a  trustee  and 
member  of  the  board  of  investment  of  the  Producers'  Savings  Bank, 
trustee  of  the  Woonsocket  Institution  for  Savings,  and  director  of  the 
Woonsocket  Electric  Machine  and  Power  Company.  A  republican  in 
politics,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  school  committee  and  for  sev- 
eral years  clerk  of  the  consolidated  school  district,  but  has  found  little 
time  to  devote  to  a  more  extended  political  career.  His  religious  be- 
lief is  that  of  the  Universalist  church,  in  which  he  is  a  deacon.  He  is 
past  commander  of  Woonsocket  Commandery,  No.  23,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, and  high  priest  of  Union  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  5. 

Mr.  Thomas  was,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1885,  married  to  Annie 
L.,  daughter  of  the  late  Reverend  B.  S.  Sharpe.  They  have  one  son, 
Edwin  R. 


I 


^^-o^-(lJ 


YPE.     E.    eiERSTAD 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIIjENCE    COUNTY.  417 

Hervey  S.  Turner,  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Howe)  Turner,  was 
born  in  1849,  in  Holden,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  at  the  high  school 
and  academy,  Worcester,  Mass.  He  came  from  Providence  to  Woon- 
socket  in  1877  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  buying  and  selling 
horses  until  he  started  the  livery  business  in  1882.  In  1884  he  was 
married  to  Abby  L.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Devereux,  of  Woonsocket. 

Alonzo  Darwin  Vose.— Amariah  Vose,  the  grandfather  of  Alonzo 
D.  Vose,  was  born  April  19th,  1768,  in  Wrentham,  Massachusetts,  and 
married  Rejoice  Cook,  of  the  same  town,  December  29th,  1791.  The 
first  of  their  nine  children  was  a  son.  Willing  Vose,  born  January  loth, 
1793,  in  Wrentham,  who  resided  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
Cumberland  and  Woonsocket,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  triple 
pursuits  of  millwright,  carpenter,  and  machinist.  He  married  Mercy 
Jillson,  of  Richmond,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  19th  of  iVugust,  1814. 
Their  children  were:  Albert  C,  Mariamne,  Alanson  C,  and  Alonzo 
D.,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  named,  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Vose  was  married  a  second  and  third  time,  leaving  one  daughter 
by  the  second  union,  now  deceased. 

Alonzo  D.  Vose,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  October  4th,  1823,  in 
that  portion  of  Cumberland  now  embraced  in  Woonsocket,  where  his 
life  has  mainly  been  spent.  After  a  common  English  education  his 
attention  was  given  to  the  work  of  the  farm.  In  the  spring  of  1842 
he  embarked  in  a  journalistic  enterprise,  in  connection  with  a  partner, 
as  proprietors  and  publishers  of  the  Woonsocket  Sentinel  and  Thonipso- 
nian  Advocate,  devoted  to  temperance  and  the  then  new  theory  of  medi- 
cine,  which  paper  had  a  brief  existence  of  but  one  year,  owing  to  the 
poor  health  of  Mr.  Vose  and  the  decease  of  his  partner.  In  1843  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Woonsocket  Furnace  Company,  and  was  for 
five  years  the  custodian  of  their  patterns  and  castings.  From  1848  to 
1851  he  was  at  work  on  the  farm,  and  spent  the  succeeding  three  years 
as  salesman  in  the  grocery  business.  Mr.  Vose  then  invested  his  capi- 
tal in  a  bakery  and  was  for  nearly  20  years  a  partner  in  and  financial 
manager  of  the  Woonsocket  Baking  Company,  from  which  he  retired 
in  1873  with  a  fair  competency.  His  time  has  since  been  chiefly  given 
to  the  care  of  his  property  and  a  few  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  Vose  was  formerly  a  republican  in  his  political  faith,  and  is 
now  a  staunch  advocate  of  prohibition  principles.  He  was,  in  1874, 
elected  by  the  republican  party  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the 
general  assembly  on  the  temperance  issue;  not  receiving  a  second 
nomination  on  account  of  his  rigid  adherence  to  principle  rather  than 
party  policy.  He  has  served  the  town  as  assessor  of  taxes  and  pay- 
master of  soldiers'  families  residing  in  his  town  during  the  late  war. 
He  is  a  director  and  member  of  the  board  of  investment  of  the  Pro- 
ducers' Savings  Bank  of  Woonsocket.  Mr.  Vose  has  been  a  member 
and  an  active  officer  of  Fountain  Division,  No.  4,  Sons  of  Temperance 
of  Woonsocket  since  March,  1858.  Since  1871  he  has  been  treasurer 
27 


418  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

of  the  Grand  Division  of  Rhode  Island,  with  an  interval  of  one  year, 
when  he  was  the  chief  officer.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist 
church  of  Woonsocket,  and  has  for  many  years  officiated  as  one  of  its 
deacons. 

Mr.  Vose  was,  November  4th,  1844,  married  to  Martha  Daniels, 
daughter  of  John  Mayo  and  Nancy  (Wight)  Cook,  of  Bellingham,  Mas- 
sachusetts, who  died  February  11th,  1883,  leaving  no  children. 

Henry  T.  Wales,  son  of  Mason  and  Elector  M.  (Adams)  Wales, 
was  born  in  1842  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools.  He  had  charge  of  farming  and  teaming  for  the  Social  Manu- 
facturing Company  for  fourteen  years,  and  in  1882  established  the 
teaming  business  for  himself  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  T.  Wales  & 
Co..  buying  from  William  Elliott  the  business  that  was  established  first 
in  Woonsocket  by  Andrew  Green  36  years  ago.  He  was  connected 
with  the  fire  department  for  twelve  years,  first  as  second  assistant, 
then  as  first  assistant,  and  afterward  chief  engineer  for  three  years. 
He  also  served  as  highway  commissioner.  He  married  first  Alvira 
D.,  daughter  of  John  L.  Eddy  of  Bellingham,  Mass.  His  present  wife 
is  Harriet,  daughter  of  John  Cartwright  of  Coventry,  R.  I.  He  mar- 
ried her  in  1877.  Mr.  Wales  served  in  the  2d  R.  I.  infantry.  His 
father  was  for  several  years  employed  by  Edward  Harris  as  head 
farmer. 

Aaron  B.  Warfield,  son  of  Preston  and  Hannah  Warfield,  was 
born  in  1844,  in  Blackstone,  Mass.,  and  v/as  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Walpole  high  school.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1862 
and  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of  Horace  Cook.  In 
1868  he  established  himself  in  the  business  with  Moses  Aldrich  as  a 
partner  in  the  same  store,  and  in  1871  bought  out  Mr.  Aldrich  and  has 
since  carried  on  the  business  alone,  moving  to  his  present  store  next 
door  in  August,  1888.  He  served  with  the  7th  R.  I.  Volunteers,  going 
out  in  August,  1862,  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and 
at  North  Anna  River.  Upon  his  return  from  the  war  he  went  into 
the  cotton  yarn  manufacturing  business  with  E.  Jenckes  at  South  Wal- 
pole, which  he  continued  for  two  years.  He  married  Adelaide, 
daughter  of  Nathan  Chilson  of  Bellingham,  Mass.,  in  1865.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  Mechanics'  Savings  Bank  and  the  First  National  Bank, 
and  a  director  in  the  Bailey  Wringing  Machine  Company. 

George  P.  Warfield,  son  of  Preston  and  Hannah  Warfield,  was 
born  in  1849  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Woonsocket  about 
1874.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  William  L.  Read,  in 
Millville,  and  started  business  for  himself  in  Woonsocket  in  1876.  He 
carried  on  that  business  until  1883,  and  then  with  L.  L.  Chilson, 
bought  the  River  street  lumber  yard  from  B.  Hawkins  &  Co.,  running 
it  about  three  years,  since  which  time  he  has  been  in  the  contracting 
business.  In  1880  he  married  Georgianna,  daughter  of  George  B. 
Lapham  of  Woonsocket. 


\ 


^-//^y^''^  J 


/ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  419 

Francis  S.  Weeks,  Jr.,  son  of  F.  S..and  Susan  E.  (Brown)  Weeks, 
■was  born  in  1857  in  Woonsocket,  and  was  educated  at  the  Woonsocket 
High  School.  He  has  always  been  identified  with  the  furniture  busi- 
ness, and  established  business  for  himself  in  1877.  In  1875  he  was 
married  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  E.  B.  Miller  of  Woonsocket. 

George  M.  Welles,  son  of  Aaron  D.  and  Martha  (Bull)  Welles,  was 
born  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  in  1845,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
that  place,  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and  in  a  business  college  at  Phila- 
delphia. He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1865  and  entered  the  employ  of 
his  uncle,  Isaac  M.  Bull,  in  the  office  of  the  Hamlet  Mills;  was  super- 
intendent of  those  mills  from  1881  to  1885;  subsequently  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  executor  in  settling  the  large  Bull  estate,  and  for  some 
time  past  has  been  of  the  livery  firm  of  Turner  &  Welles,  and  inter- 
ested in  other  business  enterprises.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  two  years  and  assessor  of  taxes  six  years.  He  was  elected 
alderman  of  the  First  ward  upon  the  formation  of  the  city  government. 
He  is  is  a  director  in  the  Woonsocket  Gas  Company,  and  director  in 
the  People's  and  Woonsocket  Savings  Banks.  Since  June  1st,  1889, 
he  has  been  connected  with  the  City  Lumber  Compny.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1870,  to  Eleanor,  daughter  of  John  O.  Ives,  of  Plymouth,  Conn. 

Henry  A.  Whitney,  son  of  Reuben  P.  and  Hannah  W.  (Wilson) 
Whitney,  was  born  in  1856  in  Southbridge,  Mass.,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  He  came  to  Woonsocket  in  1875  and  was  first 
employed  as  clerk  in  Jackson's  drug  store,  and  in  1878  started  busi- 
ness for  himself.  In  1880  he  married  Jennie  F.,  daughter  of  Henry 
S.  Arnold  of  Woonsocket. 

John  A.  C.  Wightman,  son  of  Henry  and  Emily  (Chadsey)  Wight- 
man,  was  born  in  1847  in  North  Kingstown,  R.  I.,  and  was  brought  up 
on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  came 
to  Woonsocket  in  1869.  He  was  first  employed  as  clerk  in  the  grocery 
store  of  Canfield  &  Son,  and  soon  after  went  with  Standish  &  Wight- 
man  in  same  business,  and  afterward  carried  on  the  business  for  him- 
self for  twelve  years,  then  sold  out  and  established  the  wholesale  and 
retail  hay  and  grain  business,  running  the  first  steam  grist  mill  in 
Woonsocket.  He  continued  that  business  until  1884,  when  he  started 
in  the  undertaking  business  that  was  originally  established  by  I.  B. 
Phillips.  He  has  served  four  years  in  town  council  and  one  year  as 
president,  was  one  of  the  board  of  school  trustees,  is  a  trustee  in  the 
Producers'  Savings  Bank,  president  of  the  Woonsocket  Baptist  Society 
and  treasurer  of  the  same,  has  been  president  for  six  years  and  treas- 
urer for  sixteen  years,  was  for  three  years  highway  commissioner  and 
one  year  in  the  general  assembly.     He  married  Clara  E.  Pierce. 

Stephen  Wilcox,  son  of  Lyman  and  Sylvia  A.  (Wilcox)  Wilcox,  was 
born  in  1840  m  what  was  then  Cumberland,  now  Woonsocket.  He 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  then  learned 
the  carpenter  trade,  and  afterward  the  wheelwright  trade,  and  left  the 


420  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

wheelwright  business  for  farming-  and  milk  peddling.  While  at  that 
business  he  bought  the  Olney  Mason  farm  and  then  turned  his  whole 
attention  to  farming  and  milk  business,  having  now  a  farm  of  85 
acres.  He  put  in  a  machine  for  steaming  fodder,  which  he  will 
enlarge  to  twenty-five  horse  power,  to  saw  shingles  and  grind  grain 
and  corn.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  Hawley  Mineral  Springs.  He  married 
Caroline  S.,  daughter  of  Albert  P.  Hawley,  of  Woonsocket,  in  1864. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  TOWN  OF  LINCOLN. 

Division  of  the  Old  Town  of  Smithfield.— Interesting  Localities.— First  Officers.— Town 
Poor.— Town  House.— Internal  Improvements.— Town  Debt.— Schools.— Valley  of 
the  Moshassuck. — Police  Department. — Societies. — Central  Falls. — Valley  Falls. — 
Lonsdale. — Manville. — Secret  and  Social  Societies. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  territory  embraced  within  the  limits  of  this  town  was  the 
scene  of  some  of  the  earliest  settlements  in  the  .state,  and  one 
of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  King  Philip's  war  was  finished, 
if  not  commenced,  within  these  borders.  Up  to  March  Sth,  1871,  the 
territory  now  comprised  within  the  town  of  Lincoln  had  formed  part 
of  Smithfield  ever  since  the  incorporation  of  that  town,  February  20th, 
1730-1.  Before  its  division  the  old  town  of  Smithfield  was  the  largest 
town  in  the  state,  with  a  population  of  over  13,000.  A  large  section 
of  it  was  agricultural;  another  section  had  most  of  its  interests  point- 
ing tow^arc?  the  manufacturing  establishments  along  Branch  river  at 
the  north  end  of  the  town.  Another  seemed  bound  by  business  and 
social  ties  to  the  then  new  town  of  Woonsocket,  while  a  fourth,  which 
now  forms  the  town  of  Lincoln,  had  most  of  its  business  and  trade 
along  the  lines  of  the  Blackstone  and  Moshassuck  rivers. 

Owing  to  this  diversity  of  occupations  and  interests,  there  had 
been,  for  many  years,  more  or  less  discussion  as  to  the  advisability  of 
a  division  of  the  town,  but  it  was  deemed  rather  a  matter  for  discus- 
sion than  for  action  till  the  year  1871,  when,  on  the  21st  day  of  Jan- 
uary, at  a  special  town  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  a  vote  was 
passed  in  favor  of  dividing  the  town  into  three  towns,  according  to  a 
proposed  act  of  the  legislature  then  on  the  moderator's  table.  A  com- 
mittee on  division  of  the  town  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Charles 
Moies,  George  Kilburn,  Thomas  A.  Paine  and  Job  Shaw.  This  com- 
mittee introduced  the  subject  to  the  legislature  at  the  January  session, 
1871. 

As  soon  as  it  became  apparent  that  a  division  was  probable,  the 
question  of  a  name  for  this  town  became  one  of  importance.  There 
was  much  division  on  this  subject,  and  the  names  of  "Smithfield," 
"  South  Smithfield,"  "  Lonsdale,"  "  Mosha.ssuck"  and  others  were  sug- 
gested and  had  their  advocates,  but  it  was  finally  deemed  best  bytho.se 
having  the  matter  in  charge  to  name  the  town  "  Lincoln,"  in  com- 
memoration of  the  late  martyred  president  of  the  Ignited  States. 


422  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1871,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing 
the  division  of  the  town  of  Smithfield,  incorporating  the  new  towns 
thereby  formed  and  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the  several  towns  therein 
interested.  Those  of  Lincoln  were  as  follows:  "  Commencing  at  a 
point  on  the  north  line  of  North  Providence,  where  the  Douglas  pike 
(so  called)  crosses  said  line,  then  (bounding  the  town  on  the  south) 
running  easterly  along  said  line  till  it  reaches  the  centre  of  the  Black- 
stone  river;  thence  running  with  the  centre  of  the  Blackstone  river 
(bounding  the  town  on  the  east)  to  a  point  in  the  centre  of  said  Black- 
stone  river,  opposite  the  centre  of  the  mouth  of  the  Crookfall  river; 
thence  (bounding  the  town  on  the  west)  running  by  and  with  the  cen- 
tre of  the  Crookfall  river  to  a  point  where  the  road  leading  from  the 
Providence  and  Worcester  road  (so  called)  past  the  house  of  Ephraim' 
Sayles,  crosses  it;  thence  southerly  in  a  straight  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning."  Charles  Moies,  Job  Shaw,  Arlon  Mowry  and  Cyrus  Ar- 
nold were  appointed  a  committee  to  run  lines  and  set  stone  bounds 
between  the  several  new  towns. 

The  boundaries  have  remained  ever  since,  and  now  are  those  of 
the  town  (although  a  portion  of  the  then  town  of  North  Providence 
has  since  been  incorporated  into  the  town  of  Pawtucket,  so  that  this 
town  now  bounds  on  the  south  in  part  by  North  Providence  and  in 
part  by  Pawtucket).  This  gave  Lincoln  a  territory  of  a  triangular  shape, 
covering  about  15  square  miles,  with  a  population  of  7,889  persons, 
and  a  valuation  for  state  tax  of  $4,406,107.  , 

The  principal  places  of  interest  in  the  town  are  the  following: — 
Villages:  Central  Falls,  Lonsdale  Old  Village,  Valley  Falls  (Lincoln 
side),  Prospect  Hill,  Saylesville,  Manville  (Lincoln  side,  formerly 
Union  Forge),  Lime  Rock,  Albion,  Moshassuck  Valley  (formerly 
Arnold's  Print  Works),  Dexter  Lime  Rock,  Ashton  (Lincoln  side), 
Louisquisset.  Rivers:  Blackstone,  Moshassuck,  Crookfall,  or  Ten 
Mile.  Brooks:  Aldrich,  Olney,  Louisquisset,  Mussey  (the  first  manu- 
facture of  nails  by  machinery  in  this  country  was  begun  on*the  banks 
of  this  brook).  Ponds:  Valley  Falls,  Olney's,  Scot's,  Albion,  Manville, 
Ashton  (formerly  Sinking  Fund),  Spectacle,  Bleachery,  Print  Works, 
Butterfly,  Lonsdale  Mill,  Cranberry,  Moffatt's,  Grist  Mill,  Lime  Rock, 
Saw  Mill,  Quinsnicket,  Lonsdale  New  Reservoir,  Sayles  Reservoir. 
Szvauips:  Absolute,  Stump  Hill,  Lampecock  Spring,  Ash,  Cold  Spring 
(mostly  reclaimed).  Hills:  Quinsnicket,  Reservoir,  Sayles,  Jerry 
vSmith,  Jenckes,  Prospect,  The  Mountain,  Prime's,  Seth  Sprague's, 
Wilkinson.  Plains:  Prospect  Hill,  Valley  Falls  (site  of  Indian  massa- 
cre March  16th,  1676).  Rocks:  Goat,  Quinsnicket,  Haunted,  Lime 
Rock  Quarries. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  historic  relics  in  the  state  is  the  bell 
on  the  Butterfly  factory.  Around  the  bell  three  or  four  inches  below 
the  crown  is  the  following  inscription  :  "  Peter  .  Se!est  .  Amstelodame. 
Anno  .  1263  .  Me  .  Fecit."     We  thus  learn  that  Peter  Seest  made  this. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  423 

bell  at  Amsterdam  in  the  year  12G3.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the 
old  Dutch  town  Amstelodame  took  its  present  name  (Amsterdam) 
after  this  bell  was  cast.  Figures  carved  on  the  bell  and  authentic 
facts  lead  to  the  belief  that  this  bell,  cast  in  Amsterdam,  was  long 
used  on  a  convent  in  England,  was  sequestrated  during  the  reforma- 
tion, was  used  in  the  English  navy,  and  was  on  the  ship  "  Guerriere  " 
when  she  was  captured  by  the  "Constitution,"  August  19th,  1812.  The 
bell  was  subsequently  sold  by  the  United  States  with  a  lot  of  captured 
naval  stores,  and  thus  came  through  the  hands  of  the  late  Stephen  H. 
Smith  to  its  present  resting  place. 

The  young  town  of  Lincoln  started  m  life  with  no  town  asylum 
and  no  town  house — both  of  those  used  by  the  old  town  of  Smithfield 
going  to  the  present  town  of  Smithfield.  The  only  inheritance 
received  from  the  mother  town  was  the  sum  of  $2,^)00  in  cash,  the 
records  and  archives  of  the  old  town — which  are  now  in  the  town 
clerk's  office — and  the  duty  of  paying  a  share  of  the  old  town's  debt, 
which  was  $26,000,  the  total  debt  being  $53,000. 

The  town  by  the  act  was  divided  into  two  voting  districts,  and  has 
since  remained  so  divided,  voting  district  No.  1  being  the  same  as 
voting  district  No.  3  in  the  old  town  of  Smithfield,  and  voting  district 
No.  2  embracing  the  rest  of  the  town.  This  town  was  to  send  two. 
representatives  to  the  legislature  until  the  next  state  apportionment. 
The  town  life  dates,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  senator  and  repre- 
sentatives to  the  general  assembly,  from  the  first  Wednesday  in  April, 
1871,  and  for  all  other  purposes  from  the  first  Monday  in  June,  A.  D., 
1871.  The  first  members  of  the  general  assembly  elected  from  the 
town  of  Lincoln  were:  Senator,  Edward  L.  Freeman;  representatives, 
Edward  A.  Brown  and  Samuel  Clark. 

The  first  town  council  consisted  of  Charles  Moies,  John  A.  Adams, 
Joseph  W.  Tillinghast,  Benjamin  Comstock,  Stephen  Wright,  Hazard 
Sherman  and  William  D.  Aldrich,  elected  on  the  first  Tuesday  in 
June.  1871.  Charles  Moies,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  town 
council  of  the  old  town  of  Smithfield  for  15  years  and  president  thereof 
for  ten  years,  was  retained  in  the  new  town  until  quite  recently- 
William  H.  Gooding,  the  present  town  clerk,  was  first  elected  to  this 
office  in  1873.  The  first  town  treasurer  was  Thomas  Moies,  who  held 
that  position  till  1886,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Charles  P. 
Moies. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  council,  the  ordinances  of  the  old 
town  of  Smithfield  were  passed  and  established  as  ordinances  of  the 
town  of  Lincoln;  and  on  June  24th,  1871,  Joseph  ^SI.  Ross,  John  P. 
Gregory  and  Frederick  N.  Goff  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draw 
up,  codify  and  report  ordinances  of  the  town  of  Lincoln,  which  duty 
they  performed  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 

As  before  stated,  this  town  originally  had  no  town  asylum,  or  place 
for  the  taking  care  of  the  unfortunate  poor.     Recognizing  the  duty  of 


424  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDE^XE   COUNTY. 

caring  for  the  unfortunate,  the  town  council  appointed  Mr.  Henry 
Gooding  as  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  after  arranging  with  the  town  of 
Smithfield  for  the  temporary  care  of  such  of  the  poor  as  could  not  be 
cared  for  at  their  own  homes,  but  needed  the  accommodations  of  a 
town  asylum,  the  town  officers  devoted  themselves  to  securing  a  proper 
place  for  a  town  asylum.  After  much  negotiation  it  was  finally 
decided  to  purchase  the  Christopher  Kelly  place  (so  called)  for  $3,000, 
and  also  an  adjoining  lot  from  the  Lonsdale  Company  for  $1,000,  for  a 
town  asylum,  and  on  the  31st  of  December,  1871,  the  deeds  of  the 
estates  were  accepted  and  money  ordered  to  be  paid. 

The  total  amount  expended  in  the  care  of  the"  poor  the  first  year  of 
the  town,  over  and  above  the  expense  of  providing  a  town  asylum, 
was  $2,005.02;  and  of  this  was  expended  in  the  care  of  state  paupers, 
or  those  having  no  legal  settlement  in  this  town,  the  sum  of  $1,083.12, 
leaving  the  amount  necessary  for  the  care  of  what  may  be  considered, 
as  home  poor  only  $921.90,  which,  for  a  population  of  7,889,  was  cer- 
tainly a  favorable  showing,  and  indicated  a  prosperous  state  among 
the  people  generally  at  that  time.  In  1888  relief  was  furnished  121 
families,  outside  of  the  asylum,  with  coal,  wood,  shoes,  groceries,  etc. 
Receipts  from  the  farm  were  $978.71.  Total  expense  of  the  asylum 
was  $1,746.64,  the  net  cost  being  $767.93. 

Up  to  1872  the  town  had  been  without  any  town  house  or  hall,  or 
even  office  of  its  own;  the  town  clerk's  office  having  been  in  a  build- 
ing on  the  premises  of  and  belonging  to  the  town  clerk,  Mr.  Clark, 
and  the  council  meetings  and  justice  courts  having  been  held  in  vari- 
ous halls  in  Central  Falls.  But  in  this  year  a  committee,  consisting 
of  Charles  Moies,  Albert  P.  Carpenter,  Jonathan  Chace  and  Henry  S. 
Fairbanks,  having  the  matter  in  charge,  decided  upon  the  present  lo- 
cation of  the  town  house,  on  Summit,  near  Broad  street.  Central  Falls, 
and  the  land  was  purchased  from  Andrew  Jenks,  for  $1,812,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1872.  The  erection  of  a  town  house  was  immediately  com- 
menced, and  it  was  finished  and  ready  for  occupancy  in  October,  1873, 
having  cost,  together  with  the  land,  furniture,  etc.,  $13,485.98.  Oc- 
tober 25th,  1873,  it  was  voted  that  the  trial  justice  courts  be  held 
thereafter  in  the  hall  of  that  building,  where  they  have  been  held  ever 
since. 

In  the  year  1873  there  were  a  number  of  internal  improvements 
in  the  town.  The  town  house  was  built;  a  new  iron  bridge  was  built 
at  Valley  Falls,  and  a  substantial  bridge  was  built,  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  George  Kilburn,  Esq.,  at  Berkeley,  to  take  the  place  of 
the  tumble-down  structure  that  had  been  there  for  years,  and  a  large 
sum  was  expended  for  repairs  on  the  bridge  at  Ashton.  The  total 
amount  expended  for  Lincoln's  share  of  these  two  new  bridges  (one- 
half  the  expense  being  borne  by  the  town  of  Cumberland)  was  $10,- 
500.  In  addition  to  the  above  improvements,  and  the  usual  opening 
and  fixing  of  new  streets  always  going  on  in  a  town  that  is  rapidly  in- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  425 

creasing  in  population,  it  became  necessary  this  year  to  go  to  large 
expense  in  grading  and  draining  Washington  street.  A  committee, 
consisting  of  John  A.  Adams  and  Alfred  H.  Littlefield,  was  appointed 
to  attend  to  the  same.  It  became  obvious  to  this  committee  that  the 
only  expedient  method  of  providing  for  the  drainage  of  Washington 
street  was  to  purchase  the  land  of  Edward  Dwyer  and  turn  the 
drainage  of  a  large  portion  of  the  street  into  it,  and  this  was  finally 
done.  These  improvements,  together  with  the  opening  of  the  new 
streets  necessitated  by  the  growing  and  spreading  of  the  manufactur- 
ing part  of  the  town,  were  absolutely  necessary;  and  yet  their  imme- 
diate beneficial  influence  was  confined  in  great  part  to  the  southeasterly 
and  easterly  parts  of  the  town. 

The  increased  taxation  necessary  to  pay  for  such  expenses,  to- 
gether with  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  the  town  owed  heavily  in 
its  share  of  the  debt  of  the  mother  town  of  Smithfield,  caused  a  strong 
feeling  to  spring  up  in  the  more  rural  part  of  the  town  to  the  effect 
that  they  were  being  dragged  into  a  vortex  of  debt  by  the  pushing, 
enterprising,  but  (they  deemed)  ill  regulated  spirit  of  the  manufac- 
turing population  of  the  Central  Falls  Fire  District.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  latter,  at  the  same  time,  had,  many  of  them,  the  feeling  that 
they  could  not  get  their  needed  improvements  authorized  and  per- 
formed by  the  council  so  fast  as  their  best  interests  required,  and  that 
they  should  never  be  able  to  do  so  as  long  as  they  were  tied  to  the 
excessively  conservative  spirit  of  their  rural  co-citizens. 

The  result  of  these  feelings  was  that  petitions  were  drawn  up  in 
various  parts  of  the  town  petitioning  the  legislature  to  set  off  portions 
of  the  town  of  Lincoln  to  adjacent  towns,  principally  to  set  off  the  vil- 
lage of  Central  Falls  to  the  town  of  Pawtucket,  but  they  did  not  suc- 
ceed. In  the  autumn  of  1874  the  question  of  dividing  the  town  was 
revived  in  a  new  shape,  and  appeared  in  the  form  of  petitions  to  set 
off  a  portion  of  the  villages  of  Valley  Falls,  Lonsdale,  Ashton  and  Al- 
bion to  the  town  of  Cumberland,  of  which  notice  was  given  to  the 
town  council  on  October  31st,  1874,  that  it  would  be  presented  at  the 
ensuing  January  session  of  the  legislature;  and  also  two  petitions  to 
set  off  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Lincoln  to  the  town  of  North  Provi- 
dence, of  which  the  town  council  was  notified  on  November  28th, 
that  they  would  be  presented  at  the  ensuing  January  session  of  the 
legislature. 

There  did  not  seem  to  be  so  much  enthusiasm  on  the  matter  of 
division  this  yfear  as  in  the  year  before.  This  was  probably  on  ac- 
count of  the  feeling  among  the  people,  who  had  suffered  uneasiness 
at  the  rapid  increase  of  the  debt,  that  they  had  succeeded  in  passing 
a  vote  at  the  last  town  meeting  (June,  1874)  that  no  moneys  should  be 
expended,  in  any  department  of  appropriation,  beyond  the  amounts 
specifically  appropriated,  and  that  they  had  just  taxed  themselves 
very  heavily  to  be  able  to  pay  up  the  debt.     So  a  general  feeling  had 


426  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

spread  abroad  that  a  conservative  policy  was  the  best,  and  there  was- 
no  feeling  of  indignation  in  the  town  generally  when  these  projects 
were  suffered  to  die  in  the  legislature  in  the  same  manner  as  those  of 
the  year  before.  There  have  since  been  no  attempts  made  to  carry 
out  this  further  division  of  the  town.  In  the  year  1873  the  town  was 
troubled  to  an  unusual  extent,  chiefly  among  the  operative  class  living 
in  the  villages  on  the  Blackstone  river,  by  the  prevalence  of  small- 
pox. In  the  winter  of  1873-4  it  grew  to  be  a  very  serious  scourge, 
but  it  was  not  till  the  winter  of  1874-5  that  it  reached  its  height.  It 
at  one  time  prevailed  to  such  an  extent,  principally  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Manville,  as  to  almost  create  a  panic.  The  frightful  disease 
was  at  last  stayed  by  the  town,  but  not  till  it  had  cost  it  $6,131.59,  and 
some  considerable  loss  of  life. 

Owing  to  the  necessities  for  the  expenditure  of  money  heretofore 
referred  to,  the  town  found  itself,  in  1873,  in  debt,  owing  a  Lincoln 
town  debt  of  about  $12,000,  and  on  account  of  the  old  town  of  Smithfield 
debt  a  then  unknown  amount.  It  was  considered  that  enough  money 
would  be  raised  by  the  tax  of  $1.20  per  $100  in  that  year  to  pay  off  the 
Lincoln  town  debt,  but  owing  to  the  large  number  of  outstanding 
claims  against  the  town  that  had  not  then  been  presented,  on  the  30th 
of  April,  1874,  the  town  still  found  itself  with  a  Lincoln  town  debt  of 
about  $5,300  and  its  portion  of  the  old  Smithfield  town  debt,  ascer- 
tained to  be  $26,000,  to  be  paid. 

Resolutely  putting  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel,  the  citizens  pressed 
onward  through  the  heavy  track  of  debt,  paving  their  way  out  by 
heavy  taxation,  assessing  this  year  a  tax  of  $1  per  $100,  and  by  April 
30th,  1875,  had  paid  up  the  Lincoln  town  debt,  all  but  $15,000  of  the 
old  Smithfield  debt,  had  paid  an  unexpected  call  for  $3,600  on  account 
of  small-pox  cases,  and  had  $7,614.73  cash  on  hand,  with  orders  out- 
standing for  about  $2,000. 

A  tax  of  80  cents  on  $100  was  ordered  in  June,  1875,  and  on  the 
30th  of  April,  1876,  the  town  had  paid,  in  addition  to  its  ordinary  ex- 
pense, an  extraordinary  one  of  $4,114.13  (a  judgment  for  land  damage, 
in  opening  a  street,  against  the  town),  paid  $10,000  of  the  old  Smith- 
field  debt,  owed  in  all  kinds  of  demands  (including  the  balance  of  old 
Smithfield  debt)  not  to  exceed  $5,800,  and  had  a  cash  balance  on  hand 
of  $4,363.72,  leaving  the  actual  net  debt  less  than  $1,500. 

The  real  estate  valuation  of  the  town  in  1888  was  $7,292,650;  per- 
sonal estate,  $2,325,800;  total,  $9,618,450.  The  total  amount  of  tax 
was  $76,947.60. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  first  town  council  was  to  appoint  a  school 
committee,  consisting  of  George  A.  Kent,  Lysander  Flagg,and  Henry 
A.  Jenckes.  From  June  1st,  1871,  to  April  30th,  1876,  $74,157.43  was 
expended  for  school  purposes.  There  are  13  districts  in  the  town. 
The  town  appropriation  for  1888  was  $18,000,  and  from  state  and  all 
sources,  including  town,  the  amount  raised  was  $29,737.41.     Half  of 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  427' 

the  money  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools  is  ex- 
pended in  the  village  of  Central  Falls,  to  educate  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  children  of  the  town,  and  the  work  here  is  exceptionally 
well  done.  The  new  building,  so  admirably  adapted  for  both  the 
grammar  and  higher  grades,  is  an  ornament  to  the  village.  The 
evening  schools  here  are  reported  as  being  very  efficient  in  their  work. 
The  committee  on  schools  consists  of  Samuel  Clark,  Frank  Millett, 
and  A.  H.  Nickerson. 

The  valley  of  the  Moshassuck  was  originally  a  region  of  great 
beauty,  and  has  been  a  locality  wherein  successful  business  enterprises 
have  alternated  with  the  most  disastrous  experiments.  The  Lime 
Rock  country  is  diversified  by  hills,  but  has  a  soil  rich  and  permanent. 
It  is  a  center  for  the  manufacture  of  lime  of  the  very  highest  quality. 
While  this  territory  was  yet  a  part  of  the  town  of  Providence  it 
was  provided  bylaw  that  the  limestone  quarries  should  be  and  remain 
the  property  of  the  town;  they  were  not  to  be  set  off  as  other  lands  to 
the  inhabitants,  nor  sold.  This  attempt  at  sovereign  prerogative  failed, 
however,  although  the  town  of  Smithfield  made  some  attempts  to  re- 
vive it,  and  the  quarries  went  into  private  hands. 

The  manufacture  of  lime  has  been  carried  on  with  great  success, 
and  continuously,  by  the  Dexter  Lime  Rock  Company  and  the  Harris 
Lime  Rock  Company  and  their  predecessors.  The  village  of  Lime 
Rock,  which  at  one  time  was  the  location  of  the  Lime  Rock  Bank  and 
the  seat  of  considerable  local  business,  is  now,  owing  to  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Providence  &  Worcester  railroad  and  the  tendency  of  the 
times  toward  centralization  of  capital,  comparatively  deserted. 

Stephen,  eldest  son  of  Gregory  Dexter,  began  making  lime  at  the 
Dexter  Ledge,  and  the  business  was  continued  by  himself  and  his  de- 
scendants until  1854,  except  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid  in  March,. 
1676.  In  1854  the  business  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  stock  company 
and  is  still  managed  by  them.  There  is  one  store  in  the  place,  whicb 
is  and  has  been  for  many  years  successfully  carried  on  by  Charles 
Perkins. 

The  Harris  Quarry  was  opened  and  worked  at  an  early  period  by 
Thomas  Harris,  of  Roger  Williams'  time,  and  continued  in  the  hands 
of  his  lineal  descendants  until  1823,  when  the  Harris  Lime  Rock  Com- 
pany assumed  the  business.  The  excellence  of  the  lime  here  pro- 
duced is  proverbial.  Stephen  Wright  is  now  interested  in  this  enter- 
prise. 

The  Smithfield  Ledge,  known  as  Arnold's  Ledge,  is  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Moshassuck. 

Passing  down  the  valley  one  reaches  within  a  few  miles  the  Quins- 
nicket  country,  Quinsnicket  signifying  in  the  Indian  language  "  the 
large  place  of  rock  houses."  So  recently  as  in  the  days  of  the  late 
vStephen  LI.  Smith,  the  ruins  of  many  of  the  Indian  huts  were  in  ex- 
istence upon  his  place.     Mr.  Smith  beautified  the  immediate  vicinity 


428  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

•of  his  residence,  at  Ouinsnicket,  by  damming  the  Moshassuck  and 
forming-  a  beautiful  lake,  and  by  surrounding  his  house  with  such  a 
wealth  of  trees,  plants  and  creeping  vines  as  to  make  it  one  of  the 
most  noticeable  situations  of  the  town. 

The  "  Butterfly  Factory,"  located  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
house  of  Mr.  Smith,  was  originally  erected  for  a  cotton  mill.  It  has 
been  used  for  various  purposes,  but  never  with  any  permanent  com- 
tnercial  success.  Just  below  this  building  is  a  small  privilege  which 
was  first  occupied  by  Samuel  Arnold,  who,  about  the  year  1816,  estab- 
lished a  distillery  there.  This  enterprise  proving  unremunerative, 
Mr.  Arnold  and  the  late  ex-Governor  Lemuel  H.  Arnold,  about  1826, 
converted  the  establishment  into  a  print  works,  under  the  name  of  the 
Arnoldville  Printing  Company.  This  company  was  soon  dissolved, 
and  Holder  C.  Weeden  took  the  place  of  ex-Governor  Arnold.  The 
•concern  was,  not  long  after,  burned  to  the  ground.  It  was  rebuilt,  Mr. 
Weeden  carrying  on  the  business,  but  was  again,  about  1844,  destroyed 
by  fire.  In  1846  Theodore  Schroeder  took  possession  of  the  establish- 
ment, which  had  been  rebuilt,  and  changed  the  name  to  "  Manchester 
Print  Works,"  and  for  a  time  was  eminently  successful,  but  it  was  blown 
up  by  the  explosion  of  steam  boilers,  and  Mr.  Schroeder  failed  about 
the  year  1858.  The  works  were  again  rebuilt  and  operated  by  Brown, 
Dean  &  Macready,  who  failed  about  1862.  The  establishment  having 
been  purchased  by  Messrs.  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles,  was  occupied  by  the 
American  Worsted  Company  for  the  manufacture  of  worsted  braids 
and  yarns.  This  was  the  first  attempt  to  manufacture  worsted  braids 
in  this  country,  and  the  pioneer  in  a  business  which  has  since  been 
developed  to  such  an  extent  as  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  country  and 
practically  shut  out  imported  braid.  The  company  consisted  of 
Messrs.  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles,  Darius  Goff  and  D.  L.  Goft".  In  1864  the 
company  was  dissolved,  the  Messrs.  Goff  starting  the  business  at  Paw- 
tucket,  and  Messrs.  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles  continued  the  old  business 
under  the  name  of  the  Union  Worsted  Company,  until  1867,  when  the 
buildings  and  machinery  were  burned  to  the  ground.  This  was  the 
end,  so  far,  of  the  attempt  to  manufacture  on  this  site. 

The  police  department  of  Lincoln  is  under  the  control  of  the  fire- 
ward,  as  are  also  the  fire  department,  water  supply  and  street  lights, 
and  all  these  are  to  a  certain  extent  connected.  The  town  appoints  a 
certain  number  of  police  constables  and  they  are  distributed  through 
the  various  localities.  They  are  paid  by  the  fire-ward  corporation. 
Central  Falls,  Lonsdale  Company  and  Manville  each  have  their  watch- 
men. The  fire  department  of  Central  Falls  was  reorganized  in  1853 
under  the  Pacific  Fire  Engine  Company  No.  1.  They  have  a  substan- 
tial engine  house  and  a  large  force  of  men. 

Central  Falls  is  a  flourishing  manufacturing  village,  and  derives 
its  name  from  the  fact  of  its  location  midway  between  Pawtucket  and 
Valley  Falls.     In   1822  it  contained  but  four  dwellings.     The  stone 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  429' 

house  just  north  of  the  Stafford  :\Iill  was  used  for  a  place  of  worship  for 
many  years.  Elisha  Waterman,  George  Wilkinson  and  the  Jenckes- 
erected  the  old  chocolate  mill,  which  was  the  first  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment in  operation  here.  As  late  as  1856  Central  Falls  had  but 
a  few  dwellings.  Among  those  who  were  here  early  was  Anthony 
Gage,  who  came  from  Cape  Cod  in  1812.  He  made  his  debut  with 
an  ox  team  and  cart  laden  with  his  household  goods.  His  wife  was  a 
very  religious  woman  and  held  meetings  at  the  old  stone  house  regu- 
larly for  some  years.  Doctor  David  Benedict  was  accustomed  to 
preach  occasionally.  In  1821  the  place  had  but  60  inhabitants.  The 
old  chocolate  mill  was  torn  down  about  1824. 

The  post  office  was  first  established  in  1867,  and  the  first  postmas- 
ter was  G.  F.  Crowningshield.  He  held  the  office  until  1876.  Central 
Falls  has  no  banking  institution.  The  only  hotel  in  the  place  was 
erected  in  1824  by  David  Jenks,  and  was  run  by  him  for  a  number  of 
years  and  then  closed  up.  It  has  been  used  since  then  for  different 
purposes,  principally  as  a  tenement  house. 

Central  Falls  is  an  important  manufacturing  village,  and  the  place 
bears  evidence  of  thrift,  comfort  and  independence  in  consequence  of 
it.  The  first  intimation  we  have  of  the  use  of  the  water  of  the  Black- 
stone  river  at  Central  Falls  was  that  Benjamin  Jenks  erected  a  snuff 
mill  near  the  dividing  line  between  the  towns  of  Smithfield  and  North 
Providence,  and  got  his  power  by  extending  a  trench  by  the  side  of 
the  river  up  stream,  into  the  river,  which  was  the  usual  way  of  utiliz- 
ing the  water  of  the  Blackstone.  At  what  time  this  business  was 
abandoned  is  uncertain. 

The  next  intimation  we  have  is  that  Stephen  Jenks  (great-grand- 
father of  Stephen  A.  and  Alvin  F.  Jenks)  bought,  in  1763,  of  Gideon 
Jenks  and  Ezekiel  Carpenter,  three-fourths  of  an  acre,  on  which  was  built 
the  trip-hammer  and  blacksmith  shop,which  was  afterward  known  as  the 
blacksmith  shop  lot,  and  is  now  owned  by  the  mill  owners  of  Central 
Falls.  Whether  Stephen  Jenks  utilized  the  water  of  the  Blackstone 
previous  to  the  erection  of  the  dam  by  Charles  Keene,  in  1780,  is  not 
known.  Captain  James  S.  Brown  thought  there  was  no  use  of  the 
water  previous  to  the  building  of  Keene's.  dam,  in  1780. 

In  1777  William  Jenks,  of  Wrentham,  Mass.,  sold  a  lot  of  land, 
comprising  some  ten  acres,  located  near  the  old  dam  at  Central  Falls, 
to  Benjamin  Cozzens,  of  Providence  (clothier),  who  had  a  fulling  mill 
at  Pawtucket  Falls,  which  was  carried  away  in  the  great  freshet  of 
1807.  This  purchase  was  evidently  made  for  the  purpose  of  using  the 
water  power  for  his  business.  In  1780  Benjamin  Cozzens  sold  to  Charles 
Keene  that  portion  of  this  estate  purchased  of  William  Jenks,  which 
now  includes  the  Stafford  Manufacturing  Company's  mill  estate,  stone 
house  and  blacksmith  shop  lot,  chocolate  mill  lot  and  the  dam  lot,  so 
called. 

Charles  Keene  built  the  first  dam  across  the  river  at  Central  Falls,. 


430  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  perhaps  the  first  dam  across  the  Blackstone  anywhere.  The  dam 
was  built  for  Mr.  Keene  by  Sylvanus  Brown.  Keene  erected  a  build- 
ing for  the  manufacture  of  scythes  and  other  edge  tools,  and  was  called 
an  edge  tool  manufacturer.  A  part  of  the  building  was  occupied  by  a 
man  named  Wheat,  for  the  manufacture  of  chocolate,  which  gave  the 
name  of  Chocolate  Mills  to  the  village,  and  it  retained  that  name  down 
to  1824. 

In  1784  Keene  sold  one-third  of  the  estate  to  Levi  Hall,  merchant, 
•of  Providence.  At  this  time  Keene  &  Hall  owned  the  whole  water 
power  at  Central  Falls,  although  there  are  intimations  in  the  deed 
from  Gideon  Jenks  and  Ezekiel  Carpenter  to  wStephen  Jenks  of  the 
three-fourths  acre  lot,  and  also  in  the  deed  of  Cozzens  to  Keene,  re- 
serving one-third  of  three-fourths  of  an  acre,  but  as  has  been  said  be- 
fore, it  is  not  found  that  any  water  power  was  used  previous  to  1780 
and  before  the  building  of  Keene's  dam. 

In  1796  Anna  Keene,  widow  of  Charles,  sold  to  Stephen  Jenks,  Ste- 
phen Jenks,  Jr.,  and  Moses  Jenks,  two-thirds  of  the  Keene  &  Hall  es- 
tate, and  in  1806  Sarah  Hall,  widow^  of  Levi  Hall,  sold  to  Stephen 
Jenks  one-third  of  the  Keene  &  Hall  lot.  On  the  three-fourths  acre 
lot,  by  Jenks,  in  1763,  afterward  known  as  the  blacksmith  shop  lot, 
was  built  the  trip-hammer  and  blacksmith  shop,  in  which  were  manu- 
factured iron  ship  bolts  and  other  ship  work,  the  ship  anchors  being 
made  by  Stephen  Jenks  and  Oziel  Wilkinson,  of  Pawtucket. 

The  water  power,  in  1806,  was  principally  owned  by  Stephen  Jenks, 
including  the  blacksmith  shop  lot  and  the  Keene  estate.  The  Keene 
building,  called  the  Chocolate  Mill,  was,  in  1807  or  1808,  owned  and 
•occupied  by  the  Smithfield  Manufacturing  Company,  and  used  for  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  yarns.  In  this  mill,  about  1812,  and  after,  were 
employed  Anthony,  Eliza,  Alexander,  Isaiah  and  Richard  B.  Gage  and 
■others.  Their  office  and  place  of  putting  up  their  yarns  was  in  Paw- 
tucket, near  where  the  Congregational  church  now  stands.  It  is  said 
the  company,  with  their  small  amount  of  machinery  (400  spindles)  suf- 
fered more  from  the  lack  of  water  than  40,000  spindles  do  now. 

In  1811  vStephen  Jenks  made  a  contract  with  the  United  States 
government  to  manufacture  10,000  muskets  for  $11.50  apiece.  He 
erected  a  building  to  finish  the  guns  in,  part  of  which  was  afterward 
used  by  Stephen  Jenks  &  Sons  for  a  machine  shop,  and  the  balance 
for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth.  This  building  was  burned  in 
January,  1829,  and  was  on  the  site  of  what  was  afterward  the  Duck 
Mill,  built  by  Lemuel  H.  Arnold  and  Palemon  Walcott,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  deck. 

In  1832  Charles  Moies  and  George  F.  Jenks  bought  the  Duck  Mill 
•estate,  and  the  mill  was  occupeid  by  Moies,  Ingraham  &  Co.  for  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  thread,  the  firm  consisting  of  Charles  Moies, 
H.  N.  Ingraham,  Benjamin  F.  Greene,  and  Samuel  Saunders.  The 
lot  on  which  the  mill  stood  was  sold,  many  years  afterward,  to  Rufus 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENXE    COUNTY.  431 

Stafford,  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  Stafford  Manufacturing-  Company's 
estate. 

In  1823  the  owners  of  the  water  power  at  Central  Falls  had  their 
property  platted  and  divided  into  separate  water  privileges,  numbered 
from  one  to  six  inclusive,  which  were  apportioned  among  the  owners 
according  to  their  ownership,  which  appears  on  the  records  of  the 
town  of  Smithfield.  Each  privilege  was  to  have  an  aperture  in  the 
side  of  the  trench  six  feet  long  and  two  feet  below  the  top  of  the  dam, 
making  the  aggregate  length  of  the  apertures  36  feet  and  two  feet  deep 
below  the  top  of  the  dam,  which,  it  was  considered,  would  be  the  full 
capacity  of  the  river  at  that  time.  The  apertures  have  since  been  in- 
creased to  156  feet  in  length  and  16  inches  deep. 

Lot  and  privilege  No.  1  were  bought  by  John  Kennedy  and  a  brick 
mill  erected  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth  in  1825.  It  afterward 
went  into  the  hands  of  William  Jenkins,  of  Providence,  from  him  to 
John  Gardner  and  others,  and  from  them  to  Rufus  Stafford  and  others, 
and  now  belongs  to  the  Stafford  Manufacturing  Company. 

In  1824  a  mill  was  built  upon  privilege  No.  2  by  David  and  George 
Jenks.  Upon  the  completion  of  this  the  mill  and  the  Central  Falls 
bridge  were  dedicated.  There  was  a  foot-bridge  built  previous  to  this 
time.  It  was  a  gala  day  for  the  village.  The  meeting  was  held  in 
one  of  the  rooms  of  the  mill  and  attended  by  nearly  all  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  village — men,  women,  and  children — and  a  large  number 
from  Pawtucket,  where  some  of  the  principal  owners  of  the  village  re- 
sided. James  C.  Starkweather,  of  Pawtucket,  was  the  orator  of  the  day. 
After  speeches  were  made  and  toasts  drank,  Stephen  Jenks  arose  from 
his  seat  and  proclaimed  that  the  village  should  be  named  Central  Falls, 
which  was  received  with  clapping  of  hands,  .stamping  of  feet,  and 
swinging  of  hats  and  bonnets.  The  meeting  continued  until  12  o'clock 
at  night.  It  was  a  moonlight  night,  and  at  that  hour  the  citizens  of 
Pawtucket  who  had  attended  the  meeting  were  seen  wending  their 
way  over  Central  hill  toward  Pawtucket. 

The  lower  story  of  this  mill  was  occupied  by  Simmons  L.  Hale  and 
William  Havens  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  threads,  and  afterward 
by  Uriah  Benedict  and  George  F.  Jenks  for  the  manufacture  of  threads. 
The  balance  of  the  mill  was  occupied  by  the  owners  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  cotton  cloth.  Afterward  the  mill  estate  was  divided  by  the 
court— one-half  to  Andrew  Jenks,  son  of  George,  and  the  other  half  to 
the  representatives  of  David  Jenks.  H.  N.  Rogers  and  James  Dennis 
bought  the  David  Jenks  part,  which  they  afterward  sold  to  the  Stafford 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  is  now  a  part  of  their  estate. 

Privilege  No.  3  was  bought  by  the  Pawtucket  Thread  Manufactur- 
ing Com.pany,  consisting  of  Jabal  Ingraham,  Bosworth  Walker, 
William  Allen,  and  Uriah  Benedict.  The  present  stone  mill  was 
built  by  them  in  1825.  The  lower  .story  was  occupied  by  Fields  & 
Jacobs  for  the  manufacture  of  machinery,  the  two  upper  stories  by 


432  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Dwight  Ingraham  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth,  and  the  bal- 
ance of  the  mill  by  the  company  for  the  manufacture  of  threads.  The 
estate  is  now  owned  three-fourths  by  the  heirs  of  Stephen  Benedict 
and  one-fourth  by  the  heirs  of  Bosworth  Walker. 

The  north  half  of  privilege  No.  4  was  bought  by  vStephen  Benedict 
and  Joseph  Wood,  on  which  they  built  a  wooden  mill,  in  1840,  for  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  cloth,  and  is  now  owned  by  the  estate  of  Stephen 
Benedict. 

The  south  half  of  No.  4  and  the  north  half  of  No.  5  privileges  were 
bought  by  Alvin  Jenks  and  David  G.  Fales,  on  which  they  built  a 
wooden  mill  in  1835.  The  lower  story  is  of  brick,  50  by  30  feet.  This 
mill  started  up  in  1871  with  24  broad  looms  and  six  sets  of  cards  for 
the  manufacture  of  cassimeres  and  doeskins,  the  full  capacity  of  the 
mill  being  14  sets. 

The  Stafford  Manufacturing  Company  make  white  and  colored  soft 
enameled  spool  thread  for  hand  and  machine  sewing.  This  company 
was  incorporated  in  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  the  late  Rufus  J.  Stafford,  who  originated  the  business  in  1859, 
raised  it  to  about  one-half  its  present  dimensions,  and  died  in  1863. 
The  premises  occupied  by  this  company  are  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Blackstone  river  and  consist  of  a  very  eligible  lot  of  land  and 
two  mills,  with  the  requisite  buildings.  Very  great  improvements 
have  been  made.  One  mill  is  stone,  102  by  40,  three  stories  high,  and 
was  formerly  used  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth,  the  company 
owning  one-half.  The  other  mill  was  built  in  1824,  of  brick,  and  was 
originally  about  half  its  present  size.  It  is  now  204  by  40  feet  and 
five  stories  high.  The  dye-house  is  also  of  brick,  30  by  60  feet;  an 
addition  to  the  mill  has  been  made  by  the  present  company,  of  brick, 
140  by  30  feet,  three  stories  high,  and  one,  of  the  same  material,  70  by 
36  feet,  four  stories  high.  The  store-house  is  of  stone,  60  by  30  feet, 
two  stories  in  height. 

This  mill  was  erected  by  John  Kennedy  and  Almy  &  Brown,  was 
afterward  owned  by  John  Gardner,  then  by  Stafford  &  Wood,  and 
finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  owners.  John  A.  Adams 
is  president  of  the  company. 

E.  L.  Freeman's  Printing  House  is  not  only  creditable  to  the  vil- 
lage, but  to  the  state.  He  published  the  first  and  only  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  old  town  of  Smithfield,  and  both  in  size  and  quality  his 
paper  compares  favorably  with  older  establishments.  Mr.  Freeman  is 
a  practical  man,  who  has  as  well  the  interests  of  the  community  at 
heart  as  the  building  up  of  his  individual  fortune.  Mr.  Freeman  has 
the  largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  He  has  nine  litho- 
graphic presses  in  operation.  The  firm  is  now  E.  L.  Freeman  &  Son. 
They  also  publish  the  Weekly  Visitor  and  Freemason  s  Repository. 

Thomas  D.  Rice  &  Co.  were  formerly  manufacturers  of  wooden 
jewelry  and  curtain  fixtures,  but  latterly  have  enlarged  their  product 


'^I-GKsrnanMY 


HISTORY    OF    TROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  433 

to  every  variety  of  goods  turned  in  wood.  Their  concern  was  the 
only  one  in  the  country  where  wooden  jewelry  was  made,  the  work  of 
course  all  being-  done  by  machinery.  Five  thousand  sleeve  buttons, 
and  a  like  proportion  of  breast  pins  w^ere  then  turned  out  daily. 
These  were  then  enameled,  some  in  gay  single  colors,  others  in  varie- 
gated hues.  Many  handsome  rosaries  for  the  Catholics  were  also  made. 
The  company  now  make  a  variety  of  small  turnings,  thread  spools 
being  the  principal  product  of  manufacture,  and  employ  about  40 
hands.  Calvin  W.  Rathbone,  the  bookkeeper,  has  been  with  this  firm 
18  years. 

In  1830  David  G.  Fales  and  Alvin  Jenks  formed  a  copartnership 
for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  machinery,  and  commenced  business  in 
this  place  in  a  hired  shop.  Their  first  piece  of  work  was  a  spooler, 
made  for  a  firm  in  Richmond,  Va.,  for  which  they  received  $G0.  In 
1833  they  purchased  the  right  to  manufacture  in  Rhode  Island  Hub- 
bard's Patent  Rotary  Pump.  The  first  ring  spinning  frames  were 
made  by  this  firm  in  1845;  the  first  ring  twisters,  being  among  the 
first  of  these  machines  built  in  this  country,  for  thread,  worsted  and 
silk,  were  made  by  them,  in  1846,  for  Benjamin  Greene.  Alany  years 
since,  Fales,  Jenks  &  Sons  made  for  and  sent  to  J.  &  P.  Coats,  the 
celebrated  manufacturers  of  thread,  at  Paisley,  Scotland,  nine  twisters, 
dressers  and  winders.  In  1859-60  they  built  a  furnace  for  castings, 
and  in  1861  enlarged  their  operations  very  considerably.  In  1862-3 
they  erected  a  brick  shop,  three  stories  high,  300  by  63,  with  an  ell  70 
by  60,  which  was  afterward  sold  to  the  American  Linen  Company.  In 
1866  they  removed  their  works  to  Pawtucket. 

Weatherhead,  Thompson  &  Co.  manufacture  oak  tanned  leather 
belting,  and  patent  lace  and  picker  leather.  They  commenced  busi- 
ness in  1858,  in  a  couple  of  buildings  aggregating  70  by  20  feet. 
Their  first  year's  sales  amounted  to  $20,000.  In  1870  they  received  the 
diploma  of  the  Rhode  Island  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Do- 
mestic Industry,  and  their  annual  sales  amount  to  $200,000.  They 
occupy  a  building  110  by  40,  built  of  wood,  five  stories  high;  one  100 
by  28  feet;  one  of  brick,  70  by  30  feet,  two  stories  in  height,  and  em- 
ploy 35  hands.  They  also  manufacture  all  kinds  of  spools  for  silk  and 
cotton  thread,  employing  in  this  department  15  hands.  In  1870  Ed- 
win Evans  was  admitted  to  the  firm.  In  1875  he  died,  and  his  son, 
William  G.  Evans,  succeeded  and  remained  till  October,  1885.  The 
firm  now  consists  of  George  Weatherhead  and  John  E.  Thompson. 
L.  W.  Brinton,"the  bookkeeper,  has  been  with  this  company  since 
1873.  In  1880  an  addition  was  built  to  the  main  building,  40  by  80 
feet,  and  in  1887  a  building,  30  by  125  feet. 

After  the  reaction  from  the  prostration  of  business  in  1820,  a  new 

enterprise  was  started  here  by  Air.  Freeman  Baxter,  who  thought  he 

could  weave   hair   seating,  and  David  Ryder  and   James   AI.  Ryder 

united  with  Ijim  to  furnish  the  needed  capital.     The  business  associ- 

28 


434  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ates  of  David  Ryder  were  George  L.  and  Alfred  H.  Littlefield,  manu- 
facturers of  cotton  thread.  The  business  was  started  in  1856  in  the 
Old  Slater  Mill.  In  1858  General  Olney  Arnold  bought  Mr.  Baxter's 
interest,  and  the  latter  withdrew.  In  the  same  year  Mr.  Richard 
Ryder  purchased  an  interest.  Owing  to  the  novelty  of  the  undertak- 
ing, and  the  inexperienced  men  in  charge  of  the  business,  nothing 
was  successfully  accomplished  until  in  May,  1861,  when  the  Pawtucket 
Hair  Cloth  Company  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,- 
000,  and  the  patent  of  Isaac  C.  Lindsey  purchased,  and  afterward  the 
competing  patent  of  Rufus  J.  Stafford.  Then  the  business  became 
m.ore  prosperous.  In  January,  1863,  the  capital  stock  was  increased 
to  $500,000,  and  in  this  same  year  Mr.  Ryder  retired  from  the  man- 
agement, and  Daniel  G.  Littlefield  became  agent.  The  officers  of  the 
company  now  are:  President,  Daniel  G.  Littlefield;  treasurer,  Olney 
Arnold;  agent,  Daniel  G.  Littlefield.    The  company  employ  125  hands. 

Robert  Plews  &  Co.  are  manufacturers  of  patent  tin  cylinders  for 
mules,  spoolers,  twisters  and  spinning  frames,  and  other  mill  supplies. 
The  business  was  established  by  Robert  Plews  in  1858.  The  building 
now  in  use  was  erected  in  1861  on  Central  street,  opposite  the  railroad 
station.  About  1872  the  business  was  sold  to  John  and  George  Gos- 
ling. The  former  sold  his  interest  in  1874  to  E.  Eastwood,  who,  with 
George  Gosling,  constitute  the  present  firm  of  Robert  Plews  &  Co. 
From  20  to  30  hands  are  employed. 

The   carriage   repository  now   owned  by   Henry    M.    Brown  was* 
started  by  J.  H.  Fairbanks  in  1871.     Mr.  Brown  took  possession  of  the 
business  and  estate  in  1879  and  carries  a  full  line  of  vehicles  and  sup- 
plies of  all  kinds. 

The  Central  Falls  Woolen  Mill  Company  was  incorporated  January, 
1870.  Phetteplace  &  Seagrave,  of  Providence,  and  James  L.  Pierce  are 
the  owners.  The  building  is  of  brick,  very  substantially  built,  150  by 
50  feet,  four  stories  high,  with  an  ell,  constructed  of  wood,  81  by  88 
feet,  with  basement  88  by  38  feet.  They  manufacture  fancy  cassi- 
meres  and  doeskins  and  employ  180  hands.  The  present  officers  are: 
James  L.  Phetteplace,  president;  Frank  E.  Seagrave,  treasurer;  George 
Mabbett,  agent  and  superintendent. 

The  blacksmith  shop  and  carriage  making  business  now  owned  and 
operated  by  John  W,  Perry  was  established  by  his  father,  Stephen 
Perry,  as  early  as  1833.  The  present  owner  has  been  there  since  1856. 
Mr.  Perry  employs  four  wood  workers  and  runs  four  fires. 

R.  A.  Butler  manufactures  lace  and  picker  leather,  worsted  apron 
leather,  also  the  Dongola  goat  and  kid  skins  for  ladies'  shoes,  he  being 
the  only  person  in  the  state  engaged  in  that  latter  business.  Mr. 
Butler  employs  40  hands.  He  occupies  the  building  occupied  by 
Fairbrother  &  Wood  in  1872.  In  1876  Mr.  Butler  bought  the  prop- 
erty, and  has  recently  made  large  additions  to  the  building. 

Thompson  &  Clarke  are  manufacturers  of  steam  boilers  in  the  old 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  435 

Blackstone  iron  foundry.  This  building  was  erected  about  1873.  The 
present  firm'^do  all  kinds  of  repairing,  and  in  busy  times  employ  30  to 
40  hands. 

The  American  Curled  Hair  Company  was  organized  in  August, 
1872.  The  LcAvisohn  Brothers,  of  25  Park  place,  New  York,  are  pro- 
prietors. H.  B.  Metcalf  and  D.  G.  Littlefield  are  agents  and  J.  C. 
McCartney,  superintendent.  The  building,  ground,  sheds,  etc.,  occupy 
about  an  acre  of  ground. 

The  United  vStates  Cotton  Company's  Mill,  corner  of  Foundry  and 
Railroad  streets,  was  erected  by  Messrs.  Fales,  Jenks  &  Sons  in  1863. 
It  was  first  used  by  them  as  a  machine  shop.  Subsequently  the  A.  & 
W.  Sprague  Manufacturing  Company  purchased  it  and  used  it  as  a 
flax  factory.  In  1869  it  was  used  for  print  cloth  works,  the  cloth  being 
sent  to  the  Cranston  Works  for  printing.  In  1885  the  United  States 
■Cotton  Company  was  incorporated.  The  officers  in  the  year  1890  were: 
Alvin  F.  Jenks,  president;  Stephen  A.  Jenks,  treasurer;  John  R.  Fales, 
secretary.  This  is  a  large  concern,  employing  over  600  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  print  cloths. 

The  paper  box  manufactory  near  Central  Falls  is  occupied  by 
Albert  Frost,  who  began  business  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  in 
1868,  and  at  the  present  location  in  1870.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
jewelry  and  thread  boxes. 

M.  F.  Marchant,  contractor  and  builder,  does  an  extensive  business 
in  Central  Falls  and  surrounding  places.  He  employs  20  hands  or 
more  constantly  in  his  shops  and  outside.  This  business  was  estab- 
lished by  Marchant  &  Southwack. 

The  Hathaway  Building  is  on  the  corner  of  Clay  and  Mill  streets 
and  has  a  number  of  industries  carried  on  in  it.  On  the  first  floor  O. 
H.  Hathaway  manufactures  ho.siery  and  top  roll  covers,  employing 
17  hands.  The  business  was  established  in  Central  Falls  in  1876 
and  moved  here  in  1887.  On  the  second  floor  is  a  machine  shop  con- 
trolled by  E.  H.  Hathaway  for  the  manufacture  of  jack  screws  and  all 
kinds  of  special  machinery.  The  business  was  established  in  1881  and 
moved  here  in  1887.  A.  G.  Hazard  is  a  manufacturer  of  braided  fish 
lines  on  the  third  floor.  He  started  this  industry  in  the  LeFavour 
Mill  in  1883.  Oscar  A.  Newell  was  a  member  of  the  firm  till  1885, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Hazard  has  operated  the  works  alone.  He  em- 
ploys nine  hands. 

H.  D.  Spencer  came  to  the  village  in  1840.  At  that  time  there  were 
but  few  houses  in  Central  Falls.  Since  then  improvements  have  stead- 
ily gone  forward,  necessitating  the  handling  of  immense  quantities  of 
lumber  annually.  H.  B.  Wood  &  Co.  were  the  first  to  open  a  lumber 
yard.  They  began  in  1844.  The  firm  originally  consisted  of  H.  B. 
Wood  and  Gideon  Smith.  A.  P.  Wood,  the  successor  and  the  present 
owner  is  at  216  Broad  street  and  makes  northern  lumber  a  specialty. 
Alfred  Spencer  followed  the  coal  and  wood  business  a  short  time  only. 


436  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

when  H.  D.  Spencer  established  his  place  of  business  in  1864,  at  21 
Railroad  street.  The  firm  is  now  H.  D.  Spencer  &  Co.  Benjamin  & 
Chatel,  contractors  and  builders,  and  wholesale  lumber  dealers,  also 
do  business  in  the  place. 

Henry  Gooding  came  to  Central  Falls  in  1828  and  began  working 
in  the  mills.  At  that  time  Zabin  Allen  and  Samuel  Hawes  were  oper- 
ating a  mill  on  Mill  .street,  where  Mr.  Gooding  first  began  work. 
Jerry  Jenks,  David  and  Alvin  Jenks  and  David  Fales  were  among  the 
principal  business  men  of  the  place.  Moses  Moss  began  the  grocery 
business  in  1837  and  for  five  or  six  years  did  all  the  trading  in  the 
place.  Richard  Smith  kept  a  small  store  on  Mill  street,  and  very  soon 
George  Jenks  and  Charles  Moss  built  a  small  store  back  of  the  mill.. 
Mr.  Moss  was  a  son-in-law  of  George  Jenks.  In  1842  Henry  Gooding 
went  into  a  store  and  carried  on  business  till  1857,  and  both  before 
and  after  Mr.  Gooding  began  business  Horace  Strobridge  traded  in 
groceries.  He  was  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Central  streets.  The 
building  was  moved  from  that  site  in  1869  to  make  room  for  the  pres- 
ent structure.  In  1869  William  H.  Gooding,  the  well  known  town 
clerk  of  Lincoln,  and  Nehemiah  Harding  succeeded  Mr.  Henry  Good- 
ing in  the  grocery  business  and  traded  there  till  1866. 

The  building  recently  occupied  by  the  Pawtucket  Hosiery  Com- 
pany, also  by  the  Valley  Falls  Company  for  a  store,  was  built  by  A.  & 
W.  Sprague  in  their  palmy  days  of  prosperity.  Nehemiah  Harding 
has  been  trading  in  the  place  since  1842.  He  was  with  Mr.  Gooding 
till  1854,  then  established  his  large  dry  goods  establishment,  the  most 
extensive  one  now  in  the  place.  Before  Mr.  Harding  started  up  the 
trade  in  dry  goods  went  mostly  to  Providence  and  Pawtucket.  James 
S.  Fales  and  his  sons,  Joseph  and  Henry,  the  present  owners,  have 
also  been  prominent  as  merchants  in  Central  Falls. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  the  Central  Falls  school  house  October 
12th,  1844,  to  take  into  consideration  the  subject  of  organizing  a 
Baptist  church  in  that  village.  The  following  resolutions  were  pre- 
sented and  adopted: 

"  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  present  and  constantly  increasing 
population  of  the  village,  and  in  the  fact  that  there  are  about  160  Bap- 
tists, church  members,  residing  in  the  place,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this 
meeting  that  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  church  in  this  village  would 
promote  the  glory  of  God,  the  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
and  the  salvation  of  souls. 

"  Resolved,  That  under  a  consciousness  of  our  obligations  to  Christ 
and  His  cause,  we  consider  it  as  our  duty  to  proceed  without  further 
delay  to  form  ourselves  with  others  who  may  unite  with  us  in  this 
enterprise  into  a  church." 

A  committee  was  then  appointed,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting 
they  reported  that  29  persons  had  been  found  willing  to  join  the 
church,  and  measures  were  taken  to  organize  a  society.     October  81st 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  437 

the  articles  of  faith  and  covenant  which  had  been  prepared  were 
properly  considered  and  the  new  organization  was  admitted  into 
fellowship  as  a  gospel  church.  Services  were  continued  at  the  school 
house  for  some  time.  February  22d,  ]S4o,  Reverend  vS.  O.  Lovell,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  accepted  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  at  a  salary  of 
$500  per  annum.     The  church  edifice  was  dedicated  August  6th,  1845. 

From  this  time  forward  the  church  continued  to  grow  and  prosper. 
At  length  the  subject  of  a  new  edifice  began  to  be  agitated,  the  needs 
of  the  society  having  outgrown  the  old  one.  Messrs.  Greene  & 
Daniels  donated  to  the  society  a  lot  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Central, 
and  Broad  streets,  and  in  1875  work  was  commenced  on  the  new 
edifice.  It  is  an  elegant  structure,  complete  in  all  its  appointments, 
and  with  the  grounds,  etc.,  cost  $25,000.  Reverend  George  Perry  is 
pastor;  George  P.  Grant,  church  treasurer:  George  C.  vStillman,  church 
clerk;  William  O.  Brown,  Sabbath  school  superintendent.  The  deacons 
are  G.  P.  Thurber,  W.  B.  Carr,  John  E.  Lent  and  Samuel  Arnold. 

The  Central  Falls  Congregational  church  was  organized  by  a  coun- 
cil convened  for  that  purpose  June  18th,  1845,  with  46  members.  On 
that  day  the  house  of  worship  was  dedicated.  Since  then  many  mem- 
bers have  been  added.  The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  on  vSunday, 
June  22d,  1845.  Joseph  Wood  was  its  first  superintendent  and  R.  B. 
Gage  librarian  and  treasurer.  During  Mr.  Wood's  superintendency 
there  w^ere  frequent  additions  to  the  church  from  the  Sabbath  school. 
He  resigned  in  December,  1862,  after  a  service  of  17|-  years,  there  be- 
ing at  that  time  a  membership  of  228  pupils.  The  membership  since 
then  at  times  has  exceeded  that  number.  The  services  of  Deacon  ' 
Cushman  extended  over  a  period  of  ten  years.  James  H.  Olney  was 
chosen  superintendent  the  first  Sabbath  in  January,  1873. 

The  Rhode  Island  Conference  of  Congregational  churches  met 
with  this  church  June  14th  and  15th,  1870,  and  assisted  in  the  celebra- 
tion of  its  25th  anniversary,  Wednesday  afternoon,  June. 15th.  In 
1868  the  church  edifice  was  enlarged  at  an  expense  of  $5,000.  Rev- 
erend James  H.  Lyon  is  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  present  time,  and 
E.  L.  Freeman  is  the  efficient  superintendent  of  a  very  prosperous 
Sabbath  school. 

Embury  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  on  Cross  street,  Central  Falls, 
was  named  in  honor  of  Philip  Embury,  the  Methodist  local  preacher 
pioneer.  In  the  early  part  of  1868  some  Methodists  belonging  to  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Pawtucket  held  religious  services 
and  Sabbath  school  meetings  in  what  was  then  called  "  The  Old  En- 
gine House,"  on  Broad  street.  On  Friday,  April  10th,  1868,  Reverend 
M.  J.  Talbot,  pastor  of  the  First  church,  presided  over  a  meeting  in 
the  house  of  Miss  Mary  C.  Bragg,  when  the  new  society  was  formed, 
21  full  members  and  two  probationers  being  set  off  from  the  First 
church,  most  of  whom  are  still  living,  some  in  other  states,  others  re- 
turned to  the  First  church,  and  a- few,  such  as  George  H.  Dalton  and 


438  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

wife,  Henry  C.  Perry,  and  Rowland  Fry,  still  remain  with  the  Embury 
church.  Some  have  died.  On  Monday,  July  13th,  the  action  of  the 
above-named  meeting  received  the  sanction  of  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence, Reverend  S.  C.  Brown,  D.  D.,  presiding  elder. 

During  the  summer  of  1868  a  lot  was  purchased  on  Cross  street  and 
a  chapel,  24  by  60  feet,  erected  thereon,  the  cost  being  $2,500.  The 
building  was  dedicated  December  2d,  Doctor  S.  C.  Brown,  P.  E.,  preach- 
ing the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  first  pastor  was  Reverend  Carlos 
Banning,  who  served  from  March,  1869,  to  March,  1870;  upon  leaving 
he  reported  to  Conference  49  full  members  and  eight  probationers;  he 
also  records  that  his  salary  was  promptly  paid.  This  has  always  been 
true  of  the  society,  and  for  many  years  they  have  paid  their  pastors 
weekly.  In  March,  1871,  Reverend  E.  D.  Hall  became  pastor;  he 
served  two  years,  and  reported  72  members  in  full  and  "  several  pro- 
bationers." In  March,  1873,  Reverend  W.  H.  Starr  was  appointed, 
who  reported  two  prosperous  years,  leaving,  full  members,  79,  proba- 
tioners, nine,  and  a  Sabbath  school  with  214  members.  In  April,  1875, 
came  Reverend  S.  T.  Patterson.  During  his  pastorate  the  present 
audience  room  was  built,  the  chapel  being  joined  to  it  at  the  rear.  The 
new  building  was  dedicated  January  9th,  1876,  the  whole  expense  being 
covered  by  promises  on  paper,  quite  a  number  of  which  were  never  re- 
deemed; so  for  several  years  the  society  struggled  with  embarrassing 
debt.  Mr.  Patterson  served  the  society  three  years,  and  reported  at 
the  close  of  his  term  122  full  members  and  20  probationers.  In  April, 
1878,  Reverend  G.  W.  Ballou  became  pastor,  and  stayed  two  years. 
During  his  pastorate  quite  a  number  joined  the  church  on  probation. 
The  present  parsonage  was  also  built,  at  a  cost  of  $1,746.07.  Upon  leav- 
ing he  reported  166  full  members  and  20  probationers. 

In  April,  1880,  came  Reverend  A.  W.  Seavy,  who  served  two  years, 
and  reported  155  full  members  and  five  probationers.  In  April,  1882, 
Reverend  C.S.  Nutter  became  pastor,  and  served  one  year;  upon  leaving 
he  reported  full  members  146,  probationers  four.  In  April,  1883,  Rever- 
end George  M.  Harnlen  was  appointed,  and  served  three  years.  During 
his  third  year  he  wiped  out  the  debt  upon  the  church  building,  and 
reported  at  its  close,  full  members,  172;  probationers,  24.  In  April, 
1886,  Reverend  Richard  Povey,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed;  he 
is  now  in  the  fourth  year  of  his  pastorate.  The  society  has  been 
weakened  much  by  removals  to  other  parts  and  by  deaths.  Its  condi- 
tion as  reported  at  last  annual  conference  was,  full  members,  144; 
probationer,  one,  and  a  Sabbath  school  of  31  officers  and  teachers  and 
353  scholars. 

St.  George's  (Protestant  Episcopal)  Society,  under  the  direction  of 
James  M.  Davis  and  a  few  others,  was  organized  soon  after  the  late 
war.  In  1871  they  secured  the  services  of  Reverend  E.  M.  Porter,  rec- 
tor of  St.  Paul's,  who  held  meetings  regularly  in  the  village.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Reverend  George  A.  Coggswell,  who  after  laboring  some 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  439 

four  years  for  this  society,  turned  Roman  Catholic.  The  Episcopal 
society  itself  changed  from  high  to  low  forms  or  modes  of  worship. 
Mr.  Coggswell's  successors  were  as  follows:  Reverends  Charles  M. 

Pyne, Parsons,  James  Bayard  and  Winslow  W.  Sever,  the  present 

rector.  The  church  building  was  erected  during  Mr.  Coggswell's  minis- 
try. The  corner  stone  was  laid  October  23d,  1874.  The  rectory  was 
built  in  1875.  j\Ir.  James  M.  Davis  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  since  its  inception.  He  was  senior  warden  also  for 
over  ten  years. 

The  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  built  by  Father 
Charles  Dauray,  now  of  Woonsocket,  about  the  year  1873.  He  was 
here  two  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Father  Gouland,  who  remained 
five  years,  and  was  followed  by  the  present  pastor,  George  T.  Ma- 
honey,  in  1880.  The  Woodlawn  chapel  was  built  in  1886.  Father 
Mahoney  is  assisted  in  his  work  of  ministering  to  the  souls  of  his 
church,  numbering  nearly  6,000,  by  Fathers  Napoleon  Leclerc  and 
Joseph  Bourgeois. 

Saylesville  has  one  church,  one  store,  a  post  office,  a  free  library 
and  a  public  hall.  T.  L.  &  J.  H.  Jollie  have  carried  on  a  general  mer- 
chandise business  for  years,  and  have  a  well  established  trade.  Mr. 
Samuel  F'essenden  is  postmaster.  The  post  office  was  established  in 
1881,  at  the  time  the  Lorraine  Woolen  Mill  was  erected.  Mr.  Fessen- 
den  has  been  the  only  postmaster  in  the  place.  He  came  to  Sayles- 
ville 20  years  ago,  and  is  one  of  the  principal  men  in  the  church. 

At  Saylesville  is  the  Moshassuck  Bleachery,  established  in  1848, 
and  now  owned  by  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles,  who  are  also  proprietors  of 
the  Lorraine  Manufacturing  Company,  257  Mineral  Springs  avenue. 
This  bleachery  has  increased  in  extent  and  facilities  without  interrup- 
tion, and  is  without  doubt  the  most  extensive  and  completely  equip- 
ped bleachery  in  the  country.  The  buildings  requisite  for  the  busi- 
ness are  of  a  substantial  character,  and  the  dwellings  erected  for  the 
operatives  are  neat  and  commodious,  not  a  few  of  the  employees  own- 
ing their  own  residences  and  lands  for  the  opportunity  of  the  display 
of  agricultural  taste.  The  proprietors  of  the  bleachery  not  only  en- 
courage but  pecuniarily  aid  every  effort  in  behalf  of  temperance,  edu- 
cation and  religious  welfare;  and  the  thrifty  little  village  has  been 
built  up  where  a  century  ago  there  was  nothing  but  a  wilderness  and 
a  sandy  waste. 

The  Memorial  Congregational  church  of  vSaylesville  is  the  out- 
growth of  a  Sunday  school,  organized  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June, 
1860,  under  the  direction  of  William  F.  Sayles.  Mr.  Lysander  Flagg 
was  the  first  superintendent.  He  served  one  year,  and  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  superintendent,  Mr.  W.  F.  Sayles.  In  1873  the 
memorial  chapel  was  erected  at  the  expense  of  W.  F.  &  F.  C.  Sayles. 
In  1877  Reverend'E.  S.  Wheeler,  of  the  Baptist  church,  Valley  Falls, 
was  engaged  to  preach  for  one  year.     June  20th,  1878,  a  meeting  was 


440      ■  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

held  to  organize  a  church,  which  was  consummated  May  12th,  1880. 
Reverend  J.  H.  Lyon  succeeded  Mr.  Wheeler  in  April,  1879,  and  he 
was  followed  by  Reverend  J.  J.  Wooley,  of  Pawtucket.  Reverend  H. 
W.  Wetjen,  of  Providence,  is  the  present  supply. 

The  Friends'  Meeting  House,  situated  one  half  mile  north  of 
Saylesville,  was  erected  prior  to  1708.  On  October  2d,  1708,  Eleazer 
Arnold  deeded  to  Thomas  vSmith  and  others  a  tract  of  land  near  the 
dwelling  house  of  said  Eleazer  Arnold,  seven  rods  by  twelve,  "  on 
which  stands  a  certain  meeting  house  of  the  people  called  Quakers." 
This  has  been  known  for  many  years  as  "  Lower  vSmithfield  meeting 
house."  It  still  stands  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  is  still  oc- 
cupied by  the  Friends,  although  not  so  regularly  as  formerly. 

Valley  Falls  is  a  flourishing  village  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
Blackstone  river,  partly  in  Cumberland  and  partly  in  Lincoln. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  Valley  Falls  should  be  mentioned  Joseph 
Jenks,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Christopher  Bray,  now  of  that  place. 
He  resided  in  a  house  now  owned  by  the  Valley  Falls  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  used  as  a  tenement  house.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  died 
about  1820, 81  years  of  age.  He  had  three  sons.  Ephraim,  who  settled 
here,  died  50  years  ago.  Ephraim  Jenks  married  Rachel  Cole.  Their 
children  were:  Joseph,  Hosea,  Sarah  Jane,  Mary  Ann,  Daniel  W., 
Emily  and  George  W.,  all  of  whom  settled  in  Valley  Falls.  Emily 
Jenks  married  Christopher  Bray,  who  came  here  when  a  youth.  He 
is  now  over  80  years  of  age. 

In  April  of  the  year  1812  Joseph  Jenks,  of  Smithfield,  for  the  sum 
of  $2,500,  sold  to  Abraham,  Isaac  and  David  Wilkinson  16  acres  of 
land,  including  the  water  privilege  of  Valley  Falls,  and  gave  a  right 
of  way  through  his  land  to  Central  Falls.  In  November  of  the  same 
year  David  Wilkinson  sold  his  interest  to  Abraham  and  Isaac,  who 
constructed  the  turnpike  from  Pawtucket  to  Lonsdale,  at  the  old  oak 
which  stands  in  the  center  of  the  road  leading  west  to  the  village  of 
Lonsdale. 

Isaac  Wilkinson  was  an  excellent  mechanic,  and  at  the  age  of  17 
had  charge  of  the  Cupola,  now  Franklin  Foundry,  in  Providence. 
During  the  war  of  1812  he  cast  cannon  60  days  in  succession,  two 
heats  per  day.  Abraham  and  Isaac  Wilkinson  built,  about  the  year 
1820,  a  stone  mill,  which  some  years  ago  was  demolished.  In  1830 
Henry  Marchant  purchased  one-fourth  part  of  the  privilege.  William 
Harris  owned  one-twelfth,  and  Crawford  Allen  the  remainder.  Wil- 
liam Harris  built,  about  1820,  a  mill,  which  was  burned  in  1830.  In 
1833  Crawford  Allen  erected  the  stone  mill  on  the  Cumberland  side  of 
the  river.  This  mill,  as  originally  built,  was  44  by  112,  and  four  stories 
in  height.  To  it  was  added,  by  the  Valley  Falls  Company,  in  1868, 
an  addition,  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  40  by  90;  one,  also  of  brick,  40 
by  90,  three  stories,  and  a  picker  house,  of  stone,  two  stories;  54  by  40. 

On  the  Lincoln  side  a  wooden  mill,  125  by  44,  four  stories,  was 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  441 

erected  in  1844,  and  a  brick' mill,  four  stories,  156  by  44,  in  1840.  The 
first  self-acting  mules,  operated  on  the  Blackstone  river,  were  started 
at  Valley  Falls.  When  the  Messrs.  Chace  applied  to  Brown  &  Pitcher, 
Pawtucket,  to  build  them,  Mr.  Pitcher  refused  to  have  anything  to  do 
about  it;  afterward,  Mr.  James  Brown  built  them.  In  1868  this  priv- 
ilege became  the  property  of  Samuel  B.  Chace,  and  thereafter  of  the 
Valley  Falls  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Chace  was  the  principal  member. 
Since  that  year,  improvements  have  been  made  on  a  large  scale  about 
the  mills,  and  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  village.  In  the  years 
1852-3,  the  Messrs.  Chace  constructed  a  stone  dam  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial kind;  although  not  so  high  as  that  at  Manville,it  is  one  of  the 
finest  and  perhaps  the  handsomest  dam  on  the  river,  it  being  built 
upon  a  curve,  of  hewn  stone,  with  abutments  which  are  remarkable 
for  their  solidity.  Arnold  B.  Chace  is  the  present  treasure-r  of  the 
company,  and  operates  the  mills  on  both  sides  of  the  stream,  in  which 
there  are  employed  a  large  force  of  hands  constantly.  Their  new 
brick  store  in  Cumberland  was  erected  in  1883. 

In  1870  Messrs.  Grey  &  Fish  leased  rooms  from  the  Valley  Falls 
Company  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  weavers'  reeds  and  har- 
ness. From  January  1st,  1873,  to  January  1st,  1877,  Myron  Fish  con- 
ducted the  business  alone,  after  which  he  admitted  John  A.  Carter  as 
a  partner.  In  1875  Mr.  Fish  erected  a  building  40  by  80  feet,  into 
which  he  removed  his  machinery,  and  where  he  still  remains.  In 
1883  The  American  Supply  Company  was  incorporated;  Myron  Fish, 
treasurer;  George  W.  Holt,  president,  and  John  A.  Carter,  secretary. 
They  now  employ  40  hands. 

In  1854  William  J.  Hood  began  the  manufacture  of  jewelry  in 
Pawtucket,  and  moved  to  Central  Falls  in  1858,  where  he  carried  on  a 
thriving  business. 

William  Harris  was  one  of  the  earlier  store  keepers  in  the  village 
of  Valley  Falls  on  the  Lincoln  side.  He  kept  a  variety  store  as  early 
as  1830,  carrying  on  that  business  in  connection  with  a  little  factor}'- 
he  operated  on  the  Cumberland  side.  In  due  time  he  went  the  way 
of  all  unsuccessful  merchants  and  made  an  assignment.  Olney  Cooke, 
T.  D.  Elsbree  and  others  followed,  trading  for  a  time  and  then  giving 
way  to  others.  A.  D.  vShaw,  now  engaged  on  the  other  side  of  the 
stream,  began  business  here  in  a  store  in  1861,  and  ran  it  till  1883 
before  he  changed  his  location.  In  1874  Henry  Lawton,  now  the  old- 
est trader  on  this  side  of  the  stream,  began  keeping  a  store.  He 
erected  his  present  building  in  1888. 

Lonsdale  is  owned  by  the  Lonsdale  Company,  and  is  situated  seven 
miles  from  Providence,  on  the  Blackstone  river.  Manufacturing  was 
begun  here  in  1829  and  the  first  mill  was  started  in  1832,  the  second 
one  in  the  same  year.  The  bleaching  department  was  put  in  opera- 
tion in  1844,  and  in  1852  the  Goddard  Brothers,  the  present  owners, 
took  possession.     The  main  mill  (of  which  there  are  four),  called  the 


442  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Ann  and  Hope,  stands  on  lands  originally  occupied  by  William  Black- 
stone,  the  first  settler  of  Rhode  Island.  It  was  built  in  1886,  and  is  one 
of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  New  England.  The  number  of  hands  em- 
ployed in  the  mills  on  this  side  of  the  river  averages  about  1,000,  and 
the  product  of  sheetings  and  other  goods  is  from  one  to  two  million 
yards  annually.  The  horse  power  here  is:  Water,  550;  engine  in 
bleachery,  180;  engine  supplementary  to  water  power  in  summer,  250. 
Over  3,000  tons  of  coal  are  consumed  annually  at  the  bleachery. 

A  fine  brick  school  house,  large  enough  for  the  several  departments 
of  the  public  school,  has  been  erected  by  the  company  and  the  rent 
given  to  the  district;  also  a  library,  62  by  111,  was  erected  in  1881. 
Edward  Kilburn  began  here  in  1847  as  one  of  the  supervisors  of  the 
establishments  and  was  here  many  years.  He  was  succeeded  by 
George  W.  Pratt,  the  present  superintendent  of  the  mills,  in  1878. 
Among  the  prominent  merchants  of  the  place  should  be  mentioned 
the  names  of  Preston  Clarke,  of  long  ago,  Baylis  Bourne,  who  traded 
30  years  or  more,  S.  D.  Angell  and  James  Howat. 

Episcopal  services  were  first  held  in  Lonsdale,  in  the  old  school 
house,  in  the  spring  of  1833.  During  the  same  year  a  room  was  fitted 
up  in  factory  No,  3,  capable  of  seating  400  persons,  by  the  Lonsdale 
Company,  who  offered  to  contribute  one-third  of  the  cost  of  a  church 
edifice.  Reverend  George  Taft,  of  Pawtucket,  officiated  as  pastor 
during  the  summer  of  that  year.  Reverend  George  W.  Cooke  re- 
organized the  Sunday  school.  The  name  of  Christ  church  was  given 
in  December.  In  the  autumn  of  1834  the  corner  stone  of  the  church 
edifice  was  laid  by  Bishop  Griswold  and  the  building  was  completed 
the  next  year.  Ministers  succeeding  have  been:  Reverends  Louis 
Jameson,  G.  T.  Slater,  Charles  C.  Taylor,  E.  M.  Porter,  C.  H.  Cunning- 
ham and  W.  S.  Lott,  who  is  now  rector.  The  church  under  the  rector- 
ship of  Mr.  Lott  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  S.  S.  Learned  is  senior 
warden,  and  Addison  Kinsman  is  junior  warden. 

Lonsdale  Baptist  church  was  organized  April  15th,  1840,  at  the 
house  of  Isaac  wSmith.  The  original  members  were  37  in  number,  all 
of  whom  came  by  letter  from  the  church  in  Valley  Falls.  The  services 
of  recognition  occurred  April  21st  in  the  public  school  house,  and  con- 
sisted of  invocation  and  reading  the  Scriptures  by  Reverend  E.  K. 
Fuller  of  Pawtucket,  prayer  by  Reverend  M.  M.  Dean  of  Providence, 
sermon  by  Reverend  William  Hague  of  Providence,  prayer  of  recog- 
nition by  Reverend  Silas  Spaulding  of  Pawtucket,  hand  of  fellowship 
by  Reverend  B.  P.  Byram  of  Valley  Falls,  charge  by  Reverend  John 
Dowling  of  Providence.  July  8th,  Alfred  Arnold,  David  Clarke  and 
Isaac  Smith  were  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  building  a 
meeting  house,  which  was  finished  and  dedicated  July  21st,  1842.  In 
1840  the  church  was  received  into  the  Warren  Association  and  in  1844 
withdrew  with  others  to  form  the  Providence  Association.  The 
present  membership  is  over  150.     Reverend  Norman  B.  Wilson,  the 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  443 

present  pastor,  took  charge  on  the  first  Sunday  of  October,  1886.  The 
deacons  are  Hazen  Magoon,  John  Colwell  and  W.  R.  Estin.  John 
Colwell  is  the  Sabbath  school  superintendent. 

Albion  is  a  hamlet  mostly  of  tenement  houses  occupied  by  the 
operatives  of  the  mills.  It  contains  one  store,  a  post  office  and  a 
church  for  the  free  use  of  all  religious  denominations.  The  store  was 
kept  by  Isaac  Wilkinson  when  Mason  Freeman  came  to  the  place  in 
1828.  George  Wilkinson  subsequently  had  it.  In  1860  George  Car- 
penter sold  the  property  to  Mason  Freeman  and  he  has  conducted  the 
business  ever  since.     He  has  also  been  postmaster  since  the  year  1800. 

Manville  is  four  miles  south  of  Woonsocket,  and  lies  on  both  sides 
of  the  Blackstone  river.-^  The  land  on  which  the  village  is  built  was 
owned  by  David  Wilkinson  and  included  the  site  on  both  sides.  In 
1740  he  deeded  it  to  Samuel  Wilkinson,  who  in  1747  re-deeded  it  to 
David  Wilkinson.  The  Farmer's  Company  erected  a  mill  35  by  118 
feet,  three  stories  high,  on  the  site  of  the  present  company's  office. 
In  1826  Jenkins  &  Man  erected  mill  No.  2,  40  by  300  feet,  five  stories 
high,  with  basement.  In  1859  it  was  sold  to  Harvey  Chace.  In  1863 
the  Manville  charter  was  granted  and  in  1872  they  built  the  new  mill, 
97  by  100  feet,  five  stories. 

The  mercantile  business  was  carried  on  in  Manville  in  the  time  of 
Samuel  F.  Man.  There  are  now  several  stores  in  the  place.  Harkness 
&  Stead  succeeded  Mr.  Man  in  the  mill  and  ran  the  store  till  1857,  when 
they  failed.  After  them  came  the  Chaces,  and  others  succeeding  in 
the  mill  property.  Alanson  Vose,  father  of  Carlisle  Vose,  the  present 
merchant,  came  here  from  Massachusetts  in  about  1825,  and  soon  after 
ran  a  store  which  he  bought  of  Cornelius  Hendricks.  He  ran  it  till 
1873,  and  died  in  1880.  Carlisle  Vose  has  been  trading  at  his  father's 
old  stand  from  the  date  above  mentioned.  Alonzo  D.  Vose  is  post- 
master. 

Emanuel  (Protestant  Episcopal)  church  of  Manville  was  established 
by  S.  F.  Man.  Hermeon  Lillienthal  is  the  present  rector,  and  Wil- 
liam Waterman  the  senior  warden. 

The  Contrexeville  Manufacturing  Company  is  located  at  Manville 
and  was  incorporated  in  1887,  under  the  state  laws  of  Rhode  Island. 
They  manufacture  cotton,  jute  and  flax  plushes  by  a  process  on  which 
they  hold  the  patents,  and  they  are  the  only  manufacturers  of  the 
kind  in  the  United  States.  Their  driving  power  is  steam,  but  they  have 
a  water  dam  for  their  bleaching  and  dyeing.  Employment  is  given 
to  about  50  hands,  and  their  factory  is  run  night  and  day,  the  products 
being  in  such  great  demand.  The  officers  of  the  company  are:  E.  K. 
Handy,  president;  T.  H.  Handy,  treasurer;  Edwin  R.  Handy,  agent. 
Russell  Handy,  the  originator  and  patentee  of  the  process  and  ma- 
chinery used  by  the  above  company,  was  the  son  of  Stephen  and 
Deborah  (Ballou)  Handy  and  was  born  in  Burrillville,  R.  I.,  February 

*  See  Chapter  VII  for  account  of  the  Manville  Mills. 


444  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

25th,  1830.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  entered  the  Manville  Com- 
pany mills  and  learned  the  trade  of  weaving.  He  commenced  business 
for  himself  at  Lyman,  R.  I.,  but  owing  to  the  financial  depression  of 
1857  was  forced  to  give  it  up.  He  again  was  engaged  by  the  Man- 
ville Company  and  occupied  the  position  of  superintendent  of  their 
works  for  about  30  years.  He  married  Euphemia  Ketchum  and  their 
children  were:  Edwin  K.,  Thomas  H.,  Russell,  died  aged  11  years,  and 
Ruth  Louisa,  died  aged  4  years.  Mr.  Handy  died  November  22d, 
1887. 

The  population  of  the  village  of  Manville  is  largely  composed  of 
French  Canadians,  most  of  whom  are  operatives  in  the  mills:  but  a 
large  number  of  the  business,  men  of  the  village  are  of  that  nativity. 
Among  tho'se  who  have  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  Manville 
for  a  number  of  years  the  following  are  worthy  of  mention. 

Joseph  T.  Richard  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada, 
November  9th,  1852,  and  early  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He 
came  to  Manville  in  1871  and  commenced  to  take  contracts  for  build- 
ing all  descriptions  of  houses,  and  since  that  time  has  been  actively 
engaged  in  that  business,  having  built  the  majority  of  the  dwellings 
in  Manville.  His  business  is  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  A. 
Richard  &  Son,  and  besides  being  builders  and  contractors  they  carry 
on  a  store  for  the  sale  of  lumber,  hardware  and  glass.  Mr.  Richard 
married  Lizzie  Dislow  and  has  a  family  of  four  children:  Cora, 
Frederick,  Arthur  and  Lenora. 

Louis  Girouard  is  a  native  of  the  Province  of  Quebec,  and  was 
born  May  2d,  1844.  In  1869  he  came  to  Woonsocket  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  Removing  in  1873  to  Manville,  he  opened  a 
general  store  at  the  same  location  where  he  now  carries  on  business. 
He  married  Hermoine  Cormier  and  has  a  family  of  six  boys  and  six 
girls:  F.  Louis,  Joseph  A.,  Mary,  Hermoine,  Lsabella,  Arthur,  Angelina, 
Adaline,  Bernadette,  Napoleon,  Leonidas,  and  Rudolph. 

Joseph  Thoen  was  born  at  vSt.  Mary's,  Province  of  Quebec,  Novem- 
ber 19th,  1842,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph  Thoen.  He  came  with 
his  father  to  Putnam,  Conn.,  where  he  remained  till  1855,  when  he 
removed  to  Wauregan,  Conn,,  and  resided  there  till  1873,  when  he 
came  to  Manville.  He  was  employed  in  the  mills,  but  on  removing 
to  Manville  engaged  in  the  livery,  coal  and  wood  business.  He  mar- 
ried Emile  Woisard  and  has  seven  children:  Lydia,  Walter,  Hector, 
Annis,  Oliva,  Alma  and  Oilier. 

Fernando  J.  Landry  was  born  in  Joliette,  Province  of  Quebec,  No- 
vember 1st,  1854.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  but  on 
coming  to  Manville  in  1876  learned  the  trade  of  weaving  and  worked 
in  the  mills  till  1887,  when  he  opened  a  bakery.  He  married  Donaldo 
B.  Berard  and  has  had  seven  children,  of  whom  but  two  are  living: 
Zulema  and  Romero. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  445 

Louis  Lussier,  born  in  Sorel.  Province  of  Quebec,  October  11  th, 
1849,  came  to  Rhode  Island  in  1866  and  located  in  Manville  in  1871. 
He  has  one  son. 

Jenks  Lodge,  No.  24,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  constituted  May  1st,  1866. 
This  Lodge  was  the  offspring  of  Union  Lodge,  Pawtucket.  There 
were  37  names  enrolled  on  the  charter,  but  only  25  signed  the  by-laws. 
The  first  master  was  Horace  Daniels. 

Central  Falls  Assembly,  No.  49,  R.  S.  of  G.  F.,  was  instituted  De- 
cember 23d,  1886.  Officers  for  1890  were:  Ruler,  James  T.  Smith;  sec- 
retary, Charles  H.  Schofield;  financial  secretary,  John  H.  Pilling;  treas- 
urer, David  McComb. 

Lincoln  Lodge,  No.  360,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  organized  Septem- 
ber 7th,  1876;  Dictator,  A.  P.  Carpenter. 

Twilight  Temple  of  Honor,  No.  21,  was  instituted  March  25th, 
1871,  by  Grand  Templar  G.  M.  Kimball,  with  32  members.  In  1872 
the  new  hall  in  Fales'  Block  was  dedicated.  Officers  for  the  year  1890 
were:  W.  C.  T.,  Augustus  Lapham;  W.  R.,  Henry  G.  Duby. 

The  Mountain  Lily  Social  Temple  of  Honor,  No.  5,  was  organized 
in  1872.     The  S.  P.  T.  at  that  time  was  Sophia  Ambrose. 

Blackstone  Division,  No.  30,  S.  of  T.,  was  chartered  May  4th,  1866, 
with  19  charter  members. 

Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  8,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Lime  Rock,  was  char- 
tered July  28th,  1804,  with  23  charter  members.  The  first  worship- 
ful master  was  Moses  Aldrich. 

Superior  Lodge,  No.  35,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  June  24th,  1874, 
in  Fales'  Block,  on  Central  street.  The  first  noble  grand  was  Albert 
P.  Carpenter. 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  4,  K.  of  P.,  of  Central  Falls,  was  instituted 
January  19th,  1871.  Its  first  chancellor  commander  was  Edward  A. 
Browne.  It  is  a  strong  Lodge  numerically  and  financially,  and  among 
its  members  are  many  prominent  business  men.  Its  chancellor  com- 
mander in  1889  was  Orlando  E.  Hill;  and  its  keeper  of  records  and 
seal  was  Loring  W.  Brinton. 

Rainbow  Division,  No.  1,  S.  of  T.,  was  chartered  February  6th, 
1871,  with  20  charter  members;  W.  P.,  C.  W.  Arnold.  The  principal 
officers  in  1890  were:  W.  P.,  Gilbert  M.  Hill;  R.  S.,  Frederick  G. 
Hawkins. 

Ionic  Lodge,  No.  65,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  chartered  October  23d,  1876, 
with  12  members;  W.  C.  T.,  C.  D.  Robinson. 

Ancient  Order  of  Foresters,  No.  6287,  was  organized  October  7th, 
1876.  Meetings  are  held  in  Oak  Hall,  Lonsdale.  The  Order  is  of 
English  origin,  and  its  Courts  are  held  by  virtue  of  dispensation 
granted  by  the  High  Court  of  England  through  the  subsidiary  High 
Court  of  the  United  States.  The  object  of  the  Order  is  to  provide  a 
weekly  allowance  to  its  members  in  case  of  sickness. 


446  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

John  A.  Adams. — Among  those  whose  success  and  social  standing 
are  the  result  of  unaided  labor  and  self-reliance  through  life,  we  class 
Honorable  John  A.  Adams,  a  self-made  man  in  every  respect.  He 
was  born  at  North  Kingstown,  R.  I.,  June  20th,  1815.  His  father, 
Ezra  Adams,  died  on  the  Island  of  Trinidad,  while  following  the  occu- 
pation of  seaman,  leaving  behind,  almost  destitute,  his  wife,  Susan 
(Ailsworth)  Adams,  and  son  John,  then  a  lad  seven  years  of  age.  At 
the  age  of  12  Mr.  Adams  commenced  working  on  a  farm,  pursuing, 
meanwhile,  his  studies.  Five  years  later  he  removed  to  Franklin,  Mass., 
and  was  employed  in  a  factory  store  as  clerk.  When  18  years  of  age 
he  obtained  a  situation  as  laborer  in  a  factory,  and  subsequently  as 
overseer,  being  employed  upward  of  eight  years.  In  1837  he  removed 
to  Central  Falls,  where  he  exhibited  such  sagacity  and  skill  that  he 
attracted  the  attention  of  a  capitalist,  who  proposed  to  accept  him  as 
partner  in  a  business  venture.  Accordingly,  in  1842,  a  firm  was  or- 
ganized under  the  name  of  Willard  &  Adams,  manufacturers  of  yarns 
and  thread.  Continuing  in  this  business  for  three  years,  the  partner- 
.ship  was  then  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Adams  became  associated  with  Mr. 
Joseph  Wood  and  others,  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods.  This 
partnership  lasted  until  1848,  when  two  of  the  firm  died,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  continued  under  the  firm  style  of  Wood  &  Adams.  In  1868 
these  gentlemen  sold  their  mill  and  privilege  to  the  Pawtucket  Hair 
Cloth  Company.  They  afterward  succeeded  to  the  business  prev- 
iously carried  on  by  Rufus  J.  Stafford,  and  in  conjunction  with  new 
partners,  took  the  name  of  the  Stafford  Manufacturing  Company. 
During  Mr.  Wood's  life  Mr.  Adams  acted  as  agent  for  the  corporation, 
and  part  of  the  time  as  president.  On  Mr.  Wood's  death,  in  1873,  Mr. 
Adams  being  the  only  active  partner,  assumed  with  his  other  duties 
that  of  treasurer,  and  has  since  held  the  offices  named. 

Mr.  Adams  has  also  been  interested  in  other  establishments,  and 
intimately  associated  in  business  undertakings  with  prominent  mer- 
chants and  manufacturers  of  Providence.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
a  trustee  of  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank,  and  a  director  of  the  Slater 
National  Bank.  He  served  six  years  as  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil of  Lincoln,  and  has  been  its  representative,  in  both  branches  of 
the  general  assembly,  at  numerous  times.  He  has  also  filled  the  po- 
sition of  school  trustee. 

Mr.  Adams  has  done  much  to  promote  the  public  improvements 
which  have  benefitted  and  beautified  Central  Falls.  Since  1848  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  has  given  lib- 
erally for  the  furtherance  of  the  enterprises  of  that  denomination,  and 
for  the  general  good  of  society. 

He  married,  in  1836,  Sally  M.  Crowell,  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Annie  Crowell.     They  have  had  eight  children,  only  two  of  whom 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  447 

tjohn  F.  and  Stephen  L.)  are  living.  Their  son,  Albert  E.,  was  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  late  war,  and  after  escaping  its  perils,  came 
home  to  die  from  disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

The  Aldrich  Family.— Among  the  oldest  families  of  Providence 
is  the  Aldrich  family,  who  are  descended  from  Joseph  Aldrich,  who  in 
an  early  day  came  from  England.  Simon,  the  .son  of  Solomon  Aldrich, 
was  born  in  1743  and  died  January  26th,  1834.  He  married  Mary 
Matteson,  and  had  the  following  children:  Winsor,  George,  James 
(left  no  male  issue),  Anna  (married  Nathaniel  Sayles  and  lived  to  be 
100  years,  1  month  and  4  days  old),  Susie  and  Mary,  both  died  young. 
George,  son  of  Simon,  was  born  April  0th,  1776,  and  died  August  19th, 
1844.  He  married  Abigail  Steere  and  their  children  were:  Susan  Ann, 
died  aged  22  years;  Rachel,  died  aged  23  years;  Thomas  Steere,  left 
no  male  issue;  Stephen  G.  and  Francis  H.,  both  died  at  sea;  Abby  Ann, 
a  maiden  lady,  resides  in  Lincoln,  and  Elisha  Steere,  born  April  13th, 
1826,  married  Caroline  F.  Lincoln.  The  children  of  this  marriage 
were  as  follows:  Charles  Edward,  married  Julia  E.  Angell;  Olive  Lin- 
coln, wife  of  Darwin  Holley  of  Lincoln;  x\nna  Sayles,  died  aged  24 
years;  Elisha  Francis,  died  single;  Caroline  F.;  Abby  Almy,  wife  of 
George  Ray  of  Cumberland,  and  William  Steere.  Mr.  Aldrich  has- 
been  a  member  of  the  town  council  and  was  a  member  of  the  assembly 
in  1875-6. 

Stephen  Benedict  was  born  in  Milton,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y., 
January  15th,  1801.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Zelota 
(Sprague)  Benedict,  and  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Benedict,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  1638.  He  settled  first  in  Massachusetts, 
then  removed  to  Long  Island,  and  subsequently  lived  in  Connec- 
ticut, where  he  became  a  man  of  influence.  Stephen's  father, 
Thomas  Benedict,  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolution  and  was  an  enter- 
prising farmer.  In  1833  he  removed  from  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  to 
Central  Falls,  where  he  died.  Stephen  was  employed  on  his  father's 
farm,  attending  school  in  the  winter  until  near  his  majority,  receiving 
the  best  of  home  training  and  religious  instruction.  In  1821,  as  his 
half  brother.  Reverend  David  Benedict,  D.D.,  the  Baptist  historian, 
had  settled  as  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Pawtucket,  he 
went  to  that  place  and  engaged  to  work  in  a  machine  shop  and  after- 
ward in  a  cotton  mill.  In  1828  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with 
Honorable  Joseph  Wood  and  removed  to  Bellingham,  Mass.,  where 
they  operated  a  cotton  mill  for  Jabal  Ingraham.  In  1829  they  removed 
to  Albion  Village,  R.  I.,  where  they  operated  the  mills  belonging  to 
Mr.  George  Wilkin.son.  In  1831  they  removed  to  Central  Falls  and 
purchased  of  Dwight  Ingraham  an  interest  in  the  mills  of  the  thread 
company  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cotton  print  cloths,  their 
mill  being  known  as  the  Benedict  &  Wood  Mill.  Their  business  was 
managed  with  remarkable  regularity  and  conscientiousness  for  37 
years,  during  w^hich  time  they  were  greatly  prospered.     In  1865  the 


448  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

firm  was  dissolved  and  Deacon  Benedict  succeeded  to  the  entire  charge 
of  the  old  business,  which  he  conducted  with  his  usual  ability  and 
success  till  his  death. 

He  early  united  with  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Pawtucket,  and 
filled  the  office  of  deacon  for  about  25  years.  He  was  a  quiet,  thought- 
ful, prudent  man,  faithful  and  thorough  in  the  discharge  of  all  the 
duties  required  of  him.  He  was  president  of  the  People's  Bank  and 
also  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Pawtucket  and  director  in  different 
institutions.  In  the  anti-slavery  movement  he  was  a  pioneer,  and 
during  the  civil  war,  though  exempt  from  service  by  age,  he  was 
particularly  active  by  counsel  and  contributions  in  sustaining  the 
nation.  Industrious  and  far  seeing,  he  acquired  a  handsome  estate, 
while  his  kindness,  benevolence  and  integrity  gained  for  him  the 
highest  regard  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

He  married  August  9th,  1830,  Bathsheba  A.  Barber,  of  Bellingham, 
Mass.,  who  since  his  death  has  brought  special  honor  upon  the  Bene- 
dict name  by  her  benefactions.  The  Benedict  Institute,  of  Columbia, 
S.  C,  is  really  all  her  own  work.  It  has  become  virtually  a  college, 
and  its  influence  for  good  among  the  colored  people  of  the  country 
generally  is  already  recognized.  At  the  commencement  exercises  of 
the  year  1889  23  more  students  of  the  institute  graduated,  with  the 
various  degrees  of  classical  honors  conferred  on  such  occasions,  and 
the  numbers  from  year  to  year  are  increasing.  Mr.  Benedict  died 
December  25th,  1868.  In  his  will  he  left  $2,000  to  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  vSociety  for  general  purposes.  Mrs.  Benedict 
added  to  this  contribution  $1,000,  and  when  the  educational  needs  of 
the  freedmen  were  laid  before  her  added  to  the  above  sum  $10,000, 
making  $13,000  in  all,  which  sum  was  used  in  purchasing  this  school 
property.  Since  the  first  purchase  Mrs.  Benedict  added  at  one  time 
$10,000  more,  and  since  then  has  made  yearly  donations  of  about 
$1,000,  until  she  has  now  given  about  $35,000  in  all.  Various  buildings 
have  been  erected  from  time  to  time  until  now  the  Institute  has 
assumed  proportions  commendable  in  size,  and  worthy  of  the  rank 
and  name  of  a  college.  The  buildings  are  located  in  a  beautiful  park 
of  80  acres,  and  number  some  half  dozen  in  all.  The  number  of 
students  is  now  about  200. 

Herbert  T.  Blackington  was  born  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  Novem- 
ber 1st,  1850,  and  has  no  children.  He  has  resided  in  Lincoln  since 
1866  and  is  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

William  Booth,  born  in  Bury,  Lancashire,  England,  September 
2d,  1830,  is  the  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Collins)  Booth.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  weaving  in  his  native  country  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1866,  locating  at  Fall  River,  Mass,  He  came  to  Lonsdale, 
R.  I.,  in  1878  and  moved  to  his  present  residence  in  Lincoln  in  1885 
and  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Mary  Whitaker  and  had  seven 
children:  John,  who  married  Alice  Marsden,  has  three  children,  Agnes,. 


# 


J  /  / 


'J/<:>f..<^<-< 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  449 

William  anci  Frederick,  and  resides  at  Ashton,  R.  I.;  Lucy,  deceased, 
married  James  Fielding;  Thomas  and  Benjamin,  both  single,  reside  at 
Ashton,  R.  I.;  Clara,  wife  of  James  Cooper,  resides  in  New  Jersey; 
Rosa,  wife  of  William 'F.  Potter,  of  Aqiiidneck,  R.  I.,  and  Robert  Lin- 
coln, lives  at  Ashton.  R.  I. 

Doctor  Ichabod  Comstock  practiced  medicine  in  Providence 
county.  He  married  Sarah  Jenckes  and  had  the  following-  sons:  Icha- 
bod, Ephraim,  who  emigrated  to  New  York  state,  and  George  W.  He 
also  had  several  daughters.  GeorgeW.  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  March, 
1788,  and  died  in  1858.  He  married  Comfort  Joslin,  of  Thompson, 
Conn.  Of  their  six  children  three  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were: 
Benjamin,  Nancy  (deceased)  married  Benjamin  S.  Olney,  and  Sarah, 
resides  in  Providence.  Benjamin,  son  of  George  W.,  born  May  Hd, 
1818,  married  for  his  first  wife  Mary  Randall,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children.  Benjamin  married  for  his  second  wife  Amanda  G.  Harris. 
He  is  engaged  in  farming  and  resides  in  Lincoln. 

Hezekiah  Conant. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Roger  Conant,  who  came  to  this  country  from  England  in  1628. 
He  was  born  in  Dudley,  Mass.,  July  28th,  1827,  being  the  second  son 
of  Hervey  and  Dolly  (Healy)  Conant.  His  ancestors  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  that  town,  his  great-grandfather  on  both  sides  being 
residents  of  Dudley  as  early  as  1737.  Hervey  Conant,  his  father,  was 
one  of  the  incorporators  and  partners  of  the  Tufts  Woolen  Manufac- 
turing Company,  which  at  one  time  was  a  very  prosperous  concern. 
At  the  age  of  six  years  young  Conant  attended  school  in  the  old  stone 
school  house  which  stood  on  the  road  leading  from  Tufts  Village  to 
Dudley  Centre.  Having  a  quick  and  retentive  memory,  he  easily 
mastered  the  various  branches  which  he  pursued. 

His  father  having  disposed  of  his  business  interests  at  Tufts  Vil- 
lage, removed  to  Webster,  Mass.,  in  1835,  but  in  the  fall  of  1839  he 
returned  to  Dudley  and  occupied  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  his 
maternal  grandfather.  Major  Lemuel  Healy.  Hezekiah  having  now 
reached  an  age  when  he  was  able  to  do  light  work  about  the  farm,  he 
rendered  such  service  in  the  summer  as  did  not  overtax  his  strength, 
and  in  the  winter  months  he  attended  the  common  school.  Subse- 
quently he  had  the  benefit  of  several  terms  at  the  Nichols  Academy 
in  Dudley.  His  devotion  to  his  alma  mater  has  been  strikingly  shown 
in  his  later  life. 

His  mother  being  dead,  and  having  become  weary  of  the  monotony 
of  farm  life,  in  the  spring  of  1845  he  obtained  permission  from  his 
father  to  accept  a  position  as  roller  boy  in  the  printing  office  of  the 
Worcester  County  Gazette.  Here  he  remained  about  two  years,  when  the 
owners  of  the  establishment  failed,  and  he  found  employment  in  other 
newspaper  offices  in  Worcester  until  1848,  when  he  left  the  printing 
business  and  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  machinist.  This  he  found 
more  to  his  liking,  as  it  made  the  hours  of  his  work  more  regular,  and 


450  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

the  calculations  of  gears  and  screws  had  a  fascination  for  him  which 
he  did  not  find  in  farming  or  printing-.  He  had  saved  enough  of  his 
earnings  in  1850  to  enable  him  to  give  himself  a  full  57ear's  tuition  at 
Nichols  Academy,  and  the  following  year  he  went  into  the  locomotive 
shop  of  the  Union  Works  at  South  Boston.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  went 
to  Hartford.  Conn.,  where  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  inventor 
of  the  celebrated  "  Sharp's  rifle,"  Mr.  Christian  Sharp,  by  whom  he 
was  employed  to  make  some  drawings  for  machinery  for  making  pro- 
jectiles, etc.  He  subsequently  invented  and  patented  an  improve- 
ment in  the  "  Sharp's  rifle"  known  as  the  "  gas  check,"  which  was  con- 
sidered so  important  by  the  United  States  and  British  governments 
that  they  immediately  ordered  its  application  to  all  firearms  manufac- 
tured for  them  by  the  Sharp's  Rifle  Company.  While  in  Hartford  he 
entered  Colt's  firearms  manufactory  as  a  tool  maker,  where  he  re- 
mained about  a  year,  and  then  began  drawing  and  constructing  ma- 
chinery as  parties  requested  his  services. 

In  1856  he  went  to  Webster,  Mass.,  and  constructed  a  machine  for 
sewing  the  selvage  on  the  woolen  goods  made  by  the  Slaters.  He  was 
next  employed  by  them  to  construct  a  thread-dressing  machine  which 
should  dress  the  thread  in  the  skein;  but,  although  the  machine  proved 
to  be  all  that  was  required,  the  later  style  of  dressing  the  thread  from 
the  bobbin  in  a  single  web  superseded  the  skein  process. 

About  the  year  1857  he  began  the  construction  of  a  machine  to 
automatically  wind  sewing  thread  of  200  yards  length  upon  spools. 
This  invention  proved  very  successful.  So  well  pleased  with  the  ma- 
chine were  the  Willimantic  Linen  Company  that  they  purchased  one- 
half  of  the  patent  right,  and  made  arrangements  with  Mr.  Conant  to 
enter  their  service  as  a  mechanical  expert,  giving  his  entire  time  to 
them  for  three  years.  He  entered  upon  this  engagement  February 
1st,  1859.  The  contract  was  twice  renewed  for  three  years,  his  salar}^ 
being  increased  the  last  time  to  double  what  it  was  at  first. 

During  this  time  he  made  several  new  inventions,  the  most  im- 
portant being  the  "  ticketing  machine,"  which  is  now  used  to  affix  the 
small  labels  on  each  end  of  the  spools  of  thread,  which  it  accomplishes 
at  the  rate  of  100  spools  per  minute.  The  last  three  years  of  his  stay 
at  Willimantic,  Mr.  Conant  was  superintendent  of  the  establishment. 
In  1864  he  went  to  Europe  to  visit  the  manufacturing  districts  of 
England  and  Scotland,  in  the  interest  of  the  Willimantic  Linen  Com- 
pany, they  bearing  all  the  expense  of  the  trip.  He  gained  admission 
to  very  many  of  the  best  spinning  establishments,  and  also  the  spool 
thread  establishments  of  Paisley  and  Glasgow.  At  the  expiration  of 
his  last  contract  in  Willimantic,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which 
was  accepted,  thus  terminating  nine  years  of  continuous  service, 
during  which  the  company  had  more  than  doubled  its  capital  and  its 
production. 

Immediately  on  the  termination  of  his  connection  at  Willimantic, 


I 


/(6.  ^< 


'A 


HISTORY   OF   TROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  451 

Mr.  Conant  removed  to  Pawtucket,  and  in  the  fall  of  1808  interested 
himself  in  the  organization  of  a  new  thread  company.  Capital  to  the 
amount  of  $30,000  was  at  once  subscribed,  a  charter  was  obtained  from 
the  general  assembly,  and  the  Conant  Thread  Company  was  formed, 
with  Mr.  Conant  as  treasurer  and  manager,  the  purpose  of  the  com- 
pany being  to  manufacture  six-cord  spool  cotton.  A  small  factory  was 
built  of  wood,  96  feet  long  by  41  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high,  in 
which  twisting  and  winding  machinery  was  forthwith  put  in  motion, 
the  supplies  of  yarn  being  imported  from  England.  This  was  the 
Number  1  mill  of  the  Conant  Thread  Company.  Soon  after  this  small 
factory  was  set  in  operation,  Mr.  Conant  opened  negotiations  with  the 
firm  of  J.  &  P.  Coats,  of  Paisley,  Scotland,  for  the  manufacture  of  their 
thread  in  this  country.  The  result  of  the  negotiations  and  a  second 
trip  to  Paisley  was  that  the  capital  stock  of  the  Conant  Thread  Com- 
pany was  gradually  raised  to  a  large  amount,  and  one  mill  after  an- 
other of  colossal' size  was  erected,  till  the  plant  now  consists  of  four 
mammoth  brick  structures,  fitted  with  the  most  improved  machinery, 
and  operated  by  Corliss  engines  amounting  to  more  than  4,000  horse 
power,  and  representing  an  outlay  of  upward  of  four  million  dollars, 
and  giving  employment  to  nearly  3,000  workers.  Besides  being  the 
chief  industrial  establishment  in  the  city  where  it  is  located,  it  is  with- 
out doubt  the  best  arranged,  best  equipped  and  best  organized  manu- 
facturing establishment  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Mr.  Conant  is  still 
the  treasurer  and  manager  of  this  great  corpoi;ation,  and  devotes  his 
entire  time  to  its  interests.  He  has  never  accepted  any  political  office, 
or  engaged  in  the  performance  of  any  public  duties  that  would  in 
any  way  interfere  with  his  efficiency  as  the  head  of  this  model  estab- 
lishment. Nevertheless,  the  financial  transactions  of  the  concern  are 
on  such  a  large  scale  that  he  sits  at  the  board  of  direction  of  the  three 
national  banks  in  Pawtucket,  and  is  president  of  the  Pawtucket  In- 
stitution for  Savings,  one  of  the  oldest  organizations  of  its  kind  in  the 
.state.  In  politics  Mr.  Conant  is  a  republican,  and  a  firm  believer  in 
the  American  policy  of  protection.  Having  been  a  workingman  him- 
self, he  advocates  that  condition  of  political  economy  which  rewards 
the  worker  with  good  wages.  His  religious  views  are  in  accord  with 
those  held  by  the  Congregationalists,  of  which  denomination  he  is  an 
esteemed  member;  and  yet  what  a  man  believes  does  not  have  so  much 
weight  with  him  as  what  he  practices. 

Mr.  Conant  has  visited  Europe  several  times,  and  on  his  last  trip 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  son  and 
daughter,  and  together  they  made  the  tour  of  the  Continent.  The 
summers  are  spent  by  the  family  in  Mr.  Conant's  native  town  of  Dud- 
ley, where  he  has  recently  erected  a  beautiful  and  costly  residence  of 
wood  and  rubble  work,  to  which  he  has  given  the  name  of  "  Budleigh 
Hall,"  in  honor  of  Roger  Conant,  of  East  Budleigh,  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, "  who  was  practically  agent  or  governor  of  the  colony  at  Cape 


452  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Ann,  Mass."  Mr.  Conant  has  done  much  for  his  native  town  and 
Nichols  Academy.  He  has  erected  new  school  and  dormitory  build- 
ing's of  ample  proportions,  and  also  an  observatory  equipped  with  two 
good  telescopes  and  a  full  set  of  meteorological  instruments  from  the 
celebrated  house  of  Cassella  &  Co.,  of  London,  England.  Combined 
with  this  is  a  fine  library  and  reading  room  for  the  use  of  the  students 
of  the  academy.  He  has  enlarged  the  common  and  regraded  it  and 
laid  walks,  and  assisted  the  people  in  various  ways  in  improving  the 
appearance  of  the  old  town.  He  has  been  greatly  prospered  in  busi- 
ness, and  experiences  much  satisfaction  in  helping  those  less  for- 
tunate. 

Additional  evidence  of  the  abiding  interest  which  Mr.  Conant  has 
in  his  native  town  is  shown  by  the  following  incident:  In  the  latter 
part  of  June,  1890,  the  Congregational  church  in  Dudley,  over  one 
hundred  years  old,  was  burned  to  the  ground.  Before  the  ruins  had 
ceased  to  smolder,  Mr.  Conant  sent  word  to  the  church  committee 
that,  as  a  memorial  to  his  ancestors,  he  would  build  and  present  to 
the  society  a  new  brick  house  of  worship.  The  corner  stone  was  laid 
with  appropriate  ceremonies,  October  16th,  1890.  In  the  course  of 
some  remarks  which  Mr.  Conant  made  on  the  occasion,  he  said:  "  All 
that  the  minister  can  do,  it  seems  to  me,  is  to  present  new  forms  of 
truth  to  his  congregation  on  the  Sabbath;  earnestly  study  to  be  able 
to  present  new  ideas  to  the  people;  subjects  of  thought  for  them  men- 
tally to  digest  and  assimilate,  and  thus  promote  mental  and  spiritual 
growth.  He  should  be  a  man  of  education,  and  of  a  character  that 
will  command  the  respect  of  the  community;  and  he  should  consider 
that  the  higher  type  of  Christianity  cannot  flourish  where  ignorance 
prevails.  Science  and  Christianity  should  go  hand  in  hand.  The  day 
for  dogmatic  teaching  has  passed,  I  trust,  and  so  far  as  an  intelligent 
congregation  is  concerned,  has  no  more  effect  than  the  sound  of  the- 
whistling  wind  or  the  howling  storm." 

One  of  the  latest  of  Mr.  Conant's  numerous  inventions,  and  one 
which  has  received  no  small  amount  of  attention  from  astronomers  and 
others,  is  what  is  termed  a  "  right  ascension  clock."  By  the  peculiar 
arrangement  of  its  mechanism  it  illustrates  solar  and  siderial  time, 
and  also  the  mean  right  ascension  of  the  sun  and  moon.  This  clock, 
which  is  a  masterpiece  of  invention,  has  been  in  operation  long  enough 
to  show  itself  to  be  certain  to  perform  its  requirements,  and  reflects 
great  credit  upon  the  mechanical  skill  of  the  inventor,  as  well  as  his 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  celestial  bodies.  One  has  been  placed  in 
the  rooms  of  the  Pawtucket  Business  Men's  Association,  and  another 
in  the  Nichols  Academy. 

John  Cullen  was  born  in  Ireland  May  18th,  1837,  came  to  America 
with  his  uncle  in  1853,  and  took  up  his  residence  for  one  year  at  Prov- 
incetown,  Mass.  In  1854  he  came  to  Lonsdale  and  commenced  work 
for  the  Lonsdale  Company.     He  was  in  their  employ  most  of  the  time 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  453 

till  1883  in  various  capacities,  having  at  one  time  charge  of  their  farm. 
He  also  was  in  charge  of  the  Berkeley  Company  farms.  He  now  re- 
.sides  on  a  farm  purchased  by  him  in  1878  in  Lincoln.  He  married 
Mary  Powers  and  has  eleven  children:  John,  William,  Margaret,  Jo- 
hanna, Mary,  Patrick,  Bridget,  Stacy,  Katie,  Thomas  and  James. 

Alpha  A.  Draper  was  born  in  what  is  now  Lincoln  March  29th, 
1823,  and  was  the  only  child  of  Alpha  and  Ruth  (Angell)  Draper.  He 
married  Lydia  H.  Hawkins  and  has  three  children:  Lucy,  wife  of 
George  H.  Winsor,  of  Lincoln;  Frank  S.,  who  married  Freelove  Man- 
ton  and  has  three  children — Bertha,  Clara  and  Esther;  and  Emma, 
wife  of  Crawford  Manton,  Jr.,  of  Lincoln.  Mr.  Draper  has  been  street 
commissioner  of  Lincoln  for  15  years. 

The  Fales  Family. — The  families  of  this  name  residing  in  Cen- 
tral Falls  are  descended  from  James  F.  Fales,  who  was  born  in  1610, 
and  who  married  Anna  Brock.  They  had  a  son,  Peter,  who  was  born 
in  1668,  and  his  son,  Peter  F.,  resided  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  was  born 
April  13th,  1690.  Peter  F.  had  a  son,  Peter,  born  December  16th,  1732, 
who  married  Avis  Bicknell.  The  children  by  this  marriage  were: 
Turpin  and  Allen,  twins  (The  former  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river 
and  was  unmarried.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.);  Olive, 
married  Elliken  Miller,  of  Franklin,  Mass.;  John;  Sally,  married  Shu- 
bael  Gilmore,  of  Franklin,  Mass.;  Nancy,  married  William  Gilmore,  of 
Franklin,  Mass.;  Peter,  emigrated  to  Ohio;  James,  died  in  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass.;  Samuel,  died  at  the  age  of  4  years;  and  Turner,  died  in 
■childhood.  John,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  September  10th,  1768,  and 
married  Roby  Gilmore.  Their  children  were:  Avis,  married  George 
Bacon,  of  Attleboro,  Mass.;  John  Turpin;  Johanna,  married  Hiram 
Pond,  of  Franklin,  Mass.;  Sally,  married  Alvin  Jenks,  of  Pawtucket; 
David  Gilmore;  Roby,  married  Owen  Cargill,  of  Attleboro,  Mass.;  and 
James  G.  Of  this  family  all  are  dead  excepting  the  youngest.  John 
died  October  24th,  1847.  John  Turpin,  son  of  John,  born  in  Attleboro, 
Mass.,  March  17th,  1797,  married  Catharine  Day.  They  had  children: 
Samuel  Day;  Emily  Caroline,  died  age  of  2^  years;  Emeline,  widow  of 
Roswell  B.  Worden,  resides  at  Northampton,  Mass.;  and  George  Au- 
gustus. John  Turpin  died  March  5th,  1855.  Samuel  Day,  son  of  John 
T.,  born  in  Pawtucket  February  1st,  1827,  married  Louisa  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Ambrose  Clark,  of  Cumberland,  and  had  two  children— Laura 
E.  and  Byron  D.,  died  age  14  months.  Samuel  D.  died  March  16th, 
1887.  George  Augustus,  son  of  John  T.,  born  at  Pawtucket  August 
7th,  1841,  married  Lovinia,  daughter  of  Hon.  Lucius  B.  Darling.  David 
Gilmore,  son  of  John,  married  Parthana  C.  Sprague  and  had  three 
children.  John  R.,  son  of  David  G.,  born  in  Central  Falls,  R.L,  March 
5th,  1833,  married  Harriet  B.  Lee,  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  and  has  two 
•children,  Le  Roy  and  Warren  R.  John  R.  is  vice-president  of  the 
Fales  &  Jenks  Machine  Company.     George  S.,  son  of  David  G.,  born 


454  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

in  Central  Falls,  R.  I.,  December  25th,  1836,  married  Frances  Hender. 
son,  daughter  of  Philander  and  Frances  Baker,  a  native  of  Pawtucket.. 
They  had  four  children:  Robert  Baker,  died  aged  28  years;  David  Gil- 
more,  died  at  Dead  wood,  Dakota,  aged  17  years;  Elizabeth  K.,  wife  of 
Joseph  W.  Freeman,  of  Central  Falls;  and  Martha  A.  Le  Roy,  son  of 
John  R.,  born  in  Central  Falls  August  30th,  1859,  married  Emma  J. 
Taylor.  Warren  R.,  son  of  John  R.,  born  in  Central  Falls  November 
23d,  1862,  married  Carrie  Hopkins,  and- has  two  children,  Harry  Lee 
and  Le  Roy  Atherton. 

James  G.  Fales,  son  of  John,  born  in' Attleboro,  Mass.,  March  17th,. 
1814,  married  Maria  E.  Aldrich,  and  of  their  family  six  are  living: 
Roby  Ann,  wife  of  James  H.  Andrews,  of  Central  Falls;  David  L.,  Jo- 
seph E.,  J.  Henry,  Ellen,  wife  of  Charles  Parker,  of  Central  Falls;  and 
Alice,  wife  of  Horace  Fletcher,  of  Central  Falls.  James  G.  came  to 
Central  Falls  in  the  spring  of  1831,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  ma- 
chinist, which  he  followed  mainly  till  1847,  when  he  opened  a  grocery 
store  in  Pawtucket,  and  in  1852  he  removed  the  business  to  Central 
Falls.  He  relinquished  the  business  to  his  sons,  Joseph  E.  and  J.  Henry, 
in  1873,  and  they  still  carry  it  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Fales  Broth- 
ers. David  L.,  son  of  James  G.,  was  born  in  Attleboro  December  22d, 
1839.  He  married  Melissa  C,  daughter  of  Isaiah  Gage,  and  by  her  he 
had  two  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  other  is  Edward 
L,  His  second  wife  was  Cordelia,  daughter  of  William  Fales,  by  whom 
he  has  two  children,  William  C.  and  Edith  M.  Since  1871  he  has  been 
interested  in  the  Pawtucket  Steam  &  Gas  Pipe  Company.  Joseph  E., 
son  of  James  G.,  born  in  Attleboro, ^Mass.,  November  12th,  1841,  mar- 
ried Sarah  E.  Dunham  and  has  three  children:  Bertha  D.,  Lester  P. 
and  Flossie  L.  James  Henry,  son  of  James  G.,  born  in  Pawtucket 
July  30th,  1843,  married  Cornelia,  daughter  of  William  Fales,  and  has 
two  children,  Gertrude  and  Ruth. 

Peter  Fales,  son  of  Peter,  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  had  a  family  of 
fifteen  children,  eight  of  whom  were  by  his  second  wife,  Patty  Cole, 
a  native  of  Bristol,  R.  L  Their  names  were:  Henry,  Turpin,  Orange, 
Shephard,  Thomas,  Harlow,  William  and  Mary.  Of  this  family  Wil- 
liam married  Ann  Proctor  and  resides  in  Farmington,  Ohio,  and  of 
their  family  of  eight  children  the  following  are  residents  of  Ohio: 
Loren,  Dora,  William  J.,  Mary  and  Ruby.  Cordelia  is  the  wife  of 
David  L.  Fales,  and  Cornelia  married  J.  Henry  Fales.  These  last  two 
were  twins,  and  the  latter  is  dead.  The  other  member  of  the  family, 
George  Harlow,  was  born  in  Nelson,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  January 
1st,  1855.  He  is  married  to  Nina  E.  Harrison  and  has  four  children: 
Kenneth,  Paul,  Forrest  and  Elsie.  He  came  to  Central  Falls  in  1874, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade.  He  is 
now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Fales  &  Beattie,  which  partnership  dates- 
from  1881. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  455 

David  Gilmore  Fales,  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Attleboro, 
Massachusetts,  June  4th,  1806.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  which  occu- 
pation he  followed  himself  till  18  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  came 
to  Central  Falls  and  learned  the  machinist's  trade  in  the  shop  of  David 
Jenks  &  Co.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic,  and  his  whole  life  was  de- 
voted to  his  special  calling.  In  some  other  respects  he  was  remarkable 
also.  He  was  a  natural  bone-setter  and  could  set  a  limb  with  as  much 
readiness  as  a  skilled  physician.  David  G.  Fales  began  the  manufact- 
uring of  cotton  machinery  with  Alvin  Jenks  in  1830  and  continued 
operations  at  Central  Falls  till  1866,  and  then  in  Pawtucket  until  suc- 
ceeded by  the  firm  of  Fales  &  Jenks,  an  establishment  that  gives  em- 
ployment now  to  a  force  of  some  500  hands.  Mr.  David  G.  Fales,  the 
original  proprietor  of  the  firm,  began  business  in  Central  Falls  first  in 
a  hired  shop.  The  first  piece  of  work  was  a  spooler,  made  for  a  firm 
in  Richmond,  Virginia,  for  which  they  received  $60.  In  1838  the  firm 
began  the  manufacture  of  Hubbard's  patent  pump.  In  1845  this  firm 
began  to  manufacture  ring  spinning  frames,  and  in  1846  they  began 
the  manufacture  of  ring  twisters,  being  among  the  first  to  manu- 
facture these  machines  in  this  country,  for  thread,  worsted,  and 
silk.  The  machines  were  made  for  Benjamin  Greene.  The  firm 
afterward  manufactured  twisters,  dressers,  and  winders  for  J.  &  P. 
Coats,  the  celebrated  manufacturers  of  sewing  thread  at  Paisley, 
Scotland.  Business  was  so  successful  that  in  1860  a  furnace  was  built 
for  castings,  and  the  year  after  it  was  considerably  enlarged.  In  1862 
and  1863  their  brick  shop,  three  stories  high,  300  by  68  feet,  with  an 
ell  70  by  60  feet  (afterward  sold  to  the  American  Linen  Company),  was 
erected,  and  in  1866  the  removal  to  Pawtucket  was  made,  soon  after 
which  Mr.  Fales  retired  from  business.  Mr.  Fales  was  married.  May 
3d,  1829,  to  Miss  Parthana  Sprague,  and  died  in  1875. 

Edward  Livingston  Freeman  was  born  in  Waterville,  Maine, 
September  10th,  1885,  and  is  the  oldest  of  the  ten  children  of  Rever- 
end Edward  and  Harriet  (Colburn)  Freeman.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Mendon,  Mass.,  born  in  April,  1806.  He  graduated  from  Brown 
University,  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  the  class  of  1838,  and  soon  after  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  the  Baptist  church,  removing  to  Waterville, 
Maine.  He  was  afterward  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Oldtown,  Me., 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  Camden,  Me.,  where  he  resided,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  at  Bristol,  R.  I.,  until  his  death  in  1883.  He 
taught  school  for  many  years  and  is  said  to  have  prepared  more  young 
men  for  college  than  any  teacher  in  Maine.  The  mother  of  Edward 
L.  was  born  in  West  Dedham,  Mass.,  in  1815.  She  graduated  from 
the  Medfield  High  School  and  afterward  engaged  in  teaching  French 
and  Latin,  in  which  she  was  specially  proficient.  She  died  in  June, 
1852,  at  the  early  age  of  37. 

Edward  L.  was  instructed  by  his  father  and   fitted  for  college  at  an 
early  age;  instead  of  pursuing  a  college  course  he  chose  to  apprentice 


456  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

himself  to  A.  W.  Pearce,  of  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  for  the  purpose  of  learn- 
ing the  printer's  art.  After  serving  his  time  and  acquiring  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  trade,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hammond,  Angell 
&  Co.,  of  Providence,  and  worked  for  them  as  a  journeyman  for  eight 
years,  with  the  exception  of  one  winter  spent  in  a  printing  office  in 
Washington.  He  became  a  partner  in  the  firm,  and  in  1863  sold  his 
interest,  removed  to  Central  Falls,  R.  I.,  and  commenced  business  for 
himself.  He  began  in  a  small  room  in  the  large  three-story  brick 
block  which  he  now  owns,  and  which,  with  a  large  addition,  is  fast 
becoming  too  small  for  its  uses.  At  this  time  he  employed  two  men 
and  a  boy.  In  1869  Mr.  Freeman  began  the  publication  of  The  Weekly 
Visitor,  a  36-column  folio,  which  is  still  issued,  and  which  has  been  a 
potent  factor  in  the  growth  of  the  town.  In  1873  Mr.  J.  E.  Golds- 
worthy  became  a  partner,  and  the  business  was  carried  on  under  the 
name  of  E.  L.  Freeman  &  Co.,  until  1885,  when,  by  the  withdrawal  of 
Mr.  Goldsworthy  and  the  admission  of  Mr.  Freeman's  eldest  son,  Wil- 
liam C,  the  firm  name  became  E.  L.  Freeman  &  Son 

The  business  embraces  book  and  job  printing,  also  lithograph  and 
gelatine  printing.  The  last-named  branch  is  carried  on  under  the 
name  of  the  Artogravure  Company,  which,  while  it  does  considerable 
commercial  work,  is  mainly  devoted  to  art  reproductions  of  paintings 
and  engravings.  Since  1877  the  firm  have  been  printers  to  the  state 
of  Rhode  Island.  In  the  same  year  they  bought  a  large  book  and 
stationery  store  in  Providence,  which  has  been  successfully  conducted 
in  connection  with  the  printing  business.  A  similar  store  has  been 
carried  on  in  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  since  1888. 

But  it  is  not  as  a  business  man,  merely,  that  Mr.  Freeman  has  been 
prominent  and  influential.  He  early  showed  a  deep  interest  in  polit- 
ical matters  and  has  held  many  places  of  public  trust  and  honor. 
Since  attaining  his  majority  he  has  been  a  republican.  He  was  the 
last  senator  to  the  general  assembly  from  the  old  town  of  Smithfield 
and  the  first  from  the  new  town  of  Lincoln,  so  named  at  his  sugges- 
tion. He  has  been  a  representative  in  the  general  assembly  for  15 
years,  and  in  1874  and  again  in  1875  was  speaker  of  the  house.  Dur- 
ing his  legislative  career  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  house  and 
exerted  a  great  influence  upon  legislation,  drafting  and  advocating 
many  important  measures  which  are  now  on  the  statute  books  of  the 
state,  h.  ready  speaker,  with  a  retentive  memory  and  a  remarkable 
capacity  for  getting  at  the  essence  of  a  subject,  he  has  been  an  able 
legislator  and  materially  advanced  the  interests  of  his  constituents,  as 
well  as  those  of  the  state  at  large.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of 
measures  brought  forward  in  the  interests  of  the  working  people  and 
the  extension  of  the  suffrage,  and  it  was  owing  in  a  great  degree  to 
his  exertions  that  those  measures  became  laws.  He  retired  from  the 
general  assembly  in  1888  and  was  appointed  a  railroad  commissioner 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  457 

by  Governor  Taft.  This  position  he  still  holds  and  has  already  done 
much  to  increase  its  importance  and  usefulness. 

Mr.  Freeman  also  took  a  great  interest  in  military  affairs  in  his 
younger  days  and  worked  his  way  up  from  the  ranks  to  be  colonel  of 
the  Union  Guard,  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  of  the  chartered  compa- 
nies of  the  state,  which  disbanded  upon  the  enactment  of  the  present 
militia  law. 

In  educational  matters,  also,  he  has  been  active,  and  served  for 
several  years  as  school  trustee.  For  19  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  fire  wards  of  the  Central  Falls  fire  district,  a  body  having  en- 
tire charge  of  the  police,  water  works,  fire  department,  street  lights, 
and  public  library,  and  the  results  of  his  labors  may  be  seen  in  the 
present  condition  of  these  important  departments. 

Mr.  Freeman  joined  the  Congregational  church  in  1855  and  has 
ever  since  been  an  earnest  and  helpful  member.  In  the  Sunday  school 
he  has  been  active  and  faithful,  teaching  for  many  years  a  large  class  of 
boys  and  young  men,  until  1883,  when  he  was  chosen  superintendent, 
a  position  which  he  still  holds. 

Mr.  Freeman  has  always  been  greatly  devoted  to  Masonry  and  has 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  craft  the  highest  honors  in  their  gift  to 
bestow.  He  was  initiated  in  1864,  in  1868  was  made  worshipful  mas- 
ter of  his  Lodge — Union,  No.  10,  of  Pawtucket — and  in  1879  was  made 
grand  master  of  Masons  in  Rhode  Island  and  was  reelected  the  follow- 
ing year.  In  1885  he  was  elected  grand  high  priest  of  the  Grand 
Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  of  Rhode  Island.  In  Templar  Ma- 
sonry, also,  Mr.  Freeman  has  been  deservedly  prominent.  In  1870  he 
was  chosen  eminent  commander  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  Commandery 
of  Pawtucket  and  was  twice  reelected.  After  holding  various  posi- 
tions in  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island, 
the  oldest  in  the  country  and  having  in  its  allegiance  8,000  Templars, 
in  1888  he  was  chosen  grand  commander.  In  all  the.se  positions,  but 
one  of  which  is  rarely  held  by  one  man,  Mr.  Freeman  has  done  excel- 
lent work  for  the  institution.  He  has  always  been  ready  to  render 
his  best  service,  and  his  knowledge  of  Masonic  work,  history,  and  law 
has  given  him  deserved  rank  among  the  best  informed  of  the  order. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  several  other  secret  societies. 

November  10th,  1858,  Mr.  Freeman  was  married  to  Emma  Elliott 
Brown,  of  Central  Falls.  They  have  had  seven  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  living.  The  eldest  son,  William 
C,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  E.  L.  Freeman  &  Son;  the  second,  Joseph 
W.,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  is  editor  of  Tlic  Weekly  Visitor, 
and  the  third,  Edward,  is  a  Methodist  clergyman. 

Mr.  Freeman  has  been  emphatically  a  busy  man,  active  and  inter- 
ested in  many  lines  of  human  effort  and  association.  In  them  all 
he  has  been  influential,  because  of  his  warm  heart  and  generous  sym- 
pathies, which,  united  to  quick  perceptions  and  large  executive  ability, 


458  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

have  enabled  him  to  command  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  com- 
panions and  the  public.  Of  him  it  may  be  truly  said,  in  the  words  of 
Terence,  "  huuiani  niJiil  alicniy 

The  Harris  Family.— The  ancestor  of  this  family  was  Thomas 
Harris,  who  came  to  America  from  Bristol,  England,  in  the  ship 
"  Lyon"  in  December,  1630.  On  the  same  ship  was  his  brother  Wil- 
liam, and  Roger  Williams.  He  came  to  Providence  in  1637  and  died 
June  7th,  1686.  His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  they  had  three 
children:  Thomas,  Mary,  married  Samuel  Whipple,  and  Martha,  mar- 
ried Thomas  Field.  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  died  February  27th,  1711. 
He  married  Elnathan  Tew  and  had  the  following  children:  Thomas, 
Richard,  Nicholas,  Henry,  Amity  married  a  Morse;  Job,  died  single; 
Elnathan,  married  Nathaniel  Brown;  William,  who  has  no  decendants 
living,  and  Mary,  married  Gabriel  Bernon.  Richard,  son  of  Thomas, 
was  born  in  1668,  and  died  in  1756.  His  first  wife  was  a  King,  and 
their  children  were:  Uriah,  Richard,  Jonathan,  Amaziah,  Preserved, 
Elnathan,  married  Joseph  Guile;  Amity  and  Dinah,  both  of  whom 
married  Smiths.  Richard  married  for  his  second  wife  the  Widow 
Susannah  Gorton.  Richard,  son  of  Richard,  married  for  his  first  wife 
Martha  Foster.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Colwell.  His  children 
were:  Richard,  Jeremiah,  Anthony,  David,  Jabez  and  Abner.  David, 
son  of  Richard,  married  Abigail  Farnum.  She  lived  to  be  93  years  of 
age.  They  had  two  sons,  besides  daughters.  The  sons  were  Farnum, 
and  Welcome  who  married  a  Sayles  and  their  children  were:  John, 
who  died  in  Johnston;  George,  left  no  male  issue;  David;  Edwin,  left 
no  male  issue;  Anna  (deceased)  married  Simon  Aldrich;  Rachel,  wife 
of  Albert  Keene,  of  Woodstock,  Conn.;  and  Amanda  (deceased),  mar- 
ried Stephen  Barnes.  David,  son  of  Welcome,  married  Amy,  daugh- 
ter of  Bial  Mowry,  and  their  children  were:  Manton,  Crawford,  a 
bachelor  residing  in  Lincoln;  Abby,  wife  of  Nathan  Foster  of  Charles- 
town,  R.  L;  Emily,  married  James  Greene,  and  resides  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  and  Susan  (deceased),  married  Thomas  Maine.  Manton,  son  of 
David,  was  born  April  8th,  1824.  His  present  wife  is  Margaret 
McQuestion.  They  have  no  children.  He  resides  in  Lincoln  on  part 
of  the  original  land  once  owned  by  his  ancestor,  Thomas  Harris. 
Robert  Harris,  another  descendant  of  Thomas,  had  the  following 
children:  Amy,  married  Daniel  Angell;  Robert;  Phebe,  married  Caleb 
Farnum;  Jenckes,  William,  Thomas  and  Ethan.  Robert,  son  of  Robert, 
married  Martha  Smith  and  had  four  children:  Raymond  P.,  died 
single  in  Providence;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  vStephen  Olney  of  North 
Providence;  Benjamin  F.,  has  no  children,  resides  in  Lincoln,  and 
Elisha  S.,  resides  in  Smithfield. 

Alvin  Jenks. — Some  surnames  are  synonyms.  They  suggest 
genius,  skill,  capability  or  integrity.  The  original  holders  of  them 
were  men  of  mark,  and  have  transmitted  names  that  enrich  our  vocab- 
ulary.    Of  the  workers  in  iron  who  have  won  renown  in  our  land  not 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  459 

a  few  have  borne  the  name  of  Jenks.  Among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  Bay  State  was  Joseph  Jenks,  who  received  the  first  patent  that  was 
granted  in  this  country.  His  son,  bearing  the  same  name,  came  to 
Providence  plantations  in  1655,  and  founded  the  hamlet  of  Pawtucket, 
By  a  kind  of  heredity,  skill  in  iron  working  seemed  to  mark  his  de- 
scendants. One  of  them,  a  kinsman  of  the  illustrious  Governor  Jenks, 
was  born  about  13  years  before  the  death  of  that  official,  and  was 
marked  by  a  patriotism  and  capability  for  public  affairs  like  his  rel- 
atives. He  bore  the  name  of  vStephen,  and  usually  presided  in  the 
public  meetings  of  the  town.  In  the  revolution  he  was  specially 
active,  and  manufactured  muskets  for  several  of  the  companies  of  the 
colony.  Though  residing  in  the  village  of  Pawtucket,  in  North  Prov- 
idence, he  built  and  operated  a  trip  hammer  and  blacksmith  shop  in 
Central  Falls.  Dying  in  the  last  year  of  the  18th  century,  he  be- 
queathed his  business  to  his  son,  who  bore  the  same  Christian  name. 
He  also  won  fame  as  a  contractor  with  the  government  in  1811  to 
furnish  10,000  muskets  at  $11.50  apiece.  The  building  reared  for  the 
manufacture  of  those  guns  was  afterward  used  by  Stephen  Jenks  & 
Sons  for  a  machine  shop  and  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth.  It 
stood  on  the  site  of  what  was  afterward  the  Duck  Mill,  and  was  burned 
in  1829. 

One  of  these  sons,  whose  name  is  still  a  household  word  in  Central 
Falls,  bore  the  name  of  Alvin,  and  was  born  in  the  village  of  Paw- 
tucket, July  24th,  1798,  and  died  in  Central  Falls,  January  15th,  1856.  In 
1830,  in  company  with  David  G.  Fales,  his  brother-in-law,  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  machinery  in  Central  Falls.  They  adopted  the 
style  of  Fales  &  Jenks,  which  has  given  a  name  to  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  corporations  of  Pawtucket.  They  commenced  business  in 
a  hired  shop,  and  made  as  their  ^rst  piece  of  work  a  spooler  for  a 
firm  in  Richmond,  Va.  In  1833  they  began  the  manufacture  of  Hub- 
bard's patent  rotary  pump.  Of  course  the  patent  long  since  expired, 
but  they  added  so  many  improvements  to  the  original  design,  and  so 
perfected  the  machine  as  to  gain  almost  a  monopoly  of  the  manufac- 
ture of  such  pumps.  In  1845  they  began  to  make  ring  spinning 
frames,  and  in  1846  made  ring  twisters,  which  were  among  the  first  of 
such  machines  in  the  country. 

In  process  of  time  Mr.  John  R.  Fales,  son  of  the  elder  Mr.  Fales, 
and  Messrs.  Alvin  F.  Jenks  and  Stephen  A.  Jenks,  sons  of  Alvin 
Jenks,  were  admitted  to  the  firm;  and  as  death  removed  the  elder  Mr. 
Jenks  and  Mr.  David  Fales  retired,  they  constituted  the  company  and 
retained  the  old  name.  In  1859  they  built  a  furnace  for  castings,  and 
two  years  afterward  they  enlarged  their  operations  to  a  considerable 
extent.  In  1865  they  bought  several  acres  of  land  in  Pawtucket,  and 
reared  their  extensive  machine  shops  and  large  foundry  on  Dexter 
street  in  that  city.  In  1876  they  obtained  an  act  of  incorporation  under 
the  name  of  Fales  &  Jenks  Machine  Company.     They  manufacture 


460  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

cotton  machinery,  many  kinds  of  which  are  of  their  own  device.  Five 
hundred  workmen  are  in  their  employ.  The  officers  of  the  corpora- 
tion are:  Alvin  F.  Jenks,  president;  John  R.  Fales,  vice-president,  and 
Stephen  A.  Jenks,  treasurer.  The  officers  of  this  company  hold  the 
same  offices  in  the  United  States  Cotton  Company  and  in  the  Lilly 
Pond  Land  Company. 

Mr.  Alvin  Jenks  married  for  his  first  wife  Abigail  Comstock,  who 
bore  to  him  two  children.  One  of  them,  Nathan  Comstock,  is  still 
living.  He  married  subsequently  Elsie  Briggs,  who  bore  to  him  one 
child  that  died  in  infancy.  His  third  wife  was  Sallie  Fales,  who  was 
spared  to  him  several  years,  and  became  the  mother  of  eight  children. 
She  outlived  him  30  years  or  more.  Four  of  their  children  died 
young,  but  four  still  survive.  Two  of  them,  Alvin  F.  and  Stephen  A,, 
are  officers  in  the  energetic  corporation  which  perpetuates  their  father's 
fame,  and  the  other  two,  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  John  R.  Jerauld,  and  Mrs. 
Ida  E.  Beede,  hold  their  parents'  memory  in  affectionate  remem- 
brance. 

Henry  Jollie  was  born  in  England,  in  June,  1806,  and  emigrated 
to  America  about  1823,  locating  at  New  York  city.  He  was  till  1840 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  His  brother-in-law,  Joseph  Pim- 
bley,  having  started  at  what  is  now  Saylesville,  R.  L,  a  bleachery,  in 
1840  Mr.  Jollie  joined  him.  vSubsequently  a  print  works  was  added, 
but  the  latter  adventure  proved  a  failure,  and  the  plant  was  disposed 
of  to  William  F.  Sayles,  in  whose  employ  Mr.  Jollie  continued  till  his 
death,  July  17th,  1853.  He  left  a  widow  and  three  children.  Thomas 
L.  married  Laura  Whipple,  and  has  a  family  of  six,  viz.:  Mary  E., 
Nellie  A.,  Isabella  D.,  Thomas  L.,  Ettie  E.  and  Eva  M.  James  Henry 
married  Harriet  B,  Short  and  has  two  children,  Arthur  W.  and  Wil- 
liam Henry.  The  two  brothers  are  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Saylesville  under  firm  name  of  T.  L.  &  J.  H.  Jollie.  Martha 
A.  married  William  W.  Spaulding,  of  Central  Falls. 

The  Keene  Family. — The  first  member  of  this  family  we  are 
able  to  give  any  account  of  is  John  Keene,  who  married  Sally  Potter, 
and  lived  in  Providence.  He  owned  at  one  time  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  On  part  of  this  land  the  Arcade,  in  the 
city  of  Providence,  is  now  located.  He  had  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
among  whom  were  the  following:  Robert,  John,  Lydia,  who  married 
Philip  Tillinghast;  Sally,  married  Edward  Arnold;  Betsey,  married 
Joseph  Randall;  Marian,  married  William  Weaver  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  Aldrich  and  William,  who  were  lost  at  sea.  John,  son  of 
John,  was  born  in  Providence,  February  19th,  1776,  and  died  July  15th, 
1869.  His  wife  was  Lavinia  Williams,  and  they  had  twelve  children: 
Sally,  died  aged  12  years;  Philip,  lives  in  Lincoln;  Mary,  died  aged 
ten  years;  William,  died  in  Providence;  George  H.;  Daniel,  went 
west;  Albert,  lives  in  Woodstock,  Conn.;  Ann,  widow  of  Burnham  Par- 
rish  of  Lincoln;  Rebecca,  died  young;  John,  died  in  the  West;  Char- 


Y*^-^  '-'-^f;---' 


I 


lotte  (deceased  ■ 
Studley  of  Sout; 
berland,  Novenr 
children:  Olive, 
becca,  wife  of  1: 
Wilbur,  of   Lin. 
Lincoln;  Georg- 
a  resident  of  ]\i' 
in  Lincoln  sine 
February  15th.  ; 
He  is  a  farmer   , 

Alfred  Hi  ^ 
1829.    He  is  the 
of  the  descend  a 
Boston   in    16HT 
Island  in  1721, 
the  revolution.    ("' 
town,  R.  L,  July  15i:' 
town  March  3(»th,  17  ■ 
ter  is  still  living.     '1 
to  Scituate  a  short  time 
removed  to  Warwick,  w 
at  Natick.     In  1845 
M.  Davis,  a  dealer  in    . 
one  of  the  partners  of  L: 
changed  in  July,  1889,  i 
which  corporation  he  is  ■ 
yarns  and  thread.    Gove 
the  Pawtucket  Hair  Clot; 
since  its  organization.     He 
Bank  of  Pawtucket,  and  the 
rebellion  he  was  very  act 
was  appointed  divisiori  ■ ; 
rank  of  colonel,  wh' 

In  politics  Govei ,, 
the  republican  party,  wiir.   v 
belongs  to  a  family     ' 
a  member  of  the  gf 
1746,  1748  ai"l  1754.    \.,:.^n 
to  the  rcv«     •' ;  ^^i.  <    ''•■  ')   J^.. 
the  comn 
father-iu  1 
Rhode  Is: 
tinguishet ; 
the  town  oi 


vinia,  wit 

r,.K,>    1,, 


'luring 


.d  remove  ' 

,11  1881  the 

.  ublic  school: 

lerk  for  Joseph 

.,1  1851  he  became 

-tyle  of  this  firm  was 

-xi.tix.i-acturing  Company,  of 

-  company  manufacture  cotton 

'  ncorporators  of 

been  a  director 

^  d'i^.  -r  Oi   Luc    First  National 

Pr^A  ■  V  Company.     During  the 

1  troops,  and  in  1804 

land  militia,  with  the 

tot"  hve  years. 

., a  whig  until  the  formation  of 

h   \vi:m  h  he  has  since  been  identified.     He 

:inction.     Nathaniel  Littlefield  was 

srom  New  Shoreham  in  1738.1740, 

.inici,  J;-.,  in  1758  and  1762;  John,  from  1747 

]r-..  was  a  member  of  that  body,  and  was  on 

tea  tax.     William  Littlefield    was  the 

iianiel  Greene.     He  was  captain  of  the 

ithers  of  the  family  have  also  become  dis- 

ttlefield's  public  career  began  in  1873,  after 

been  set  off  from  Smith  field,  when  he  was 


462  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

elected  a  member  of  the  town  council,  and  subsequently  re-elected 
four  times,  thereafter  declining  all  further  nominations. 

In  1876  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  town  of  Lincoln  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  and  was  re-elected  in  1877.  In  1878  he  was  elected  to 
the  state  senate,  and  was  re-elected  in  1879.  In  March,  1880,  he  re- 
ceived the  republican  nomination  for  governor,  and  at  the  election  in 
April  received  10,224  votes,  while  Horace  A.  Kimball,  the  democratic 
nominee,  received  7,440  votes.  There  being  no  choice  by  the  people, 
as  the  law  required  a  majority  instead  of  a  plurality  vote,  the  election 
of  governor  and  lieutenant  governor  devolved  upon  the  general  as- 
sembly, and  Mr.  Littlefield  was  chosen  governor  by  a  vote  of  82  out 
of  a  membership  of  109. 

In  1881  the  republicans  and  democrats  again  chose  the  same  nom- 
inees as  before.  At  this  election  Governor  Littlefield  received  10,849 
votes,  and  Mr.  Kimball  4,756  votes,  the  republican  candidate  being 
elected.  In  the  gubernatorial  election  of  1882  the  two  parties  again 
for  the  third  time  pitted  their  favorite  candidates,  at  which  election 
Governor  Littlefield  received  10,056  votes,  and  Mr.  Kimball  5,311,  giv- 
ing the  former  4,589  votes  for  a  majority  over  all  the  competing  can- 
didates in  the  race.  The  three  terms  of  service  as  the  chief  executive 
of  the  state  were  acceptably  rendered  by  Governor  Littlefield,  and  he 
has  become  one  of  the.  most  popular  ex-governors  the  little  state  has 
ever  had.  In  recognition  of  his  services  the  Grand  Army  elected 
him  an  honorary  member  of  a  number  of  th.e  veteran  organizations  of 
the  state.  Governor  Littlefield  is  regarded  as  an  able  financier,  as  a 
man  of  sound  judgment  and  great  executive  ability,  all  of  which  emi- 
nently qualified  him  for  the  duties  of  the  high  office. 

February  9th,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Jane  Northup,  of 
Central  Falls.  They  have  had  four  children:  Ebenezer  N.,  Minnie  J. 
(deceased),  George  H.  (deceased),  and  Alfred  H.,  Jr.  Ebenezer  N.  is 
now  treasurer  of  the  Littlefield  Manufacturing  Company,  and  Alfred 
H.,  Jr.,  is  secretary. 

Daniel  Greene  Littlefield,  lieutenant-governor  of  Rhode  Island, 
is  a  manufacturer,  and  is  distinctively  a  self-made  man.  The  Little- 
fields  of  Rhode  Island  are  supposed  to  be  descendants  of  Edmund  Lit- 
tlefield, who  came  from  England  and  landed  at  Boston  in  1637.  The 
family  has  always  been  conspicuous  in  Rhode  Island  history.  In  colo- 
nial and  revolutionary  times,  and  even  to  the  present  day,  they  have 
been  repeatedly  elected  to  the  general  assembly,  and  to  other  promi- 
nent positions  in  the  state  and  nation.  The  wife  of  General  Nathan- 
iel Greene  was  a  descendant  of  Caleb  Littlefield.  Governor  Alfred  H. 
Littlefield  is  a  brother  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Daniel  G.  Littlefield  was  born  in  the  town  of  North  Kingstown, 
November  23d,  1822.  He  is  the  third  and  oldest  living  son  of  the 
family  of  eleven  children  of  John  and  Deborah  (Himes)  Littlefield. 
His  mother,  an  active  and  vigorous  woman,  is  still  living  at  the  age 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDE^XE   COUNTY.  *  463 

of  92  years.  Left  to  the  sole  care  of  his  mother,  Mr.  Littlefield  was 
brought  up  according  to  the  accepted  New  England  idea  of  youthful 
training.  His  early  advantages  for  obtaining  an  education  were  very 
limited.  In  reality  he  had  none  of  the  advantages  accorded  the  youth 
in  our  public  schools  of  the  present  day,  and  from  necessity  was  put 
to  work  in  the  mills  when  but  eight  years  of  age.  Yet  notwithstand- 
ing, this  is  the  man  who  has  been  devoted  to  the  upbuilding  and  man- 
aging of  various  manufacturing  corporations  in  Massachusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  for  the  past  30  years  and  more,  and  whose  success  in 
life  has  been  such  that  at  the  present  time  he  holds  the  presidency  of 
a  number  of  prosperous  concerns.  The  great  success  of  Mr.  Little- 
field's  life  seems  to  have  been  due  largely  to  those  sterling  qualities 
that  have  been  characteristic  of  him  throughout  his  whole  business 
career.  From  the  time  he  first  went  to  work  as  a  bobbin  boy  in  the 
Jackson  Mill  in  the  town  of  Scituate,  where  his  parents  then  resided, 
he  gave  such  evidence  of  fidelity  in  the  mastery  of  every  detail  of  the 
business,  as  to  lead  to  rapid  and  continued  promotion.  For  over  20 
years  he  labored  in  cotton  and  woolen  mills  and  machine  shops,  and 
made  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  whatever  business  he  was 
engaged  in,  and  whatever  machine  he  operated.  Naturally  of  a  me- 
chanical and  inventive  turn  of  mind,  his  early  training  and  experi- 
ence proved  of  great  value  to  him  in  after  years.  In  1846  he  went  to 
Florence,  Mass.,  and  assisted  in  starting  a  cotton  mill,  and  from  this 
little  village  he  went  to  Northampton  Centre  and  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  a  country  variety  store  in 
Haydenville, where  he  had  a  large  trade  for  those  days.  He  then  became 
agent  for  the  cotton  mill  of  Hayden  &  Sanders,  selling  their  goods 
in  New  York  and  other  cities.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Florence  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  daguerreotype  cases,  sewing  machines, 
etc.,  and  became  president  of  the  Florence  wSewing  Machine  Company. 
In  1863  he  came  to  Pawtucket,  at  the  repeated  solicitation  of  gentle- 
men representing  the  Pawtucket  Hair  Cloth  Company,  to  undertake 
the  work  of  perfecting  the  complex  machinery  of  that  company.  He 
made  arrangements  to  stay  but  one  year,  but  his  success  in  putting  the 
machinery  in  running  order  was  so  marked  the  plant  had  soon  to  be 
expanded,  and  through  his  foresight  and  energy  the  fine  large  brick 
factory  was  projected  and  built,  the  charge  of  erection  and  the  ar- 
ranging of  all  the  machinery  being  left  to  him.  Since  that  period  his 
life  has  been  identified  chiefly  with  this  corporation,  of  which  he  is 
now  president.  In  this  work  he  has  met  with  great  success,  and  he 
has  continued  to  reside  here,  having  become  identified  with  a  number 
of  industries  of  the  city,  which  he  has  been  the  means  of  putting  on  a 
permanent  and  paying  basis.  From  an  editorial  in  one  of  the  leading 
papers  of  the  state  we  copy  the  following: 

"In  1865  Mr.  Littlefield  visited  Europe  in  the  interests  of  the  Hair 
Cloth  Co.,  and  repeated  the  trip  in  the  years  1866,  1868, 1871  and  1872, 


464  •  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

visiting  all  the  principal  countries  of  Europe,  and  tarrying  in  South- 
ern Russia,  at  the  great  horsehair  mart  of  the  world.  Each  time  he 
returned  with  valuable  information  for  his  company,  the  result  being 
an  increase  of  business,  and  making  the  concern  the  only  complete 
plant  of  its  kind  in  the  world 

"  Mr.  Littlefield's  last  journey  across  the  Atlantic  was  in  the  year 
1878,  when  he  went  to  France  as  Honorary  Commissioner  from  this 
State  to  the  Paris  Exposition,  under  appointment  of  the  United  States 
Government  on  the  nomination  of  Gov.  Van  Zandt.  Here  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  mechanical  expert  had  preceded  him,  and  immediately  upon 
his  arrival  Commissioner-General  McCormick  appointed  him  as  an 
American  Juror  of  Class  58,  small  and  fine  machinery  and  mechanism 
for  all  nations.  He  devoted  eight  busy  weeks  to  .such  investigations 
as  exhibitors  craved,  and  successful  work  was  done  in  the  interests  of 
American  inventors  and  manufacturers,  some  of  whom  secured  valu- 
able awards,  favorable  notice,  medals  and  diplomas.  His  travels  in 
European  countries  enlarged  his  knowledge  of  the  world's  various  in- 
dustries, of  machinery  and  raw  materials  and  new  processes  in  the 
arts  and  manufactures,  in  the  application  of  which  to  practical  uses 
he  is  unexcelled." 

Mr.  Littlefield's  journeys  for  business  and  recuperation  have  ex- 
tended through  many  states  and  as  far  west  as  Montana,  where  he 
studied  the  processes  of  mining  and  manufacture.  In  1861,  and  again 
in  1862,  he  was  a  representative  from  Northampton  to  the  legislature 
of  Massachusetts.  This  was  during  the  time  when  the  country  was 
in  the  first  throes  of  civil  war.  In  his  legislative  work  he  exhibited 
that  same  fidelity  and  mastery  of  detail  that  characterizes  all  that  he 
undertakes.  In  1879  and  1880  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  town 
council  of  Lincoln,  and  in  1889,  during  the  May  session  of  the  general 
assembly  of  Rhode  Island,  there  being  no  election  of  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor by  the  people  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  April  previous,  he  was 
elected  to  that  office. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Providence  County  Savings 
Bank,  which  office  he  still  holds.  Politically  Mr.  Littlefield  is  a  re- 
publican, and  was  formerly  a  whig.  In  religious  preference  he  is  a 
Congregationalist.  Socially  he  is  a  man  of  the  people — modest  and 
unassuming,  a  delightful  host,  at  all  times  approachable,  and  a  cour- 
teous gentleman. 

Hazen  W.  Magoon  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada, 
April  8th,  1848,  and  is  the  second  son  of  Wilder  and  Electra  (Blake) 
Magoon.  He  came  to  Lonsdale  in  1870  and  has  had  charge  of  the 
Lonsdale  Company  farms  ever  since.  He  married  Ophelia  Orcutt  and 
has  one  child-,  Emma  Adela. 

The  Mann  Family.— The  first  person  that  appears  on  the  Rhode 
Island  records  bearing  the  above  name  was  James  Mann,  or  Man,  who 
was  enrolled  a  freeman  at  Newport,  May  17th,  1653.    Thomas  Man  was 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  465 

a  land-holder  in  Relioboth,  Mass.,  where  he  died.  He  had  a  son  John, 
born  about  1694,  married  Abigail  Arnold  and  purchased  a  farm  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  what  is  now  Lincoln,  which  property  is  still 
owned  by  his  descendants.  He  died  December  17th,  1782.  His  family 
were  all  daughters  excepting  the  youngest,  a  son  named  John,  who 
died  October  9th,  1807,  aged  72  years.  John's  first  wife  was  Marcy 
Stafford,  and  their  children  were:  Samuel,  Hannah,  married  Jonathan 
Lapham,  died  in  New  York  state,  and  Thomas.  John  married  for  his 
second  wife  a  widow,  Anna  Aldrich.  Thomas,  son  of  John,  was  born 
September  2d,  1769.  He  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Augustus  Lapham. 
He  was  a  manufacturer  and  farmer,  and  was  chief  justice  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  for  Providence  county.  His  children  were:  Job 
Scott  and  Arnold;  Ruth  and  Mary,  single  ladies  residing  in  Providence; 
Stafford,  born  February  21st,  1814,  died  unmarried  August  23d,  1888, 
and  Abigail  Lapham,  died  single.  Job  Scott,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
March  21st,  1803,  and  married  Olive  L.  Hill.  He  resides  in  East 
Providence  and  his  children  are:  Thomas  Stafford,  Arnold  Augustus, 
and  Adelia  Chase,  who  is  single  and  resides  in  Lincoln.  Arnold 
Augustus,  son  of  Job  vScott,  was  born  April  12th,  1836,  and  married 
Philena  A.,  daughter  of  Stillman  Estes,  of  St.  Albans,  Vt.  Their 
children  are:  George  E.,  Bertha  L  (died  young),  Frederic  A.,  Mabel  A., 
Elgie  A.,  Grace  I.,  John  S.  (died  young),  Ervin  H  and  Herbert  H.  He 
is  a  farmer  in  Lincoln.  Arnold,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  June  1st, 
1804,  and  married  for  his  first  wife  Ann  Chase.  Their  three  children 
all  died  young.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Smith,  daughter  of  vSamuel 
L.  Hill,  and  they  had  four  sons:  George,  died  young;  Samuel  H., 
resides  in  Lincoln;  Charles  Arnold,  resides  in  Providence,  and  Herbert, 
died  unmarried.     Arnold  died  July  11th,  1888. 

Edward  Manton  lived  and  died  in  the  town  of  Johnston,  R.  L 
He  was  married  to  Catharine  Alverson  and  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren: William,  Edward,  Henry,  Lydia,  married  Doctor  Moses 
Mowry  of  Johnston;  Abbie,  died  single,  and  Eliza,  married  Doctor 
Stephen  Harris  of  Coventry,  R.  L  William,  son  of  Edward,  also 
resided  in  Johnston,  where  he  died,  leaving  a  widow  Freelove,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Jenckes  of  Smithfield;  also  a  son,  Crawford  Jenckes,  born 
in  Johnston,  March  19th,  1824.  On  the  death  of  her  husband  the 
widow  returned  to  her  father's  homestead  in  what  is  now  Lincoln. 
Crawford  J.  married  Esther  B.  Wilbur  and  has  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren: Freelove,  wife  of  Frank  Draper  of  Lincoln;  William  James, 
lives  in  Clay  county,  Texas;  Daniel  Jenckes,  married  Patience  Weekes 
and  has  two  children,  Harry  and  Daniel  Jenckes,  Jr.;  Lydia,  wife  of 
Luther  T.  Angell,  of  East  Providence;  Crawford,  married  Emma, 
daughter  of  A.  A.  Draper  of  Lincoln  and  has  one  child.  Alpha;  Anna 
Evelyn  and  Thomas  H. 

Daniel  Meader  was  born  in  wSandwich,  N.  H.,  March  2d,  1826,  and 
was  the  eldest  son  of  Ephraim  and  Hannah  (Cooke)  Meader.  He  was 
30 


466  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

brought  up  on  a  farm  and  came  to  Smithfield,  now  Lincoln,  in  1847. 
His  wife  was  Louisa  Neal,  of  North  Berwick,  Me.     His  family  consists 
of  two  sons,  both  residents  of  Lincoln.      Walter  Dennis   was  born 
December  27th,  1858,  married  Sophia  Parmenter,  and  has  two  children, 
Abby  Louisa  and  Daniel  Ernest.     Frank  Herbert  was  born  May  23d, 
1862,  married  Josephine  Elliott  and  has  one  child,  Herbert  Freemont. 
Samuel  Merry  married  Abbie  Wheaton  and  had  the  following 
children:  John;  Samuel,  who  left  no  issue  and  was  lost  at  sea;  Abby, 
married  Otis  Rhodes,  who  located  at  Homer,  N.  Y.;  Barney;  Freelove, 
married  a  Millard;  Joseph;  Stewart,  died  young;  Polly,  died  young- 
Hannah,  died  aged  16  years,  and  Benjamin,  has  no  descendants  living. 
Barney,  son  of  Samuel,  was  born  in  1783  and  died  in  1847.     He  mar- 
ried Phila  Benson  Tyler.     In  his  early  life  he  went  to  sea  and  at  the 
age  of  15  was  mate  of  a  vessel.     He  crossed  the  ocean  five  times.     At 
the  age  of  21  he  came  to  Pawtucket,  where  his  brother  Benjamin  had 
already  started  in  the  bleaching  and  dyeing  business.     He  became  a 
partner  and  followed  that  business  until  his  death.     He  was  promi- 
nent in  town  affairs  and  was  much  interested  in  the  Masonic  order,  a 
Lodge  in   Pawtucket  being  named  in  his  honor.     Mr.  Merry  had  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  four  of    whom  died  in  infancy.     Of  the 
others  Mrs.  Willard  is  the  only  survivor.     The  names  of  the  children 
were:  Almira  Wheaton,  married  Simmons  Hale  of  Pawtucket;  Mehit- 
able  T.,  married  first  Robert  D.  Mason,  second  John  H.  Willard  (she 
is  a  widow  and  resides  in   Pawtucket);  Samuel;  Elizabeth,  married 
Jesse  Thornton;  Benjamin,  died  in  the  West;  George  Augustus,  died 
aged  19  years;  and  Joseph,  did  aged  26  years.     Samuel,  son  of  Barney, 
married  Maria,  daughter  of  John  Dexter.     He  succeeded  his  father  in 
the  business,  which  he  followed  till  1870.     His  children  by  his  first 
wife  were:  Barney,  who  died  young;  Samuel  Eugene,  who  left  one 
son,  Henry  B.,  a  resident  of  New  York  city;  Frank,  George  G.  and 
Walter.     Samuel  married  for  his  second  wife  Keziah  D.  Carpenter,  by 
whom  he  had  one  child,  Adelia  G.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  New 
York  city.     He  died  February  11th,  1875.     Walter,  son  of  Samuel, 
was  born  in  Pawtucket  December  20th,  1844,  married  Ida  E.  Bryant 
and  has  no  children.     He  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Blodgett  &  Orswell 
Company   of   Pawtucket.      Joseph,    son    of    Samuel,    married    Amey 
Spaulding   and   had   four   children:    Hannah,    died    single;    Stewart; 
Lydia,  married  Samuel  Mowry,  and  Joseph  Harris.     Stewart,  son  of 
Joseph,  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1809,  and  married  for  his  first  wife 
Abby  Aldrich,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Crawford,  who  died  aged 
eight  years.     His  second  wife  was  Elsie  Ann,  daughter  of  Sterry 
Jenckes,  and  their  children  were:  Estelle,  died  in  infancy;  George  S. 
and  Elsie  Adelaide,  single,  lives  in  Pawtucket.     Stewart  died  Decem- 
ber 6th,  1875.     George  Stewart,  son  of  Stewart,  was  born  June  10th, 
1847,  married  vSusan  Adelaide  Blake  and  has   four   children:   Cora, 
Ethel,  Lolita  and  Elsie.     He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  resides  in 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  467 

Pawtucket.  Joseph  Harris,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  April  7th,  1817, 
married  Mary  Smith  and  had  two  children:  Amy,  died  aged  24  years, 
married  to  George  L.  Congdon,  and  Miles  Greenwood.  Joseph  Harris 
died  May  13th,  1863.  Miles  Greenwood,  son  of  Joseph  Harris,  was 
born  Ma}^  19th,  1841,  married  Maria  Phillips,  has  one  child,  Mary  G. 
He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Lincoln.  The  bleaching  and  dyeing 
business  established  by  Benjamin  Merry  in  1805,  in  Pawtucket,  is 
located  on  the  same  premises.  In  1866  Robert  D.  Mason,  a  grandson 
of  Barney  Merry,  became  a  partner  under  the  style  of  Samuel  Merry 
&  Co.  This  firm  continued  till  March  19th,  1870.  A  kier  exploded  in 
the  works  causing  a  damage  to  the  property  from  $20,000  to  $25,000. 
The  firm  was  then  dissolved  and  the  property  was  leased  by  Robert 
D.  Mason  in  connection  with  Simon  W.  and  Daniel  W.  Dexter,  and 
the  firm  of  R.  D.  Mason  &  Co.  was  formed.  Owing  to  the  failure  of 
Dexter  Brothers  in  1876,  Mr.  Mason  assumed  the  entire  liabilities  of 
R.  D.  Mason  &  Co.,  which  he  liquidated  in  full  and  became  sole  propri- 
etor. They  employ  about  55  hands.  They  suffered  a  loss  of  $5,000 
by  an  explosion  in  1884.  Frederic  D.  Mason,  a  son  of  Robert  D.,  is  at 
present  a  member  of  the  firm. 

Lucius  Miner  was  born  in  West  Burke,  Vt.,  February  24th,  1820, 
and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Simeon  and  Mary  (Orcutt)  Miner.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  came  to  Lincoln  in  1841.  He  married  Julia 
A.  Randall,  and  had  five  children:  Annie  W.,  single;  Mary  R.,  died 
aged  22  years;  Lewis  A.,  Amy  E.,  single,  and  Ida,  wife  of  Oliver  H. 
J.  Perry,  Jr.,  of  Lincoln.  Mr.  Miner  died  May  11th,  1877.  Lewis  A., 
son  of  Lucius,  was  born  in  North  Providence  September  18th.  1852, 
and  married  Emma  D.  Smith.  Their  children  are:  Mary  Alice.  Amy 
Edna,  Julia  Lovinia,  and  Lewis  vSmith.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in 
Lincoln. 

John  Mitchell  was  born  in  County  Derry,  Ireland,  in  1827,  and  in 
1839  came  to  America,  locating  in  Providence,  where  he  remained  till 
1857,  when  he  commenced  farming  in  what  is  now  Lincoln.  He  mar- 
ried Jane  Mitchell  and  has  five  children:  William  J.,  Robert  H.,  Belle, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Hawkins,  of  Lincoln;  George,  and  Charles. 

William  Moffett  came  from  Killingly,  Conn.,  to  Smithfield,  R.  I., 
■married  Elsie,  daughter  of  Job  Mowry,  and  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: George,  who  died  in  the  South;  Arnold;  Thomas,  died  in  Provi- 
dence; Augustus,  died  in  Johnston;  William,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  war  and  of  whom  nothing  was  ever  heard;  Amanda  (de- 
-ceased),  married  James  Randall,  of  Johnston;  Waite  (deceased),  mar- 
ried Michael  Cowan,  of  Woonsocket;  Ann  (deceased),  married  Benja- 
min Atwood,  of  Johnston,  and  Lydia  (deceased),  married  a  Howell. 
Arnold,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1799  and  died  in 
1875.  He  married  Sarah  Borden  and  had  one  child,  Arnold,  born  in 
Smithfield  May  14th,  1822.  married  Eunice  Walker, 'and  has  three 
■children:  Edmund,  who  married  Ella  Manchesterand  has  two  children. 


468  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY. 

Chester  and  Everett;  George,  resides  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  Seba  Perrin,  of  Pawtucket. 

Charles  Parmenter  Moies,  son  of  Thomas  and  vSusan  W.  (Sey- 
mour) Moies,  was  born  in  Pawtucket,  March  24th,  1845.  His  father 
was  well  known  and  prominently  connected  with  the  best  interests  of 
that  town.  Mr.  Moies  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Central  Falls.  When  17  years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  11th 
Rhode  Island  Infantry,  his  father  being  first  lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany. After  serving  nine  months  he  attended  a  business  college, 
then  obtained  a  pOvSition  with  Browne,  Sharpe  &  Co.,  Providence,  re- 
maining with  them  six  months.  In  March,  1865,  he  went  to  Chicago 
and  was  employed  by  the  C,  B.  &  O.  R.  R.,  until  September,  1866. 
He  then  returned  home,  obtaining  a  situation  as  clerk  in  the  Pawtucket 
Institution  for  Savings,  of  which  his  father  was  president.  November 
3d,  1886,  he  was  elected  treasurer,  and  has  since  held  that  office,  with 
many  others,  viz.:  treasurer  of  the  Pawtucket  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Lincoln,  treasurer  of  the  Central 
Falls  Fire  District,  treasurer  of  Union  School  Districts  1  and  2,  and  in 
1885-6  he  represented  the  town  of  Lincoln  in  the  general  assembly. 
He  is  a  member  of  G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  3,  of  Central  Falls,  having  been 
its  commander  two  years  and  is  much  interested  in  Masonic  affairs,  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights  of 
Honor,  and  others.  He  married,  December,  1876,  Florence  D.  Weth- 
erell,  daughter  of  Zelotes  Wetherell.  They  have  had  one  child, 
Charles  P.,  Jr. 

The  AIowry  Family. — Nathaniel  Mowry,  the  progenitor  of  the 
families  by  that  name  in  the  towns  of  Smithfield  and  Lincoln,  was 
among  the  early  settlers  of  northern  Rhode  Island,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  born  in  1644.  The  earliest  document  in  which  his  name 
appears  is  an  agreement  signed  by  him  in  1668.  He  died  March  24th, 
1717-18.  He  married  Joanna,  daughter  of  Edward  Inman,  and  had  a 
large  family  of  children,  viz.:  Nathaniel,  who  died  single;  John,  Henry, 
Joseph,  Martha,  Sarah,  married  a  Phillips;  Mary,  married  John  Ar- 
nold; Joanna,  married  Walter  Phetteplace;  Patience,  married  Joseph 
Smith;  Mercy,  married  Edward  Smith,  and  Experience,  married 
John  Malavery.  Henry,  son  of  Nathaniel,  married,  November  27th, 
1701,  Mary,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Bull,  of  Providence.  His 
children  were:  Mary,  married  Jonathan  Sprague;  Uriah,  Jonathan, 
Jeremiah,  vSarah,  married  John  Wilkinson;  Elisha.and  Phebe,  married 
Elisha  Arnold.  Henry  married  for  his  second  wife  Hannah,  widow 
of  John  Mowry.  He  died  September  23d,  1759.  Uriah,  son  of 
Henry,  was  born  August  15th,  1705;  married  Urania  Paine.  Their 
children  were:  Martha,  married  Preserved  Harris;  Nathan,  Stephen, 
Philip,  Gideon,  Wanton,  Jonathan,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  and  perhaps  oth- 
ers. Uriah's  second  wife  was  Hannah,  widow  of  William  Arnold  and 
daughter  of  Job  Whipple.     vStephen,  son  of  Uriah,  was  born  December 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDEN'CE   COUNTY.  469 

13th,  1731,  and  married  Amy  Cook.  Their  children  were:  Huldah, 
married  Dutee  Smith;  Charlotte,  married  Charles  Sayles;  Aaron, 
Wanton,  Mary,  married  Simon  Thornton;  Urania,  married  Samuel 
Smith;  Benedict,  Amasa,  Stephen,  and  Charles.  Benedict,  son  of 
Stephen,  was  born  September  23d,  1777,  and  died  August  2d,  185.").  He 
married  Phebe,  daughter  of  David  Mowry.  Their  children  were:  Si- 
mon, died  aged  22  years,  single;  Fenner,  and  Phebe  Amy,  married 
Albert  Cook.  Fenner,  son  of  Benedict,  was  born  in  August,  1797,  and 
married  Fidelia,  daughter  of  Lindon  Smith,  of  Glocester,  R.  I.  Their 
children  were:  Phebe  S.,  died  aged  18  years;  Simon  B.,  resides  in 
Michigan;  Rensselaer  L.,  and  Orville,  died  aged  three  years.  Fenner 
died  July  27th,  1865.  Rensselaer  L.,  son  of  Fenner,  was  born  June 
13th,  1833,  and  married  Laura  A.,  daughter  of  Albert  Vose.  Their 
children  were:  Orville  Mann  (born  March  13th,  1858,  married  Augusta, 
daughter  of  Orin  Sayles,  and  has  two  children,  Maria  and  Alice),  Ed- 
gar A.  (born  October  3d,  1862,  married  Lottie  Paton),  Albert  Fenner 
(born  September  17th,  1866),  Minnie  Arabella,  George  Waldo  (died 
in  infancy),  and  Laura  Fidelia.  Mr.  Mowry  is  a  farmer  and  resides 
at  Manville.    He  was  a  member  of  the  assembly  in  1877,  '78,  '87,  and  '88. 

Joseph  Mowry,  son  of  Nathaniel,  was  called  "  captain,"  and  was  born 
about  1675.  He  married,  June  3d,  1695,  Alice  Whipple,  by  whom  he 
had  the  following  children:  Daniel,  Joseph,  Oliver,  Alice,  and  Waite, 
married  Israel  Arnold.  Daniel,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  September 
6th,  1697,  and  was  also  called  "  captain."  He  married  Mary  vSteere, 
and  died  May  27th,  1787.  His  children  were:  Joseph,  Thomas,  Dan- 
iel, Elisha,  Mary,  and  Alice.  Elisha,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  :March 
28th,  1735,  and  married  Phebe  Gulley.  Their  children  were:  William, 
]Marcy,  married  John  Randall;  Ahab,  Sylvester,  Phebe,  died  single; 
Jesse,  Nathaniel,  Martha,  married  General  Charles  Jencks;  Mary,  died 
single,  and  Alice,  married  Baulston  Brayton.  Elisha  was  called 
"  colonel,"  and  died  June  28th,  1792.  Jesse,  son  of  Colonel  Elisha,  was 
born  January  5th,  1773,  and  married  Susanna  Easterbrooks.  He  died 
vSeptember  6th,  1844,  and  had  the  following  family:  James  M.,  died 
single;  Abby  Ann,  died  aged  22  years;  Lyman  J.,  died  single;  Leon- 
ard S.,  single,  lives  in  Lincoln;  Otis  T.,  died  single;  Mary  Jane,  widow 
of  Palmer  Valiet,  resides  in  Burrillville.  R.  L,  and  Elisha  J.,  born  Oc- 
tober 15th,  1838,  married  Clara  Arnold,  and  has  two  children,  Lydia 
Arnold  and  Susan  Ethel,  and  lives  at  Lime  Rock,  Lincoln,  R.  I. 

The  Newman  Famh.y  was  first  settled  in  that  part  of  Smithfield 
that  is  now  Lincoln  about  1755  by  Thomas  Newman.  He  married 
Sarah  Paine,  and  had  a  family  of  three  sons,  viz.:  Nathaniel,  who  re- 
moved to  Coventry,  R.  L,  and  his  descendants  emigrated  to  Ohio; 
Jeremiah,  died  single,  and  William,  born  in  1777,  m.arried  Mary  Bal- 
lon, and  also  had  a  family  of  three  sons,  viz.:  Lyman,  who  died  single; 
Benjamin  Ballon,  and  William,  died  single.  The  first  William  died 
May  31st,  1828.     Benjamin  Ballon,  son  of  William,  was  born  October 


470  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

12th,  1811,  married  Harriet  Sayles,  and  has  one  child,  Benjamin  BaU 
lou,  Jr.     He  resides  on  the  farm  settled  by  his  grandfather. 

Benjamin  F.  Newton  was  born  in  Providence  March  19th,  1821, 
and  died  at  Pawtucket  April  20th,  1886.  He  married  Sarah  M.  New- 
ton, and  they  had  seven  children:  wSabra  A.,  died  young;  Sabra  A., 
married  William  Mason,  and  resides  at  Attleboro.  Mass.;  Sarah 
Amanda,  married  Edwin  A.  Brown,  and  they  reside  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Lincoln;  Benjamin  Franklin,  died  young;  Lafayette  D.,  lives 
at  North  Providence;  Frank  A.,  resides  in  Pawtucket,  and  Emma, 
died  j-oung.  Mr.  Newton  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  in  business  in 
Providence,  but  came  to  Lincoln  in  1854. 

The  Olney  Family.— The  English  ancestor  of  this  family  was 
Thomas  Olney,  born  in  St.  Albans,  Hertford  county,  England,  in  1600. 
He  left  his  native  country  April  2d,  1635,  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
and  came  first  to  Salem,  Mass.,  afterward  in  about  1637  or  1638  to 
Providence,  and  was  one  of  the  twelve  who  had  land  deeded  to  them 
by  Roger  Williams.  He  married  Mary  Small,  and  died  in  1682.  His 
children  were:  Thomas,  Epenetus,  Nedabiah,  died  young;  Mary,  mar- 
ried John  Whipple;  Lydia,  married  Joseph  Williams;  Stephen  and 
John,  both  died  unmarried.  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
1632,  and  died  in  1722.  He  married  Elizabeth  Marsh,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  Thomas,  William,  Anne,  married  John  Waterman;  Eliza- 
beth and  Phebe,  both  died  single.  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
in  May,  1661,  and  died  March  1st,  1718.  His  wife  was  Lydia  Barnes; 
and  of  their  family  of  eight  children,  Qbadiah  was  born  February 
14th,  1710.  His  son,  Elisha,  whp  married  a  Whipple,  had  eight  chil- 
dren, among  whom  was  one  Obadiah,  who  had  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Joseph,  Daniel,  who  died  single;  Mary,  died  single;  Lydia,  wife 
of  William  G.  R.  Mowry,  of  Providence,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 
Joseph,  son  of  Obadiah,  was  born  August  8th,  1814,  and  married  Mary 
A.  Bailey.  Their  children  were:  Clara,  wife  of  A.  E.  Holbrook,  Jr.,  of 
Providence;  Helen  G.,  died  in  infancy;  Anna  (deceased),  married  Uriah 
H.  Holbrook;  George  B.,  Charles  P.,  and  Joseph,  died  July  1st,  1887. 
He  was  many  years  engaged  in  farming,  but  for  the  last  18  years  of 
his  life  was  in  the  coal  business  in  Providence.  George  B.,  son  of 
Joseph,  was  born  March  20th,  1854,  married  Ella  Maria  Payne,  and 
has  two  children:  Florence  P.  and  Joseph.  He  is  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Olney  &  Payne  Brothers. 

Oliver  Hazard  Jackson  Perry  was  born  in  South  Kingstown, 
April  24th,  1828,  and  was  the  third  son  and  fourth  child  in  a  family  of 
eight  children  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Davis)  Perry.  In  his  boyhood  he 
worked  in  the  cotton  mills,  but  afterward  learned  the  trade  of  carpen- 
ter. Arriving  at  manhood  he  came  to  Providence,  and  had  charge  of 
Rice  &  Dawley's  carpenter  shop  in  that  city.  In  1852  he  removed  to 
Central  Falls  and  carried  on  the  carpenter  business  for  a  few  years, 
when  he  opened  a  daily  market  in  that  village,  which  business  he  car- 


HISTORY    OF    PKOVIDEXCK    COUNTY.  471 

ried  on  successfully  till  1875,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides.  He  married  Emeline  E.  Thurber,  and  has  had  three 
children:  Theodore,  died  aged  three  years;  Clara  E.,  wife  of  E.  F. 
Bowen,  of  ProvideVice,  and  Oliver  Hazard  Jackson,  Jr.,  who  married 
Ida  Miner,  and  has  one  child,  Harold  Thurber. 

The  Randall  Famha-.— The  progenitor  of  this  family  was  Joseph 
Randall,  who  came  from  Brest,  France.  He  was  a  caulker  by  trade, 
and  settled  in  Providence.  He  married  Amy  Eustace,  and  their  chil- 
dren were:  Amy,  Joseph,  Henry  and  Peter.  He  died  March  Both, 
1760.  Peter,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  June  12th,  1728.  He  was  a  res- 
ident of  North  Providence,  also  of  Johnston.  He  married  Freelove, 
daughter  of  Captain  Stephen  Dexter,  for  his  first  wife.  The  children 
of  this  marriage  were:  Joseph,  Freelove,  Amy,  Waite,  William,  John 
and  Stephen.  His  second  wife  Avas  Anna  Collins,  and  the  children  of 
this  marriage  were:  Hezekiah,  Nancy,  Daniel,  Mary  and  Susan.  Peter 
died  March  9th,  1808.  Joseph,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  October  30th, 
1747,  and  died  March  5th,  1840.  He  lived  in  North  Providence,  and 
married  Anna,  daughter  of  John  Comstock.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  His  children  were:  Elihu,  Job,  Peter,  Freelove, 
Sarah  and  Shadrach.  Shadrach,  son  of  Joseph,  was  born  May  9th, 
1787,  and  died  June  8th,  1860.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Mercy, 
a  daughter  of  Deacon  James  Olney.  Their  children  were:  Sabra  J., 
died  young;  Shadrach,  Anna,  Mercy,  Elizabeth,  Patience,  Mary  and 
Almon.  Shadrach,  son  of  Shadrach,  was  born  March  4th,  ]816.  and 
died  in  1870  in  Lincoln.  He  married  Martha  A.  Smith,  and  their 
children  were:  William,  died  young;  Emma  F.,  wife  of  J.  Thomas 
Peckham,  of  Providence;  Charles  F.  and  Harriet  A.,  widow  of  Andrew 
Smart.  Charles  F.,  son  of  Shadrach,  was  born  April  14th,  1848,  mar- 
ried Maria  Louisa  Greene,  and  has  one  child,  Charles  Arnold.  He  is  a 
farmer  and  lives  in  Lincoln. 

Peleg  B.  Sherman  came  to  Valley  Falls,  R.  L,  in  1882  and  re- 
moved to  Lonsdale  in  1887.  At  the  latter  place  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  and  at  his  death  the  business  was  conducted  by 
his  sons,  Peleg  and  Hazard.  The  store  was  located  in  Lonsdale 
where  Calef  &  Co.,  of  Providence,  now  carry  on  business,  and  the 
property  continued  to  be  owned  by  the  Sherman  family  till  1887. 
Peleg  B.  was  the  son  of  Hazard  and  Ruth  Sherman  and  was  born  in 
Exeter,  R.  L,  October  11th,  1798.  He  married  Alcy  Dawley  and  had 
a  family  of  14  children:  Harriet,  wife  of  Peleg  B.  Sanford  of  Provi- 
dence; Mary  (deceased),  married  Nelson  Burlingame;  Hazard,  died  in 
Lincoln;  Susan,  single,  lives  in  Lonsdale;  Peleg,  single,  lives  in  Lons- 
dale; Martha  and  Ruth,  twins,  the  former  is  single  and  resides  in 
Lonsdale,  the  latter  is  dead  and  was  the  v»^ifeof  William  Esten;  George, 
Robert,  died  single;  Alfred,  Alcy,  single,  resides  in  Lonsdale;  Sarah, 
Hannah,  and  Emily,  all  died  young.  Peleg  B.  died  February  9th, 
1848.     George,  son  of  Peleg  B.,  was  born  in  Cranston,  R.  L,  February 


472  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

6th,  1829.  He  married  Laura  A.  Eaton  and  has  two  children:  George 
Albert,  a  resident  of  Lincoln,  and  Laura  Evelyn,  wife  of  Alfred  Aid- 
rich  of  Lonsdale.  Mr.  Sherman  had  charge  of  the  Lonsdale  post 
office  from  1841  to  1887,  excepting  from  1850  to '1852.  During  this 
time  he  held  the  position  of  postmaster  for  18  years.  Alfred,  son  of 
Peleg  B.,  was  born  in  Valley  Falls,  R.  L,  July  15th,  1832.  He  married 
Hannah  T.  Clarke  and  had  two  children:  Alfred  Everett,  and  Samuel, 
died  young.     Alfred  died  March  15th,  1888. 

The  Spaulding  Family  was  first  settled  in  Providence  county  by 
Joseph  Spauldiog,  who  came  to  what  is  now  Lincoln  about  1750. 
He  married  Mehitable  Allen  and  had  the  following  family:  Mary, 
who  married  Captain  John  Earle  of  Providence;  Sarah,  who  married 
Jason  i^ewell  of  Cumberland;  Chloe,  married  Gideon  Sprague;  Aba- 
liah,  who  returned  to  Conn.;  and  Nathaniel,  born  July  15th,  1751. 
Nathaniel  married  for  his  first  wifeLydia  Harris  and  of  their  children 
but  one  lived  to  grow  up,  viz..  Amy  who  married  Joseph  Merry  of  Lin- 
coln. His  second  wife  was  Thankful  Whipple  and  they  had  eight 
children:  Lydia,  died  single;  Mary,  married  Martin  Arnold;  Nathaniel, 
Thankful,  married  Nicholas  Tuell;  Hannah,  William,  Sarah,  married 
Jeremiah  Olney;  John,  married  Sarah  Vose  and  left  one  child,  Mary, 
wife  of  Albert  Smith  of  Providence.  These  children  are  all  dead  ex- 
cepting Hannah,  who  is  single  and  resides  on  the  original  homestead 
settled  by  her  grandfather.  Nathaniel  died  June  8th,  1838.  Nathaniel, 
son  of  Nathaniel,  born  March  8th,  1803,  married  Sarah  Mason  of  Paw- 
tucket.  They  had  one  child,  Sarah  Helen.  Nathaniel  died  March 
31st,  1889.  William,  son  of  Nathaniel,  born  May  1st,  1810,  married 
Miranda,  daughter  of  Joshua  Arnold.  He  died  February  2d,  1852. 
Their  family  are:  Charles  F.,  Joseph  E.,  George  H.,  John  A.,  Joshua 
E.  and  William  W. 

Orin  Smith  was  born  in  Smithfield,  November  8th,  1822,  and  is  the 
son  of  Jesse  and  Laura  (Wilbur)  Smith.  He  married  Sally  H.  Wil- 
liams and  has  five  children:  Henry  A.,  Amanda  A.,  wife  of  William  J. 
Kent  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.;  Alice,  wife  of  Daniel  Willmarth  of  Paw- 
tucket;  Amsden  H.  and  Orin. 

RuFUS  JuDSON  Stafford,  manufacturer,  son  of  Stukeley  and  De- 
zoy  Stafford,  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  December  6th,  1818.  When 
a  child  his  father  died,  and  upon  himself  devolved  the  necessity  of 
making  his  way  through  life  and  of  securing  his  own  education.  His 
beginnings  seem  to  have  been  fraught  with  hardships,  yet  he  suc- 
ceeded. He  became  an  apprentice  in  a  cotton  factory,  and  here  his 
natural  talents,  his  habits  of  industry  and  faithfulness  procured  him 
advancement.  After  completing  the  work  of  the  day  he  devoted  his 
evenings  to  scientific  and  general  reading  and  study,  and  was  soon 
qualified  for  holding  new  positions.  He  subsequently  went  to  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  that  place  he  directed  the  putting  into  working  order  the 
Utica  Steam  Cotton  Mills,  the  first  establishment  of  the  kind  in  that 
region. 


It 


/ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  473 

In  1852  he  settled  in  Central  Falls,  which  was  ever  after  his  home; 
purchasing  a  controlling;  interest  in  the  old  brick  mill  built  in  1825, 
the  largest  in  the  place,  in  connection  with  H.  B.  Wood.  After  put- 
ting these  mills  in  order  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
goods.  Additions  were  made  to  the  mill  in  1860,  and  in  1862  the  ma- 
chinery was  changed  and  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  spool  cot- 
ton. The  discerning,  industrious  and  energetic  man  was  apparent  in 
all  his  work.  As  his  business  became  eventually  very  prosperous  it 
was  transformed  into  a  joint  association  and  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Stafford  Manufacturing  Company,  and  became  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  companies  in  Rhode  Island.  This  event  took  place  a 
short  time  prior  to  his  death.  At  this  time  he  was  contemplating  the 
manufacture  of  a  six  cord  thread,  but  death  intervened  before  the  ar- 
rangements were  consummated.  In  1854  he  built  the  Pawtucket  Gas 
Works.  He  also  wove  the  first  hair  cloth  made  in  America  by 
power  looms,  and  being  an  ingenious  machinist  devised  important 
changes  in  the  manufacture  of  hair  cloth  machinery,  so  that  now  the 
best  cloth  in  the  world  of  this  kind  is  manufactured  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Stafford  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance  and  noted  for 
his  uprightness,  intelligence,  kindness  and  benevolence.  All  looked 
upon  him  as  a  safe  adviser  and  a  warm  friend.  He  was  a  warm  sup- 
porter of  the  Union  during  the  late  civil  war,  and  very  materially 
aided  the  cause  in  a  pecuniary  sense.  Just  before  his  death  he  became 
an  earnest  Christian.  He  was  an  attendant  of  the  First  Baptist  church, 
where  his  wife  was  a  member. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Catherine  Wheelock, 
daughter  of  Simon  Wheelock  of  Mendon,  Mass.  He  had  four  child- 
ren: Kate  J.,  Sarah  L.,  Andrew  A.,  and  Louisa  W.  His  second  wife  was 
M.  C.  Taft,  whose  maiden  name  was  M.  C.  Brown.  Mr.  Stafford  died 
February  7th,  1864,  aged  46  years.  He  was  a  prince  among  manufac- 
turers and  deservedly  ranks  as  a  representative  man. 

Henry  A.  Stearns. — The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Cap- 
tain Abner  Stearns,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812.  His  mother  was 
Anna  Russell,  whose  grandfather,  although  a  non-combatant,  was  ruth- 
lessly shot  by  the  British  in  their  retreat  from  Lexington,  Mass.,  April 
19th,  1775.  His  grandfather  was  at  the  Concord  fight.  The  captain 
of  his  company  having  been  killed,  and  he  being  lieutenant,  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  him,  and  he  followed  the  British  to  Boston.  For 
many  years  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  carding  of  wool  in  West 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  also  carried  on  a  grist  mill  and  paint  mill.  He 
was  the  inventor  of  the  first  machines  in  the  country  for  splitting 
leather,  and  devised  the  first  machine  for  dyeing  silk.  An  uncle  of 
Mr.  Stearns's  mother,  a  Mr.  Whittemore,  invented  a  card-setting  ma- 
chine, which  was  patented  as  early  as  1797.  For  those  days  it  was 
regarded  as  a  wonderful  contrivance.    After  many  years  of  hard  labor, 


474  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Captain  Stearns  removed  from  West  Cambridge  to  Billerica,  Mass., 
where  Henry  was  born,  October  23d,  1825. 

When  about  12  years  of  age  his  parents  died.  His  father,  being 
very  desirous  that  he  should  have  an  education,  left  a  sufficient  sum 
of  money  to  enable  him  to  attend  school  for  awhile.  He  therefore 
went  to  Andover  Academy,  and  for  two  years  pursued  an  English 
course  of  studies.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  being  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources,  he  supported  himself  by  shoemaking  and  shopkeeping 
until  he  ^as  20  years  of  age.  He  then  made  up  his  mind  that  he 
would  try  his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  in  the  fall  of  1846  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  he  engaged  with  a  partner  named  Foster  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  wadding,  their  establishment  being  the  first  of 
the  kind  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  He  thus  occupied  himself  until 
1850,  the  works  meanwhile  being  twice  destroyed  by  fire  and  rebuilt. 
He  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  George  S.  Stearns,  and  for  45  years 
the  business  has  been  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Stearns  & 
Foster. 

That  year  (1850)  his  attention  was  turned  toward  California.  Gold 
had  been  discovered  there  more  than  a  year  before,  and  an  immense 
emigration  to  the  Golden  Gate  had  set  in.  Believing  that  a  steam 
laundry  would  prove  profitable,  he  purchased  the  requisite  machinery 
at  Cincinnati,  shipped  it  down  the  Mississippi  and  over  the  Gulf  to 
Chagres,  and  then,  after  much  labor,  across  the  isthmus,  the  boiler 
being  carried  overland  to  Panama  by  detachments  of  men.  At 
Panama  he  took  passage  for  San  Francisco  in  an  old  whaling  vessel, 
which  sprang  aleak  and  came  near  foundering;  the  provisions  became 
exhausted,  and  all  on  board  were  limited  to  four  ounces  of  bread  per 
da}'.  For  four  months  the  old  craft  floated  about  on  the  Pacific,  and 
when  Mr.  Stearns  arrived  in  San  Francisco  he  had  become  so  much 
weakened  that  he  was  told  by  a  physician  that  he  coiild  not  live.  But 
his  health  being  finally  restored,  he  set  up  his  machinery  and  success- 
fully established  the  first  steam  laundry  in  California.  After  awhile 
he  disposed  of  the  laundry  business  to  his  partner,  and  purchasing  an 
interest  in  a  steamboat,  ran  the  first  regular  steam  ferry  between  San 
Francisco  and  the  present  city  of  Oakland.  While  in  San  Francisco 
he  witnessed  the  execution  by  the  vigilance  committee  of  numerous 
ruffians  who  had  for  some  time  endangered  the  peace  of  the  city.  For 
the  next  two  years  he  was  mainly  engaged  in  running  a  saw  mill  at 
wSan  Jose  and  keeping  a  store  at  Gilroy.  Cutting  down  the  redwood, 
he  turned  it  into  lumber  for  building  purposes. 

In  the  fall  of  1853  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  and  resumed  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  wadding  with  the  old  concern  on  a  more  extensive 
scale.  He  continued  there  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when,  his  health 
having  become  impaired  and  a  change  being  considered  desirable,  he 
sold  out  and  removed  to  Buffalo,  New  York.  Here  a  new  venture  was 
tried.     In  June,  1857,  he,  with  a  partner,  engaged  in  the  manufacture 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  475 

of  hardware.  It  was  not  many  months  after  they  began  business  that 
the  disastrous  financial  revulsions  of  that  year  commenced,  and  Mr.. 
Stearns  suffered  the  loss  of  nearly  all  his  accumulations.  From  Buf- 
falo he  went  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of 
timber  land,  set  up  a  saw  mill,  and  carried  on  a  farm,  and  was  thus 
occupied  for  two  or  three  years. 

In  the  early  part  of  1861  he  removed  to  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  and  asso- 
ciated himself  with  Mr.  Darius  Goff  and  others  in  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  wadding.  The  business  at  that  time  was  comparatively  small, 
but  the  combined  skill  and  energy  of  Mr.  Stearns  and  his  partners 
caused  it  to  speedily  increase,  as  is  shown  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Goff 
in  this  volume.  Since  1875  the  business  has  been  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  the  Union  Wadding  Company,  and  the  establishment  is 
now  not  only  the  largest  and  best  equipped  in  the  United  States,  but 
in  the  world.  Mr.  Stearns  has  held  the  position  of  superintendent 
ever  since  he  became  connected  with  the  establishment.  The  com- 
pany also  has  mills  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  Montreal,  Canada.  Mr.. 
Stearns's  son  George  is  superintendent  of  the  former,  and  another 
son,  Deshler  F.,  and  a  nephew,  Mr.  Harold  E.  Stearns,  are  managers 
of  the  latter. 

Mr.  Stearns  has  devised  several  contrivances  which  have  been  of 
great  value  in  his  business.  He  has  also  obtained  a  number  of  patents 
on  cotton  gins  and  apparatus  for  extracting  oil  from  cotton  waste  and 
kindred  substances.  Another  patent  obtained  by  him  is  on  the  rail- 
way safety-gate,  which  has  come  into  such  general  use  within  a  few 
years  in  all  parts  of  the  country  where  there  are  railroad  crossings. 

After  having  lived  a  year  or  more  in  Pawtucket  Mr.  Stearns  re- 
moved to  the  adjoining  village  of  Central  Falls,  where  he  has  resided 
upward  of  25  years.  In  response  to  the  calls  of  his  townsmen  he  has 
filled  various  public  positions.  For  several  years  he  has  represented 
the  town  of  Lincoln  in  both  branches  of  the  general  assembly;  has- 
served  a  number  of  terms  as  trustee  of  the  public  schools,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  that  secured  the  introduction  of  water  into- 
Central  Falls.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Franklin  Savings  Bank 
of  Pawtucket,  and  for  two  years  was  president  of  the  Pawtucket  Busi- 
ness Men's  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Falls  Con- 
gregational church  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs,  while  as 
a  citizen  no  man  is  more  universally  respected.  He  married,  June 
26th,  1856,  Kate  Falconer,  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Charlotte  S. 
Falconer,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio.  They  have  had  eight  children:  Deshler 
Falconer,  George  Russell,  Walter  Henry,  Kate  Russell,  Charles 
Falconer,  Henry  Foster,  Anna  Russell  (deceased),  and  Carrie  Cranston. 

George  C.  Stillman,  son  of  David  vStillman  and  Rebecca  Bliven,. 
was  born  in  North  Stonington,  Conn.,  December  7th,  1842.  There  he 
spent  his  early  life  and  received  his  education.  He  was  married  to 
Louise  A.,  daughter  of  Elisha  R.  Coe,  in  1870.     They  had  no  children. 


476  HISTORY   OF   TROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

In  1878  he  made  his  residence  in  Lincoln,  while  travelling  as  sales- 
man. January  1st,  1888,  he  started  in  the  commission  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  George  C.  Stillman  &  Co.,  which  has  prosperously 
continued  since.  Among  the  offices  which  Mr.  Stillman  accepted  in 
Lincoln  was  that  of  member  of  the  council  during  1887  and  1888.  He 
is  past  master  of  Jenks  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  the  Paw- 
tucket  Royal  Arch  Chapter. 

The  Vose  Family  came  from  Wrentham,  Mass.,  first  to  Woon- 
socket.  Amaziah  Vose  had  the  following  children:  Alva,  Alanson, 
AVilling,  Eliza  Ann,  died  single;  Aaron,  emigrated  to  New  York  state: 
Alelissa,  married  Dutee  Mowry;  Margaret,  married  first  a  Ballou  after- 
w^ard  William  Butler.  Willing,  son  of  Amaziah,  was  born  January 
15th,  1793.  He  w^as  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  received  only  a  com- 
mon school  education.  At  the  age  of  18  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  about  1825  moved  to  Woonsocket  and  was  engaged  with 
Hosea  Ballou  in  building  cotton  machinery.  In  1843  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine  (Thompsonian  school)  which  he  followed  till 
his  death,  March  20th,  1875.  His  first  wife  was  Mercy  Jillson  and  their 
children  were:  Albert  C,  Mary  Emily,  married  Robert  Blanchard;  and 
Alonzo  D.,  resides  in  Woonsocket.  His  second  wife  was  Rhoda  Wil- 
kinson and  they  had  but  one  child,  Julia  A.  (deceased),  who  married 
Lewis  L.  Miller  of  Woonsocket.  Doctor  Vose  married  for  his  third 
wife  Lydia  B.  Peckham,  of  Middletown,  R.  I.  Albert  C,  son  of 
Doctor  Willing,  was  born  in  Cumberland  June  15th,  1815,  and  died 
March  26th,  1875.  He  married  Minerva  Easton  and  had  11  children: 
George  L.,  resides  in  Providence;  Laura  A.  (deceased),  married  Rens- 
selaer Mowry;  Mary,  wife  of  George  H.  Miller  of  Woonsocket;  Ellen, 
wife  of  Isaac  Aldrich  of  Mansfield,  Mass.;  Henry,  died  in  infancy; 
vSarah  M.,  wife  of  E.  M.  Clarke  of  Woonsocket;  an  un-named  infant; 
Alonzo  W.;  Harriet,  died  aged  two  years;  Phebe,  wife  of  Daniel  Law.- 
ton  of  Central  Falls;  Alice,  died  young.  Albert  C.  was  a  resident  of 
Lincoln  since  1842.  Alonzo  W.,  son  of  Albert  C,  was  born  in  what  is 
now  Lincoln  August  6th,  1849,  and  married  Ida  E.  Sprague.  They 
have  the  following  family:  Flora  A.,  Willing,  Lydia,  Belinda  P.  and 
Howard  Winfield.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  in  Lincoln.  Alanson, 
son  of  Amaziah,  was  born  in  1793  and  died  in  January,  1880.  He 
married  Abby  Remington  of  Warwick,  R.  I.  Their  children  were: 
Lucy,  died  aged  two  years;  Carlisle,  Orlando  R.,  Josephine  Ellen,  wife 
of  William  Davis  of  Providence,  and  Warren  L.,  wounded  at  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died.  He  left  no  male 
issue.  Alanson  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  and  came  to 
what  is  now  Lincoln  in  1825-6.  Carlisle,  son  of  Alanson,  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Lincoln  February  3d,  1833,  and  married  Caroline  Ballou, 
a  native  of  Cumberland.  They  have  four  sons:  Arthur  R.  (married 
Alice  Inches,  has  one  child,  Carl);  Everett  A.  (married  Nellie  Marble, 
has  two  children,  Carrie  and  James  Everett);  Elmer  C.  and  Walter  I. 
Mr.  Vose  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  M^nville,  R.  I. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  477 

Patrick  Whalen,  born  in  Ireland  December  25111,  1828,  in  1847 
emigrated  to  America  and  soon  afterward  came  to  what  is  now  Lin- 
coln and  engaged  in  farming,  where  he  now  owns  two  good  farms. 
He  married  Jesse  McManus  and  has  the  following  family:  Mary  Ann 
Thomas,  James,  John,  Frank  and  Lizzie. 

The  Whipple  Family.— Among  the  first  settlers  of  New  England 
there  were  several  by  the  name  of  Whipple.  There  were  two  brothers,. 
Matthew  and  John,  who  came  to  this  country  about  1630  and  settled 
in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  about  the  year  1635.     John  was  born  in  England  in 

1616  or  1617  and  was  married  to  Sarah  about  1640.     He  was  a 

house  carpenter  by  trade  and  at  one  time  owned  a  house  and  40  or  50' 
acres  of  land  at  what  is  now  Neponset,  Mass.  This  he  sold  to  James 
Minot  in  1658  and  removed  to  Rhode  Island.  Of  his  eleven  children 
all  but  the  three  youngest  were  born  in  Dorchester,  Mass.  The  house 
he  occupied  in  Providence  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  a  little 
north  of  Star  street,  between  North  Main  and  what  is  now  Benefit 
street.  He  died  May  16th,  1685.  Of  his  children  John  was  baptized 
March  9th,  1640,  and  married  for  his  first  wife  Mary  Olney.  Their 
children  were:  Mary,  who  married  a  carder;  John,  and  Elnathan.  mar- 
ried a  Rice.  His  second  wife  was  Rebecca,  widow  of  John  Scott. 
Their  children  were:  Deliverance  and  Dorothy,  who  married  a  Rhodes. 
He  died  December  15th,  1700.  John,  his  son,  married  Lydia  Hawes 
of  Taunton,  Mass.,  and  their  family  were:  Mary,  John,  Lydia,  Ethan,. 
Patience,  Hezekiah,  Mary  and  Sarah.  We  are  unable  to  give  any 
more  facts  in  relation  to  this  branch  of  the  family.  Sarah,  daughter 
of  the  settler  John,  married  John  Smith  of  Providence.  Samuel,  son 
of  Captain  John,  was  baptized  March  17th,  1644,  and  married  Mary 
Harris.  Their  family  were:  Noah,  who  probably  died  young;  Samuel, 
Thomas,  and  Abigail  and  Hope,  both  married  Robert  Curry.  Samuel 
died  March  12th,  1711,  and  was  the  first  to  be  interred  in  the  North 
burial  ground.  In  his  will  he  speaks  of  his  grandsons,  Noah,  Enoch 
and  Daniel,  who  were  probably  sons  of  Noah,  as  he  is  not  mentioned 
in  the  will.  His  son,  Samuel,  settled  in  Groton,  Conn.,  and  was  an 
iron  manufacturer.  Eleazer,  son  of  Captain  John,  married  Alice 
Angell.  He  died  August  25th,  1719,  and  while  he  had  a  large  family 
the  supposition  is  that  his  sons  had  no  male  issue.  His  children  werer 
Eleazer,  Alice,  Margaret,  married  John  Mowry;  Elizabeth,  Job,  James 
and  Daniel.     Mary,    daughter   of    Captain    John,    married    Epenetus- 

Olney.     William,  son  of  Captain  John,  married  Mary and  his 

children  were:  Mary,  who  married  a  Sprague;  William  and  Seth.  He 
died  March  9th,  1712.  We  have  no  further  records  of  this  family. 
The  other  children  of  Captain  John  were:  Benjamin,  David,  Joseph, 
Jonathan,  and  Abigail,  who  married  first  Stephen  Dexter,  second 
William  Hopkins. 

Benjamin  Whipple,  son  of  Captain  John,  was  born  in  Dorchester,. 
Mass.,  in  the  year  1653-4.     He  was  baptized  June  4th,  lOoA.     He  mar- 


478  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ried  Ruth  Mathewson,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Fruit  Hill,  now  in 
the  town  of  North  Providence.  He  died  March  11th,  1704.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Benjamin,  Ruth,  Mary,  Josiah,  who  died  young;  John  and 
Abigail.  Benjamin,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  at  Providence,  No- 
vember 11th,  1688,  and  died  in  1788,  in  the  one  hundredth  year  of  his 
age.  He  lived  on  a  farm  given  him  by  his  father,  and  was  a  farmer, 
tanner,  currier  and  shoemaker.  Owing  to  an  accident,  he  lost  one  of 
his  legs  at  the  age  of  75.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Gabriel  Bernon,  a  French  Huguenot.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Andrew,  died  young;  Benjamin;  Content,  married  Esek 
Olney;  Daniel,  Ephraim,  Esther  and  Mary.  His  second  wife  was  Es- 
ther Miller,  and  her  children  were:  Benajah,  who  emigrated  to  New 
York  state;  Stephen,  removed  to  Massachusetts;  Joseph,  located  in 
Connecticut;  Benedict,  Jessie,  Freelove,  John  and  Abigail.  Ephraim, 
son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  in  Providence,  November  7th,  1729.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  settled  on  part  of  the  homestead  farm  near  Fruit 
Hill.  He  married  Mary  Hawkins.  His  children  were:  Emer,  Ben- 
jamin and  Ephraim.  The  two  latter  were  twins,  and  as  no  further 
record  can  be  found  of  them,  they  are  supposed  to  have  died  young. 
Emer,  son  of  Ephraim,  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  Fruit  Hill.  He 
was  called  captain,  having  been  connected  with  the  militia.  He  mar- 
ried Abigail  Brown.  His  children  were:  Amasa,  left  no  male  issue; 
Ephraim,  Mary,  Dorcas,  married  a  Gilbert;  Sarah  and  Benjamin. 
Ephraim,  son  of  Emer,  was  born  July  8th,  1800,  and  married  Susan 
Farnum.  Their  children  were:  George  B.,  who  removed  to  North 
Adams,  Mass.,  where  he  died;  Ethan,  James  A.  and  Mary  E.,  all  died 
young;  Albert  A.,  resides  in  California;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Orin 
Spencer,  lives  in  Providence;  Andrew  B.;  Henry,  died  aged  about 
six  years;  Ruth  A.,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Arnold,  lives  at  East  Provi- 
dence; Emeline  F.,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Bowen,  resides  at  Providence; 
William  A.,  John  E.  and  Susan  F.,  wife  of  John  E.  Mowry,  lives 
in  Chicago,  ill.  Ephraim  died  April  14th,  1876.  William  A.,  son 
of  Ephraim,  born  in  Smithfield,  March  11th,  1840,  married  Cin- 
derella Bennett,  and  had  three  children:  Florence  H.,  died  aged  six 
years;  Helen  G.  and  Earl  B.  He  is  a  teacher  and  resides  at  Pawtucket. 
John  E.,  son  of  Ephraim,  born  in  Smithfield,  May  11th,  1842,  married 
Ann  E.  Arnold.  Their  children  are;  Everiane  B.,  died  aged  13  years; 
John  H.,  William  A.  and  George.  William  A.  is  a  farmer,  and  resides 
in  Smithfield. 

Benedict  Whipple,  son  of  Benjamin,  was  born  October  13th,  1739, 
and  settled  in  Scituate,  R.  I.,  in  1772.  He  was  a  farmer  and  black- 
smith, and  served  during  the  revolutionary  war.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  James  Mathewson,  of  Scituate.  He  died  June  16th, 
1819.  His  children  were:  Esther,  who  married  Asa  Phillips;  James, 
John,  Elizabeth,  married  Samuel  Wilbur,  and  died  at  the  age  of  83 
years,  and  Benedict,  who  lived  single  and  died  aged  80  years.     James, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  479 

son  of  Benedict,  was  born  December  26th,  1768,  and  died  July  16th. 
1839.  He  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith.  His  first  wife  was  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  Batty,  of  Scituate.  By  her  he  had  one  child,  Ruth 
L.,  who  married  Martin  Howard.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Parker,  and  their  children  were:  Margaret  B. 
(deceased),  married  Robert  Rounds;  James  M.,  died  at  Warwick,  R.  I.; 
Thomas  P.,  Almond  O.,  died  single;  Henry  E.,  resides  in  Providence, 
and  Benedict  M.  Thomas  P.,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  vScituate, 
April  24th,  1813,  is  a  carpenter  and  millwright  by  trade,  and  resides 
in  Pawtucket.  He  married  Roby  Rounds,  and  their  children  were: 
Phebe  B.,  wife  of  George  Matteson,  of  East  Providence;  James  A., 
died  young;  Nathaniel  B.,  resides  at  Central  Falls;  William  D.;  Har- 
riet F.,  died  young;  Lathera  A.,  resides  in  Pawtucket;  George  M.,  died 
young;  John  B.,  died  young,  and  Anna,  wife  of  Asa  Newell,  of  Adams- 
dale,  Mass.  William  D.,  son  of  Thomas  P.,  was  born  in  Scituate,  De- 
cember 3d,  1843,  and  married  for  his  first  wife.  Amy  Clark.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Mercy  W.  Elsbree.  He  has  no  children,  is  a  carpenter, 
and  resides  in  Central  Falls. 

John  Whipple,  son  of  Benedict,  was  born  November  24th,  1771, 
and  died  in  1856.  He  lived  in  Foster,  R.  I.,  and  kept  stage  tavern  and 
store.  He  married  for  his  first  wife,  Abigail  Stone,  of  Scituate,  and 
their  children  were:  Nehemiah  K.,  died  young;  Polly,  married  Richard 
Howard;  Alfred,  was  twice  married,  but  left  only  one  son  that  arrived 
to  maturity,  John;  Cynthia,  married  Olney  Williams;  Selinda,  married 
Reverend  Gardner  Howard;  Robert  S.,  and  Jason  S.,  removed  to  Wa- 
terbury,  Conn.  Robert  S.,  son  of  John,  was  born  December  6th,  1806, 
lived  most  of  his  days  in  Foster,  and  was  a  farmer.  His  first  wife 
w^as  Orrila,  daughter  of  Deacon  Knight  Hill.  His  second  wife  was 
widow  Abby  Tanner,  formerly  a  Pollard.  His  children  were  by  his 
first  wife:  George,  died  in  Minnesota;  Albin,  resides  in  Fiskville,  R. 
I.;  Abigail  S.,  wife  of  Thomas  A.  Hopkins,  of  Scituate;  Harvey  O., 
lives  in  Minnesota;  Knight  F.,  resides  in  California,  and  ]\Ioses  F., 
born  in  Foster,  January  31st,  1830.  married  Mary  H.  Tayer,  and  has 
no  children.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Pawtucket  since  1867,  and  is 
a  grocer. 

David  Whipple,  son  of  Captain  John,  was  born  in  ^^'K)^  or  16r)6,  and 
was  baptized  September  28th,  1656.  He  purchased  of  John,  the  son 
of  Reverend  William  Blackstone  (one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Rhode 
Island),  land  in  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  now  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  in  1692.  On 
this  property  was  "  vStudy  Hill."  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Hearnden, 
by  whom  he  had  one  child,  David.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah 
Tower,  of  Hingham,  Mass.,  and  their  children  were:  Israel,  born 
August  16th,  1678;  Deborah,  married  a  Tower;  Jeremiah,  born  June 
26th,  1683;  William,  born  May  27th,  1685;  Sarah,  married  a  Razee; 
Hannah,  died  young,  and  Abigail,  died  young.  David,  the  son  of 
David,  lived  on  the  old  homestead,  and  the  property  descended  to  his 


480  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

son  David.  David,  son  of  David,  married  Martha  Read,  and  had  the 
following  children:  Simon;  David,  born  July  14th,  1740;  George,  born 
July  11th,  1742;  Otis,  born  August  19th,  1744;  Cynthia;  Amy;  Jona- 
than, born  September  8th,  1752;  Benjamin,  born  November  17th,  1754, 
and  Joseph,  born  March  21st,  1761.  Simon,  son  of  David,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  September  28th,  1738,  and  married  Mary  Blake.  Their 
children  were:  Sally,  died  single;  Martha,  married  Captain  John  Hal- 
lowell,  of  Providence,  a  seafaring  man;  Molly,  died  single;  Simon  and 
John  Gray.  Simon  bore  the  title  of  colonel,  having  been  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war.  He  died  March  2d,  1824.  Simon,  son  of  Simon,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  May  28th,  1776,  married  Jemima  Miller,  of  Cum- 
berland, and  had  three  children:  Martha,  single,  resides  at  Pawtucket; 
Simon,  and  Alfred,  who  resides  in  Cumberland,  and  owns  part  of  the 
land  deeded  to  his  ancestor,  David,  in  1692,  by  Blackstone.  vSimon 
died  May  12th,  1824.  John  Gray,  son  of  Colonel  Simon,  was  born  in 
Boston,  and  died  at  Lonsdale,  R.  I.,  December  21st,  1865,  in  his  93d 
year.  He  married  for  his  first  wife,  Nancy  Walcott,  of  Providence, 
and  though  they  had  five  children,  all  cf  them  died  single.  His  second 
wife  was  Eliza  Barton,  of  Warren,  R.  I.,  and  their  children  were:  Em- 
eline  Barton,  who  resides  at  Central  Falls;  Joseph  Barton,  resides 
west;  Eliza  Hemans,  died  aged  four  years,  and  Frederic  Eddy,  killed 
during  the  war  in  1862.  Simon,  son  of  Simon,  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land February  8th,  1816,  and  married  Nancy  M.  Polsey.  They  have 
had  six  children:  Sarah,  died  aged  13  months;  Simon,  died  ten  years 
of  age;  George  S.  T.,  born  December  19th,  1851,  married  Annie  E. 
Jerauld,  has  no  childsen,  resides  at  Pawtucket;  Nancy,  died  aged  17 
months;  Albert  Blake,  died  aged  17  months,  and  Charles  P.,  born  Sep- 
tember 9th,  1860.  The  latter  has  in  his  possession  the  original  deed 
given  in  1692  to  David  Whipple.  He  resides  in  Pawtucket.  Simon 
was  a  resident  of  Cumberland  till  1871,  when  he  came  to  Pawtucket, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade. 

Jeremiah  Whipple,  son  of  David,  was  born  June  26th,  1683.  He 
married  Deborah  Bucklin,  and  died  in  1760.  He  seems  to  have 
had  three  sons,  David,  Jeremiah,  and  Oliver,  who  emigrated  to  New 
Hampshire.  Jeremiah,  son  of  Jeremiah,  was  born  about  1718  and 
died  in  1800.  He  married  Hannah  Bowen,  and  their  children  were: 
Lucy,  who  married  John  Dexter;  Hannah  and  Betty,  died  single; 
Bela,  a  surgeon  in  the  revolutionary  army,  died  unmarried;  Jabez, 
Anna,  and  Eseck,  died  young.  Jeremiah,  son  of  Jeremiah,  was  born 
March  27th,  1748,  and  died  in  1819.  He  married  Nancy  Dexter. 
Their  children  were:  Bela,  died  single;  Betsey,  married  Preserved 
Arnold;  Louis  and  Betsey,  died  single,  and  Jeremiah,  born  1802,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Smith.  He  died  in  1852.  His  children  were:  Nancy  and 
Elizabeth,  who  died  single,  and  Jeremiah,  born  in  1838,  died  in  France 
in  1871.  His  wife  was  Isabella  Carlota  Hobson,  and  no  children  are 
livinp". 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  481 

William  Whipple,  son  of  David,  was  born  May  27th,  1085.  He  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  ^mithfield,  now  Lincoln.  His  wife's  name  was  Eliz- 
abeth, and  they  had  the  largest  family  of  any  of  the,  Whipples  on 
record,  as  follows:  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Jemima,  Amy,  William,  ^Slercy. 
Jeremiah,  Hopestill,  John,  Anthony,  Sarah,  Benjamin,  jMoses,  Joseph, 
Annie,  Eleazer,  and  Hannah.  Benjamin,  son  of  William,  was  born 
June  3d,  1728.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Smithfield,  near  Lime 
Rock.  His  first  wife  was  Jerusha  Peck  and  their  children  were:  Jere- 
miah, Phebe,  who  married  William  Dexter,  and  Mollie,  married  a 
Thompson.  The  two  last  were  twins.  His  second  wife  was  vSarah 
Matteson  and  their  children  were:  Hannah,  who  married  Ahab 
Mowry;  Elizabeth,  died  single,  and  Sarah,  married  Seth  Sprague. 
Jeremiah,  only  son  of  Benjamin,  married  Amy  vSprague  and  his  chil- 
dren were:  Reuben,  died  single;  Jerusha,  died  single;  Lebbeus,  and 
Arthur,  died  in  what  is  now  Lincoln.  Lebbeus,  son  of  Jeremiah,  was 
born  August  9th,  1790,  and  married  Amy  Clark.  He  died  August  19th, 
1869.  and  his  two  children,  Amy  Ann,  who  is  single,  and  Susan  wScott. 
widow  of  General  Lysander  Flagg,  reside  in  Central  Falls.  Closes, 
son  of  William,  was  born  January  13th,  1729.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
lived  in  Cumberland.  He  married  Patience  Matteson.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Patience,  who  married  Nathaniel  Jencks;  William,  Joseph, 
and  Thankful,  married  Nathaniel  Spaulding.  Joseph,  son  of  Moses, 
married  Annie  Matteson  and  their  children  were:  Mary  Ann,  married 
vStephen  Dexter;  Amy,  died  single;  Joseph,  died  single;  Welcome,  died 
in  Cumberland;  Susan,  died  single;  Rebecca,  died  single;  vStephen  V.. 
and  Bela,  died  single.  Joseph  married  for  his  second  wife  Nancy 
Weatherhead,  but  she  had  no  children.  He  died  in  March,  1849,  in  his 
66th  year.  Stephen  V.,  son  of  Joseph,  born  in  Cumberland  February 
14th,  1813,  married  Adaline,  daughter  of  Hartford  Jenckes.  Of  their 
11  children,  nine  are  living,  as  follows:  Albert  J.,  resides  in  Woon- 
socket;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Amos  W.  Clark,  resides  in  Nebraska;  Lucy 
A.,  widow  of  Leonard  Brown,  resides  in  Worcester,  Mass.;  Amanda 
F.,  lives  in  Central  Falls;  Joseph  M.;  Susan  M.,  wife  of  Alva  Trask, 
of  Bellingham,  Mass.;  Delia  M.,  wife  of  Charles  Huling,  of  Valley 
Falls;  Louis  F.,  resides  in  Providence;  Abby  J.,  wife  of  Samuel  Flem- 
ing, of  Central  Falls.  Stephen  V.  died  October  2d,  1876.  Joseph 
M.,  son  of  Stephen  A^,  born  in  Cumberland  March  27th,  1851,  married, 
Esther  L.  Graham.  Joseph  Whipple,  son  of  Joseph  (called  stub  foot), 
was  born  in  Cumberland  November  19th,  1828.  He  w^as  engaged  in 
boat  building  in  his  early  days,  and  in  1864  came  to  Central  Falls  and 
engaged  in  carpentering,  which  business  he  finally  changed  to  stair 
building,  which  he  carried  on  till  his  death,  April  22d,  1889.  He  left 
a  widows  and  two  daughters. 

Thomas  E.  White  was  born  in  Canterbury,  Conn.,  January  7th, 
1822,  and  was  the  third  son  and  sixth  child  (also  being  one  of  a  pair 
of  twins)  of  George  S.  and  Marcy  (Walmsley)  White.     His  father  was 
31 


482  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDE^XE   COUNTY. 

an  Englishman  and  came  to  America  in  1814  and  settled  at  Freetown, 
Mass.;  he  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman  and  was  ordained  at  St.  John's 
Episcopal  church  in  Providence,  and  afterward  preached  at  Boston, 
Brooklyn,  Conn.,  and  Canterbury,  Conn.  At  the  latter  place  he  died 
in  1850.  He  was  the  author  of  various  works,  among  which  was  the 
"  Life  of  Samuel  Slater,"  published  in  1836.  Thomas  E.  left  home  at 
the  age  of  13  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Norwich, 
Conn.,  for  two  years.  He  afterward  learned  the  trade  of  tinner,  and 
that  business  he  followed  at  Brooklyn  and  Hamden,  Conn.,  and  came 
to  Chepachet.  R.  I.,  in  1842  and  from  that  time  till  1879  carried  on 
business  at  that  point,  also  in  Scituate,  R.  I.,  and  was  for  27  years 
located  at  Providence.  In  1879  he  purcha.sed  a  farm  in  Lincoln  on 
which  he  now  resides.  He  married  Louisa  G.,  daughter  of  Pardon 
Sheldon  of  Cranston  R.  L,  and  he  had  eight  children:  Maria  L.,  wife 
of  Charles  N.  Fisher,  of  Valley  Falls,  R.  L;  Edward  Aborn,  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  George  Edward,  lives  at  Providence;  Mary  Aborn, 
wife  of  George  W.  Elliott;  Andrew  James,  of  Providence;  Robert,  died 
aged  two  years,  and  Robert,  resides  in  Woodstock,  Conn.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Susan  Marble. 

Christopher  Wilbur  married  Rachel  Sayles  and  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Reuben,  Rachel,  married  Eleazer  Shuman;  Ann,  mar- 
ried George  Brownell;  David,  Sayles,  and  Mercy,  married  John  Smith. 
David,  son  of  Christopher,  married  Phebe  Brown  and  had  a  family  of 
12  children:  William,  died  single;  Christopher,  Martin,  Jane,  married 
first  Orin  Wright,  second  Richard  Lincoln;  Reuben,  lives  in  New 
Milford,  Conn.;  Benjamin,  Dexter,  Esther  (deceased),  married  Craw- 
ford Manton;  Rachel,  wife  of  Andrew  B.  Whipple  of  Smithfield; 
Thomas,  died  young;  Phebe  Ann  (deceased),  married  William  Aid- 
rich,  and  David.  Benjamin,  son  of  David,  married  Augusta  Richards 
and  had  eight  children:  Joseph  B.,  Maria  J.,  wife  of  Edward  Ford  of 
Pawtucket;  Ada  R.,  married  a  Bolster;  Charles  E.,  Howard,  Walter  B., 
William  E.  and  Flora  E.,  died  aged  18  years.  Joseph  B.,  son  of  Ben- 
jamin, born  December  17th,  1850,  married  Ada  A.  Keene,and  has  four 
children:  Edward  R.,  Clarence,  Joseph  B.,  Jr.,  and  George.  Dexter, 
son  of  David,  born  November  20th,  1831,  married  Sarah  Harris  and 
has  two  children:  Harriet  and  George. 

Henry  B.  Wood,  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  Central  Falls,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  February  14th,  1803,  and  died 
September  27th,  1886,  in  the  84th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  member 
of  a  large  family  and  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Betsey  Wood,  whose  res- 
idence at  the  time  of  his  birth  was  on  a  farm  about  six  miles  from 
Pawtucket.  Here  was  the  place  where  the  late  and  venerable  Mr. 
Wood  spent  the  earlier  years  of  an  active  and  highly  useful  life. 
Hard  work  on  the  farm,  interspersed  with  a  few  months  of  each  year 
at  the  district  school,  constituted  the  employment  of  his  time  when  a 
mere  lad.     Possessed  of  a  studious  mind,  apt  in  learning,  and  ever 


^'^-..^^^^^^^^^ 


YPE,     E.    BIERSTAOT, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  483 

restive  under  intellectual  restraints,  he  sought  and  obtained  means  of 
acquiring-  a  broader  education,  even  when  a  mere  youth.  His  father 
being  a  poor  man  and  unable  to  assist  him  financially,  he  was  per- 
mitted to  find  employment  during  the  summer  months  away  from 
home,  and  in  the  winter  time  to  study  and  teach  school.  He  pursued 
this  course  until  he  had  taught  school  ten  winters.  He  was  very  fond 
of  mathematics  and  excelled  in  those  branches  of  study.  His  time 
during  the  summer  months  was  employed  m  various  occupations.  He 
worked  as  a  mason  for  some  time  and  helped  to  build  the  wharf  at 
Providence. 

Mr.  Wood  was  a  very  thoughtful  man,  a  deep  thinker,  and  during 
all  these  earlier  years  of  his  life,  by  his  wisdom  in  husbanding  and 
expending  his  financial  resources  became  eminently  successful  in 
laying  that  foundation  of  his  business  career,  from  which  in  later 
years  he  reaped  a  great  rew^ard.  As  means  would  accumulate  he 
would  invest  as  he  could,  mostly  at  first,  on  account  of  his  limited 
resources,  in  wood  lands.  The  wisdom  arid  foresight  of  these  ven- 
tures soon  became  apparent.  Having  some  taste  for  farming,  he  began 
to  make  clearings.  The  logs  were  drawn  to  mill,  shingles  were  manu- 
factured, and  in  1832  he  erected  for  himself  a  neat  cottage,  still 
standing  on  Centre  street.  Central  Falls,  near  the  depot.  From  this 
time  fortune  began  to  smile  upon  him,  and  he  commenced  to  ex- 
pand his  energies,  engaging  for  a  time  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
cloth.  vSoon  after  this  he  started  his  lumber  3'ard,  a  business  which 
he  subsequently  conducted  with  great  success  for  half  a  century. 
His  beginning  in  this  line  of  business  was  in  copartnership  with 
Gideon  Smith,  an  honest,  upright  old  Quaker,  who  died  shortly  after- 
ward, leaving  j\Ir.  Wood  as  the  head  of  the  now  long  established  and 
well  known  firm  of  H.  B.  Wood  &  Co.  As  the  sole  owner  of  this 
enterprise  for  many  years,  Mr.  Wood  constantly  added  to  all  his  former 
gains  until  he  acquired  an  independent  fortune. 

Mr.  Wood  was  one  of  the  earliest  temperance  advocates  of  the  state. 
As  a  man  he  was  remarkably  simple  in  his  habits,  thoroughly  genuine 
in  his  character  of  manliness  and  uprightness  and  was  one  of  nature's 
noblemen  in  the  true  sense  of  that  term.  Possessed  of  a  sound  mind, 
of  a  healthy  body  and  correct  habits,  he  enjoyed  the  best  of  health 
throughout  his  long  life.  He  was  an  exemplary  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  many  years.  He  was  one  of  a  band  of  men  who  left  the 
First  Baptist  church,  Pawtucket,  to  form  a  similar  society  in  Central 
Falls,  now  known  as  the  Broad  vStreet  Baptist  church.  Honesty  was 
Mr.  Wood's  policy,  both  in  and  out  of  the  church.  He  was  also  dis- 
creet as  well  as  honest.  Retentive  in  memory,  learned  in  the  school 
of  experience,  he  wisely  assisted  those  in  need — and  to  such  an  extent 
his  right  hand  did  not  know  what  the  left  did.  In  his  domestic  life 
he  was  known  only  as  the  complete  man  that  he  was.  There  he  was 
kind  and  generous,  even  to  a  fault.     There  charity  abounded  in  the 


484  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

plenitude  of  its  beauty,  and  there  this  man's   legacy  is  greater  than 
his  uncounted  thousands. 

Mr.  Wood  was  married  in  the  29th  year  of  his  age  to  Miss  Eliza 
Gage,  a  very  loveable  and  amiable  woman.  Four  children  were  born 
to  them.  Mrs.  Wood  died  October  27th,  1S78.  His  second  wife  was 
Minnie  C,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  H.  and  Emily  G.  Wightman  of 
North  Kingstown,  who  survives  him.  Mr.  Wood  was  a  genial,  kind- 
hearted  husband,  full  of  sympathy,  treating  the  rich  and  the  poor  with 
the  same  hospitality,  and  always  having  a  word  of  encouragement  for 
the  depressed.  During  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was  fond  of  riding 
and  spent  much  time  in  this  way  out  of  doors.  "  Old  Ned,"  his  favor- 
ite horse,  survived  him  but  a  few  years,  and  when  he  died,  out  of 
regard  for  his  master,  this  old  servant  of  the  family  was  decently 
interred,  with  his  head  carefully  pillowed  to  rest.  And  thus  it  is,  the 
good  and  the  just  ever  receive  our  highest  tokens  of  esteem  in  the 
remembrance  even  of  the  small  things  of  life. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  TOWN  OF  NORTH  SMITHFIELD. 

Description.— Division  of  the  Town.— Places  of  Interest.— Town  Meetings.- Ordinances. 
—Town  Oflficers.—Slatersville.— Stores.— Post  Office.— Hotels.— Bank.— Library. — 
Slatersville  Cemetery  Association.— List  of  Physicians.— John  Slater.— Industries.— 
Union  Village.  —  The  Friends.  —  Forestdale.  —  Branch  Village.  —  Waterford.  — 
Churches. — A  Sketch  of  the  Various  Denominations  Now  Extinct. — The  Congrega- 
tional Church. — Sabbath  School. — The  Catholic  Churches.— Schools  and  Academies. 

NORTH  SMITHFIELD  was  taken  from  Smithfield  and  incorpo- 
rated as  the  town  of  Slater  March  8th,  1871.  The  present  name, 
adopted  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  gives  a  correct  idea  of 
its  position  relative  to  the  town  of  Smithfield.  The  town  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Massachusetts,  on  the  east  by  Woonsocket  and  Lin- 
coln, on  the  south  by  Smithfield  and  on  the  west  by  Burrillville. 
Before  the  division  of  the  town  of  Smithfield  the  census  report  gives  a 
population  in  1865  for  that  territory,  of  12,315;  when  North  Smithfield 
was  set  off  it  contained  a  population  of  3,052;  in  1875  it  was  2,797;  in 
1880,  3,088;  in  1885,  3,077.  The  total  valuation  of  real  and  personal 
property  in  1888  was  $2,294,825.  The  tax  assessed  was  $12,851.02,  the 
rate  being  56  cents  on  each  $100. 

There  had  been  for  several  years  a  feeling  on  the  part  of  many  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  that  it  should  be  divided.  Various  attempts 
had  been  made  to  set  a  portion  off  to  Woonsocket,  and  the  aid  of  the 
general  assembly  had  been  invoked  to  favor  such  a  project,  but  it  was 
opposed  by  the  representatives  and  senator  from  the  town,  acting 
■under  instructions  from  the  tax-payers,  and  was  defeated.  The  matter, 
however,  was  not  allowed  to  drop,  and  on  Saturday,  January  21st.  1871, 
a  special  meeting  of  the  freemen  was  called  at  the  town  house.  After 
a  full  and  free  discussion,  the  question  "Shall  the  town  be  divided?" 
was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  a  vote  of  111  to  33.  The  following 
resolution  was  then  adopted  without  a  dissenting  vote:  "  Resolved,  That 
this  meeting  favors  a  division  of  the  town  of  vSmithfield,  according  to 
the  act  now  on  the  moderator's  table,  making  the  new  towns  of  North 
Smithfield  and  Greenville."  Afterward  the  act  was  amended  so  as  to 
leave  the  old  name  Smithfield  to  that  portion  of  the  town  designated 
in  the  act  as  Greenville,  giving  the  name  of  Lincoln  to  that  portion 
which  had  been  designed  to  be  left  as  Smithfield. 

The  act  setting  off  a  portion  of  vSmithfield  to  Woonsocket  and  divid- 


486  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ing  the  remainder  into  three  towns  was  passed  March  8th,  1871.  By 
this  act  the  town  of  Woonsocket  gained  something  like  3,000  in  popu- 
lation and  two  millions  of  taxable  property,  making  its  population  in 
round  numbers  twelve  thousand  and  its  valuation  six  millions  of  dol- 
lars. Folowing  is  section  2d  of  the  act  dividing  the  town  of  Smith- 
field,  showing  the  boundary  lines  of  North  Smithfield. 

"  Sec.  11.  All  that  part  of  the  town  of  Smithfield  lying. and  being 
within  the  following  limits,  to  wit:  beginning  at  a  point  on  the  state 
line  between  the  states  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts,  being  the 
point  where  the  towns  of  Uxbridge,  in  Massachusetts,  and  Smithfield 
and  Burrillville,  in  Rhode  Island,  meet,  and  are  bounded,  it  being  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  town  of  Smithfield;  thence  running  southerly, 
on  and  with  the  west  line  of  said  town  of  Smithfield  to  a  point  being 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Glocester,  where  the  northerly 
line  of  said  Glocester  and  the  southerly  line  of  the  town  of  Burrillville 
meet  the  westerly  line  of  said  Smithfield;  thence  running  easterly  to 
a  point  where  the  road  leading  from  the  Providence  and  Worcester 
road  (so-called),  by  the  house  of  Ephraim  Sayles,  crosses  the  Crook 
Fall  river,  near  the  house  of  Simon  Newell;  then  with  said  Crook 
Fall  river,  and  the  center  thereof,  to  a  point  being  the  center  of  the 
mouth  of  said  Crook  Fall  river,  and  the  center  of  the  Blackstone 
river;  thence  in  a  straight  line  westerly  to  a  point  on  the  southerly 
line  of  the  Providence  and  Worcester  road  (so-called),  at  the  Booth 
pond  (so-called);  thence  with  the  southerly  line  of  said  road,  exclud- 
ing said  road,  to  a  point  on  the  same,  where  the  road  leading  from 
Woonsocket  F'alls  village  to  the  Union  Village  enters  said  road  a  little 
northerly  of  the  Friends'  meeting  house;  thence  northerly  in  a  straight 
line  toward  the  easterly  corner  "of  the  covered  bridge,  near  the  Black- 
stone  Manufacturing  Company's  mill,  until  a  point  is  reached  due 
west  from  the  center  of  the  dam  of  an  ancient  grist  mill;  thence 
running  due  east  to  the  center  of  Blackstone  river;  thence  running 
with  said  river  on  the  present  town  line  of  Smithfield,  to  the  state 
line,  it  being  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Smithfield;  thence 
running  westerly  on  and  with  the  northerly  line  of  said  town  of  Smith- 
field  to  the  place  of  beginning,  is  hereby  set  off  and  incorporated  into 
the  township  by  the  name  of  Slater;  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  shall 
have  and  enjoy  the  like  benefits,  privileges  and  immunities,  and  be 
subject  to  like  duties  and  responsibilities  as  the  other  towns  in  this 
.state  generally  enjoy  and  are  subject  to." 

The  town  of  North  Smithfield,  being  the  northernmost  of  the 
towns  carved  out  of  old  Smithfield,  comprises  about  25  square  miles, 
and  its  valuation,  in  the  act  of  division,  was  $1,762,443.  Within  its  limits 
is  that  portion  of  the  Waterf  ord  Woolen  Mills  which  lie  in  Rhode  Island, 
a  valuable  but  unimproved  water  power  at  Branch  Village,  the  Forest- 
dale  Cotton  Mills,  the  village  of  Slatersville  with  its  busy  mills,  and 
the  beautiful  Union  Village,  which,  although  now  deserted  by  trade, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  487 

was  once  a  more  important  place  than  Woonsocket.  The  farmers  are 
all  well-to-do,  the  town  is  largely  agricultural,  and  they  find  a  ready 
sale  for  their  produce  in  the  adjoining  villages. 

The  following  list  gives  the  principal  places  of  interest  in  the 
town:— F/Z/rt-^ri:.— Slatersville;  Forestdale;  Waterford  (;North  Smith- 
field  side);  Union  Village;  Branch  A'^illage.  ////A.— Woonsocket; 
Sayles.  J? nrrs. —Branch;  Little;  Blackstone.  /)';7'^;/f'.v.—Dawley;  Trout: 
Mathewson;  Crookfall.  Szcam/ys.— Cedar;  Pine;  Mattity;  Nipsachet. 
Slatersville  Reservoir.  Woonsocket  hill,  which  is  576  feet  high,  and 
has  a  pond  near  its  top.  Boiling  Spring.  '-The  Blunders."  At  Han- 
ton  City,  which  is  a  corruption  of  the  family  name  Herrenden,  is  a 
granite  ledge  that  was  at  one  time  worked. 

The  first  meeting  held  in  the  town  of  North  Smithfield  was  on 
April  5th,  1871,  when  Byron  A.  Andrews  was  chosen  moderator,  pro 
tern.,  and  Albert  A.  Mowry  clerk, /;-^  tcm.  At  this  meeting  an  election 
took  place  for  state  officers.  June  5th.  1871,  a  meeting  of  the  legal 
voters  of  the  town  resulted  in  the  following  officers  being  elected: 
Town  councilmen,  Arlon  Mowry,  Smith  Thayer,  George  John.son, 
Joseph  D.  Nichols,  Jacob  Morse;  town  clerk,  Albert  A.  Mowry;  town 
treasurer,  William  H.  Seagrave;  justices  of  the  peace,  William  H.  Sea- 
grave,  James  I.  Hotchkiss,  Wellington  Aldrich,  Nelson  Taft,  Hiram  F. 
Thayer,  George  Johnson. 

On  June  12th  the  council  met  and  made  the  appropriations  for  the 
year,  of  $2,500  for  school  purposes,  and  $3,000  for  highways,  the  tax- 
payers having  the  privilege  of  working  out  or  paying  the  tax  as  they 
chose.  At  this  time  the  following  resolution  was  made:  Resolved, 
That  the  town  council  be  requested  to  grant  license  for  the  sale  of  in- 
toxicating liquors  of  any  kind,  and  to  cause  to  be  prosecuted  all  per- 
sons violating  the  laws  of  the  state  regulating  the  sale  of  liquors,  and 
also  all  persons  keeping  houses  of  ill-fame,  and  to  draw  on  the  town 
treasurer  for  the  expenses  of  such  prosecutions,  to  be  paid  out  of  any 
money  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated." 

The  legislature  of  the  state  having  ordered  a  commission  to  consist 
of  one  member  each  from  the  towns  of  Smithfield,  North  Smithfield 
and  Lincoln,  and  from  the  "  set  off "  to  Woonsocket,  so  called,  to  set- 
tle all  matters  pertaining  to  the  old  town  of  Smithfield,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  this  movement  the  town  voters  elected  Arlon  Mowry  a 
member  of  that  commission. 

The  town  council  passed  ordinances  as  follows:  An  ordinance  in 
relation  to  the  ordinances  of  the  town  of  North  Smithfield;  an  ordi- 
nance defining  the  compact  part  of  the  town;  an  ordinance  to  prohibit 
improper  conduct;  an  ordinance  to  prohibit  the  opening  of  places  of 
trade  or  entertainment  on  Sundays  or  late  at  night;  an  ordinance 
against  bathing  in  public  places;  an  ordinance  concerning  the  burial 
of  dead  animals;  an  ordinance  in  relation  to  street  lamps,  po.sts,  lamp- 
pcsts,  signs,  sign-boards,  fences  and  buildings;  an   ordinance  in   rela- 


488  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

tion  to  streets  and  highways;  an  ordinance  for  the  suppression  and 
prevention  of  certain  nuisances. 

The  ordinance  prohibiting  the  opening  of  places  of  trade  under 
certain  conditions  is  worthy  of  mention.  It  is  as  follows:  "  No  store, 
shop,  or  other  place  of  trade,  entertainment,  or  place  of  business  in 
this  town,  shall  hereafter  be  opened  or  kept  open  after  eleven  of  the 
clock  in  the  evening,  nor  be  opened  before  daylight  in  the  morning; 
nor  shall  any  such  shop,  store  or  other  place  of  trade,  entertainment 
or  place  of  business,  be  opened  on  Sunday,  nor  any  article  sold  there- 
in on  that  day;  Provided,  that  druggists  may  open  their  shops  at  any 
time  for  the  purpose  of  selling  medicines  for  the  use  of  the  sick,  and 
provided  also  that  barbers  and  bakers  may  keep  open  their  shops  on 
Sunday  until  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon;  and  further  provided, 
that  licensed  victualers  may  keep  open  their  shops  on  Sunday  from 
seven  to  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon,  from  twelve  to  one  and 
one-half  of  the  clock,  and  from  five  to  seven  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon. The  provisions  of  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  keepers  of 
licensed  taverns." 

The  town  clerks  of  the  town  of  North  Smithfield  have  been  as  fol- 
lows: Albert  Mowry,  1871  to  1872;  Ansel  Holman,  1872  to  1880;  Byron 
A.  Andrews,  from  1880  to  the  present  time. 

Town  treasurers:  William  H.  Seagrave,  1871  to  1880;  Charles  S. 
Seagrave,  1880  to  1882;  John  F.  Mansfield,  1882  to  1886;  Arnold  Wake- 
field, 1886  to  prcvsent  time. 

Senators:  Arlon  Mowry,  1871  to  1873;  George  Johnson,  1873  to  1875; 
William  H.  Seagrave,  1875  to  1877;  Smith  Thayer,  1877  to  1880;  Albert 
Mowry,  1880  to  1883;  Arthur  Young,  1883  to  1885;  Metcalf  Comstock. 
1885  to  1886;  Byron  A.  Andrews,  1886  to . 

Representatives:  George  Johnson,  1871  to  1873;  Joseph  D.  Nichols, 
1873  to  1874;  Jacob  Morse,  1874  to  1876;  Arlon  Mowry,  1876  to  1877; 
Charles  A.  Smith,  1877  to  1879;  Davis  Aldrich,  1879  to  1880;  David  S. 
Wilkinson,  1880  to  1882;  George  W.  Lovell,  1882  to  1883;  Walter  M. 
Smith,  1883  to  1885;  William  F.  Comstock,  1885  to  1886;  George  Hen- 
drick,  1886  to . 

vSlatersville  is  the  most  important  village  in  the  town.  The  site  on 
which  the  village  is  located  was  a  dense  forest  in  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  and  the  beautiful  basin  in  which  these  factories  are 
nestled  was  then  a  tangled  swamp.  In  the  country  round,  here  and 
there  was  a  cleared  field  settled  by  the  Buffums,  the  Inmans,  the  Thorn- 
tons, the  Cruffs,  the  vSmiths,  the  Comstocks,  the  Rathbones,  the  Car- 
rolls,  the  Manns,  the  Bowditches,  the  Buxtons,  the  Dodges  and  others. 

In  1805  Mr.  Samuel  Slater  with  his  brother  John,  both  men  of 
limited  means,  passed  through  all  this  region  prospecting  for  the  site 
of  a  mill.  In  the  year  1806  Mr.  John  Slater  and  wife  made  this  their 
home.  Immediately  following  them  were  those  bearing  the  names  of 
Johnson,  Baxter,  Trip,  Wright,  Cupples,  Moffitt,  Hill,  Farnum,  Stiness. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  489 

Dawson,  Dawley,  Tracy,  Bacon,  Capron,  Ray,  Tabor  and  others.  In 
1806  under  the  firm  of  Almy,  Brown  &  Slater,  was  built  the  first  cotton 
mill  of  Smithfield,  and  from  this  time  the  village  history  of  Slaters- 
ville  properly  begins.  In  1815  there  must  have  been  considerable 
business  carried  on  here,  as  at  that  time  the  present  bank  was  incor- 
porated and  three  taverns  had  a  good  trade. 

Slatersville  has  long  been  a  center  of  trade  for  this  region  of 
country,  and  merchants  of  this  place  have  usually  been  successful  in 
their  business.  The  store  formerly  stood  down  on  the  flat  till  the 
erection  of  the  new  block  in  1850,  when  it  was  moved.  After  the 
company  gave  up  ,the  business  Mr.  George  Johnson,  their  former 
clerk,  came  in,  leased  the  building  in  1840,  and  carried  on  trading  for 
a  period  of  19  years.  He  was  a  successful  business  man  and  made 
money,  but  afterward  went  into  wool  speculation,  and  to  the  regret  of 
everybody,  lost  it.  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  the  village  when  a  mere  boy.' 
In  1834  he  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Colonel  Ralph  Tracy,  and 
still  resides  in  the  place.  In  1863  James  E.  Simmons  bought  out  the 
stock  and  good  will  of  the  business,  and  during  war  times  he  made 
himself  rich.  The  present  firm  of  H.  W.  Parkis  &  Co.  took  the  stock 
of  Mr.  Simmons  in  1868,  and  they  are  doing  a  flourishing  business. 
Mr.  George  Helm  has  also  a  store  in  the  village. 

Charles  E.  Farnum  was  an  early  postmaster  in  Slatersville.  Arthur 
Young  took  the  office  in  1850  and  kept  it  till  1883,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  when  he  was  state  senator,  during  which  time  it  was  kept 
by  Joshua  Ballon.  It  passed  from  Mr.  Young's  hands  to  the  present 
incumbent,  H.  W.  Parkis.  in  1882.  The  office  was  kept  at  the  old 
tavern  stand  till  the  building  of  the  block  now  occupied  in  part  by  H. 
W.  Parkis  in  1850,  when  it  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters. 
Arthur  Young,  who  was  so  many  years  postmaster  and  clerk  of  the 
village,  is  a  native  of  Griswold,  Conn.  He  came  here  in  1848,  and  re- 
mained till  1885,  when  he  moved  to  Providence,  where  he  now  re- 
sides.    He  was  a  notary  public  about  30  years. 

There  is  at  present  no  hotel  in  the  town.  The  old  tavern  in  the 
village  has  been  run  for  many  years  as  a  boarding  house  and  accom- 
modates the  traveling  public.  Formerly  the  business  carried  on  in 
this  line  was  very  good.  There  were  in  all  three  hotels.  Samuel  Ray 
kept  one  at  the  west  end  of  the  village  for  many  years.  A  portion  of 
this  house  is  now  occupied  by  George  Helm  as  a  store.  The  Brick 
Tavern  was  on  the  great  highway  between  Providence  and  Worces- 
ter, and  one  of  the  stations  on  the  stage  route,  and  in  the  village  was 
the  hotel  built  by  John  Slater.  Abram  Winsor  kept  it  till  1824. 
Thomas  Andrews  followed  for  a  year  or  two.  Warren  Sweetzer  kept 
it  a  number  of  years.  He  was  there  in  1843.  The  house  went  into 
disuse  as  a  hotel  over  20  years  ago. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Smithfield  was  originally  incorporated 
and  chartered  as  the  Burrillville  Agricultural  Bank  in  June,  1815.     It 


490  HIST(3RV   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

did  not  commence  business  until  1818,  when  under  the  name  of  the 
Burrillville  Agricultural  and  Manufacturers'  Bank,  it  issued  its  first 
bills.  In  1822  its  name  was  changed  to  the  "  Village  Bank,"  and  in 
May,  1865,  to  the  First  National  Bank  of  Smithfield.  The  presidents 
of  the  bank  have  been:  John  Slater,  who  was  chosen  as  director  in 
place  of  Reuben  Walling  and  then  chosen  president,  and  William  S. 
Slater.  The  cashiers  have  been:  Henry  S.  Mansfield,  1818  to  1839; 
Henry  S.  Mansfield,  Jr.,  to  1846;  William  H.  Seagrave,  to  1880,  and 
Charles  vS.  Seagrave,  the  present  incumbent.  For«the  past  24  years^ 
this  bank  has  paid  a  dividend  of  8  per  cent,  on  the  par  value  of  the 
stock. 

A  library  was  established  in  the  village  of  Slatersville  by  A.  D. 
Lockwood  &  Co.  and  Mr.  Slater  as  early  as  1840.  Books  have  been 
added  from  time  to  time,  till  now  they  number  1,900  volumes.  Most 
of  these  books  have  been  purchased  by  the  company,  which  has  sup- 
ported the  enterprise.  Mr.  John  W.  Slater  bears  all  the  expenses  of 
the  library.  He  gives  the  hall  free  for  its  use  and  employs  a  librarian, 
Mr.  Archie  M.  Clark. 

The  Slatersville  Cemetery  Association  was  formed  in  1886.  Under 
the  present  management  the  old  graveyard  has  been  enlarged,  the 
grounds  improved,  and  much  has  been  done  to  beautify  the  place. 
Charles  S.  Seagrave  is  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the  association. 
The  trustees  are  Deacon  vS.  O.  Tabor,  W.  H.  Sandford  and  Byron  A. 
Andrews. 

The  physicians  of  the  place  have  been:  Doctors  Eleazer  Bellows, 
Gideon  Frost,  William  Richardson,  John  Pond,  Horatio  Stockbridge, 
Metcalf  Marsh,  John  Fellows,  Elam  C.  Knight,  Enoch  Thayer,  A.  H. 
Flanders,  George  W.  Stanley  and  S.  Slater. 

Mr.  John  Slater,  under  whom  the  enterprise  of  the  village  was 
commenced  and  carried  on  for  nearly  40  years,  came  from  his  birth- 
place in  Derbyshire,  England,  in  the  year  1803.  In  the  prime  of  his 
manhood  he  entered  on  this  enterprise  and  gave  to  it  all  the  energies 
of  his  strong  mind  and  vigorous  body.  Mingling  with  the  workmen 
as  one  of  their  number,  they  partook  of  his  zeal  in  the  work.  He 
gathered  around  him  a  worthy  class  of  laborers,  many  of  them  of  a 
decidedly  religious  character,  and  by  his  regard  for  their  interests 
secured  their  hearty  co-operation  in  promoting  his  own. 

Mr.  Slater  was  a  man  of  marked  humanity.  As  an  evidence  of 
this  the  old  ledgers  of  the  company  bear  witness  that  many  a  poor 
widow's  grief  was  softened  by  a  generous  gift.  In  the  interests  of  the 
cause  of  education  he  early  erected  a  school  house  in  the  village,  and 
his  grandson,  J.  W.  Slater,  in  the  same  spirit  manifested  by  his  ances- 
tor, built  the  present  large  and  commodious  structure  and  donated  it 
to  the  village  in  1886. 

Mr.  John  Slater  was  a  constant  attendant  on  divine  worship.  As 
.soon  as  the  circumstances  of  the  place  warranted,  he  complied  with 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  491 

the  call  made  for  a  place  of  public  worship,  and  in  1838  the  present 
house  was  erected.  In  1842  he  retired  from  business  and  on  Mav  17th, 
1843,  he  died. 

Aside  from  the  mills,  which  in  an  early  day  consisted  of  saw  and 
grist  mills  only,  the  business  of  the  community  was  chiefly  farming. 
As  soon  as  the  cotton  mills  were  erected  a  more  extensive  industry 
was  given  to  those  in  search  of  work.  The  cotton  to  be  carded  and 
spun  must  first  be  picked  over  by  hand.  This  was  done  in  the  sur- 
rounding farm  houses  at  from  five  to  six  cents  per  pound.  For  the 
most  part  the  cotton  was  spun  into  yarn,  which  was  colored  and  .sold 
by  the  skein.  Having  been  spun,  it  was  reeled  by  hand.  The  first 
work  of  this  kind  done  here  was  by  the  late  Mrs.  Samuel  Ray.  Much 
of  it  was  spun  also  into  thread  and  then  sent  among  the  wives  and 
daughters  of  the  surrounding  farmers  to  be  woven  by  hand  looms,  at 
from  4%:  to  12  cents  a  yard,  according  to  the  kind  of  cloth  made.  This 
continued  for  upwards  of  ten  years.  The  building  of  the  western 
mill  in  1821  brought  a  new  era  and  the  times  changed. 

The  houses  built  in  that  early  day  had  cellar  kitchens  in  many 
cases,  built  in  this  way  to  secure  rooms  which  by  reason  of  their 
dampness  should  prove  more  favorable  for  weaving.  Prices  current, 
taken  from  the  day  book  and  ledgers  of  1807  of  Almy.  Brown  &  Slater, 
were  as  follows:  Wages  of  day  laborers,  from  75  cents  to  $1;  domestics, 
from  Is.  9d.  to  5s.  per  week;  weavers,  ordinary,  from  44  to  12  cents  per 
yard,  for  the  higher  numbers  1  cent  per  yard  per  number:  cotton 
goods,  muslins,  from  30  to  40  cents  per  yard,  calicoes,  26  to  40  cents 
per  yard;  wood,  soft,  $2,  hard,  $4  per  cord;  beef,  5  to  11  cents  per  lb.; 
sugar,  12  cents  per  lb.;  molasses,  per  gallon,  50  cents;  flour,  per  bbl.. 
$9.50;  rice,  5  cents  per  lb.;  cheese,  10  cents  per  lb.;  codfish.  6  cents  per 
lb.;  meal,  per  bushel,  96  cents;  tea,  per  lb.,  i^l;  coft'ee.  per  lb.,  38  cents; 
rum,  per  gallon,  $1.17. 

The  first  cotton  mill  of  the  nation  was  built  by  Samuel  Slater,  aided 
by  Almy  &  Brown  in  Pawtucket  about  1791.  The  machinery  was  all 
made  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Slater  after  the  pattern  of 
that  invented  and  used  by  Arkwright  &  Strutt  in  England.  In  1805 
Samuel  Slater  and  his  brother  John  carefully  surveyed  the  Black.stone 
and  Woonsocket  privileges,  which  were  then  occupied  only  by  a  saw 
and  grist  mill.  There  was  a  saw  and  grist  mill  where  ran  an  up- 
and-down  saw,  and  huge  stones  to  reduce  the  corn  and  wheat,  stand- 
ing near  the  present  machine  shop  in  Slatersville.  The  original  firm, 
which  was  Almy  &  Brown,  having  purchased  this  mill  privilege  and 
that  of  the  upper  dam  and  many  of  the  surrounding  farms,  a  new  dam 
was  built  where  the  only  one  here  of  wood  now  stands. 

In  1806  under  the  firm  of  Almy,  Brown  &  Slater,  was  built  the 
first  cotton  mill  of  Smithfield.  The  granite  boulders  which  the  ice- 
bergs of  an  antediluvian  age  had  here  dropped,  though  counted  a 
curse  by  those  who  cleared  these  farms,  were  a  welcome  sight  to  those 


492  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

who  now  purposed  to  build.  Out  of  these  came  the  principal  material 
from  which  all  these  mills  and  houses  of  stone  were  constructed. 
Dropped  by  Him  who  giveth  to  man  the  power  to  get  riches,  they 
proved  to  be  a  source  of  wealth  for  the  building  of  mills.  July  4th, 
1807,  was  celebrated  by  running  the  frames  of  the  mill  for  the  first 
time.  In  1821  the  Western  Mill  was  built.  Three  successive  enlarge- 
ments have  been  made  by  the  present  company.  In  1826  the  original 
mill  was  burned.  The  same  year,  near  the  old  foundations,  the  Center 
Mill  was  built.  The  lower  mill  as  it  originally  stood,  was  built  first 
for  a  bleach  house.  It  was  then  used  as  a  machine  shop,  and  later  on 
a  woolen  mill.  In  1842  it  was  burned.  In  1843  it  was  rebuilt  and 
enlarged.  The  present  machine  shop  was  originally  a  weave  shop 
near  the  upper  dam  and  the  superintendent's  office  and  cloth  shop  a 
small  bobbin  mill  near  the  Tracy  house. 

In  1833  Messrs.  S.  &  J.  Slater  bought  out  Almy  &  Brown  and  the 
company  bore  their  name  still  after  the  decease  of  both  these  original 
owners;  the  former  in  1885,  the  latter  in  1843.  A  few  months  before 
the  death  of  the  latter  the  principal  part  of  the  property  was  rented 
for  ten  years  to  Messrs.  A.  D.  Lockwood  &  Co.  In  1848  the  sons  of  J. 
Slater  bought  out  the  heirs  of  Samuel  Slater,  and  the  firm  was  J.  &  W. 
Slater  till  1873,  then  William  S.  Slater  till  1882,  when  fhe  died  and 
his  son  John  W.  Slater,  the  present  owner  of  all  the  mills  and  the 
principal  part  of  the  property  of  the  village  came  into  possession. 

The  clerks  of  the  place  have  been:  Henry  S.  Mansfield,  from  1810 
to  1818;  Joseph  Almy,  1813  to  1843;  Arthur  Young,  1848  to  1883. 
Thomas  C.  Powell  is  the  present  clerk.  The  private  clerks  of  John 
vSlater  were  Charles  Brown,  and  Robert  Foss,  who  was  there  from  1820 
to  1888.  Among  the  superintendents  should  be  mentioned  George  W. 
Holt,  who  was  there  nearly  40  years;  Phineas  Boyle,  who  was  there  also 
a  long  time,  and  Charles  H.  Hobbs,  the  present  superintendent,  who 
to  the  regret  of  the  company  and  people  generally  is  about  to  sever 
his  connection  with  the  firm.  He  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
mills  since  1884. 

Union  Village  is  the  oldest  village  of  the  town.  In  speaking  of 
this  village,  Mr.  Thomas  Steere,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Town  of  Smith- 
field,"  says: 

"At  the  time  the  territory  of  Smithfield  was  occupied  by  the  Indi- 
ans it  was  then  called  Wionkheige  in  its  southerly  section;  Louisquis- 
set  in  that  portion  round  about  Lime  Rock,  and  Woonsocket  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  territory.  The  present  Union  Village  was  origi. 
nally  called  Woonsocket;  the  name  being  changed  when  the  Union 
Bank  was  established  there.  The  first  house  was  built  by  James  Ar- 
nold in  1690,  a  part  of  which  is  now  standing,  an  addition  having  been 
built  by  Judge  Peleg  Arnold  in  1780.  Judge  Arnold  kept  tavern  here 
for  many  years.  The  second  house  was  built  by  Hezekiah  Comstock, 
in   1702,  on  the  site  where  now  stands   the   house  of  the  late  Walter 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  493' 

Allen,  now  known  as  the  Osborne  house.  The  Uriah  Arnold  house 
was  built  by  Captain  Daniel  Arnold  in  1714.  The  Friends'  meeting 
house  was  built  in  1719,  and  was  originally  20  feet  square.  It  was  en- 
larged by  another,  as  an  addition,  in  1755,  20  by  80  feet,  this  addition 
being  an  ell.  In  1775  this  ell  was  removed  and  an  addition,  32  by  32 
feet,  was  built.  In  1849  the  entire  building  was  remodeled,  and  re- 
mains in  the  form  then  given  it.  This  house  stands  a  little  outside, 
and  to  the  south  of  the  village,  on  the  old  Providence  and  Worcester 
road.  Soon  after  the  last  reconstruction  the  meeting  house  was  fur- 
nished with  green  blinds  by  Edward  Harris,  Welcome  Farnum  and 
Joseph  Almy.  For  many  years  this  was  the  only  public  house  of  wor- 
ship in  this  vicinity,  and  as  there  were  many  Friends  resident  in  the 
surrounding  country  it  was  usually  filled  on  *  First  Day  '  with  an  in- 
telligent and  devout  congregation. 

"  In  1718  Providence  monthly  meeting  was  set  off  from  Greenwich 
monthly  meeting,  and  consisted  of  Providence  and  Mendon  meetings. 
The  name  was  changed,  in  1731,  to  Smithfield  monthly  meeting.  In 
1783  the  present  Providence  monthly  meeting  was  set  off  from  Smith- 
field  monthly  meeting. 

"  About  half  a  mile  north  of  the  village  is  one  of  those  natural  curi- 
osities occasionally  found,  of  interest  to  the  idlest  observer,  as  well  as 
to  the  geologist.  'Coblin  Rock'  is  of  uniform  diameter,  standing  on 
a  large  flat  rock,  and  weighs  probably  about  200  tons.  Near  this  were 
situated  the  quarries  from  which  the  once  famous  '  Smithfield  Scythe 
Stones  '  were  taken.  It  is  estimated  that  not  less  than  500,000  dozen 
of  these  stones  were  made,  during  a  period  of  about  20  years.  The 
makers  were,  at  different  times,  Marcus  Arnold,  George  Aldrich, 
Thomas  A.  Paine  and  Hanson  Arnold. 

"  To  the  southwest,  and  at  a  short  distance  from  Union  Village,  is 
situated  Woonsocket  hill,  the  highest  land  in  the  state  of  Rhode  Island. 
Its  summit  is  570  feet  above  high-water  mark  at  Providence:  it  is  com- 
posed mostly  of  granular  quartz,  mica,  and  talc.  On  the  highest  part 
of  this  hill  is  a  large  pond. 

"  For  the  last  40  years  there  has  been  no  increase  in  the  number  of 
dwelling  houses  in  Union  Village;  two  have  been  removed,  and  two 
erected,  and  yet  there  is  (1870)  no  land  for  sale.  The  population  is 
125,  and  the  picturesqueness  and  quiet  of  this  ancient  village  are 
equalled  by  the  intelligence,  conservatism  and  virtues  of  its  inhabit- 
ants." 

The  thriving  village  of  Forestdale  is  situated  on  the  Branch  river, 
about  one  mile  below  Slatersville.  The  first  business  engaged  in  here, 
of  any  importance,  was  that  of  the  manufacture  of  scythes,  by  Newton 
Darling,  about  the  year  1824.  Mr.  Darling  had  learned  his  trade  of 
Colonel  Comstock  Passmore,  at  Branch  Village.  The  water  power  cost 
Mr.  Darling  only  $100  and  the  cost  of  sluice  way,  to  be  opened  only 
when  water  ran  over  the  dam.     H.  S.  Mansfield  afterward  joined  Mr. 


494  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY. 

Darling  in  the  business.  In  1839  Ansel  Holman  joined  the  firm.  In 
1841  Mr.  Darling-  sold  out  his  interest,  and  the  firm  became  Mansfield 
&  Holman.  It  was  afterward  Mansfield  &  Lamb,  Estus  Lamb  having 
become  a  partner,  and  the  firm  owning  the  entire  village.  Prior  to 
1860  the  annual  product  was  10.000  dozen  of  sc5'thes;  afterward  it  was 
about  8,000  dozen.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  this  firm  furnished 
the  government  with  30,000  sabres,  officially  said  to  be  equal  to  any 
manufactured  in  the  country.  In  1860  the  firm  erected  a  stone  cotton 
mill,  which  is  operated  by  the  Forestdale  Manufacturing  Company. 
The  mill  is  166  by  68  feet,  three  stories  high,  with  an  ell  65  by  45  feet, 
of  the  same  height.  The  fall  is  14  feet.  Horse  power— water,  250; 
steam,  80.  In  the  scythe  works  150  tons  of  iron  are  annually  used;  3 
tons  of  steel  and  100  grindstones  are  employed.  The  Forestdale  Com- 
pany use  annually  1,500  bales  of  cotton,  run  15,246  spindles  and  342 
looms,  employing  175  hands.  The  tenement  houses  for  both  estab- 
lishments are  two  stories  in  height;  there  is  an  excellent  boarding 
house,  and  the  whole  place  is  neat,  orderly  and  attractive.  The  old 
company's  store  was  built  in  1858.  John  H.  Higgins  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  mills  since  1870. 

Branch  Village,  now  an  unimportant  place,  is  situated  on  the  Branch 
river,  about  one  mile  north  of  Union  Village.  In,  the  year  1795  Elisha 
Bartlett  came  here  from  Glocester,  and  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  scythes,  which  business  he  continued  till  his  death, in  1804.  After- 
ward Colonel  Comstock  Passmore  purchased  the  place.  A  small  cot- 
ton mill  was  erected  here  by  William  Buffum  and  sons,  Otis  Bartlett, 
Comstock  Passmore,  and  perhaps  some  others.  The  mill  was  operated 
by  Colonel  Passmore,  who  died  about  the  year  1825.  Otis  Bartlett  car- 
ried on  the  scythe  making  business  thereafter.  The  mill  has  been 
run  for  the  manufacture  of  cloth  or  warps,  at  different  times,  and  by 
various  parties,  until  nearly  the  present  time;  David  Daniels,  David 
M.  Daniels,  Alfred  Morse,  Joseph  Morse,  Emor  Coe  and  James  Pitts. 
The  last  named  party  came  here  in  1870,  took  a  lease  of  the  Black- 
stone  Company,  and  is  still  operating  the  mill.  In  1878  the  old  mill 
was  burned,  and  the  present  one  erected  that  year.  In  1883  Frederick 
J.  Pitts  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Pitts  &  Son,  who  now  oper- 
ate it  as  a  flock  mill.  The  firm  employ  14  hands.  The  product  is 
about  2,000  pounds  per  day. 

The  village  of  Waterford  is  situated  in  Massachusetts,  a  small  por- 
tion of  it  lying  south  of  the  state  line  in  this  town.  The  dividing  line 
cuts  off  a  corner  of  the  Catholic  church,  runs  just  north  of  J.  Kelly  & 
Son's  extensive  coal  and  wood  yard  and  through  the  large  mills  of 
Evans,  Seagrave  &  Co.  These  mills  were  erected  in  1833  by  Welcome 
Farnum  and  used  first  for  the  manufacture  of  warps.  Mr.  Farnum 
ran  the  mills  till  1848,  when  Mill  No.  2  was  leased  to  the  present 
owners,  and  in  1851  No.  1  Mill  was  also  lea.sed  to  these  parties.  No.  1 
Mill  has  been   operated  since  1876  as  the   Blackstofie  Woolen  Mill, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENXE   COUNTY.  405 

owned  by  Evans,  Seagrave  &  Co.  Welcome  Farnum  also  built  Mill 
No.  3,  which  was  burned  in  1877.  In  1804  the  whole  property  passed 
out  of  Mr.  Farnum's  hands  under  mortgage  to  the  present  owners. 
This  company  manufacture  fancy  cassimeres  and  worsted  satins  and 
employ  in  both  mills  800  hands.  Richard  Waterman  is  superinten- 
dent of  Mill  No.  1  and  Henry  Sayles  of  Mill  No.  2. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  village  of  Slatersville  and  part  of 
the  Catholic  church  building  in  Waterford  is  in  this  town  and  part  in 
Massachuseits.  Among  the  original  settlers  here  a  large  proportion 
were  Friends.  This  accounts  in  a  measure  for  the  general  absence  of 
grave-stones  bearing  the  names  of  the  deceased  in  the  older  portions 
of  the  cemetery.  The  Friends  in  1771  declared  in  behalf  of  education 
for  the  poor  children  of  the  town,  and  worshipped  in  Union  Village 
long  before  that  time.  In  1718  Providence  monthly  meeting  was  set 
off  from  Greenwich  monthly  meeting  and  consisted  of  Providence  and 
Mendon  meetings.  The  name  was  changed  in  1731  to  Smithfield 
monthly  meeting.  In  1783  the  present  Providence  meeting  was  set 
off  from  Smithfield  monthly  meeting.  Among  their  speakers  in  the 
olden  times  were  Elisha  Thornton,  Royal  Southwick,  Richard  Mowry, 
Alice  Rathbun,  Mary  Allen  and  others. 

The  Methodists  also  had  their  pioneer  laborers  early  upon  the 
ground.  Prominent  among  them  stood  such  men  as  Eldridge,  Britt, 
Scott,  Washburn,  Yates,  Virgin,  Lovejoy,  Webb,  McClish,  Father 
Taylor,  Lorenzo  Dow  and  others. 

The  Baptists  were  largely  in  the  ascendency  in  most  parts  of  the 
state  at  that  early  period.  As  the  business  of  the  place  brought  an 
increase  of  inhabitants  they  often  held  meetings  in  the  old  school 
house,  as  well  as  in  private  houses,  under  the  leadership  of  elders 
White,  Bailey,  Thayer,  Tift,  Allen,  Bowles,  Burlingame  and  others. 

Reverend  E.  A.  Buck,  in  a  historical  discourse,  delivered  at  the 
Congregational  church  at  Slatersville  in  1867,  wdien  speaking  of  the 
early  churches  says:  "The  morality  of  the  community  during  its  early 
history  compared  favorably  with  that  of  the  neighboring  towns  and 
villages,  although  far  from  what  could  be  desired.  Intemperance, 
which  prevailed  extensively  throughout  the  land,  here  also  was  doing 
its  demoralizing  and  destructive  work.  No  less  than  three  taverns 
were  sustained  for  many  years  chiefly  by  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
drinks.  Yet  there  were  few  outbreaks  of  a  dark  and  saddening  feature 
previous  to  that  of  the  Andrew  Davis  tragedy  in  1826,  when,  under 
the  influence  of  brandy  and  passion,  Davis  accomplished  the  violent 
death  of  his  wife,  of  their  only  child,  of  an  estimable  neighbor— Mr. 
Isaac  Mason,  who  endeavored  to  stay  the  murderer's  hand— and  ulti- 
matel}^  his  own. 

"  In  the  early  religious  history  of  the  place  a  type  of  piety  prevailed 
among  many  which  was  highly  fanatical.  Meetings  were  often  exceed- 
ingly boisterous.     Shoutings  were  to  be  heard  within  and  without, 


496  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

while  strong  men  would  be  falling  until  some  half  dozen  at  a  time 
were  lying  together  on  the  floor. 

"  Open  infidelity  at  one  time  contended  for  the  possession  of  this 
ground.  The  publications  of  infidel  writers  were  not  only  thrust  un- 
welcome into  houses,,  but  even  those  going  to  the  place  of  worship 
would  find  their  seats  preoccupied  by  some  paper  or  tract  of  this  char- 
acter. The  voice  of  the  infidel  was  heard  also  at  the  pra3^er  meeting, 
opposing  the  truth,  even  when  it  fell  from  the  lips  of  devout  females. 
But  God  had  in  store  for  the  people  rich  spiritual  blessings,  notwith- 
standing their  obstacles." 

The  Congregational  church,  of  Slatersville,  was  formed  September 
8th,  1816.  Its  original  members  were  eight  in  number;  Mr.  Solomon 
Johnson,  originally  from  Mendon,  Mass.,  who  came  here  in  1807:  Mr. 
Ebenezer  G.  Baxter  and  wife  Mary,  and  the  Widow  Ruth  Stiness,  also 
from  Mas.sachusetts;  Duncan  Wright  and  his  wife  Jennet,  originally 
from  Scotland,  and  James  Cupples  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  from  Eng- 
land. On  the  same  day  Widow  Lydia  Dawson,  for  many  years  a 
teacher  in  this  village,  was  received  by  profession.  During  the  same 
year  seven  others  were  added,  five  by  profession,  and  two  by  letter. 
Their  names  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Gilmour,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Far- 
num,  Mrs.  Ruth  Slater,  Mrs.  Mary  Wall,  Mrs.  Chloe  Johnson  and 
Widow  Tiffany.  The  church  was  brought  into  existence  in  connec- 
tion with  the  labors  of  Reverend  Daniel  Waldo,  who  was  sent  into 
this  state  to  labor  as  a  missionary  by  the  Massachu.setts  Home  Mission 
Society.  The  records  of  the  church  begin  thus:  "  Slaters  Village,  in 
Smithfield,  R.  I.,  September  8th,  1816,  a  church  of  Christ  planted  un- 
der the  care  of  Reverend  Daniel  Waldo." 

Mr.  Waldo  attained  to  the  remarkable  age  of  102  years,  lacking  42 
days.  He  was  devout,  genial,  earnest  in  his  labors,  and  was  a  favorite 
among  his  people.  His  labors  in  this  place  and  vicinity  continued 
several  years  after  the  formation  of  the  church.  His  last  visits  here 
were  in  the  years  1857  and  1858,  in  his  96th  and  97th  years.  Qn  both 
of  these  occasions  he  preached  with  much  vigor,  and  his  usual  socia- 
bility and  love  for  Christ  and  his  cause.  He  was  born  at  Windham, 
Conn.,  September  10th,  1762,  and  had  the  advantages  of  a  common 
school  education.  At  the  age  of  16  he  served  as  a  .soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution,  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  the  sugar  house 
in  New  York  city.  Becoming  a  Christian  he  left  his  father's  farm 
and  entered  Yale  in  1784,  graduating  in  1788.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Windham  Association  in  1792,  and  settled  over  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  West  Sufiield,  Conn.  He  remained  there  till  1809, 
after  which  time  he  was  never  a  settled  pastor,  but  labored  as  a  stated 
supply  in  several  churches  in  New  England  and  New  York.  In  1856 
he  was  chosen  chaplain  to  the  house  of  representatives  in  congress, 
and  served  two  years. 

For  upward  of  22  years  this  church  and  society  worshipped  in  the 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDE^•CE    COUNTY.  497 

school  house,  which  during  the  year  of  its  formation  faced  as  the 
meeting  house  does  now.  It  stood  off  from  the  main  street,  a  path 
turning  off  from  where  the  guide  board  at  the  head  of  the  common 
now  stands  leading  to  it.  It  was  originally  built  with  galleries,  that 
it  might  be  used  both  as  a  school  house  and  as  a  place  of  public 
worship. 

For  19  years  after  the  formation  of  this  church,  it  enjoyed  the 
ministerial  labors  of  transient  ministers  only  or  stated  supplies. 
Among  those  who  labored  here  during  that  time  was  the  Reverend 
Doctor  Calvin  Park,  of  Providence,  father  of  the  Reverend  Doctor  Ed- 
wards A.  Park,  of  Andover,  Mass.  He  was  accustomed  frequently  to 
ride  out  from  the  city,  after  his  professional  labors  of  the  week  in  the 
university,  and  here  upon  the  Sabbath  preach  and  administer  the  or- 
dinances of  the  church,  laboring  not  in  vain  to  strengthen  the  things 
which  remained.  Reverends  Messrs.  Holman,  from  Douglass,  Mass., 
and  Judson  from  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  also  did  much  by  their  occasional 
lectures.  As  early  as  1817  and  1819  occur  the  names  of  Reverends 
John  Turner  and  John  McLeod.  In  1829  Reverend  Nathaniel  Barker 
supplied  this  church  and  a  small  Congregational  church  in  ]\Iillville, 
Mass. 

Reverend  C.  B.  Elliott  came  here  in  1834,  and  was  installed  vSep- 
tember  8th,  1835,  as  the  first  pastor  of  this  church.  During  his  brief 
ministry  of  two  years  16  were  added  to  the  church.  He  died  Novem- 
ber 29th,  1846.  September  20th,  1837,  Reverend  Amos  Lafavour  was 
installed  as  the  successor  of  Mr.  Elliott.  He  was  dismissed  by  advice 
of  mutual  council,  May  loth,  1838.  The  pulpit  was  next  supplied  for 
six  months  by  Reverend  Seth  Chapin.  It  was  during  his  labors  that 
Messrs.  Samuel  and  John  Slater  decided  to  build  the  church  edifice, 
which  was  dedicated  November  2oth.  1838.  After  the  house  was 
built,  Samuel  and  John  Slater  surrendered  all  right  and  title  in  said 
house  to  the  Congregational  church,  reserving  only  the  fee  simple  of 
the  premises.  A  valuable  chandelier  was  given  at  this  same  time  by 
Henry  S.  Mansfield. 

In  1837  the  financial  crisis  greatly  disturbed  the  confidence  of  the 
people  in  manufacturing  companies,  but  during  these  times  the  com- 
pany erected  this  house  of  worship,  and  their  pay  was  so  prompt  to 
their  help  that  many  came  here  for  employment,  as  many  as  17  church- 
going  families  coming  here  from  Uxbridge,  Mass.     December  30th, 

1838,  Reverend  Timothy  A.  Taylor,  from  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Andover,  Mass.,  became  the  pastor.     He  was  ordained  in  January, 

1839.  The  church  paid  him  a  salary  of  $600  per  annum,  payable  quar- 
terly, the  pastor  having  the  right  to  devote  to  his  own  use  four  weeks 
in  each  year  as  long  as  he  remained  in  charge.  He  died  March  2d, 
1858,  aged  48.  He  was  born  in  Hawley,  Mass.,  September  7th.  1809. 
At  the  age  of  11  years  his  father  died  and  he  was  left  to  the  sole  care 
of  a  faithful  mother,  who  lived  to  see  her  four  sons  rise  to  positions 


498  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDEN'CE   COUNTY. 

of  usefulness  and  honor  in  the  Christian  church.  In  1827  he  com- 
menced fitting-  for  college  and  in  1830  at  Bennington,  Yt.,  he  became 
hopefully  pious.  He  graduated  with  honor  at  Amherst  College  in 
1835.  In  1838  he  completed  his  studies  at  Andover  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  received  a  call  to  vSlaters- 
ville.  This  was  his  only  settlement  and  during  his  pastorate  of  more 
than  19  years  257  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  Besides  his 
regular  ministerial  letters  Mr.  Taylor  wrote  extensively  for  the  press. 
His  published  works  are:  "The  Solace,"  "Zion,"  "  Zion's  Pathway," 
"  The  Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  O.  A.  Taylor,"  and  "  Our  Holy  Hill."  He 
was  a  true  servant  of  Christ  and  died  greatly  lamented. 

In  January,  1859.  a  call  was  extended  to  Reverend  E.  Alden,  of 
Mansfield,  but  was  not  accepted.  On  the  13th  of  February,  same  year. 
Reverend  Edwin  A.  Buck  received  unanimous  invitation  from  the 
church  and  was  installed  the  30th  of  March,  1859,  and  remained  till 
1868,  and  following  him  came  Reverend  Webster  Hazelton,  who  was 
acting  pastor  from  September  6th,  1868,  till  August  1st,  1870.  Rever- 
end Calvin  R.  Fitts  became  acting  pastor  January  22d,  1871,  and  con- 
tinued until  April  1st,  1882.  Reverend  Cyrus  M.  Perry  became  acting- 
pastor  July  1st,  1882,  and  resigned  October  1st,  1888.  The  present 
pastor.  Reverend  Wilbur  Johnson,  began  his  labors  here  December 
5th,  1888.  The  total  number  of  persons  received  into  membership 
from  its  formation  September  8th,  1816,  to  June  1st,  1889,  was,  by 
profession,  382,  and  by  letter  153.  The  present  deacons  are  Samuel 
O.  Tabor  and  W^illiam  D.  Colwell.  The  late  Ansel  Holman  held  the 
office  of  deacon  of  the  church  41  years. 

The  history  of  the  vSabbath  school  runs  parallel  with  that  of  the 
church.  It  was  especially  indebted  in  its  early  history  to  the  labors  of 
William  Manscawen,  William  Johnson,  Lydia  Spear,  Doctor  Metcalf 
Marsh  and  others.  Mr.  A.  D.  Lockwood  was  probably  the  first  super- 
intendent. He  was  succeeded  by  William  H.  Seagrave,  who  filled  the 
position  for  very  many  years.  This  school  was  at  one  time  the  largest 
country  Sabbath  school  in  New  England.  Charles  S.  Seagrave  is  the 
present  superintendent. 

The  Catholic  parish  in  Slatersville  has  an  imposing  church  edifice 
and  a  membership  of,  1,050  souls.  Reverend  P.  A.  McLaughlin,  the 
priest  of  this  parish,  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Montreal, 
Canada.  He  has  fine  executive  abilities  and  is  much  liked.  The  church 
was  built  by  Father  Brie  in  1872. ,  The  Catholic  church  in  Waterford 
is  also  very  large,  but  it  properly  belongs  to  Massachusetts.  Father 
Powers  is  in  charge  of  this  society. 

The  schools  of  North  Smithfield  will  compare  favorably  with  those 
in  any  other  town  of  its  size  and  population  in  the  state.  Much  here 
seems  to  have  been  done  to  improve  the  schools  and  teachers,  the 
houses  and  grounds,  and  the  results  are  gratifying.  The  old  town  of 
Smithfield,  of  which  this  was  a  component  and  important  part,  took 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  4<)9 

measures  looking  to  the  welfare  of  the  schools  as  early  as  the  year 
1799.  In  June,  1800,  William  Buffum,  Joel  Aldrich,  Ezekiel  Comstock, 
Thomas  Mann,  Robert  Harris,  Thomas  Appleby.  Elisha  Olney,  Jona- 
than Harris,  and  Joseph  Farnum  were  chosen  a  committee  to  provide 
ways  and  means  to  organize  and  prescribe  the  best  plan  to  put  in 
motion  the  "  Free  School  Act"  which  had  passed  the  general  assembly 
the  year  previous,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  the  subject  of 
education  has  been  duly  considered  by  the  people.  It  was  found 
necessary  then  to  divide  the  town  into  26  districts,  extending  over  a 
territory  comprising  75  square  miles.  Now  11  school  districts  are 
found  in  the  town  of  North  vSmithfield,  which  comprises  an  area  of 
only  25  square  miles. 

At  the  October  session,  1808,  the  Smithfield  Academic  ^Society  was 
incorporated;  Enos  Mowry,  vSeth  Mowry  and  Nicholas  Brown  being 
incorporators.  In  February,  1810,  Peleg  Arnold,  Richard  Steere, 
Ezekiel  Comstock,  Joel  Aldrich,  John  W.  C.  Baxter  and  David  Aldrich 
were  made  a  body  corporate  by  the  name  of  "  The  Trustees  of  the 
Smithfield  Academy."  They  were  empowered  to  hold  real  and  per- 
sonal property,  not  exceeding  in  all,  five  thousand  dollars.  The 
officers  were:  President,  Peleg  Arnold;  vice-president,  Joel  Aldrich; 
treasurer,  Richard  Steere;  secretary,  David  Aldrich.  Peleg  Arnold, 
Marcus  Arnold  and  George  Aldrich  were  authorized  to  raise  by  lottery 
the  sum  of  $1,500  for  the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Smithfield 
Academy.  In  October,  ]846,  James  Barber,  George  C.  Ballou,  Edward 
H.  Sprague,  George  S.  Wardwell,  Amos  D.  Lockwood,  William  S. 
Slater,  "  their  associates  and  successors,  were  created  a  body  corporate 
and  politic,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  and  supporting  a  Seminary  of 
Learning  in  the  town  of  Smithfield,  in  the  vicinity  of  Woonsocket,  by 
the  name  of  the  Smithfield  Union  Institute." 

The  Smithfield  Academy,  located  at  Union  Village;  was  for  a  long 
time  a  flourishing  and  useful  institution.  It  was  built  by  lottery,  and 
was  occupied  in  1810.  David  Aldrich  was  the  first  teacher,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Josiah  Clark.  John  Thornton,  who  came  next  on  the 
list,  remained  about  six  years,  when  he  was  followed  by  George 
D.  Prentice,  afterward  so  well  known  as  the  editor  of  the  Louisville 
(Ky. )  Journal.  Other  teachers  were  employed,  among  them  Christopher 
Robinson,  who  thereafter  became  a  prominent  lawyer,  residing  in  the 
present  city  of  Woonsocket,  and  who  has  been  attorney  general  of 
the  state,  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  United  States, 
and  United  States  minister  to  Peru.  The  last  teacher  was  James 
Bushee,  who  taught  almost  continuously  for  20  years,  impressing  upon 
the  school  a  character  for  solidity  and  effectiveness.  When,  about 
the  year  1850,  he  closed  his  connection  with  the  academy,  not  only 
did  it  cease  to  exist,  but  the  last  effort  to  induce  or  retain  business  or 
material  life  in  this  attractive  village  expired. 

The  Friends,  of   whom  a  considerable  body  were   located  in  this 


500  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

town,  moved  at  an  early  date  in  behalf  of  education.  In  1771  they 
declared  that  poor  children  should  be  schooled,  and  Moses  Farnum, 
Moses  Brown,  Thomas  Lapham,  Job  Scott,  Elisha  Thornton,  Samuel 
Aldrich,  George  Arnold,  Antepast  Earle,  and  David  Steere,  were  ap- 
pointed to  draw  up  a  plan  of  establishing  a  free  school  among  the 
Friends.  Report  having  been  made  recommending  the  organizing  of 
said  free  schools,  Thomas  Steere,  Moses  Farnum,  David  Steere,  Moses 
Brown,  Ezekiel  Comstock,  Benjamin  Arnold,  Rufus  Smith,  Daniel 
Cross,  George  Smith,  Samuel  Aldrich,  Gardner  Earle,  David  Buffum 
and  Thomas  Lapham,  Jr.,  were  appointed  to  select  the  places  for  the 
schools,  to  inspect  the  poorer  sort  of  Friends'  families,  to  determine 
who  should  be  schooled  from  the  fund,  and  generally  to  transact  all 
other  matters  and  things  belonging  to  the  school. 

In  1840  the  first  school  committee  for  the  town  was  appointed,, 
consisting  of  Amos  D.  Lockwood,  Nicholas  S.  Winsor  and  Samuel  S. 
Mallery.  The  officers  of  the  schools  of  North  Smithfield  for  the  year 
1888  were:  John  H.  Bailey,  Jr.,  chairman,  James  I.  Hotchkiss,  clerk, 
and  George  R.  Smith  M.  D.,  superintendent.  The  town  treasurer  re- 
ported a  total  of  $5,961.81  from  the  several  sources  for  the  use  of 
public  schools  in  the  town  for  the  year. 

The  school  census,  taken  in  January,  1888,  showed  there  were  760 
pupils  in  the  town.  Of  this  number  230  did  not  attend  school.  The 
average  expense  per  scholar  for  the  year  ending  May  1st,  1887,  was 
$17.85. 

In  addition  to  the  above  expense,  an  evening  school  was  main- 
tained in  District  No.  2,  commencing  January  30th  and  ending  April 
6th,  1888.  Length  of  term  in  actual  number  of  sessions,  48,  of  two 
hours  each.  The  cost  was  $163.75,  of  which  sum  J.  W.  Slater  gener- 
ously contributed  one-half.  In  1886  Mr.  Slater,  at  his  own  expense, 
erected  and  donated  to  the  village,  in  District  No.  2,  a  new  school 
house,  consisting  of  four  large  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
four  departments:  grammar,  intermediate,  first  and  second  primary. 
The  building  is  a  model  one  for  school  purposes,  well  ventilated,  light 
and  airy,  and  supplies  a  want  long  felt  in  this  district. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Alfred  M.  Aldrich  is  a  son  of  Olney  and  grandson  of  Samuel. 
Olney  Aldrich  married  Catharine  Mann.  They  had  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Alfred  M.,  the  eldest  child,  married  Annie  F.,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Colwell.  They  have  four  children:  Stella  F.,  Lucy  M., 
Annie  M.  and  Austin  W.  Mr.  Aldrich  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1829, 
and  was  married  in  1853. 

Augustus  M.  Aldrich,  born  in  Smithfield  January  11th,  1832,  is  a 
descendant  of  George  Aldrich,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Eng- 
land in  1631.  He  had  a  son  Jacob,  born  in  1652,  he  a  son  Moses,  born 
in  1691,  he  a  son  Caleb,  born  in  1725,  he  a  son  Augustus,  born  in  1760, 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  501 

he  a  son  Arnold,  born  in  1794,  the  father  of  Augustus  M.;  William  D., 
born  in  1833;  Sarah  E.,  born  in  1842,  and  Cyrus  A.,  born  in  1847. 
Augustus  M.  resides  on  the  farm  owned  and  occupied  by  the  former 
generations  of  the  family.  A  large  elm  stands  in  front  of  his  house, 
planted  by  his  grandmother  95  years  ago.  Augustus  M.  married  in 
1863,  Mary  M.  Gifford.  They  have  two  children:  William  A.  and 
Maria  E.  Mr.  Aldrich  is  a  Mason,  and  belongs  to  the  Woonsocket 
Commandery.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Narragansett  Gun  Club. 

Erwin  E.  Aldrich,  born  in  1856,  is  a  son  of  Davis  and  Desire  F. 
Aldrich,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas  A.  Aldrich.  Davis  Aldrich  mar- 
ried Desire  F.,  daughter  of  Willard  Ballou.  They  had  four  children: 
Erwin  E.,  Sylvester  S.,  Hattie  and  Herbert  O.  Erwin  E.  is  a  bachelor, 
and  lives  with  his  mother  in  Union  Village.  Thomas  A.  Aldrich  was 
a  farmer  and  made  a  large  fortune  in  North  Smithfield. 

Mary  C.  Andrews  is  a  daughter  of  James,  who  was  a  resident  of 
Smithfield,  and  born  there  in  1799.  He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  An- 
drews, born  in  1758.  James  Andrews  married  Sally  Mowry  in  1825. 
They  had  four  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  living,  Mary  C.  and 
Nellie  A.     Nellie  A.  married  a  Mr.  Douglass  of  Connecticut. 

Fred.  S.  Ballou,  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  in  1854, 
is  the  son  of  Seril  Ballou,  born  in  1827.  His  mother  was  Amanda 
M.  Smith.  Mr.  Seril  Ballou  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  born 
in  North  Smithfield.  Fred.  S.  Ballou  married  Nellie  A.  Sleeper, 
April  23d,  1878.  They  have  an  adopted  son,  Eddie.  Mr.  Ballou  is  a 
farmer  and  raises  some  fine  stock.  Mrs.  Ballou  was  the  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Sleeper,  of  Maine,  where  she  was  born. 

Lewis  H.  Ballou,  born  in  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  in  1824,  son  of  Silas 
and  grandson  of  Edward  Ballou,  married  Sarah  R.,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Ballou.  She  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1822.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Ella  C,  who  married  Martin  M.  Arnold.  They  all  live  on 
the  farm,  called  the  vSpring  Grove  Farm,  in  North  Smithfield. 

Henry  A.  Brooks,  born  in  North  Smithfield  December  1st,  1848,  is 
a  son  of  William  Brooks,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1800,  came  to 
this  country  when  a  young  man,  and  married  Rhoby  Brooks.  They 
have  six  children:  Mary,  Chloe,  William,  Jr.,  Ellen,  Henry  A.  and 
George  F.;  all  living  but  George  F.,  who  died  in  1880.  Henry  A.  is  a 
bachelor,  and  lives  on  his  farm  with  his  sisters. 

Lewis  M.  Chilson  was  born  in  Bellingham,  Mass.,  in  1842,  and  has 
followed  butchering  for  the  last  25  years.  He  was  married  in  Rhode 
Island  in  1865,  to  Fannie  M.  Sherman.  They  have  two  children,  Ida 
L.  and  Nettie  F.     Mr.  Chilson  came  to  Slatersville  in  1870. 

Elisha  Comstock,  son  of  Welcome  and  Chloe  Comstock,  was  born  in 
Smithfield  June  1st,  1823,  and  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife, 
Anna  M.  Smith,  had  three  children,  and  died  in  1857.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1865  to  Asenath,  daughter  of  Silas  Mowry.  They  have  one 
son,  Elisha  M.  Comstock. 


502  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  firm  of  Comstock  Brothers  consists  of  George  W.,  Stephen  S. 
and  William  F.  Comstock.  George  W.  was  born  in  1835,  Stephen  S. 
in  1837,  and  William  F.  in  1844.  They  are  the  sons  of  Simon  Com- 
stock, born  in  1802,  died  in  1858.  Simon  was  a  son  of  Stephen,  born  in 
1777.  Simon  Comstock  married  Phebe  Thayer,  and  they  had  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  Julia,  born  in  1848,  married  W.  H.  Sandford, 
and  died  in  1879,  leaving  one  daughter,  Clara  A.  William  F.  Com- 
stock married  Emma  Paine,  who  died  in  1869.  George  W.  married 
Mary  E.  Mowry,  who  died  in  1888. 

Mary  G.  Comstock  is  a  daughter  of  Henry,  whose  father,  Ezekiel, 
was  a  son  of  Hezekiah.  Henry  Comstock  married  Sarah  Green,  who 
bore  him  four  children,  and  she  died  in  1800.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Clarissa  Arnold.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  Miss 
Mary  G.  Comstock  is  the  eldest. 

Milton  Cook,  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1812,  is  a  son  of  Whipple 
and  Lucy  (Darling)  Cook,  who  had  ten  children.  Milton  Cook  came 
to  North  Smithfield  in  1869.  He  married  Louisa  A.,  daughter  of  Fen- 
ner  Cook,  of  Massachusetts,  in  1841.  He  had  nine  children,  only  two 
of  whom  live  at  home.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  director  of  the  Citizens'  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Woonsocket.     He  was  overseer  of  poor  three  years. 

George  Dirk  was  born  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  in  1811,  and  came  to 
this  town  in  1837.  He  married  Harriet  N.  Glover,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. Mr.  Dirk  was  school  trustee  fourteen  years,  was  a  farmer,  and 
served  as  overseer  in  a  Douglass  factory.     He  died  in  1890. 

Augustus  E.  Field,  born  in  Scituate  in  1819,  is  the  son  of  Jeremiah 
Field  and  Florinda  Manchester,  who  had  four  sons:  Henry  M.,  Al- 
bert G.,  Augustus  E.  and  Jeremiah  H.,  all  born  in  Providence  county,^ 
Augustus  E.  married  Barbara  King  in  1841.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren: Mary  E.,  Helen  F.  and  George  A.  Augustus  E.  Field  came  to 
North  Smithfield  in  1879.  Mr.  Field,  in  company  with  his  son,  George 
A.,  is  in  the  pigery  business,  runs  a  farm  of  300  acres,  has  1,200  hogs, 
10  horses,  5  yoke  of  oxen,  15  cows,  200  head  of  steers  and  42  sheep. 

Mrs.  Whipple  M.  Follett  has  been  twice  married.  Her  first  hus- 
band was  Daniel  Smith.  They  were  married  in  1853,  and  had  two 
children:  Minerva  F.,  born  in  1856,  and  Daniel  D.,  born  in  1858.  Mi- 
nerva is  a  teacher  in  a  mute  school  in  Pennsylvania.  Daniel  D.  is  a 
jeweler  in  Providence.  Mr.  Daniel  Smith  died,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried Whipple  M.  Follett.  They  have  three  children:  Edith,  born 
1870;  Bertha,  1873;  and  Lewis,  1875.  Edith  married  Elmer  A.  Smith, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Minnie,  and  one  son,  Elmer.  Mrs.  Follett  has 
been  a  mute  from  birth.  Both  her  husbands  could  talk  and  all  her 
children.  She  is  highly  educated,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Hartford 
Institute.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mowry.  She  is  a  sister  of  Charles 
W.  Mowry. 

Joseph  W.  Gilmore,  born  in  Providence  in  1830,  came  to  North 
Smithfield  in  1878.     Mr.  Gilmore  was  a  contractor  30  years.     He  mar- 


9^g^^. 


(     f 


ried  Miss  L.  Y.  Drayt.  >■ 
living  in  New  York,   J.  i 

John  B.  Greene,  bon 
is  the  son  of  Elisha  A, 
married  in   1863  to  Ge 
have  no  children.     '' ' 

Captain  Philii. 
of    June,    1822.      1' 
academy  at  Kattsk 
held  various  public  oliii  • 
of  the  family,  was  afTon 
improved,  though  mean 
sue  the  study  of  art,  for  \. : 
ing  the  studio  of  Alexandei 
Conn.,  he  studied  for  some  • 
under  other  equally  excelk 
voted  his  time  to  art,  a.v:'^ 
noble  and  good  in  his 
He  has  not  painted  for 
as  to  inspire  av]  i-n;  •'■ 
with  grccnt  iniV 
best  works  ha' 
With  him  art  is  a  s. 
values.     Captain  II 
ment.     He  is  hone 
conventionalities  r- 
votion  to  the  art  b- 
commands. 

Captain  Hall  w 
guards  that  furnit 
Island  regiments. 
Ninth  Regiment,  Rhode  island  \ 
in  the  late  war,  and  afterward    ■ 
years  connected  with  the  state  ti- 
the Second  Brigade  of  State  >'^' 
tensively  in  Virginia,  makin 
familiar  with  slavery  in  all  its  ciut 
at  present  in  Slatersville.^ 

Dwight  F.  Hammond,  born  i; 
Nathan  and  grandson  of  Amos  \ ' 
Hendrick.     George  W.  is  tl 
Chapman.     They  have  one 
came  to  Smith  field  in  IS.'ll.     Mr- 

J.  P.  Harriman  was  born  in  M 
days  in   Pascoag.     He  enlisted   in 
regiment,  and  served  in  tb--    •    '■  "t" 


the 


504  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Providence  county  and  married  Lucy  F.,  daughter  of  Charles  Wight. 
They  have  one  son,  James  P.  Harriman.  Mr.  Harriman  is  the  inven- 
tor and  owner  of  a  patent  attachment  for  a  rotary  knitting  machine. 
His  father  was  the  Reverend  D.  P.  Harriman,  a  well-known  clergyman 
of  Pascoag. 

George  H.  Helm,  of  the  firm  of  G.  Helm  &  Son,  of  Slatersville,  is  a 
son  of  George  Helm,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1834,  came  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  came  from  there  to  Slaters- 
ville. He  married  Grace  McKeag  of  Connecticut.  They  have  nine 
children.  The  firm  of  George  Helm  &  Son  was  formed  in  1881  and 
does  a  general  mercantile  business. 

John  H.  Higgins  was  born  in  Warwick,  R.  I.,  August  4th,  1831.  He 
came  to  Forestdale  in  1870  to  take  charge  of  the  Forestdale  Manu- 
facturing Company's  mills,  still  occupying  the  position.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1854  to  Sarah  F.,  daughter  of  Dean  Kimball.  They  have  two 
sons:  Frank  L.,  who  is  with  his  father  in  Forestdale,  and  is  a  mechanic, 
and  George  F.,  who  is  a  bookkeeper  in  Woonsocket.  Mr.  Higgins" 
mother's  name  was  Arnold.  Her  ancestors  came  from  England  in 
1635.     His  father's  ancestors  came  from  England  in  1770. 

Charles  H.  Hobbs  is  superintendent  of  the  Slatersville  Mills  and 
has  held  that  position  for  five  years.  He  was  born  in  Maine  in  1848. 
He  is  a  prominent  republican  and  a  member  of  the  republican  state 
committee.     He  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Smithfield. 

Ansel  Holman. — David  Holman,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  a  progressive  farmer  in  Warwick,  Mass.  His  son,  Ansel 
Holman,  one  of  nine  children,  was  born  August  18th,  1808,  in  War- 
wick, where  he  resided  until  his  21st  year.  His  educational  oppor- 
tunities were  somewhat  meagre,  but  a  taste  for  reading  and  a  thought- 
ful habit  of  mind  caused  him,  nevertheless,  to  become  a  well-informed 
man.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  and 
on  his  change  of  residence  to  Forestdale,  in  Providence  county,  en- 
gaged in  work  with  the  firm  of  Mansfield  &  Darling.  On  the  death 
of  the  last  named  partner  he  formed  a  business  relation  with  Henry 
Mansfield,  and  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  scythes. 
The  firm  became  embarrassed  and  on  its  dissolution  Mr.  Holman  con- 
tinued business  for  two  years  with  Henry  S.  Mansfield  as  partner.  On 
his  retirement  from  this  partnership  he  was  made  foreman  of  the 
works  and  filled  this  position  until  the  property  was  converted  into  a 
cotton  mill,  when  with  George  Johnson  as  a  partner  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  scythes  in  Burrillville,  R.  I.  After  a  successful  business 
career  of  13  years  a  disastrous  fire,  causing  a  total  loss,  ended  this 
business  venture,  and  his  experience  as  a  manufacturer. 

Mr.  Holman  was  much  interested  in  public  matters  and  filled  many 
offices  in  the  town  of  North  Smithfield.  A  republican  in  politics,  he 
was  for  nine  years  clerk  of  the  town,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  trial 
justice,  and  for  two  terms  a  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  legislature. 


^ITf 


#%^ 


^.^4u.uc/^^^ 


/<i^2^--^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  505 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Slatersville  Congregational  church  and  for 
40  years  one  of  its  exemplary  deacons.  His  death  occurred  September 
4th,  1885.  Mr.  Holman's  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1834, 
died  in  1846.  Their  children,  Martha  P.,  Sarah  Augusta  and  Ansel 
P.,  are  all  deceased.  His  second  union  was  with  Nancy  W.,  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Hannah  Tabor,  of  North  Smithfield,  on  the  29th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1848.  Their  children  are  two  sons:  Isaac  T.,  born  July  11th, 
1851,  and  Theodore  F.,  February  22d,  1858.  Isaac  T.  married  Jenny 
Bowen,  of  the  same  town,  and  has  had  three  children:  Florence 
(deceased),  Ansel  and  Bertha  A.  Theodore  F.  married  Alia  M. 
Marsh,  of  North  Smithfield,  and  has  a  daughter,  Emma  E.,  and  a  son, 
Harvey  E.  , 

James  I.  Hotchkiss  was  born  in  Smithfield  in  1842.  His  father, 
Edward,  was  born  in  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  in  1799,  and  married  Joanna 
Aldrich.  James  I.  is  their  only  child.  He  married  Abbie  F.  Dodge, 
and  they  have  seven  children:  Isabelle  C,  Mabel  R.,  Bertha  E.,  Adelia 
E.,  Joanna  F.  A.,  Ethel  M.  and  Edward  C.  Isabelle  C.  was  married 
July  28th,  1889,  to  John  W.  Paul.  Mr.  Hotchkiss  is  superintendent  of 
the  cernetery  at  Union  Village,  and  a  farmer  and  bookkeeper,  also 
land  surveyor.  His  mother  was  an  Aldrich,  and  a  direct  descendant 
from  the  three  Aldrich  brothers  that  came  from  England  about  1635. 

Mary  E.  Inman  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  M.  and  Mary  Inman.  Dan- 
iel was  a  son  of  Daniel  and  grandson  of  Samuel  Inman.  He  married 
Mary  Saunders  in  1839,  and  they  had  three  children:  Urania,  Lucy 
and  Mary  E.     Mary  E.  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  living. 

James  Kelly  &  Son  have  been  established  in  business  14  years  in 
Waterford,  in  the  coal  and  wood  trade  and  livery  business.  The  firm 
consists  of  James  Kelly  and  Michael  F.,  his  son.  James  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1825,  and  married  Elizabeth  Carllon,  also  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. He  came  to  Waterford  in  1850.  They  have  five  children: 
Michael  F.,  William,  Elizabeth,  John  and  Margaret.  The  firm  of 
James  Kelly  &  Son  does  a  business  of  $50,000  annually. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Lapham  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  J.  Lapham.  They 
were  married  in  1829.  Mrs.  Lapham  is  a  daughter  of  Arioch  Com- 
stock.  She  was  born  July  17th,  1808,  in  Smithfield.  Her  father  was 
born  in  1770,  and  married  Joanna  Aldrich.  They  had  five  children: 
Welcome  A.,  Mary  E.,  Fenner,  Arnold  and  Joanna  A.,  all  born  in 
Smithfield.  Thomas  J.  Lapham  died  in  1872,  leaving  two  children: 
William  H.  and  Louise  E.  William  FI.  married  Abbie  M.  White,  and 
has  three  children:  Thomas  J.,  Amy  A.  and  Carrie  W.  Louise  mar- 
ried Joseph  A.  Morse  and  has  two  children. 

George  W.  Lovell  was  born  July  7th,  1822,  m  the  house  he  now 
lives  in.  He  is  the  son  of  Darius,  who  was  born  May  25th,  1787,  and 
grandson  of  Alexander,  born  in  1747.  Darius  married  a  Mathewson. 
George  W.  has  one  sister  living  in  Burrillville,  Amy  Ann,  born  Jan- 
uarv  4th,  1828.     George  W.  was  married  to  Orril  Parker  April  13th, 


506  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1845.  They  had  one  son,  Charles  W.,  who  died  in  1866.  Mrs.  Orril 
Lovell  died  March  20th,  1848.  Mr.  Lovell  was  married  to  Lucinda 
Buffum  October  6th,  1850.  They  had  four  children:  Levalley  A.^ 
Franklin  D.,  George  P.  and  Mary  M.  George  P.  married  Alice  A. 
Parker.  vShe  died  May  15th,  1888.  They  had  two  children:  Clarence 
W.  and  Charles  P.  Mr.  George  W.  Lovell  was  in  the  legislature  in. 
1883. 

John  F.  Mansfield,  born  in  1820,  is  a  son  of  Henry  S.  Mansfield,  the 
first  cashier  of  the  bank  at  Slatersville.  John  F.  married  Fannie 
Bacheler,  of  Massachusetts.  She  was  born  in  1825.  Mr.  Mansfield 
has  been  a  mechanic,  and  worked  in  the  scythe  factory  at  Forestdale. 

Mary  vS.  Mansfield,  a  sister  of  Johft  F.,  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead where  she  now  resides,  in  1831,  and  was  educated  in  Worcester, 
Mass.  Her  father  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  bank  at  Slatersville. 
Her  mother  was  Elizabeth  Buffum.  Miss  Mary  S.  Mansfield  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  nine  children. 

Joseph  N.  Mason  is  a  son  of  Stephen  N.  Mason.  Mr.  Stephen  N. 
Mason  is  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Woonsocket  Machine  and 
Press  Company.  The  company  does  a  business  of  $125,000  annually. 
The  company  was  established  in  1872,  and  incorporated  with  a  capital 
of  $200,000.  Mr.  Joseph  N.  Mason  was  formerly  in  the  soap  manu- 
facturing business  in  Woonsocket,  but  is  now  a  farmer  in  North 
Smithfield. 

Oscar  J.  Morse,  born  in  North  Smithfield  in  1857,  is  the  son  of 
Jacob  Morse,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1815.  Jacob  married 
Uranah  F.  Steere,  of  Burrillville,  in  1849.  They  had  three  children: 
Ervin  E.,  born  1851,  Oscar  J.  and  Elma  M.,  born  October  10th,  1853, 
and  died  vSeptember  5th,  1858.  Oscar  J.  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  mortgage  business.  He  married  Bertha  V.  Mowry,  and  had  one 
daughter,  Elinor  L.,  born  April  8th,  1889,  and  died  May  21st,  1889. 

Albert  Mowry. — The  grandfather  of  Albert  Mowry  was  Caleb 
Mowry,  of  North  Smithfield,  Rhode  Island.  His  father  was  Barney 
Mowry,  who  married  Phila,  daughter  of  Amasa  Mowry  of  Smithfield. 
Their  children  were  five  sons:  Orrin  P.,  Albert,  Arlon,  Stafford  and 
Atwill,  Mr.  Mowry  by  a  second  marriage  to  Urana  Steere,  had  one 
son,  Erwin  A.  Albert  Mowry,  the  second  son  in  order  of  birth,  is  a 
native  of  Smithfield,  where  he  was  born  March  9th,  1831.  He  re- 
mained on  the  farm  attending  school  until  his  17th  year,  when  desir- 
ing greater  advantages  than  were  afforded  at  his  home  he  became  a 
pupil  of  the  Smithfield  vSeminary  at  North  Scituate,  and  continued  his 
studies  at  Brattleboro,  Vt.  His  education  was  completed  at  the  Union 
Academy  in  Ohio,  after  which  he  chose  the  law  as  a  profession,  and 
returning  to  Providence  county  entered  the  office  of  Bailey  E.  Boyden 
of  Woonsocket  as  a  student.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  the 
conclusion  of  his  studies.  Mr.  Mowry  at  once  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  preceptor,  and  afterward  formed  a  copartnership  with 


'>t  ^  s.y^C^  ^>~-i>o^M 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  507 

Honorable  Thomas  Steere  of  the  same  town.  He  was  subsequently 
for  some  years  alone  in  practice  and  readily  won  ajarge  and  profitable 
clientage. 

On|his'retirement  from  the  law  he  embarked  in  the  business  of 
milling,  with  which  he  has  since  combined  farming  and  operations  in 
real  estate.  Mr.  Mowry  as  a  democrat  has  been  more  or  less  influen- 
tial in  the  affairs  of  his  town.  From  1880  until  1882  he  represented 
North  Smithfield  in  the  Rhode  Island  senate  but  has  declined  the  less 
important  local  offices.  An  active  Mason,  he  is  a  member  of  Mt. 
Moriah  Lodge,  and  of  Union  Chapter  of  that  order,  in  Woonsocket. 
Mr.  Mowry  was  married  December  8th,  1861,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
Honorable  James  Arnold  of  the  same  town,  who  was  born  February 
21st,  1830,  and  died  April  5th,  1885. 

Alvah  S.  Mowry  is  a  son  of  Ahaz,  Jr.,  he  a  son  of  Ahaz,  he  a  son  of 
Gideon,  he  a  son  of  Ananias,  he  a  son  of  John,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land at  an  early  date  and  settled  on  Sayles  hill.  Ahaz,  Jr.,  married 
Huldah  M.  Smith.  They  had  four  children:  Sally,  Duty  vS.,  Amanda 
W.  and  Alvah  S.  Alvah  S.  was  born  June  29th,  1830,  and  was  married, 
in  1852  to  Martha  M.,  daughter  of  Smith  Mowry.  They  have  two 
children:  Florence  L.  and  Tristam,  Both  are  married;  Florence  L.  to 
J.  D.  Mowry  and  Tristam  to  Elizabeth  M.  Reed. 

Arlon  Mowry  represents  the  seventh  generation  of  the  Mowry 
family  now  residing  in  Providence  county.  Nathaniel  Mowry,  its 
progenitor,  was  born  in  1664,  and  died  March  24th,  1717.  He  settled 
on  territory  purchased  of  the  Indians,  afterward  a  portion  of  the  towm 
of  Smithfield,  Providence  county,  which  later  in  the  subdivision  of 
the  tract  became  North  Smithfield.  Among  his  children  was  a  son 
Henry,  who  was  the  father  of  Uriah.  Jonathan,  a  son  of  the  latter,- 
was  a  physician,  and  a  Quaker  preacher  of  much  repute  in  those  early 
days.  Both  he  and  his  wife  Deborah  were  exemplary  and  ardent 
examples  of  the  faith  they  espoused.  Their  son  Caleb  was  the  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  His  son  Barney  had  five 
sons:  Orrin  P.,  Albert,  Arlon,  Stafford  and  Atwill,  by  his  first  wife, 
Phila  Mowry;  and  one  son,  Erwin  Arista,  by  his  second  wife,  Urana 
S.  Steere. 

iVrlon  Mowry  was  born  February  23d,  1833,  in  the  town  of  Smith- 
field,  and  attended  the  schools  of  his  native  town  until  the  spring  of 
1849,  when  he  became  a  pupil  of  Mount  Union  Seminary,  in  Stark 
county.  Ohio.  After  an  interval  spent  in  teaching,  he  returned  to 
the  above  institution  and  pursued  his  studies  until  the  spring  of  1851, 
when,  on  his  return  to  his  native  town,  he  attended  the  seminary 
at  North  Scituate,  R.  I.,  and  Saxton's  River  Seminary,  Vermont, 
graduating  under  the  preceptorship  of  a  Mr.  Ward,  a  noted  instructor, 
at  the  Westminster  Seminary  in  Westminster,  Vt. 

Mr.  Mowry  was  engaged  in  teaching  a  portion  of  the  time  until 
1857,  when  he  entered  into  business  as  a  merchant  in  Woonsocket.  at 


508  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTV. 

the  same  time  cultivating-  his  farm  m  the  town  of  Smithfield,  and  met 
with  success  in  both  enterprises.  His  political  career  began  in  1861, 
when  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  town  council  of  Smithfield, 
and  served  continuously  until  the  division  of  the  town  in  1871,  the 
last  four  years  filling  the  office  of  president  of  that  body.  He 
was  collector  of  taxes  for  the  town  from  1862  to  1871,  and  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  was  deputy  collector  of  internal  revenue,  collec- 
ting from  the  territory  of  Smithfield  alone  the  sum  of  $1,386,992.30, 
thus  indicating  the  large  amount  flowing  into  the  United  States 
Treasury  from  the  entire  county.  Mr.  Mowry  was  elected  to  the 
Rhode  Island  house  of  representatives  in  1868,  and  served  continu- 
ously until  1871.  He  represented  the  town  of  North  Smithfield  in 
questions  arising  from  a  division  of  the  town  of  Smithfield,  and  was 
elected  a  committee  to  act  jointly  with  others  from  the  towns  of  Lin- 
coln, Smithfield  and  Woonsocket  to  prepare  a  written  history  of  the 
old  town  of  Smithfield.  Mr.  Mowry  on  a  division  of  above  town  be- 
came identified  with  North  Smithfield,  representing  it  for  three  suc- 
cessive years  in  the  Rhode  Island  senate,  and  a  like  period  in  the 
house  of  representatives.  With  the  exception  of  an  interval  of  two 
years,  he  served  for  six  consecutive  years  as  member  and  president 
of  the  town  council,  but  declined  further  local  honors.  Mr.  Mowry 
still  retains  his  residence  in  North  Smithfield,  though  much  of  his 
time  is  spent  in  the  city  of  Providence,  where  he  also  has  a  home.  He 
w^as  elected  president  of  the  Mechanics'  Savings  Bank  of  Woonsocket, 
January  oth,  1885.  On  September  13th,  1887,  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  National  Globe  Bank,  also  of  Woonsocket,  and  still  retains  both 
positions.  He  is  in  addition  to  these  trusts  a  director  of  the  National 
Union  Bank.  His  long  connection  with  public  business  in  the  north- 
ern portion  of  the  state  has  afforded  him  an  extended  acquaintance, 
and  established  a  reputation  for  integrity  and  judicious  management 
of  public  as  well  as  private  trusts.  In  matters  of  dispute  his  opinion, 
given  after  mature  deliberation,  carries  w4th  it  conviction. 

Mr.  Mowry  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susan  Wight- 
man,  who  died  in  1864,  leaving  four  children:  Emma  Lillian,  Eugene 
Clayton,  Wilfred  Lester,  who  died  in  childhood,  and  Harriet  W. 
Eugene  Clayton  graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Vermont  in  1889,  and  is  now  practicing  in  New  York  city. 

Charles  W,  Mowry,  son  of  David  Mowry  and  Freelove  Ballou,  was 
born  vSeptember  4th,  1828.  His  sister.  Desire  Mowry,  lives  with  him. 
He  w^as  married  in  1880,  and  has  five  children.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mowry  are  mutes,  but  the  children  can  hear  and  talk.  Mr.  Charles 
Mowry  and  wife  and  sister  Desire  were  educated  at  the  Hartford  In- 
stitute.    They  house  in  which  they  live  is  about  140  years  old. 

David  B.  Mowry. — Mr.Mowry'sparents  were  Welcome  Mowry  and 
Joanna  Ballou,  daughter  of  David  Ballou  of  Burrillville.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  Richard  Mowry  of  vSmithfield.    Welcome  Mowry  was 


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HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  509 

by  trade  a  millwright.  He  was  employed  by  the  leading  mill  owners 
of  the  county,  and  regarded  as  an  industrious,  capable  and  upright 
man.  His  children  were  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  among 
whom  is  David  B.,  born  April  22d,  1818,  in  Smithfield,  on  the  home- 
stead farm  owned  by  his  grandfather,  and  now  in  possession  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography.  Here  his  youth  was  spent  in  the  active 
pursuits  which  are  peculiar  to  the  farmer's  son.  He  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  for  a  limited  time,  not  exceeding  ten  weeks,  and  sometimes 
for  a  lesser  period,  during  the  winter  months,  and  served  his  father 
faithfully  until  his  majority  was  attained.  He  continued  at  home  re- 
ceiving wages  for  his  labor  until  his  24th  year,  when  he  was  married 
September  12th,  1841,  to  Elizabeth  Mowry,  daughter  of  Newell  Mowry 
and  Alpha  Mann  of  the  same  town.  Their  only  child,  a  son,  William 
Windsor,  is  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Olive,  daughter  of  William  Swan 
of  Smithfield.  Their  children  are  three  sons:  Lester  Erwin,  Walter 
Swan  and  David  Lyman. 

David  B.  Mowry  a  few  months  after  his  marriage  settled  on  the 
homestead,  leasing  the  farm  and  one-half  of  the  saw  mill,  at  present 
operated  successfully  by  his  son.  Here  he  continued  for  seven  years, 
when  an  adjoining  farm  was  purchased,  on  which  he  located  and 
remained  an  equal  number  of  years.  Mr.  Mowry  then  sold  the  latter 
property  and  became  the  owner  of  the  farm  on  which  he  at  present 
resides.  He  has  devoted  his  life  to  the  laborious  and  exacting  employ- 
ments connected  with  the  farm,  varied  by  the  management  of  the 
saw  mill,  and  the  lumber  business  which  occupied  the  winter  months. 
He  is  in  politics  a  democrat  and  has  filled  the  various  local  offices, 
such  as  member  of  the  town  council,  assessor  of  taxes,  surveyor  of 
highways,  etc.,  but  has  declined  legislative  honors.  He  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  town  council  and  assessor  of  taxes  for  North  Smith- 
field.  He  is  not  identified  with  either  of  the  religious  denominations, 
though  of  Quaker  ancestry.  Mrs.  Mowry,  a  lady  of  exemplary  char- 
acter, and  most  industrious  and  capable  in  all  her  domestic  relations, 
died  April  29th,  1888. 

Duty  S.  Mowry  is  a  son  of  Ahaz,  Jr.,  whose  father,  Ahaz,  was  a  son 
of  Gideon,  and  grandson  of  Ananias,  all  born  in  Smithfield.  Duty  S. 
Mowry  was  born  March  3d,  1825,  and  married  Betsey  O.,  daughter  of 
Ethan  Harris.  They  have  six  children:  Abby  H.,  born  in  1861;  Ethan 
H.,  born  1863;  Waldo  P.,  born  1866;  Howard  S.,  born  1868;  Huldah  S., 
born  1870,  and  Aaron  P.,  born  1877.  ]SIiss  Amanda  W.  Mowry,  a  sister 
of  Mr.  Duty  S.  Mowry,  lives  with  him. 

George  F.  Mowry  was  born  in  Smithfield  March  30th,  1838,  and  is 
a  son  of  Olney  A.  Mowry.  He  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  three 
Mowry  brothers  who  came  from  England  in  1635.  Mr.  George  F. 
Mowry  is  a  carpenter  of  North  Smithfield. 

Olnev  A.  Mowry,  born  in  North  Smithfield  July  20th,  1811,  is  a 
son  of  Darius  Mowry,  born  in  1782.     Darius  was  a  son  of  Richard, 


510  HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY. 

and  grandson  of  Ananias,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  brothers  that 
came  to  this  country  in  1635.  Olney  A.  Mowry  married  Alzada 
Ballon,  who  died  December  28th,  1846.  They  had  seven  children. 
Mr.  Mowry  is  a  farmer. 

Smith  Mowry  is  a  son  of  William,  he  a  son  of  Richard,  he  a  son  of 
Ananias,  he  a  son  of  John,  Jr.,  he  a  son  of  John.  Smith  Mowry  was 
born  in  1808  in  Smithfield  and  married  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Eliakim 
Mowry.  They  have  five  children:  Martha  M.,  Eliakim,  Alonzo,  Wil- 
son S.  and  Lydia  A.  Mr.  Mowry  has  worked  at  the  mason's  trade 
50  years.     He  has  been  town  councilman. 

James  Parkin  was  born  in  England  in  1820,  and  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1863.  He  worked  in  the  cotton  mills  for  Governor  Smith  until 
1871.  His  wife  is  deceased.  He  had  four  grandchildren  living  with 
him  at  the  time  of  his  death,  October  10th,  1890. 

James  Pitts  has  been  a  manufacturer  in  North  Smithfield  20 
years.  He  was  born  in  Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  in  1811.  His  father  was  the 
late  Joseph  Pitts,  of  Blackstone,  Mass.  James  Piits  was  married  first 
in  1835  to  Elsie  Sayles,  of  Rho'de  Island,  who  died  a  few  years  later, 
and  he  was  again  married  in  1844  to  Mary  Thompson  of  Massachusetts. 

Washington  Remington  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Remington  and  one  of 
the  famous  triplets.  Daniel  Remington  married  Patience  Morton. 
They  had  six  children:  Elizabeth,  born  March  18th,  1809;  Mineiva, 
born  June  24th,  1810;  James,  born  January  14th,  1812;  and  Washing- 
ton, Jefferson  and  Monroe,  born  February  15th,  1817,  boys,  all  lived 
to  be  72  years  old.  Washington  married  Hannah  Noyes  in  1853. 
They  had  three  daughters:    Mary  E.,  Susan  M.  and  Ida  E. 

William  H.  Sandford,  clerk  and  paymaster  of  the  Slatersville  Mills, 
was  born  in  New  London,  Conn.,  December  14th,  1842.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years  he  went  to  Jewett  City,  Conn.,  to  work  in  the  cotton  mills  of 
the  Slaters.  In  February,  1859,  he  was  sent  by  the  Slaters  to  their 
Slatersville  Mills  as  clerk  in  their  counting  room,  where  he  has  re- 
mained, and  can  be  found  at  the  present  time. 

Orrin  Sayles,  born  in  1816,  is  a  son  of  Welcome,  he  a  son  of  Jona- 
than, he  a  son  of  Richard,  the  first  town  clerk  of  Smithfield.  Richard 
was  a  son  of  John,  he  a  son  of  John,  he  a  descendant  of  John,  who 
married  Mary  Williams,  daughter  of  Roger  Williams.  Orrin  Sayles 
married  Maria  B.  Eaton  in  ^1853.  They  have  two  daughters — Louisa 
A.  and  Anna  M.  Mr.  Sayles  and  his  sister,  Louisa,  are  all  there  are 
living  of  Welcome  Sayles'  family.  Welcome  Sayles  had  another  son, 
Israel,  who  was  born  in  1816  and  died  in  1888.  He  married  Sarah 
Sprague  in  1837,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  Elsie,  living. 

Rachel  Sayles  is  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Sayles,  who  died  in  1887. 
She  v\5As  born  in  1819.  Benjamin  Sayles  was  born  in  1810.  They  had 
three  children:  Benjamin  F.,  born  in  1853;  Lucy  A.,  1856;  and  Gideon 
A.,  born  1863,  deceased.     The  father  of  Benjamin  was  Gideon  vSayles. 

Linnseus  H.  Stanley,  born  in  Massachusetts  November  30th,  1840, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  511 

Yvas  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Cornelia  (Draper)  Stanley.  John  H.  was 
born  in  1811  and  had  four  children:  Delia  M.,  Linnaeus  H.,  Emma  A. 
T.  and  Arthur  W.  L.  H.  Stanley  married  in  1864  Pauline  Baglin, 
daughter  of  Adolphus  M.  Baglin,  who  was  born  in  France.  L.  H. 
Stanley  had  three  children:  Charles  H.,  Lena  and  N.  Edna.  Mr. 
Stanley  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  sergeant  in  the  vSixth 
New  York  Cavalry. 

Walter  M.  Smith,  born  in  Smithfield  in  1853,  is  a  son  of  Charles  A. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1820.  Charles  A.  married  Eleanor 
A.,  daughter  of  Pelatiah  Metcalf,  and  had  three  children:  Mary  F. 
born  1847;  Walter  M.,,  born  1853;  and  Harry  H.,  born  1867.  Walter 
M.  married  Ellen  F.,  daughter  of  William  and  Amanda  Winsor.  They 
had  four  children:  Eleanor  A.,  born  1879;  Charles  M.,  born  1881; 
Ralph  H.,  born  1883;  and  Ruth  A.,  born  1886.  Walter  M.  Smith  has 
been  a  member  of  the  legislature  two  years  from  North  Smithfield. 
His  father  was  also  a  member  from  the  same  town  two  years.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  republican. 

George  F.  Varney  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1841,  and  came 
to  North  Smithfield  in  1878.  He  was  superintendent  of  schools  m 
North  Smithfierd  in  1881.  He  married  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  William 
and  Jane  A.  Tucker,  of  North  Smithfield.  They  have  one  son,  born  in 
1886,  George  W.  Varney.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Varney  are  members  of 
Smithfield  monthly  meeting  of  Friends. 

Joshua  Wardle  was  born  in  Dukinfield,  England,  April  14th.  1844. 
and  came  to  Slatersville  when  he  was  four  years  old.  He  was  a  son 
of  John  and  Olive  Wardle,  who  had  seven  children:  Anne,  Henry, 
Ellen,  Joshua.  Joel,  William  S.  and  Olive.  Joshua  Wardle  married 
Annie  Waterhouse,  who  was  born  in  Mossley,  England.  April  2d,  ■ 
1845.  They  have  two  sons— Edward  B.  and  William  M.  Mr.  Joshua 
Wardle  is  overseer  in  the  vSlatersville  Mill  No.  3.  He  has  worked  in 
the  Slatersville  Mills  since  he  was  eleven  years  old.  He  has  held  sev- 
eral places  of  trust  in  town  affairs — town  sergeant,  justice  of  the  peace, 
etc.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  Henry  enlisted  in  the  Fourth 
Rhode  Island  Volunteers,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Newbern, 
serving  the  country  over  three  years,  and  now  occupies  a  position  as 
overseer  in  one  of  the  Slatersville  Mills. 

David  S.  Wilkinson,  born  in  North  Smithfield  in  1820,  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Hannah  (Streeter)  Wilkinson.  His  mother  is  still  living  at 
the  age  of  95,  and  is  the  oldest  person  living  in  North  Smithfield. 
His  father,  Isaac,  was  a  politician  in  his  day,  and  held  the  office  of 
town  treasurer  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also  representative  and 
senator  a  number  of  years  from  North  Smithfield.  David  S.  has 
served  two  terms  in  the  general  assembly.  Fie  was  married  in  1845, 
to  a  sister  of  George  J.  Hendrick.  They  have  one  daughter.  vSera- 
phina,  who  married  Charles  H.  Smith,  brother  of  Mrs.  George  T.  Hen- 
drick, and  has  one  son.  David  W.  Smith. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE    TOWN   OF    GLOCESTER. 

General  Description  of  the  Town  from  1731  to  1806. — Noted  Places  now  Comprised 
Within  the  Town.— Town  Meetings. — The  Military  History. — The  Town  of  Buiii'l- 
ville  Set  Off. — Town  Officers. — Early  Settlement. — Brief  Personal  Notices. — The 
Dorr  War. — Rivers  and  Ponds. — Secret  Societies. — Banks. — Public  Houses. — Manu- 
facturers.— Business  Men  and  Farmers. — Chepachet  and  other  Villages. — Manton 
Library  Association. — Roads. — Lotteries. — Early  Religious  Privileges. — Baptists. — 
Baptist  Society  and  Sunday  School.  —  Episcopalians.  —  Congregationalists. — The 
Union  Library. — Friends. — Schools. — Other  Societies. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  town  of  Glocester  originally  belonged  to  the  town  of  Provi- 
dence. Its  history  as  a  part  of  that  town  is  nearly  coeval  with 
the  first  settlement  in  Providence  by  Roger  Williams  and  his 
associates  in  1636.  In  February,  1731,  the  town  of  Providence 
petitioned  the  legislature  for  a  division  of  the  town.  The  petition 
was  granted,  and  the  towns  of  Smithfield,  Scituate  and  Glocester  were 
set  apart.  At  that  time  Glocester  was  made  to  include  the  present 
town  of  Burrillville,  and  was  organized  February  20th  of  that  year. 
The  original  town  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Massachusetts,  on  the 
east  by  Smithfield,  on  the  south  by  vScituate,  and  on  the  west  by  Con- 
necticut. This  land  was  disposed  of  by  the  Indians  to  Roger  Williams 
and  others,  Uncas  giving  the  first  deed  that  was  made.  The  Nip- 
muck  Indians  occupied  this  portion  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island,  their 
territory  embracing  lands  also  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts. 
This  tribe  was  subject  to  the  Narragansetts  until  the  time  of  King 
Philip's  war. 

The  town  of  Glocester  was  set  off  about  eleven  miles  square.  The 
land  was  surveyed  by  the  county  surveyors,  and  the  name  Glocester 
was  given  in  honor  of  some  residents  from  Glocester,  England,  and 
also  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Glocester,  Frederick  Lewis,  son  of  King 
George  the  Second.  The  name  was  originally  spelled  Gloucester.  At 
a  town  meeting  held  August  27th,  1805,  the  division  of  the  town  was 
again  discussed,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  petition  to 
divide  the  town  as  near  as  might  be  into  two  equal  parts,  and  to  sub- 
mit the  petition  to  the  next  assembly,  which  was  to  meet  on  the  16th 
of  April,  1806.  By  this  petition  the  town  was  to  be  divided  by  draw- 
ing a  line  through  the  middle  of  the  town  from  east  to  west,  the 
northern  part  to  be  called  Burrillville. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  513 

The  new  town  of  Glocester  is  bounded  north  by  Burrillville,  east 
by  Smithfield,  south  by  Scituate,  and  west  by  Killingly  and  Thomp- 
son in  Connecticut.  In  1810  the  town  contained  400  dwelling  houses, 
a  population  of  2,310,  two  clothiers'  works,  six  grain  rnills,  four  man- 
ufacturing establishments,  seven  or  eight  stores,  12  schools,  two 
religious  societies,  and  one  good  library.  The  places  which  may  be 
noted  now  of  interest,  are  as  follows:  FiV/agcs. —Che-pachet,  Harmony, 
Spring  Grove,  West  Glocester,  Clarkeville.  HiZ/s.—Acote,  Tourtellot, 
Absalona,  Sucker,  Winsor's,  Pine,  Durfee's,  formerly  Matony,  Pine 
Orchard,  Stingo,  Sayles,  Brown,  Dandelion.  Sfreaj/is.—Chepachet, 
Ponaganset,  Poquanatuck,  Woonasquatucket,  Sucker,  Brick  Kiln, 
Baker,  Durfee,  Seapache,  Brandy.  Po;i(h  (with  reservoirs),  Ponagan- 
set, Bowdish,  Burlingame,  Owens,  Keech,  Sand-dam,  Scott's,  Woonas- 
quatucket. Rocks. — Balance,  Elbow,  Hicks'  Ledges,  Richmond  Ledge, 
Lightning  Cave,  Ponaganset  Ledge.  S-u'cr/u/'s.—Dark,  Brush  Meadow, 
Fenner's,  Sprague's. 

In  the  west  part  of  the  town  is  an  extensive  unfenced  forest  called 
the  North  Woods.  A  fort  erected  on  Acote  hill,  in  1842,  has  been 
leveled  by  the  Chepachet  Cemetery  Association.  Balance  rock  and 
Elbow  rock  are  natural  curiosities.  The  former  is  on  the  old  road 
leading  to  Thompson,  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town,  and  is  a  ledge 
of  rocks  where  one  part  turns  around  so  .decidedly  as  to  get  its  name. 
The  Balance  rock  is  on  the  Eber  Phetteplace  farm,  now  owned  by 
Benoni  Lewis.  It  is  very  large,  weighing  many  tons,  and  is  barrel- 
shaped.  It  is  situated  on  the  slanting  side  of  a  small  ledge  of  rocks, 
and  its  location  is  so  precarious  one  would  think  a  slight  wind  would 
roll  it  down.  On  the  contrary,  several  men  with  bars  and  wedges 
have  been  unable  to  move  it.  The  notable  rock  on  the  east  shore  of 
Lake  Memphremagog  is  a  similar  curiosity. 

The  town  abounds  in  wood  of  various  kinds.  Lombardy  poplar, 
chestnut,  several  kinds  of  oak,  ash,  willow,  walnut,  birch,  cedar,  pine, 
hemlock,  and  the  various  kinds  of  fruit  trees  are  common.  Quartz  is 
found  in  various  forms  in  this  town.  Gneiss  is  also  found  here  in  a 
bed  about  two  miles  from  Chepachet,  and  is  known  as  Pine  Orchard 
Grit.  East  of  this  place  is  a  bed  of  black  mica  associated  with  a  little 
granular  quartz.  The  rocks  are  of  a  primary  class,  consisting  of  gneiss, 
mica  slate  and  granite.  The  range  of  hills  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town  extends  to  the  Green  mountains  in  Vermont,  and  the  views  from 
the  tops  of  some  of  them  are  grand. 

Glocester  was  a  part  of  the  town  of  Providence  from  the  year  1649 
to  1731.  As  a  part  of  that  town  the  various  subjects  discussed  by  the 
town  council  will  be  given  in  the  proper  place.  The  committee  ap- 
pointed to  examine  and  report  in  regard  to  the  necessity  of  a  division 
of  the  town  of  Providence  were:  Samuel  Clarke,  Francis  Willet  and 
William  Robinson.  March  16th,  1731,  a  meeting  was  called  to  organ- 
ize the  town  of  Glocester,  including  the  present  territory  of  Burrill- 


514  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ville.  At  this  meeting  Elisha  Moulton  was  chosen  moderator,  and  also 
clerk;  Zachariah  Eddy,  town  sergeant;  Captain  John  Smith,  town 
treasurer.  Zachariah  Eddy,  Jr.,  John  Barnes,  John  Inman,  Obadiah 
Jencks,  Soloman  Smith  and  Zebedee  Hopkins  were  chosen  town  coun- 
cilmen.  Elisha  Knowlton  and  Walter  Phettephace  were  chosen  assist- 
ant deputy  governors  to  the  general  assembly.  The  deputy  governors 
and  assistants  were  the  judges  of  the  highest  judicial  courts  of  the 
state  until  1747,  when  chief  justices  were  appointed.  When  the  town 
was  incorporated  it  contained  2,504  inhabitants;  in  1782,  2,791;  1790, 
4,025;  1800,  4,009;  1810  (after  the  division  of  the  town),  2,310;  1880, 
2,250;  1885,  1,922. 

Before  the  division  of  the  town  the  expenses  of  surveys,  laying  out 
of  roads,  etc.,  were  secured  by  payment  on  mortgaged  lands  for  this 
purpose.  In  1744,  in  consequence  of  war  having  been  declared  by 
France  against  England,  it  was  found  necessary  to  raise  an  artillery 
company,  which  was  chartered  as  the  "  Cadet  Company."  In  1750 
great  efforts  were  made  by  the  town  to  encourage  the  farmers  to  raise 
flax  and  wool,  and  to  manufacture  the  same  into  cloth.  In  1765  the 
dividing  line  between  Glocester  and  Scituate  was  run  by  Henry  Harris, 
Esq.,  Mr.  Thomas  Steere  and  Colonel  Resolved  Waterman.  In  1756 
16  able-bodied  men  were  demanded  of  this  town  to  aid  the  forces  of 
the  king  of  England  in  aij  expedition  against  Crown  Point.  To 
encourage  enlisting  a  bounty  of  4  pounds  10  shillings,  lawful  money, 
was  given  to  each  man,  and  30  shillings  per  rt^onth  during  his  service, 
also  a  woolen  blanket.  Constant  drafts  for  men  and  money  were 
called  for  during  seven  successive  years. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  revolution  the  war  ships 
in  Boston  harbor  were  besieged  by  the  English  and  the  inhabitants 
were  in  great  distress.  To  relieve  their  suffering  the  town  of  Glocester 
sent  95  sheep.  In  1774  Asa  Kimball  was  appointed  to  take  account  of 
all  the  arms,  powder  and  ammunition  in  this  town.  He  performed 
his  task  by  going  from  house  to  house.  During  the  same  year  the 
Light  Infantry,  an  independent  company,  was  formed.  War  having 
been  declared  Benjamin  Colwell  was  appointed  to  furnish  war  imple- 
ments, such  as  good  fire-arms  with  bayonets,  iron  ramrods  and  cart- 
ridge boxes,  all  stamped  with  the  colony's  arms.  In  March,  1776,  the 
colony  supplied  Glocester  with  150  pounds  of  powder  and  300  pounds 
of  lead  and  cartridges.  Glocester  received  this  year  407f  bushels  of 
salt.  In  1775  Glocester  was  ordered  to  furnish  77  pounds  of  powder, 
123  pounds  of  lead  and  424  pounds  of  flints.  This  year  the  number  of 
polls  in  Glocester  was  488;  in  Providence  453.  For  further  notice  of 
this  town  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  the  reader  is, referred  to  the 
chapter  on  the  military  history. 

In  1783  large  numbers  of  the  inhabitants  were  discomfited  on  ac- 
count of  the  continental  bills  and  high  taxes.  Armed  men  entered  Glo- 
cester, where  they  were  joined  by  others  to  obstruct  the  payment  of 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  515 

taxes  and  to  rescue  persons  who  had  been  arrested  by  law.  The  rioters 
not  only  seized  cattle  that  had  been  taken  for  taxes,  but  prisoners 
while  on  trial.  Deputy  Governor  Bowen  caused  the  ringleaders  to  be 
arrested  and  measures  were  taken  by  the  three  states  to  crush  the  in- 
surrection. Among  the  ringleaders  who  were  taken,  confessed  their 
crime  and  begged  for  pardon,  were  Abraham  Tourtellott  and  John 
Phetteplace. 

The  articles  of  confederation  adopted  by  the  convention  of  the 
several  states  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1787,  when  submitted  to  a  vote 
by  the  freemen  of  this  town  for  ratification,  were  rejected  by  a  vote 
of  228,  only  9  ballots  being  cast  for  adoption.  The  negative  vote  here 
was  larger  than  that  of  any  other  town  in  the  state.  The  freemen  of 
this  town  who  voted  in  favor  of  the  new  Rhode  Island  constitution 
were:  Benjamin  Wilkinson,  John  Harris,  Eleazer  Harris,  William 
Ross,  Stephen  Blackmar,  Simon  Smith,  Thomas  Owen,  David  Rich- 
mond, Jesse  Brown,  and  William  Steere;  10  for  and  227  against  the 
constitution. 

In  1791  residents  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  finding  it  incon- 
venient to  attend  public  meetings  at  Chepachet,  caused  a  petition  to  be 
sent  to  the  general  asssembly  to  have  the  town  divided.  The  petition 
was  received  but  for  the  time  the  division  was  postponed. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  the  citizens  of  this  town  took  an  active  in- 
terest. Members  from  this  town,  with  spades  in  hand,  assembled  at 
Chepachet  and  joined  in  making  the  defense.  The  remains  of  that 
breastwork  can  still  be  seen.  Soldiers  received  eight  dollars  per 
month  and  bounty  from  the  town. 

The  division  of  the  town  took  place  as  before  mentioned  in  1806. 
The  new  town  is  nearly  five  miles  from  north  to  south  and  nearly  11 
miles  from  east  to  west.  It  contains  53  3-10  square  miles.  The  valua- 
tion of  real  estate  in  1888  was  $851,850;  personal,  $540,200;  total, 
$1,892,050;  tax,  $8,352.30.  In  1844  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
examine  and  survey  the  established  line  between  Glocester  and  Burill- 
ville.  It  was  found  that  Glocester  had  1,049  acres  more  than  belonged 
to  her  teritory.  This  fact  was  presented  to  the  general  assembly 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  run  the  division  line  again.  This 
was  done  and  found  right  as  presented.  The  1,049  acres  were  added 
to  Burrillville.  This  tract  included  the  estates  of  Messrs.  Ahab,  Eseck 
and  Welcome  Sayles. 

In  1859  the  boundary  line  between  Glocester  and  Smithfield  was 
settled  by  the  state  committee.  In  1875  the  boundary  between  Gloces- 
ter and  Foster  was  established.  The  town  officers  elected  in  June, 
1890,  were:  Moderator,  P.  D.  Smith;  town  clerk,  Charles  W.  Farnum; 
town  council,  R.  M.  Smith,  S.  O.  Mowry,  G.  A.  Turner,  C.  Mitchell,  R. 
H.  Wade;  town  treasurer,  Charles  Potter;  town  sergeant,  Elias  Car- 
penter, Jr.:  overseer  of  the  poor,  E.  L.  Phetteplace;  member  of  school 
committee,    P.    D.    Smith;    school    superintendent,    L.    B.    Stone;    tax 


516  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

assessors,  C.  W.  Farnum,  O.  W.  Steere,  E.  M.  Neff,  A.  C.  G.  Smith,  D. 
A.  Saunders;  tax  collector,  Albert  Barnes. 

John  Smith,  from  Providence,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  this 
town.  He  located  in  the  northern  part  of  Glocester  and  many  of  his 
descendants  are  owners  of  home  estates  in  that  vicinity  now.  Edward 
Salisbury,  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  purchased  land  and 
built  a  house  in  this  town  in  a  very  early  day.  The  Williamses,  Tour- 
tellots,  Eddys,  Watermans,  Evanses  and  others  were  pioneers  and  held 
landed  estates.  Farming  was  the  chief  occupation  of  the  early  settlers. 
For  the  past  fifty  years,  however,  some  of  the  best  farms  have  been 
neglected,  the  occupants  having  left  their  homes  to  seek  other  employ- 
ment. 

Until  saw  mills  were  set  up  most  of  the  dwellings  were  made  of 
logs.  The  early  frame  houses  were  generally  of  one  story,  with  small 
windows  and  sometimes  gambrel-roofed.  Some  were  built  two  stories 
in  front,  the  roof  slanting  back  so  as  to  have  but  one  story  in  the  rear. 
Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  there  were  many  large  two-story 
frame  houses  built  in  the  town. 

In  those  earlier  days  but  few  luxuries  were  enjoyed.  Indian  meal 
pudding  and  milk  became  a  common  diet.  Candles  were  made  by 
dipping  the  candle  wicks  strung  on  a  stick  into  a  large  kettle  of  hot 
tallow,  and  when  cooled  they  were  dipped  again  and  this  process  kept 
up  until  they  were  large  enough  for  use.  Later  the  candles  were  made 
by  running  the  tallow  into  candle  moulds. 

For  a  history  of  some  of  the  prominent  settlers  of  this  town  we 
copy  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Perry: 

"  Samuel  Young  Atwell  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1814, 
His  ancestry  were  from  England.  After  graduating  he  studied  law 
with  Hon.  John  Whipple.  In  1831  or  1832  he  removed  to  Chepachet 
and  established  himself  in  law.  In  1835  he  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly  from  Glocester  and  chairman  of  the  State  Commis- 
sion on  Banking.  He  was  a  very  able  advocate  and  seldom  lost  a  case. 
Some  of  Providence's  most  able  pleaders  at  the  bar  studied  law  in  his 
office  at  Chepachet,  viz.:  Samuel  Ames,  James  M.  Clarke,  Thomas  A. 
Jenckes,  Edwin  Metcalf,  George  H.  Browne  and  Horace  Manchester, 
He  died  in  October,  1844.  He  left  a  widow  and  two  daughters  and 
three  sons. 

"  George  Huntington  Browne,  son  of  Elisha  and  Roby  (Bow- 
dish)  Browne,  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1818.  His  father  died  when 
his  son  was  a  few  years  old,  leaving  the  homestead  in  Chepachet  and  a 
large  landed  property  in  northern  Vermont.  His  m.other,  previous  to 
her  marriage,  was  a  private  school  teacher  of  standing  for  several  years. 
The  son's  early  winters  were  spent  with  his  mother  at  their  home  in 
the  village,  where  he  attended  a  good  private  school.  Several  sum- 
mers he  was  under  the  charge  of  a  special  friend  of  his  mother  on  a 
farm  near  the  village,  where  he  had  the  reading  of  books  from  a  small. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  517 

well-selected  library.  Here,  before  he  was  fourteen  years,  he  read 
with  great  enthusiasm  the  translation  of  Homer's  Illiad  and  Dryden's 
Virgil;  also  about  one  hundred  volumes,  most  of  them  historical  and 
scholastic  works.  He  said,  *  for  the  reading  of  the  above  library,  I 
was  inspired  to  go  to  college.'  After  being  prepared  in  some  studies 
for  an  examination,  he  went  to  Brownington  Academy,  in  northern 
Vermont.  In  1886  he  entered  Brown  University,  and  graduated  in 
1840.  He  studied  law  with  Samuel  Y.  Atwell,  in  his  native  village, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Rhode  Island  bar  in  1843.  At  his  home  vil- 
lage he  established  a  successful  law  office,  which  he  held  for  several 
years.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Providence;  also,  his  law  office.  In 
1855  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Colonel  Nicholas  Van  vSlyck, 
which  continued  until  his  death  in  October,  1885.  He  was  several 
years  in  the  General  Assembly  from  Glocester;  also,  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  1861  to  1863  from  the  Western  District.  He  was 
commissioned  in  September,  1862,  as  Colonel  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment 
of  Rhode  Island  Volunteers  for  nine  months.  He  was  elected  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Rhode  Island.  This  offer  he  declined 
on  account  of  ill  health.  He  was  twice  married.  He  leaves  two  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife,  Harriet  Danforth,  and  a  widow. 

"  Clovis  H,  Bowen  was  for  many  years  a  faithful  Town  Clerk. 
He  also  kept  an  excellent  drug  store  on  Main  street.  He  was  the  son 
of  Dr.  Joseph  Bowen.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Anthony  Steere. 
He  died  in  1880.     He  leaves  several  children. 

"  John  Brown,  son  of  James  and  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Chad 
Brown,  laid  the  corner-stone  of  Rhode  Island  College;  was  treasurer 
many  years,  of  the  corporation,  and  filled  many  places  of  trust  where 
great  wisdom  and  liberality  were  required.  He  was  the  first  merchant 
in  Rhode  Island.  He  built  a  fine  mansion  on  Power  street,  in  Provi- 
dence, where  most  of  his  life  was  passed.  His  residence  in  Glocester 
has  previously  been  referred,  to.  He  presented  fourteen  hundred 
volumes  to  the  College  library.  He  gave  dinners  to  the  students  on 
Commencement  days.  He  was  a  leader  of  Rhode  Island  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  a  purchaser  with  his  brother  Moses  of  the  home 
lot  of  their  ancestor,  Chad  Brown,  for  the  College.  He  was  in  Gloces- 
ter in  1791,  and  some  years  previously.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Smith,  Providence.     He  was  born  in  1736  and  died  in  1803. 

"  Moses  Cooper  died  in  1837,  aged  97  years.  He  owned  slaves 
previous  to  the  revolution.  He  was  a  man  who  kept  himself  well  in- 
formed on  the  important  subjects  of  the  day.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Society  of  the  Friends. 

"  Amasa  Eddy,  of  Glocester,  was  a  descendant  of  the  Reverend 
William  Eddy,  of  Cranbrook,  England.  (Eddy  Genealogy.)  He  was 
also  a  grand-nephew  of  the  late  Walter  Phetteplace  and  the  Reverend 
Zachariah  Eddy,  of  Providence.  He  was  born  January  3,  1783.  He 
married  Mary  Owen,  of  Glocester.     For  many  years  he  was  prosper- 


518  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

ously  engaged  in  harness  manufacturing.  In  1852  he  was  the  demo- 
cratic candidate  for  governor  of  the  state.  Motto  on  the  English  Eddy 
coat-of-arms:    Crnx  mihi  grata  qiiies.     The  cross  is  my  welcome  rest. 

"  Jonathan  Eddy,  grandfather  of  the  late  Deacon  Richard  Eddy, 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  old  Baptist  church  at  Chepachet  in 
1780.  It  is  related  that  he  went  to  church  every  Sunday,  even  though 
he  had  to  walk  many  miles. 

"  Hon.  Asa  Kimball  is  spoken  of  in  1759  as  ensign  in  a  military 
company  against  the  acts  of  the  King  of  Spain.  In  1761  as  lieutenant 
and  captain  in  other  expeditions.  In  the  war  of  the  Revolution  he 
was  appointed  on  various  committees  and  officered  from  captain  to 
major  from  this  town.  He  was  a  prominent  officer  in  General  Sulli- 
van's expedition  on  the  Island  of  Rhode  Island.  The  house  he  built 
in  Chepachet  for  his  homestead  is  still  standing,  and  owned  by  his 
great-grandson,  Horace  A.  Kimball. 

"  DocT.  Samuel  Mowry  was  educated  principally  at  Dudley  and 
Amherst  academies.  He  attended  medical  lectures  in  Boston  in  1825 
and  1826.  In  1838  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  the  Rhode  Island 
Medical  Society.  He  settled  in  Chepachet,  where  for  more  than  forty 
years  he  had  a  good  practice.  He  was  well  read  in  his  profession. 
His  health  declining,  he  moved  into  Providence,  where  he  died. 

"  DocT.  Reuben  Mason  was  surgeon  in  General  William  West's 
brigade  in  the  Revolution.  He  had  a  large  and  long  practice  in  this 
town.  The  house  he  owned,  lived  and  died  in,  is  still  standing  on  the 
turnpike,  near  the  village  at  Chepachet. 

"  Thomas  Owen  was  admitted  a  freeman  from  Providence  in  1736. 
He  was  Assistant  Deputy-Governor  from  the  town  of  Smithfield  in  the 
year  1753.  Later  he  removed  to  Glocester,  and  in  1770  he  was  elected 
by  the  town  Deputy  to  the  General  Assembly.  Also,  he  was  Assistant 
Deputy  to  Governor  Stephen  Hopkins.  At  various  times  he  rendered 
important  political  services  to  the  town  and  State. 

"  Daniel  Owen,  son  of  the  above  Thomas  Owen,  was  admitted  a 
freeman  from  Glocester  at  Newport,  in  May,  1757.  He  was  chosen 
Deputy  to  the  General  Assembly  in  1775  and  1776.  He  was  one  of  the 
committee  to  procure  gold  and  silver  enough  for  the  State  to  use  in 
the  Canada  war.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  draft  a  letter 
to  Congress  in  September,  1787,  to  explain  the  reason  why  this  State 
had  not  any  delegation  at  the  Convention  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a 
member  and  President  of  the  Conventions  that  met  at  South  Kings- 
town in  March,  1790,  and  at  Newport  the  following  May,  that  adopted 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  gave  great  satisfaction  for 
his  candor  and  impartiality  in  conducting  the  proceedings  of  the  Con- 
vention. He  wrote  from  Newport,  May  29,  1790,  a  letter  to  'Presi- 
dent Washington  to  accompany  the  message  that  informed  the  Presi- 
dent that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America  had  that 
day  been  adopted  by  the  people  of  this  vState  agreeably  to  the  recom- 


HISTORY    OP^    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  519 

mendation  of  the  General  Convention  at  Philadelphia.  At  the  Con- 
vention at  South  Kingstown  the  anti-Federal  members  of  the  Conven- 
tion offered  the  office  of  Governor  of  the  vState  to  Deputy-Governor 
Owen.  This  offer  he  refused.  A  coalition  party  was  formed  and 
Arthur  Fenner  was  nominated  the  first  Governor  of  the  State  under 
the  Constitution.  In  1786  the  coinage  of  the  United  States  required 
the  adoption  of  the  decimal  system.  The  die  for  the  first  United 
States  cent  was  established  July  6,  1787.  In  1786,  Hon.  Daniel  Owen, 
Samuel  Winsor,  Simeon  Thayer,  Arthur  Fenner,  Jr.,  and  Caleb 
Harris,  Esquires,  petitioned  the  General  Assembly,  praying  for  the 
exclusive  privilege  of  a  coinage  for  this  colony  for  the  period  of 
twelve  years.  It  was  granted  in  January,  1787,  subject  to  such  condi- 
tions as  should  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly.  Henry  Marchant, 
William  Channing,  Benjamin  Bourn  and  Moses  Brown  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  draft  and  report  an  act  to  carry  said  intention  into 
execution  consistent  with  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and  the 
sovereignty  of  the  State.  No  report  of  said  committee  is  found  on 
the  records  of  the  State. 

"  He  was  Deputy-Governor  four  years  from  1786.  He  was  a  large 
landholder  in  Northern  Vermont,  where  several  of  his  children  settled. 
He,  with  William  Barton,  received  the  grant  of  the  town  of  Barton,  in 
Vermont,  October  20,  1781. 

"  Iron  ore  was  found  on  his  farm  in  Glocester,  and  he  had  a  trip- 
hammer run  by  water  power.  The  iron  was  made  into  the  desired 
shape  for  use  by  means  of  his  heavy  hammer.  Various  useful  imple- 
ments were  made,  and  sold  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  viz.:  ploughs, 
harrows,  rims  for  wheels,  cranes,  trammels,  horse-shoes,  etc.  For 
several  years  he  transacted  considerable  business  with  England  in  the 
iron  department. 

"  His  son-in-law,  Mr.  William  Gadcomb,  a  merchant  in  the  village 
of  Chepachet,  died  about  1800.  Judge  Owen  settled  his  estate  and  in- 
vested some  of  the  property  for  his  widow  and  children  in  lands  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Albans,  Vermont.  Mrs.  Gadcomb  afterwards  married 
Judge  Asa  Aldis  and  settled  at  St.  Albans.  Mr.  Aldis  was  a  graduate 
of  Brown  University  in  the  year  1796.  Judge  Owen  married  Hannah 
Angell,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Winsor  Angell,  January  19, 1736. 
He  died  in  Glocester. 

"  Capt.  Solomon  Owen,  brother  of  the  above  Daniel  Owen,  had  a 
great  desire  to  see  other  countries  and  cross  the  ocean.  As  captain  he 
sailed  from  Providence  to  the  East  Indies  with  valuable  orders  from 
merchants  from  this  State.  After  trying  the  sea  for  several  years  he 
returned  to  his  native  village  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
was  proprietor  and  keeper  of  an  excellent  public  house  in  Chepachet 
previous  to  the  year  1800. 

"  Eber  Phetteplace  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  the  grandson  of 
Walter  Phetteplace.      His  mother,   vSusanna   Smith,  was  the  grand- 


520  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

daughter  of  Casper  Hyzer,  or  Hauser,  a  German.  He  was  born  in 
Glocester,  August  15,  1765.  He  early  had  a  taste  for  history  and  agri- 
culture. About  1790,  he,  with  his  friend  Mark  Steere,  had  a  ship 
loaded  several  autumns  with  fruits  and  vegetables  to  carry  to  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  to  sell,  they  going  in  charge  and  remaining  until 
spring  before  returning.  While  there,  Mr.  Phetteplace  acquired  a 
slight  knowledge  of  the  French  and  Spanish  languages.  In  January, 
1796,  he  was  married  by  elder  Joseph  Winsor  to  Waite,  daughter  of 
Resolved  (Waterman)  Irons.  She  was  the  lineal  descendant  of  Roger 
Williams,  Richard  Waterman,  Gregory  Dexter  and  Rev.  Chad.  Brown, 
of  Providence.  Mr.  Phetteplace  superintended  his  large  farm,  on 
which  were  a  great  variety  of  fruit  trees  and  berry  bushes.  He  was 
a  great  lover  of  his  home,  a  staunch  Whig  in  politics,  and  deeply  in- 
terested in  sustaining  good  schools.     He  died  October  8,  1834. 

"  Walter  Phetteplace  was  a  descendant  (through  Sir  John  Fette- 
place,  of  Oxfordshire,  England),  of  Fettiplace,  the  Norman  gentleman 
usher  to  William  the  Conqueror,  and  who  came  into  England  with 
that  monarch.  (Oxfordshire  Annals.)  When  Glocester  was  set  off 
from  Providence  in  1831,  the  above  Walter  Phetteplace  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Jencks  an  Assistant  Deputy  to  the  General  Assembly.  This 
office  he  filled  several  years.  In  1746  he  used  great  influence  to  keep 
sufficient  money  in  the  General  Treasury  for  use  should  the  fleet  of 
any  sovereign  power  attack  the  colony  in  some  unexpected  place,  in- 
stead of  sending  large  supplies  to  Fort  George  while  in  peace.  He 
married  Joanna  Maury  (daughter  of  Nathaniel),  August  4,  1709,  in 
Providence.     He  died  December  29,  1753. 

"  Doct.  Allen  Potter  studied  medicine  with  his  father  in  Massa- 
chusetts three  years,  and  two  years  with  Dr.  Hubbard,  in  Pomfret, 
Conn.  In  1825  he  settled  in  the  western  part  of  Glocester,  where  he 
was  a  regular  practicing  physician  until  overcome  by  the  infirmities 
of  years. 

"William  Rhodes,  who  lived  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town, 
learned  the  art  of  navigation,  and  succeeded  in  acquiring  great 
wealth,  principally  by  capturing  English  vessels  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

"  Richard  Steere  was  a  valuable  citizen,  and  much  trusted  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the 
county  of  Providence  for  many  years;  he  was  a  faithful  Town  Clerk 
for  sixty  years;  an  excellent  penman,  and  kept  the  record  books  very 
accurately  and  with  great  care;  he  owned  farms  in  different  parts  of 
the  town;  he  was  Deputy  from  Glocester  to  the  Assembly  four  years. 
He  died  October  16,  1797. 

"  DocT.  Jervis  J.  Smith  was  the  son  of  Rufus  Smith,  of  Burrill- 
ville.  He  was  educated  at  the  private  schools  of  the  town  and  at  the 
Friends  College,  in  Providence;  he  studied  medicine  with  his  uncle, 
W.  Smith,  M.  D.,  and  was  admitted  a  member  of  the  Rhode  Island 


HISTORY    OF    TROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  521 

Medical  Society  in  1833.  He  settled  in  Chepachet,  where  he  had  an 
extensive  practice;  also  in  Glocester  and  neighboring  towns.  He 
died  in  1864.  His  funeral  was  very  largely  attended.  He  was  a  Free 
Mason  and  was  buried  with  ^Masonic  honors  at  vSwan  Point,  Provi- 
dence. 

"John  Smith,  son  of  Benjamin,  left  Providence  village  late  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  with  an  axe  in  his  hand  and  a  bag  of  eatables, 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  wilderness.  After  spending  some  time  in  look- 
ing around  for  the  most  comfortable  place  to  build  a  log  house  for  his 
home,  he  selected  a  place  near  where  the  house  of  the  late  Urania 
Smith  stood.  Here  he  found  a  good  stream  of  water  and  excellent 
game  in  the  forest.  A  family  of  Williamses  soon  followed  him  from 
Providence,     Many  of  their  descendants  are  still  living  in  the  vicinity. 

"  Abraham  Tourtellot  was  the  son  of  Gabriel  and  Marie  (Ber- 
non)  Tourtellot.  He  came  to  Providence  from  Bordeaux,  France,  on 
account  of  religious  persecution,  about  1688.  In  1706,  Abraham 
bought  a  tract  of  land  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Glocester,  and 
about  a  mile  south  of  the  village  of  Chepachet.  On  a  commanding 
hill,  he  built  a  comfortable  house  which  was  occupied  many  years  by 
his  descendants.  His  mother  lived  with  him  the  latter  part  of  her 
life.  He  was  twice  married,  and  had  twelve  children,  viz.:  Mary, 
Lydia,  Esther,  Abram,  Jonathan,  Benjamin  and  Sarah  by  his  first 
wife,  and  Stephen,  William,  Jesse,  David  and  Anna  by  his  second 
wife.  Some  members  of  these  families  have  filled  important  places 
of  trust  and  responsibility  in  the  town  and  State. 

"  Fenner  R.  White,  son  of  Benjamin  White,  was  born  in  Gloces- 
ter. He  was  successful  in  his  large  manufacturing  establishments, 
very  honorable  in  all  his  engagements,  true  to  every  trust,  and  very 
kind  to  the  poor.  He  was  several  years  a  member  of  the  Town  Coun- 
cil and  General  Assembly.  He  married  Mary  B.  Arnold.  He  died  in 
November,  1880. 

"John  Waterman,  brother  of  Col.  Resolved  Waterman,  was  a 
paper  manufacturer  in  Glocester  in  1750.  (Providence  Gazette.)  The 
above  Resolved  Waterman,  of  Smithfield,  bought  land  in  Glocester  in 
1750.     He  married  Mary  Smith. 

"  Timothy  Wilmarth  lived  in  the  village  of  Chepachet.  His 
wife  was  the  daughter  of  Judge  Richard  Steere.  He  was  interested 
in  public  affairs  and  an  esteemed  citizen.  He  commanded  a  company 
of  militia  in  Gen.  Sullivan's  expedition  on  the  Island  of  Rhode 
Island,  where  his  musket  in  his  hand  was  very  much  shattered. 

"  Richard  Evans,  Abraham,  John  and  Resolved  Waterman,  Samuel 
Irons,  the  Smiths,  Eddys,  Steeres  and  others  owned  land  here  under 
the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  George  I.,  George  II.  and  George  III.  Some 
of  these  farms  are  still  in  possession  of  their  descendants.  John 
Usher  and  Aaron  Bardeen  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolution  from  this 
town,  and  had  pensions  given  them  from  Congress." 


522  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  town  of  Glocester  has  been  until  recently  a  democratic  strong- 
hold. The  unequal  distribution  of  political  power  previous  to  1842 
agitated  many  politicians  in  the  state,  who  desired  a  change  when  it 
could  be  lawfully  made.  Among  this  number  was  Samuel  Y.  Atwell 
of  this  town,  who  strongly  favored  the  giving  up  of  the  land  qualifi- 
cation. Some  of  the  suffrage  leaders  were  Thomas  W.  Dorr,  Duty  J. 
Pearce,  Ariel  Ballou  and  John  R.  Waterman.  After  the  judges  of  the 
supreme  court  had  given  their  decision  that  the  suffrage  convention 
had  acted  illegally,  Dorr  having  been  declared  governor  by  his  party, 
April  28th,  1842,  he  issued  his  proclamation  June  25th,  convening  the 
general  assembly  at  Chepachet  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  to  transact  such 
business  as  might  come  before  that  assembly. 

Governor  King  was  authorized,  with  the  advice  of  R.  K.  Randolph, 
James  Fenner,  E.  C.  Carrington,  L.  H.  Arnold,  N.  F.  Dixon,  Peleg 
Wilber  and  Byron  Diman,  to  take  such  measures  as  he  might  see  fit 
to  protect  the  private  and  public  property  of  the  state.  Martial  law 
was  established  and  in  full  force. 

June  23d,  Dorr  took  up  his  headquarters  at  Chepachet,  and  estab- 
lished martial  law  around  the  village.  A  fort  was  built  on  Acote  hill. 
Dorr  took  command  of  his  forces.  Five  or  six  hundred  soldiers  were 
said  to  be  within  his  established  fortress  on  the  hill.  They  had  sev- 
eral rusty  cannon  and  many  muskets.  The  excitement  was  intense. 
Law  and  Order  men  of  the  town  and  village  had  taken  to  the  w^oods, 
where  some  of  them  remained  several  days;  others  fled  to  various 
secret  places  without  food.  Mr.  Atwell,  who  resided  in  the  village, 
saw  the  mistake  Mr.  Dorr  was  making,  and  entirely  withdrew  from 
the  vSuffrage  party  and  removed  himself  and  family  to  the  house  of  a 
Law  and  Order  friend  (Mrs.  Waite  Phetteplace),  about  two  miles  from 
the  village.     There  were  no  males  at  this  house  except  servants. 

The  state  militia  were,  in  a  large  force,  marching  to  take  possession 
of  Acote  hill.  Dorr  was  finally  convinced  that  he  was  powerless,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  June  he  dismissed  his  military.  He 
and  all  his  force  fled  in  haste.  The  state  military  arrived,  and  with- 
out resistance  took  possession  of  the  famous  expected  Rhode  Island 
battle-ground  and  the  village.  Refreshments  in  abundance  were  sent 
at  once  from  families  in  the  town  to  the  state's  artillery.  There  was 
great  rejoicing  that  no  battle  was  fought. 

In  the  following  October  a  company  of  Light  Dragoons  was  char- 
tered by  the  name  of  the  Burrillville  and  Glocester  Horse  Company; 
the  number  not  to  exceed  100,  exclusive  of  officers;  the  company  to 
be  in  the  vSecond  Brigade  of  the  Rhode  Island  militia,  and  all  its 
members,  so  long  as  enrolled,  to  be  exempt  from  doing  other  military 
duty. 

Chepachet  river  rises  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  on  the  farm 
of  the  late  Judge  Richard  Steere,  and  has  been  long  used  for  various 
mills.     The  river  runs  through  Mill  pond,  where  there   is  a  saw  mill 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  ~)2S 

and  various  kinds  of  excellent  fish  for  cooking;  then,  in  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile,  it  passes  through  Keech  pond,  the  largest  natural 
division  of  water  in  the  town.  The  river,  after  having  run  some  miles, 
passing  through  the  village  of  Chepachet,  unites  with  Clear  river  and 
forms  Branch  river,  which  flows  into  the  Blackstone.  vSuker  stream 
runs  into  the  Chepachet  river  northeast  of  the  village.  Early  iron  ore 
was  obtained  from  Sea  Patch  river  in  this  town  for  a  forge  in  Woon- 
socket. 

Ponaganset  pond  is  near  Pine  hill,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
town.  Ponaganset  river  flows  from  this  pond  and  unites  with  the 
Moswansicut  river  to  form  the  north  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  river. 
Poquanatuck  river  flows  from  Ponaganset  pond.  Place  reservoir  is  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  town.  Part  of  Killingly  pond  is  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town.  There  are  many  other  small  streams 
and  brooks.  In  the  Keech  and  Saw-mill  ponds  formerly  there  were 
more  fish  than  at  present.  There  were  many  pouts,  shiners,  eels,  pick- 
erels, perch,  etc.  Waterman  reservoir  and  the  Smith  and  Sayles  res- 
ervoirs are  preserved  for  manufacturing  purposes. 

The  ancient  order  of  Free  Masons  was  chartered  at  the  time  the 
town  was  set  off.     Friendship  Lodge,  No.  7,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  had  a  meet- 
ing on  the  21st  of  October,  1800.    The  following  officers  were  installed: 
Joseph  Bowen,  W.  M.;  Elijah  Armstrong,  vS.  W.;  David  Richmond,  J. 
W.;  Asa  Burlingame,  treasurer;  S.  Owen,  secretary;  Oliver  Owen,  S.  D.; 
Stephen  Burlingame,  J.  D.    In  1805  the  meetings  were  more  regularly 
held.     The  meetings  were  held  in  the  village  of  Chepachet.     In  the 
year  1807  the  following  persons  petitioned  the  assembly  for  a  charter 
for  Friendship  Lodge  from  the  town  of  Glocester,  viz.:    Anan  Evans, 
Elijah  Armstrong,  Chad  Sayles,  Solomon  Owen,  William  Steere,  Jr., 
Joseph  Bowen,  Stephen  Burlingame,  John  Wood,  Joseph  Hines,  Levi 
Eddy,  Cyrus  Cooke,  Duty  Salsbr^ry,  Thomas  Owen,  Daniel  Tourtellot, 
Mowry  Smith,  John  Wilkinson,  Andrew  Brown,  Ebenezer  Felch,  Dan- 
iel Tucker,  Angell  Paine,  Hiram  Salsbury,  vSeth  Thompson,  Job  Phette- 
place,  Elijah  Day,  John  M.  Donald,  Thomas  Iqgraham,  James  King,  Jr.. 
Joseph  Putman,  Adfer  Eddy,  Abraham  Belnap,  Joseph  Burgess,  George 
Harris,  Job  Aldrich,  Emor  Olney,  Pitt  Smith,  Seth  Hunt,  Jr.,  vStephen 
Eddy,  William  Remington,  Thomas  Darling,  Jesse  Tourtellot,  Thomas 
Eddy,  Emor  Winsor,  Jeremiah  Tourtellot,  Elisha  Sayles  and  Samuel 
Matteson.     The  charter  was  granted  with  all  the  privileges  of  an  or- 
ganized society.     Regular  meetings  were  held  on  Saturdays  on  or  be- 
fore the  full  of  the  moon.     Officers  in  1828:    Benedict  Aldrich,  master;. 
Isaac  Aldrich,  warden;  Willard  J.  Smith,  junior  warden;  Jethro  S.  Lap- 
ham,  senior  deacon;  Sterry  J.  Smith,  junior  deacon;  Richard  Lapham, 
treasurer;  Arthur  A.  Ross,  secretary;  Otis  Sayles  and  Otis  Eddy,  stew- 
ards; Esek  Phetteplace,  tyler.     Officers  in  the  above  society  in  the 
year  1889  were:    Walter  A.  Read,  W.  M.;  Everett  White,  S.  W.;  Eu- 
gene F.  Eddy,  J.  W:;  Doctor  Albert  Potter,  treasurer;  Edward  L.  Phette" 


-524  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

place,  secretary.  The  Hall  was  built  in  1802.  The  membership  is 
about  80. 

Chepachet  Division,  Sons  of  Temperance,  No.  14,  was  organized 
■October  24th,  in  the  year  1872.  Harmony  Division,  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance, No.  13,  was  chartered  February  4th,  1875. 

In  February,  1804,  the  Farmers'  Exchange  Bank  was  chartered,  to 
be  located  in  the  village  of  Chepachet,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000. 
President,  John  Harris;  cashier,  Mowry  Smith.  Daniel  Owen,  Simon 
Smith,  Timothy  Wilmarth,  Jam.es  Aldrich,  John  Harris,  John  Wilkin- 
son, Elisha  Mathewson,  Solomon  Owen,  Samuel  Winsor,  Daniel  Smith, 
Simeon  Smith,  Mowry  Smith  and  Daniel  Tourtellot  were  appointed 
directors  of  said  bank.  Daniel  Owen  resigned  in  March,  1804,  and 
William  Rhodes  was  elected  to  fill  his  place.  The  books  of  the  bank 
were  kept  in  a  confused  state,  according  to  the  final  report  of  the  as- 
sembly's committee  to  exajnine  the  bank.  The  directors  did  not  at 
any  time  have  a  proper  knowledge  of  the  management  of  the  bank. 
In  1808  nearly  all  the  directors  sold  out  their  shares.  John  Harris 
continued  president,  and  in  1808  William  Colwell  was  appointed  cash- 
ier; Elisha  Fairbanks  and  Samuel  Dexter,  were  made  directors.  It 
was  evident  to  men  doing  business  with  the  bank  that  there  was  great 
mismanagement  with  some  of  the  officers,  and  that  the  affairs  of  the 
bank  needed  to  be  examined.  A  bank  business  meeting  was  called, 
and  the  following  new  directors  were  appointed,  viz.:  Obadiah  Brown, 
Seth  Hunt,  Jr.,  Mark  Steere  (son  of  Richard),  Jesse  Mowry  and  Sam- 
uel Fenner.     They  delivered  the  books  to  the  general  assembly. 

In  March,  1809,  the  assembly  appointed  a  committee  to  investigate 
all  the  concerns  of  the  Glocester  Bank  and  make  a  report.  This  they 
did.  It  was  found  in  a  bad  condition.  The  cashier,  Mr.  Colwell,  was 
committed  to  close  confinement,  no  one  being  allowed  to  converse  with 
him.  The  president  of  the  bank  left  the  state,  and  his  estates  were 
put  under  attachment.  All  the  members  of  the  general  assembly 
manifested  a  full  determination  to  take  the  rriost  vigorous  and  decided 
measures  to  thoroughly  probe  this  iniquitous  deed  to  its  very  centre. 
The  cashier  and  directors  were  cited,  and  appeared  before  the  general 
assembly  with  bank  books  and  papers.  By  this  examination  it  was 
-ascertained  that  the  bank  had  issued  bills  to  an  enormous  amount,  far 
beyond  their  capital;  that  they  had  taken  notes  from  Andrew  Dexter, 
Jr.,  in  Boston,  without  an  indorser,  payable  at  the  expiration  of  eight 
years  from  November,  1808,  at  two  per  cent,  interest  for  upwards  of 
$800,000.  The  president  of  the  bank  was  then  in  Boston,  and  the 
plates  on  which  the  bills  were  impressed. 

An  article  in  The  American,  a  newspaper  published  in  Providence, 
'March,  1809,  has  the  following:  "The  funeral  of  the  Farmers'  Ex- 
change Bank,  in  Glocester,  is  on  its  way  to  the  General  Assembly  at 
East  Greenwich.  It  appears  on  examination  of  the  books  and  papers 
at  Glocester,  by  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  that  a  certain 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  525' 

well-known  trader  in  bank  stock,  living  in  Boston,  had  got  out  of  that 
bank  something  more  than  half  a  million  of  dollars,  for  which  he  had 
given  only  his  note  without  an  indorser,  payable  at  the  end  of  eight 
years  from  November  last  [1808],  with  two  per  cent,  interest,  to  the 
cashier,  his  successors  in  office  or  order.  The  bank  is  shut,  and  prob- 
ably never  to  be  opened  again  for  similar  business.  The  sign  is  taken 
down  and  the  keys  are  in  the  vicinity." 

Obadiah  Brown,  Esq.,  and  Seth  Hunt,  Jr.,  both  of  Providence,  were 
appointed  a  committee  by  the  general  assembly  to  take  into  possession 
all  the  effects,  books  and  papers  of  the  Farmers'  Exchange  Bank,  and 
to  collect  and  present  an  account  of  the  same  at  the  next  meeting  of 
the  assembly.  This  they  did,  and  a  report  of  the  committee  before 
the  assembly,  in  February,  1809,  was  published  in  a  pamphlet  of  43 
pages. 

In  February,  1818,  a  number  of  people  of  the  town  of  Glocester  ob- 
tained a  charter  for  another  bank,  to  be  called  the  Franklin  Bank,  with 
a  capital  of  $50,000.  President,  Jesse  Tourtellot;  cashier,  Cyril  Cook; 
directors,  Jesse  Tourtellot,  Amherst  Kimball,  Cyrus  Cook,  Joseph 
Owen,  Joseph  Wilmarth,  Timothy  Sweet,  Amasa  Eddy,  Jr.,  Thomas 
Owen,  Jr.,  Asaph  Wilder,  Jr.,  Job  Armstrong,  Ira  Phetteplace  Evans, 
Thomas  Mathewson  and  John  Hawkins.  This  bank  was  successful 
and  continued  to  do  business  until  the  present  national  system  was  in- 
troduced in  1865,  when  it  was  voted  to  discontinue  business.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  directors  of  the  bank  when  it  was  closed 
in  1868,  viz.:  Amasa  Eddy,  Horace  Kimball,  Clovis  H.  Bowen,  Law- 
ton  Owen,  Smith  Peckham,  Horace  A.  Kimball,  Leonard  Sayles,  Jo- 
seph B.  Smith.  President,  Joseph  B.  vSmith;  cashier,  Horace  A.  Kim- 
ball. The  bank  paid  out  its  surplus  to  the  stockholders  October  2d, 
1868. 

In  1780,  licenses  were  granted  by  the  town  council  to  six  persons 
to  keep  public  house  in  their  home  dwellings  for  one  year  on  condition 
that  they  kept  good  order,  and  for  the  privilege  they  were  required 
to  pay  a  given  number  of  bushels  of  corn  to  the  town.  The  corn  given 
was  used  to  support  the  poor  of  the  town.  Later,  silver  dollars  were 
paid.  In  1800,  license  was  given  to  sell  liquor  on  town  meeting  days 
for  50  cents. 

Many  years  after  1800  six  quite  large  and  convenient  hotels  were 
kept  in  the  town.  Hezekiah  Cady  kept  the  hotel  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town;  Cyrus  Farnum  and  Richard  Aldrich  kept  the  two  in  the 
eastern  part;  Daniel  Cornell  in  the  southern  part,  and  Cyrus  Cook, 
Anan  Evans  and  others  kept  the  two  hotels  in  the  village.  There  is 
one  good  hotel  in  Chepachet  now.  It  is  a  very  old  building  but  in  the 
best  of  condition  and  makes  a  handsome  appearance.  Jeremiah  Shel- 
don, a  native  of  Cranston,  kept  the  house  in  1846-7.  Succeeding  him 
came  Pardon  Hunt,  Jedediah  Sprague,  Anthony  Steere  and  Royal 
Taft,  who  took  possession  April  12th,  1872.     Mr.  Taft  died  May  15th, 


526  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1878,  and  it  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Henry  H.  Taft,  the 
present  owner,  who  put  it  in  its  present  inviting-  shape.  Durino-  the 
summer  season  the  house  is  full  of  guests  from  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and 
■other  cities,  who  come  here  to  spend  the  hot  months. 

Mr.  Nathan  Blackman  had  a  hat  factory  in  early  times,  where  he 
manufactured  silk  and  felt  hats.  Oliver  Owen  had  a  nail  factory  and 
a  trip-hammer  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  Solomon 
Owen  had  a  tannery  here  before  1800.  His  son,  Lawton,  continued 
the  business  until  his  death.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  George, 
who  had  charge  of  the  tannery  for  several  years.  The  Messrs.  Owen 
had  oil  works,  where  oil  was  pressed  from  cotton  seed.  A  brick  yard 
was  established  in  Glocester  by  the  owners  of  the  clay  beds.  Elisha 
Bartlett  was  one  of  the  first  manufacturers  of  scythes  in  Glocester. 
Potash  was  manufactured  quite  extensively  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century  by  Timothy  Wilmarth,  in  the  vicinity  of  Chepachet. 
Crude  ore,  taken  from  the  Sea  Patch  river  in  Glocester,  was  used  at 
the  Woonsocket  forge  before  the  revolution. 

Mr.  George  Harris  had  a  distillery  in  the  same  building  where  he 
had  his  grist  mill  for  many  years.  He  also  had  a  tannery.  In  1808 
he  built  a  house  to  carry  on  the  work  of  carding.  The  building  stood 
a  little  east  of  the  bridge  in  Chepachet.  The  first  custom  house  for 
carding  and  draping  wool  was  where  the  Granite  Mill  now  stands  in 
Burrillville  and  was  carried  on  by  Daniel  Sayles  &  Son.  The  wool  to 
be  carded  was  made  into  rolls  to  be  spun  on  the  family  spinning  wheel. 
Mr.  Harris'  works  were  sold  to  the  Glocester  Manufacturing  Company. 

Lawton  Owen  built  a  mill  to  spin  cotton  yarn  in  1814.  It  stood 
near  Chepachet.  This  mill  was  sold  to  Ira  P.  Evans  and  afterward  to 
Henry  B.  Lyman  and  Elisha  Dyer.  In  1858  Horace  A.  Kimball,  Jr., 
and  Warren  Arnold  purchased  the  factory  and  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  satinet.  Later  they  manufactured  fancy  cassimeres.  In 
February,  1867,  a  freshet  did  great  damage  to  the  manufacturing 
establishments  on  the  Chepachet  river.  In  1820  Elisha  Dyer  and 
Henry  B.  Lyman  built  a  factory  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  near 
the  turnpike,  where  for  25  years  they  manufactured  cotton  cloth. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Otis  Sayles  and  Joseph  B.  Smith.  About 
1862  they  put  in  machinery  to  manufacture  cassimeres.  Fifty  persons 
were  employed.  After  the  death  of  Sayles  and  Smith  in  1881  Edward 
Valentine  had  charge  of  the  factory  and  manufactured  woolen  goods. 
The  first  one  of  the  White  Mills  was  built  in  1840  and  was  run  some 
time  as  a  cotton  mill.  No.  1  was  originally  100  by  40  feet,  two  stories 
with  basement  and  attic.  In  1882  the  first  addition  was  built,  which 
is  100  by  45  feet,  four  stories;  and  in  1885  addition  No.  3  was  built, 
which  is  100  by  55  feet,  three  stories  and  all  built  of  stone.  The  goods 
manufactured  are  fancy  worsteds  and  the  entire  works  employ  375 
people.  Mr.  Henry  C.  White,  the  owner  of  these  mills,  also  owns 
another  mill  known  as  the  Point  Mill,  but  it  is  not  at  present  in 
operation. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  527 

Chepachet  is  a  thriving  little  village  in  the  northern  part  of  Gloces- 
ter.  It  has  been  the  center  of  business  for  this  section  since  its  first 
settlement.  It  contains  two  churches,  one  hotel,  a  woolen  mill  and 
several  stores.  In  1818  there  were  a  dozen  stores  in  the  place  and 
much  business  was  done  from  towns  around,  reaching  into  Connecti- 
cut and  Massachusetts,  and  that  commercial  relationship  was  main- 
tained till  the  building  of  the  railroads.  The  Eddys,  Kimballs  and 
others  were  original  and  prominent  in  the  ownership  of  land  in  and 
around  Chepachet.  In  1814  Amasa  Eddy  kept  a  store,  also  a  saddle 
and  harness  shop.  The  names  of  Zachariah,  Joshua  and  John  M. 
Eddy  also  have  been  largely  associated  with  the  place  in  a  business 
way.  Robert  Owen  traded  here  as  early  as  1805  or  1806.  Horatio 
Cook  was  an  early  trader  here  also.  He  was  a  native  of  the  place 
and  died  in  Chepachet.  The  old  store  in  which  he  traded  so  long  and 
where  he  also  kept  the  post  office  is  now  closed.  Eddy  M.  Smith,  an- 
other merchant,  sold  out  his  stock  to  Eddy  &  Tourtellot.  Following 
them  came  Alexander  Eddy  &  Tourtellot,  Wade  &  Read,  A.  F.  Wade, 
Nathan  Young,  then  Elias  Carpenter,  who  closed  out  about  1852.  The 
Kimballs  also  sustained  a  creditable  business  relation  to  Chepachet. 
An  old  store  originally  kept  by  Thomas  O.  Evans,  afterward  by  Tour- 
tellot &  Sprague,  was  then  run  by  Horace  Kimball,  who  closed  the 
business.  Job  Armstrong  occupied  this  store  for  some  years  He 
established  himself  in  business  as  early  as  1814  and  kept  it  till  1850, 
when  he  failed.  He  was  an  active  supporter  of  Dorr,  and  his  zealous 
partisanship  ruined  his  business.  Duty  and  Ira  P.  Evans  were  also 
prominent  merchants.  Duty  Evans  sold  his  interests  to  Ira  P.  Evans 
about  1842.  The  brothers  were  natives  of  the  place,  and  traded  first 
in  a  store  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Lydia  S.  Slocum.  Ira  P.  Evans  then 
kept  a  store  at  the  head  of  the  street.  The  business  was  closed  out 
about  1845. 

W.  W.  Hawkins  came  into  this  place  in  1842,  and  carried  on  a 
wheelwright  and  blacksmith  shop  from  1845  to  1855,  and  then  bought 
out  Peckham  &  Clemence,  and  has  traded  in  the  place  ever  since.  In 
1856  he  built  the  store  he  now  occupies.  When  Mr.  Hawkins  came 
here  in  1842,  he  found  a  number  of  merchants  then  in  business. 
Russell  Kelly  had  been  trading  before  that  time  some  years.  He  died 
in  1850.  Joseph  B.  Waldron,  another  merchant,  died  about  1857  or 
1858.  Jackson  Mowry  also  traded  a  short  time.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Peckham  &  Clemence,  then  W.  W.  Hawkins,  after  whom  came 
Robert  H.  Wade,  who  crossed  the  road  and  is  there  yet.  Horatio 
Cook,  Horace  Kimball,  Thomas  O.  Evans  and  Job  Armstrong  were 
trading  here  in  1842.  Charles  Kimball  traded  here  after  Horace  Kimi- 
ball,  and  he  sold  to  Walter  A.  Read  in  1872,  the  present  owner  of  that 
business. 

A  post  office  was  established  here  in  1806,  and  Amherst  Kimball 
was    appointed    postmaster.      Succeeding    postmasters   were:    Cyrus 


528  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Cooke;  Horace  Kimball,  in  1845;  Job  Armstrong,  in  1849;  Horace 
Kimball,  in  1853;  William  W.  Hawkins,  in  1861;  Walter  A.  Read,  in 
1866;  and  Robert  H.  Wade,  in  1885. 

Manton  Library  Association.— In  January,  1847,  Mr.  H.  Barnard, 
commissioner  of  public  schools  for  this  state,  made  known  to  the  citi- 
zens of  Glocester,  in  a  public  meeting,  that  a  native  of  Glocester,  then 
residing  in  Providence,  had  placed  at  his  disposal  the  sum  of  $100  to 
be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  a  public  library  for  the  free  use  of 
the  inhabitants  of  said  town,  on  condition  that  the  citizens  raise  alike 
sum.  Subsequently  Mr.  Barnard  offered  the  further  sum  of  $25  for 
the  same  purpose  on  like  condition  of  an  equal  sum  from  the  inhabit- 
ants. The  whole  money  was  to  be  expended  in  the  purchase  of 
books  by  Mr.  Barnard,  as  commissioner  for  the  donors,  and  such  other 
persons  as  the  individuals  subscribing  to  raise  the  town's  part  should 
appoint.  The  library  was  to  be  under  the  control  of  those  individuals 
who  subscribed.  These  subscribers  were  authorized  to  make  such 
laws  and  regulations  for  its  preservation  and  increase  as  to  them 
should  seem  proper. 

Following  these  propositions  the  citizens  of  the  town  raised  the 
sum  of  $126.16,  and  organized  by  electing  Job  Owen,  treasurer; 
Thomas  A.  Evans,  collector.  The  Reverend  Orrin  F.  Otis,  A.  A. 
Meader  and  George  H.  Browne  were  appointed  a  committee,  in  con- 
junction with  Mr.  Barnard,  to  purchase  the  books  for  the  library.  A 
constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted  by  the  society  in  1847.  In  1854 
the  library  contained  750  volumes  of  well  selected  books,  valued  at 
$400.  The  library  was  given  by  Amasa  Manton,  of  Providence,  in 
memory  of  his  native  town,  and  the  citizens  in  honor  of  the  giver  gave 
it  the  name  Manton  Library.  In  1885  a  new  interest  was  awakened 
and  the  Library  Association  called  a  meeting  and  reorganized  the  so- 
ciety. The  officers  elected  were  as  follows:  President,  John  T.  Fiske; 
vice-president,  Thomas  Irons;  secretary,  E.  W.  White;  treasurer,  Wil- 
liam H.  White;  executive  committee.  Miss  Mary  O.  Arnold,  Doctor 
George  A.  Harris  and  Walter  A.  Read.  The  library  was  moved  to 
Mr.  Read's  store,  and  he  is  also  librarian. 

The  village  of  Clarkville  is  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town. 
A  tannery  was  here  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  and  was 
continued  for  many  years;  also  a  saw  mill.  In  1818,  Arnold  Brothers 
put  up  a  building  to  manufacture  cotton  yarn.  The  mill  has  several 
times  been  burned  and  rebuilt  and  run  as  a  shoddy  mill.  For  several 
years  it  was  in  the  hands  of  Horatio  Darling,  but  now  T.  R.  White  & 
Co.  run  the  mill.  The  Advent  church  at  Clarkville  was  erected  in 
1848  at  a  cost  of  about  $500.  The  Adventists  also  have  a  little  church 
erected  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  town,  in  1863,  at  a  cost  of 
$760. 

West  Glocester  is  a. small  village  near  Clarkville.  This  is  a  manu- 
facturing place  for  carpet  warp  and  heavy  woolen  goods,  conducted 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  529 

by  the  firm  of  Hawkins  &  Houghton.  A  post  office  was  established 
here  in  1862,  with  Mr.  Keach  as  postmaster.  A  saw  mill  was  operated 
here  by  the  Messrs.  Hawkins  until  the  erection  of  the  mill  in  1873. 

Williamsville  is  about  two  miles  south  of  Clarkville.  It  has  a 
few  houses  and  a  grist  mill  of  long  standing. 

Harmony  is  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  It  has  but  a  few  in- 
habitants. The  village  has  one  store  and  a  post  office,  kept  by  C.  L. 
Whipple.  There  is  also  a  hotel  here,  kept  by  Mrs.  Mary  Babcock. 
The  various  denominations  have  been  accustomed  to  worship  in  the 
school  house  at  this  place,  and  since  a  new  school  house  was  built  the 
old  house  has  been  altered  into  a  chapel.  Reverend  Charles  E.  Pres- 
ton, rector  of  the  Episcopal  church  at  Greenville,  holds  regular  meet- 
ings here. 

Spring  Grove  is  a  village  of  several  houses  about  one  mile  east  of 
Chepachet.  Here  vSmith  Mowry  and  his  two  sons,  Scott  W.  and 
Browm,  about  1836,  purchased  the  Spring  Grove  Mill  and  manufact- 
ured cotton  goods  for  about  16  years.  The  mill  then  passed  into  sev- 
eral hands,  until  in  1868  it  was  purchased  by  T.  R.  White  &  Co.  to 
manufacture  shoddy  goods. 

Previous  to  the  town  of  Glocester  being  set  off  from  Providence, 
a  road  had  been  laid  out  from  Providence  village  to  Woodstock,  pass- 
ing through  what  are  now.  the  towns  of  North  Providence,  Johnston, 
Smithfield  and  Glocester  to  the  road  in  Connecticut  that  leads  to 
Woodstock.  This  road  was  a  large  country  road,  and  much  used.  In 
1788  so  much  of  it  had  been  taken  by  private  persons  that  the  travel- 
ing at  some  seasons  had  become  very  difficult.  To  repair  said  road,  a 
petition  from  the  several  towns  was  presented  to  the  assembly,  asking 
that  the  road  might  be  relaid  to  its  original  width.  It  was  granted, 
and  Thomas  Owen,  of  Glocester,  Caleb  Harris,  of  Johnston,  Stephen 
Brayton,  of  Smithfield,  and  Thomas  Olney,  of  North  Providence,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  relay  and  open  the  road  three  rods  wide,  its 
original  width,  the  aforesaid  towns  paying  all  expenses.  The  com- 
mittee decided  to  petition  for  a  lottery  to  raise  $1,200  to  aid  in  paying 
the  repairs.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  Timothy  Wilmarth, 
Thomas  Owen,  Solomon  Owen,  Jr.,  Edward  Greene  and  Nathaniel 
Bowditch  were  appointed  directors  of  said  lottery.  The  money  was 
raised  and  the  road  repaired. 

In  1774  there  was  a  road  laid  out  from  Providence  to  East  Hoosick, 
through  Glocester.  In  1792  there  was  a  road  from  Providence  to  Al- 
bany through  this  town;  also  there  was  a  road  through  this  town  in 
1792  to  Hartford  Conn.,  and  Brookfield,  Mass. 

A  road  that  in  the  year  1762  passed  from  Providence  to  Connecticut 
through  this  town  w^as,  by  a  number  of  persons  residing  in  the  towns 
through  which  the  road  passed,  represented  to  the  assembly  to  be  so 
bad  that  carriages  were  not  able  to  pass  without  great  difficulty,  that 

34 


530  HISTORY   OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

some  part  of  the  way  was  without  inhabitants,  and  that  the  road 
could  not  be  made  passable  without  some  assistance.  If  the  road  was 
in  a  good  condition,  commerce  between  Providence  and  Connecticut 
would  be  greatly  increased.  The  petition  to  raise  necessary  funds 
was  granted  by  having  a  lottery,  on  condition  that  there  should  be  no 
expense  to  the  state.  William  Dean,  Jonah  Steere,  Chad  Brown, 
Abraham  Winsor  and  Andrew  Waterman  were  appointed  directors  to 
carry  out  these  measures.  In  due  time  the  road  was  put  in  good  order 
for  travel. 

In  1772  a  road  was  laid  out  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  from  the 
colony  line,  at  a  place  known  as  Alum  Pond  hill,  and  leading  southerly 
to  Cook's  mill,  about  the  distance  of  five  miles,  crossing  Clear  river  at 
the  north  end  and  meeting  a  highway  laid  out  by  Massachusetts  Bay, 
which  leads  from  Oxford  to  Providence.  To  put  said  highway  in  good 
order,  the  assembly  granted  a  lottery  to  raise  four  hundred  dollars. 
Messrs.  Jonathan  Harris,  William  Ross  and  John  Rowland  were  ap- 
pointed directors.     No  expense  to  the  state. 

After  lotteries  were  forbidden,  toll-gates  were  established  to  raise 
funds  to  make  repairs  on  turnpikes.  The  road  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town  with  a  toll-gate  was  made  free  in  1856. 

In  1825  a  charter  was  granted  to  Richard  Burlingame  and  others 
for  a  turnpike,  beginning  in  North  Providence  and  passing  through 
Johnston,  and  a  corner  of  Scituate  and  Glocester,  under  the  name  of 
.the  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  Central  Turnpike,  with  the  permis- 
sion to  have  two  toll-gates  in  Glocester.  One  of  these  was  opposite 
the  hotel  kept  many  years  by  Hezekiah  Cady,  in  the  western  part  of 
the  town;  the  other  was  established  opposite  the  hotel  kept  many 
years  by  Mr.  Richard  Aldrich,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town. 

In  1826  the  Smithfield  and  Glocester  turnpike  was  named  the  Min- 
eral Spring  turnpike.  Reports  of  a  committee  on  turnpikes  were  an- 
nually to  be  made  to  the  general  assembly. 

The  common  roads  are  now  laid  out  by  the  town  and  kept  in  re- 
pair by  town  taxes.     The  roads  are  generally  kept  in  good  condition. 

In  June,  1816,  a  charter  was  granted  to  incorporate  the  Foster  and 
Glocester  Appian  Way  Society,  as  follows: 

''Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  by  the  antJiority  thereof  it 
is  hereby  enaeted,  That  the  said  Society  be  and  they  hereby  are  author- 
ized to  make  and  establish  a  branch  of  the  turnpike  road  which  by 
law  they  have  been  authorized  to  make  and  establish,  and  to  extend 
the  said  branch  from  some  place  at  or  near  the  dwelling  house  of 
Jonathan  Williams,  in  Glocester,  to  the  southerly  end  of  the  turnpike 
laid  out  by  the  State  of  Connecticut,  or  any  other  road  laid  out,  or 
which  may  be  laid  out,  in  that  State,  leading  from  Thompson  into  the 
Chepachet  Turnpike  Road,  and  to  make  the  said  branch  in  the  same 
manner,  and  with  all  the  same  privileges,  as  they  have  power,  by  their 
own  charter,  to  make  any  other  part  of  said   road;  Provided  the  said 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY.  531 

Society  shall  previously  obtain  the  consent  thereto,  of  all  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  lands  over  which  it  will  pass,  under  their  hands  and 
seals." 

No  other  recorded  information  has  been  found  of  the  Appian  Way. 

In  January,  1874,  the  town  was  authorized  to  subscribe  and  hold 
capital  stock  in  the  Providence  &  Springfield  Railroad  Company. 

The  Ponagansett  railroad,  to  connect  with  the  Hartford  &  Fish- 
kill  railroad  and  the  Providence  &  Springfield  railroad,  has  not  yet 
been  made. 

The  Woonasquatucket  Railroad  Company  was  incorporated  in 
1857,  the  road  to  pass  through  or  near  the  village  of  Chepachet,  on  the 
petition  of  Daniel  M.  Salsbury,  Ira  P.  Evans,  Clovis  H.  Bowen,  Horace 
Kimball,  Jason  Emerson,  Albert  L.  Sayles,  Otis  Sayles,  George  H. 
Browne,  Nathan  B.  Sprague,  Thomas  Barnes,  Anthony  Steere,  William 
Winsor,  Elisha  Dyer,  Zachariah  Allen,  Philip  Allen,  Amos  D.  Smith 
and  Henry  B.  Ly-man.  The  road  was  built,  but  passes  through  Oak- 
land instead  of  Chepachet. 

The  lottery  system,  sanctioned  by  the  legislature,  was  commenced 
as  early  as  1763.  It  seemed  to  be  the  best  and  surest  way  to  raise 
needed  funds  to  build  bridges,  churches,  to  lay  out  and  repair  roads, 
and  make  other  public  improvements.  After  a  few  years  the  legality 
of  lotteries  was  withdrawn  by  the  assembly. 

In  1774,  "  several  persons  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Gloces- 
ter  preferred  a  petition  unto  the  General  Assembly,  praying  that  a 
lottery  may  be  granted  them  for  the  raising  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
pounds,  lawful  money,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  meeting  house  in 
the  north  part  of  said  town,  and  purchasing  a  lot  for  the  same;  and 
also  a  small  lot  for  the  use  of  their  Society,  commonly  called  '  The 
Old  Standing  Baptist,'  which  Society  is  under  the  care  of  Messrs.  Ed- 
ward Mitchel;  John  Winsor,  William  Bowen,  and  Philomen  Hynes; 
that  Messrs.  Stephen  Winsor,  Arnold  vSmith,  Martin  Smith  and  Jesse 
Smith  be  appointed  directors  of  the  same." 

The  petition  was  granted,  and  it  was  provided  "  that  said  persons 
be  managers  of  the  said  lottery,  they  giving  bonds  according  to  law  in 
a  sum  double  the  amount  of  the  sum  which  is  to  be  raised  by  the  sale 
of  the  tickets,  and  that  no  expense  be  given  to  the  State." 

At  the  session  of  the  general  assembly  in  January,  1790,  "  it  was 
voted  and  resolved,  that  the  Hon.  Daniel  Owen,  Nathaniel  Wade, 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  Seth  Hunt,  be  appointed  a  committee  to  settle  the  ac- 
count of  Messrs.  Stephen  Winsor,  Arnold  Smith,  Martin  Smith  and 
Jesse  Smith,  who  were  the  directors  of  the  said  lottery  for  building 
a  meeting  house  in  Glocester,  and  that  the  expense  thereof  be  de- 
frayed by  the  said  directors  without  any  expense  to  the  State." 

The  account  was  settled.    Other  lotteries  were  subsequently  made. 

The  following  account  of  the  churches  of  Glocester  was  taken  prin- 
cipally from  the  valuable  work  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Perry: 


532  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  this  land  while  forming  a  part  of  the 
town  of  Providence,  were  some  of'  the  children  and  grandchildren  of 
English  Dissenters.  At  first  some  of  them  held  prayer  meetings  in 
their  very  humble  dwellings.  Some  called  themselves  Seekers;  some 
were  Friends.  Several  of  the  owners  of  land  here  spent  their  winters 
in  Providence  village.  Others  lived  there  most  of  the  time,  putting 
on  hired  help  to  clear  and  cultivate  the  land.  Twenty-four  slaves  of 
the  late  Moses  Brown  were  emiployed  here  in  cutting  down  trees  and 
preparing  the  land  for  good  farms  previous  to  the  year  1773.  All  that 
were  sufficiently  favored  to  have  a  winter  home  in  Providence  had,  a 
part  of  the  year,  better  religious  privileges.  Some  of  the  settlers 
called  themselves  Separatists,  having  left  the  Church  of  England,  and 
desired  only  the  simple  forms  of  worship.  Some  were  called  New 
Lights. 

From  Backus'  "  History  of  the  Baptists  "  it  is  learned  that  Elder 
Edward  Mitchell  was  pastor  of  a  church  in  Glocester.  many  years.  He 
died  October  22d,  1795,  aged  98  years.  Elder  William  Bowen  suc- 
ceeded him.  The  church  was  an  independent  one.  Mr.  Bowen  is 
represented  as  faithful  in  his  ministrations  for  several  years.  The 
above  church  was  in  the  northerly  part  of  the  town. 

Thomas  Knowlton  was  ordained  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  September 
11th,  1742.  He  soon  after  came  to  Glocester  and  was  pastor  of  a 
Separatist  Baptist  church.  Here  he  died.  Stephen  Place  and  others 
assisted  Mr.  Knowlton  in  his  declining  years  in  church  work. 

Joseph  Winsor,  great-grandson  of  Joshua  Winsor,  who  came  to 
Providence  in  the  year  1638,  was  ordained  October  31st,  1763,  and 
settled  pastor  to  succeed  Elder  Thomas  Knowlton.  Backus  says  in 
his  history:  "  Elder  Joseph  Winsor  was  in  full  fellowship  with  our 
churches."  The  church  prospered,  had  72  members,  and  a  new  house 
of  worship  was  built  in  the  southerly  part  of  the  village,  near  the  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Samuel  Y.  Atwell.  In  1771  the  church  joined  the 
W-arren  Baptist  Association.  The  members  collected  a  fund  to  aid  in 
educating  pious  young  men  with  a  view  to  the  gospel  ministry.  The 
Warren  Baptist  Association  was  the  earliest  of  its  kind  in  New  Eng- 
land. It  was  formed  in  1766.  It  had  for  its  object  "  to  secure  the 
civil  and  religious  privileges  enjoyed  by  the  mother  church  in  Eng- 
land." 

In  1767,  says  the  Reverend  David  Benedict,  in  his  History  of  the 
Baptists,  "  the  Baptist  church  in  Glocester  was  represented  at  the 
Warren  Association  by  the  Reverend  Joseph  Winsor."  For  years  the 
church  prospered.  About  1790  a  number  of  active  members  moved  to 
other  parts  of  the  country,  and  their  pastor,  becoming  aged  and  infirm, 
was  unable  to  fully  attend  to  his  pastoral  duties,  and  the  members 
became  reduced  and  scattered.  Mr.  Winsor  remained  with  them  and 
continued  their  pastor  until  his  death,  in  the  summer  of  1802,  in  the 
89th  year  of  his  age.     He  was  buried  on  his  own  homestead  farm,. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  533 

which  was  on  a  commanding  hill  with  a  very  fine  prospect.     His  large 
house  is  still  standing. 

Mr.  Winsor  had  a  great  interest  in  the  religious  and  general  edu- 
cation of  the  town.  He  built  on  his  farm  a  good-sized  meeting  house 
with  a  gallery;  the  outside  was  finished,  but  not  the  inside.  Christo- 
pher Winsor,  grandson  of  the  Reverend  Joseph,  says  "  no  church  was 
ever  organized  here,  but  large  neighborhood  meetings  were  held 
there."  Later  the  house  was  used  for  a  school.  Mr.  Christopher 
Winsor  also  says  that  "  his  grandfather,  when  his  sons  married  and 
settled,  built  a  school  house  near  their  dwellings."  He  had  five  sons: 
Abraham,  Amos,  Christopher,  Anan  and  Samuel;  and  seven  daughters: 
Amey,  Deborah,  Lillis,  Martha,  Mary,  Thankful,  and  one  died  in 
infancy.  All  married.  Samuel  Winsor,  his  youngest  son  and  for  many 
years  Judge  Winsor,  inherited  his  father's  homestead,  on  Winsor's 
hill,  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  The  old  Winsor  burying  ground 
is  on  the  hill.  John  W.  Hunt,  Clarissa  Danforth,  of  Weathersfield,  Vt., 
and  Elder  John  Colby  w^ere  devoted  religious  teachers.  Reverend 
George  Lamb  held  neighborhood  meetings  several  years  in  Deacon 
Asa  Steere's  large  kitchen,  on  Sundays.  The  old  meeting  house  at 
Chepachet  had  either  been  blown  down  or  torn  down. 

In  1814  a  number  of  Christian  men  seeing  the  great  need  of  having 
a  house,  aside  from  the  school  house  and  private  dwellings,  for  regu- 
lar religious  worship  and  discipline,  obtained  a  charter  in  October  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Christian  Benevolent  Society.  The  meeting 
house  was  not  built  until  1821,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  village.  In 
January,  1822,  it  was  re-chartered  as  the  Chepachet  Meeting  House: 
the  Baptists  to  hold  the  power  to  occupy  it  four  Sundays  each  month, 
and  the  Universalists  every  fifth  Sunday.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Pick- 
ering, from  Providence,  and  the  Reverend  Adin  Ballou,  of  Smithfield, 
sometimes  supplied  the  desk  on  the  fifth  Sunday.  After  a  few  years 
their  services  were  entirely  given  up.  The  lot  was  given  by  Amherst 
Kimball.  The  pews  were  sold  previous  to  building  the  house,  to  pay 
the  expense.  The  church  was  well  proportioned,  with  a  steeple  and 
a  good  bell;  galleries  were  on  each  side  and  at  one  end,  and  the  pul- 
pit was  at  the  other  end.  The  cost  was  about  $4,000.  The  following 
named  persons  were  pew  owners:  Thomas  Owen,  Esek  Brown,  Jr., 
Joseph  Steere,  Ahab  Sayles,  Amherst  Kimball,  Obadiah  Smith,  Olney 
Browne,  Lyndon  Smith,  Stephen  Wilmarth,  Jesse  Tourtellot,  Chad 
Sayles,  Ira  P.  Evans,  Stephen  Eddy,  Jeptha  Hunt,  John  B.  Snow, 
James  Sprague,  Eber  Phetteplace,  Job  Armstrong,  Cyrus  Cooke,  Joel 
Paine,  Amasa  Eddy,  Jr.,  Arnold  Brown,  James  Wilder,  Samuel  Potter, 
Joseph  White,  John  M.  Hunt,  Elisha  Browne,  Jr.,  Hezekiah  Cady, 
Daniel  Evans,  Jr.,  Sayles  Browne,  Amasa  Sayles,  Arnold  Owen,  Law- 
ton  Owen,  Ara  Hawkins,  Elisha  Winsor,  Duty  Evans,  Scott  C.  Arm- 
strong, Clovis  H.  Bowen,  Jedediah  Sprague  and  Nelson  Eddy,  with 
the  grant  to  hold  property  not  to  exceed  thirty  thousand  dollars,  etc. 


534  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

In  the  articles  of  association,  under  the  name  of  the  Proprietors  of 
the  Chepachet  Meeting  House,  it  was  stated  that  every  pew  holder  on 
the  ground  floor  had  a  right  to  vote  at  all  meetings  of  the  society. 
Eight  owners  of  pews  on  the  ground  floor  constituted  a  legal  meeting 
for  business. 

A  small  organ  has  been  furnished.  The  house  has  been  kept  well 
repaired.  It  is  on  a  fine  lot  of  land,  and  has  a  good  shed  in  the  back 
part  of  the  yard. 

A  Free  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  the  village  of  Chepachet 
in  the  year  1825,  Reverend  Reuben  Allen,  pastor.  He  was  followed 
by  the  Reverends  Joseph  White,  Zachariah  Jordan,  Arthur  Ross, 
Maxcy  Burlingame  and  John  Pratt.  The  Reverend  D.  Curtis  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  in  1838,  1839  and  1840.  He  superintended  the  Sun- 
day school  of  75  scholars.  Since  then  the  pulpit  has  been  supplied  by 
Reverends  Ami  Bradbury,  J.  M.  Purkis,  A.  H.  Morrill  and  John  Rod- 
gers,  the  present  pastor.  Mr.  Rodgers  took  charge  in  1884.  The 
church  membership  is  67.  The  deacons  are  'Smith  A.  Steere  (who  is 
also  church  clerk)  and  Isaac  Winsor.  Jesse  B.  Mowry  is  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  first  Sunday  school  reported  from  this  town  was  organized  in 
1828,  at  Chepachet,  in  connection  with  the  Baptist  church  at  the  meet- 
ing house.  Job  Armstrong  was  the  superintendent,  and  Doctor 
George  Gary,  secretary.  The  school  in  the  above  year  was  made  aux- 
iliary to  the  Rhode  Island  Sunday  School  Union.  The  school  has 
been  continued  to  the  present  time,  usually  in  a  prosperous  condition 

In  the  summer  of  1829  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the  Six- 
teenth school  district,  in  the  Brown  school  house;  Clark  Phetteplace, 
superintendent.  The  school  continued  six  months — 45  scholars.  A 
library  of  50  small  volumes  from  the  Rhode  Island  Sunday  School 
Union  was  purchased,  and  many  religious  tracts  distributed.  This 
school,  during  about  six  months  in  the  warm  season,  was  kept  up  for 
15  years.  It  was  auxiliary  to  the  Rhode  Island  Sunday  School  Union. 
In  1831  the  interest  in  religious  instruction  of  the  youth  was  increased 
by  agents  sent  out  by  the  Rhode  Island  Sunday  School  Union.  Dur- 
ing 1832  and  1833  there  were  Sunday  schools  organized  and  success- 
fully cared  for  in  the  Central  school  house,  the  Harmony  school  house, 
the  old  Winsor  meeting  house,  Pine  Orchard,  Robert  Steere  district, 
Jefferson  district,  Winsor  school  house  and  Richmond  district.  Most 
of  these  schools  were  kept  open  only  in  the  warm  season.  In  these 
schools,  from  the  reports  it  is  inferred  that  competent  teachers  were 
generally  secured,  and  that  there  was  a  good  degree  of  interest  in 
learning  the  Bible  lessons.  In  seven  of  these  schools  there  were  well 
selected  libraries,  varying  from  50  to  150  volumes,  purchased  from  the 
Rhode  Island  vSunday  School  Union.  For  nine  or  ten  years,  about  435 
scholars  we're  in  th  ese  schools. 

Superintendents  of  Sunday  schools  found   recorded,  not  already 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  535 

named,  are  Aaron  Wood,  Abby  Colwell,  Riley  Steere,  Job  Steere, 
Miranda  Phetteplace,  Mrs.  Riley  Steere,  Susan  M.  Phet.teplace,  Wil- 
liam S.  Potter,  Luther  Waldron,  E.  A.  Phetteplace,  Emeline  Keech, 
Christopher  Wmsor,  Delia  Irons,  Mrs.  L.  Steere,  Cyrus  Eddy  and 
Samuel  Steere,  Jr.  After  1846  there  was  a  Congregational  church 
and  Sunday  school  organized  at  Chepachet.  There  is  a  small 
Free  Baptist  church  and  Sunday  school  in  the  south  part  of  the  town. 
The  late  Reverend  Charles  Wade  was  a  faithful  pastor  in  this  church 
for  several  years.  The  above  society  is  partly  in  Glocester  and  partly 
in  Foster. 

There  are  two  small  Advent  churches  in  the  town;  one  at  Clark- 
ville,  where  Elder  Eldridge  has  spent  some  time,  the  other  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  town,  Sunday  schools,  a  part  of  the  year,  are 
sustained  in  the  above  two  societies.  At  different  times  several 
preachers  have  supplied  their  desks. 

The  general  assembly  was  petitioned  in  February,  1818,  "  for  the  es- 
tablishment and  promotion  of  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  in  Che- 
pachet, according  to  the  discipline,  rites,  usages  and  ceremonies  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  United  States,  and  praying 
for  an  act  of  incorporation  to  enable  them,  with  greater  convenience, 
to  effect  their  aforesaid  purposes,  and  to  manage  and  secure  the  prop- 
erty and  funds  of  which  they  are  now,  or  may  hereafter  become  pos- 
sessed." It  was  granted,  and  Joseph  Bowen,  Ira  P.  Evans,  Job  Arm- 
strong, Anan  Evans,  Cyrus  Cooke,  Amasa  Eddy,  Joseph  Steere,  Asa 
Steere,  Christopher  C.  Dexter,  Amherst  Kimball,  Joseph  Wilmarth, 
Jesse  Tourtellot,  William  Tourtellot,  Jeptha  Hunt,  Russell  Evans, 
Thomas  Owen,  Jr.,  Stephen  Eddy,  Esek  Brown,  Jr.,  Ara  Hawkins,  Ben- 
jamin Bowen,  John  Wood,  Lyndon  Smith,  Ahab  Sayles,  Thomas 
Mathewson,  Jr.,  John  Hawkins,  "  and  also  such  others  as  may  hereafter 
be  admitted  as  members,  are  hereby  and  forever  created  a  body  corpor- 
ate and  politic  with  perpetual  succession,  by  the  name  of  the  church 
wardens,  vestry  and  parish  of  Christ's  church,  at  Chepachet,  in  Glo- 
cester," etc.  (Schedule  of  the  General  Assembly,  1818.)  Thomas  Owen, 
Jr.,  and  Anan  Evans  were  delegates  from  Christ's  church  to  the 
Episcopal  convention  held  at  St.  Paul's  church,  Pawtucket,  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  June,  1818.  Reverend  George  Taft,  deacon,  while  in  college 
officiated  occasionally  at  Christ's  church,  Chepachet.  Mr.  Taft  con- 
tinued his  services  as  often  as  he  could  after  his  settlement  at  Paw- 
tucket. Reverend  Doctor  N.  B.  Crocker,  late  of  St.  John's  church, 
sometimes  officiated. 

At  the  Episcopal  convention  held  at  St.  John's  church.  Providence, 
in  1819,  Thomas  Owen,  Esq.,  and  Joseph  Bowen,  M.  D.,  were  dele- 
gates from  Christ's  church,  Glocester.  The  church  service  was  in  the 
hall  of  the  Evans  Hotel,  for  which  the  society  paid  $45  per  year. 

For  two  or  three  years  the  interest  in  the  church  increased,  and 
there  w^as  a  strong  prospect  that  a  meeting  house  for  the  society  might 


536  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

soon  be  built,  but  reverses  came  in  the  removal  and  passing  away  of 
several  of  the  more  active  members.  In  1836  the  Reverend  Louis 
Jansen  was  sent  here  by  the  Rhode  Island  Episcopal  convention,  to 
hold  the  service  of  the  church  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house.  He  was 
well  received,  and  had  on  Sundays  large  congregations.  He  made  a 
report  to  the  convention,  June,  1837.  He  remained  here  one  year. 
The  Sunday  school  was  well  sustained.     His  wife  died  here. 

By  the  request  of  some  of  the  residents  in  the  village,  the  Episco- 
pal convention,  in  the  autumn  of  1864,  sent  the  Reverend  Samuel  H. 
Webb  to  hold  Episcopal  service  in  the  unoccupied  Congregational 
meeting  house.  Services  were  held  here  about  eight  months.  Per- 
.sons  interested  did  not  feel  able  to  build  a  church,  consequently  for 
the  time  being  the  services  were  closed. 

In  1833,  the  Baptist  meeting  house  in  the  village  of  Chepachet  not 
being  permanently  occupied,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Dunham  was  sent  here 
by  the  Rhode  Island  Congregational  Consociation.  He  supplied  the 
pulpit  about  one  year.  An  interesting  Sunday  school  was  sustained. 
His  health  failed  him,  and  he  v/as  obliged  to  leave  to  get  rest. 

In  1845,  Orin  F.  Otis,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  and  of  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  was  called  to  preach  to  a  small  Evangelical 
Congregational  society  in  the  village.  The  society  was  organized  by 
an  ecclesiastical  council  appointed  from  the  several  churches  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Consociation.  William  R.  Waterman,  Jonathan  Tour- 
tellot,  Scott  W.  Mowry,  Lawton  Owen,  Orin  F.  Otis  and  others  pe- 
titioned the  general  assembly  to  be  created  a  body  politic  and  incor- 
porate forever.  It  was  granted.  A  church  was  formed  with  ten 
members.  Mr.  Otis  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
in  March,  1846.  During  this  year  a  very  neat,  convenient  and  well- 
proportioned  meeting  house  was  built,  with  a  good  bell  for  the  size  of 
the  house,  and  a  fine  yard,  with  a  shed  in  the  back  part  of  the  yard. 
A  small  organ  has  been  furnished.  Mr.  Otis  was  pastor  of  this  church 
until  1864,  when,  by  his  own  request,  he  resigned  and  went  to  live  in 
Providence.  At  the  time  he  left,  there  were  about  20  members  in  his 
church.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  always  ready  for  every 
good  word  and  work.  A  vSunday  school  was  well  sustained.  The 
church  for  about  six  years  was  without  a  pastor.  The  pulpit  was  gen- 
erally supplied  by  various  clergymen.  Reverend  Mr.  Arnold,  from 
Elm  wood,  was  here  some  months.  In  1870,  Reverend  Mr.  Scott  was 
settled  as  pastor.  He  was  active  in  all  church  interest,  and  was  here 
about  six  years,  when  he  resigned  by  request.  The  following  June 
Reverend  George  L.  Dickinson  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  was 
.successful  in  the  church  and  ^Sunday  school  several  years.  In  May, 
1879,  came  Reverend  H.  E.  Johnson,  and  in  July,  1888,  Reverend 
Richard  Wickett,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge. 

Walter  A.  Read  is  church  clerk;  Stephen  Irons,  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school,  which  has  been  well  sustained  since  the  church 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  537 

was  organized.  The  meeting;  house  is  kept  in  excellent  repair  by  the 
society.  A  fine  stained  glass  window  has  been  put  in  the  meeting 
house,  given  by  Miss  White  to  the  society. 

The  Union  Library  Company  in  Glocester  was  organized  in  the 
year  1794,  and  the  following  named  persons  petitioned  the  general 
assembly  for  a  charter,  viz.:  William  Tourtellot,  Timothy  Wilmarth, 
Jesse  Armstrong,  Benjamin  Hawkins,  Solomon  Owen,  Jesse  Potter, 
Jonathan  Knapp,  Thomas  Owen,  Jr.,  Stephen  Winsor,  Area  Phette- 
place,  Simeon  Smith,  David  Grossman,  Asahel  Keach,  Anan  Evans, 
Seth  Hunt,  Benjamin  Phetteplace,  Eleazer  Bellows,  Cyrus  Cooke,  Sim- 
eon Steere,  Jonathan  Harris,  Esek  Harris,  Duty  Salsbury,  Daniel 
Owen,  Oliver  Owen,  James  Mason,  Daniel  Owen,  Jr.,  John  Aldrich, 
Elijah  Armstrong,  Joctan  Putnam,  Joseph  Hines,  Seth  Ross,  Stephen 
Wilmarth,  Oliver  Smith,  Peter  Hawkins,  Joseph  Bowen,  Samuel  Steere, 
Asa  Barlow,  Elisha  Field,  Stephen  Brown,  Mark  Steere,  Asel  Steere, 
Robert  Durfee,  Jacob  Smith,  Jonathan  Paine,  Anthony  Place,  Stephen 
Yallet,  Jedediah  Sprague,  Abraham  Fisk,  Nicholas  Keech,  Ahab 
Sayles,  Benjamin  Paine,  Amasa  Eddy,  Thomas  Brown,  Daniel  Smith, 
Ebenezer  Felch,  Obadiah  Smith,  James  Potter,  Wanton  Potter,  Esek 
Smith,  Joseph  Wilmarth,  Esek  Sayles,  William  Steere,  Jr.,  Penelope 
Armstrong  and  Richard  Steere,  Jr.  The  charter  granted  gave  to  the 
Library  Company  power  to  hold  land  and  tenements,  to  buy  and 
sell,  but  not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  $5,000,  said  company  to  have  annual 
meetings  to  chose  three  directors,  a  librarian  and  a  treasurer. 

The  library  contained  several  hundred  well-selected  books,  espe- 
cially in  history.  It  was  owned  by  shareholders,  and  very  much  read 
by  some  families.  Names  of  shareholders:  Thomas  Owen,  Ira  Phette- 
place Evans,  Duty  Evans,  Amherst  Kimball,  Doctor  Joseph  Bowen, 
Mowry  Smith,  Abraham  Winsor,  Eber  Phetteplace,  Jesse  Tourtellot, 
Solomon  Owen,  Asel  Steere,  Richard  Steere,  Duty  Smith.  The  book  . 
case  containing  the  library  was  kept  in  a  private  school  house  in  the 
village  of  Chepachet.  The  librarian  was  to  have  the  book-case  opened 
every  Saturday  afternoon  for  receiving  and  taking  out  books.  After 
some  80  years,  some  of  the  shareholders  moving  away,  some  dying, 
and  some  becoming  inefficient,  the  case  the  books  were  kept  in 
needed  repairing;  the  school  house  it  was  kept  in  became  old  and  shat- 
tered; finally  the  shareholders  decided  to  take  the  books  and  divide 
them. 

The  settlers  not  knowing  for  the  time  what  opening  might  be  for 
them,  scattered  as  they  were  in  the  wilderness,  and  believing  that 
some  time  must  elapse  before  they  would  be  able  to  organize  and  have 
a  regular  place  for  public  worship,  had  neighborhood  gatherings  in 
some  one  of  their  homes,  for  silent  worship,  unless  otherwise  moved 
by  the  Divine  Spirit,  as  they  felt  impressed  by  their  bountiful  Bene- 
factor. In  1791  a  plain  and  substantial  house  of  worship  was  built  not 
lar  from  the  residence  of  the  late  Moses  Cooper.     Here  for  nearly  100 


538  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

years  the  Friends  met  twice  each  week.  Among  their  speakers  were 
Smith  Battey  and  his  wife.  Their  quarterly  meetings  are  held  in 
Smithfield  and  Northbridge,  Mass.  Their  yearly  meetings  have  been 
held  in  Newport  until  very  recently,  where  they  met  their  friends 
from  different  parts  of  the  Union. 

In  1783  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  assembly  by  some  Friends 
to  manumit  the  slaves  of  this  state.  The  subject  was  well  discussed, 
and  the  committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  petition 
were  Thomas  Wells,  John  Smith,  of  Glocester,  Benjamin  Rowland, 
Stephen  Steere,  Joseph  Noyes,  Nathan  Millar  and  Abraham  Lippitt. 
Though  African  slavetrade  was  disapproved,  no  final  action  was  taken 
until  1787,  when,  by  vote  of  the  assembly,  it  was  forbidden  that  the 
master  of  any  vessel  should  purchase  or  transport  any  negroes  for 
slavery,  or  for  any  citizen  to  cause  said  purchase.  All  children  born 
after  the  above  date  were  to  be  free. 

In  June,  1790,  a  society  was  formed  for  promoting  the  abolition  of 
slavery  in  the  United  States,  and  for  improving  the  African  race. 
This  society  was  incorporated  with  the  names  of  114  infl.uential  men 
of  this  state.  From  this  town  are  the  names  of  Hon.  Daniel  Owen, 
Rufus  Smith  and  John  Brown.  Several  of  the  slaves  born  previous  to 
the  revolution  lived  until  1830. 

Among  the  Friends  who  were  governors  was  Governor  Hopkins, 
who  signed  with  a  trembling  hand  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
Until  the  war  of  the  revolution  the  holders  of  offices  did  not  of  neces- 
sity require  any  participation  in  military  affairs  or  war  appendages. 
After  the  war  these  were  required.  Then  the  members  of  the  Friends' 
Society  declined  any  appointments. 

The  early  facilities  for  iUvStruction  were  limited.  Schools  were 
kept  in  private  dwellings  or  some  little  building  made  for  the  purpose 
in  the  house  yard.  In  some  cases  patrons  of  the  schools  allowed  poor 
parents  to  send  their  children  to  the  schools  and  pay-for  their  tuition 
in  labor.  After  the  revolution  several  good  school  houses  were  built. 
Men  were  generally  employed  in  winter  and  women  in  summer. 
Among  some  of  the  early  teachers  were  Harriet  Greatrix  from  Provi- 
dence, teacher  of  a  private  school  in  the  Irons  neighborhood  in  1790; 
Lucinda  Sayles,  Miss  Ballou,  Anna  Sibley,  Susan  Sibley,  Roby  Bow- 
dish  and  Sarah  Brewster.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Perry,  speaking  of  the 
schools  of  Glocester,  says: 

"  As  children  advanced  in  their  studies,  select  schools  and  acad- 
emies were  patronized.  Rev.  Mr.  Atkins,  generally  known  as  Priest 
Atkins,  of  Killingly,  had  an  excellent  family  school  for  boys.  Child- 
ren could  be  carried  there  on  Monday  morning  and  brought  home  on 
Friday,  after  the  school  closed  for  the  week.  Others  older  were  sent 
to  Dudley,  Leicester,  Plainfield  and  other  established  academies. 

"In  the  Brown  neighborhood,  in  1812,  Esek  Brown,  Olney  Brown, 
Eber  Phetteplace,  Thomas  Owen  and   Nicholas  Keech  built  a  good- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  539 

sized  arched  school  house,  with  closets  for  the  boys  and  girls'  hats  and 
caps,  bonnets  and  dinner  pails.  Here  generally  an  excellent  school 
was  kept  from  seven  to  ten  months  in  each  year  until  the  free  schools 
were  established,  in  1828.  The  common  and  higher  branches  were 
taught.  Several  other  well-built  school  houses  were  erected  about 
this  time.  At  Chepachet,  besides  a  school  of  experienced  teachers  for 
older  pupils,  a  school  for  young  children  was  yearly  kept.  Miss  Han- 
nah Blackman  kept  the  school  for  about  thirty  years. 

"  In  all  the  older  schools,  the  scholars  had  the  privilege  of  choosing 
their  own  studies.  In  several  schools,  history,  philosophy  and  rhetoric 
were  taught,  and  occasionally  a  young  man  studied  surveying. 

"  In  1828  the  State  appropriated  $10,000  to  be  divided  among  the 
towns  according  to  their  population  on  condition  that  each  town 
doubled  the  amount  received.  It  was  accepted.  The  town  appointed 
a  committee  to  divide  the  town  into  seventeen  districts  with  their 
boundaries  defined.  Each  district  without  a  school  house  was  encour- 
aged to  build  one. 

"  The  free  money  would  sustain  a  teacher  but  a  few  months  yearly. 
In  several  of  the  districts  the  schools  were  kept  longer  by  the  liberal- 
ity of  some  patrons  in  the  district.  The  schools  were  well  patronized 
and  generally  under  good  discipline.  Teachers  were  first  appointed 
by  a  school  committee;  later  a  superintendent  was  appointed,  who  is 
the  supervisor  of  the  teachers.     The  system  has  worked  well. 

"  In  1840  the  State  appropriated  $10  to  aid  in  maintaining  a  district 
school  library  for  the  use  of  the  schools.  In  a  few  years  afterward 
several  districts  secured  very  small  libraries.  At  Chepachet  there  is 
a  well-built  school  house  for  a  graded  grammar  school. 

"  The  Jefferson  Society  was  incorporated  in  October,  1828.  Uriah 
Colwell,  Gideon  Smith,  David  Bowen  and  others  were  the  petitioners. 
They  were  created  a  body  politic,  capable  in  law  to  hold  property  of 
any  kind,  to  sue  and  be  sued.  The  first  directors  were  Gideon  Smith, 
Thomas  Mason,  David  Bowen,  Simeon  Bowen,  Zephaniah  Mann  and 
Benjamin  Smith.  Secretary,  Jervis  J.  Smith;  Treasurer,  Uriah  Col- 
well. A  school  house  was  built,  and  a  good  school  kept  in  it  until  it 
was  too  small  for  the  number  of  scholars.  A  new  and  larger  house 
for  the  school  was  built.  The  old  house  was  sold  to  a  voluntary  reli- 
gious association  to  accommodate  many  in  that  part  of  the  town.  The 
house  was  well  repaired,  and  consecrated  in  1860  as  the  Union  Chapel. 

"  The  Union  Society  is  a  voluntary  association  for  religious  and 
literary  improvement.  The  desk  is  supplied  twice  each  month  alter- 
nately by  the  Congregationalists  and  Baptists  of  the  town.  A  vSab- 
bath-school  is  kept  up  through  the  year. 

"  Neighborhood  female  sewing  societies  have  been  formed  to  aid 
the  poor  and  religious  services  in  different  neighborhoods.  In  1836 
the  Glocester  Female  Benevolent  Society  was  formed  to  assist  the  re- 
ligious operations  in  Chepachet  and  its  vicinity. 


•540  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

"  Mrs.  Mary  Steere  was  President;  Mrs.  Paris  Irons,  Vice  President 
Mrs.  Roby  Browne,  Treasurer,  and  Miss  E.  A.  Phetteplace,  Secretary; 
seventy  members.  For  two  years  this  society  was  active  and  accom- 
plished much  good.  Besides  money  raised,  many  garments  were  made 
and  given  to  the  needy.  The  Freemasons  of  the  town  granted  the 
society  the  privilege  of  meeting  in  their  hall  in  the  village. 

"Since  the  above  time  efficient  benevolent  societies  have  been 
sustained  by  the  Baptist  and  Congregational  organizations  in  the 
village." 

There  are  many  small  burying  grounds  in  the  town.  Some  have 
been  kept  in  good  repair,  so  that  the  places  of  deposit  of  mortal  re- 
mains are  less  forbidding.  The  following  are  among  them:  The  Arm- 
strongs, Browns,  Irons,  Sweets,  Tourtellots,  Winsors,  Wades,  Potters, 
Steeres,  Aldriches  and  Waldrons.  The  Chepachet  burying  ground, 
north  of  the  village,  was  consecrated  about  one  hundred  years  since, 
and  contains  the  remains  of  a  large  number  of  early  settlers. 

The  Chepachet  Cemetery  Association  was  formed  in  the  year  1850^ 
on  the  petition  to  the  assembly  by  John  T.  Fiske,  Scott  W.  Mowry, 
Jervis  J.  Smith,  Amasa  Eddy,  Otis  Sayles,  Brown  Mowry,  and  Fred- 
•erick  A.  Squires  to  be  incorporated.  Said  corporation  has  power  to 
hold  land  not  exceeding  ten  acres,  to  have  a  stock  of  $3,000  divided 
into  three  hundred  shares  at  ten  dollars  per  share,  etc.  The  above 
•cemetery  is  pleasantly  laid  out  on  the  Acote  hill,  south  of  the  village. 
Mr.  Fiske  has  been  treasurer  of  this  association  ever  since  its  incor- 
poration. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Mason  H.  Ballou,  born  in  vSmithfield  in  1860,  is  a  son  of  vSearl  S. 
Ballou.  He  was  married  in  1886  to  Hannah  B.  Eddy.  They  have  one 
■daughter. 

Henry  C.  Brown  is  a  son  of  John  B.  (deceased)  and  Maria  A.  Brown, 
He  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1853.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
town  council  in  1888.  He  is  a  farmer  and  occupies  the  farm  settled 
•on  by  his  grandfather,  Nicholas  Brown,  about  1816. 

George  W.  and  William  P.  Burlingame  are  sons  of  the  late  Richard 
Burlingame  and  descendants  of  Captain  David  Burlingame.  Captain 
David  Burlingame  was  one  of  the  three  original  settlers  of  the  town 
of  Glocester.  His  farm  was  situated  just  north  of  the  village  of  Har- 
mony, where  he  died  about  1725.  ,  One  of  his  sons,  great-grandfather 
•of  George  and  William,  was  a  major  in  the  revolutionary  war.  His 
name  was  Richard  Burlingame.  He  owned  the  largest  farm  in  the 
town  and  employed  many  men.  He  was  also  very  extensively  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  and  received  large  orders  from  the  government 
for  ship  timber.  This  was  drawn  a  distance  of  16  miles  by  four  yoke 
•of  oxen.  Begides  this  farm  he  owned  other  large  tracts  of  land  in  the 
town.     George  and  William  now  own  and  occupy  the  farm  once  owned 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  541 

by  Arthur  Fenner,  one  of  the  early  governors  of  the  state.  At  present 
William  manages  the  farm  while  George  is  at  the  Rhode  Island  Agri- 
cultural College.  They  were  both  born  on  this  farm,  William  in  18o3, 
George  in  1861. 

David  W.  Burlingame,  born  in  Glocester  in  1837,  is  a  .son  of  Richard 
and  grandson  of  David  Burlingame,  both  of  whom  were  residents  of 
the  town.  He  was  married  in  1867  to  Edna  Milliman.  He  is  a  painter 
by  trade,  having  followed  that  business  for  20  years.  He  has  recently 
fitted  up  a  summer  resort  near  Greenville  and  Harmony. 

Reuben  A.  Clemence  is  a  grandson  of  Richard  and  a  son  of  Rich- 
ard R.  Clemence.  He  was  born  in  1822,  and  was  married  in  1845  to 
Elsie  Mann.  They  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  Rich- 
ard W,  and  Daniel  M.  Mr.  Clemence  has  been  a  member  of  the  town 
council  and  was  elected  to  the  assembly  in  1857  and  again  in  1886. 

James  N.  Cutler  was  born  in  Killingly,  Conn.,  in  1823  and  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  Cutler.  He  came  to  this  town  in  1847  and  has  ever  since 
resided  here.     He  is  a  farmer. 

Francis  Dunn  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1847,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  1868.  He  was  fireman  for  some  time  on  an  ocean  steamer.  In  1869 
he  was  married  to  Ellen  Banhean.  They  have  one  son.  Mr.  Cutler 
settled  in  Glocester  about  five  years  ago. 

John  M.  Eddy,  born  in  1817,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  R.  E*ddy.  He  is  a 
carpenter  by  trade.  He  was  married  in  1847  to  Minerva  B.  Cooper. 
They  have  two  children  living,  one  son  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Eddy 
has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  and  was  at  one  time  lieutenant 
colonel  in  the  militia.  He  has  served  as  moderator  for  a  number  of 
years,  has  been  an  auctioneer  over  45  years  and  has  held  other  offices 
in  the  town. 

Mary  T.  Greene  is  the  widow  of  Thomas  M.  Greene  of  Glocester. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Burlingame,  being  a  daughter  of  Esek  Burlin- 
game. They  were  married  in  1846  and  there  were  born  to  them  two 
sons  and  one  daughter. 

Aylette  R.  Hawkins,  son  of  Ara  Hawkins,  was  born  in  Glocester  in 
1827,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  was  married  in  1880  to  vSarah  McClellan- 
They  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

George  O.  Hopkins  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1835.  His  father's 
name  was  Seth  Curtis  Hopkins,  and  his  grandfather's  Allen  Hopkins. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  class  of  1861.  For  27  years  he 
was  principal  of  high  school,  holding  that  position  at  Mystic  Bridge, 
Conn.,  for  15  years.  He  has  been  twice  married.  In  1862  he  married 
Sarah  E.  Wade,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  He 
married  Harriet  N.  Wolfe  in  1872.  They  have  one  son  and  two 
daughters. 

Stephen  C.  Irons,  born  in  Glocester  in  1850,  is  the  eldest  son  of. 
Thomas  Irons,  and  great-grandson  of  Samuel  Irons.  He  was  married 
in  1876  to  Amanda  E.  Reynolds.     They  have  three  daughters.     He 


542  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

occupies  the  old  Irons  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the  family  for 
several  generations. 

Chauncey  J.  Jaques,  born  in  Smithfield  in  1855,  is  a  son  of  Chauncey 
J.  Jaques,  who  came  from  New  York  state.  He  was  married  to  Susan 
Spaulding  in  1879.  They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr. 
Jaques  is  a  farmer. 

Calvin  Luther,  son  of  Constant  Luther,  was  born  in  Glocester  in 
1814,  and  married  in  1844  Emily  Saunders.  They  had  seven  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living,  two  daughters  and  one  son.  Mrs.  Luther 
died  about  20  years  ago.  Mr.  Luther  was  captain  of  First  Company, 
R.  L  Militia,  in  1843. 

Elias  Peckham  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
Peckham.  He  was  married  in  1861  to  Elizabeth  C.  Hopkins,  who  died 
in  I860.  He  was  married  again  in  1866  to  Harriet  E.  Hopkins,  sister 
of  his  first  wife.  He  has  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He,  with  his 
sons,  carries  on  a  coal  and  wood  business  in  Providence,  and  with  his 
brother,  runs  a  saw  and  grist  mill  in  Glocester. 

Harley  Phillips,  born  in  Scituate  in  1829,  is  a  son  of  Jarvis  and 
grandson  of  Augustus  Phillips.  He  was  twice  married;  to  Elsie  Dean 
in  1853,  and  in  1862  to  Joanna  E.  Killey.  They  reside  on  the  farm,  for- 
merly owned  by  Mrs.  Phillip's  great-grandfather,  Manaria  Killey. 

Walter  Allen  Read,  merchant,  of  Chepachet,  was  born  in  Black- 
stone,  Mass.,  July  6th,  1842.  His  father,  Thomas  J.  Read,  carried  on 
the  tin  business.  In  1849  he  went  to  California  and  died  there  in 
1850.  In  1853  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  (Burton)  Read,  his  widow,  moved  with 
her  family,  consisting  of  one  son  and  one  daughter  (Arminda  Read) 
to  Chepachet,  where  Walter  A.  began  his  labors  as  a  common  hand 
in  the  mill,  continuing  therein  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 
August  16th,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  Fourth 
Regiment,  Rhode  Island  Volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel  J.  I. 
McCarty;  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  October  2d,  1861,  the 
citizens  of  Glocester  on  that  day  as  a  token  of  regard  presenting  him 
with  a  beautiful  sword;  first  lieutenant  November  20th,  same  year, 
and  captain  of  his  company  August  11th,  1862.  He  held  the  latter 
rank  till  discharged  November  loth,  1864.  His  regiment  took  part  in 
Burnside's  expedition  in  the  bombardment  and  capture  of  Roanoke 
Island,  at  Newbern,  also  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Macon,  N.  C.  After 
McClellan's  repulse  on  the  peninsula,  they  were  concentrated  there  to 
sustain  his  troops,  and  when  Pope  was  being  driven  down  in  front  of 
Washington,  they  were  sent  to  Fredericksburg  to  protect  his  left  flank. 
Afterward  they  joined  McClellan's  Campaign  in  Maryland,  and  took 
part  in  the  engagement  at  Fredericksburg  and  South  Mountain  to  cut 
off  Lee's  retreat  after  the  battle  of  Antietam. '  They  participated  in 
the  Burnside  movement  against  the  city  of  Fredericksburg.  Captain 
Read's  regiment  left  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  February,  1863,  and 
joined   the  command  under  General   Peck,  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  and  sus- 


i^m^l^ 


tA^^^^  -    U^-L  v^  X_, 


<^c. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTV.  548 

tained  a  siege  of  20  days'  duration  against  Long-street.  The  next 
duty  was  provost  guard  at  the  city  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  at  Point  Look- 
out, Md.,  in  charge  of  rebel  prisoners.  They  then  joined  General 
Grant  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  Captain  Read's  regi- 
ment also  took  part  in  the  explosion  of  the  mine,  the  regiment  losing 
about  one-half  of  its  men  and  officers  in  that  catastrophe.  From  this 
time,  Captain  Read  took  charge  of  the  regiment  and  commanded  it  in 
all  the  movements  of  General  Grant  in  and  about  Petersburg;  at  the 
Weldon  railroad,  and  at  Pegram  Farm,  and  till  his  term  of  service  ex- 
pired. 

As  soon  as  the  war  closed,  Captain  Read  returned  to  Chepachet  and 
entered  immediately  into  business,  going  into  partnership  with 
Augustus  F.  Wade,  first  in  the  general  merchandise  trade,  and  con- 
tinuing with  him,  in  the  place  now  occupied  by  R.  H.  Wade,  till  187L 
He  then  moved  to  his  present  quarters.  In  1866  he  took  the  post 
office  and  kept  it  till  1885.  In  1885  the  state  of  Rhode  Island  estab- 
lished a  commission  to  furnish  aid  to  the  needy  and  disabled  soldiers 
of  the  late  war,  one  of  which  commission  Captain  Read  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Wetmore,  and  which  position  he  held  till  1890.  He  is 
now  an  agent  for  the  State  Board  of  Soldiers'  Relief  of  the  Fourth 
district. 

Captain  Read,  although  a  member  of  the  weaker  party,  was  elected 
senator  in  1888,  and  still  holds  that  position,  a  compliment  paid  him  at 
each  election  by  the  strongest  democratic  town  in  the  state.  He  has 
always  identified  himself  with  the  republican  organization  of  the 
town,  and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  chairman  of  the  republican 
committee.  He  has  always  been  identified  in  a  public  spirited  way, 
irrespective  of  political  motives,  or  aspirations,  with  all  the  interests 
of  the  town,  and  his  name  is  always  found  on  the  right  side.  He  is  a 
member  of  Friendship  Lodge,  and  since  September,  1888,  has  been  its 
worshipful  master.  Captain  Read  was  married  September  19th,  1866, 
to  Miss  Charlotte  Owen,  daughter  of  George  L.  Owen  of  Glocester. 
One  child,  Maud  Louise,  was  born  to  this  union,  March  9th,  1874. 

Lawton  C.  Rounds,  son  of  Benoni  Rounds,  was  born  in  Foster  in 
1814.  He  is  a  painter,  having  followed  that  business  for  about  5(i 
years.  He  was  married  to  Mercy  A.  Irons  in  1841.  They  have  one 
son,  Gilbert  Rounds.  Mercy  A.  Rounds  is  in  the  sixth  genera- 
tion, on  her  mother's  side,  from  Roger  Williams.  Her  ancestors  on 
her  father's  side  were  the  first  to  settle  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state.  He  located  about  one-half  mile  from  the  village  of  Chepachet. 
He  was  followed  by  the  Indians,  who  tried  to  kill  him,  but  after  kill- 
ing them  he  lived  in  peace  to  the  end  of  his  days,  and  was  buried  be- 
side the  cabin  where  he  had  lived.  Gilbert  Rounds  has  been  town 
.sergeant,  deputy  sheriff,  member  of  town  council  for  15  years,  and 
president  of  the  same  seven  years. 

Dexter  A.  Sanders,  son  of  Angell  and  grandson  of  Silas  Sanders, 


544  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

both  residents  of  Glocester,  was  born  in  this  town  in  1845.  He  was 
married  to  Susan  M.  Brown,  daughter  of  Harley  Brown,  of  Burrill- 
ville,  in  1874.  They  have  one  daughter,  Lena  M.  Sanders.  He  is  a 
farmer,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1888. 

Albert  C.  G.  Smith  was  born  in  1828  in  the  town  of  Glocester.  He 
is  a  carpenter  and  builder.  One  of  his  last  contracts  was  for  the  build- 
ing- of  the  White  Mills  at  Chepachet.  He  was  married  in  1857  to  Lucy 
Martin.  She  died  in  1872,  and  in  1875  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Sarah 
Bullock.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1875,  and 
was  a  member  of  that  body  for  11  years.  From  1852  to  1858  he  was 
a  member  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Slocum  Light  Guards  of  Provi- 
dence, and  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel. 

Edwin  Smith  is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  a  grandson  of  Isaac  Smith, 
who  came  from  England.  He  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1821.  In  1852 
he  was  married  to  Laurinda  R.  Irons.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a  farmer,  and  owns  and  occupies  what  was  formerly  the 
Winsor  hotel  stand. 

Russell  M.  Smith  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1822,  and  is  a  mason  by 
trade.  He  married  in  1843  Marietta  Waldron.  They  have  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil since  1886. 

Chad  A.  Sprague,  born  in  Glocester  m  1818,  is  a  son  of  George  and 
grandson  of  John  Sprague.  His  wife  was  Marana  Smith.  They  have 
one  son,  Louis  S.,  who  resides  with  his  father;  and  two  daughters,  Al- 
zada  and  Ursula.  Louis  S.  was  married  in  1882  to  Angeline  Patter- 
son. They  have  a  son  and  a  daughter.  They  own  the  farm  once 
owned  by  John  Sprague. 

Charles  H.  Steere  is  a  son  of  Riley  Steere,  and  was  born  in  Glo- 
cester in  1810.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  was  married  in  1831 
to  Mehitable  A.  Tourtellot,  and  has  one  daughter,  Mary  A.  Steere. 

Enoch  vSteere  was  born  on  the  13th  of  May,  1813,  in  Glocester,  and 
is  the  third  generation  of  that  name.  His  great-grandfather  was  An- 
thony Steere,  son  of  vSamuel,  whose  father  was  John,  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  the  state  of  Rhode  Island,  to  whom  all  existing  families 
of  the  name  in  this  country  as  far  as  known,  except  the  Pennsylvania 
branch,  trace  back  their  lineage.  Enoch  was  married  November  10th, 
1881,  to  Anna  Warner.  Although  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age,  he  re- 
tains more  than  the  ordinary  vigor  at  this  period  of  life.  He  still  re- 
sides on  his  father's  homestead,  on  Quinnepaug  hill,  that  overlooks 
the  home  of  his  great-great-grandfather,  Samuel,  and  the  ancestral 
cemetery  of  the  family.  vStarting  out  with  an  energetic  character  as 
his  only  capital,  he  cut  his  way  through  the  usual  difficulties  which 
beset  men  m  their  struggle  through  life,  to  success.  By  frugality, 
careful  management  and  persevering  industry,  he  has  acquired  a  com- 
petency and  a  capital  which  has  been  principally  invested  in  mort- 
gages on  real  estate.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  prominent  and 
ubstantial  men  of  his  town. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  545 

George  W.  Steere,  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  county, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Glocester,  November  16th,  1881.  He  is  the 
son  of  Anthony  Steere,  who  had  eight  sons,  of  whom  seven  are  living, 
the  youngest,  Andrew  J.,  being  now  in  his  47th  year.  i\nthony 
Steere  was  a  Quaker.  He  was  born  September  16th,  1777.  His  father, 
Enoch  Steere,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
Anthony  Steere  built  the  mills 'now  owned  by  the  sons,  and  was  a 
wealthy  property  holder  both  in  the  town  of  Glocester  and  village  of 
Chepachet.  The  saw  mill  was  built  when  he  was  a  young  man,  about 
80  years  ago.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Deborah  (Wade)  Steere,  was  born  De- 
cember 25th,  1804.  Their  children  were:  Enoch  M.,  Smith  A.,  Lewis 
H.,  Nancy  W.,  George  W.,  William  H.,  Mary  Eliza,  Mary  L.,  Oliver 
W.,  Nathaniel  M.  and  Andrew  J.,  who  owns  the  old  homestead. 

George  W.  Steere  received  a  good  common  school  education,  sup- 
plementing this  course  with  one  at  Lapham  Institute,  North  Scituate. 
From  childhood  he  has  remained  on  the  farm.  Inured  to  hard  work, 
and  being  possessed  with  more  than  an  ordinarily  strong  frame,  Mr. 
Steere  has  accomplished  some  herculean  tasks  in  the  field  of  manual 
labor.  It  is  stated  upon  good  authority,  that  he  has  done  the  work 
of  several  men  in  his  own  lifetime.  Physically  strong,  laudably  am- 
bitious, and  heroically  energetic,  Mr.  Steere  has  succeeded  in  making 
life  for  him  and  his  family  a  grand  success.  When  the  property  was 
divided  among  the  heirs  in  1863,  the  saw  mill  and  about  100  acres  of 
land  upon  which  it  stood  fell  to  the  share  of  George  W.  Steere.  In 
1863  the  old  mill  was  pulled  down  and  a  new  one  built  100  feet  long, 
and  instead  of  the  old  up-and-down  saw,  circular  ones  were  put  in, 
also  planing  machines,  matchers  and  joiners  were  placed,  and  some- 
times 12  and  15  men  were  employed.  At  one  time  cards  were  placed 
in  the  mill  and  cotton  batting  and  shoddy  were  made.  The  lumber 
sawed  supplied  a  large  and  increasing  demand.  Mr.  Steere  used  vast 
quantities  of  it  himself.  His  father  erected  a  great  number  of  build- 
ings, among  the  number  the  mill  at  Glendale,  150  feet  long  and  five 
stories  high,  and  this  enterprise  has  been  carried  on  to  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Steere  owns  some  20  lots  in  the  city  of  Providence,  on  sev- 
eral of  which  he  has  built  houses.  He  also  erects  other  structures. 
He  owns  several  .houses  in  Glocester.  In  1862  he  bought  the  Peck- 
ham  Hotel  in  Chepachet,  and  also  owns  some  other  property  in  that 
place. 

As  a  farmer,  Mr.  Steere  has  been  very  successful.  The  land  upon 
which  he  lives  was  once  of  ordinary  quality.  His  system  of  cultivat- 
ing the  soil  has,  however,  greatly  enhanced  its  value,  and  instead  of 
reaping  but  one  crop  of  grass  from  the  ground,  two  are  taken  annually. 
The  first  crop  is  cut  about  July  1st,  and  the  second  crop  about  two 
months  and  a  half  later,  the  land  yielding  on  an  average  five  tons  of 
grass  to  each  acre,  for  the  season.  Mr.  Steere  has  always  voted  the 
democratic  ticket,  with  two  exceptions.  Being  public  spirited,  he  has 
35 


546  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

filled  various  town  offices,  but  never  in  any  way  cared  for  the  positions. 
In  T886  he  was  sent  as  a  representative  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state 
legislature,  and  re-elected  the  two  succeeding  terms,  but  declined  fur- 
ther'nominations.  In  1855  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Sayles  of 
Burrillville,  who  was  a  daughter  of  George  R.  Sayles,  a  millwright  of 
that  town.  The  children  born  to  this  marriage  are:  Harris,  proprietor 
of  a  livery  stable  at  Chepachet;  Cyrus  A.,  George  W.,  Jr.,  Oliver, 
Maria  E.,  Benjamin  F.,  Smith  and  John  P.  During  his  whole  life  Mr. 
Steere  has  been  found  on  the  side  of  right,  and  of  law  and  order. 
While  in  the  general  assembly  he  voted  for  the  prohibition  constitu- 
tion, and  the  efforts  of  the  man  in  the  town  and  county  in  which  he 
lives  will  tend  toward  the  good  of  his  fellow  men.  In  the  spring  of 
1874  Mr.  Steere  experienced  a  change  of  heart,  and  the  following  fall 
was  baptized  by  Reverend  John  M.  Purkis,  and  joined  the  Free  Baptist 
church  in  Chepachet,  of  which  he  is  a  worthy  member,  giving  freely 
to  support  the  Gospel  in  his  own  town  as  well  as  in  foreign  lands. 

Horace  S.  Steere,  born  in  Glocester  in  1826,  is  a  son  of  Job  Steere. 
He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  has  followed  farming  for  30  years  past. 
He  was  married  in  1849  to  Marietta  Walker.  There  were  born  to 
them  four  daughters  and  six  sons.     Only  four  sons  are  now  living. 

Lucy  L.  Steere  is  the  widow  of  Seth  H.  Steere.  They  were  married 
in  1851  and  had  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Mary  A.  Steere  is  the  widow  of  Clovis  W.  Steere,  late  of  this  town. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Norton.  They  were  married  in  1854,  and  had 
one  daughter,  Myrtilla  E.,  wife  of  Franklin  P.  Mitchell. 

George  N.  White  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  a  grandson  of  Hum- 
phrey White,  who  came  to  this  county  from  Bedford,  Mass.,  in  1794.  He 
was  born  in  1815.  His  business  has  been  farming  and  lumber  dealing. 
He  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  in  1887.  He  was  married  in  1835 
to  Cyrena  Youngs,  and  has  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Benjamin  A.  Winsor,  great-grandson  of  Benjamin  Winsor,  and  a 
descendant  of  vSir  Edward  Winsor,  who  came  to  this  country  from 
England  about  the  time  of  Roger  Williams,  was  born  in  1861  in  Smith- 
field,  R.  I.  In  1887  he  was  married  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  John  B.  and 
Maria  A.  Brown.  Mr.  Winsor  is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm,  containing 
over  300  acres.  The  house  upon  it  is  a  large  two  story  structure,  and 
was  built  in  1779. 


-X^,#^<z/^^ 


VPE.     E.    BIERSTADT, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  TOWN  OF  BURRILLVILLE. 

Description. — Incorporation. — Early  Town  Action. — Officers. — Town  Asylum. — Schools. 
— Early  Settlers. — Counterfeiting.— Mills  and  Manufactories.— Villages. — Churches. 
— Societies. — The  Temperance  Movement. — Biographical  Sketches. 

THE  town  of  Burrillville  is  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
state,  about  20  miles  northwest  from  the  city  of  Providence. 
Previous  to  1806  this  territory  was  included  in  the  town  of  Glo- 
cester,  but  in  that  year  the  tract  comprising  this  township  was  set  off 
and  incorporated  into  a  separate  and  distinct  township.  It  derived 
its  present  name  from  the  Honorable  James  Burrill,  who  was  then 
attorney  general  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island.  In  consideration  of 
this  act  Mr.  Burrill  presented  the  town  with  a  set  of  books  for  the 
town  records.  The  town  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Massachusetts, 
on  the  west  by  Connecticut,  on  the  south  by  Glocester,  and  on  the 
east  by  North  Smithfield.  Places  of  note  and  interest  found  in  the' 
town  are  as  follows: 

Villages. — Pascoag,  Harrisville,  Mapleville,  Saxonville,  Huntsville, 
Laurel  Ridge,  Mohegan,  Glendale,  Gazza,  Oakland,  Graniteville, 
Plainville,  Oak  Valley,  Na.sonville.  /////.f.— Buck,  Den,  Snake,  North. 
Rivers. — Branch,  Pascoag,  Clear,  Chepachet,  Tarkiln,  Nipmuck,  Muddy 
Brook,  Herring  Pond  Brook.  Szvamps. — Cedar,  Nehunganup,  Maple-sap, 
Reed,  Pine.  Woods. — Horsehead,  Herring,-  Pine.  Ponds. — Wallum, 
or  Allum  (named  after  a  Quinebaug  captain),  Plerring,  Round,  Sucker, 
Pascoag  Reservoir,  Wilson's  Reservoir.  Indians. — Nipmucks,  Pas- 
coags  (tributary  to  the  Narragansetts).  Historic— Old.  Paul's  Place, 
Forger's  Cave,  Cooper's  Den. 

The  average  length,  of  the  town  is  about  twelve  miles  from  ea.st  to 
west,  and  its  average  breadth  from  north  to  south  is  about  five  miles, 
comprising  an  area  of  about  60  square  miles.  The  land  is  rather  rough 
and  in  general  unfavorable  for  cultivation.  The  agricultural  products 
consist  of  corn,  rye,  oats,  potatoes,  butter,  cheese,  beef,  and  pork. 
Allum  pond  or  Wallum  lake,  a  stream  from  which  runs  through  the 
town  in  an  easterly  direction,  located  in  the  northern  part  and  partly  in 
Massachusetts  is  the  most  considerable  body  of  water  in  this  region  of 
the  country.  In  many  respects  the  town,  though  of  a  later  separate 
formation  than  some  of  the  others  in  the  county,  is  full  of  interest 
and  is  rich  not  only  in  natural  resources,  but  also  in   manufacturing- 


548  •  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

interests.  The  progressive  development  of  Burrillville  from  a  rude 
and  primitive  forest  to  a  rich  and  prosperous  town  has  been  marked, 
and  its  destiny  in  the  future  is  secure. 

The  opinion  is  given  that  the  climate  in  this  section  is  more  severe 
than  that  in  the  same  latitude  eastward  and  the  closer  proximity  of 
the  latter  to  the  water  is  adduced  as  a  satisfactory  explanation.  It 
follows  probably  that  those  sections  bordering  on  the  coast  are  more 
free  from  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  than  those  further  inland.  As 
the  land  rises  northward  or  northwestward  the  influence  of  the  water 
diminishes.  The  winters  of  1780,  1781, 1792  and  1798  w^ere  extremely 
cold,  the  first  mentioned  being  remarkable  for  its  severity.  It  was  so 
cold  here  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  paths  open  and  at  last  they 
were  abandoned  entirely,  and  people  traveled  about  with  snow  shoes 
and  drew  their  grists  to  mill  on  hand  sleds. 

All  the  territory,  including  Smithfield,  Scituate  and  Glocester,  from 
1636  to  1730-1  was  included  in  the  town  of  Providence.  In  1730-1  an 
act  was  passed  by  the 'general  assembly  to  incorporate  the  outskirts  of 
Providence  into  three  towns.  A  committee  having  been  appointed  to 
survey  the  parts  north  of  the  city,  on  their  return  reported:  "  No  one 
would  ever  settle  on  these  barren  lands."  Consequently  the  three 
towns  first  named  above  were  formed,  the  town  of  Glocester  made  to 
embrace  all  the  territory  of  Burrillville. 

Up  to  1806  the  town  was  twelve  miles  square,  and  the  town  meet- 
ings were  held  at  Chepachet.  In  1805  the  people  began  to  think  it  a 
little  too  far  to  travel  to  Chepachet  to  vote,  and  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1805,  it  was  voted  "  That  Messers  Zebedee  Hopkin.s,  Seth  Hunt,  Abra- 
ham Winsor,  Daniel  Tourtellot,  Bazaleal  Paine,  Joktan  Putnam  and 
Edmund  Waldron  be  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  petition  to  the 
general  assembly  to  divide  the  town  east,  through  the  middle  of  the 
town  free  from  expense  to  said  town,  and  sign  the  petition  in  behalf 
of  said  town."  On  the  16th  of  April,  1806,  they  instructed  their  depu- 
ties to  use  their  utmost  influence  for  a  division  of  the  town.  Subse- 
quently an  "Act  to  divide  the  town  of  Glocester  and  to  incorporate  the 
north  part  thereof  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Burrillville,"  was 
passed. 

"  Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  and  by  the  Au- 
thority thereof  it  is  enacted  that  the  town  of  Glocester  in  the  county 
of  Providence,  be  divided  into  two  towns,  by  a  line  drawn  westerly 
through  the  middle  of  said  town  to  the  line  of  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
and  that  the  northern  half  of  said  town  thus  divided  and  set  off,  be 
incorporated  into  a  township  by  the  name  of  Burrillville,  and  that  the 
inhabitants  thereof  shall  have  and  enjoy  the  like  benefits,  liberties, 
privileges  and  immunities  as  the  other  towns  in  the  State  generally  en- 
joy and  are  entitled  to. 

"  Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted;  That  the  freemen  of  said  town 
shall  and  may  assemble  in  town  meeting  on  the  third  Monday  in  No- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  549 

vember,  A.  D.,  1806,  to  elect  their  town  officers  and  transact  all  other 
business  which  by  law  a  town  meeting-  may  transact,  and  that  vSimeon 
Steere,  Esq.,  be  authorized  and  directed  to  issue  his  warrant  to  any 
constable  in  said  town  of  Burrillville  to  warn  the  freemen  of  said  town 
to  meet  in  town  meeting  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  at  such  place  and 
at  such  time  on  said  day  as  he  may  in  his  warrant  appoint. 

"Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted;  That  Messrs.  Joshua  Bicknell, 
Joseph  Rice  and  Thomas  Mann  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  a 
committee  to  make  an  equal  division  of  the  poor  now  supported  at 
the  expense  of  the  said  town  of  Glocester  between  the  two  towns  of 
Glocester  and  also  of  the  debts  due  or  owing  and  money  belonging-  to 
the  town  of  Glocester  and  the  debts  due  from  the  said  town  which 
said  division  shall  be  settled  and  made  in  proportion  to  the  last  tax 
assessed  in  said  town. 

"  Sec.  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted;  That  said  committee  be  au- 
thorized and  empowered  to  run  the  division  line  aforedescribed,to  set 
■up  monuments  and  boundaries  therein  and  to  report  to  the  General 
x^ssembly  at  the  next  session." 

The  committee  appointed  in  behalf  of  the  town  of  Glocester  to  at- 
tend the  state  committee  that  had  charge  of  the  division  of  the  poor, 
taxes  and  debts  between  the  two  towns,  consisted  of  Jesse  Tourtellot, 
Thomas  Owen,  Esq.,  and  Colonel  Elijah  Armstrong,  who  were  ap- 
pointed October  26th,  1806.  Mr.  Joktan  Putnam  was  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  on  the  Honorable  James  Burrill  to  receive  a  set  of 
books  presented  by  him  to  the  town,  to  be  used  for  the  records  of  the 
town.  Each  of  these  books  had  this  inscription:  "Presented  to  the 
town  of  Burrillville  by  James  Burrill,  Jr.,  Esq.,  1806." 

The  Honorable  James  Burrill  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Provi- 
dence, and  was  born  April  25th,  1772.  He  entered  Brown  University 
at  an  early  age  and  graduated  in  the  year  1788.  Having  a  decided 
taste  for  law,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  that  profession  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  before  he  attained  his  majority.  In  1797  he  was  chosen 
by  the  general  assembly  to  the  office  of  attorney  general,  and  held 
this  position  about  17  successive  years.  In  1813  he  resigned  his  office, 
and  in  1816  he  was  appointed  by  the  general  assembly  chief  justice  of 
the  supreme  court.  He  afterward  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the 
United  States.  His  health  had  always  been  poor,  and  he  died  in  the 
prime  of  life. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  the  town  of  Burrillville  was 
held  on  the  17th  day  of  November,  1806.  Captain  Joktan  Putnam  was 
chosen  moderator  and  Daniel  Smith,  Jr.,  town  clerk.  The  first  town 
council  consisted  of  John  Esten,  Esq.,  Simeon  Steere,  Esq.,  Samuel 
Smith,  Amaziah  Harris,  William  Ross,  Moab  Paine  and  Levi  Lapham. 
At  this  meeting  attention  was  directed  to  the  division  of  the  town  and 
its  legislative  necessities.  December  2d,  1806,  was  held  a  special 
meeting  for  choosing  a  representative  to  the  Tenth  congress.    A  meet- 


550  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 

ing-  was  held  February  14th,  1807,  and  adjourned  until  the  17th  at  the 
hotel  of  John  Wood.  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  "  that  the  charter 
of  the  town  of  Burrillville  and  the  report  of  the  state  committee  on 
the  division  of  the  two  towns  be  lodged  in  the  town  clerk's  office." 

The  first  money  tax  was  imposed  in  August,  1807.  It  amounted  to 
$500  and  the  poll  tax  was  33  cents.  The  question  of  license  for  selling 
liquors  was  considered  at  a  town  meeting  held  June  6th,  1808.  At 
that  meeting  it  was  voted  "  That  the  next  town  meeting  be  at  Russell 
Aldrich's,  upon  these  conditions:  That  the  said  Aldrich  pay  into  the 
town  treasury  the  sum  of  $16.25  within  one  week  after  said  meeting, 
to  which  condition  the  said  Aldrich  agrees;  "  and  it  was  also  voted: 
"That  the  said  Russell  Aldrich  have  privilege  to  prosecute  any  other 
person  for  selling  liquors  on  that  day  and  place."  In  September,  1808, 
the  privilege  was  again  sold  to  the  highest  bidder  and  brought  $23. 
In  1810  it  was  sold  for  $50.  Finally  the  sale  of  town  meetings  came 
to  be  regarded  as  impolitic  and  unjust,  as  some  of  the  highest  bidders 
not  unfrequently  resided  in  some  remote  parts  of  the  town.  A  com- 
mittee was  therefore  appointed  to  confer  with  the  society  of  the 
Baptist  meeting  house  to  gain  their  approbation  and  consent  to  have 
the  meetings  held  at  the  old  meeting  house  thereafter.  On  the  19th 
of  April,  1820,  it  was  voted:  "That  from  and  after  this  date  no  man 
shall  be  elected  to  office  in  said  town  who  shall  give  any  valuable  con- 
sideration therefor."  This  was  an  act  that  worked  a  decided  advan- 
tage to  the  best  interests  of  the  people. 

In  1844  it  was  discovered  that  the  dividing  line  between  Burrill- 
ville and  Glocester  was  incorrect.  A  committee  was  appointed  after- 
ward by  the  general  assembly  to  examine  into  the  matter  and  make  a 
new  survey.  From  the  committee's  report  it  was  found  that  Glocester 
contained  1,049  acres  more  than  her  proportion  of  the  territory.  The 
settlement  of  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state  was  made,  however, 
soon  after  this  by  the  United  States  supreme  court  in  favor  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  this  terminated  the  controversy,  and  thus  a  large  tract 
of  land  was  taken  from  the  town. 

The  town  clerks  of  Burrillville  have  been  as  follows:  Daniel  Smith, 
from  November  17th,  1806,  till  June,  1811;  Dezall  Paine,  till  1821; 
Daniel  Smith,  till  1840;  John  Walling,  Jr.,  till  1854;  David  Mathewson, 
till  1855;  James  S.  Cook,  till  1856;  Alvah  Mowry,  till  1883;  Willaby 
Nason,  till  1884,  when  Alvah  Mowry  was  again  elected  and  still  holds 
the  office.  Mr.  Mowry  is  also  notary  public  and  holds  other  minor 
positions. 

The  principal  town  officers  of  Burrillville  elected  in  June,  1890, 
are:  Moderator,  Oliver  A.  Inman;  town  clerk,  Alvah  Mowry;  town 
council,  Ernest  W.  Tinkham,  Willaby  Nason,  Job  S.  Steere,  Michael 
B.  Griffin,  William  Blackmar,  Henry  L.  Copeland,  Thomas  H,  Fagan; 
town  treasurer,  Philip  O,  Hawkins;  town  sergeant,  Flerbert  F,  Mowryr 
overseer  of  poor,  Henry  A.  Potter;  justices  of  the  peace,  Samuel  S. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  551 

Stone,  Edward  F.  Lovejoy,  John  Hardman,  Oliver  A.  Inman,  George 
F.  Whitford,  Charles  B.  Luther,  Allen  T.  Smith,  Samuel  W.  Millard. 

April  6th,  1853,  the  town  authorities  purchased  for  the  town  asy- 
lum a  farm  consisting  of  120  acres,  of  John  and  Charles  Albee  for  the 
sum  of  $2,400.  Since  then  the  buildings  have  been  enlarged  and  other 
improvements  made.  In  1888,  the  town  treasurer,  P.  O.  Hawkins,  re- 
ported the  expenses  of  the  poor  farm  for  that  year  $1,416.94,  and  for 
outside  poor  $451.40. 

The  earliest  date  at  which  any  regular  school  house  was  built  was 
in  the  year  1806.  Prior  to  that  time  schools  were  held  in  private 
houses,  shops,  etc.,  but  the  settlement  of  the  town  was  so  scattering, 
the  numbers  found  in  any  one  neighborhood  hardly  justified  the 
building  of  a  school  house.  In  June,  1828,  according  to  the  require- 
ments of  the  new  state  law,  two  committees  were  appointed,  one  con- 
sisting of  23  men  for  dividing  the  town  into  school  districts,  and  the 
other  of  21  persons  that  were  to  constitute  the  school  board.  In  1839 
the  school  expenditures  were  $1,003.32.  In  1888  they  were  $7,908.09, 
to  the  various  school  districts,  and  $486.03  for  school  supervision.  A. 
H.  Granger,  superintendent  of  the  public  schools,  reports  the  town  as 
having  made  rnuch  progress  in  educational  work. 

The  region  round  about  Burrillville  in  the  early  settlement  of  the 
state  was  known  as  the  Nipmuck  dominion,  it  being  occupied  by  a 
tribe  of  Indians  bearing  that  name.  This  tribe  was  tributary  to  the 
Narragansetts,  but  on  the  arrival  of  the  English  they  sought  the  op- 
portunity of  throwing  off  their  allegiance.  The  Kipmuck  river, 
formed  by  the  union  of  three  streams,  was  named  after  them.  The 
Pascoags  were  another  tribe  that  inhabited  this  section,  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Pascoag  is  named  in  remembrance  of  them.  Tradition  says 
"  coag  "  meant  snake,  and  as  there  were  formerly  a  great  quantity  of 
snakes  here,  wherever  they  went  they  were  accustomed  to  say  "  pass- 
coag."  "  Black  Hut "  was  the  name  of  an  old  Indian  wigwam  that 
was  in  this  locality.  Now  instead  of  the  roar  of  the  beast  and  the 
war-whoop  of  the  savage,  the  busy  whirr  of  the  spindle  and  the 
clanking  of  the  loom  are  heard. 

Among  the  original  settlers  of  this  town  was  John  Smith,  who 
came  here  with  his  axe  and  wallet  of  victuals  and  commenced  felling 
trees  across  streams,  and  traversed  the  woods  until  he  came  to  a  spot 
now  known  as  "  Tar-kiln  Saw  Mill."  He  surveyed  the  forests  about, 
and,  going  into  "  Horse  Head  woods  "  and  around  the  foot  of  "  Den 
hill,"  made  a  settlement  at  or  near  where  the  Urania  Smith  house 
stands.  He  went  back  to  Providence  to  lay  in  a  supply  for  his  wallet, 
and  on  his  return  was  accompanied  by  his  brother  and  several  other 
adventurers.  They  continued  to  fell  trees,  and  soon  had  a  clearing, 
which  they  cultivated  and  planted  in  corn  and  other  products.  At 
one  time  all  that  part  of  the  town  was  occupied  by  their  descendants. 

A  Mr.  Edward  Salisbury,  another  early  settler,  moved  into  the  cen- 


552  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

tral  part  of  the  town.  He  was  the  father  of  Duty  Salisbury,  formerly 
of  Pascoag,  and  was  once  a  resident  of  Smilhfield,  R.  I.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  French  war,  his  regiment  being  stationed  in  New  York, 
and  also  on  Lake  Erie.  It  was  engaged  for  a  time  in  the  erection  of 
Fort  Stanwix.  Mr.  Salisbury  was  saving  enough  of  his  earnings  to 
purchase  some  300  acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Herring  pond.  This  pond  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  m  early 
times  large  numbers  of  herrings  used  to  come  up  the  various  streams 
in  the  spring  to  deposit  their  spawn,  and  in  the  fall  became  quite 
numerous.  About  this  time  the  revolutionary  war  broke  out,  and  Mr. 
Salisbury  was  summoned  to  Providence  to  take  part  in  that  contest. 
His  youngest  son.  Deacon  Salisbury,  left  the  parental  roof  some  25 
years  afterward,  and  settled  in  or  near  Pascoag. 

The  family  of  Harringtons,  of  whom  the  descendants  are  now  quite 
numerous,  were  also  settlers  here  in  an  early  time.  A  Doctor  Har- 
rington, a  physician  of  considerable  distinction,  practiced  medicine  in 
Burrillville  many  years.  He  had  a  large  practice,  and  had  at  one  time 
for  a  student  Doctor  Bellows,  for  a  long  time  a  resident  in  the  Colwell 
neighborhood. 

Joktan  Putnam  settled  early  in  what  is  known  as  Rhodesville.  He 
was  the  first  moderator  of  the  town,  was  a  jolly  kind  of  a  fellow,  and 
a  lover  of  a  good  drink.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Harris- 
ville  and  around  Herring  pond.  During  the  revolutionary  struggle 
he  sided  with  the  mother  country  and  was  called  a  tory.  Becoming 
greatly  involved,  financially,  he  exchanged  his  lands  here  for  a  tract 
in  the  town  of  Sutton,  Vermont. 

William  Rhodes,  an  early  settler  of  the  town,  was  a  cooper  by 
trade.  He  subsequently  removed  to  the  West  Indies.  He  afterward 
fitted  out  a  privateer  and  intercepted  many  English  vessels  laden 
with  sugar,  molasses,  etc.,  and.  became  quite  wealthy.  He  purchased 
large  tracts  of  land  in  and  about  Harrisville,  then  called  Rhodesville, 
and  also  owned  a  store  in  South  Carolina,  where  he  used  to  journey 
to  make  new  purchases,  and  look  after  his  interests  there. 

The  "  Darned  Man,"  for  40  years  or  more  a  strange  and  solitary 
man,  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  this  town.  He  was  a  strange  man  and 
would  travel  great  distances,  as  he  was  often  heard  from  in  Unadilla, 
X.  Y.,  and  other  places.  His  coming  was  heralded  by  the  singing  of 
the  birds  in  early  spring,  and  after  a  time  he  would  disappear.  He 
was  inoffensive  and  would  sit  for  hours  without  uttering  a  word.  He 
seemed  to  live  alone,  in  a  world  apart  from  this  one  in  which  his  sor- 
rows had  their  birth.  Tradition  asserts  that  this  singular  man  had 
once  been  crossed  in  love,  and  became  demented  and  an  outcast.  For 
many  years  he  continued  his  regular  visits,  wearing  the  same  old  and 
patched  wine-colored  garments  that  by  careful  inspection  bore  traces 
of  certain  fineness  of  texture  which  clearly  told  of  better  days.  He 
would  often  ask  for  thread  and  needle  and  invariably  selecting  that  to 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  553 

match  the  color  of  his  clothes,  would  proceed  carefully  to  darn  the 
threadbare  places,  until  he  at  atlength  acquired  the  appellation  of  the 
*'  Darned  Man."  Everybody  seemed  to  know  him,  and  all  took  an 
interest  in  the  stranger.  This  melancholy  worshipper  of  his  broken 
altar  idol  has  long  since  gone  to  that  other  world,  leaving  only  faint 
remembrances  of  his  blighted  genius  behind. 

Cooper's  Cave  is  located  on  the  road  leading  from  Glendale  to  the 
old  Stephen  Cooper  residence.  There  is  a  tradition  that  this  cave  was 
the  rendezvous  at  one  time  for  a  band  of  counterfeiters  and  that  here 
they  made  their  bogus  coin.  The  place  also  bears  the  appellation  of 
"  Forger's  Cave. 

Round  Top,  in  Buck  Hill  Woods,  was  also  once  inhabited  by  a  band 
of  counterfeiters,  who,  when  talking  to  each  other  in  the  presence  of 
strangers,  called  the  place  Newport.  The  several  members  of  the 
gang  lived  in  what  is  now  known  as  Burrillville.  They  manufactured 
the  old  "  eighty-six  "  and  "  Spanish  milled  "  dollars,  and  had  their 
forges  and  dies  in  this  subterranean  cavern,  where  they  made  one 
plated  coin  and  one  mixed.  The  plated  coins  were  easily  detected  by 
cutting  through  their  silver  coating  with  a  knife,  when  the  copper  or 
amalgam  could  be  seen.  There  were  a  number  of  parties  both  inside 
and  out  who  were  furnished  with  the  "  queer,"  but  at  last  they 
were  apprehended  and  their  business  ceased.  One  of  their  number 
went  one  evening  to  a  hotel  on  Brandy  hill  and  having  a  large  supply 
of  this  bogus  coin  spent  it  quite  freely  and  became  very  tipsy.  The 
large  crowd  present  began  to  wonder  where  the  stranger  could  have 
obtained  so  many  silver  dollars  since  there  was  so  great  a  scarcity. 
They  soon  began  to  look  upon  it  as  a  swmdle  of  some  sort,  and  the 
pieces  were  examined  and  it  was  found  that  all  bore  the  same  date.  The 
stranger  was  at  once  arrested  and  confessed  the  whole  thing.  Several 
others  were  also  arrested  and  brought  to  Chepachet  before  a  justice. 
The  cave  was  searched,  the  tools  found  and  produced  in  court.  The 
leader  of  the  gang  was  placed  on  trial  but  he  was  cool  and  cunning, 
and  he  came  off  the  victor  in  the  trial.  The  hammer  and  die  being 
placed  in  his  hands,  he  was  asked  to  strike  the  blow  that  should  deter- 
mine his  skill,  but  he  brought  it  down  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring 
the  coin  to  a  thin  edge  on  one  side.  This  test  was  thought  by  some 
to  establish  the  innocence  of  the  prisoner,  as  so  bungling  a  job  could 
have  been  done  only  by  a  novice.  Although  the  band  escaped  punish- 
ment justly  merited,  a  stain  was  left  upon  many  of  the  citizens  of  the 
town. 

An  old  bark  mill  once  stood  in  the  valley  of  Muddy  brook.  It  was 
used  to  grind  bark,  which  was  passed  between  two  large  stones  simi- 
lar to  those  with  which  grain  is  ground  at  the  present  time.  The  mill 
was  a  small  one  run  by  horse  power  and  has  long  since  crumbled  to 
ruins.  Mr.  Shadrach  Steere  formerly  owned  and  operated  a  turning 
lathe  a  little  below   the   old  bark  mill.     He  manufactured  spinning 


554  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

wheels,  chairs,  bobbins  and  hoe  handles.  Nothing  now  remains  of 
this  old  mill,  the  dam  itself  having  disappeared  long  ago. 

Daniel  Sayles,  the  grandfather  of  Albert  L.  Sayles,  built  a  mill  in 
Burrillville  in  1814  for  fulling  and  dressing  cloth,  on  or  near  the  site  of 
the  present  Granite  Mill,  at  Pascoag.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  his  m.ill 
he  put  into  it  a  wool  carding  machine  and  the  farmers  around  began  to 
bring  their  wool  in  small  quantities  (from  three  to  ten  pounds)  to  have  it 
carded.  They  then  took  the  rolls  home  and  after  the  spinning  and 
weaving  were  done  the  cloth  was  brought  to  the  mill  for  fulling  and 
dressing. 

In  1819  Hardin  Sayles  came  into  the  possession  of  his  father's  mill, 
which  was  subsequently  enlarged,  and  in  1834  began  the  manufacture 
of  satinets  with  one  set  of  machinery,  in  copartnership  with  his  younger 
brother,  Pitts  Sayles,  and  his  brother-in-law,  John  Chace.  This  was  the 
second  mill  started  for  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods  in  Burrill- 
ville. Providence  was  the  nearest  market  for  both  the  sale  of  goods 
and  for  the  purchase  of  materials  and  supplies,  and  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors used  to  convey  thither  in  a  wagon  a  few  pieces  of  finished  cloth 
and  bring  back  one  or  two  bags  of  wool  with  other  supplies  as  often 
as  occasion  required.  During  the  financial  crisis  of  1837  the  business 
was  suspended  and  in  1838  a  new  partnership  was  formed,  with  an 
increase  of  capital  and  an  enlargement  of  the  business.  Jacob  T.  and 
Josiah  Seagrave,  Jr.,  of  Providence,  were  admitted  as  partners,  the 
style  of  the  company  being  the  Union  Woolen  Company.  In  1844  a 
further  enlargement  was  made  and  the  machinery  altered  to  adapt  it 
to  the  manufacture  of  fancy  cassimeres.  In  1847  the  company  was 
dissolved  and  a  new  one  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  L.  Copeland 
&  Co.,  and  consisted  of  Lyman  Copeland  and  Hardin  and  Pitts  Sayles. 
In  1850  Mr.  Copeland  retired,  the  other  partners  continuing  under  the 
style  of  H.  &  P.  Sayles.  In  1853  A.  L.  Sayles  purchased  his  uncle's 
interest  in  the  mills  and  the  firm  was  changed  to  Hardin  Sayles  &  Son. 
In  1861  Hardin  Sayles  died,  when  A.  L.  Sayles  continued  the  business. 
In  1865  he  built  the  new  stone  mill,  making  the  length  about  300  feet 
and  the  main  part  50  feet  wide  and  five  stories  high,  containing  ten 
sets  of  cards  and  other  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  fancy  cassi- 
meres, at  a  cost  of  about  $250,000.  In  1868  Hardin  R.  Sayles  sold  out 
and  associated  with  John  T.  Fiske  under  the  name  of  Fiske  &  Sayles, 
who  bought  the  Thompson  &  Copeland  Mills.  Subsequently  Addison 
C.  Sayles  associated  with  William  Nichols  and  leased  the  mill  of 
Horace  A.  Kimball.  Since  that  time  A.  L.  Sayles  has  had  full  control 
of  the  property,  the  establishment  being  known  as  the  Granite  Mills. 
In  1880  he  made  another  addition  of  57  feet  to  the  building,  increased 
the  number  of  sets  of  machinery  to  15  and  has  now  the  largest  and 
most  elegant  structure  in  the  town,  and  gives  employment  to  350 
hands.     Recently  Mr.  Sayles  has  associated  his  two  sons,  A.  H.  and 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  555 

Fred.  L.,  with  him  in  the  operation  of  the  Granite  Mills,  under  the  name 
of  A.  L.  Sayles  &  Sons. 

W.  A.  Inman  in  1880  purchased  the  old  mill  privilege  property 
formerly  owned  by  George  and  James  Smith,  and  later  by  Cyrus 
Sherman,  and  erected  a  building  200  by  52  feet,  three  stories  high,  for 
the  manufacture  of  fancy  woolen  goods.  The  mill  contains  four  sets 
of  cards,  25  broad  looms  and  gives  employment  to  125  hands.  The 
site  is  near  Harrisville. 

Sayles  &  Nichols'  Mill  was  formerly  called  Hunt's  Mill  and  later  was 
owned  by  George  W.  Marsh.  Then  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Addi- 
son C.  Sayles,  and  in  1887  Addison  C.  Sayles  and  W.  H.  Nichols  pur- 
chased the  property,  and  recently  it  was  all  sold  to  A.  L.  Sayles.  The 
buildings  are  175  by  40  feet  in  size  and  have  been  recently  refitted 
throughout.     It  is  a  seven  set  mill,  having  46  looms. 

William  and  Monroe  Wilson  had  a  mill  above  Fiske,  vSayles  &  Co.'s 
mills  for  the  manufacture  of  yarn.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Herbert  M. 
Wilson.  It  is  a  two  set  mill  in  which  a  half  dozen  men  find  employ- 
ment. 

Sheffield  Worsted  Mill  is  located  on  grounds  formerly  occupied  by 
Pliny  Sayles  for  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  later  by  George  W.  Esten, 
known  as  the  Lower  Mill.  In  1847  John  T.  Fiske  purchased  the  prop- 
erty and  fitted  it  up  for  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths.  Thirty-six 
looms  were  placed  in  the  mill  at  that  time  and  the  business  carried  on 
somewhat  extensively.  In  1858  the  old  mill  was  burned  down,  but 
was  rebuilt  in  1859.  The  new  mill  was  100  by  36  feet,  two  stories 
high.  It  was  then  operated  in  the  manufacture  of  satinets.  In  1867, 
in  company  with  Hardin  R.  Sayles,  John  T.  Fiske  purchased  the  Peter 
Place  property,  or  the  old  Thompson  Mill,  and  the  business  was  ex- 
tended under  the  firm  name  of  Fiske,  Sayles  &'  Co.  The  mill  was 
greatly  improved  by  valuable  changes,  it  being  turned  into  a  first- 
class  cassimere  mill  of  six  sets.  In  1869  the  mills  of  J.  T.  Fiske  and 
Fiske,  Sayles  &  Co.  were  consolidated,  and  John  T.  Fiske,  Jr.,  taken 
into  the  firm.     In  1875  John  T.  Fiske,  Sr.,  retired. 

In  December,  1883,  the  firm  of  Fiske,  Sayles  &  Co.  was  dissolved. 
At  that  time  A.  L.  Sayles  leased  the  half  interest  of  J.  T.  Fiske,  and 
in  1888  purchased  Fiske's  interest.  It  has  since  been  operated  by  Al- 
bert H.  and  Fred.  L.  vSayles,  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  L.  Sayles  & 
Co.,  who  have  thoroughly  repaired  the  mill,  enlarged  it  and  added 
machinery.  The  mill  now  contains  six  sets  of  cards  and  62  broad 
looms.     About  125  hands  are  employed. 

The  lower  mill  was  enlarged  in  1887  by  an  addition  of  100  feet  to 
its  length,  at  which  time  70  broad  looms  were  put  in,  giving  employ- 
ment to  100  men.  In  1883  J.  T.  Fiske,  Jr.,  leased  the  lower  mill  of 
his  father,  and  on  September  4th,  1889,  he  purchased  this  property,, 
and  is  now  manufacturing  a  good  quality  of  worsted  goods.  The 
name  of  the  concern  is  now  the  Sheffield  Worsted  Mill. 


556  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  water  privilege  at  the  Laurel  Ridge  Mills  was  improved  first 
by  Nathan  Cooper,  who  owned  a  rude  saw  mill,  which  he  deeded  to 
Nancy  Brown,  the  wife  of  James  Brown,  and  his  daughter,  together 
with  16  acres  and  two  roods  of  land,  with  the  water  privilege,  April 
28th,  1815.  The  succeeding  owners  were  Asa  Churchill  and  Horace 
Hopkins,  who  bought  the  property  February  22d,  1831,  for  $850.  On 
May  2d,  1831,  Churchill  and  Hopkins  sold  a  third  interest  to  Cornelius 
Foster  for  $116.67,  and  during  that  year  the  water  power  was  improved 
and  a  building  erected  for  the  manufacture  of  spindles  and  fliers.  Oc- 
tober 18th,  1832,  Horace  W.  Hopkins  sold  his  interest  to  Levi  Lap- 
ham,  Jr.,  for  $1,050.  May  26th,  1834,  Augustus  Hopkins  and  Horace 
W.  Hopkins  bought  Asa  Churchill's  interest  for  $510,  and  June  2d, 
1835,  they  bought  the  interest  of  Cornelius  Foster  and  Levi  Lapham 
for  $1,730,  since  which  time  the  manufacture  of  spindles  and  fliers  has 
been  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  Hopkins  &  Co.  In  1845 
Mr.  Augustus  Hopkins  became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  since  that 
time  the  business  has  continued  in  the  family.  His  son,  Horace  Law- 
son  Hopkins,  entered  the  mill  at  an  early  age  and  soon  became  a 
member  of  the  firm,  and  for  many  years  had  the  management  of  the 
business,  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  James  A.  Potter. 
With  one  or  two  exceptions,  the  same  corps  of  help  has  remained  in 
the  employ  of  the  proprietors  for  a  third  of  a  century.  It  has  always 
been  the  policy  of  the  firm  to  avoid  changes  in  employees  and  to  give 
no  employment  to  persons  of  immoral  or  intemperate  habits,  to  which 
fact  is  largely  attributed  the  success  of  the  business. 

In  1864  Addison  S.  Hopkins  became  the  book-keeper  for  the  con- 
cern, and  in  1868  one  of  the  partners.  In  1876  a  flood,  caused  by  the 
breaking  away  of  the  Clear  river  reservoir  dam,  carried  away  some  of 
the  buildings.  They  were  soon  rebuilt,  and  a  brass  foundry  was  added 
in  1881.  For  over  50  3^ears  the  business  has  been  managed  by  some 
member  of  the  family,  and  since  1876  it  has  been  carried  on  by  James 
A.  Potter  and  Addison  S.  Hopkins,  under  the  old  firm  name  of  A. 
Hopkins  &  Co. 

The  fir.st  business  done  on  the  site  of  the  Clear  River  Woolen  Mills 
Avas  in  1773,  by  Elisha  and  Daniel  Sayles,  two  brothers,  who  estab- 
lished a  forge  and  purchased  some  200  acres  of  land.  The  site  is  that 
of  the  village  of  Saxonville,  which  is  part  of  the  thriving  village  of 
Pascoag,  the  mill  privilege  being  where  the  Clear  river  and  Pascoag 
unite  their  waters.  The  vSayles  Brothers  continued  the  manufacture 
of  iron  for  a  number  of  years,  the  ore  being  obtained  from  the  town 
of  Cumberland.  About  the  year  1835  Whipple  vSayles,  a  son  of  Elisha, 
became  the  possessor  by  inheritance,  and  erected  a  blacksmith  shop  for 
the  purpose  of  making  scythes.  But  after  the  shop  was  built  the  pro- 
ject was  abandoned  until  about  1844,  when  the  privilege  was  leased 
by  George  W.  Marsh,  with  a  few  acres  of  land,  for  the  term  of  20 
years,  and  he  erected  a  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  Kentucky  jeans. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  567 

Mr.  Marsh  also  built  tenements  for  the  accommodation  of  his  help. 
Fancy  cassimeres  were  afterward  manufactured  here  by  Mr.  Marsh 
and  his  son  Edward  until  1861,  when  the  mill  was  burned  down. 

In  1865  James  O.  Inman  purchased  the  estate  and  erected  a  sub- 
stantial stone  mill  and  out-buildings,  and  filled  the  mill  with  four  sets 
of  woolen  machinery,  which  were  put  in  operation  in  the  spring  of 
1866,  for  the  manufacture  of  fine  fancy  cassimeres,  known  in  the 
market  as  "  Clear  River  Woolens." 

The  reservoir  dam  and  with  it  all  the  dams  and  bridges  up  to  and 
including  this  dam  here  were  filled  to  overflowing  during  the  heavy 
storms  of  May  25th,  1876,  spreading  general  destruction  in  its  course. 
The  loss  of  the  water  which  had  been  stored  for  use  in  the  summer 
left  the  mill  without  power  in  that  direction.  Steam  was  resorted  to 
in  the  emergency,  but  the  dam  was  soon  rebuilt.  In  the  summer  of 
1877  an  addition  was  built  to  the  mill,  making  it  52  by  150  feet,  and 
two  additional  sets  were  put  in  the  mill,  making  six  sets  in  all,  giving 
it  capacity  for  consuming  400,000  pounds  of  wool  per  annum.  It  is 
now  a  seven  set  mill,  and  gives  employment  to  150  hands.  January 
1st,  1886,  Mr.  Inman  took  his  son  Olney  T.  in  partnership.  For  five 
years  previous  to  1865,  Mr.  Inman  leased  and  ran  a  satinet  mill.  This 
mill  he  now  owns  and  rents  for  use  as  a  shoddy  mill.  His  father, 
James  Inman,  was  a  scythe  maker  in  Burrillville  and  died  in  1850. 

William  Tinkham  &  Company  are  extensive  manufacturers  in  Har- 
risville,  employing  400  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  fine  worsted  goods. 
The  mills  at  this  place  were  established  in  1856  by  Job  S.  Steere  and 
William  Tinkham,  who  started  first  in  Mapleville  three  years  before, 
with  one  set  of  machinery  in  the  manufacture  of  tweeds  and  jeans. 
In  1856  they  purchased  of  Jason  Emerson  the  Harrisville  mill 
property  for  $30,000,  removed  their  machinery  from  Mapleville  to 
Harrisville  and  putting  in  two  other  sets  of  machinery,  began  the 
manufacture  of  satinets.  In  1857  they  built  their  dam,  built  an  addi- 
tion of  100  feet  to  their  factory  and  made  other  improvements,  in  all 
amounting  to  $20,000.  At  this  time  the  financial  crisis  found  them 
heavily  in  debt,  with  a  discouraging  outlook  for  business,  but  the 
cash  system  of  the  company  was  then  adopted,  and  manufacturing 
begun  on  shares  partly,  so  that  a  profitable  business  was  conducted 
even  when  other  mills  were  standing  idle. 

In  1860  they  added  four  more  sets  of  machinery  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  cassimeres.  In  1873  Mr.  Tinkham  purchased  the  in- 
terests of  his  partner  and  formed  a  partnership  with  F.  S.  Farwell. 
In  1878  Ernest  W.,  son  of  William  Tinkham,  was  admitted  to  partner- 
ship, the  firm  style  becoming  Tinkham,  Farwell  &  Company.  In  1884 
Mr.  Farwell  withdrew,  when  the  firm  became  William  Tinkham  & 
Company.  In  1860  the  new  mill  was  furnished  with  new  machinery, 
and  the  company  manufactured  fancy  cassimeres  till  1881,  when  the 
machinery  was  adapted  for  the  manufacture  of  fancy  worsteds,  which 


558  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

became  and  still  continue  to  be  the  staple  output  of  the  works.  Ernest 
W.  Tinkham  is  manager  and  agent.  The  main  structure  of  these  mills 
was  built  of  stone  40  by  165  feet,  with  two  wings,  one  60  by  106  feet,  the 
other  22  by  105  feet.  In  1888,  an  addition  of  200  feet,  two  stories,  was 
built  with  the  proportionate  amount  of  machinery  put  in.  The  money 
distributed  to  the  hands  employed  in  these  extensive  mills  is  a  great 
source  of  prosperity  in  the  vicinity  of  Harrisville.  In  the  manufacture 
of  fine  worsteds  the  firm  has  been  remarkably  successful;  so  much  so 
that  their  leading  brands  are  now  among  the  most  popular  in  the 
market. 

Mapleville  Mills  consist  of  two  distinct  manufactories,  known  as 
the  upper  and  lower  mills.  The  former  was  completely  destroyed  by 
fire  September  3d,  1871.  At  that  time  it  contained  six  sets  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  woolen  and  union  cassimeres.  The  first  mill 
was  erected  by  D.  L.  Whipple  in  1846,  and  devoted  to  the  manufacture 
of  satinets.  It  was  the  first  mill  built  in  Mapleville,  and  was  con- 
structed of  wood.  Sometime  after  this  Mr.  Whipple  erected  a  stone 
addition,  the  rooms  of  which  were  subsequently  rented  to  other 
parties.  About  1862  these  buildings  were  enlarged  and  consolidated 
into  a  six  set  fancy  woolen  mill.  The  subsequent  owners  were:  in 
1863,  G.  A.  &  J.  A.  Smith;  in  1865,  Whitehead  &  Legg;  in  1868,  James 
Legg. 

In  1887  the  upper  mill  was  burned,  and  has  not  been  rebuilt. 
Darius  P.  Lawton,  in  1841,  built  a  small  stone  mill  containing  one  set 
of  woolen  cards  and  looms  with  preparation  and  finishing,  on  the  site 
of  the  mills  erected  by  James  Legg  on  the  lower  privilege.  It  was 
destroyed  by  ^re  a  few  years  afterward,  and  again  rebuilt.  In  1856 
Oliver  Tracy  bought  the  mill  and  privilege  and  considerably  enlarged 
it.  vSmith  &  Hawkins  bought  it  in  1857,  and  subsequently  trans- 
ferred it  to  Joseph  B.  Smith,  who  again  enlarged  it  and  converted  it 
into  a  fancy  woolen  mill.  Smith  &  Whitehead  purchased  the  prop- 
erty in  July,  1864,  and  the  mill  was  operated  by  them  until  March, 
1865,  when  Frederick  B.  Smith  bought  the  interest  of  James  B.  White- 
head, thus  becoming  the  sole  proprietor.  In  1866  Mr.  Smith  sold  to 
Whitehead  &  Legg,  and  in  1867  Mr.  James  Legg  became  the  sole 
owner. 

The  lower  mill  at  Mapleville  was  built  in  1872  and  1873  by  James 
Legg,  and  operated  by  him  and  his  sons  under  the  firm  name  of 
James  Legg  &  Sons.  In  size,  thoroughness  of  con.struction,  protection 
against  fire,  etc.,  it  is  unsurpassed  by  any  like  institution  in  the  town. 
Mr.  Legg  was  born  in  England  in  1822,  and  married  Betsey  Whatley 
in  1842.  He  first  came  to  America  in  1848,  returning  to  England  nine 
months  later.  In  1854  he  came  again  to  this  country  with  his  family. 
He  owns  a  mill  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  managed  by  his  son. 

Mathews  &  Haine  operate  the  store  at  Mapleville.  Albert  Stocky  is 
postmaster.     The  church  at  this  place  is  under  the  charge  of  Reverend 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  659 

J.  H.  Follanbees,  the  Methodist  minister  at  Oakland.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Fol- 
lanbees  is  Sabbath  school  superintendent. 

Oakland  Mill  was  erected  by  John  L.  Ross  in  1850,  and  leased  to 
th^  Woonsocket  Delaine  Company  for  several  years  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  worsted  goods.  vSubsequently  Mr.  J.  L.  Ross  filled  it  with  cot- 
ton machinery,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  satinets,  and 
while  hoop  skirts  were  in  fashion  a  large  quantity  of  yarn  was  made 
for  this  purpose.  It  was  enlarged  in  1870.  The  mill  was  run  up  to 
about  1883,  when  the  buildings  were  burned.  Mr.  Ross  then  rebuilt  and 
leased  the  property  to  Bogart  Harris  &  Co.,  who  put  in  machinery  in 
1887  for  the  manufacture  of  silk  yarns,  hosiery,  etc.,  and  have  for  the 
past  three  years  been  doing  a  thriving  business.  They  employ  120 
hands. 

The  village  of  Oakland,  besides  the  mills  and  a  number  of  beauti- 
ful residences,  has  one  store,  one  blacksmith  shop,  and  one  wheel- 
wright shop.  The  store  is  a  large  one  near  the  depot,  and  was 
erected  by  W.  A.  Read,  who  kept  it  several  years.  The  successive 
owners  have  been:  J.  H.  Stott  &  Co.;  Brown  &  Stott;  and  D.  C.  Rem- 
ington, Jr.,  and  Charles  D.  Burbank,  under  the  firm  name  of  Reming- 
ington  &  Burbank,  who  took  possession  in  1885.  In  1881,  N.  S.  Cary 
established  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  village,  and  is  still  labor- 
ing at  that  forge.     Mr.  C.  P.  Tucker  owns  the  wheelwright  shop. 

Glendale  is  a  thriving  little  village  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town  12  miles  from  Connecticut,  and  four  miles  from  Massachusetts. 
It  contains  two  stores,  a  woolen  mill  and  one  church.  J.  Henry  Car- 
penter is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  here  in  the  store  erected  by 
Anthony  Steere  before  the  late  war,  and  in  which  Paris  Mathewson 
kept  store.  Mr.  Carpenter  has  been  a  trader  in  the  village  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Mr.  A.  S.  Greene  erected  his  store  building  in  1887. 
He  formerly  traded  in  Harrisville. 

Over  a  century  ago  a  grist  and  saw  mill  was  erected  here  on  this 
water  privilege,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  town,  having  the 
Pascoag  and  Chepachet  streams,  with  Laurel  Hill,  Herring  pond  and 
other  helps.  This  property  passed  through  several  owners'  hands  and 
was  finally  purchased  by  Mr.  Anthony  Steere,  who  discarded  both  the 
old  mills  and  built  a  large  cotton  mill  in  their  stead.  This  building 
was  completed  and  immediately  afterward  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
mill  was  rebuilt  and  sold  to  Mr.  Lyman  Copeland  in  1853,  who  put  in 
nine  sets  of  woolen  machinery  and  began  the  manufacture  of  fine 
fancy  cassimeres.  In  1858  the  mill  was  leased  to  Olney  &  Metcalf,  of 
Providence.  In  1863  it  was  leased  to  Day  &  Chapin,  of  Providence, 
In  1868  it  was  leased  to  Francis  Carpenter,  of  Glendale,  who  operated 
it  some  four  or  five  years  and  then  purchased  the  entire  property  of 
Mr.  Copeland.  Mr.  Carpenter  improved  the  property  and  increased 
the  machinery  to  100  full  fancy  Crompton  looms,  and  run  in  the  manu- 
facture of  fancy  cassimeres,  worsteds  and  coatings,  making  a  monthly 


560  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

production  of  60,000  yards  and  giving  employment  to  some  250'hands. 
In  1883  Joseph  H.  Carpenter  and  William  Orrill  succeeded  Francis 
Carpenter.     They  employ  100  men  at  the  present  time. 

Pascoag  is  the  largest  village  in  the  town  of  Burrillville.  It  con- 
tains a  number  of  mills  and  stores,  three  churches,  one  bank,*  two 
hotels,  and  a  live  newspaper,  and  is  the  center  of  trade  for  miles  around. 
Elisha  and  Daniel  Sayles  were  early  settlers  in  this  place  and  their 
houses  were  among  the  first  erected  and  are  still  standing  The  resi- 
dence property  now  owned  and  occupied  by  A.  L.  Sayles  was  built  by 
Arnold  Hunt,  one  of  the  early  and  prominent  merchants  in  Pascoag. 
He  also  erected  the  brick  store  opposite  the  residence  of  A.  L.  Sayles 
and  traded  there  as  early  as  1825  or  1830.  He  resided  in  the  upper 
part  of  this  building  and  kept  his  store  on  the  ground  floor  many 
years.  Following  him  in  that  place  came  Moses  B.  Salisbury  and 
Dutee  Steere,  who  after  a  short  time  failed,  Augustus  Steere  going 
their  security,  who  also  broke  up  financially  in  consequence.  Augustus 
Steere  died  about  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a  prominent  man  of 
the  town,  respected  for  his  honesty.  He  lived  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
below  Pascoag.  Horatio  Cook  next  kept  the  old  brick  store,  but  after 
a  few  years  he  went  to  the  town  of  Glocester.  The  old  brick  store  is 
now  used  for  a  tenement  house. 

About  the  year  1835  or  1836  Otis  and  Elliott  Cook  built  a  hotel  and 
store  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village,  now  known  as  the  Potter  & 
Salisbury  store.  The  Eddys  bought  the  land  of  Elisha  Sayles.  They 
soon  went  into  the  manufacturing  business  and  failed.  They  did  not 
run  the  hotel  long.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  building  was  a  hall, 
frequently  used  by  the  youth  of  the  village  and  vicinity  on  gala  occa- 
sions. Mr.  Whipple  Walling  and  others  of  his  age,  in  former  times, 
frequently  attended  dancing  parties  in  this  hall.  Doctor  Alfred  Albee 
was  the  next  trader  in  this  store.  Willard  Spaulding  came  after  him 
and  in  1846  Whipple  Walling  bought  them  out  and  in  1851  sold  to 
William  Knight.  About  1860  Esek  and  George  Sweet  sold  out  to 
Potter  &  Salisbury,  since  which  time  the  store  has  been  known  by  that 
name.  Mr.  Fred.  Salisbury  was  then  but  19  years  of  age  and  died 
afterward.     Mr.  Henry  A.  Potter  has  the  store  now. 

Mr.  Walling  built  a  store  where  the  post  office  is  now,  after  selling 
his  stock  to  Mr.  Knight.  David  S.  Salisbury  succeeded  him  in  1857. 
George  Jefferson,  Charles  H.  vSaylesand  others  followed.  Mr.  Monroe 
Inman,  the  successor  to  Byron  Noyes,  the  postmaster,  is  there  now. 
Sayles  Walling  built  a  store  above  the  post  office,  nearly  opposite  of 
where  Smith's  stables  are  now,  in  1840.  In  a  few  years  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Marcus  Eddy  and  he  then  went  to  Providence.  In  1857 
Whipple  Walling  went  to  Providence  also,  going  into  the  clerkship 
for  his  uncle  in  a  store  on  Charles  and  Randall  streets.  At  the  Sayles 
Walling  stand  Everett  Battey  keeps  a  meat  shop  in  one  part  of  the 
building  and  Mr.  Turner  keeps  a  fish  market  in  the  other. 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDE^X•E   COUNTY.  561 

The  Pascoag  National  Bank  building  was  built  by  L,  D.  Willard 
before  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  and  occupied  first  by  Edward 
Hall,  afterward  by  Earl  &  Freeman  for  a  store.  It  was  used  as  a  store 
until  within  the  past  ten  years,  when  it  was  turned  into  a  bank. 
Elisha  S.  Sayles  built  the  store  now  kept  by  Dutee  S.  Salisbury  in  1882 
or  1883.  Manning  Woods  kept  store  in  a  building  erected  by  David 
S.  Salisbury  a  little  while  before  the  late  war.  He  sold  the  property 
to  Mr.  Wood.  Among  other  prominent  merchants  now  doing  business 
should  be  mentioned  Eddy  &  Schofield,  a  little  further  down  the  street; 
Freeman  &  Fagan,  who  command  an  extensive  trade;  a  co-operative 
store,  started  in  1888  and  has  now  a  patronage  of  180  families;  the 
drug  store  of  L.  Miller,  who  traded  there  15  years  ago  and  now  oper- 
ated by  Mr.  B.  E.  Dewey;  the  hardware  store  of  James  H.  Smith;  the 
Waterman  Furniture  rooms  and  others. 

W.  Walling,  above  mentioned,  is  a  great-grandson  of  Elisha  Sayles, 
whose  children  w^ere:  Ahab  (Mr.  Walling's  grandfather),  Christopher, 
Esek,  Royal,  Daniel  and  Elisha,  the  last  named  being  grandfather  to 
Mrs.  Josephine  Walling,  wife  of  Whipple  Walling;  and  John  Walling, 
his  father,  was  cousin  to  Angell  Sayles,  Mrs.  Wallmg's  father. 

About  1880  Burrillville  had  its  first  newspaper.  It  was  established 
at  Pascoag  by  Edgar  A.  Mathewson,  now  of  Harrisville.  The  enter- 
prise, however,  did  not  succeed,  and  after  a  very  short  time  its  publi- 
cation ceased.  The  present  paper,  TJie  Burrillville  Neics,  was  estab- 
lished in  1881  by  Joseph  A.  and  David  H.  Whittemore,  sons  of  Rev- 
erend D.  R.  Whittemore,  a  Baptist  minister,  formerly  of  Newport  and 
Providence.  For  a  short  time  the  "patent"  sheet  was  issued,  but 
patronage  being  good,  the  greater  venture  was  taken,  and  the  whole 
paper  printed  by  the  proprietors,  it  being  a  folio  of  32  columns.  In 
1885  Mr.  D.  G.  Colburn  bought  an  interest  in  the  paper,  Mr.  -J.  A. 
Whittemore  retiring,  since  which  time  the  paper  has  been  published 
by  Whittemore  &  Colburn.  The  paper  is  independent  in  politics, 
aiming  to  give  the  local  news  only.  It  is  a  bright,  racy  sheet,  has  a 
large  circulation,  and  a  good  advertising  patronage. 

There  are  at  present  two  hotels  in  the  village,  of  which  the  Manu- 
facturers' Hotel  is  the  older.  It  was  formerly  a  dwelling  house, 
originally  owned  by  Nelson  Warren,  later  by  Martin  Salisbury,  who 
sold  the  property  to  Lorenzo  D.  Ward,  of  whom  A.  L.  vSayles  pur- 
chased it  and  remodeled  it,  fitting  it  up  for  a  hotel.  It  is  a  large  house 
containing  some  40  rooms,  and  is  now  under  the  proprietorship  of 
A.  L.  Mathewson  &  Son.  The  Pascoag  Hotel  was  erected  by  Horace 
A.  Kimball  about  1874  or  1875.  In  1879  the  property  was  sold  to  D.  B. 
Mowry  and  is  now  owned  by  his  heirs,  and  is  under  the  proprietorship 
of  Mrs.  Dora  B.  Mowry. 

Laurel  Hill  has  been  a  center  of  trade  beyond  the  memory  of  the 
oldest  inhabitant  now  living.  Thomas  Shumway  traded  there  as  early 
as  1825  or  1830,  in  what  was  for  a  long  time  known  as  the  "  Emporium." 
86 


562  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

He  did  not  keep  it  long,  as  his  brother,  Daniel  S.  Shumway,  opened  a 
store  above  him,  where  Whitely  &  Luther  now  keep.  Whitely  &  Lu- 
ther have  been  trading  in  the  village  for  many  years,  and  are  promi- 
nent citizens  and  traders.  Mr.  J.  A.  Bailey,  a  more  recent  merchant 
of  this  place,  also  has  a  first-class  store. 

Among  the  earliest  traders  in  Harrisville  was  a  Mr.  Rhodes,  who 
kept  store  a  few  years  during  the  beginning  of  the  village.  The 
old  stand  was  long  since  burned  down.  Eddy  Keach  was  the  only 
storekeeper  there  for  some  time.  About  1830  Daniel  S.  Mowry,  a 
brother  of  Alvah  Mowry,  the  town  clerk,  built  a  small  store  and  kept  it  a 
few  years.  His  place  of  business  has  been  occupied  for  the  last  15 
years  by  D.  T.  W.  Phillips.  Benjamin  Mowry  also  traded  a  number 
•of  years  before  he  died  in  1864.  Mr.  Benjamin  Mowry  built  the  hotel 
in  1837. 

Of  those  doing  business  now  in  Harrisville  should  be  mentioned 
John  M.  Smith  and  W.  J.  Tracy,  each  of  whom  has  a  jewelry  store. 
They  have  been  in  business  about  18  years.  D.  C.  Remington,  Jr., 
began  trading  in  the  place  with  his  father  in  1858,  and  was  with  him 
till  1865,  since  which  time  a  number  have  been  in  partnership  with 
him,  the  firm  now  being  Remington  &  Sykes.  His  brother,  C.  S. 
Remington,  was  in  partnership  with  him  at  one  time.  He  was  lost 
on  the  ill-fated  "  Narragansett,"  which  burned  in  1881.  The  store  of 
Brooks  &  O'Donnell  is  a  thriving  one.  Mr.  R.  F.  Brooks,  the  senior 
partner,  was  clerk  and  subsequently  a  partner  of  D.  C.  Remington  16 
years.  Mr.  Thomas  O'Donnell,  the  junior  member,  was  also  a  clerk 
in  the  same  store.  They  erected  their  new  house  in  1887.  The  hard- 
ware store  of  A.  H.  Smith  was  built  by  Henry  White,  of  Chepachet. 
A.  A.  White  was  the  first  occupant  of  the  building.  He  sold  to  Wil- 
liam Carpenter,  and  he  sold  to  Smith.  Ira  Phillips  was  in  business 
with  T.  W.  D.  Phillips,  above  mentioned,  for  some  five  years.  Mr.  T. 
W.  D.  Phillips  is  the  present  postmaster.  Mrs.  Prendergast,  milliner, 
has  had  a  store  in  Harrisville  since  1878. 

There  are  two  hotels  in  the  village  of  Harrisville.  Eddy  Keach 
probably  was  the  first  tavern  keeper  in  the  place.  He  kept  store  and 
hotel.  Benjamin  Mowry  built  the  lower  hotel  in  1837  and  kept  it  a 
number  of  years  before  he  died.  It  has  been  in  the  hands  of  the 
Mowrys  ever  since  its  erection.  The  second  hotel  was  built  about 
1840  by  Smith  Wood.  In  1880  it  was  remodeled  by  James  Sykes,  the 
present  owner. 

Nicholsville,  known  also  as  Oak  Valley,  contains  a  mill  and  a  store, 
both  being  operated  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  D.  Nichols  &  Sons.  J.  D. 
Nichols,  now  deceased,  leaves  the  property  in  the  hands  of  his  heirs, 
consisting  of  Henry,  David,  Joseph  and  two  daughters.  It  is  a  five  set 
mill,  and  gives  employment  to  150  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  cassi- 
meres. 

The  mills  at  Plainville   are  operated  by  G.   H.  Whipple   for  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  5C)3 

manufacture  of  woolen  g-oods.  This  little  hamlet  has  no  store  nor 
church,  but  the  mill  gives  employment  to  75  hands  and  over. 

Mohegan  is  a  hamlet  containing  a  mill,  a  store  and  a  church.  The 
mill  was  formerly  owned  by  George  H.  Brown,  but  now  by  his  heirs, 
and  is  to  be  operated  by  Carpenter  &  Orrill,  who  will  fit  it  up  and 
manufacture  woolen  goods  in  connection  with  their  mill  at  Glendale. 
The  church  at  this  place  was  erected  by  the  people,  and  originally  in- 
tended for  the  Methodist  denomination.  The  paucity  of  members, 
however,  has  prevented  this  denomination  from  holding  regular  wor- 
ship, and  it  is  used  as  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Catholics.  W.  R. 
Stott  owns  the  store  at  this  place. 

Nasonville  is  a  village  near  Mohegan,  having  a  mill  and  two  stores. 
The  mill  is  owned  by  Perkins  &  Gilbone,  and  has  four  sets  of  cards 
for  the  manufacture  of  union  cloth.  The  stores  are  owned  by  W. 
Nason  and  A.  E.  Feltham. 

The  Granite  Bank  was  organized  September  17th,  18."51,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  stockholders  of  the  old  Pascoag  Bank,  at  which  the  follow- 
ing members  were  present:  Whipple  Sayles,  Syra  Sherman,  James  M. 
Wilson,  James  Wilson,  Angell  Sayles,  George  W.  Marsh,  Jason  Emer- 
son, Thomas  D.  Sayles,  Stephen  Emerson,  Leonard  Mason,  Daniel 
Salisbury,  James  S.  Cook,  Daniel  S.  Whipple,  Albert  L.  Sayles,  Burrill 
Logee,  Whipple  Walling,  Arnold  Ballou,  Asa  Ross,  Augustus  Hopkins, 
Nelson  Walling  and  J.  O.  Clarke.  Daniel  M.  Salisbury  was  elected 
president,  and  James  S.  Cook,  cashier.  July  5th,  1865,  the  bank  was 
changed  to  a  national  one,  under  the  name  of  the  Pascoag  National 
Bank.  January  9th,  1883,  John  T.  Fiske  succeeded  Mr.  vSalisbury  as 
president,  and  he  was  succeeded,  January  13th,  1885,  by  James  O. 
Inman,  who  held  the  office  till  his  death,  and  was  succeeded  by  Ol- 
ney  T.  Inman,  July  14th,  1890.  James  O.  Cook  was  succeeded  by 
Philip  O.  Hawkins,  the  present  cashier. 

In  1783  the  Society  of  Friends  held  meetings  in  Glocester,  now 
Burrillville,  and  at  that  time  and  for  several  years  afterward  the  mem- 
bers belonged  to  Uxbridge  monthly  meeting,  Massachusetts.  Meet- 
ings were  held  here  in  the  dwelling  house  of  Jesse  Battey.  About 
the  year  1790  they  were  attached  to  the  Smithfield  monthly  meeting 
of  Rhode  Island.  In  1791  a  lot  was  obtained  near  Cooper's  Mills,  now 
the  village  of  Mapleville,  it  being  deeded  to  James  Smith  and  Jesse 
Battey  as  trustees  of  the  monthly  meeting,  and  a  meeting  house  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  ^^109  10s.  It  was  an  unpretentious  structure  in 
size  and  architecture.  Meetings  of  worship  were  held  there  until 
1793,  when  a  preparative  meeting  was  established,  which  was  a  branch 
of,  and  subordinate  to,  the  Smithfield  monthly  meeting.  Among  the 
early  members  were  Benjamin  Battey,  his  wife  and  seven  children, 
James  and  Rufus  Smith,  Enoch  Steere  and  wife  and  Job  Chase.  A 
little  later  were  Mary  and  Smith  Battey,  Shadrach  Steere  and  wife, 


564  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Buffum  Chase  and  wife,  and  Philip  and  Mary  Walden.     The  member- 
ship was  never  large. 

The  Free-will  Baptist  church  of  Pascoag  was  the  first  society  of 
this  denomination  organized  in  the  state.  Elder  Colby  gathered  a 
church  membership  here  and  organized  the  society  December  15th, 
1812.  On  February  11th,  1813,  was  held  the  first  meeting,  and  the 
first  Free-will  Baptist  quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  state  was  at  the 
old  Burrillville  meeting  house  on  the  12th  of  March,  1814.  Elder 
Colby  was  the  active  pastor  of  this  church  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
until  failing  health  caused  his  resignation  that  he  might  go  south  for 
relief  from  his  distressing  malady.  He  reached  Norfolk,  Va.,  and 
there  died.  His  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  burying  ground 
of  Mr.  William  M.  Fauquier,  at  Norfolk. 

After  the  building  of  the  church  in  1839  the  following  pastors  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit:  Augustus  Durfee,  1841;  David  P.  Harriman,  1844; 
David  M.  Lord,  1847;  Meriah  P.  Davison,  1848;  David  P.  Harriman, 
1850;  Stephen  M.  Weeks,  1856;  William  H.  Waldron,  1857;  Mowry 
Phillips,  1864;  Azael  Lovejoy,  1874,  the  present  pastor.  The  deacons 
of  the  church  have  been:  Ishmael  Walling  and  Duty  Salisbury,  who 
together  held  the  offices  for  many  years;  John  Walling  and  Augustus 
Steere  were  the  next  incumbents;  Horatio  L.  Hopkins  succeeded  Mr. 
Steere,  then  James  H.  Gross  and  Frank  L.  Bates.  Whipple  Walling 
and  W.  S.  Slade  are  the  deacons  now,  the  former  succeeding  his  fa- 
ther. The  church  has  a  membership  of  about  135  persons,  and  a  good 
Sabbath  school  of  200  pupils,  under  the  superintendency  of  A.  S. 
Hopkins. 

The  Laurel  Hill  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  in  1847-8. 
Meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Moab  Paine  as  early  as  1810,  by 
Elder  Britt,  who  was  one  of  the'  first  itinerant  preachers  of  Method- 
ism in  the  town.  In  1840  a  Methodist  class  was  formed  at  Laurel 
Hill,  holding  services  occasionally  in  an  upper  room  in  what  was  then 
known  as  the  Withwood  factory.  In  1847,  through  the  efforts  of 
George  W.  Marsh  and  a  few  others,  a  church  was  built,  and  from  that 
time  they  had  regular  preaching.  In  1874  a  vestry  was  built  at  the 
the  rear  of  the  church,  and  in  1877  the  building  was  enlarged  to  ac- 
commodate the  increase  of  its  members,  which  numbered  over  100. 
Reverend  W.  Stoddard  is  pastor  at  the  present  time;  James  Carpen- 
ter is  class  leader,  and  Henry  Bailey  Sabbath  school  superintendent. 

An  Episcopal  church  was  built  at  Harrisville  about  1857.  The 
early  records  of  this  society  have  been  lost.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev- 
erend J.  H.  Earnes,  who  gathered  the  church.  He  afterward  was  lo- 
cated at  Concord,  N.  H.  This  is  at  present  a  missionary  station, 
there  having  been  no  permanent  rector  since  1876.  The  church  is  lo- 
cated on  Chapel  street,  in  the  village  of  Harrisville,  and  services  are 
held  only  at  long  intervals. 

The  Berean  Baptist  church  grew  from  a  Sabbath  school  that  was 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  565 

Started  about  1867.  The  church  was  organized  at  Harrisville  in  1874. 
At  the  organization  there  were  but  nine  members.  Reverend  William 
Fitz  tendered  his  services  gratuitously  for  a  time,  and  was  later  paid  a 
salary,  holding  meetings  in  Smith's  Hall  on  Chapel  street.  In  the 
spring  of  1877  a  deep  interest  was  awakened  in  spiritual  matters,  in- 
ducing a  number  to  join  the  organization.  Much  credit  is  due  Miss 
Ida  Steere  for  the  organization  and  prosperity  of  this  church.  Her 
conversion  dates  from  a  visit  made  to  Putnam,  Conn.,  where  she  be- 
came awakened  to  a  sense  of  her  religious  duty.  Reverend  A.  Gran- 
ger is  pastor  and  William  Fitz  is  superintendent  of  a  flourishing  Sab- 
bath school. 

In  early  times  there  were  but  few  Catholics  in  this  town,  and  owing 
to  their  circumstances  they  were  unable  to  have  a  resident  pastor.  At 
length  Reverend  Father  Lenihan  was  sent  to  organize  the  parish  and 
to  build  the  church.  He  commenced  the  structure  at  Pascoag,  but 
the  work  was  subsequently  abandoned.  Reverend  Father  Tully,  his 
successor,  deemed  Harrisville  a  more  central  point  for  them,  and 
began  St.  Patrick's  church.  The  work  was  completed  under  the  charge 
of  Reverend  Father  Duffy,  who  was  pastor  from  1857  to  1867,  by  whom 
also  the  building  was  afterward  enlarged.  Upon  his  retirement  Rev- 
erend Father  James  O'Reilly  succeeded  to  the  pastoral  charge.  A  few 
years  after  he  was  called  to  receive  the  reward  of  his  .stewardship  and 
Reverend  William  H.  Brie  succeeded.  Under  his  management  the 
church  was  relieved  from  debt.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  John 
Kiegan,  he  by  Father  Corrigan,  then  came  Father  M.  J.  Cooke,  his 
curate,  and  the  present  pastor.  Father  Cooke  was  assistant  pastor 
here  from  1878  to  1880,  and  assistant  pastor  of  vSt.  Michael's  church, 
Providence,  from  1880  to  1884,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  churches 
of  Burrillville.  St.  Joseph's  church  at  Pascoag  was  erected  in  1880. 
The  churches  were  united  in  1886. 

There  are  three  churches  in  the  village  of  Harrisville:  the  Catholic 
above  mentioned,  which  is  the  largest:  the  Episcopal,  which  is  but  a  mis- 
sionary chapel,  in  which  services  are  seldom  had,  and  the  Universalist 
church,  which  had  an  edifice  erected  in  1887  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  Reli- 
gious services  by  this  denomination  were  instituted  here  by  Reverend 
Adin  Ballou  before  the  late  war,  the  meetings  being  held  in  the  old 
town  house.  Following  him  came  Mr.  Boyden  from  Woonsocket,  who 
occasionally  preached  to  this  people.  No  regular  pastorate  began, 
however,  till  that  of  Reverend  Massena  Goodrich  of  Pawtucket,  in  1886 
and  1887,  since  which  time  stated  services  have  been  held. 

Temple  of  Plonor,  No.  25,  was  organized  April  25th,  1871,  at  the 
Baptist  church  in  Pascoag.  It  was  instituted  by  H.  W.  Kimball, 
grand  worthy  templar  of  Rhode  Island  and  other  officers.  The  first 
officers  were:  W.  C.  T.,  Joseph  F.  Esten;  W.  V.  T.,  Charles  A.  Wright; 
W.  R.,  E.  M.  Phillips;  W.  A^.  R.,  S.  R.  Manchester;  W.  F.  R.,  Alonzo 
A.  Sayles;  W.   T.,  F.  M.  Wood;  W.  U.,  Benjamin  P.  Hunt;  W.  D.  U., 


566  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

James  M.  Boutwell;  VV.  G.,  A.  Dorrity;  W.  S.,  E.  S.  Smith;  P.  W.  C.  T., 
A.  S.  Hopkins;  W.  C,  N.  Phillips.  The  number  of  charter  members 
was  27.     Meetings  of  the  society  are  held  in  Sayles  Hall. 

Prospect  Lodge,  No.  66,  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  was 
instituted  February  13th,  1877,  with  15  charter  members.  The  first 
officers  were:  W.  C.  T.,  Thomas  Jones;  W.  V.  T.,  Melissa  Clarke;  W. 
S.,  Emma  Southwick;  W.  A.  S.,  Arnold  W.  Clarke:  W.  T.,  James  Sykes; 
W.  F.  S.,  Harriet  Keech;  W.  C,  L.  G.  Carey;  W.  M.,  Charles  Hickey; 
W.  I.  G.,  Susan  Mowry;  W.  S.,  Mary  Wall;  L.  D.,  W.  C.  vSouthwick. 
Meetings  are  held  at  Harrisville. 

Granite  Lodge,  No.  33,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Pascoag, 
was  instituted  January  2d,  1874,  with  15  charter  members.  The  first 
officers  were:  N.  G.,  William  Nugent;  V.  G.,  M.  Wood;  R.  S.,  H.  A. 
Potter;  treasurer,  A.  C.  Sayles.  The  meetings  were  first  held  in  the 
"  Old  Hotel  Hall."  The  building  next  occupied  was  erected  in  1875, 
the  second  story  of  which  is  known  as  Music  Hall.  The  Lodge  has 
erected  a  new  building. 

Granite  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  established  August  22d, 
1867,  and  constituted  May  18th,  1868.  The  first  officers  were:  W.  M., 
Andrew  K.  Ballou;  S.  W.,  William  J.  Tracy;  J.  W.,  Alonzo  A.  Sayles; 
treasurer,  A.  C.  Sayles;  secretary,  Samuel  O.  Griffin;  S.  D.,  Henry  M. 
Chase;  J.  D.,  E.  T.  King;  S.  S.,  Russell  K.  Mathewson;  J.  S.,  Charles  S. 
Harris;  M.,  James  Phillips;  chaplain,  Alfred  A.  Presbry;  tyler,  J.  S. 
Ambler.     Regular  meetings  are  held  in  Harrisville. 

Up  to  1841  distilleries  were  in  successful  operation  in  this  town,  as 
well  in  other  parts  of  the  county.  Teachers,  doctors  and  preachers 
had  their  sideboards,  and  the  decanter  was  passed  to  the  casual  visitor 
on  all  occasions.  Whiskey  then  was  sold  as  low  as  25  cents  a  gallon 
and  was  freely  used  at  all  public  gatherings.  The  people  finally  began 
to  awaken  to  the  curse  and  the  temperance  reform  was  inaugurated. 
Meetings  were  held  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and  among  the  most 
prominent  and  eloquent  speakers  who  helped  to  agitate  the  subject 
was  one  Doctor  Christopher  C.  Harrington.  The  work  of  temperance 
carried  on  by  the  doctor  to  rid  his  fellow-man  of  this  accursed  evil 
alarmed  the  liquor  traffic  party  and  a  plan  was  set  on  foot  "to  blow 
the  doctor  out  of  town."  At  last  a  case  was  trumped  up  and  a  prose- 
cution was  instituted  against  him  on  a  charge  of  petty  larceny.  The 
warrant  upon  which  he  was  arrested  alleged  the  stealing  of  three 
cents  worth  of  hay  and  20  cents  worth  of  grain  from  the  barn  of  one 
Benjamin  Mowry,  Jr.,  where  the  doctor  had  been  boarding  his  horse. 
The  exciting  trial  came  off  m  Mowry 's  Hall,  and  after  a  long  and 
turbulent  display  of  the  case  it  passed  into  the  courts,  which  rendered 
a  verdict  of  acquittal. 

Harvey  P.  Brown  was  another  ardent  advocate  of  temperance  and 
lectured  in  various  parts  of  the  town  with  great  acceptance  and  did 
much  good.     Like  Mr.  Harrington  he  had  many  bitter  enemies,  and 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  5G7 

the  rum  dealers,  to  rid  themselvevS  of  this  reformer,  brought  an  accu- 
sation against  his  wife  for  theft.  By  some  means  or  other  the  charge 
was  substantiated  and  she  was  adjudged  guilty.  Upon  the  announce- 
ment of  this  verdict  the  husband's  feelings  became  uncontrollable  and 
he  rushed  from  the  court  room  in  despair  and  for  many  months  was  a 
raving  maniac.  He  never  fully  recovered  from  the  shock  but  for  years 
wandered  about,  the  creature  of  circumstances. 

There  are  two  total  abstinence  and  literary  societies  in  the  town 
that  are  exerting  a  wholesome  influence  upon  the  rising  generation. 
One  is  St.  Joseph's,  located  at  Pascoag,  and  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Catholic  church,  the  other  is  St.  Patrick's,  and  is  located  at  Harris- 
ville.  Both  of  these  societies  have  library  and  reading  rooms  open 
daily.  The  shelves  in  these  society  rooms  are  supplied  with  daily 
papers,  magazines  and  monthlies. 

The  King's  Daughters  is  a  society  organized  in  behalf  of  the  educa- 
tional needs  in  the  South,  which  though  only  established  here  in  1889, 
has  a  large  representation  in  the  town. 

The  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  have  regular  meetings 
in  Pascoag  and  Laurel  Hill.  The  society  was  organized  in  1886,  and 
has  a  membership  of  50  persons.  Mrs.  Cora  M.  Inman  is  president  of 
the  society  and  Mrs.  Azael  A.  Lovejoy  is  vice-president. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Sm'ith  Angell,  born  in  1834  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Esten  and 
Charlotte  (Walling)  Angell.  He  was  representative  in  1878-9  in  the 
general  assembly  of  the  state.  He  married  vSusan,  daughter  of  Amasa 
Seamans,  of  Burrillville.  His  grandfather,  Randall  Angell,  came  from 
North  Providence  to  Burrillville  in  1789  and  located  on  the  farm  where 
his  grandson,  Smith  Angell,  lives  and  was  born.  His  father,  Esten 
Angell,  was  senator  and  representative,  holding  the  last  office  when 
only  22  years  of  age,  and  was  in  the  town  council,  overseer  of  the 
poor  and  justice  of  the  peace. 

John  Arnold,  born  in  1815  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Abigail  (Cook)  Arnold.  He  was  educated  in  the  Burrill- 
ville schools,  and  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Dexter  Richardson,  of 
Uxbridge,  Mass.,  who  died  in  1863.  His  father  was  a  member  of  the 
town  council  and  held  many  other  town  offices. 

Job  Ballou,  born  in  1818  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Marcy  (Brown)  Ballou.  He  was  married  in  1863  to  Harriet  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Gory.  They  have  one  child,  Job  Ascor.  His  father, 
Daniel,  was  born  on  the  same  farm.  Mrs.  Ballou's  mother  was  the 
sixth  generation  of  the  descendants  of  Roger  Williams. 

Fayette  E.  Bartlett,  born  in  1840  in  Smithfield,  is  a  son  of  Elisha 
and  Sarah  (Ballou)  Bartlett.  He  was  married  in  1865  to  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Lafayette  Reynolds  of  Glocester.  Their  children  are: 
Francis  F.,  died  1867;  Sophia  L.,  Marion  D.,  Waldo  R.  and   iMarsella 


56S  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

M.  Mr.  Bartlett  was  elected  to  the  senate  in  1880, 1881  and  1882.  He 
manufactured  woolen  goods  for  three  or  four  years  and  has  been  in  the 
lumber  business  for  the  past  20  years.  His  great-great-grandfather, 
Abner,  came  to  Burrillville  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  his  great- 
grandfather, grandfather  and  father  were  born,  and  where  his  father 
still  lives  at  the  age  of  81.  His  father  moved  to  Smithfield  for  a  time 
when  Fayette  E.  was  born,  but  returned  to  Burrillville  upon  the  death 
of  his  wife. 

George  O.  Bligh  was  born  in  1848  in  Burrillville,  on  the  same  place 
where  he  has  always  lived,  and  is  a  son  of  Otis  W.  and  Lydia  (Esten) 
Bligh.  He  married  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  Keniston,  of 
Upton,  Mass.,  in  1876.  Their  children  are:  Eldora  E.,  John  O.  and 
Sylvia  G.  His  father  was  a  member  of  the  town  council,  also  president 
of  the  same. 

Joseph  H.  Carpenter  was  born  in  1837  in  England,  came  to  America 
in  1855  and  located  at  Graniteville,  in  the  town  of  Burrillville,  and 
worked  in  the  mill  there  until  1858.  He  then  worked  in  the  mill  at 
Pascoag  until  1860,  and  in  the  fall  as  clerk  for  Steere  &  Tinkham,  in 
their  store  at  Harrisville,  then  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Glendale  from 
1864  to  1883,  when  he  began  operating  the  mill  at  that  place  under 
the  firm  name  of  Carpenter  &  Orrill.  He  married  Amanda  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Selah  Buxton,  of  North  Smithfield,  in  1868.  They  have  three 
children  living:  Emma  P.,  Joseph  Waldo  and  Clara  A.  Mr.  Carpenter 
has  held  the  office  of  assessor  of  taxes. 

Arnold  W.  Clark,  born  in  1858  in  Providence,  is  a  son  of  William 
H.  and  Mary  M.  (Arnold)  Clark.  He  was  educated  in  Burrillville  and 
at  Mowry  &  Goff's,  Providence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  coun- 
cil one  year.  He  was  married  in  1878  to  Fanny  A.,  daughter  of  John 
Johnson,  of  Burrillville.  Their  children  are:  Althea  Fanny,  Mabel 
Louise,  Edith  Frances,  Florence  Gertrude  and  Alice  Belle.  Mr.  Clark 
has  been  in  the  butcher  business  for  fifteen  years.  His  father  located 
in  Burrillville  when  Arnold  W.  was  only  six  weeks  old.  They  have  al- 
ways lived  in  the  same  house.  His  father  carried  on  the  butcher  busi- 
ness in  Providence,  Woonsocket  and  Burrillville,  and  died  in  1880. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  a  number  of  years.  His 
grandfather,  Joseph  Clark,  carried  the  mail  from  Burrillville  to  Che- 
pachet  during  the  Dorr  war. 

James  Sullivan  Cook  was  born  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  December  4th, 
1810.  His  parents,  Ichabod  and  Louisa  (Cook)  Cook,  were  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  highly  respected  for  their  sterling  qualities 
of  character,  and  thus  young  Cook's  early  training  was  of  the  best. 
He  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm,  but  nevertheless 
managed  to  obtain  a  good  common  school  education.  For  some  time 
he  attended  the  Friends'  School,  Providence,  and  when  23  years  of 
age  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  mercantile  business  of  E.  T.  Read  & 
Co.,  Woonsocket,  R.  L     Later  he  became  a  partner  with  E.  T.  Read 


I 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY.  669 

and 'A.  Hixon,  engaging  in  the  same  business.  He  also  served  some 
time  as  clerk  for  the  Clinton  Manufacturing  Company  and  others.  In 
1847  Mr.  Cook  removed  to  Pascoag,  Burrillville,  R.  I.,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  winning  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  and  taking 
much  interest  in  the  general  welfare  of  the  town.  In  1851  he  was 
elected  cashier  of  the  Granite  Bank,  now  the  Pascoag  National  Bank, 
which  position  he  successfully  held  until  a  few  years  ago.  He  was 
also  treasurer  of  the  Pascoag  Savings  Bank  for  several  years.  From 
1854  to  1862  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fancy  cassimeres, 
in  company  with  Pitts  and  Thomas  D.  Sayles,  at  Pascoag,  the  firm 
style  being  Sayles,  Cook  &  Co.     Mr.  Cook  was  the  financial  manager. 

Mr.  Cook  has  efficiently  served  as  town  clerk,  and  for  several  years 
as  town  treasurer,  and  has  also  taken  considerable  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  having  been  a  member  of  the  school  committee  since 
1871.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  before  the  organization  of 
that  party  was  a  whig.  He  was  chosen  state  senator  from  Burrillville 
in  1858,  reelected  the  following  year,  and  served  in  the  same  capacity 
from  1869  to  1875,  having  been  four  years  chairman  of  the  finance 
committee. 

November  13th,  1837.  Mr.  Cook  married  Elsie  Ann,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Sayles,  of  Pascoag.  Their  union  was  blessed  by  seven  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  They  are — Marcella  S.,  wife  of  T. 
E.  Hopkins,  and  Phebe  Smith,  wife  of  William  H.  Sayles.  Mrs.  Cook 
died  in  October,  1854.  Mr.  Cook  married,  second,  October  28th,  1856, 
Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Pettit,  daughter  of  Harvey  Ballou,  of  Cumberland,  R.  I. 
She  was  a  woman  of  a  charitable  nature,  and  was  always  interested  in 
helping  the  poor  and  afflicted.  For  upwards  of  13  years  she  was  ap- 
pointed woman  visitor  to  the  penal  and  correctional  institutions  of  the 
state  of  Rhode  Island.     She  died  November  10th,  1890. 

Benjamin  H.  Cooke,  born  in  1817  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Elisha 
and  Mary  (Handy)  Cooke.  He  married  for  his  -first  wife  Sylvia,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Esten,  of  Burrillville.  She  died  in  1847.  His  present 
wife  is  Angelina  P.  Esten,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  They  were  married 
in  1848.  His  children  were:  Mary  A.  (by  first  wife),  died  1844,  and 
Henry  E.,  who  married  Martha  xVI.,  daughter  of  Isaac  W.  Darling,  in 
1881,  and  has. one  child,  Benjamin  H.  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  member  of  the 
town  council  one  term,  and  member  of  school  committee.  He  taught 
in  the  district  school.  His  grandfather,  Israel,  also  served  in  many 
town  offices.  His  great-grandfather  was  Elisha  Cooke,  who  settled  on 
the  place  where  Benjamin  H.  and  his  grandfather  were  born. 

Charles  D.W.Cooper,  born  in  1821  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Eddy 
M.  E.  and  Nancy  (Harris)  Cooper.  He  married  Nancy  A.,  daughter 
of  Amos  Fuller,  in  1845.  She  died  in  1888.  Their  children  were: 
Charles  G.,  Warren  M.  and  Mary  E.,  died  in  1859.  Charles  G.  mar- 
ried Lizzie  A.,  daughter  of  James  Collins,  of  New  York,  and  their  chil- 
dren are:    Charles  E.,  Evelyn  A.,  Alma  A.,  Olive  and  Irene. 


570  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Henry  L.  Copeland,  born  in  1841  in  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  is  a  son  of 
Lyman  and  Phebe  (Thompson)  Copeland.  He  was  married  in  1860  to 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  L.  Boss.  Their  children  are:  Danford  H., 
died  1865;  Gertrude  M.,  died  1878;  George  A.,  Mabel,  and  Maud.  Mr. 
Copeland  Avas  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1887  and  in  1889,  refus- 
ing to  run  in  1888.  He  is  boss  finisher  for  Carpenter  &  Orrill.  His 
father  was  always  identified  with  mill  business. 

John  Q.  Darling,  born  in  1834  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  John 
Darling.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Burrillville.  He  was 
elected  to  the  general  assembly  in  1884,  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  from  1878  to  1883,  justice  of  the  peace  three  or  four  years,  and 
coroner  two  or  three  years.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Dexter  Taft,  of  Burrillville. 

Seril  Esten,  born  in  1822  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  John  Esten,  2d, 
and  Lovina  (Thayer)  Esten.  He  was  married  in  1864  to  Emily  A., 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Smith  of  Waterford,  R.  I.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  town  council  a  number  of  years,  and  representative  in  the 
general  assembly.  His  father,  Judge  Esten,  served  in  the  town  coun- 
cil, as  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  other  offices.  His  great-grandfather 
came  to  Burrillville  from  Glocester. 

W.  F.  Esten  was  born  in  Burrillville  in  1859,  and  was  married  in 
1884  to  Effie  L.,  daughter  of  Wallace  H.  Smith  of  Southbridge,  Mass. 
His  father,  John  F.  Esten,  was  born  in  Burrillville,  was  always  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  in  the  town,  and  for  a  time  kept  a  general 
store. 

John  Thomas  Fiske,  a  retired  manufacturer  of  Pascoag,  was  born 
in  thetown  of  Scituate,  R.  I.,  January  30th,  1819.  Benjamin  Fiske  was 
his  great-great-grandfather.  He  came  to  Scituate  (then  Providence)  in 
1727,  and  bought  a  large  tract  of  land,  the  homestead  of  which  is  now 
owned  by  John  T.  Fiske,  and  has  been  in  the  name  since  its  settle- 
ment. At  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  this  tract  of  land,  John  Fiske, 
the  son  of  Benjamin,  was  a  lad  but  13  years  of  age.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Williams,  a  great-granddaughter  of  Roger  Williams,  and 
their  son,  Caleb  Fiske,  became  an  educated  physician  and  a  man  of 
considerable  prominence.  He  died  October  4th,  1834,  aged  81  years,  8 
months  and  10  days.  He  married  Mary  Manchester  June  24th,  1776, 
ten  days  before  the  declaration  of  independence.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Captain  Thomas  Manchester  of  Providence,  a  seafaring  man,  who 
was  lost  on  his  last  voyage,  the  ill-fated  vessel  never  having  been 
heard  from.  She  died  in  1817  in  the  64th  year  of  her  age.  Doctor 
Fiske  was  a  surgeon  in  the  revolution  under  General  Sullivan's  com- 
mand. Among  Doctor  Fiske's  private  papers  is  a  receipt  from  Sam 
Stone  of  $2,000  for  a  five  year  old  sorrel  horse  purchased  August  15th, 
1780,  showing  the  great  value  of  the  horses  or  the  small  value  of  the 
currency  of  that  day,  which  was  probably  about  $60  in  silver.  In  1818 
Doctor  Fiske  became  a  member  of  the  Rhode  Island  Medical  Society, 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  571 

was  for  a  few  years  its  president,  and  at  his  death  he  bequeathed 
the  society  40  shares  of  the  Union  Bank  stock  in  Providence,  worth 
$2,000,  which  sum  was  to  be  devoted  to  scientific  purposes.  Doctor 
Fiske  and  his  son,  Philip  Manchester  Fiske,  established  the  cotton 
manufacturing  business  at  Fiskeville,  R.  I.,  and  carried  it  on  exten- 
sively for  many  years.  These  mills  are  now  owned  by  B.  B.  &.  R. 
Knight.  The  Fiskes  also  built  up  the  village  and  mills  at  Jackson, 
which  were  subsequently  sold  to  Governor  Jackson,  after  whom  the 
place  was  named. 

October  7th,  1817,  Philip  Manchester  Fiske  married  Eliza  Andrews 
Taylor,  daughter  of  William  Taylor,  of  Providence,  a  merchant,  of  the 
firm  of  Grinnell  &  Taylor  of  that  city.  Their  children  were:  John 
Thomas,  Philip  Manchester,  Elizabeth  Taylor,  Mary  Manchester  and 
Abby  Williams,  all  living.  Philip  Manchester  Fiske  was  born  March 
2d,  1782,  and  died  January  31st,  1828,  when  hardly  46  years  of  age, 
and  when  John  T.  Fiske  was  but  nine  years  of  age.  With  five  chil- 
dren to  educate,  the  widowed  mother  decided  upon  moving  to  Provi- 
dence, where  the  schools  were  noted  for  their  efficiency  and  thorough- 
ness, and  accordingly  in  1835  took  up  her  abode  in  that  city,  where 
she  died  April  17th,  1876,  79  years  of  age.  She  was  born  September 
8d,  1797. 

John  T.  Fiske,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  a  very  good  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Providence,  and  was  thoroughly  trained 
for  the  many  difficult  and  responsible  positions  of  life  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  assume.  His  business  career  was  begun  in  the  employ 
of  George  W.  Gladding,  a  leading  dry  goods  merchant  of  Providence. 
This  was  in  1836.  About  two  years  later  he  accompanied  some  of  his 
acquaintances  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  for  the  next  two  years  he  was 
engaged  as  a  cotton  broker.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  Norwich  & 
Worcester  railroad,  he  was  induced  to  embark  in  the  cotton  and  grain 
business  with  a  Mr.  Davis  at  Norwich,  Conn.  Considerable  money 
was  lost  by  this  venture  because  of  some  bad  debts  contracted,  and  in 
a  year  or  so  afterward,  the  business  here  was  wound  up.  He  then 
went  to  Harrisville,  in  the  town  of  Burrillville,  R.  I.,  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  goods  in  the  mill  owned  by  Andrew  Harris  & 
Co.,  Mr.  Fiske  buying  the  stock.  He  operated  about  30  looms,  and 
employed  about  60  hands.  A  year  or  so  after  that  he  located  in  a  mill 
on  grounds  now  occupied  by  John  T.  Fiske,  Jr.,  and  commenced  busi- 
ness there.  In  due  time  he  purchased  the  Peter  Place  property  ad- 
joining, and  run  both  mills  till  1875. 

Mr.  Fiske  has  also  been  prominently  connected  in  many  ways  with 
other  interests  of  the  towns  of  Burrillville  and  Glocester.  He  was 
director  of  the  Pascoag  National  Bank  from  August  29th,  1865,  to  Jan- 
uary 13th,  1885,  and  president  from  January  9th,  1883,  to  January  13th, 
1885.  He  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  organization  of  the  Chepachet 
Cemetery  Association  in  1850,  his  name  appearing  first  on  the  petition 


■572  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

to  the  general  assembly  for  that  association.  He  has  been  treasurer 
of  this  association  from  its  organization,  and  one  of  its  trustees  for 
many  years.  His  first  vote  was  cast  in  1840  for  Benjamin  Harrison, 
the  hero  of  Tippecanoe,  and  his  last  for  his  grandson,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

April  3d,  1843,  Mr.  Fiske  was  married  to  Miss  Abby  Eddy,  daugh- 
ter of  Honorable  Amasa  Eddy,  of  Glocester.  She  died  October  28th, 
1860.  Seven  children  were  born  to  this  union,  two-of  whom  died  in 
infancy:  Eliza  Taylor,  the  wife  of  Charles  Edward  Paine,  a  broker  in 
Providence,  and  one  of  the  license  commissioners  of  that  city,  was 
born  January  13th,  1844;  John  T.  Fiske,  Jr.,  owner  of  the  Sheffield 
Worsted  Mills,  Pascoag,  was  born  May  21st,  1847,  and  is  married  to 
Kate  E.,  daughter  of  Smith  R.  Arnold,  of  Burrillville:  Frank  Fiske 
was  born  September  30th,  1850;  Fannie  was  born  September  16th, 
1852,  died  March  3d,  1880,  and  Mary  Owen,  now  the  wife  of  Doctor 
Sayer  Hasbrouck,  of  Providence,  was  born  July  16th,  1854. 

Mr.  Fiske  retired  from  active  business  in  1875,  and  in  connection 
with  other  affairs  has  devoted  more  or  less  of  his  time  since  to  the 
management  of  the  farm  at  Chepachet  belonging  to  his  sister-in-law. 
Miss  Mary  B.  Eddy,  with  whom  his  children  have  made  their  home 
since  their  mother's  death. 

Arthur  S.  Fitz,  son  of  William  and  Ellen  L.  (Salisbury)  Fitz,  was 
born  in  1860,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  at  Mowry  &  Goff's 
school.  Providence.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.' and  at 
the  age  of  17  went  to  work  with  a  file  company,  remaining  nine  years 
keeping  books,  and  was  head  bookkeeper  when  he  left.  In  1886  he 
started  a  cream  factory  in  Burrillville  in  company  with  his  brother, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Fitz  Brothers,  which  continued  until  April, 
1889,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of  treasurer  and  agent  of  the 
Rhode  Island  Creamery  Company,  of  Providence.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  state  executive  committee  of  the  Rhode  Island  State  Grange.  He 
married  Delia  M.,  daughter  of  Joseph  A.  Richardson,  of  Douglass, 
Mass. 

James  E.  France  was  born  in  1813,  in  Burrillville,  in  the  same 
house  in  which  he  has  always  lived.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  An- 
nie (Inman)  France.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Goodenow.  His  pres- 
ent wife,  whom  he  married  in  1844,  is  Susan,  daughter  of  Thaddeus 
Phillips.  He  has  one  child  living,  Erwin  J.,  who  was  educated  at 
Brown  University,  and  was  senator  from  the  town  of  Burrillville,  and 
is  now  practicing  law  in  Woonsocket.  James  E.  France  was  in  the 
general  assembly  in  1861  and  1862,  and  in  the  town  council  four  or 
five  years. 

Philip  O.  Hawkins  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1850,  and  was  educated 
at  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School,  New  Haven,  graduating  in  1871. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  school  committee  for  five  years.  He  has 
been  cashier  of  the  Pascoag  National  Bank  since  1888,  and  town  treas- 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  573 

urer  since  1884.     He  was  married  to  Ellen  I.,  daughter  of  M.  V.  vSmith, 
of  Burrillville,  in  187G. 

Addison  S.  Hopkins,  born  m  Scituate,  in  1844,  is  a  son  of  Horatio 
L.  and  Amey  Ann  (Smith)  Hopkins.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  at  Nichols  Academy,  Dudley,  Mass.,  at  New  Hampton  Lit- 
etary  and  Biblical  Institute,  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  and  at  Eastman's 
Business  College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1864.  He  first  entered  the  house  of  A.  Hopkins  &  Co.  as  bookkeeper, 
and  became  a  partner  in  1868.  He  has  been  three  times  elected  to 
the  senate,  has  been  member  of  town  council,  and  member  of  the  gov- 
ernor's staff.  He  was  married  in  1865  to  Juliette  E.,  daughter  of  An- 
gell  and  Sarah  (Ballou)  Sayles,  of  Burrillville.  Their  children  are: 
Waldo  A.,  Horatio  A.  and  Winifred  S.  Mr.  Hopkins  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  Free-will  Baptist  church  many  years. 

James  O.  Inman  was  born  in  1829  in  Burrillville,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Thompson)  Inman.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Friends'  School,  Providence.  He  was  president  of  the  Pascoag  National 
Bank,  a  director  of  the  Industrial  Trust  Company  of  Providence,  and 
director  of  the  Providence  and  Springfield  Railroad.  He  was  married 
in  1854  to  Ruhamah,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Whaley,  of  South 
Kingstown.  Their  children  are:  Mary  E.,  who  married  Albert  Sweet, 
of  Burrillville;  Olney  T.,  who  married  Leonora  M.  Salisbury,  of  Bur- 
rillville; Orianna  O.,  who  married  W.  A.  Cady,  of  Providence;  Cora  M., 
Isabel  A.  and  Francis  A.     Mr.  Inman  died  in  1880. 

L.  L.  Inman,  born  in  1852  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Donison  and 
Hannah  S.  (Mowry)  Inman.  He  was  married  in  1874  to  Ellen  M., 
daughter  of  Philip  A.  Sweet,  of  North  Providence,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren— Sarah  T.  and  Elmer  C. 

M.  V.  Inman  was  born  in  1833  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  and  came  to  Bur- 
rillville when  seven  years  old.  He  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Rhody 
(Pierce)  Inman.  He  is  district  trustee  and  has  served  as  such  several 
years.  He  was  married  in  1866  to  Rebecca  A.,  daughter  of  Shadrach 
Steere,  of  Burrillville. 

Oliver  A.  Inman,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1826,  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Nancy  (Thompson)  Inman.  He  has  been  deputy  sheriff  for  over  thirty 
years,  for  more  than  thirty  years  chairman  of  the  board  of  assessors, 
and  moderator  since  1856,  with  the  exception  of  two  years.  He  was 
elected  president  of  town  council  in  1888.  He  married  Matilda  E. 
Beckwith  in  1850.  She  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  His  father 
was  born  in  Burrillville,  and  was  a  manufacturer  of  scythes  from  1830 
to  1850,  w-hen  he  died. 

Olney  T.  Inman,  born  in  1859  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  James  O. 
and  Ruhamah  Inman.  He  was  educated  at  the  Friends'  School,  Provi- 
dence, and  graduated  in  1877.  He  was  married  in  1886  to  Leonora  M., 
dauo-hter  of  Edward  M.  Salisbury;  of  Burrillville.    He  first  entered  his 


574  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

father's  mill  as  finisher,  afterward  was  designer,  and  superintendent 
in  1884.     He  has  been  a  partner  since  January  1st,  1886. 

H.  S.  Joslin,  born  in  1856  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Doctor  Benja- 
min and  Emily  S.  (Arnold)  Joslin.  He  was  m.arried  in  1884  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  George  Olney,  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

Clovis  E.  Keach,  born  in  1825  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Eddy  and 
Cylia  (Smith)  Keach.  He  was  married  in  1844  to  Nancy,  daughter  of 
Lyndon  Hicks,  of  Burrillville.  They  have  had  two  children:  Albert 
L.,  born  in  1847,  died  in  1851,  and  Alfred  S.,  born  1850.  His  father 
was  born  in  1800  and  died  in  1881.  His  second  wife  was  Emily  A. 
Smith,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  He  was  a  democrat  in  early  life,  and 
became  a  republican  upon  the  formation  of  the  party.  His  children 
were:  Kalista  A.,  died  in  1885;  Clovis  E.;  Horace  A.,  died  in  1862; 
Alonzo  E.,  died  in  1836;  and  Smith  B.  Horace  A.  was  a  lawyer,  editor 
of  Rhode  Island  Banner,  lecturer  on  temperance  and  moral  reform, 
and  author  of  the  "History  of  Burrillville."  Smith  B.  was  for  some 
time  editor  of  The  Toivn  and  Country,  and  was  sometimes  called  the 
*•  Poet."  He  is  now  a  reporter  on  a  New  York  paper.  His  father  held 
the  following  offices:  School  teacher,  six  terms;  quartermaster,  one 
year;  adjutant,  one  year;  major,  one  year;  colonel,  one  year;  postmas- 
ter, ten  years;  merchant,  eight  years;  moderator,  six  years;  notary 
public,  three  years;  auctioneer,  ten  years;  justice  of  the  peace,  twelve 
years;  on  school  committee,  two  years;  president  of  council,  six  years; 
assessor  of  taxes,  ten  years;  foreman  of  jury,  three  times;  delegate  to 
form  constitution,  three  times;  committee  to  bound  highway  districts 
in  town,  once;  committee  to  divide  real  estate,  and  appraiser,  referee, 
administrator  often,  and  farmer  since  1832.  He  was  urged  to  be  brig- 
adier-general but  refused,  was  member  of  the  general  assembly  one 
term  under  charter,  and  two  years  under  the  constitution,  and  the  last 
moderator  under  the  old  charter.  He  had  the  line  run  between  Bur- 
rillville and  Glocester,  and  got  1,000  acres  of  land  from  the  latter  town. 
He  always  attended  the  Free-will  Baptist  church. 

Michael  H.  Lacey  was  born  in  1852  in  Ireland,  came  to  America 
and  located  in  Burrillville  in  1869.  He  was  elected  member  of  the 
town  council  in  1887,  and  was  reelected  in  1888  and  1889.  He  was 
married  to  Julia  E.,  daughter  of  John  Black,  of  Burrillville,  in  1876. 
Their  children  are:  James  E.,  born  1877;  John  F.,  born  1881;  Rosella, 
born  1883;  Michael  H.,  born  1886.  Mr.  Lacey  was  engineer  on  the 
Providence  and  Springfield  railroad  a  number  of  years,  and  has  been 
in  the  butcher  business  for  the  past  ten  years. 

John  W.  Lackey,  born  in  1823,  is  a  son  of  Woodbury  and  Betsey 
(Smith)  Lackey,  His  father  was  a  native  of  Sutton,  Mass.,  and  his 
mother  a  native  of  Glocester,  R.  L  His  father  located  permanently 
in  Burrillville  in  1825,  when  John  W.  was  only  two  years  old.  He, 
with  his  brother,  Jonathan,  bought  the  tract  where  they  always  lived, 
and  where  he  died  in  1832.     John  W.  married  Alice  W.,  daughter  of 


Eru/^byF.aXsrmLnirit 


^Oiy^^^cL  /  rZct-^^^  u.^ 


^i 


in  ib70.  H ; 
1872.  vShe  < 
Frances. 

David  M 
of  Burrillvi' 
grine  Matht 
up  a  consid'- 
and  in  Burrillvii- 
years  of  age.     H 
of  Charles  Jenk 
great  manufactr 
Elisha  Mathewsf  - 
four  dan"-li*'  :-■ 
and    A 
was  tin 
the  fan 
He  mn 
of  Sinn 
His  SOI. 
Hulda! 
Huldai 
living. 

David  Mathcv 
lion 'in  his  early  i 
a  farmer,  and  cL 
earlier  stages  of  n  - 
dealer  and  a  contract 
put  up  about  100  pro;- 
He  erected  in  part  A 
thers.     'As  a  building  Cm. 
-7.  when  he  retired.     In 
operating  a  saw  mill  abou' 
lumber  per  year.     Mr.  Ma 
Mrm  near  Harrisville,  we 
■,'■11  cultivated.. 

Mr.  Mathewson  has  ah 
member  of  the  -legis'.''- 
chairman  of  the  town 
year.  When  27  yeai 
Smith  and  Nancy  W' 
Elisha  Mathewso  : 
Peregrine  and   Susai; 


576  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

general  assembly  in  1851,  to  the  senate  in  1852  and  again  to  general 
assembly  in  1872,  serving  three  years,  and  again  to  the  senate,  serv- 
ing two  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  several  years 
and  four  years  president.  He  was  in  the  council  at  the  age  of  26.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  democratic  convention  when  Cleveland  was 
nominated  in  1884.  He  was  a  candidate  for  lieutenant-governor  of 
Rhode  Island  in  1884.  He  has  served  on  the  democratic  state  central 
committee  for  over  25  years.  His  father  was  born  in  Glocester  when 
the  towns  were  one.  His  grandfather,  John  Mathewson,  was  born  on 
the  same  place. 

A.  A.  Mowry,  born  in  1834,  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Silas  and 
Lucy  (Phillips)  Mowry.  He  married  Olive  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  D. 
Nichols,  of  Burrillville,  in  1855.  Their  children  are:  Ernest  D.,  Ed- 
mund E.  and  Herbert  L.  Mr.  Mowry  was  twice  in  the  town  council 
and  served  on  the  school  committee  several  times.  His  father  was 
born  in  Smithfield  and  lived  to  be  88  years  old.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Brooklyn,  Conn.,  and  lived  to  be  72.  Mr.  Mowry  has  been  identi- 
fied with  manufacturing  woolen  goods  for  34  years;  was  boss  finisher 
in  Nichols'  mill  for  31  years,  and  interested  in  the  mill  for  the  past 
11  years.     His  father  had  12  children. 

Alvah  Mowry,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1817.  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Alice  (Smith)  Mowry.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  until  18 
years  of  age,  then  followed  his  trade  of  shoemaking  until  elected  to 
the  office  of  town  clerk  in  1854,  which  office  he  has  since  held  with  the 
exception  of  one  year.  He  married  Abby,  daughter  of  John  Whipple, 
of  Burrillville,  in  1843.  His  father  was  the  first  town  treasurer  of 
Burrillville. 

Lafayette  Mowry,  born  in  1833  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
Mowry,  2d,  and  Martha  (Staples)  Mowry.  He  was  married  to  Hannah 
F.,  daughter  of  Jason  Jenckes,  of  Burrillville,  in  1860.  Their  children 
are:  Herbert  L.,  Frank  B.  and  Irving  L.  Mr.  Mowry  was  district 
trustee  and  is  now  highway  surveyor.  His  father  and  mother  were 
natives  of  Smithfield  and  located  in  Burrillville  in  1833. 

Willaby  Nason,  born  in  1826  m  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Leonard  and 
Rebecca  (Briggs)  Nason.  He  has  served  in  the  town  council  several 
times  and  as  town  clerk  one  year.  He  was  postmaster  under  Cleve- 
land's administration.  His  first  wife  was  Ellen  E.,  daughter  of  Nathan 
Cook  of  Smithfield.  His  present  wife  is  Lydia  M.  Cook,  sister  to  his 
first  wife. 

David  D.  Nichols,  born  in  1845  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
D.  and  Harriet  S.  (Stafford)  Nichols.  He  was  educated  in  Burrillville 
and  at  New  London  Institute,  New  Hampshire,  and  Bryant  &  Strat- 
ton's  Commercial  College,  Providence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town 
council  one  year.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Charles  S. 
Smith  of  Burrillville.  His  present  wife  Is  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam J.  Dunn,  whom  he  married  in  1874.     He  has  one  child,  Clara  E. 


''J'eAr^J 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  577 

He  has  always  been   identified  with  woolen  manufacturing  and   man- 
ages the  business. 

Henry  Stafford  Nichols,  manufacturer,  is  the  son  of  Joseph  D. 
and  Harriet  (^Stafford)  Nichols,  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Burrill- 
ville,  March  19th,  1888.  His  great-grandfather  located  in  Rhode  Is- 
land before  the  revolution.  His  father,  Joseph  D.  Nichols,  born  in 
1813,  died  in  1879,  was  a  manufacturer  and  founded  the  village  of 
Nicholsville,  now  knov.m  as  Oak  Valley.  Joseph  D.Nichols  first  went 
to  Mohegan,then  to  Nasonville,  then  came  hereabout  1842,  and  began 
the  manufacturing  business  for  himself.  From  time  to  time  additions 
were  made  to  the  old  mill  until  it  had  increased  to  100  feet  in  length. 
It  was  burned  March  5th,  1872,  causing  a  loss  all  told  of  uninsured 
property  of  $40,000.  The  hard  work  of  a  lifetime  was  swept  away  in 
a  few  hours.  In  the  meantime  H.  S.  Nichols  had  come  upon  the  stage 
of  active  life.  He  began  superintending  the  mills  in  the  hard  times 
of  1857,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  till  overtaken  with  a  severe 
attack  of  typhoid  fever  in  1888,  when  he  was  forced  to  seek  another 
field  of  labor  because  of  the  frail  condition  in  which  his  sickness  had 
left  him.  Born  a  natural  mechanic,  and  possessed  with  an  architect- 
ural skill  rarely  found  even  among  experts,  he  very  appropriately  be- 
came, because  of  his  great  executive  ability,  the  managing  factor  of 
the  whole  concern.  In  ten  days  from  the  time  of  the  fire,  every  contract 
necessary  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  mill  was  made  by  him,  and  many 
new  improvements  under  his  management  and  care  were  added  to 
the  structure.  The  new  machinery  was  placed  and  everything  was 
in  running  order  by  August  of  the  same  year.  The  new  main  mill  is 
48  by  90  feet,  three  stories  high;  the  second  mill  is  36  by  84  feet,  two 
stories  high.  The  new  buildings  with  all  equipments  are  worth 
$80,000.  The  firm  consists  of  Henry  S.,  David  D.,  and  Joseph  D.  Nichols 
and  the  two  daughters,  under  the  firm  name  of  Joseph  D.  Nichols  & 
Sons.  The  mill  has  five  sets  of  broad  looms,  and  gives  employment 
to  150  hands,  in  the  manufacture  of  fine  cassimeres.  The  company's 
store  was  built  in  1879. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  first  married  to  Hannah  E.,  daughter  of  Isaac  Wall- 
ing of  Burrillville.  She  died  in  1863.  They  had  one  child,  now  the 
wife  of  W.  E.  Horton,  grocer,  of  Providence.  He  was  married  the 
second  time  to  Amanda  M.,  daughter  of  Jason  Olney  of  Burrillville. 
By  this  marriage  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  were  born,  both 
now  dead.  The  son  Jason  died  after  he  had  become  a  young  man  19 
years  of  age. 

Joseph  D.  Nichols,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1848,  is  the  youngest  son 
of  Joseph  D.  and  Harriet  S.  (Stafford)  Nichols.  He  was  educated  in 
Burrillville  and  at  North  Scituate.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  coun- 
cil in  1888.  He  married  Henrietta  L.,  daughter  of  Henry  Smith,  of 
Burrillville,  in  1876. 
37 


578  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

'  Myron  B.  Noyes  was  born  in  1840  in  Vermont,  and  came  to  Bur- 
rillville  in  1878.  He  has  always  been  in  the  mercantile  business,  and 
at  Pascoag  for  the  past  nine  years.  He  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Betsey  (Bartlett)  Noyes.  He  was  maried  in  1866  to  Martha  H.,  daugh- 
ter of  Ivory  Hill,  of  Buxton,  Mass.  He  was  recently  appointed  post- 
master at  Pascoag. 

William  Orrill  was  born  in  1848,  in  England,  and  came  to  America 
about  18oo  and  located  at  Olneyville.  His  parents  moved  from  there 
to  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  then  to  Putnam,  Conn.,  then  to  Pascoag,  where 
he  worked  in  a  mill.  His  parents  moved  to  Greenville  m  1860,  where 
he  also. worked  in  a  mill,  and  came  to  Glendale  in  1865,  working  there 
until  1868,  when  he  went  to  Greenville,  then  to  Belleville,  then  to  Mo- 
hegan,  then  to  Blackstone,  Mass.,  then  to  Nasonville  in  charge  of 
weaving,  then  back  to  Mohegan,  then  to  Hampden,  Mass.,  then  to 
Putnam,  Conn.,  then  in  1879  to  Glendale  as  superintendent  for  Francis 
Carpenter.  At  the  death  of  Mr.  Carpenter,  in  1883,  he  began  operat- 
ing the  mill  under  the  firm  name  of  Carpenter  &  Orrill.  He  married 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Edwin  and  Eliza  Brewer,  of  Wilbraham,  Mass., 
in  1888.  His  first  wife  was  Alice  A,,  daughter  of  James  and  Ann 
Bradley,  of  Blackstone,  Mass.  She  died  in  1881.  He  has  three  chil- 
dren living:  Gertrude,  Frederick  and  Mabel  A.  He  is  one  of  the  town 
committee. 

Burrill  Paine,  born  in  1810,  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Sterling  and 
Sarah  (Esten)  Paine.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Matilda,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Newell.  She  died  in  1864.  He  married  his  present  wife, 
Marinda,  daughter  of  Edward  Ross,  of  Burrillville,  in  1866.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Lorin  N.,  died  in  1843,  and  Sterling.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  council,  and  a  number  of  years  highway  surveyor. 

Joshua  Perkins,  manufacturer,  of  Nasonville,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Trowbridge,  Wiltshire,  England,  March  17th,  1842.  His  father, 
Joshua  Perkins,  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  young  Perkins,  after  ten 
years  of  age,  left  this  employ  and  went  to  work  in  a  woolen  mill,  where 
he  remained  as  long  as  he  stayed  in  that  country.  Realizing  that  his 
only  capital  was  his  labor,  his  thoughts  naturally  turned  toward  this 
country,  where  he  was  informed  the  munificent  sum  of  one  dollar  a 
day  was  actually  paid  as  wages  to  common  laborers.  At  the  age  of 
17  he  found  himself  possessed  of  sufficient  means  to  make  the  ocean 
voyage,  and  on  the  16th  of  March,  1859,  he  embarked  in  the  "  West- 
ern Empire  "  at  Liverpool,  for  the  United  States,  and  after  a  45  days' 
.sail  landed  in  Boston.  With  no  surplus  money  in  his  pocket  to  spare, 
he  immediately  set  out  for  Pascoag,  where  he  at  once  found  work  as  a 
common  hand  for  James  O.  Inman  at  $16  per  month.  The  next  year 
he  was  advanced  by  his  employer,  and  made  overseer  of  the  finishing 
room,  a  position  he  held  while  he  remained  in"  Mr.  Inman 's  employ. 
In  1862,  he  became  overseer  of  the  Granite  Mills,  and  remained  there 
three  years.     In  1865,  he  was  employed  by  James  Legg  &  Co.,  as  over- 


fe'%?^.       M 


i 


Y^T^C^   iLe-2^/U^^" 


/ 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  579 

seer  for  their  two  mills,  and  remained  with  them  till  1871.  In  1872' 
Mr.  Perkins  began  business  for  himself,  leasing  a  little  mill  in  Mohe- 
gan  for  the  manufacture  of  shoddy,  but  soon  returned  to  Mapleville 
to  serve  in  his  former  capacity,  where  he  remained  till  1877.  In  the 
meantime  he  established  a  store  in  Nasonville,  which  he  still  owns 
and  operates  under  the  style  of  J.  Perkins  &  Co. 

In  1886,  Mr.  Perkins  was  induced  to  undertake  a  still  greater  ven- 
ture. The  mills  of  Nasonville  had  been  idle  for  a  few  months,  seek- 
ing some  suitable  business  man  to  lease  the  property.  These  mills 
had  never  proven  a  success,  and  failures  had  become  frequent.  Mr. 
Perkins  undertook  the  enterprise,  began  the  manufacture  of  fancy 
cassimeres  and  worsteds  in  a  four  set  mill  of  20  broad  looms;  and  his 
business  has  so  prospered  that  the  mill  has  been  increased  to  33 
looms,  and  the  prospects  are  sufficiently  bright  to  warrant  the  leasing 
of  the  White  Mill  at  Pascoag,  to  take  effect  the  1st  of  August,  1890. 
The  business  at  the  White  Mill  is  conducted  under  the  style  of  the 
Perkins  Manufacturing  Company.  Forty-six  looms  will  be  placed  in 
the  White  Mill.  About  250  hands  are  employed.  Henry  W.  T.  Mali 
&  Co.,  New  York,  are  the  selling  agents  for  these  mills. 

Mr.  Perkins  was  married  February  7th,  1863,  to  Miss  Emily  Gulick. 
He  has  had  one  son,  Fred.  W.  Perkins,  now  a  member  of  the  Perkins 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  one  daughter,  Ruth  E.  Perkins,  who 
died  in  1889  at  the  age  of  15  years.  Mr.  Perkins  is  a  man  of  public 
spirit,  but  no  office  seeker.  He  has  been  assistant  postmaster  and 
postmaster  of  Nasonville  since  1877;  trustee  of  the  public  schools  for 
many  years,  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  town  council.  Mr.  Per- 
kins is  a  successful  business  man,  and  a  genial,  kind-hearted  gentle- 
man. 

Henry  Phillips,  born  in  1816  in  Glocester,  is  a  son  of  Madeous  and 
Martha  (Sayles)  Phillips.  He  was  two  years  old  when  his  father  located 
in  Burrillville.  He  married  for  his  first  wife  Fanny,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Lackey,  of  Grafton,  Mass.,  who  lived  in  Burrillville  at  the 
time.  His  present  wife  is  Asha,  daughter  of  John  Law,  whom  he 
married  in  1883.  His  grandfather  on  his  mother's  side  was  Christo- 
pher Sayles,  a  native  of  Glocester,  w^ho  served  in  the  revolutionary 
war  while  at  Newport. 

Hiram  Ross,  born  in  1813  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Joanna  ( Mowry)  Ross.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  school  committee 
and  road  surveyor.  He  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Amos  Stone,  in 
1842.  Their  children  are:  Julia  Ann,  born  1843,  and  James  M.,  born 
1845.  His  father,  Samuel  Ross,  was  representative.  His  grandfather, 
Seth  Ross,  was  in  the  revolutionary  war. 

Seth  A.  Ross,  born  in  1829  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Joanna  (Mowry)  Ross.  He  was  married  in  1856  to  Amie  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Brown  Angell  of  Burrillville.  Their  children  are:  Adeline  F., 
Fernando  C,  Maria  L.,  Edward  D.,  Earl  A.  and  Frank  W. 


'^80  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Albert  LePrelet  Sayles,  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Harrisville 
(formerly  called  Rhodesville),  in  the  town  of  Burrillville,  August  29th, 
1826.  He  is  a  representative  of  the  third  generation  of  a  large  family 
of  successful  manufacturers  in  Rhode  Island.  According  to  tradition, 
John  Sayles,  with  his  brothers  Richard  and  Thomas,  came  from  Eng- 
land. Richard  settled  on  what  is  now  called  Sayles  hill  in  Smithfield, 
Thomas  settled  in  Rehoboth  and  John  in  Providence.  We  have  no 
reliable  records  other  than  that  John  Sayles  married  Mary,  daughterof 
Roger  Williams,  in  1650,  and  held  for  some  time  town  treasurer,  town 
clerk,  grand  juror  and  other  offices.  The  grandson  of  John  Sayles  was 
Richard  Sayles,  a  very  prominent  citizen,  who  was  in  1731  town  clerk 
of  Smithfield.  His  son,  Israel  Sayles,  married  Marsa  Whipple,  and 
lived  in  Glocester.  Their  children  were:  Richard,  Esek,  Elisha, 
Christopher,  Royal,  Ahab,  Daniel,  Mary  (who  married  Esek  Brown), 
Roba,  Rebecca,  and  Mercy,  who  married  Benjamin  Mathewson. 

Daniel  Sayles,  the  grandfather  of  Albert  L.,  was  born  in  Glocester, 
in  that  part  of  the  town  since  included  in  the  town  of  Burrillville, 
October  31st,  1769,  and  died  January  25th,  1849.  Phebe,  the  wafe  of 
Daniel  Sayles,  was  the  daughter  of  Captain  Pitts  Smith.  She  was  born 
July  21st,  1769,  and  died  December  11th,  1855.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren: Hardin,  born  March  7th,  1779,  died  June  11th,' 1861;  Smith  S., 
born  December  24th,  1794,  died  August  31st,  1879;  Pitts,  born  August 
11th,  1801,  died  January  11th,  1864;  Mary,  born  September  3d,  1793, 
died  August,  1857;  Marietta,  born  1798,  died  1832;  Marcillar,  born  Sep- 
tember 5th,  1803,  died  January  14th,  1835;  Phidelia,  born  March  2d, 
1807,  died  1887;  Elizabeth,  born  October  15th,  1808;  Elsie,  born  vSep- 
tember  2d,  1811,  died  October  5th,  1854. 

Hardin  and  Laura  Sayles  were  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Laura,  the  wife  of  Hardin  Sayles,  was  the  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain John  and  Roba  (Smith)  Wood.  Their  other  children  were:  Maria 
Maretta,  born  June  25th,  1832,  died  July  16th,  1853;  Elliot  Smith,  born 
February  13th,  1834;  Hardin  Roscoe,'  born  May  20th,  1835;  Ellen 
Augusta,  born  September  7th,  1839,  died  January  11th,  1864;  and  Addi- 
son Clark,  born  July  18th,  1841. 

Albert  L.  Sayles  attended  the  common  schools  until  15  years  of 
age,  when  he  commenced  work  in  his  father's  mill.  Two  years 
later  he  obtained  employment  with  Daniel  S.  Whipple,  at  Gazza,  a  manu- 
facturing village  now  a  part  of  Mapleville  in  Burrillville.  Mr.  Whip- 
ple was  a  relative  (his  mother  being  a  sister  of  Hardin  Sayles)  and  had 
learned  the  business  of  manufacturing  in  the  mill  of  Edward  Harris, 
a  successful  manufacturer,  business  man,  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Woonsocket.  Mr.  Sayles  remained  with  Mr.  Whipple  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  learned  the  art  of  manufacturing  and  finishing 
woolen  goods.  He  then  returned  to  the  mill  of  L.  Copeland  &  Co.,  of 
which  firm  his  father  was  a  member,  and  in  1848  took  charge  of  the 
finishing  department.     On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Copeland  in  1850  he 


HISTORY    OF    FROVIDEN'CE    COUNTY.  581 

became  superintendent  of  the  mill,  which  position  he  held  until  1853, 
when  he  purchased  the  interest  of  his  uncle,  Pitts  Sayles,  and  the  firm 
was  changed  to  Hardin  Sayles  &  Son.  In  1801  his  father  died,  and  he 
continued  the  business  under  the  same  firm,  his  mother,  his  three 
brothers,  and  a  sister  (heirs)  retaining  their  share  of  his  father's  inter- 
est. In  1865  he  built  his  new  stone  mill  and  fitted  it  up  with  machin- 
ery, all  at  a  cost  of  about  $250,000.  Buying  out  the  other  heirs  except 
one  in  1880  he  still  enlarged  its  capacity  to  15  sets.  In  1874,  with 
other  gentlemen,  he  purchased  the  manufacturing  property  at  Warren, 
Mass.,  known  as  the  Sibley  Woolen  Mills,  the  original  cost  of  which 
w^as  $240,000,  and  now  owns  that  entire  property.  He  also  owns  the 
Huntsville  Mill  at  the  upper  village,  which  contains  seven  sets  of  cards 
and  46  broad  looms.  He  has  also  added  machinery  to  his  Warren  mill 
in  MassachUwSetts,  which  now  contains  ten  sets  of  cards  and  44  broad 
looms.  It  is  operated  by  Mr.  Sayles  and  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  William 
A.  Jenks,  under  the  firm  name  of  Sayles  &  Jenks.  Albert  H.  &  F.  L. 
Sayles,  his  sons,  have  bought  the  Fiske  &  Sayles  mill  property,  which 
they  own  and  operate  under  the  style  of  F.  L.  Sayles  &  Co.,  and  in 
which  Mr.  A.  L.  Sayles  is  also  interested. 

Mr.  Sayles  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  originating  and  build- 
ing the  Providence  &  Springfield  railroad,  was  one  of  the  largest  stock- 
holders of  the  company,  and  has  been  one  of  its  directors  since  its 
organization.  He  is  director  and  vice-president  of  the  Third  National 
Bank  of  Providence,  a  director  in  the  Pascoag  National  Bank  and  a 
director  in  the  American  and  the  Enterprise  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Companies.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  was  one  of  the  delegates 
to  the  national  republican  convention  held  at  Chicago  in  June,  1888. 
He  has  long  been  an  earnest  and  practical  temperance  man,  having 
prohibited  the  use  of  intoxicating  beverages  on  his  table,  and  provided 
a  commodious  and  comfortable  hotel  free  of  rent,  to  be  kept  strictly 
as  a  temperance  house  for  the  public  accom.modation  in  the  village. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Free-will  Baptist  vSociety  at  Pascoag,  of  which 
he  was  formerly  president  and  treasurer.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of 
the  churches  in  his  town  and  of  all  good  works. 

Mr.  Sayles  married,  December  1st,  1852,  Fannie  J.,  daughter  of 
David  and  Harriet  P.  (Benson)  Warner,  of  Uxbridge,  Mass.  They 
have  had  four  children:  Edgar  Franklin,  born  April  20th,  1855,  died 
March  24th,  1858;  Ellen  Maria,  born  November  30th,  1857,  and  married 
William  A.  Jenks,  who  resides  in  Warren,  Mass.,  and  is  one  of  the 
co-partners  in  the  operation  of  the  Warren  Mills;  Albert  Hardin,  born 
March  25th,  1863;  and  Frederick  Lincoln,  born  April  13th,  1865,  both 
of  the  firm  of  F.  L.  Sayles  &  Co. 

Albert  H.  Sayles,  born  in  1863  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Albert  L. 
and  Fannie  J.  (Warner)  Sayles,  and  was  educated  at  Mowry  &  Goff's. 
Providence,   graduating   in   1882.      He   was   elected   to  the   general 


582  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

assembly  in  1888  and  re-elected  in  1889.  In  1887  he  was  married  to 
Emma  B.,  daughter  of  John  Griffith  and  Lavinia  Bird  of  Newport. 

Fred.  L.  Sayles,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1865,  is  a  son  of  Albert  L. 
and  Fannie  J.  (Warner)  Sayles.  He  was  educated  in  Burrillville  and 
at  Mowry  &  Goff's  English  and  Classical  vSchool,  Providence,  graduated 
in  1885.  He  began  the  manufacturing  of  yarn  in  1887  and  to  make 
goods  in  1888.  He  was  married  in  1888  to  Phebe  M.,  daughter  of 
Manning  Wood,  of  Pascoag. 

Henry  C.  Sayles,  born  in  1839  in  Burrillville,  is  the  youngest  son 
of  Welcome  and  Maria  Sayles.  He  was  married  to  Amanda  F., 
daughter  of  Stephen  Eddy,  of  Burrillville,  in  1870.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  12th  R.  I.  Infantry  in  1862. 

Sylvester  Sayles,  born  in  1825  in  Burrillville,  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Welcome  and  Maria  Sayles.  He  was  representative  in  1860  and  1861, 
has  served  on  school  committee,  has  been  collector  of  taxes  and  presi- 
dent of  town  council  two  or  three  years. 

William  A.  Sheldon  was  born  in  1837  in  Glocester,  and  located  in 
Burrillville  in  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Marana  (Kelly)  Shel- 
don. He  married  in  1864  for  his  first  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  James 
Preston,  of  Foster.  She  died  in  1865.  His  present  wife,  Nancy  E., 
daughter  of  Thomas  M.  Baker  of  Grafton,  Mass.,  he  married  in  1873. 
He  has  one  child,  William  R.  Sheldon.  He  has  been  engaged  for 
thirty-five  years  in  his  business  of  builder  and  established  for  himself 
for  twenty  years.  He  built  most  of  the  principal  buildings  in  Burrill- 
ville.    He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council. 

Sumner  Sherman,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1830,  is  a  son  of  Cyria  and 
Maria  (Wood)  Sherman.  He  has  been  highway  surveyor  for  35  years. 
He  married  Lucinda  Mowry,  of  Smithfield,  in  1856.  They  have  had 
two  children:  Lillian  Maria,  born  October  22d,  1858,  died  March  26th, 
1874,  and  Everett  B.,born  January  17th,  1862.  His  father  Ezekiel,  and 
S.  L.  Sherman  built  the  Granite  Mill  at  Burrillville  in  1849.  It  was 
burned  in  1852,  and  immediately  rebuilt,  and  again  burned  in  1879. 
His  father  died  in  1867.     He  was  a  mason  by  trade. 

Everett  B.  Sherman,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1862,  is  a  son  of  Sumner 
and  Lucinda  (Mowry)  Sherman.  He  was  educated  at  Burrillville  and 
Mowry  &  Goff's  English  and  Classical  School,  Providence,  graduating 
in  1880.  He  married  Alice  M.,  daughter  of  Charles  White,  of  Ux- 
bridge,  Mass.,  1886.  They  have  two  children:  Lillian  Maria,  born 
January  12th,  1887,  and  Waldo  Leonard,  January  16th,  1889.  Mr.  Sher- 
man makes  a  speciality  of  breeding  thoroughbred  Ayrshire  cattle  and 
Hambletonian  horses. 

Francis  Sprague  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1825,  and  located  in 
Burrillville  in  1863.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Sally  Ann  (Darling) 
Sprague.  He  was  married  in  1856  to  Emily,  daughter  of  Welcome 
Sayles  of  Burrillville.  He  has  one  son,  Edward  C.  His  father  and 
mother  lived  and  died  in  Glocester.     His  father  lived  to  be  almost  91 


V 


'^^, 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  583 

years  old,  ii.nd  his  mother  was  86.  Mr.  Sprague  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  mason  work  and  has  been  in  business  for  himself  over  80 
years.     He  does  the  principal  mason  work  in  Burrillville. 

Isaac  Steere,  born  in  1826,  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Shadrach  and 
Mary  (Fowler)  Steere.  He  was  member  of  the  town  council  in  1888, 
member  of  school  committee  for  about  20  years,  and  also  a  member 
30  years  ago.  In  1855  he  married  Avis,  daughter  of  Smith  Battey. 
Their  children  are:  Job  W.,  born  1860;  Smith  B.,  born  1863,  and  Jon- 
athan M.,  born  1870.  Mr.  Steere  lives  in  the  same  house  where  he 
was  born,  and  which  was  built  by  Judge  Daniel  Mowry,  of  Smithfield, 
in  1705.  His  father  was  born  in  Smithfield,  and  located  in  Burrill- 
ville in  1806.     His  mother  was  from  Northbridge,  Mass. 

T.  H.  Sweet,  born  in  1838,  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  Ann  (Mathewson)  Sweet.  He  was  educated  in  Burrillville. 
He  established  the  wholesale  and  retail  butcher  business  in  1863,  and 
soon  after  took  in  his  brother.  The  firm  is  now  T.  H.  &  A.  E.  Sweet. 
He  was  married  in  1871  to  Lydia  S.,  daughter  of  Jason  Olney,  of  Bur- 
rillville. His  father  was  born  in  Johnston,  was  a  machinist  by  trade, 
building  and  running  engines.     He  located  in  Burrillville  about  1830. 

George  H.  Thayer  was  born  in  1858,  in  Burrillville,  on  the  same 
place  where  he  now  lives,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1888,  and  re-elected 
in  1889.     He  was  one  of  the  republican  town  committee. 

William  Tinkham,  president  of  the  Providence  &  Springfield 
Railroad  Company,  was  born  in  Harmony  Village,  Glocester,  July  8th, 
1823.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Hezekiah  Tinkham,  who  came 
from  England  during  the  revolutionary  war,  settled  in  Glocester,  and 
was  a  blacksmith  by  occupation.  William  Tinkham  is  the  son  of  the 
late  Nehemiah  Tinkham,  who  died  in  1886,'  at  the  age  of  87  years, 
and  Alzada  (Andrews)  Tinkham,  still  living  at  the  age  of  90  years. 
William  Tinkham  is  the  oldest  of  the  six  children,  all  now  living. 
He  received  a  good  education  in  the  district  school,  and  finished  in 
Smithfield  Academy,  later  widely  known  as  the  Lapham  Institute  of 
North  Scituate.  In  his  earlier  days,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, but  in  1844  he  abandoned  the  trade  and  entered  a  store  at 
Greenville,  R.  I.,  where  he  served  a  short  time  as  clerk,  and  afterward 
purchased  the  business.  In  1853  he  entered  the  store  of  a  manufact- 
uring establishment  at  Wakefield,  but  in  July  of  that  same  year  his 
career  as  a  manufacturer  with  Job  S.  Steere  was  begun,  first  in  Maple- 
ville,  then  in  1856  in  Harrisville,  where  the  business  is  still  continued 
under  the  name  of  William  Tinkham  &  Co.,  the  firm  doing  a  business 
of  $800,000  annually. 

Very  soon  after  Mr.  Tinkham  entered  upon  the  manufacturing 
business,  he  realized  that  in  order  to  insure  complete  success,  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  details  of  the  business  was  essential,  and  he 
therefore  determined  to  make  himself  competent  to  superintend  every 


584  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

process  in  the  factory.  To  attain  this  end,  he  became  an  operative  in 
his  own  mill,  dismissed  the  assistant  in  the  lowest  room,  and  taking 
his  place,  began  by  scouring  wool.  He  then  learned  the  art  of  dyemg, 
dismissed  the  boss  and  hired  an  assistant.  And  so  on  he  went  from 
room  to  room,  working  more  hours  per  day  than  his  help,  and  at  the 
end  of  three  years  becoming  master  of  manufacturing  woolen  goods. 
In  1857,  when  the  financial  crisis  overtook  them,  Mr.  Tinkham  went 
out  and  made  business,  manufacturing  partly  on  shares,  and  buying 
and  selling  in  person.  By  his  good  management  they  were  enabled 
to  tide  over  the  rough  times,  and  by  January,  1865,  they  were  able  to 
pay  all  their  indebtedness,  besides  having  a  large  surplus  on  hand. 

In  the  fall  of  1868,  Mr.  Tinkham  took  up  his  residence  in  Provi- 
dence, and  at  the  same  time  commenced  running  the  Carolina  Mills, 
in  the  town  of  Richmond,  R.  I.,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Ellison 
Tinkham,  and  F.  Metcalf.  In  1878  he  sold  his  interests  there  to  his 
partners.  After  Mr.  Tinkham  removed  to  Providence  he  became  at 
once  identified  with  the  interests  of  that  city.  In  1866  he  was  elected 
to  the  general  assembly,  and  served  his  term  acceptably.  In  1871  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  Providence  &  Springfield  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  in  1876  president  and  general  manager,  which  positions  he 
has  held  ever  since.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  projection,  con- 
struction and  successful  operation  of  this  road,  and  the  success  of  the 
enterprise  from  its  inception  is  due  mainly  to  the  energy  and  perse- 
verance of  its  president.  In  1878,  Ernest  W.  Tinkham,  his  son,  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  company,  and  holds  that  position  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Mr.  Tinkham  was  married  March  16th,  1847,  to  Caroline  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Appleby  and  Ada  (Steere)  Smith,  of  Smithfield,  R.  I.  They 
have  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Ernest  W.  and  Grace  L. 
Ernest  W.  is  a  partner  in  the  manufacturing  firm  of  William  Tinkham 
&  Co.  He  married  February  12th,  1879,  Margaret  McCartney,  of 
Dansville,  N.  Y.     They  have  one  child,  Miriam. 

John  S.  Walling,  born  in  1850  in  Burrillville,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Maria  (Stone)  Walling.  He  married  Sarah  R.,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Nancy  Smith,  of  Burrillville,  in  1873,  and  has  one  child,  Lennox 
G.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  from  1884  to  1888,  and  its 
president  in  1887.  He  was  educated  at  the  Lapham  Institute,  North 
Scituate,  graduated  in  1866,  and  began  teaching  district  school  in  Fos- 
ter, Glocester  and  Burrillville.  He  later  went  to  Schofield's  Commer- 
cial College,  Providence,  to  learn  book-keeping,  and  was  first  book- 
keeper for  Horace  Kimball  two  years,  then  went  with  Fiske  &  Sayles 
and  learned  the  trade  of  coloring,  then  was  designer  for  them,  and 
afterward  superintendent  until  1880,  when  he  went  to  Plainville  and 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Gilbert  F.  Whipple,  under  the  style 
Whipple  &  Walling,  which  continued  until  the  fall  of  1887.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Fred.   L.  Sayles  &  Co. 


n^'i,yIuK^ri^,^i}Tr- 


E^-:  m^M- 


I    °^ 


lU 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  585 

mill.  His  father  followed  farming,  and  his  grandfather  was  a  farmer 
and  hotel  keeper  in  Burrillville. 

G.  F.  Whipple  was  born  in  Burrillville  in  1855.  The  Whipple  Mill 
was  started  by  Charles  H.  Whipple  in  1856  and  operated  by  him  until 
1873.  Then  it  was  F.  R.  White  &  Co.  until  1879.  Then  G.  F.  Whip- 
ple operated  it  for  one  year.  Then  it  was  Whipple  &  Walling  until 
the  fall  of  1887,  and  since  that  time  W.  F.  Esten  &  Co.  Charles  H. 
Whipple  died  in  1885. 

George  F.  Whitford,  born  in  1845  in  Putnam,  Conn.,  came  to  Bur- 
rillville in  1870.  He  married  Phebe,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hannah 
Smith,  of  North  Providence.  He  was  educated  at  Eastman's  College, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  graduated  in  1865.  He  has  been  engaged 
as  book-keeper  in  A.  L.  Sayles'  mill  since  1870.  He  was  president  of 
town  council  in  1884,  1885  and  1886,  has  been  notary  public  for  the 
past  eight  years,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  trustee  of  Pascoag  school 
district  for  the  past  two  years. 

Herbert  M.  Wilson,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1856,  is  a  son  of  James 
M.  and  Elvira  Wilson.  He  was  educated  in  Burrillville  and  at  Mowry 
&  Goff's  English  and  Classical  School,  Providence.  He  married  Maria, 
daughter  of  Albert  Sayles,  of  Burrillville,  in  1881.  He  has  always 
been  engaged  in  manufacturing,  and  has  operated  the  Wilson  shoddy 
mill  since  1878. 

William  R.  Wilson,  born  in  Burrillville  in  1815,  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Deborah  (Ross)  Wilson.  He  was  overseer  of  the  poor  in  1856, 
and  member  of  the  town  council  in  1861  and  1862.  Over  one 
hundred  years  ago  a  saw  mill  was  built  by  William  Ross,  who  died 
in  1803.  His  sons  ran  it  until  about  1818,  when  it  was  idle  until  1846, 
then  a  grist  mill  was  put  in,  and  in  1847  a  shingle  mill;  again  in  the 
winter  of  1856  a  saw  mill  was  put  in.  James  and  William  R.  Wilson 
began  to  make  shoddy  about  1866.  The  mill  was  burned  in  1871  and 
rebuilt  the  same  year.  The  privilege  has  been  owned  by  the  Wilsons 
since  about  1835. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE    TOWN   OF  SCITUATE. 

General  Description  of  the  Town. — Early  Settlers,  with  Reminiscences. — Town  Meet- 
ings.—Town  Officers. — Scituate  in  the  Revolution. — Early  Mechanics. — Secret  Soci- 
eties.— Schools. — Richmond.— The  Old  Angell  Tavern.— Stores. — Cluirches. — Manu- 
facturing.— Village  of  North  Scituate.  —  Stores.  —  Bank.  —  Hotels.  —  Churches. — 
Saundersville.— Hope  Village.— Potterville.—Elmdale.— Kent  Corners.— Ashland.— 
Rockland. — Clay  villa. — Ponaganset.— Biographical  Sketches. 

SCITUATE  is  situated  about  ten  miles  from  the  city  of  Providence. 
It  is  bounded  oil  the  north  by  Glocester,  on  the  east  by  Johnston 
and  Cranston,  on  the  south  by  Coventry,  and  on  the  west  by  Fos- 
ter. Some  sections  of  the  town  are  quite  rough  and  broken,  other  sec- 
tions are  diversified  by  hill  and  dale.  In  the  western  part  of  the  town 
there  was  formerly  a  valuable  quarry  of  freestone,  from  which  large 
quantities  were  taken  and  sent  to  Providence.  The  soil  is  generally 
a  gravelly  loam,  mostly  rough  and  rocky,  hard  for  tillage,  but  the 
usual  agricultural  products  common  to  the  state  are  raised  in  abun- 
dance. 

The  town  is  watered  by  two  streams,  one  of  which  rises  in  the 
northeastern  section,  near  the  Moswansicut  pond;  the  other  has  its 
source  in  the  Ponaganset  pond  in  Glocester,  runs  through  Foster,  and 
entering  this  town  upon  its  western  border,  unites  with  the  first  men- 
tioned stream  to  form  the  north  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  river. 

Scituate  is  a  manufacturing  town,  there  being,  besides  saw  and 
grist  mills,  some  ten  or  twelve  cotton  mills,  shoe  and  corset  lacing  fac- 
tories, and  other  works.  There  are  also  a  number  of  stores,  churches, 
hotels,  &c.,  in  the  town.  Following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  places  of 
historic  interest  in  Scituate: 

Villages. — Elmdale,  Glenrock,  North  Scituate,  Saundersville,  Ash- 
land, Ponaganset,  Rockland,  Clayville,  Richmond,  South  Scituate, 
Kent,  Hope,  Fiskeville  (Scituate  side),  Jackson.  Hills. — Rocky,  Bea- 
con Pole,  Chopmist,  Bald,  Burnt,  Tunk,  Round,  Mount  Misery. 
IWooks. — Chapamistcook,  Westconnaug  or  Westquodnoid,  Musquito- 
hawk,  Cat  Swamp.  Ponds. — Moswansicut,  Ponaganset.  Woods. — 
Rocky  Hill,  Chopmist,  Tunk  Hill,  Bettey.  Historic— Yy^^vXy  Gov- 
ernor West  house,  1775,  on  the  site  of  the  illustrious  Hopkins  family 
residence — still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation;  Angell  Tavern,  1710, 
where  Washington  and  Lafayette  were  guests;  at  Hope  Village  can- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  o87 

non  were  cast  during  the  revolutionary  war  from   material  obtained 
at  the  Cranston  iron  mine. 

The  settlement  of  this  town  was  made  by  settlers  who  came  from 
Scituate,  Mass.,  and  adopted  that  name  for  this  town,  which  is  of 
Indian  origin.  It  probably  took  its  name  from  the  stream  which  flows 
from  "  Scituate  pond,"  in  Cohasset,  which  is  a  swift  flowing  one.  or 
was,  and  hence  the  name  by  which  the  Indians  designated  it. 

Tradition  gives  John  Mathewson  the  credit  of  building  the  first 
white  man's  house — if  it  may  be  so  called — in  Scituate.  It  was  a  hovel 
or  hut  put  up  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town,  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  the  Great  pond,  Moswansicut,  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
boundaries  of  vScituate,  Smithfield,  Johnston  and  Glocester,  almost  on 
the  line  of  junction  of  the  four  towns.  The  place  lies  about  six  rods 
from  the  road,  and  is  indicated  by  a  depression  and  raised  banks.  It 
was  six  or  eight  feet  square,  four  or  five  feet  deep,  and  raised  above 
the  ground  by  logs  and  branches  of  trees,  some  three  or  four  feet. 
There  was  only  one  way  of  entrance,  and  holes  were  left  in  the  upper 
part,  through  which  a  gun  might  be  pushed  to  shoot  bears,  wolves, 
foxes,  wildcats  or  other  animals  that  might  approach  with  design  to 
enter  the  premises. 

Tradition  says  that  Boston  was  at  that  time  the  nearest  trading- 
town,  and  thither,  on  foot,  through  Indian  or  other  paths,  John  would 
make  his  occasional  journeys,  stopping  at  houses  on  the  way.  He 
made  the  acquaintance  of  a  Miss  Malavery  at  one  of  these  houses  where 
he  stopped  on  his  route,  and  offering  marriage,  was  accepted.  He 
built  him  a  house  a  hundred  yards  or  more  from  his  cave,  and  culti- 
vated a  good  farm.  He  died  there,  suddenly,  aged  about  40,  leaving 
a  widow  and  children.  John,  one  of  his  sons,  was  the  direct  ancestor 
of  the  late  Honorable  Elisha  Mathewson,  senator  in  congress. 

Daniel,  another  son,  when  a  boy  of  ten  years,  about  the  year  ]7(»(». 
was  sent  with  a  cart  load  of  oak  wood  to  Providence  to  sell.  Two 
yokes  of  oxen  and  a  horse  were  put  in  to  draw  the  load  over  the  rough 
and  hilly  road,  and  after  driving  all  over  the  town  to  find  a  cu.stomer, 
he  sold  the  load  for  five  shillings,  the  most  he  could  get.  There  were 
three  houses  only  at  that  time  on  the  north  side  of  Westminster  street, 
between  the  pumps  and  the  forks  of  the  road,  by  the  bridge. 

Thomas  Mathewson  and  others  of  this  name  came  to  settle  round 
this  pond,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ponds  m  the  state,  and  having 
good  lands  around  it.  Elder  Samuel  Winsor  owned  a  tract  a  little 
farther  east  of  the  pond,  and  his  lands  were  said  to  reach  to  Providence. 
John  Waterman,  Dean  Kimball  and  others  were  neighbors. 

Mr.  Stephen  Smith  kept  tavern  at  the  Four  Corners,  North  Scituate, 
and  as  there  was  a  great  deal  of  teaming  past  his  house,  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  furnaces  of  Smithfield  and  Glocester,  to  get  iron 
ore  at  Cranston,  his  half-way  house  was  well  patronized. 


588  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Daniel  Mathewson,  the  boy  already  spoken  of,  lived  to  about  1776. 
when  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Noah,  the  son  of  Daniel,  died  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1824,  aged  89  years,  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his 
parents  on  the  family  lot.  His  widow,  Judith,  deceased  January  28th, 
1827,  aged  87  years.  The  house  that  Daniel  built  was  occupied  suc- 
cessively, after  his  death,  by  his  son  Noah  and  his  grandson  Daniel. 
Its  height  was  one  story,  with  four  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  and  a 
■cellar  underneath.  In  the  old  stone  fire-place  were  seen  hanging 
from  a  piece  of  timber,  placed  horizontally,  high  up  in  the  chimney, 
two  very  long  iron  hooks  or  trammels,  five  or  six  feet  long,  for  hang- 
ing kettles  and  other  vessels  over  the  fire.  These  were  hoisted  or 
lowered  by  means  of  little  holes  in  the  upper  piece.  They  had  no 
barns  in  these  old  times  when  this  house  was  built,  but  there  were 
little  shanties  or  hovels  where  they  stored  many  things. 

James  Aldrich  removed  to  Scituate  from  Smithfield  in  1775,  and 
purchased  of  the  heirs  the  estate  of  Mr.  Ishmael  Wilkinson,  deceased. 
This  was  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Beacon  hill.  When  Mr.  Aldrich  came  to  Scituate  himself  and  family 
traveled  on  horseback,  that  being  the  usual  mode  of  conveyance. 
Attempts  were  made  to  discourage  him  from  leaving  Smithfield  by 
representing  the  lateness  of  spring,  it  being  the  middle  of  May,  but  as 
the  land  was  good  he  declined  to  stop.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  sent 
back  to  Smithfield  to  get  a  cheese  tub  made  by  a  celebrated  worker  in 
wooden  ware,  Jesse  Inches,  who  was  known  far  and  wide  for  his  skill 
in  manufacturing  churns,  pails  and  tubs.  This  cheese  tub,  made  of 
cedar,  held  twenty  pailfuls,  which  gives  us  some  idea  of  the  dairy  of 
Mr.  Aldrich,  and  of  the  cows  about  his  premises.  A  stout  man  brought 
it  on  foot,  and  upon  his  back,  all  the  way  from  vSmithfield.  It  was 
sold  at  auction  some  seventy-five  years  after,  on  the  breaking  up  of 
housekeeping  by  his  son  John,  having  been  in  the  family  three-quarters 
of  a  century. 

James  Aldrich  took  the  land  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Wilkinson,  on  which  he  planted  a  fine  orchard.  He  is  said  to  have 
introduced  the  first  cherry  trees  in  the  town.  He  was  a  great  politi- 
cian. He  represented  the  town  of  Scituate  in  the  general  assembly 
for  nineteen  consecutive  years.  Elisha  Mathewson,  John  Harris  and 
Colonel  Ephraim  Bowen  were  often  at  his  house.  The  governor  used 
to  come  out  from  Providence  on  horseback  with  his  gun  to  have  a  good 
hunt  with  Mr.  Aldrich,  and  would  ride  home  with  the  foxes  and  squir- 
rels that  he  had  killed  strung  over  his  saddle. 

Gideon  Harris  is  a  very  prominent  man  in  the  history  of  Scituate, 
He  married  Damaris  Wescott,  a  noted  maiden  in  her  day.  He  died  in 
1777,  at  an  advanced  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  Quaker  burying 
ground.  For  many  years  he  filled  the  office  of  town  clerk.  It  was  a 
common  saying  that  everybody  who  was  poor,  in  distress,  or  wanted 
■employment,  resorted  to  Mr.  Harris,  on  account  of  his  property,  influ- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  589 

ence  and  benevolent  disposition.  His  house  was  in  a  place  called  the 
"Old  Bank."  It  was  enlarged  and  made  into  two  stories  by  his  son, 
and  pleasantly  situated  on  ground  rising  from  the  road,  with  its 
stately  and  ancient  buttonwood  and  elm  trees,  making  an  imposing  ap- 
pearance. 

About  the  year  1703,  Mr.  Joseph  Wilkinson,  a  son  of  Captain  Sam- 
uel Wilkinson,  Esq.,  of  Providence,  came  to  live  in  the  northwest  part 
of  Scituate,  known  by  its  Indian  name,  Chapamistcook.  He  married 
Martha  Pray,  a  granddaughter  of  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town. 
There  was  a  crooked  road  leading  from  Providence  to  this  neighbor- 
hood at  this  time.  The  first  barn  built  in  what  is  now  Scituate  w^as 
erected  by  him.  He  also  brought  the  first  cow  into  the  town,  and  a 
piece  of  meadow  where  he  pastured  his  cow,  a  little  north,  running 
into  Foster,  where  the  first  hay  was  cut,  had  been  created,  it  is  sup- 
posed, by  a  beaver  dam  in  the  vicinity,  causing  an  overflow  of  water 
and  rotting  the  trees  so  that  they  fell  down  and  gave  an  opportunity 
for  the  grass  to  grow. 

Mr.  Wilkinson  was  a  surveyor,  and  much  employed  in  this  work 
in  the  town.  In  a  deed  of  1738  the  surveyor's  return  was  made  under 
his  hand.  His  residence  was  on  the  estate  improved  afterward  by  his 
great  grandson,  John  Harris,  Esq.  At  the  raising  of  his  barn  men 
came  from  Smithfield  and  Glocester  to  assist  the  Scituate  people  in  its 
raising.  When  they  had  raised  it  they  all  sat  down  upon  a  large  log 
and  drank  metheglin,  a  beverage  made  of  honey  and  water  and  fer- 
mented, often  enriched  with  spices.  Mr.  Wilkinson  appears  promi- 
nent in  the  first  town  meeting  of  Scituate  after  it  was  set  off  from 
Providence.  He  is  called  Lieutenant  Wilkinson,  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town  council  and  chosen  deputy. 

Mr.  William  Hopkins,  the  only  child  of  Major  William  Hopkins, 
of  Providence,  married  Ruth  Wilkinson,  daughter  of  "  Capt.  vSamuel 
Wilkinson,  Esq.,"  as  he  was  styled  in  public  records,  and  immediately 
after  his  marriage  removed  to  a  farm  in  Scituate  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Lieutenant  Joseph  Wilkinson,  the  brother  of  his  wife.  His  house 
was  small,  but  the  land  was  good — probably  not  much  cleared  for  till- 
age—in 1765,  or  thereabouts,  when  he  took  the  place. 

He  is  not  much  spoken  of  in  the  town  records,  and  probably  did 
not  seek  office,  but  gave  himself  steadily  to  the  work  of  his  farm  and 
the  care  of  his  family.  His  memory  is  chiefly  connected  with  some 
of  his  children,  who  became  illustrious  and  reflected  great  honor  on 
their  parents,  and  on  the  state  and  nation.  William  was  the  first 
born.  He  went  abroad,  and  was  presented  at  the  court  in  England, 
and  so  took  the  favor  of  the  king  from  his  fine  manly  appearance,  that 
he  was  appointed  major  by  him.  A  part  of  the  coat  he  wore  at  court 
has  been  preserved  by  his  descendants.  His  other  children  were: 
Stephen,  John,  Eseck,  Samuel,  Hope.  Abigail  and  Susanna. 

Eseck,  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father,  in  the  summer  of  1738,  a 


590  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

stout,  tall  and  handsome  young  man,  then  in  the  20th  year  of  his 
age,  bid  adieu  to  the  old  homestead  and  journeyed  to  Providence  and 
became  a  sailor,  soon  rising  to  the  position  of  captain.  He  married 
when  he  was  2o  years  of  age.  Miss  Desire  Burroughs,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Ezekiel  Burroughs,  of  Newport,  and  took  up  his  residence  there.  His 
conspicuous  services  in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  as  the  first  commo- 
dore of  the  navy,  are  well  known.  His  fleet,  consisting  of  the  ships 
"  Alfred,"  Captain  Dudley  vSaltonstall,  and  the  "  Columbus,"  Captain 
Whipple,  the  brig  "Andrew  Doria,"  Captain  Nicholas  Biddle,  and  the 
"  Cabot,"  Captain  John  B.  Hopkins,  son  of  Eseck,  and  the  sloops 
"  Providence,"  "  Fly,"  "  Hornet  "  and  "  Wasp,"  put  out  to  sea  February 
17th,  1776,  with  a -smart  northeast  wind,  and  cruising  among  the  Ba- 
hama Islands,  captured  the  forts  at  New  Providence,  Nassau.  This 
was  a  very  fortunate  affair,  for  the  heavy  ordnance  and  stores  taken 
proved  quite  acceptable  to  the  country.  He  captured  two  British 
armed  vessels  on  his  return. 

The  Commodore,  or  Admiral,  as  Washington  addressed  him,  met 
with  difficulties  in  creating  an  efficient  navy,  and  his  force  was  wholly 
inadequate  to  protect  the  long  line  of  coast  and  meet  the  vessels  of 
the  English  navy,  and  he  soon  resigned  and  engaged  in  private  armed 
vessels,  as  did  his  lieutenant,  the  famous  John  Paul  Jones.  He  was 
successful  in  capturing  many  British  vessels.  In  the  collections  of 
the  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society  is  a  French  engraving  of  him, 
which  has  a  splendid  figure  and  a  handsome  open  countenance.  It 
was  circulated  in  France  and  this  country  in  the  early  part  of  the 
war.  The  commodore's  family  clock  has  been  presented  to  Brown 
University,  by  his  granddaughter.  Miss  Elizabeth  Angell.  He  died  in 
1802,  and  was  buried  at  North  Providence. 

Stephen  Hopkins  was  still  more  distinguished  than  the  commo- 
dore. He  was  born  March  7th,  17(>7.  But  little  is  known  of  his  boy- 
hood, but  he  must,  with  the  other  sons  of  William,  have  been  early 
taught  to  labor  on  the  farm.  There  were  no  schools  in  his  day,  but 
his  mother  was  a  woman  of  marked  talents  and  character,  and  no 
doubt  instructed  him  in  many  things.  It  has  come  down  to  us  that 
he  inherited  his  abilities  from  her.  His  uncle  Wilkinson,  the  sur- 
veyor, probably  instructed  him  in  that  art,  for  we  find  him,  still  a 
youth,  engaged  in  surveying.  A  strong  passion  for  reading  chacter- 
ized  his  mature  life.  He  was  also  a  ready  writer.  Besides  his  brill- 
iant correspondence  with  distinguished  patriots  in  various  parts  of 
the  land,  and  the  able  papers  this  signer  of  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence wrote,  he  also  penned  a  few  lines  which,  being  pertinent  to 
our  subject,  we  insert  here,  as  it  shows  in  poetic  verse  the  pitiable 
condition  of  the  first  inhabitants  of  this  town: 

"  Nor  house,  nor  hut,  nor  fruitful  field. 
Nor  lowing  herd,  nor  bleating  flock, 
Or  garden  that  might  comfort  yield. 
Nor  cheerful,  early  crowing  cock. 


HISTORY   OF    PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  591 

"  No  orchard  yielding  pleasant  frnit. 
Or  laboring-  ox  or  useful  plow; 
Nor  neig-hing  steed  or  browsing  goat, 
Or  grunting  swine  or  feedful  cow. 

"  No  friend  to  help,  no  neighbor  nigh, 

Nor  healing  medicine  to  relieve; 

No  mother's  hand  to  close  the  eye, 

Alone,  forlorn,  and  most  extremely  poor." 

Stephen  Hopkins  married,  June  27th,  1726,  Sarah,  the  youngest 
•daughter  of  Major  Silvanus  Scott,  of  Providence.  He  married  early, 
being  only  19  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  was  about  the  same  age.  To 
create  a  home  and  a  support  for  the  newly  married  ones,  his  father  gave 
him  70  acres  of  land,  and  his  grandfather,  Thomas  Hopkins,  bestowed 
upon  his  "  loving  grandson,"  as  the  will  reads,  an  additional  grant  of 
90  acres.  The  grandfather  of  Sarah  was  Mr.  Richard  Scott,  of  Provi- 
dence. 

Four  years  after  this  marriage,  the  portion  now  Scituate,  was  set 
off  from  Providence,  and  Stephen  Hopkins,  then  only  28  years  of  age, 
was  the  moderator  chosen.  This  fact  is  significant  of  the  very  high 
opinion  entertained  of  him  in  his  native  town,  as  a  man  of  business 
and  competent  to  preside  over  public  meetings.  Joseph  Brown  was 
•chosen  town  clerk  for  the  first  year,  an  office  which  included  the  reg- 
istration of  deeds,  and  Stephen  Hopkins  was  elected  the  year  after, 
and  this  office  he  held  for  ten  successive  years,  and  then  resigned. 

Mr.  Hopkins  removed  to  Providence  in  1744,  and  purchased  an 
■estate  on  South  Main  street,  at  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Hopkins 
street,  named  after  him,  but  formerly  Bank  lane,  because  the  first 
bank  in  Rhode  Island  was  located  at  the  foot  of  it.  He  engaged  in 
commerce  at  Providence,  but  was  soon  called  to  fill  important  places 
in  the  state,  as  chief  justice  and  governor— appointed  to  the  judgeship 
in  1739.  No  man  was  so  often  chosen  as  moderator  of  town  meetings 
in  Providence.  He  assisted  astronomers  in  making  observations  on 
the  transit  of  Venus,  at  Providence,  having  a  high  mathematical  repu- 
tation. His  zeal  for  liberty  led  him  in  early  life,  and  later,  to  write 
and  publish  papers  on  the  "  Rights  of  the  Colonies,"  and  to  hold  cor- 
respondence with  distinguished  patriots  in  various  parts  of  the  land. 
His  memory  was  very  retentive,  and  his  capacity  great.  He  died  July 
18th,  1785.  In  the  North  Burial  Ground,  of  Providence,  is  his  grave; 
and  there  his  state  has  erected  a  monument  to  his  memory,  on  which, 
with  other  commendations,  is  in.scribed  these  words:  "  His  name  is 
engraved  on  the  immortal  record  of  the  Revolution,  and  can  never  die." 
The  children  of  Stephen  Hopkins  were:  Rufus,  born  February  10th, 
1727;  John,  born  November  11th,  1728;  Ruth,  born  in  1729,  named  after 
her  grandmother  Hopkins,  died  in  infancy  in  1781,  and  was  buried  in 
Scituate;  Lydia,  born  in  1782,  and  probably  died  young;  Silvanus,  born 
October  16th,  1784;  Simon,  born   August  25th,  1786,  and  George,  the 


592  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

seventh  and  youngest  child,  born  in  1739.  All  the  sons  except  Simon, 
who  died  while  a  lad,  were  sailors,  going  to  sea  while  boys,  and  all 
became  masters  of  vessels  but  Silvanus,  who  became  mate  at  eighteen, 
and  would  have  been  captain  soon  after,  had  he  lived.  Rufus  was  so 
far  successful  that  he  invested  £500  in  the  Hope  furnace,  Scituate,  in 
1766,  and  became  its  superintendent.  This  furnace  cast  cannon  which 
were  used  in  the  army  and  navy  during  the  revolutionary  war.  There 
were  two  cannon  usually  cast  at  one  time,  and  they  were  afterward 
bored. 

While  living  at  the  furnace  he  received  the  appointment  of  judge, 
which  he  held  for  several  years.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed 
by  congress,  December  14th,  1775,  to  superintend  the  building  of  ves- 
sels of  war.  He  was  concerned  in  the  first  cotton  factory  put  up  near 
the  Hope  furnace  in  1807.  Silvanus,  one  of  his  sons,  was  the  first 
agent  of  the  Hope  Manufacturing  Company.  Rufus  Hopkins  died  in 
August,  1809,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Andrew  Ralph,  and  was  buried  in 
the  North  Burial  Ground,  Providence.  He  is  said  to  have  greatly  re- 
sembled his  father,  and  the  likeness  in  the  picture  of  the  signers  of 
the  declaration  of  independence,  purporting  to  be  that  of  Governor 
Hopkins,  is  his. 

Captain  John  Hopkins,  the  second  son  of  Stephen,  in  1753  sailed 
for  Cadiz,  Spain,  and  died  there  July  20th,  with  the  small-pox,  aged  24 
years.  Silvanus,  the  third  son  of  Stephen,  was  killed  by  Indians  after 
he  was  cast  away  on  the  Cape  Breton  shore.  Of  the  remaining  chil- 
dren, Simon  died  at  Providence,  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  and  George, 
the  youngest,  who  married  Ruth  Smith,  was  lost  at  sea  in  the  year 
1775,  with  the  vessel  he  commanded. 

John  Hulet  and  Berenice,  his  wife,  resided  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  town  about  1740.  His  grave  is  pointed  out  in  a  pasture  back 
of  the  house  of  John  Harris,  Esq.,  a  short  hillock,  marked  by  two  wal- 
nut trees,  and  lying  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  most  northern  one. 
Two  rough  moss-covered  stones,  one  at  each  end  of  the  grave,  and 
without  inscription,  designate  the  last  resting  place  of  one  who  owned 
large  tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  but  now  sleeps  unnoticed  and  un- 
known by  the  living  generations  about  him.  His  transactions  in  deeds 
were  numerous,  and  run  from  1743  to  1763.  In  1744  he  bought  150 
acres  of  Stephen  Hopkins  for  i^300,  land  commonly  called  "Oyster- 
shell  Plain." 

Benjamin  Gorton,  of  Warwick,  married  John  Hulet's  daughter. 
Avis,  July  18th,  1762.  His  son  Mason  married,  the  year  following, 
October  23d,  1763,  Elizabeth  Mathewson,  of  Johnston.  Mason  Hulet 
removed  to  Vermont  and  settled  at  Wallingford,  on  the  Otter  creek, 
and  has  left  numerous  descendants  in  that  state.  John  Hulet,  in 
March,  1761,  sold  to  Colonel  William  West  the  farm  of  200  acres  which 
he  bought  of  Stephen  Hopkins.  He  sold  it  for  ^^40,000,  a  price  not  to 
be  accounted  for,  except,  we  admit,  the  great  depreciation  of  the  cur- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  593 

rency.  Mr.  Hulet  was  appointed,  with  Thomas  Angcll,  pound  keeper, 
in  1747.  He  is  called  "  Captain  "  in  his  appointment  of  fence  viewer 
in  1750.  He  was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  considerable  property  for 
those  days,  and  quite  a  dealer  in  lands.  He  sold  to  Boylston  Brayton, 
of  Smithfield,  May  28th,  1763,  two  tracts  of  land,— one  lying  in  Gloces- 
ter,  according  to  the  deed,  "  the  half  of  a  farm  whereon  Ralph  Well- 
man  did  formerly  live,  and  bounded  as  in  deed  of  William  West  to 
Eliphalet  Eddy,  Feb.  10,  1760,  and  also  more  particularly  by  the  said 
Eddy  to  me,  the  said  John  Hulet,  containing  three  hundred  acres, 
more  or  less.  The  other  tract  is  in  Scituate,  and  is  my  homestead 
farm,  and  the  same  whereon  I  now  dwell,  and  contains  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  bounded  northerly  on  land  of  James  Wheeler, 
easterly  on  land  of  the  same,  and  on  land  belonging  to  Capt.  John 
Whipple,  southerly  on  land  of  William  West  and  westwardly  on  land 
of  Charles  Hopkins  and  Barnes  Hall,  and  on  land  belonging  to  heirs 
of  Joseph  Wilkinson."  This  homestead  farm  would  seem  to  have 
been  very  near  the  place  of  his  burial.  We  find  him  buying  at  the 
same  time  of  Benjamin  Anthony,  of  Swansea,  for  1,800  Spanish  milled 
dollars,  229-g-  acres  of  land,  where  Thomas  Knowlton  once  dwelt  in 
Scituate,  in  part  bounded  by  territory  of  heirs  of  Joseph  Wilkinson. 
Mr.  Hulet  must  have  died  soon  after  these  last  transactions,  as  we  find 
no  further  mention  of  him  in  the  town  records.  He  is  said  to  have 
died  of  fever  after  a  very  short  illness. 

Lieutenant-Governor  West,  who  purchased  the  old  homesead  which 
Governor  Hopkins  sold  to  John  Hulet,  had  for  some  time  previous  to 
1761  been  living  in  Scituate,  and  had  resided  a  little  west  of  said  farm, 
where  his  son  John  afterward  lived.  He  removed  from  North  Kings- 
town to  Scituate,  and  was  chosen  deputy.  He  was  also  elected  to 
represent  the  town  in  a  general  convention  held  at  East  Greenwich, 
September  26th,  1786.  In  the  appointment  by  the  governor  in  1775, 
of  Eseck  Hopkins  to  be  general  of  troops  to  be  raised  for  the  defense 
of  the  shores  of  the  Narragansett,  Colonel  West  was  placed  second  in 
command.  We  find  him  very  active  in  town  affairs  during  the  revo- 
lutionary war.  In  Mdy,  1777,  he  was  made  chairman  of  a  committee 
to  ascertain  the  number  of  effective  soldiers  still  wanting' to  complete 
the  continental  battalion,  then  raising  by  the  state.  He  was  several 
times  chosen  as  moderator  of  the  town,  and  was  a  man  of  intelligence 
and  enterprise,  infusing  energy  and  courage  in  the  people. 

In  1775  he  put  up  the  largest  and  most  showy  hou.se  that  had  ever 
been  erected  in  Scituate.  This  house  is  on  the  Providence  and  Hart- 
ford turnpike,  three  miles  west  of  the  village  of  North  Scituate.  It  is 
a  gambrel-roofed  house  of  two  stories  as  it  fronts  the  road,  and  of  four 
stories  on  the  end  opening  to  the  east,  including  the  basement  and  the 
attic  story.  The  house  built  by  Lieutenant-Governor  William.  West 
in  1776  was  the  one  occupied  a  century  afterward  by  Richard  A. 
Atwood  and  his  brother-in-law\     Governor  West  was  quite  a  farmer 


594  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  kept  a  great  many  cows.  He  would  often  set  off  with  a  load  of 
cheese  to  sell,  valued  at  $1,500.  He  married  Ellen  Brown;  his  children 
were:  William,  Charles,  John,  Samuel,  Hiram,  Elsie,  Olive,  Ellen, 
Sally  and  Hannah.  Job  Randall  married  two  of  his  daughters — Ellen 
for  his  first  wife,  and  Sally  for  his  second.  Jeremy  Philips  married 
Elsie  AVest,  and  Hannah  married  Mr.  Gideon  Smith,  father  of  Mr. 
Russell  Smith,  of  North  Scituate  village.  The  depreciation  of  conti- 
nental money  ruined  Governor  West  financially,  as  it  did  many  other 
patriots  of  the  revolution  who  trusted  the  government,  and  made  his 
last  years  afflictive. 

Edwin  and  his  brother  John  Howland,  living  on  and  owning  exten- 
sive portions  of  land  in  the  northerly  section  of  Scituate,  sold  to  Jere- 
miah Smith  of  Providence,  in  1788, 175  acres  for  $2,100,  who  put  up  on 
it  a  one-story  gambrel-roof  house,  and  died  in  1816,  aged  92  years. 
Mr.  Martin  Smith,  his  great-grandson,  occupied  a  large  two-story 
house,  built  by  his  father  in  1817. 

Richard  Brown,  living  in  Providence,  attracted  by  the  fine  situation 
of  the  land  for  hunting  grounds,  procured,  so  tradition  says,  at  about 
the  cost  of  laying  out  and  registering,  a  large  tract  of  land.  Richard 
Brown,  Jr.,  June  5th,  1765,  gave  to  his  son  Jesse  200  acres,  saying:  "it 
is  the  lot  of  land  given  to  me  by  my  grandfather,  Richard  Brown, 
April  28,  1744,  and  is  on  Mosquito  Hawk  Plain."  Jesse  settled  on  the 
spot,  and  also  his  brother  Samuel.  Mr.  William  Brownell,  and  after 
him  Isaac  S.  Devereaux,  of  Providence,  bought  and  lived  there 
Richard  Brown  the  senior  lived  to  be  an  hundred  years  old. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  at  Scituate,  March  18th,  1730-31,  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  Stephen  Hopkins,  moderator;  Captain 
Thomas  Angell,  Lieutenant  Joseph  Wilkinson,  Ezekiel  Hopkins,  Ben- 
jamin Wright,  Benjamin  Fish,  Edward  Phelon,  councilmen;  Lieutenant 
James  Wilkinson,  town  treasurer;  Thomas  Barnes  and  John  King, 
constables;  Christopher  Smith,  fence  viewer;  Edward  Sheldon  and 
Thomas  Harris,  hemp  viewers;  Lieutenant  Wilkinson,  town  sealer; 
Joseph  Browne,  town  packer;  Abraham  Lockwood,  Joseph  Guile  and 
Isaac  King,  surveyors  of  highways;  Samuel  King  and  Joseph  Hopkins, 
overseers  of.  the  poor;  Lieutenant  Wilkinson  and  Benjamin  Fish. 
deputies;  Thomas  Harris,  grand  juror;  Jeremiah  Hopkins,  petty  juror; 
Joseph  Browne,  clerk.  Aleetings  were  held  at  the  dwelling  house  of 
Thomas  Angell. 

In  the  war  of  the  revolution  vScituate  took  a  conspicuous  part.  On 
Sunday,  December  8th,  1776,  the  British  landed  and  took  possession 
of  Rhode  Island  and  remained  until  October  25th,  1779.  during  which 
time  the  inhabitants  were  greatly  oppressed.  Joseph  Knight  acted  an 
important  part  in  the  revolutionary  war.  He  took  command  of  a 
company  in  April,  1775.  A  list  of  his  company  April  20th,  1775,  the 
day  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  is  here  given:  Joseph  Knight,  cap- 
tain; vSamuel    Wilbor,   Benjamin    Wood,    Isaac    Horton,   John    Hill, 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  595 

Nathan  Walker,  James  Parker,  John  Bennet,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  Ahny. 
Joseph  Remington,  Nathan  Ralfe,  John  I.  Kilton,  Jonathan  Knight, 
Jr.,  Joseph  Briggs,  David  Knight,  Joseph  Collins,  William  Taylor, 
John  Manchester,  Edward  Bennet,  Thomas  Parker,  John  Edwards,  Jr., 
Simeon  Wilbor,  Isaiah  Austin,  Samuel  Eldridge,  Christopher  Knight, 
Samuel  Hopkins,  Benajah  Bosworth,  Obadiah  Rolfe,  Ezekiel  Wood, 
Caleb  Fisk,  doctor,  John  Phillips,  Constant  Graves,  Stukely  Thornton, 
James  Andrews,  Jr.,  Christopher  Collins,  Joseph  Bennet,  Thomas 
Knight,  Peleg  Colvin,  Eleazor  Westcott,  Caleb  Steere,  Collins  Roberts, 
Daniel  Fisk,  William  Knight,  Nathan  Franklin,  Uriah  Franklin,  Jr., 
Ephriam  Edwards,  Stephen  Edwards,  Francis  Fuller,  Jr.,  Benjamin 
Whitmore,  William  Stafford,  Daniel  Angell,  Furmer  Tanner — 52 
in  all. 

Another  list,  dated  February  5th,  1776,  gives  the  following  addi- 
tional names:  Daniel  Dexter,  Peter  Pierce,  Alexander  Lovell,  Ebenezer 
Handy,  Joseph  Turner,  John  Gunnison,  Isaiah  Ashton,  Benjamin 
Bacon,  Nathan  Mathewson,  Christopher  Edwards,  Knight  Wilbor, 
Abraham  Angell,  Moses  Colvin. 

A  letter  from  Governor  Cooke  to  Joseph  Knight,  dated  Providence, 
December  19th,  1775,  directed  to  him  as  captain  of  the  Second  com- 
pany of  minute  men  in  Scituate,  says:  "  You  are  hereby  directed  to 
gather  together  the  company  under  your  command  with  all  possible 
expedition  and  march  them  to  this  town  in  order  to  be  transported  to 
Rhode  Island  for  the  defence  of  that  island.  You  are  to  be  careful 
that  the  men  are  properly  equipped  with  arms,  ammunition  and 
blankets  fit  for  immediate  service.  I  have  advice  from  Gen.  Wash- 
ington that  eight  large  transports,  with  two  tenders,  having  on  board 
one  regiment  of  foot,  and  three  companies  of  horse  sailed  from  Boston 
last  Saturday,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  your  ofhcers  and  men  will 
exert  themselves  upon  this  occasion  with  their  usual  ardor." 

In  addition  to  the  above  the  vScituate  Light  Infantry  Company, 
Benjamin  Boss,  captain,  gives  a  return  of  54  men.  Captain  Nathan 
Worker's  company  gives  Lieutenant  Joseph  Carpenter,Ensign  Samuel 
Wilbor,  72  men,  eight  all  equipped  and  29  guns;  Captain  Conan 
Smith's  company  had  Lieutenant  Fabel  Angell,  and  Captain  Heren- 
don's  company  had  Lieutenant  Isaac  Hopkins  and  Ensign  James  Wells, 
Timothy  Hopkins,  Jr.,  adjutant.  Joseph  Kimball's  company  had 
Gideon  Cornwall,  lieutenant.  Captain  Edwin  Knight's  company  had 
Ensign  Daniel  Baker.  Job  Angell  also  commanded  a  company,  but 
did  not  go  out  of  the  state. 

Some  of  the  mechanics  in  Scituate  in  early  times  were  the  follow- 
ing: Elihu  Bowen,  who  removed  from  Swansea  in  1773,  was  the  first 
tanner  in  Scituate,  having  his  tannery  by  the  Moswansicut  brook.  He 
died  in  his  88th  year,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  Quaker  burial  ground. 
Elihu  Fiske  was  a  good  cabinet  maker;  Jonathan  Hill  learned  cabinet 
makino-  of  him.     Mr.  Fiske  came   from   Newport  and  became  rich; 


596  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

keeping  also  a  tavern.  Captain  Thomas  Hill  learned  his  trade  as  a 
carpenter  of  Hug-h  Cole.  Richard  Philips  learned  of  him  also. 
Daniel  Smith  was  an  early  blacksmith.  Thomas  Field's  cooper  shop 
was  well  known.  Mr.  Angell's  blacksmith  shop,  near  the  Angell 
tavern,  was  carried  on  by  a  different  branch  of  that  family  from  the 
tavern  keeper,  and  continued  in  the  family  for  several  generations. 

Hamilton  Lodge,  No.  15,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  instituted  May  27th, 
1816,  and  chartered  October  9th,  1817,  in  the  town  of  Coventry,  R.  I. 
It  was  named  for  General  Hamilton  of  historic  fame.  Doctors  Thomas 
M.  Carpenter  and  Jeremiah  McGregor  were  foremost  in  the  formation 
of  this  society.  The  Lodge  after  a  number  of  years  was  moved  to 
Hemlock,  and  about  15  years  later  to  Clayville,  where  it  has  been 
located  for  40  years  past..  It  has  been  one  of  the  leading  Lodges  of  the 
country,  and  it  has  a  membership  of  about  100.  The  first  officers  were: 
W.  M.,  Thomas  O.  H.  Carpenter;  S.  W.,  Stephen  M.  Pierce;  J.  W., 
Archibald  Colgrave;  T..  Jeremiah  McGregor;  secretary,  Cyril  C.  Lyon; 
S.  D.,  Isaac  Gallup;  J.  D.,  Obadiah  Perkins;  T.  and  S.,  Nathaniel 
Wilbur. 

vScituate  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No.  8,  Clayville,  was  constituted  Sep- 
tember 28th,  1869.  John  H.  Barden  Alanson  Steere,  Doctor  Charles 
H.  Fisher,  Doctor  W.  A.  Brown,  Doctor  Jefferson  Howard  and  Ferdi- 
nand H.  Allen  were  among  the  foremost  to  form  this  society. 

Covenant  Lodge  No.  40,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Ashland,  was  organized  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1876.  Its  first  officers  were:  N.  G.,  S.  H.  Angell;  V.  G.,  F. 
H.  Allen;  secretary,  R.  H.  Walker. 

Layfayette  Lodge,  No.  42,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Clayville,  was  instituted  June 
11th,  1877,  with  the  following  officers:  N.  G.,  W.  H.  Tyler;  V.  G.,  Henry 
A.  Wells;  R.  S.,  Lester  Howard;  treasurer,  Alfred  H.  Wells;  permanent 
secretary,  Charles  A.  Capwell. 

Ashland  Lodge,  No.  64,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  instituted  May  2d,  1866, 
with  46  charter  members.  The  first  officers  were:  W.  C.  T.,  James 
Essex;  W.  V.  T.,  Mrs.  W.  E.  O.  Roberts;  W.  C,  James  Harrington;  W. 
S.,  Mrs.  Maria  Round;  W.  T.,  W.  E.  O.  Roberts;  W.  M.,  Harley  P. 
Salisbury;  I.  G.,  Andrew  Bell;  O.  G.,  John  Wade;  R.  H.  S.,  Rosa  A. 
Cole;  L.  H.  S.,  Cora  E.  Cole;  P.  W.  C.  T.,  William  N.  Round. 

Franklin  Lodge,  No.  17,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  was  instituted  February  14th, 
1867,  with  13  charter  members  and  the  following  officers:  W.  C.  T., 
W.  H.  Bowen;  W.  V.  T.,  Mrs.  A.  A.  Stone;  C,  George  Tillinghast; 
S.,  Horace  Smith;  A.  S.,  Helen  F.  Battey;  F.  S.,  Charles  Jordan;  T., 
Phebe  A.  Williams;  M.,  Henry  O.  Preston;  D.  M.,  Addie  A.  Burgess;  I. 
G.,  Nancy  Fuller;  O.  G.,  Otis  O.  Wright;  F.  S.,  Mary  Jordan;  R.  S., 
Phebe  S.  Bowen;  L.  D.,  Harris  H.  Stone. 

The  town  of  Scituate  is  divided  into  19  school  districts,  and  the 
fact  that  $5,989.30  was  appropriated  to  the  cause  of  education  for  the 
year  1888  shows  that  the  people  here  recognize  the  value  of  education. 
The  town    did  not    begin    very  early,  as  a  corporation,  to   establish 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  597 

schools.  For  a  long  time  education  was  left  to  the  people  to  do  as 
they  pleased  as  to  the  employment  of  teachers.  They  taught  in  private 
houses,  or  in  rooms  of  other  buildings.  Miss  Fiske  taught  in  a  room 
of  her  father's  tavern;  Marvin  Morris,  from  Dudley,  Mass.,  kept  school 
for  half  a  dozen  years,  about  1800;  he  was  called  a  good  penman. 
Thomas  Mowry  was  a  teacher,  and  a  Mr.  Button;  also  Samuel  Perry 
from  Connecticut.  The  first  town  appropriation  recorded  was  $800, 
in  1834.  This  continued  for  successive  years  until  1850,  when  the  sum 
advanced  to  $900,  and  so  continued  a  number  of  years.  The  houses 
are  built  in  locations  suitable  for  the  scholars,  and  the  school  property 
compares  favorably  with  that  of  the  most  progressive  towns  of  the 
state. 

The  Lapham  Institute  is  located  upon  a  slight  eminence,  command- 
ing a  view  of  the  village  of  North  Scituate.  It  is  composed  of  three 
large  buildings,  and  was  founded  by  the  Rhode  Island  Association  of 
Free  Baptists,  in  the  year  1839.  During  this  same  year  Reverend 
Hosea  Quimby  opened  the  school  under  auspicious  circumstances  as 
principal.  Three  courses  of  study  were  provided;  one  for  young  men 
preparing  for  college,  one  for  young  ladies,  embracing  a  period  of  four 
years,  and  one  to  meet  the  wants  of  those  pupils  Avho  only  attended 
one  or  more  terms. 

The  endowment  fund  consisted  of  about  $30,000,  which  was  con- 
sumed in  the  purchase  of  the  ground  and  the  erection  of  buildings. 
In  the  year  1850  the  society  became  heavily  taxed  and  sold  the  entire 
property  to  Mr.  Quimby,  its  principal,  who,  by  practical  economy  and 
careful  management,  hoped  to  render  the  school  self-sustaining.  But 
after  four  years  of  severe  struggle,  he  succumbed  to  overwork  and 
anxiety,  and  the  property  was  hired  to  vSamuel  P.  Coburn,  who  be- 
came the  next  principal. 

In  1857  Reverend  W.  Colgrove  purchased  the  buildings  and  fur- 
nishings of  its  owner,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  the  school  was 
closed  and  so  remained  for  three  years.  In  1S03  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Lapham  Institute,  the  Honorable  Benedict  Lapham 
and  others  becoming  sureties  for  whatever  deficiencies  might  occur. 

Among  the  distinguished  graduates  of  this  institution  are  Professor 
James  B.  Angell,  of  Michigan  Lniversity,  Ann  Arbor;  George  T.  Day, 
former  editor  of  the  Morning  Star;  Ex-Governor  Howard,  of  Rhode 
Island;  Profes.sor  Thomas  L.  Angell,  of  Bates  College;  and  Mary  La 
tham  Clark,  the  author  of  several  valuable  and  popular  works.  The 
institution  is  supplied  with  a  good  library,  and  its  laboratory  comprises 
well  assorted  chemical  and  astronomical  apparatus.  The  property  is 
now  owned  by  Mr.  William  Winsor,  of  Greenville,  R.  I. 

The  successive  principals  have  been:  Hosea  Quimby,  from  1839  to 
1854;  Samuel  P.  Coburn,  from  1854  to  1857;  Reverend  W.  Colgrove, 
from  1857  to  1859.     Up  to  this  time  the  school  had  been  known  as 


598  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENXE   COUNTY. 

Smithville  Seminary.  From  1859  to  1863  there  was  no  school.  In 
1863  name  was  changed  to  Lapham  Institute,  and  Reverend  B.  F. 
Hayes  was  principal  from  1863  to  1865;  Thomas  L.  Angell,  from  1865 
to  1867;  George  H.  Ricker,  from  1867  to  1874;  A.  G.  Moulton,  from 
1874  to  1875;  W.  S.  Stockbridge  was  principal  in  1875,  and  was  the  last 
one  in  the  place. 

Richmond  village  is  the  seat  of  William  E.  Joslin's  shoe  and  corset 
lacing  works,  and  is  about  the  center  of  the  town.  It  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settled  localities  in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  old  Angell 
Tavern,  an  antique  and  grotesque  edifice,  was  erected  here  nearly  two 
centuries  ago.  Here  town  meetings  were  held,  politics  were  discussed 
and  the  views  of  the  day  proclaimed.  The  house  was  two  stories  high, 
with  the  eaves  of  the  front  extending  a  few  feet,  forming  a  little  shel- 
ter in  stormy  weather.  On  the  western  end  was  a  huge  stone  chim- 
ney, forming  a  wall  for  that  end  of  the  building.  There  was  also  back 
of  the  main  building  an  addition  sloping  down  from  the  main  roof  to 
form  a  kitchen,  closet  and  bedroom,  one  story  high.  This  part  of  the 
house  was  taken  down  in  1823. 

The  house  had  three  narrow  windows  with  small  panes  of  glass  on 
the  lower  front,  and  four  of  the  same  description  above,  with  one  at 
the  east  end.  The  front  door  was  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  part 
facing  the  road.  As  you  entered,  a  door  on  the  right  hand  of  the  pas- 
sage opened  upon  the  barroom— a  large  square  one^and  leading  out 
of  it.  The  entire  length  of  the  remaining  fore  part  of  the  house  was 
a  sitting  room — used  in  later  years,  if  not  before,  for  a  bedroom.  Back 
of  the  barroom  was  a  large  square  room  used  as  a  kitchen.  The  only 
pair  of  stairs  ascended  from  this  room.  A  bedroom  was  at  one  end 
of  it,  corresponding  in  size  to  the  sitting  room,  directly  behind  which 
it  stood.  The  hall  for  dancing  and  public  meetings  was  on  the  second 
floor. 

The  house  was  built  by  Captain  Thomas  Angell  in  1710,  if  a  stone 
taken  out  of  the  chimney  gives  the  correct  date.  His  land  lay  on  both 
sides  of  the  Ponaganset  river,  and  was  extensive.  He  built  his  first 
house  near  where  Pardon  Angell's  house  stands,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
north.  The  tavern  became  noted  among  the  traveling  public.  Many 
eminent  men  have  been  entertained  here,  as  well  as  many  humble 
travelers.  General  Washington  and  General  Lafayette  stopped  here. 
The  latter  encamped  his  regiment  on  the  pleasant  intervale  in  front 
of  the  house,  while  marching  through  the  town  during  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  and  continued  there  until  the  troops  had  finished  their 
washing  in  the  river.  Lafayette  lodged  in  the  tavern,  and  another 
French  officer  of  high  rank  had  accommodations  in  a  house  near  by, 
where  lived  Mr.  Abner  Angell.  John  Manchester,  Nathan  Manches- 
ter and  Mr.  Hazard  also  kept  this  house,  but  the  property  continued 
in  the  hands  of  the  Angells  till  recently. 

Captain  Thomas  Angell,  .son  of  John  and  Ruth  Angell,  the  owner 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  509 

of  this  property,  was  born  March  25th,  1672.  April  4th,  1700,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Alice  Brown.  Captain  Thomas 
Angell,  in  1734,  contracted  with  the  town  to  build  the  bridge  over  the 
Ponaganset  river.  The  town  meetings  continued  to  be  held  in  this 
tavern  many  years. 

Captain  Thomas  Angell's  children  were:  Jeremiah,  Nehemiah, 
Isaiah,  Jonathan,  Thomas,  Martha  and  Sarah.  Every  one  but  Jona- 
than married  and  had  children.  Dividing  his  lands,  he  gave  large 
farms  of  200  acres  to  each  of  his  sons,  and  built  handsome  houses  of 
two  stories  high  for  four  of  them,  and  a  smaller  house  for  Jonathan. 
The  daughters,  no  doubt,  received  gifts.  At  their  father's  death,  in 
1744,  Martha  inherited  by  his  will  a  negro  girl  called  Phillis,  and  vSarah 
a  negro  boy  named  James. 

Thomas,  the  youngest  son,  was  the  executor  of  his  father's  will. 
Jeremiah  followed  his  father  in  the  keeping  of  the  tavern,  and  was  a 
highly  respectable  man.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  as  early  as 
1741,  and  afterward  town  treasurer.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Mathew- 
son,  his  second  Abigail  Graves,  and  his  third  Elizabeth  Stow.  He 
died  in  1786,  aged  79  years,  having  been  born  January  29th,  1707.  His 
widow  survived  till  December  10th,  1821. 

Nehemiah  Angell,  second  son  of  Thomas,  married  Mary  Hopkins, 
sister  to  Elder  Reuben  Hopkins.  He  had  three  sons,  Pardon,  Nehe- 
miah and  Abraham,  and  four  daughters,  Zilpah,  Martha,  Mercy  and 
Mary.  A  grandson,  Mr.  Pardon  Angell,  became  the  owner  of  the 
farm,  and  soon  after  took  down  the  old  one  story  red  house,  and  put 
up  a  new  one.  Isaiah,  the  third  son,  married  Miss  Wilkinson,  and  had 
only  one  daughter,  named  Prudence,  who  married  Gideon  Austin,  and 
had  a  large  family.  Thomas  Angell,  Jr.,  married  Mercy,  and  had  one 
daughter,  Sally,  who  married  a  Sterry.  Mr.  Angell  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Providence.  Martha  Angell  married  Mr.  Knight,  and 
vSarah  married  Jeremy  Mathewson,  on  the  very  day  the  Angell  tavern 
was  raised.  The  children  of  Jeremiah  were  brought  up  with  their  fa- 
ther in  the  tavern.  Daniel,  born  August  16th,  1748,  went  to  sea  un- 
married, and  did  not  return.  Andrew,  one  of  his  sons,  married  Ta- 
bitha  Harris,  daughter  of  Gideon  Harris,  Esq.,  and  carried  on  the 
tavern  after  his  father. 

Captain  Angell  seems  to  have  made  his  tavern  the  great  center 
of  business  and  amusement  in  the  town.  The  militia  musters  were 
held  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  pound  drew  all  the  stray  cattle,  and  their 
owners  to  reclaim  them;  there,  too,  the  blacksmith  shop  adjoining  the 
pound,  under  another  line  of  Angells,  brought  customers,  and  there 
also,  we  must  not  forget  to  mention,  was  the  "  stocks,"  a  machine  con- 
sisting of  two  heavy  pieces  of  timber,  rounded  so  as  to  inclose  the 
legs  of  criminals,  and  in  which  ludicrous  and  painful  condition  they 
had  to  sit  out  their  time.  Here,  too,  those  who  got  into  scrapes  during 
the  trainings,  and  other  times,  were  put;  and  the  pole  of  the  tavern 


600  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

sign  was  used  as  a  post  to  fasten  those  unfortunate  gentlemen  who 
were  sentenced  to  be  whipped,  an  operation  they  were  not  likely  very 
soon  to  forget. 

Other  taverns  sprung  up,  as  the  town  increased,  in  different  places. 
Matthew  Manchester  was  licensed  as  an  inn-keeper  in  1769,  and 
Thomas  Manchester  and  Levi  Colvin  at  the  same  time.  Stephen  Smith 
and  Zebedee  Hopkins  were  licensed  in  1762,  and  Colonel  John  Potter 
and  Christopher  Potter  in  1760.  Some  of  these  persons  lived  in  Fos- 
ter, then  a  part  of  Scituate.  Peter  Cook,  1755;  Joseph  Kimball,  1745; 
Jeremiah  Angell,  1758;  Elisha  Hopkins,  Jr.,  1758;  William  West, 
1758;  John  Hulet,  1745;  Thomas  Brown,  1749;  Samuel  Cooper,  1745; 
Henry  Randall,  Jr.,  1748;  William  Jackson,  1758,  were  among  the 
licensed.  "  Tavern  Ale  House  and  Victualling  House  "  is  the  term 
employed  in  licensing  many  of  the  above.  Only  a  few  of  these  per- 
sons could  have  done  much  business. 

An  old  house  on  Bald  hill,  marked  on  the  chimney  1710,  or  1740, 
was  built  by  John  Hammond,  who  lived  in  it;  also  Jeremiah  Baker 
lived  there. 

The  license  to  Joseph  Knight  runs  thus:  "  License  to  keep  a  tav- 
ern, or  house  of  public  entertainment,  and  to  retail  strong  liquors  in 
said  town,  and  hath  given  bond  for  maintaining  good  order  and  con- 
forming to  the  regulations  of  the  law  respecting  taverns  and  public 
houses.  Provided,  that  he  suffer  no  unlawful  game  or  games,  drunk- 
enness, or  any  other  disorder,  in  said  house,  or  in  any  place  in  his 
possession,  but  that  good  government,  rule  and  order  be  kept  therein 
according  to  law."  This  license  is  dated  February  12th,  1803,  and  is 
signed  by  John  Harris,  clerk. 

Thomas  Wilmarth,  who  was  a  tavern  keeper  and  clothier,  kept  an 
old  tavern,  still  standing.  His  son,  Stephen  Wilmarth,  of  Glocester, 
married  Nancy,  daughter  of  James  Aldrich. 

Manufacturing  has  in  all  probability  been  carried  on  in  this  part 
of  the  town  smce  the  time  of  Captain  Angell,  in  one  way  and  another. 
Originally  there  may  have  been  a  saw  and  grist  mill  near  his  house, 
as  there  was  a  fall  of  water  of  later  years  used  for  a  factory.  The 
present  mode  of  manufacturing  goods  on  an  extensive  scale,  however, 
was  not  begun  till  about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  when 
the  so-called  original  stone  mill  of  this  place  was  erected.  It  was  the 
fourteenth  mill  of  the  United  States  as  to  the  time  of  its  erection,  and 
was  built  in  1812  by  a  company  of  12  or*15  persons.  Before  going 
into  operations,  however,  they  sold  the  property  to  Messrs.  Richmond 
Bullock,  William  Richmond  and  David  Andrews,  who  carried  on  busi- 
ness under  the  style  of  the  Richmond  Company.  They  at  first  put 
the  weaving  out  among  the  farmers  but  afterward  they  placed  looms 
in  the  mill.  The  Richmond  Company  soon  afterward  leased  their 
mills  to  Jacob  Warner.  The}^  were  subsequently  leased  to  Thomas 
Newell,  and  after  him  came   Robert   Harris,  Olney  Hendrick,  who 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  '  601 

Tnaniifactured  seamless  bags,  and  Henry  Olney,  his  son-in-law.  In 
1864  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1865  Robert  Joslin,  an  enter- 
prising manufacturer,  purchased  the  property  and  rebuilt  the  mills. 
The  building  covered  the  site  now  occupied  and  w^as  two  stories  high, 
with  attic  and  basement.  Mr.  Joslin  did  a  flourishing  business,  em- 
ploying 50  hands  and  over.  He  manufactured  yarn  and  thread,  and 
was  increasing  his  business  annually  at  a  very  high  rate  of  speed, 
when  the  fire  of  1872  burned  his  property  to  the  ground,  catching  him 
a  few  days  after  he  had  allowed  his  insurance  policy  to  expire.  Mr. 
Joslin  then  went  to  Saundersville  and  continued  operations  there.  In 
the  meantime,  W.  E.  Joslin,  his  son,  came  with  his  father  and  bought 
the  property  in  1879,  when  the  present  firm  of  W.  E.  Joslin  &  Co.  was 
formed,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  taking  three-fourths  of  the 
stock.  In  1880  the  present  mill,  84  by  36  feet,  two  stories  high,  with 
attic  and  basement,  was  erected  and  subsequently  increased  by  an 
addition  40  by  72  feet.  The  latest  improved  machinery  was  then  put 
in  and  the  manufacture  of  shoe  and  corset  lacings  begun.  Competi- 
tion in  this  line  of  work  has  been  great,  but  the  senior  member  of  the 
concern  seems  to  have  been  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  from  the 
first  the  business  has  steadily  increased  until  now  the  hum  of  wheels 
here  is  louder  than  ever  before.  With  the  prosperity  of  the  business 
have  also  come  many  added  improvements.  The  building  is  heated 
with  low  pressure  boilers  and  in  the  near  future  Mr.  Joslin  contem- 
plates adding  illumination  by  electricity.  Noyes,  Smith  &  Co.,  of 
New  York,  and  the  Crompton  Corset  Company,  of  -Toronto,  Canada, 
are  their  agents.  The  last  named  company  have  handled  their  goods 
for  ten  years. 

Mr.  Joslin's  residence,  built  in  1880,  is  supplied  with  every  modern 
convenience.  Pipes  have  been  laid  to  conduct  water  into  the  house 
and  stable.  Connected  with  this  system  are  sewerage  pipes,  making 
the  sanitary  condition  as  perfect  as  any  found  in  our  largest  cities. 
The  water  used  is  cool  and  pure.  Artesian  wells  have  been  sunk  in 
the  sandy  bed  below  the  bottom  of  the  river,  and  by  this  means  only 
that  water  which  has  been  thoroughly  filtered  is  brought  into  use. 
The  water  is  pumped  by  the  mill  into  a  large  tank  and  then  by  gravi- 
tation conducted  in  pipes  to  the  house. 

The  Wilbur  factory  was  started  by  Samuel  Wilbur  for  the  manu- 
facture of  spools  and  bobbins  in  1829.  Benjamin  Wilbur,  the  present 
owner,  succeeded  to  the  business  in  1860.  The  first  shop  was  small 
and  but  three  or  four  hands  were  employed.  It  burned  down  in  1884, 
and  the  present  structure,  40  by  150  feet,  two  stories  high,  was  erected, 
in  which  15  men  find  employment.  Mr.  Benjamin  Wilbur  in  due  time 
bought  the  old  James  Hazard  privilege  of  Robert  Knight  and  improved 
that  privilege  by  changing  the  fall  of  water  from  11  to  28  feet. 

The  shop  below,  owned  by  Eugene  C.  Wightman,  is  an  extensive 
affair  for  the  manufacture  of  bobbin  blanks.  The  factory  was  owned 
for  a  long  time  by  Russell  Rounds. 


602  HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

vSteere's  shoe  and  corset  lacing"  factory  was  erected  about  the  year 
1826  by  Daniel  Fiske,  who  carried  on  the  business  of  making  axes, 
scythes  and  spindles.  He  continued  in  the  business  till  1855,  and  then 
sold  the  entire  property  to  A.  D.  Steere.  Mr.  Steere  also  engaged 
extensively  in  the  carriage,  harness  and  robe  trade.  This  factory  was 
burned  in  June,  1877. 

Stores  have  been  kept  in  Richmond  Village  from  an  early  date. 
The  old  store  now  occupied  by  Walter  Brown,  but  owned  by  the  mill 
company,  stands  on  grounds  purchased  of  Andrew  Angell  in  1840. 
The  building-  was  erected  by  Mathewson  Wilbur,  two  or  three  years 
later.  Mr.  Wilbur  formerly  kept  store  in  the  old  tavern.  The  busi- 
ness subsequently  passed  into  the  hands  of  William  A.  Potter,  and 
about  25  years  ago  it  was  transferred  to  Robert  Joslin.  Upon  the 
formation  of  the  new  mill  company  this  building  was  included,  and 
it  is  now  owned  by  them. 

The  Friends,  or  Quakers,  worshipped  in  a  church  which  was  burned 
before  the  revolutionary  war.  December  14th,  1811,  their  last  meet- 
ing house  was  erected,  and  William  Almy  and  Moses  Brown  attended 
from  Providence.  At  the  present  time  there  are  but  few  gatherings 
of  this  kind  in  the  town,  but  at  one  time  they  numbered  in  their  ranks 
many  of  the  most  important  citizens  here.  The  W^ilkinsons  of  the  first 
generation,  James  Aldrich,  Daniel  Fiske,  Isaac  Fiske,  Ezra  Potter,  John 
Potter,  Mr.  Mial  Smith,  Elisha  Mathewson  and  Gideon  Harris  attended 
the  meetings.  Their  first  church  was  built  on  land  given  by  Gideon 
Harris,  a  mile  west  of  the  present  church  building,  near  the  old  bank, 
and  was  supposed  to  have  been  accidentally  consumed.  Meetings 
were  subsequently  held  in  private  houses,  sometimes  with  Elizabeth 
Aldrich,  Mial  Smith  and  Elihu  Bowen,  until  a  new  house  was  built. 

Rhode  Island  was  from  the  start  tolerant  of  all  Protestant  religious- 
faiths,  allowing  free  utterance  of  doctrine,  from  which  cause  she  at- 
tracted settlers  of  various  creeds.  Quakers  and  Baptists  were  the 
most  numerous.  The  Six  Principle  Baptist  church,  according  to  a 
sermon  of  Richard  Knight,  one  of  the  elders,  preached  in  1727,  was 
constituted  in  1725,  received  a  grant  of  an  acre  of  land  and  built  a 
meeting  house  upon  upon  it,  reserving  a  part  of  the  land  for  a  burial 
place.  This  was  about  the  center  of  the  town.  In  August,  1727, 
Samuel  Fiske  was  ordained  pastor,  and  Benjamin  Fiske  deacon  of  the 
society.  The  services  were  performed  by  Elders  Brown,  Morse  and 
Martin.  James  Colvin  was  ordained  colleague  with  Elder  Fiske 
about  1738.  Elder  Colvin  died  in  1755,  and  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor  until  July  8th,  1762,  when  Reuben  Hopkins  was  ordained  elder, 
and  the  church  prospered  under  his  ministry.  A  reformation  com- 
menced and  continued  several  years,  and  numbers  were  added  to  the 
church.  In  1821  they  built  a  new  and  larger  meeting  house  on  the 
same  spot,  which  is  still  standing  and  in  use.  Elder  Jaques  was  the 
last  preacher,  and  the  meetmgs  now  are  irregularly  held.     This  church 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  603" 

and  ministry  has  doubtless  exerted  a  very  great  and  beneficial  influ- 
ence upon  the  town.  Deacon  Benjamin  Wilbur  has  been  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school  for  31  years  past. 

The  Episcopal  church  at  Richmond  was  built  just  prior  to  the  late 
war.  The  Angells,  the  Wescotts  and  the  Fields  were  the  chief  pro- 
moters. The  building  is  a  substantial  structure,  and  cost  about  $3,()()0. 
Henry  Olney,  the  present  reader,  was  also  one  of  the  prime  movers  of 
this  religious  enterprise.     The  membership  is  small. 

The  village  of  North  Scituate  is  located  on  the  Providence  and 
Hartford  turnpike,  about  ten  miles  west  from  the  city  of  Providence. 
It  occupies  a  healthy  and  delightful  site  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
town,  near  the  shore  of  the  great  pond  Moswansicut,  which  is  sur- 
rounded with  scenery  grand  and  fascinating.  The  village  has  grown 
up  gradually.  Its  streets  are  well  shaded  in  summer,  and  the  place  is 
beautiful  and  picturesque.  Here  is  located  the  Lapham  Institute,  and 
within  its  classic  walls  have  been  educated  some  of  the  distinguished 
men  of  the  age.  A  good  hotel,  noted  for 'its  comfort  and  convenience, 
three  churches  to  mark  the  prevalence  of  religious  influence,  and  a 
goodly  number  of  stores  and  shops  and  other  places  of  business  are 
also  located  here. 

The  cosy  little  village  is  surrounded  with  exquisite  bits  of  wood- 
land scenery  presenting  some  views  imposing  to  the  height  of  grand- 
eur. The  lake  near  by  is  surrounded  by  woods,  and  is  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water.     It  is  a  favorite  resort  for  fishing  parties. 

Trading  was  begun  in  the  village  at  a  very  early  day.  Richard 
Rhodes  kept  a  store  here  before  1800.  He  abandoned  the  store  in 
1835.  Jeremiah  Tourtellot  and  Fenner  Smith  were  early  traders. 
They  kept  the  factory  store  for  a  number  of  years.  They  gave  up' 
business  in  1845.  This  store  building  is  now  used  as  a  tenement.  Al- 
bert Hubbard  came  in  1835  from  Thompson,  Conn.,  and  acted  as  clerk 
for  the  Scituate  Manufacturing  Company  till  1838.  In  1839  he  built 
the  store  now  owned  by  the  widow  of  Joseph  G.  Gahan,  and  kept  it 
till  1847,  when  he  sold  out  to  Luther  Waldron.  This  store  changed 
hands  a  number  of  times.  In  1866,  Joseph  G.  Gahan  took  the  stock  of 
Israel  Randall,  and  since  then  he  has  been  three  different  times  in  the 
place.  He  returned  in  1879  the  last  time  and  continued  the  business 
until  his  death,  carrying  an  extensive  stock.  His  widow  continued 
the  business  till  the  year  1890,  when  Elber  O.  Card,  the  present  occu- 
pant, took  it.  The  Scituate  Manufacturing  Company  built  their  store 
in  1826,  and  in  1845  they  ceased  trading  in  the  mercantile  line.  War- 
ren S.  Ballou  traded  in  the  village  a  long  time,  as  also  did  the  Colwell 
Brothers.  In  1868  Albert  Harris  built  the  store  now  occupied  by 
Leach  &  Harris.  Daniel  A.  Clarke,  who  was  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Ponaganset  from  1865  to  1878,  traded  here  from  1878  to  1890, 
with  his  son  Daniel  A.  Clarke,  Jr.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Daniel  A. 
Clarke  &  Son.     A  large  hall  occupies  the  second  floor  of  this  building. 


604  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  is  used  by  the  village  people  for  public  purposes.  Mr.  Clarke, 
Sr.,  came  here  from  Glocester  and  began  work  in  the  cotton  mill  in 
1821,  since  which  time  he  has  been  identified  with  the  town.  Mr.  Is- 
rael Randall,  a  former  occupant  of  the  old  Hubbard  store,  and  Wil- 
liam A.  Randall,  his  successor  and  the  present  postmaster;  Charles 
Preston,  who  began  trading  here  about  the  close  of  the  late  war,  and 
D.  C.  Remington,  the  former  town  clerk,  are  all  names  of  prominence 
in  business  here. 

The  Scituate  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorporated  in  1834, 
and  carried  on  business  here  from  that  time  till  1889,  when  operations 
ceased.  The  business  was  established  in  1826  by  Benjamin  Aborn, 
Thomas  Brown,  Richard  Jackson  and  John  L.  Hughes,  who  built  the 
mill  at  that  time  and  began  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths.  Mr. 
Jackson  died  first,  then  Brown  and  Aborn;  subsequently  it  became  Bal- 
lon &  Brown,  who  owned  it  at  the  time  of  the  great  freshet,  when  it 
was  sold  at  auction.  The  company  owned  two  mills,  one  at  North 
Scituate,  the  other  at  Ashton.  The  mill  at  North  Scituate  was  for- 
merly superintended  by  Isaac  Cowee,  who  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
company  about  40  years.  The  mill  at  Ashton  was  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  Mr.  Allen  for  years.  Mr.  Henry  F.  Nichols  succeeded 
Mr.  Cowee  at  North  Scituate. 

Scituate  National  Bank  was  organized  in  the  year  1832  as  the  Citi- 
zens' Union  Bank,  and  in  1865  was  changed  to  a  national  bank.  The 
officers  of  this  bank  have  been  as  follows:  Presidents— Josiah  West- 
cott,  David  Phillips,  S.  L.  Harris,  Albert  Hubbard,  Isaac  Saunders, 
Uriah  Colwell,  Charles  H.  Fisher  (during  which  time  it  was  changed 
into  a  national  bank)  and  George  A.  Atwood;  cashiers — David  H.  Bra- 
man,  Cyrus  P.  Eddy,  John  A.  Harris,  Albert  Hubbard,  Byron  J.  Cowee. 
On  the  night  of  March  25th,  1868,  the  bank  was  burglarized  by  four 
men,  who,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  gain  access  to  the  safe,  repaired  to 
the  residence  of  the  cashier,  whom  they  found  ill  and  in  bed.  They 
first  bound  and  gagged  the  wife  and  son,  and  then  compelled  Mr.  Hub- 
bard to  accompany  them  to  the  bank,  at  the  point  of  a  revolver  and 
knife,  and  open  the  safe.  During  this  trying  scene  two  of  the  ruffians 
remained  at  the  house  guarding  the  wife  and  son,  and  Mr.  Hubbard, 
fearing  for  their  safety  as  well  as  his  own,  reluctantly  yielded  to  their 
nefarious  demand.  The  loss  amounted  to  $8,000  cash,  together  with 
a  large  collection  of  valuable  papers,  which  being  of  no  value  to  the 
robbers,  they  very  considerately  returned  addressed  to  the  register  of 
deeds.  Providence.  No  portion  of  the  money,  however,  was  ever  re- 
covered, nor  were  the  perpetrators  ever  apprehended.  This  loss  did 
not  affect  the  solvency  of  the  bank.  The  institution  was  closed  at  the 
beginning  of  1889. 

Hotels  in  North  Scituate  were  better  patronized  years  ago  than  at 
the  present  time,  the  travel  being  greater  then  than  now.  John  Rich- 
ards has  operated  the  stage  route  from  Providence  through  this  place 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  605 

to  Danielsonville  for  So  years.  One  hotel  was  built  by  Stephen  Smith 
in  revolutionary  times,  and  the  place  was  called  Smithville  for  a  long 
time.  The  front  part  of  the  present  structure  was  put  up  in  18:^0.  It 
was  then  kept  by  Comer  Smith,  his  son.  After  him  his  son.  William 
Smith,  kept  the  house  a  number  of  years,  and  also  a  store.  He  married 
Mary  Potter,  daughter  of  John  Potter,  a  Quaker  of  this  place,  in  1807. 
From  him  it  passed  to  his  son,  Fenner  vSmith.  It  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Scranton,  and  is  used  as  a  dwelling  house.  John  Potter 
was  a  revolutionary  soldier.  September  8th,  1777,  he  married  Wait 
Waterman  and  lived  in  the  old  red  house,  now  the  oldest  house  stand- 
ing in  North  Scituate.  He  afterward  built  the  hou.se  south  of  the  Four 
Corners,  where  James  Harris  now  lives.  Mary,  the  daughter  of  John 
Potter,  was  the  mother  of  William  G.  Smith.  The  hotel  now  owned 
by  John  Whipple  is  also  an  old  house.  Mr.  Whipple  bought  the  prop- 
erty in  1868,  and  accommodates  what  little  travel  there  is  in  the  place. 
David  Phillips  kept  this  hotel  75  years  ago.  His  son,  Harley  Phillips, 
also  ran  it  a  long  time. 

A  Congregational  church  was  formed  at  North  Scituate,  and  or- 
ganized January  1st,  1834.  A  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  in  1834, 
and  is  now  standing  and  occupied.  Pastors:  Reverends  Benjamin 
Allen,  Charles  P.  Grosvenor,  Benjamin  J.  Relyed,  James  Hall,  Charles 
C.  Beaman,  Thomas  Williams,  Loring  P.  Marsh,  J.  N.  H.  Dow,  William 
A.  Fobes,  J.  M.  Wilkins,  Thomas  L.  Ellis,  J.  H.  Mellish,  Frank  Palmer, 
John  Marsland,  John  H.  Mellish.  There  is  a  Sabbath  school  under  the 
direction  of  Deacon  Henry  Harris,  and  its  good  influence  is  felt  in  the 
town. 

A  Free-will  Baptist  church  was  gathered  January  7th,  1832.  as  a 
branch  of  the  Smithfield  Free-will  Baptist  church,  with  32  members, 
Reverend  Reuben  Allen,  pastor.  The  church  organized  April  22d, 
1835,  with  30  members.  Pastors:  Reverends  Martin  J.  Steere,  Eli 
Noyes,  D.  P.  Cilley,  Reuben  Allen,  J.  B.  Sargent.  John  Chanly,  Amos 
Redlon,  William  H.  Bowen,  O.  H.  True,  J.  M.  Brewster,  L.  P.  Bick- 
ford,  John  Purkis,  George  W.  Cortiss,  S.  S.  Barney,  and  George 
Wheeler,  the  present  pastor.  This  society  has  over  a  hundred  mem- 
bers, and  has  a  good  Sabbath  school  under  the  superintendence  of 
Elbe'r  O.  Card. 

A  Free  Baptist  church,  having  a  comfortable  house  of  worship, 
has  long  been  in  existence  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town. 

A  small  socieiy  of  Adventists  have  a  church  in  the  place,  but  at 
present  have  no  pastor.  A  good  Sabbath  school  is  maintained  under 
the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Reuben  Davis.  The  deacons  are  James 
King  and  Allen  Bishop.  Elder  Elisha  B.  Card  officiates  in  the  pulpit 
at  times  to  fill  vacancies.     The  last  regular  pastor  was  Elder  William 

Durfee. 

The  Good  Templars  have  a  following  in  this  village,  and  stoutly 
maintain  their  principles  under  the  leadership  of  Albert  Farrow,  qjhief 


606  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

templar.  The  society  was  organized  in  1886.  It  meets  in  the  Public 
Hall,  and  its  influence  on  the  minds  of  the  community  is  beneficial. 

Saundersville  Mills  were  built  and  operated  first  by  Isaac  Saunders 
and  Thomas  Harkness,  his  uncle,  in  1834,  but  the  place  was  named 
after  the  former.  They  manufactured  cotton  cloth.  They  also  about 
this  time  built  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  R.  L.  Beckwith, 
the  present  owner  of  the  mills.  The  reservoir  property  was  bought  of 
Richard  Saunders  about  the  year  1850  at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  Mr.  Saund- 
ers was  a  prominent  man,  was  justice  of  the  peace,  president  of  town 
council,  representative  and  state  senator,  holding  each  of  those  posi- 
tions a  number  of  years.  He  was  lieutenant  governor  in  1859  and  1860. 
He  died  April  8th,  1888.  He  was  married  three  times.  His  son 
Robert  H.  vSaunders,  by  his  last  wife  Ann  Eliza  Chamberlain,  is  a 
medical  student  about  completing  his  medical  education  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York.  The  mill  property  went 
through  various  hands  after  Mr.  Saunders  gave  it  up.  About  the  be- 
ginning of  the  late  war  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Citizens 
Bank  at  Scituate  and  was  leased  to  Steere  &  Champlin  for  ten  years, 
Beckwith  &  Richmond  taking  the  property  off  their  hands.  Then 
Nathaniel  Tucker  took  the  property  and  from  him  it  passed  to  the 
Pascoag  Savings  Bank,  and  was  leased  by  them  to  several  parties  in 
succession,  A.  W.  Harris  &  Co.  operating  it  for  a  few  years  beginning 
about  1877.  After  Mr.  Robert  Joslin  was  burned  out  at  Richmond  he 
took  the  property  and  was  the  first  to  put  in  braiding  machines.  He 
bought  of  D.  C.  Remington,  Jr.  R.  L.  Beckwith  took ,  possession  in 
1885,  and  the  mills  are  now  doing  good  service.  Mr.  Beckwith  manu- 
factures shoe  and  corset  lacings.  In  1865  Clarke,  Fisher  &  Co.  sold 
the  grist  mill  to  D.  C.  Remington,  the  present  owner. 

Hope  village  is  situate  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town  of 
Scituate,  at  the  terminus  of  the  Pawtucket  Valley  railroad.  It  is  one 
of  the  oldest  localities  in  the  state  and  is  noted  for  the  casting  of  can- 
non and  manufacture  of  bar  iron  and  nails,  before  and  during  the 
revolutionary  war.  They  used  to  cast  two  cannon  at  a  time.  Ore  was 
obtained  from  the  bed  in  Cranston  and  carted  to  the  furnace.  In  1765, 
the  discovery  of  another  bed  of  iron  in  the  same  locality  caused  a  com- 
pany to  be  formed  and  a  furnace  to  be  erected  at  Hope  village.  Thir- 
teen new  cannon,  cast  at  the  Hope  furnace,  were  fired  at  the  Great 
Bridge,  in  Providence,  in  honor  of  the  declaration  of  independence, 
July  26th,  1776.  Stephen  Hopkins  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most 
influential  of  the  men  who  got  up  this  company,  and  his  eldest  son, 
Rufus,  who  had  been  a  sea  captain,  was  for  many  years  superinten- 
dent at  the  furnace.  Wrought  iron  nails  were  also  made  at  this 
furnace. 

This  thriving  little  village  is  the  seat  of  the  Hope  Manufacturing 
Company's  mills,  and  contains  one  church,  a  good  hotel,  and  four  or 
fiv^e  stores;  and  some  mechanical  trade  is  carried  on.     The  railroad' 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENXE    COUNTY.  607 

has  brought  more  or  less  enterprise  to  the  viUage  since  its  construc- 
tion in  1874.    One  freight  and  six  passenger  trains  come  and  go  daily. 

The  first  dry  goods  and  grocery  store  in  Hope  village  was  kept  by 
Daniel  Gould,  who  had  located  where  Daniel  Hovvland  is  now.  Mr. 
H.W.  Emmons,  however,  was  one  of  the  earliest  traders  in  the  mercan- 
tile line  in  this  place.  In  1825  he  visited  this  locality,  selling  goods 
when  going  from  place  to  place.  At  that  time  Stephen  Bray  ton, 
Thomas  Snell,  Stephen  K.  Fiske,  Ebenezer  Burlingame,  father-in-law 
-of  Stephen  K.  Fiske,  and  A.  W.  Fiske,  his  son,  were  the  principal 
residents  of  the  village.  A  colored  man  named  Crosbv,  a  pensioner  of 
the  revolutionary  war,  then  lived  here  in  one  of  the  first  houses  erected, 
where  Albert  Johnson's  hou.se  stands  now.  Ezra  K.  Potter,  father  of 
Ezra  Potter,  came  here  in  1797.  Thomas  Ralph,  father  of  Ezekiel 
Ralph,  and  others  were  old  settlers  also  in  the  place. 

In  1825  Thomas  Snell  kept  the  boarding  house,  and  about  one  year 
afterward  Daniel  Gould  built  the  store  above  mentioned.  After  trad- 
ing here  a  short  time  Gould  sold  out,  and  following  him  came  Hall  & 
Ramsey,  Burrell  Madison,  Joseph  Tisdale,  George  Babson,  Henry  Bur- 
lingame and  Henry  Babson;  and  on  December  22d,  1870,  Daniel  How- 
land,  the  present  proprietor,  took  the  stock  and  still  continues  the 
business.  Mr.  H.  W.  Emmons  opened  a  store  in  Fiskville  in  1833, 
but  moved  to  Hope  in  1847  and  built  his  store  in  1848.  Followmghim 
came  Tisdale  &  Johnson,  Mr.  Bayley,  Emmons  &  Ralph,  Allen  B. 
Ralph  (who  kept  it  from  1858  to  1861),  Comfort  W.  Searle,  Thomas 
Needham,  Fred.  Simmons  (1871  to  1874),  Edwin  P.  Emmons  (1874 
to  1878),  William  Myrick,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Needham,  the  present 
■owner,  who  came  in  1881.  Mrs.  Mary  Potter  carries  on  a  trade  which 
she  built  up  by  taking  orders  from  different  parties  to  fill  by  laying  in 
the  stock  afterward.  Russell  S.  Young,  Hopkins  Brothers,  and  Fred. 
Roe  also  do  trading  here. 

Manufacturing  was  begun  in  Hope  by  Ephraim  Talbut,  who  built 
the  original  cotton  mill  in  1825.  At  that  time  the  boarding  house  for 
the  company  was  also  started.  Subsequently  Brown  &  Ives,  the  pres- 
ent owners,  purchased  the  property  and  have  been  running  the  mills 
ever  since.  The  old  mill  was  burned  and  the  stone  mill  was  built  by 
Brown  &  Ives  in  1844.  This  company  operate  430  looms  and  employ 
250  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  40-inch  sheetings.  The  Hope  Com- 
pany also  own  the  Hope  Company  Mills  at  Phenix,  and  operate  in 
both  mills  880  broad  looms,  44.448  spindles  and  employ  480  hands. 
The  officers  of  the  company  are:  William  Goddard,  president;  T.  P.  I. 
Goddard,  treasurer,  and  R.  G.  Howland,  superintendent. 

In  1872  the  Hope  Manufacturing  Company  erected  some  13  large 
two-story  tenement  houses  for  their  employees.  In  1874,  in  the  inter- 
est of  those  employed,  they  erected  a  church  at  a  cost  of  about  $15,000, 
used  at  present  by  the  Methodist  denomination.  They  also  established 
a  library  and  reading  room  for  the  people,  open  three  evenings  every 


608  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

week.     William   jNIcDonald  is  librarian.     The  library  contains  about 
800  volumes. 

The  boarding  house  above  mentioned  was  run  till  1845,  when  the 
present  hotel,  built  by  Welcome  Matteson,  took  its  place.  It  is  called 
the  Hope  House  and  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  boarding  house. 
In  1873  Mr.  Matteson  sold  out  to  the  Hope  Company,  since  which  time 
Mr.  Daniel  Howland  has  been  in  charge.  The  house  is  well  managed 
and  has  a  good  reputation. 

The  postmasters  of  Hope  village  have  been:  Welcome  Matteson, 
Henry  Emmons,  George  Babson,  Henry  Emmons  and  Daniel  How- 
land. 

Jackson  Mills  were  first  built  by  Governor  Charles  Jackson,  about 
the  year  1825.  After  a  time  the  property  was  sold  to  Christopher 
Lippitt,  L.  M.  Blodget,  John  Higgins  and  Mr.  Durand.  There  were 
several  changes  in  the  ownership  of  the  property.  Christopher  Lip- 
pitt &  Co.  now  own  the  mills  and  manufacture  sheeting.  They  oper- 
ate 120  broad  looms  and  give  employment  to  50  hands.  The  superin- 
tendent is  A.  H.  Himes. 

Potterville  has  been  a  center  for  the  manufacture  of  spools  and 
bobbins  for  nearly  half  a  century.  Moses  Potter  came  to  the  place  in 
1828  and  purchased  40  acres  of  land.  He  ran  the  hotel  14  years.  The 
house  was  built  by  Elisha  Fish  during  revolutionary  times.  It  was  a 
favorite  stopping  place  for  the  travelling  public  for  many  years.  In 
1842  it  was  turned  into  a  dwelling  house  and  is  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Samuel  Potter. 

June  19th,  1847,  the  wate*r  wheel  for  the  Potter  spool  and  bobbin 
works  was  started  by  Moses  Potter.  He  died  in  1865,  since  which 
time  the  business  has  been  carried  on  by  Emery  Potter  and  his 
brothers.  The  first  building  was  burned  July  17th,  1878,  and  the  pres- 
ent structure,  28  by  34  feet,  two  stories  high,  was  erected. 

Asahel  Harris  erected  a  mill  at  Elmdale"  about  the  year  1840,  and 
leased  it  to  Daniel  vSmith  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yarns.  After 
a  number  of  years  it  was  next  leased  to  Darius  Lawton  for  a  woolen 
mill,  and  then  leased  to  A.  W.  Harris,  who  subsequently  bought  the 
entire  property.  He  used  the  two  lower  floors  for  the  manufacture  of 
spindles,  flyers,  rings,  etc.,  and  the  two  upper  floors  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  cotton  yarns. 

The  Harrisville  Mill,  formerly  owned  by  A.  W.  Harris,  was  burned 
June  30th,  1875.  It  was  erected  in  1845  by  Asahel  and  A.  W.  Harris, 
who  ran  it  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  W.  Harris  &  Co.  in  the  manu- 
facture of  print  cloths.  A.  W.  Harris  exchanged  his  half  of  the  prop- 
erty for  the  Elmdale  Mills. 

Kent  Corners,  sometimes  called  Four  Corners,  is  on  the  road  lead- 
ing from  Hope  to  South  Scituate.  In  1838  Mr.  Alanson  Steere  com- 
menced manufacturing  here.  He  purchased  a  saw  mill,  which  he 
converted  into  a  cotton  mill.     His  brother  associated  with  him,  the 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  609 

firm  name  being  A.  &  O.  Steere.  Ralph  &  Field  became  their  suc- 
cessors in  1847  and  continued  the  business  some  years,  when  the  build- 
ings were  consumed  by  fire.  In  1873,  Mr.  A.  B.  Cahoone,  the  present 
proprietor,  purchased  the  property,  rebuilt  the  mill  and  turned  it  into 
a  bobbin  and  spool  factory.     He  also  operates  a  grist  mill. 

The  Christian  Union  church  was  organized  at  Kent  Corners  ISIarch 
7th,  1877.  At  that  time  Reverend  Daniel  Knight  was  chosen  pastor. 
The  society  is  small  but  maintains  a  good  Sabbath  school. 

Ashland  is  a  beautiful  little  village  situated  near  the  central  part 
of  the  town  on  a  good  water  privilege,  and  contains  one  store,  one 
church,  a  number  yf  houses,  and  is  the  seat  of  the  Ashland  Mills.  The 
land  covering  the  site  of  this  village  was  formerly  owned  by  the  Bat- 
tey  family.  Allen,  James  and  Deacon  Horace  Battey  were  early  and 
prominent  citizens  of  this  vicinity,  and  were  the  first  to  utilize  the 
water  privilege  at  this  point  for  sawing  lumber  and  grinding  grain, 
Allen  Battey  being  the  owner  of  the  mills,  which  were  built  about 
the  year  1820.  The  place  was  named  after  a  township  in  Kentucky, 
in  honor  of  Henry  Clay. 

About  the  year  1827  the  old  grist  mill  and  saw  mill  were  torn 
down  to  make  a  site  for  the  cotton  mills.  Before  Allen  Battey's  death 
an  acre  of  ground  was  disposed  of  for  the  new  mills,  which  were  built 
by  Hughes  &  Brown  in  1838.  The  original  structure  consisted  of  a 
building  three  stories  in  height,  the  first  being  of  stone,  the  next  two 
of  wood,  the  dimensions  being  44  by  64  feet.  In  1857  an  addition  was 
made  to  the  original  building,  44  by  160  feet,  and  about  this  time  the 
present  stone  dam  was  constructed,  also  some  other  buildings,  all  of 
which  was  done  at  a  cost  of  about  $80,000. 

In  1847  the  Ashland  Company  was  incorporated,  the  firm  of  Hughes 
&  Brown  being  changed  to  the  style  now  in  use.  The  incorporators 
were  William  W.  Brown,  Thomas  Brown,  Zephaniah  Brown,  Mary 
B.  Gladding,  vStephen  R.  Rathbone,  James  Y.  Smith,  William  M.  Bay- 
ley,  Benjamin  B.  Dyer  and  their  associates.  Zephaniah  Brown  was 
the  first  treasurer  of  the  company,  and  held  the  office  from  1847  to 
1856.  The  other  treasurers  have  been:  James  Y.  Smith,  1856  to  1876; 
Charles  N.  Nichols,  April  10th,  1876,  to  April  1st,  1878;  Horatio  Rog- 
ers to  April  1st,  1880,  and  Ferdinand  H.  Allen,  the  present  treasurer, 
elected  April  5th,  1880.  Samuel  G.  Allen,  superintendent  of  the  mills, 
and  father  of  Ferdinand  H.  Allen,  has  held  'his  present  position  50 
years.  He  is  87  years  of  age,  but  retains  the  vigor  of  a  man  half  that 
age.  The  company  operate  104  looms,  5,000  spindles,  and  employ  on  . 
an  average  60  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  sheetings. 

The  tenements  are  27  in  number.  The  first  six  were  erected  in 
1839,  the  others  about  the  year  1859.  The  store  is  also  owned  by  the 
mill  company.  It  was  originally  a  small  building,  which  was  moved 
to  the  present  site  and  increased  to  its  present  dimensions.  It  is  20  by 
47  feet,  two  stories  in  height. 


610  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

The  church  building  at  Ashland  was  erected  by  the  Ashland  Mills 
Company  in  the  interests  of  their  employees,  and  for  the  people  at 
larg-e.  On  April  4th,  1859,  the  company  decided  to  take  this  step,  and 
during  that  year  a  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,900.89.  The 
church  is  open  to  all  denominations,  the  Methodists  having  used  it  the 
most.  Probably  the  most  important  and  interesting  religious  feature 
connected  with  this  society  is  its  Sabbath  school.  Of  those  who  have 
been  prominent  in  this  work  should  be  mentioned  Thomas  J.  Hines 
and  wife,  Maria  Allen,  the  mother  of  F.  H.  Allen,  Doctor  Thomas  P. 
Newhall,  Reverend  John  Adams,  Miss  Elizabeth  Dawley,  Miss  Nancy 
Searle,  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Allen,  present  superintendent,  Mr.  F.  H.  Allen, 
present  teacher  of  the  Bible  class,  and  Doctor  James  E.  Roberts,  one 
of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  society  of  this  place. 

The  cotton  mill  at  Rockland  is  a  large  building,  three  stories  in 
height,  with  three  pretentious  projections.  It  is  situated  on  the  West- 
connaug  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  river.  The  first  mills  here  were 
erected  about  the  year  1812,  by  Joshua  Smith,  Frank  Hill  and  others, 
and  were  run  by  them  for  some  time,  the  product  being  cotton  yarn. 
They  subsequently  passed  into  other  hands.  Timothy  Greene  pur- 
chased them  in  1822,  and  later  sold  them  to  Charles  Hadwin,  who  put 
in  looms  and  began  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cloth.  Caleb  Earl  pur- 
chased the  property  in  1834,  and  it  passed  in  rapid  succession  through 
the  hands  of  several  parties  until  the  year  1854,  when  it  was  burned, 
and  it  was  rebuilt  in  1856. 

The  red  mill  was  erected  about  1814  or  1815,  by  Peter  B.  and  Peleg 
C.  Remington,  and  was  run  by  them  for  several  years  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  yarn.  It  passed  into  other  hands,  and  was  in  opera- 
tion till  1840,  when  it,  too,  was  burned.  During  this  same  year  John 
Burgess  rebuilt  the  mill,  put  in  new  machinery  and  operated  it  till 
1863.  In  1856,  Thomas  Remington  and  Isaac  Saunders  bought  the  es- 
tate originally  owned  by  Joshua  Smith,  Frank  Hill  and  others,  erected 
a  portion  of  the  mill  now  standing  on  that  site,  and  leased  it  to  A.  & 
O.  Steere.  These  brothers  began  in  1857  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
goods  with  90  looms  and  40  hands.  They  continued  operations  till 
1863,  when  Alanson  vSteere  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother,  and 
continued  alone  till^l875.  Byron  L.  Steere  took  an  interest  in  the 
concern  at  that  time,  and  it  has  since  been  run  under  the  style  of  A. 
Steere  &  Son. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Steere  purchased  the  estate  of  the  old  mill.  In  1871, 
and  again  in  1881,  extensive  additions  were  made  to  the  new  mill, 
and  now  it  presents  an  imposing  appearance.  The  mills  are  run  in 
the  manufacture  of  print  cloths,  and  give  employment  to  90  hands. 
The  mill  contains  220  looms  and  10,000  spindles.  Both  steam  and 
water  power  are  used. 

Remington  Mill,  Rockland,  was  erected  in  the  year  1831  by  Thomas 
Remington,  and  started  with  36  looms  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  611 

•cloth.  About  1840  an  addition  was  built  and  12  looms  added.  In  1845 
it  was  leased  to  Barden  &  Manchester,  who  operated  it  till  1856.  Soon 
afterward  Mr.  Manchester  died  and  Mr.  Barden  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  the  expiration  of  the  lease,  when  Thomas  Remington  again 
took  it  and  continued  the  business  till  the  war  broke  out,  when  he 
stopped  manufacturing  entirely. 

George  B.  Smith  was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  wheelwright  busi- 
ness in  the  hamlet  of  Rockland.  He  commenced  this  business  in 
1846  and  continued  until  his  death,  which  occurred  recently.  Mr. 
Smith  learned  his  trade  in  Fosler  and  by  industry  and  strict  attention 
to  business  secured  a  good  patronage  and  a  competency. 

The  old  store,  originally  kept  in  the  village  by  Oscar  Angell,  was 
sold  to  A.  &  O.  Steere  and  run  by  them  as  the  company  store  for  a 
number  of  years.  They  sold  to  George  Cole.  Following  him  came 
Luther  &  Steere,  Luther  &  Rounds  and  now  Richard  B.  Rounds.  The 
firm  of  Luther  &  Steere  was  composed  of  Albert  N.  Luther  and  Byron 
Steere,  who  kept  the  store  a  long  time. 

The  Christian  Union  church  was  organized  in  the  village  of  Rock- 
land about  the  year  1825.  The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been: 
Reverends  James  Burlingame,  George  Collins,  Nelson  Luther,  who 
was  in  charge  18  years,  George  Williams,  J.  L.  Pierce,  Z.  Post,  Alden 
Allen,  Thomas  Howard,  a  Mr.  Spade  and  Reverend  Mr.  Miller,  the 
present  pastor.  The  congregation  numbered  300  originally,  but  now 
there  are  only  about  100  members.  The  house  of  worship  was  built 
•during  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  Mr.  Luther,  who  was  ordained  to 
this  work  in  1837.  Josie  Angell  is  the  present  Sabbath  school  super- 
intendent. There  was  also  a  church  of  this  persuasion  built  at  Clay- 
ville  some  years  ago.     It  is  a  small  society. 

The  Clayville  Mills  were  erected  about  the  year  1837  by  Josiah 
Whitaker  and  used  as  a  comb  shop.  About  the  year  1847  the  mill 
was  changed  to  a  rubber  mill,  for  the  manufacture  of  rubber  shoes,  etc. 
In  1853  it  was  altered  into  a  cotton  mill  and  in  1857  it  was  burned,  with 
all  its  contents.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt  and  used  as  a  cotton  mill. 
The  lower  mill  was  subsequently  built  to  run  in  connection  with  it  by 
the  same  parties  and  both  were  leased  by  Mr.  Lindsey  Jordan  for  a 
term  of  years.  Mr.  Jordan,  then  bought  both  mills.  He  died  in 
November,  1865,  and  his  estate  continued  to  run  the  mills  till  1875, 
when  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Charles  W.  Jordan. 

S.  R.  Weeden  &  Son  manufacture  cotton  yarns.  The  store  was 
built  by  Josiah  Whitaker.  It  is  now  run  by  Hopkins  Brothers.  They 
succeeded  F.  A.  Allen  April  15th,  1889.  The  store  now  owned  by 
Saton  &  Hill  was  built  by  Nathan  Matteson  in  1861.  The  upper  part 
of  this  store  is  used  for  a  lodge  room. 

Ponaganset  is  situated  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet  river 
in  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Job  Randall,  John  Barden,  Jesse 
Arnold,  John  Hill  and  Thomas  Hill  were  among  the  first  settlers  in 


612  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

this  vicinity.  Job  Randall  settled  on  lands  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Joshua  Wells,  one-half  mile  north  of  the  village.  His  son  Job 
settled  just  below  the  village.  From  the  town  records  we  find  the 
name  of  Job  Randall  as  follows:  deputy  from  1739  to  1766,  except  the 
year  1749:  deputy  in  1769  and  1770;  representative  of  the  town  in  the 
general  assembly  from  1792  to  1810,  from  1831  to  1833,  1842  and  1843; 
senator  in  1843  and  1844.  Probably  father,  son  and  grandson  held 
these  positions,  as  this  official  life  extends  over  a  period  of  105  years. 
Hon.  John  H.  Barden  thinks  Job  Randall,  Sr.,  settled  here  as  early  as 
1675.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  powerful  man,  capable  of  per- 
forming great  physical  feats,  and  that  he  was  a  noted  wrestler. 

John  Barden  was  the  grandfather  of  John  H.  Barden,  the  present 
owner  of  the  village.  His  business  was  forging  or  making  iron.  The 
ore  was  hauled  in  a  one-horse  cart  from  the  Cranston  ore  beds,  and 
the  business  continued  successfully  in  this  way  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  came  here  about  the  year  1760,  and  died  in  a  house  where  the 
village  store  now  stands,  about  70  years  of  age.  The  works  stood  on 
grounds  afterward  used  for  a  grist  mill.  His  son,  John  Barden,  died 
in  1860,  75  years  of  age.  He  ran  the  saw  and  grist  mills.  He  sold  the 
property  finally  to  the  Richmond  Company  in  1826. 

The  first  house  built  in  Ponaganset  was  by  Jesse  Arnold.  John 
Hill  settled  at  Rockland.  John  Barden,  the  father  of  John  H.,  built 
the  grist  mill  here  in  1815.  John  Barden  and  wife  kept  the  first  store 
in  Ponaganset.  The  first  wagon  with  thorough-braces  in  the  place 
was  brought  here  in  1828.  Henry  F.  Ford  was  the  first  wheelwright- 
Peter  King  was  the  first  blacksmith. 

Honorable  John  H.  Barden,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  village, 
was  born  August  7th,  1816.  He  received  one  year's  schooling,  and 
then  began  working  in  the  mills  at  Remington.  In  1847  he  ran  the 
mills  there  and  continued  the  business  till  1856,  manufacturing  print 
cloths,  when  Mr.  Thomas  Remington  took  the  mills  again,  and  he 
came  to  Ponaganset,  where  his  record  has  been  made  in  the  interests 
of  the  people  of  his  own  native  village.  Mr.  Barden  was  senator  in 
1870  and  1871,  and  representative  in  1869. 

The  first  store  in  the  place  was  built  by  John  Barden  in  1832.  It 
was  leased  to  Alexander  Allen,  and  after  him  came  Joseph  W.  War- 
ner, then  John  H.  Barden,  who  kept  it  four  years,  and  then  sold  it  to 
the  Ponaganset  Manufacturing  Company.  In  1865  this  company  sold 
it  to  Daniel  A.  Clarke,  now  of  North  Scituate,  and  in  1878  A.  B.  Bar- 
den, the  present  proprietor,  came  into  possession.  The  new  building 
was  erected  by  John  H.  Barden  in  1864.  There  is  also  a  public  hall 
and  a  library  in  the  village,  mostly  the  gift  of  John  H.  Barden. 

The  first  mills  here  were  built  by  John  Andrews,  William  E.  Rich- 
mond and  Richmond  Bullock,  in  1827  or  1828.  Additions  were  made 
from  time  to  time,  increasing  the  capacity,  as  was  needed.  The  first 
company  put  in  24  looms  and  made  yarn  from  1828  to  1832,  when  they 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  613 

added  24  more  looms  and  continued  till  1845,  then  sold  .to  John  T.  Pit- 
man. He  added  80  looms  and  continued  till  ]852,  when  the  property- 
was  burned.  In  1853  John  H.  Barden  and  B.  A.  Potter  bought  the 
property,  rebuilt  the  mills,  put  in  78  looms,  and  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  satinet  warps.  In  1860  Alanson  Steere,  Otis  Steere,  James  H. 
Mumford,  2d,  of  Providence,  and  John  H.  Barden  formed  a  company, 
took  the  property,  added  123  looms,  and  began  the  manufacture  of 
print  cloths.  They  also  made  an  addition  to  the  building.  In  1883 
Mr.  J.  H.  Barden  and  J.  H.  Eddy  bought  the  property.  In  1885  an- 
other addition  was  made  to  the  mill.  Mr.  Barden  operates  174  looms 
and  employs  80  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  print  cloths.  In  1883 
the  proprietors  of  the  various  mills  on  this  stream  built  a  substantial 
reservoir,  at  a  cost  of  $54,000.  The  pond  covers  an  area  of  260  acres, 
having  a  water  shed  above  that  of  55  acres  more.  The  reservoir  is 
well  stocked  with  black  bass.  As  a  piece  of  masonry  the  work  done 
here  will  excite  the  interest  and  admiration  of  all  who  visit  this  beau- 
tiful village. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Gilbert  Aldrich,  born  in  Scituate  in  1836,  is  a  son  of  William, 
grandson  of  David,  and  great-grandson  of  Noah  Aldrich,  all  of  whom 
were  residents  of  Scituate.  Gilbert  was  married  in  1881  to  vSusan  S., 
daughter  of  Halsey  Aldrich.  He  has  always  been  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness and  farming. 

James  Aldrich,  born  in  Scituate  in  1800,  w^as  a  son  of  Oliver  and 
grandson  of  James  Aldrich,  who  came  from  Smithfield  and  settled  in 
this  town.  He  was  married  in  1835  to  Abigail  C.  Colwell.  They  had 
six  children.  Two  sons,  James  C.  and  William  H.  H.,and  two  daugh- 
ters, Asenath  S.,  wife  of  William  A.  Pirce,  and  Desire,  are  living.  In 
early  life  Mr.  Aldrich  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  but  after 
marrying,  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  children.  He  was 
elected  senator  from  Scituate.     He  died  in  1877. 

Simon  S.  Aldrich  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1845.  His  father  was  Arthur 
F.  and  his  grandfather  John  Aldrich.  Arthur  F.  was  elected  to  the 
assembly  several  terms.  He  married  Mary  Harris.  Simon  S.  married 
in  1874  Susan  F.,  daughter  of  Lyman  Brown.  Mr.  Aldrich  has  always 
been  a  farmer.    He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1884. 

Jonathan  H.  Arnold,  son  of  Russell  and  grandson  of  Simeon  Arnold, 
was  born  in  Scituate  in  1814.  Simeon  came  from  Smithfield  and  settled 
on  a  farm,  a  part  of  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Jonathan  H. 
He  was  married  in  1844  to  Minerva  Arnold.  They  had  one  son,  John 
A.,  who  is  a  physician,  and  is  now  general  superintendent  of  Kings 
County  Hospital,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  at  the  Lapham  Institute  and 
Harvard  Medical  School,  and  Bellevue  Hospital  College,  N.  Y.,  taking 
his  degree  in  1872.  Minerva  Arnold  died  in  1869,  and  Jonathan  H. 
was  married  ag^ain  in  1871  to  Louisa  Buffinton. 


614  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Georg-e  A.  Atwood,  born  in  Scitiiate  in  1820,  is  a  son  of  William- 
and  grandson  of  Abraham  Atwood,  both  being-  millwrights.  George 
A.,  early  in  life,  entered  a  store  and  made  that  his  business  for  many- 
years.  He  was  married  in  1846  to  Harriet  Monroe.  They  have  no 
children.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  for  over  26  years  and  president  of 
the  Scituate  National  Bank  for  the  past  12  or  15  years. 

William  C.  Atwood  was  born  in  Scituate  March  19th,  1807.  His 
father  was  Kimball  Atwood,  and  his  grandfather  was  John  Atwood  of 
Scituate,  He  was  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  six  years,  and  an  officer 
in  the  continental  army.  William  C.  married  Julania  Andrews,  Octo- 
ber 5th,  1827.  She  died  in  1861.  They  had  twelve  children.  There 
are  living:  Kimball,  Richard  A.,  John  H.,  William  A.  and  Adeline, 
She,  with  William  A.,  resides  with  their  father.  He  was  married  again 
in  1864  to  Mary  A.  Phillips.  She  died  in  1879.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Colegrove.  He  had  four  sisters  and  two  brothers.  One 
brother,  John,  settled  in  Killingly,  Conn.  He  had  two  sons,  James  S. 
and  William  A.  They  were  engaged  in  cotton  manufacturing  in  Con- 
necticut. Both  are  dead.  William  A.  left  two  sons,  Henry  C.  and 
William  E.,  and  one  daughter,  Mary  E,  They  are  engaged  in  cotton 
manufacturing  in  Williamsville,  Conn.  James  S.  left  two  sons,  J,  Walter 
and  J.  Arthur  Atwood,  engaged  in  cotton  manufacturing  at  Wauregan 
and  Taftville,  Conn.  William  C.  has  been  a  member  of  the  South 
vScituate  Baptist  church  for  over  forty  years.  He  lives  on  what  was 
called  Blackmore  farm,  settled  on  by  his  father. 

Olney  H.  Austin,  son  of  Samuel  Austin,  was  born  in  Scituate  in 
1819.  He  was  married  in  1845  to  Maritta,  daughter  of  Richard  Bishop 
of  vScituate.  He  is  a  mason  and  builder  and  has  followed  that  busi- 
ness nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  elected  to  the  assembly  in  1862  and 
1863,  He  is  a  member  of  Hamilton  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Clayville. 

John  H.  Barden  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1816.  His  father  and 
grandfather  were  both  named  John.  His  father  married  Priscilla, 
daughter  of  John  Hill.  John  H.  married  Ann  E.  Harrington  in  1843. 
They  had  four  children.  None  are  living.  He  is  engaged  in  cotton 
manufacturing  at  Ponaganset.  He  was  elected  to  the  assembly  in 
1869,  and  to  the  senate  in  1870  and  re-elected  1871.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  several  years.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Richard  E.  Barden,  born  in  Scituate  March  4th,  1827,  is  a  grand- 
son of  John  Barden,  and  his  father  bore  the  same  name.  He  was 
married  June  12th,  1851,  to  Marcia  A.  Hopkins,  of  Foster.  They  have 
three  daughters  living:  Clara  J.,  married  William  T,  Olney;  Bessie 
P.,  married  Benjamin  Wood,  and  Annie  M.  His  principal  business 
has  been  farming.  He  was  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  in  Company 
I,  First  Rhode  Island  Regiment.  He  is  a  strong  prohibitionist.  Mrs. 
Barden  is  a  poetess  of  considerable  ability,  her  writings  having  been 
published  in  some  of  the  leading  papers  of  the  state. 

Robert  L.  Beckwith  was  born  in  Providence  in  1855.     His  father 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY, 


615 


was  Amos  N.,  and  his  grandfather  Truman  Beckwith,  both  residents 
of  Providence.  Robert  L.'s  business  has  always  been  in  cotton  mills. 
In  1844  he  came  to  vSouth  Scituate  and  engaged  in  cotton  manufactur- 
ing for  one  year,  then  settled  at  North  Scituate,  manufacturing  corset 
lacings  and  yarns.  He  was  married  in  1879  to  Carrie  Joslin.  They 
have  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Charles  A.  Bray  ton,  son  of  James  M.  Bray  ton  (deceased),  grandson 
of  Israel,  and  great-grandson  of  Freeborn  Brayton,  was  born  in  Scit- 
uate in  1850.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Adelaide  V.  Steere,  of  Scit- 
uate. They  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  In  early  life  he  was  in 
the  insurance  business  in  Providence,  and  later  in  the  grocery  and 
milk  business.  In  1878  he  settled  in  Scituate  on  a  farm  formerly 
owned  by  his  father  and  grandfather.  He  is  a  Six  Principle  Baptist, 
George  W.  Brown,  brother  of  Stephen  and  son  of  Henry  Brown, 
was  born  in  Scituate  in  1817.  He  was  married  in  1840  to  Betsey  Phil- 
lips, who  died  in  1853.  They  had  two  sons,  Gilbert  and  Leander  W. 
Gilbert  is  living.  He  was  married  again  in  1854  to  Phebe  Woodman- 
sie,  daughter  of  John  Woodmansie.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  farmer.  Gilbert 
married'' Pamelia  Peckham,  widow  of  Stephen  Peckham,  and  they  have 
one  son  and  two  daughters. 

George  W.  Brown,  2d,  born  in  Glocester,  in  1836,  is  a  son  of 
Stephen  Brown,  and  grandson  of  Henry  Brown.  He  was  married  to 
Mary  J.  Mathewson  in  1856.  They  have  one  son,  Frank  F.  Her 
father's  name  was  William  Mathewson.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  sash  and 
blind  manufacturer  in  Providence  for  about  30  years.  Several  years 
ago  he  settled  in  this  town,  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  fruit 
growing. 

George  H.  Burgess  was  born  in  Providence  in  1843.  His  father, 
Samson,\nd  grandfather.  Welcome  Burgess,  were  natives  of  Foster. 
He  was  married  in  1868  to  Amey  M.  Phinney,  of  Foster.  They  have 
one  son,  G.  Frank  Burgess.  Most*  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  Fos- 
ter and  Scituate.  He  was  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  First  Regi- 
ment, Battery  E,  R.  I.  Light  Artillery.  His  father  was  in  the  same 
regiment. 

Fiber  O.  Card,  born  in  Warwick,  in  1861,  is  a  son  of  Reverend 
Elisha  Card.  His  mother  was  Harriet  F.  Taylor.  His  grandfather 
was  Elisha  Card,  of  Warwick.  He  was  married  in  1884  to  Carrie  A. 
Bucklyn,  of  Scituate.  They  have  one  son,  Clifford  E.  He  resided  m 
Warwick  until  1882.  He  has  been  a  teacher,  being  engaged  several 
years  at  North  Scituate  and  other  places.  In  1889  he  engaged  m 
mercantile  business  at  North  Scituate. 

Daniel  A.  Clarke,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  in  1818.  His  fa- 
ther was  Daniel  and  grandfather  Daniel  Clarke,  who  settled  in  Foster. 
Daniel,  Sr.,  was  married  in  1839  to  Mary  E.  Harrington,  of  Foster. 
They  had  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  two  sons  living,  Daniel  A.  Jr., 
and  Charles  K.,  who  is  a  physician.     Mr.  Clarke  followed  farming  un- 


616  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

til  1866,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  Daniel  A.,  Jr., 
is  associated  with  him.  Daniel,  Jr.,  was  justice  of  the  peace  three 
years,  town  sergeant  six  years,  and  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  in 
1888.  He  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1848,  and  w^as  married  in  1881  to 
Ella  G.  Randall.  Daniel,  Sr.,  has  been  member  of  the  town  council 
and  collector  of  taxes,  and  has  held  other  town  offices. 

John  C.  Colvin,  born  in  Warwick,  in  1835,  is  a  son  of  John  Colvin 
and  Lucy  Arnold.  Moses  Colvin  was  his  grandfather,  and  Benoni  his 
great-grandfather.  They  were  farmers.  John  C.  was  married  in 
1881  to  Matilda  R.  Lawton,  of  Scituate.  They  have  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  He  has  been  notary  public  for  over  15  years,  and  justice 
of  the  peace  almost  continuously  since  1867,  trial  justice  three  years, 
and  assessor  in  1885.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1884, 
1885  and  1888,  and  president  in  the  latter  year.  Although  never  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  he  has  practiced  in  justice  courts  for  many  years. 

Amos  Williams  Cooke  was  born  in  Glocester,  R.  I.,  September 
28th,  1824,  being  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  ten  children  of  William 
and  Betsey  (Burgess)  Cooke.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  at  Lapham  Institute  in  Scituate  (then  Smithville 
Seminary).  He  was  a  diligent  scholar,  and  remarkable  as  an  expert 
mathematician.  Subsequently  he  taught  school  several  winters,  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  summers,  and  reading  such  books  as  he  chose 
from  the  Foster  Manton  Library.  May  31st,  1852,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  Tourtellot,  daughter  of  Williams  Tourtellot, 
who  was  a  lineal  descendant,  in  the  sixth  generation,  from  Roger 
Williams,  the  founder  of  Rhode  Island,  also  a  lineal  descendant  from 
Gabriel  Tourtellot,  a  Huguenot  who  came  from  France  after  the  re- 
vocation of  the  "  edict  of  Nantes."  Mr.  Cooke  with  his  wife  settled  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  where  in  connection  with  his  brother,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  nine  years.  In  1865  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Scituate,  where  he  has  sjnce  resided.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooke 
have  two  children:  a  son,  William  Tourtellot,  born  in  1853,  a  daugh- 
ter, Charlotte  Elizabeth,  born  in  1860.  Seven  grandchildren  have 
been  added  to  the  family. 

Byron  J.  Cowee,  born  in  Scituate  in  1838,  is  a  son  of  Ira  Cowee, 
who  came  from  Warren,  Mass.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  William  W.  Durfee.  He  was  superintendent  of  the 
machine  shop  of  the  Scituate  Manufacturing  Company  for  some  years. 
From  there  he  entered  the  counting  room  and  was  there  for  15  years. 
His  father  was  superintendent  of  this  factory  for  30  years.  ^  Mr.  Cowee 
has  been  cashier  of  the  Scituate  National  Bank  for  nine  years.  He 
has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  town  for  the  past  nine  years,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  town  council.  In  1889  he  was  made  treasurer  of  the 
Moswansicut  Manufacturing  Company  at  North  Scituate. 

Leonard  K.  Durfee  was  born  in  Blackstone,  Mass.,  in  1823.  His 
father's  name  was  Darius  and  his  grandfather  was  James  Durfee.     He 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  617 

was  married  in  1853  to  Celinda  M.  Waldron.  They  had  no  children. 
She  died  in  1874.  In  1880  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Emily  F.  Pray, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Corey. 

William  P.  Durfee,  son  of  Darius  (married  Mary  Sweet,  daughter 
of  Jeremiah  Sweet  of  Glocester)  and  grandson  of  James  Durfee,  was 
born  in  Glocester  in  1821.  He  was  married  in  1853  to  Emeline  A., 
daughter  of  William  Pray.  They  have  two  sons,  William  H.,  who 
married  Agnes  E.  Vallett,  and  Charles  A.,  who  married  Mercy  A. 
Baton,  and  one  daughter,  Adeline,  who  married  Herman  G.  Tucker. 
Mr.  Durfee  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  made  it  his  business  for  20 
years.     Later  he  engaged  in  farming. 

Almond  L.  Field  is  a  son  of  Caleb  and  grandson  of  Stephen  Field 
of  Cranston,  and  was  born  in  that  town  in  1846.  He  was  married  in 
October,  1867,  to  Melissa  J.  Knight,  daughter  of  William  W.  Knight 
of  Scituate.  They  have  one  son  and  four  daughters.  He  was  in  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  in  Battery  C,  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery. 
He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  member  of  the 
R.  S.  of  G.  F.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Scituate  most  of  his  life  and 
is  engaged  in  the  milk  business  and  farming. 

Nathan  Fiske,  born  in  1841,  is  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Amey  (Col- 
vin)  Fiske.  His  grandfather  was  Stephen  K.  and  his  great-grandfather 
Daniel  Fiske.  Nathan  was  married  in  1867  to  Melissa  E.,  daughter 
of  Wardwell  G.  Matteson.  They  have  one  daughter,  Pernella  M.  In 
early  life  Mr.  Fiske  was  a  farmer.  Later  he  learned  the  machinist 
trade,  which  has  been  his  business  except  from  1874  to  1879,  during 
which  time  he  was  station  agent  at  Hope.  He  is  a  member  of  War- 
wick Lodge,  No.  16,  F.  &  A.  M. 

Isaac  Groves,  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Monaghan  county,  Ireland, 
in  1827,  came  to  this  country  in  1853  and  settled  in  Scituate,  where  he 
has  resided  since.  He  married  Susan  Somerville  in  1859.  They  have 
one  son  and  a  daughter.  For  about  25  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Hope  Company,  and  in  1882  engaged  in  farming. 

Charles  A.  Harris,  born  in  Scituate  in  1812,  was  married  in  1837  to 
Susan  Fenner.  They  had  one  daughter,  Georgiana  A.,  who  married 
Benjamin  F.  Smith.  His  wife  died  in  1867  and  he  was  married  in 
1871  to  Henrietta  Tourtellotte.  They  have  one  son.  He  has  been 
several  times  a  member  of  the  town  council  and  assessor  of  taxes. 
His  father,  Charles,  grandfather,  Asahel,  and  great-grandfather, 
Gideon  Harris,  were  all  residents  of  Scituate.  Mr.  Harris  owns  and 
occupies  the  farm  settled  on  by  his  grandfather. 

George  P.  Howard  is  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  grandson  of  John  How- 
ard. His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Hannah  Green.  He  was  born 
in  West  Greenwich  in  1849  and  married  in  1869  Triphenia  H.,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Johnson  of  Coventry.  They  have  one  son,  George  H., 
and  three  daughters.  Hertilla  B.,  Vivenia  W.  and  Mary  E.  The  early 
part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  West  Greenwich.     In  1867  he  settled  in 


618  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Coventry  and  in  1888  came  to  Scituate.  He  is  a  farmer  and  milk 
dealer. 

Richard  G.  Rowland  was  born  in  1840  in  Warwick,  R.  I.  His 
father's  name  was  Daniel,  and  also  his  grandfather's.  They  were 
residents  of  East  Greenwich  and  were  Quakers.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Susan  Greene.  He  was  married  in  1868  to  Isabel  J.  Allen. 
They  had  five  children;  one  son,  Daniel,  and  one  daughter,  Alice  M., 
are  living.  Mrs.  Howland  died  in  1884.  In  1886  he  was  married  to 
Alice  Sisson.  He  settled  in  Scituate  in  1868,  and  until  1872  was 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Hope  Company.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  superintendent.  He  was  elected  to  the  assembly  in  1870 
and  again  in  1884.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1870 
and  1872. 

William  E.  Joslin,  born  in  Johnston,  R.  I.,  March  13th.  1842,  is  a 
son  of  Robert  and  grandson  of  George  Joslin,  who  was  a  native  of 
Thompson,  Conn.,  and  who  married  Eleanor  Snowman.  Robert  mar- 
ried Eliza  Thornton.  Benjamin  Thornton,  her  great-grandfather, 
came  from  England  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island,  holding  title  deeds 
to  a  very  large  tract  of  land  situated  in  Providence  county.  This 
property  was  sold  by  the  guardian  of  his  son  without  any  authority, 
and  suit  was  afterward  brought  by  Benjamin  Thornton,  grandson  of 
the  original  owner,  and  James  Smith  to  recover  the  same,  but  the  courts 
of  the  state  decided  against  them,  not  on  account  of  non-validity  of 
their  title,  but  because  of  the  length  of  time  that  had  elapsed  and  the 
many  hands  the  property  had  passed  through.  The  case  was  finally 
thrown  out  of  court.  Robert  Joslin  was  born  on  Fox  Island,  Maine. 
In  1865  he  began  the  manufacture  of  thread  at  South  Scituate,  and 
was  engaged  in  that  business  until  1876,  at  which  time  the  factory  was 
destroyed  by  fire..  The  site  was  purchased  by  William  E.  Joslin,  who 
rebuilt  the  mill  in  1878,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  shoe  and  corset  lacings.  He  was  married  in  1865  to 
Therese  Joslin.     They  have  one  son,  William  H.  Joslin. 

Benoni  C.  Knight,  born  in  Scituate  in  1825,  is  a  son  of  William  W. 
and  grandson  of  George  Knight.  His  mother  was  Elizabeth  Colvin. 
He  was  married  in  1^79  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Colvin.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Potter.  His  principal  business  has  been  wood  dealing  and  later  farm- 
ing. There  were  14  children  in  his  father's  family,  12  of  whom  are 
living. 

Henry  A.  Lawton  was  born  in  Newport  county,  R.  I.,  in  1811,  and 
settled  in  Scituate  when  a  young  man.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  A. 
Searle  in  1833.  They  had  three  children:  Elisha  G.,  Frances  R.  and 
Alice  P.  Mrs.  Lawton  died  in  1840,  and  in  1841  he  married  Charlotte, 
daughter  of  Doctor  William  Richardson.  They  had  six  children: 
Theodore  F.,  Henry  A.,  Charlotte,  Mary  E.,  Sarah  A.  and  Maggie  G. 
His  wife  died  in  1862.  He  married  Mrs.  Elmira  Williams  the  same 
year.     They  had  no  children.     He  died  in  1880.     He  was  in   the  as- 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  61 9" 

sembly  one  term,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  one  of  the  largest  farm- 
ers in  Rhode  Island,  owning-  about  1,000  acres  of  land.  This  property 
is  now  owned  by  his  son,  Henry  A.  Lawton. 

Albert  N.  Luther,  born  in  1843  in  Scituate,  is  the  only  son  of  Rev- 
erend Nelson  Luther,  grandson  of  Abednego  Luther  and  great-grand- 
son of  Benjamin.  He  was  married  December  10th,  1876,  to  Ella  L. 
Potter,  daughter  of  Samuel  P.  Potter  of  Scituate.  Mr.  Luther  was  in 
mercantile  trade  at  Rockland  for  about  20  years  and  postmaster  at 
that  place  for  nearly  the  same  length  of  time.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  town  council  in  1879, 1880  and  1881,  and  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1888.  His  mother  was  Vesta,  daughter  of  Peleg  Rounds  of 
Foster,  R.  I.  Albert  N.  Luther  finished  his  education  at  Eastman's 
College,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  1865. 

Wheaton  H.  Luther  was  born  in  Glocester  in  1822.  Soon  after  his 
parents  moved  to  Foster  and  a  few  years  later  he  came  to  Scituate  and 
has  resided  there  since  that  time.  His  father  was  Zadock,  his  grand- 
father Benjamin  (he  was  sergeant  in  revolutionary  war),  his  great- 
grandfather was  Constant  Luther  of  Johnston.  Wheaton  H.  was  mar- 
ried in  1842  to  Amity,  daughter  of  George  Davis  of  Foster.  la  early 
life  he  entered  a  cotton  factory  and  was  afterward  overseer  and  super- 
intendent of  like  institutions.  He  is  at  present  engaged  in  under- 
taking at  Rockland.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  and 
is  superintendent  of  the  Scituate  town  asylum. 

George  W.  Paine,  born  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  in  1833,  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  grandson  of  Abner  Paine,  who  was  a  resident  of  Cranston 
and  was  in  the  revolutionary  war.  George  W.  Paine  was  married  in 
1854  to  Susan  E.  Wilbur  of  Warwick.  They  have  two  sons  and  one 
daughter.  In  his  early  days  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
until  1888  was  employed  in  factories  in  Massachusetts  and  other 
states.  About  1886  he  settled  near  North  Scituate  upon  what  is  known 
as  the  Kimball  homestead. 

William  N.  Patt  is  a  son  of  Captain  David  Patt,  born  in  Warwick 
in  1770.  He  followed  the  sea  for  many  years.  William  N.  was  born 
in  Scituate  in  1808,  and  married  to  Alzada  Steere  in  1827.  They  had 
nine  children;  two  sons  are  living,  David  A.  and  Edward  N.,  and  one 
daughter,  Rebecca  A.,  who  married  Frederick  Clark.  He  died  many 
years  ago.  Mrs.  Patt  died  in  1862,  and  in  1863  he  married  a  Mrs. 
Waterman.  In  early  life  he  was  a  builder,  but  for  over  40  years  has 
been  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Free-will  Baptist  church.  He  has 
always  taken  an  interest  in  education  and  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
temperance  cause. 

Stephen  Peckham  was  a  son  of  Stephen  and  was  born  in  Scituate 
in  1801.  He  was  married  in  1826  to  Elmira  Phillips.  They  had  one 
daughter,  Elmira  Louisa,  and  one  son,  Stephen,  named  after  his  father. 
He  married  Pamelia  Ward.     They  had  no  children.     He  died  in  1872. 

James  B.  Phetteplace  is  a  son  of  Arnold  and  grandson  of  Area 


620  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Phetteplace.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  vSmith.  Her 
father  was  Rufus  and  her  grandfather  Richard  Smith.  Rufus  mar- 
ried Nancy  Whipple.  James  B.  was  born  April  22d,  1832,  in  Gloces- 
ter,  and  married  in  1850  to  Ann  M.  T.,  daughter  of  Sayles  Brown. 
They  have  one  son  and  one  daughter.  He  carried  on  the  meat  and 
grocery  business  for  over  20  years  in  Providence.  He  settled  in  Scit- 
uate  some  years  ago  and  is  engaged  in  farming,  and  with  his  son  is 
engaged  in  the  wholesale  oil  trade  in  Providence.  He  was  elected  to 
the  town  counciHn  1888  and  1889. 

Virgil  V.  Phillips,  born  in  Scituate  in  1831,  is  a  son  of  Eber  and 
grandson  of  Elisha.  He  w^as  married  in  1877  to  Sarah  E.  Sheldon  of 
Johnston,  daughter  of  Angell  Sheldon.  They  have  one  son,  Charles 
v.,  and  one  daughter,  Josephine.  In  early  life  he  worked  in  a  factory, 
but  since  1869  has  carried  on  the  business  of  carpenter  and  builder. 

Joshua  C.  Potter  was  born  in  Richmond,  R.  I.,  in  1830.  His  father, 
Freeborn,  and  grandfather,  Joshua,  were  both  residents  of  that  town, 
Joshua  being  in  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Joshua  C.  settled  in  this 
town  over  25  years  ago.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Lydia  W.  Thur- 
ber,  of  Scituate.  They  have  two  children  living — Albert  C.  and  Eliza. 
Mr.  Potter  has  been  engaged  in  the  wood  and  lumber  business,  and  is 
a  farmer.  He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1886,  1887,  1888. 
He  is  a  member  of  Hamilton  Lodge,  No.  15,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  No.  7;  Covenant  Lodge,  No.  40,  L  O.  O.  F.:  Moshassuck  En- 
campment, No.  2;  and  Mary  Lodge,  No.  10,  Daughters  of  Rebecca. 

Moses  Potter,  son  of  Moses,  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1795,  and  mar- 
ried Susan,  daughter  of  Israel  Angell,  who  was  a  colonel  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war.  In  early  life  he  was  a  farmer,  and  for  15  years  kept  a 
hotel.  In  1847,  in  company  with  his  sons,  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  spools  and  bobbins.  He  died  in  1867,  since  which  time  the 
business  has  been  carried  on  by  his  sons.  Emra,  born  in  1816,  was 
married  in  1843  to  Phebe  Wilbur.  They  have  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  Moses  O.,  born  in  1821,  married  Harriet  A.  Carpenter. 
They  have  one  son,  Samuel  P.,  born  m  1824,  maried  in  1853  to  Cathe- 
rine F.  Wilbur.  They  have  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Nehe- 
miah  K.,  born  in  1818,  married  Nancy  Phillips.  They  had  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Harley  W.  Potter,  born  March  7th,  1827,  married 
Joanna  Franklin.     They  had  four  daughters  and  one  son. 

Earl  A.  Potter,  born  in  Scituate  in  1859,  is  a  son  of  Emra  and  grand- 
son of  Moses  Potter.  He  married  in  1879  Cora  E.  Cole.  They  have 
one  son,  Wallace  C.  Mr.  Potter  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in 
1888. 

James  K.  Ralph,  born  in  Scituate  in  1857,  is  a  son  of  Samuel,  grand- 
.^on  of  Ezekiel,  and  great-grandson  of  Thomas,  a  major  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  James  K.  was  married  in  1864  to  Lucy  E.  Card,  of  Scit- 
uate. Mr.  Ralph  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  a  store.  About  seven 
years  ago  he  engaged  in  mercantile  trade  at  Jackson,  which  business 
he  still  continues. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  621 

Roswell  A.  Randall  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1815.  His  father  was 
Thomas  Randall.  He  was  married  in  1876  to  Louisa  J.  Blanchard. 
He  is  a  carpenter  and  wheelwright. 

Raymond  A.  Rathbun  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1845.  Olney  Rath- 
bun  was  his  grandfather,  and  Joshua  his  great-grandfather.  He  was 
married  in  1869  to  Ella  J.  Barnes,  of  Sturbridge,  Mass.  They  have 
five  children:  Clarabel  J.,  Mattie  A.,  Byron  R.,  George  O.  and  Ray- 
mond A.,  Jr.  In  early  life  he  learned  the  mason's  trade  and  followed 
it  some  years.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 
He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1884,  1885,  1886  and  1887,  and 
was  president  of  the  same  three  years.  He  was  elected  to  the  assem- 
bly in  1888  and  reelected  in  1889.  At  the  May  session  of  the  general 
assembly,  1890,  Mr.  Rathbun  was  elected  sheriff  of  Providence  county. 
Thomas  J.  Remington  was  born  in  Coventry  in  1835,  and  soon 
after  his  parents  came  to  Scituate.  His  father  was  John,  grandfather 
Thomas,  and  great-grandfather  Thomas  Remington.  They  were  resi- 
dents of  Coventry.  In  1859  Thomas  married  Letitia  White,  of  Scitu- 
ate. They  had  three  children.  One  son,  Frederick,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Lydia,  are  living.  He  was  elected  to  the  town  council  in  1887  and 
1889,  and  was  president  of  the  same  for  last  term.  He  was  in  the  war 
of  the  rebellion,  in  First  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery. 

Job  Rogers  was  born  in  Coventry,  in  1852.  His  father,  Albert, 
and  grandfather,  Abner,  were  both  residents  of  Coventry.  Job  settled 
in  Providence  in  1873,  and  later  at  Pawtucket.  He  was  overseer  of 
factories  at  these  places.  In  1889  he  came  to  Scituate  as  superinten- 
dent for  S.  R.Weeden  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  cotton  yarn  at  Clayville. 
He  was  married  in  1873,  and  has  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Richard  B.  Rounds  is  a  son  of  Alvah  and  Mary  W.  (Arnold} 
Rounds.  His  grandfather  was  Constant  Rounds.  Richard  B.  married 
Mary  J.  Esten.  They  have  one  daughter,  Allie  M.  Mr.  Rounds  car- 
ried on  a  tin  shop  at  Rockland  for  15  years,  and  afterward  entered 
the  store  of  Byron  L.  Steere  as  clerk.  About  1884  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  trade  at  Rockland,  in  partnership  with  Albert  N.  Luther, 
and  two  years  later  he  purchased  Mr.  Luther's  interest,  and  has  since 
conducted  the  business  alone.  He  is  postmaster  at  Rockland  at  the 
present  time. 

Joseph  B.  Rounds,  born  in  Scituate,  in  1838,  is  a  son  of  Alvah,  and 
grandson  of  Constant  Rounds.  Of  his  father's  family  there  are  four 
sons  and  three  daughters  living.  Joseph  B.  was  m.arried  in  1866  to 
Maria  Rathbun.  They  have  one  daughter.  When 'young  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  has  followed  that  business. 

Isaac  Saunders,  born  in  Providence,  in  1808,  was  a  son  of  Caleb 
and  Esther  (Harkness)  vSaunders,  of  Hopkinton,  R.  I.  Mr.  Saunders 
was  three  times  married.  In  1830  he  married  Mary  Ann  Cushman, 
who  had  two  children,  one  daughter  living.  In  1834  he  was  married 
to  Maritta  M.Salisbury.     They  had  seven  children:  one  son  and  a 


622  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

daughter  are  living.  In  1865  he  married  i\.nn  E.  A.  Chamberlain. 
They  had  one  son,  Robert  H.,  who  is  studying  medicine  in  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  city.  From  1833  to  1861 
■or  1862,  Mr.  Saunders  was  engaged  in  cotton  manufacturing.  He  was 
.also  president  of  the  Citizens  Union  Bank  (afterward  changed  to  Scit- 
■uate  National).  He  was  also  collector  of  internal  revenue,  and  member 
■of  the  state  board  of  valuation.  He  was  a  member  of  the  assembly  sev- 
eral terms,  and  was  in  the  senate  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also 
president  of  the  town  council,  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
•elected  lieutenant  governor  in  1859.     He  died  April  7th,  1888. 

Thomas  W.  D.  Simmons,  born  in  1845,  in  Scituate,  son  of  Otis  and 
Barbara  (Colvin)  Simmons,  of  Foster,  was  married  in  1867  to  Maria 
Perkins,  of  Scituate.  In  early  life  he  was  engaged  in  a  factory.  Since 
1875  has  been  engaged  in  the  grain  and  feed  business  at  North  Scitu- 
ate. He  was  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  being  a  member  of  Battery 
E,  First  R.  I.  Light  Artillery.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge,  No. 
18,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Greenville,  and  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  8,  of 
Scituate. 

Martin  S.  Smith  is  a  son  of  Martin,  and  grandson  of  Israel  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  Smithfield,  and  came  to  this  town  in  1785.  Martin 
S.  was  born  in  Scituate  December  21st,  1844,  and  was  married  in  1881 
to  Marcelia,  daughter  of  Joseph  Dexter.  They  have  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Mr.  Smith  was  educated  at  the  Smithville  Seminary  and 
Brown  University,  being  a  member  of  the  class  of  '67.  He  entered 
the  rebellion  as  lieutenant  of  Company  K,  14th  Heavy  Artillery,  after- 
ward changed  under  orders  of  War  Department  to  11th  U.  S.  Heavy 
Artillery.  He  was  in  mercantile  business  at  Blackfoot  City,  Mon.,for 
three  years.  He  afterward  engaged  in  same  business  for  five  years 
in  Providence.  In  1876  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  farm  settled 
by  Israel  Smith.  He  was  elected  to  the  assembly  in  1874  and  1875, 
and  again  in  1879,  and  held  that  office  for  five  successive  years.  He 
was  trial  justice  from  1879  to  1883,  member  of  town  council  in  1878, 
and  is  at  present  superintendent  of  schools.  He  is  a  republican.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Providence,  and  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.;  joined  Prescott  Post  in  1867,  afterward  transferred  to 
Rodman  Post,  of  Providence.  His  father  was  a  member  of  assembly 
in  1867. 

Henry  D.  Sprague  was  born  in  1832,  in  Banston,  Canada.  His  fa- 
ther was  Daniel  vSprague.  He  was  born  in  Methuen,  Mass.  He  mar- 
ried Dorothy  Heath.  Henry  D.  was  married  in  1853  to  Mary  A.  Fish, 
in  Lowell,  Mass.  They  had  two  daughters  and  one  son.  This  wife 
died  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1884,  and  he  was  married  again  in  1887 
to  Mrs.  Chloe  Pratt,  of  Scituate,  daughter  of  Allen  Staples,  of  Taun- 
ton, Mass.,  and  Mary  Lucas  of  Freetown,  Mass.  Mr.  Sprague  is  a  car- 
penter and  contractor.     He  came  to  Providence  in  1872,  and  in  1887 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  f23 

settled  in  Rockland,  town  of  Scituate.  He  is  a  member  of  Oriental 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  also  a  Mason. 

Alanson  vSteere,  a  manufacturer,  is  distinctively  one  of  the 
self-made  men  of  the  county.  His  life,  covering  a  period  of  over 
80  years,  has  been  one  of  incessant  activity  and  usefulness.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Glocester,  this  county,  September  2d,  1810,  and 
from  the  sixteenth  year  of  his  age  has  been  engaged  in  manufacturing 
of  some  kind.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  curriculum  of  studies 
of  our  district  schools,  and  from  the  district  school  house  he  entered 
immediately  upon  the  active  pursuits  of  life.  In  the  middle  of  April, 
1826,  he  began  work  with  his  father,  Hosea  Steere,  at  building  mills, 
and  worked  on  mills  at  several  places  in  Rhode  Island  and  Connecti- 
cut till  1838.  Mr.  Hosea  Steere  was  born  in  July,  1784.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  millwright.  In  1840  he  retired  from  mill  work  to  his 
farm,  where  he  died  in  April.  1866,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age. 

In  1838,  he  and  his  brother  Otis  Steere  purchased  the  saw  mill 
property  at  Kent  Corners,  fitted  it  up  with  the  necessary  machinery 
and  spun  cotton  yarns,  continuing  there  till  1847,  when  they  sold  out 
to  Ralph  &  Field.  In  1847  he  went  to  Phenix,  R.  I.,  as  the  superin- 
tendent of  a  mill,  but  at  the  expiration  of  one  year  he  and  his  brother 
rented  the  Brown  Mill,  in  Johnston,  and  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  cotton  cloth.  They  remained  here  about  four  years  and  a  half, 
when  they  began  operating  the  mills  now  owned  by  Henry  White, 
then  belonging  to  Samuel  Hunt,  at  Chepachet.  They  carried  on  busi- 
ness at  this  point  quite  successfully  till  1856,  when  arrangements  were 
made  with  Thomas  P.  Remington  and  Isaac  Saunders  for  a  lease  of 
the  mills  now  owned  by  him  and  his  son  at  Rockland.  The  Honor- 
able W.  O.  Arnold,  present  member  of  congress,  worked  for  Mr.  Steere 
in  his  mills  at  Chepachet.  Mr.  Steere  has  now  been  at  the  head  of 
the  firm  at  Rockland  for  34  years,  and  under  his  management  there 
the  business  has  doubled  as  to  the  number  of  looms  operated  and 
hands  employed.  In  addition  to  this,  a  mill  has  been  built  and  in 
various  ways  the  property  improved. 

Mr.  Steere  has  also  been  a  very  active  man  in  political  work.  His 
first  vote  for  president  was  cast  for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1840, 
and  since  then  for  every  republican  candidate  for  presidential  honors. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  town  council  in  all,  nine  years,  four  years  of 
which  time  he  was  chairman  of  that  body.  In  I860  he  was  elected 
state  senator  and  held  that  office  till  1869.  While  representing  the 
people  in  this  capacity  he  prepared  a  petition  to  the  legislature  for  a 
charter  for  a  railroad,  to  run  from  Providence  through  the  towns  of 
Scituate,  Foster  and  west  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  succeeded  m  get- 
ting the  necessary  legislative  enactments  passed  relative  to  it.  For  20 
years  since  that  time  he  has  persistently  advocated  this  enterprise, 
until  now  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  efforts  taking  a  more 
substantial  form — as  the  road  will  undoubtedly  be  built  in  the  near 


624  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

future.  Mr.  Steere  has  several  times  been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
various  state  conventions,  and  in  1872  he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  at  Philadelphia,  at  which  General  Grant  was 
nominated  for  the  second  term.  Mr.  Steere  was  married  February 
]4th,  1836,  to  Julia,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Freelove  Westcott  of 
Coventry.  She  died  iVpril  8th,  1877.  One  daughter  and  two  sons 
were  born  to  this  union.  Byron  L.,  the  youngest,  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  A.  Steere  &  Son.  Hiram,  the  other  son,  died  June  20th,  1872. 
Mr.  Steere  is  a  public  spirited  man,  and  has  donated  freely  of  his 
means  toward  the  upbuilding  of  our  public  institutions.  He  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  temperance  work.  He  was  a  member 
of  the.  Temple  of  Honor,  and  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  and  for  the 
last  40  years  has  advocated  the  principles  of  temperance.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Lodge,  No.  15,  in  1866,  and  was  master  of 
that  Lodge  one  year,  and  treasurer  23  years.  He  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Scituate  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  8,  organized  in  1867,  and 
has  been  treasurer  of  this  Chapter  from  its  beginning  to  the  present 
time. 

Andrew  Steere  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Asahel 
D.  Steere  and  a  grandson  of  Hardin  Steere,  of  Cranston.  His  mother 
was  Cyrena  Andrews.  He  was  married  to  Freelove  B.  Hopkins  in 
1873.  She  died  in  1874.  He  is  a  farmer  and  dealer  in  horses  and 
carriages.  He  owns  the  farm  formerly  occupied  by  his  father.  Of 
his  father's  family  four  children  are  living:  Andrew  and  Hardin,  and 
two  daughters,  Adelaide  V.  and  Abbie  A. 

Samuel  R.  Stone  is  a  descendant  of  Hugh  Stone,  who  came  from 
England  in  1665.  He  was  born  in  Scituate  in  1838.  His  father, 
Samuel  Stone,  married  Abbie  Bennet.  His  grandfather  was  Edmands 
and  great-grandfather  Samuel  Stone.  Samuel  R.  married  Roxanna 
Shippie  in  1856  and  had  two  daughters.  The  elder  died  March  15th, 
1878,  leaving  a  son,  Charles  Elmer  Stone,  born  March  21st,  1877, 
adopted  by  his  grandfather.  The  younger  has  one  daughter,  Nellie 
M.  Tucker,  born  in  North  Scituate  May  12th,  1879.  His  wife  died  in 
1861.  January  4th,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Harriet  M.  Fiske.  They 
have  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Mr.  Stone  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  for  many  years 
and  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Scituate  National  Bank.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  town  council  in  1886  and  1887. 

Byron  W.  Wells,  born  in  Foster  in  1849,  is  a  son  of  Dexter  Wells 
and  Marcelia  Bennett.  He  was  married- in  1870  to  Mercie  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Wells,  of  Foster.  He  has  lived  in  Foster  and  Scituate, 
and  is  in  the  lumber  and  mill  business. 

Josiah  Westcott  was  born  in  1781  in  Foster,  and  was  a  son  of  Rev- 
erend John  Westcott.  He  was  married  in  1807  to  Marcy  Peckham. 
They  had  ten  children,  only  two  of  whorrj  are  living:  Andrew  J.,  who 
has  recently  settled  in  California,  and  Josiah  E.,  who  resides  in  Scit- 


^/<^Z^-^C      ,  J  C  e^^t^-^ 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  625 

uate.  Josiah  settled  in  Scitiiate  in  early  life  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  several  times  elected  to  the  assembly  and  to  the  vSenate;  was 
also  judge  of  court  of  common  pleas,  member  of  town  council  several 
times  and  was  president  of  that  body.  He  was  also  justice  of  the 
peace  and  town  clerk  for  a  long  time.  He  died  June  19th,  1867. 
Josiah  E.  Westcott  was  born  in  1828  in  Scituate,  and  was  married  in 
1875  to  Fannie  G.  Russell  of  Chester,  Conn.  They  have  two  sons: 
Harry  H.  and  Leslie  P.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  He 
has  been  assessor  of  taxes. 

Charles  L.  Whitmarsh,  born  in  vScituate  in  1861,  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
B.  Whitmarsh  of  the  same  town.  He  was  married  in  1879  to  Ella  M. 
Place  of  Johnston.  They  have  one  son.  In  early  life  he  followed 
farming,  later  learned  the  carpenter  trade  and  afterward  that  of  ma- 
chinist, which  is  his  present  business. 


40 


CHAPTER  XA\ 

THE  TOWN  OF  FOSTER. 

Description. — Interesting  Localities. — Eariy  Town  Meetings. — Statistics. — Town  Asylum. 
— Town  Clerks. — Town  Officers  in  1890.— Mount  Hygeia. — First  Church  in  Foster. — 
Early  Business  Interests. — Foster  Centre.— The  Hammond  Church. — Ho])kins  Mills. 
— Union  Chapel. — Creameries. — Moosuj)  Valley. — Foster. 

THE  town  of  Foster  is  situated  on  the  extreme  western  border  of 
the  county,  some  15  miles  from  the  city  of  Providence.  It  was 
incorporated  with  Scituate  in  1780,  forming  the  western  section 
of  that  township  up  to  1781,  when  it  was  set  off  as  a  distinct  and 
separate  township.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Glocester,  on  the 
east  by  Scituate,  on  the  south  by  Coventry  and  on  the  west  by  the 
towns  of  Killing-ly  and  Sterling  in  Connecticut.  The  town  comprises 
about  50  square  miles,  having  an  average  breadth  from  east  to  west  of 
about  six  miles  and  an  average  length  from  north  to  south  of  about 
eight  miles.  The  greater  part  of  the  town  is  very  rugged,  being  hilly, 
rocky  and  broken.  In  the  western  section  extensive  forests  abound, 
furnishing  large  supplies  of  wood.  The  land  is  a  gravelly  loam  and 
better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to  the  production  of  grain.  The  agri- 
cultural products  consist  of  corn,  rye,  oats,  hay,  potatoes,  butter  and 
cheese. 

The  principal  stream  in  the  town  is  the  Ponaganset  river,  which 
has  its  source  in  a  pond  of  the  same  name,  situated  in  the  town  of 
Glocester.  This  stream  is  the  principal  branch  of  the  Pawtuxet 
river,  which  enters  into  the  Providence  river,  about  five  miles  below 
the  city  of  Providence.  Hemlock  brook,  a  branch  of  the  Ponaganset 
river,  rises  in  the  interior  of  this  township  and  after  many  windings, 
runs  easterly  into  the  border  of  the  town  of  Scituate,  where  it  unites 
with  the  Ponaganset.  Moosup  river,  a  branch  of  the  Quinebaug,  runs 
through  the  western  part  of  the  town,  passing  into  Coventry  and  from 
thence  into  Connecticut.  Upon  these  streams  are  good  sites  for  fac- 
tories, mills,  etc.,  but  little  use  has  been  made  of  the  water  power  they 
furnish.  The  town  took  its  name  from  Theodore  Foster,  who  gave  it 
in  consideration  a  good  library,  a  book  case,  a  record  book  for  the  town 
clerk  and  a  record  book  for  the  town  treasurer. 

The  principal  places  of  interest  are  as  follows:  Villages. — Hemlock, 
Hopkins,  Mills,  Moosup,  Clayville  (Foster  side).  Cook's  Store,  South 
Foster,  Foster  Centre.     Ih-ooks. — Meadow,   Bear  Tree,  Shippee,  Hem- 


HISTORY    OF    PROVIDENCE    COUNTY.  627 

lock.  Rivers. — Moosup  (so  named  from  a  sachem  who  was  the  brother 
of  Miantinomi,  sometimes  called  Pessicus^,  Ponaganset,  Westcon- 
naug,  or  Westquodnoid,  Reservoir.  Hills. — Mt.  Hygeia  (noted  as  the 
residence  of  Doctor  Solomon  Drowne),  Bennett's,  Howard's,  Dolly- 
Cole's,  Sand,  Cranberry,  Biscuit.  JMills. — Ram  Tail  Factory  (haunted), 
Major  Sam's  Grist  Mill,  now  Searles,  Yell  Mill  (Spear's  Saw  Mill),  Ol- 
ney  Walker's  Saw  Mill.  Miscellaneous. — Round's  Tavern,  Hemlock 
Swamp,  Fenner  Woods,  Carter  Plain,  The  Money  Hole,  Witch  Hollow, 
Witch  Rocks,  Bill  Wood's  Furnace,  Quaker  Meeting  House. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  Foster  was  held  November  19th,  1781, 
at  the  house  of  Thomas  Hammond.  The  meeting  was  organized  by 
the  choice  of  the  following  officers:  John  Williams,  moderator;  John 
Westcott,  town  clerk;  John  Williams,  chosen  first  deputy  to  represent 
the  town  in  the  next  general  assembly.  November  23d  they  met  pur- 
suant to  adjournment  and  chose  the  remainder  of  the  town  officers, 
as  follows:  Enoch  Hopkins,  town  sergeant;  Timothy  Hopkins,  Chris- 
topher Colwell,  William  Tyler,  Daniel  Cole,  Stephen  Colgrove  and 
William  Howard,  town  councilmen;  Jonathan  Hopkins,  Jr.,  town 
treasurer;  Daniel  Hopkins,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures;  Enoch 
Hopkins,  vendue  master;  Jonathan  Hopkins,  Jr.,  George  Dorrance, 
Jr.,  and  Abraham  Walker,  assessors  of  rates,  and  to  have  their  ac- 
counts adjusted  by  the  town;  John  Cole  and  Josiah  Harrington,  Jr., 
collectors  of  taxes;  John  Hammond,  pound  keeper;  Joseph  Weather- 
head,  Peter  Cook  and  Daniel  Cole,  viewers  of  estates;  Josiah  Harring- 
ton, Jr.,  and  Levi  Wade,  constables;  Peter  Cook  and  Noah  Miller, 
overseers  of  the  poor;  Peter  Cook,  John  Davis  and  John  Williams  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  audit  the  town  treasurer's  report. 

"  Voted.  That  the  surveyors  of  highways  stand  as  chosen  before 
the  division  of  the  town,  except  Abraham  Wilcox,  Francis  Fuller 
and  John  Westcott,"  who  had  already  been  chosen.  Peter  Cook. 
James  Seaman  and  Noah  Miller  were  chosen  as  fence  viewers. 
Joseph  Davis,  Peter  Cook  and  John  Cole  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
meet  a  committee  appointed  by  the  general  assembly,  to  ascertain  the 
proportion  of  taxes  between  the  towns  of  Scituate  and  Foster. 

On  Friday,  the  27th  of  November,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Water- 
man, in  Coventry,  "Voted  that  John  Westcott  and  Jonathan  Hopkins 
be  appointed  to  receive  in  behalf  of  the  town  the  case  and  books  given 
to  said  town  by  Theodore  Foster,  Esq.,  and  also  to  return  the  thanks 
of  said  town  to  Mr.  Foster  for  the  same."  Reuben  Westcott,  Luke 
Phillips,  Eleazar  Bowen,  Peleg  Fry,  Benjamin  Fry,  David  Hatch  and 
Reuben  Blanchard  were  propounded  in  order  to  be  voted  freemen  of 
said  town.  "  Voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  until  the  7th  day 
of  December  next,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Hammond,  and  that  notice 
be  given  by  the  clerk  for  making  a  town  tax." 

At  a  town  meeting  holden  in  the  town  of  Foster,  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1782,  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  James  vSeaman  "  be  and  is  hereby 


628  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

appointed  to  erect  a  pair  of  stocks  and  whipping  post  for  the  use  of 
this  town." 

The  town  clerk's  office  has  been  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  gen- 
erally at  the  house  of  that  officer.  The  town  meetings  have  been 
held  at  P'oster  Centre. 

The  population  of  the  town  in  1782  was  1,763;  in  1790,  2,268;  in 
1800,  2,450;  in  1810,  2,613;  in  1820,  2,900;  in  1830,  2,672;  in  1840,  2,181;  in 
1860,  1,932;  in  1860,  1,935;  in  1865,  1,873;  in  1870,  1,630;  in  1875,  1,543; 
in  1880, 1,552;  in  1885,  1,397.  The  population  at  the  present  time  is 
about  400  less  than  it  was  100  years  ago. 

From  the  town  treasurer's  report,  we  find  the  total  valuation  of 
real  and  personal  property  in  1888  was  $580,700;  the  assessment  of  70 
cents  on  every  $100  amounting  to  $4,043.90,  besides  the  delinquent 
highway  taxes  amounting  to  $104.90. 

The  public  schools  receive  the  bulk  of  the  taxes  paid.  The  appro- 
priation by  the  town  for  the  year  1887-8  was  $1,768.75,  and  the  amount 
of  orders  paid  was  $3,528.50.  The  following  may  be  of  interest. 
"  Prices  of  labor  on  the  highway  are:  For  a  good  able-bodied  man,  15 
cents  per  hour;  for  a  good  yoke  of  oxen,  15  cents  per  hour;  for  a 
wagon,  cart,  plow,  drag  or  ox-shovel,  5  cents  per  hour.  The  wages 
for  labor  performed  in  breaking  out  the  highways  when  encumbered 
or  obstructed  with  snow:  For  every  good  able-bodied  man,  10  cents 
per  hour;  for  a  good  yoke  of  oxen,  10  cents  per  hour." 

The  town  of  Foster  has  always  taken  good  care  of  its  poor.  Or- 
iginally the  care  of  these  distressed  persons  was  committed  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  but  in  1865  a  farm  of  100  acres  was  purchased  of  David 
Phillips  and  wife,  and  thereafter  a  more  perfect  and  systematic  man- 
agement was  had.  This  farm  was  the  old  Fenner  estate.  In  times 
past  the  asylum  would  have  at  one  time  the  care  of  20  to  30  inmates. 
That  number  has  been  gradually  reduced  until  only  an  average  of 
eight  persons  were  there  for  the  year  1888.  The  largest  number  at 
the  asylum  for  1888  at  one  time  was  ten.  Two  deaths  occurred,  those 
of  John  Salisbury  and  David  S.  Rounds.  The  principal  produce  of 
the  farm  for  the  year  ending  April  1st,  1888,  was  as  follows:  10  tons 
of  hay,  3  tons  of  oats,  1  ton  of  swale  hay,  2  tons  of  corn  fodder,  100 
bushels  of  ears  of  field  corn,  30  bushels  of  ears  of  sweet  corn,  165 
bushels  of  potatoes,  6  bushels  of  shelled  beans,  7  bushels  of  beans  in 
the  pod,  125  pounds  of  dried  apples,  8  bushels  of  cucumbers,  3  bushels 
of  pop  corn,  16  barrels  of  apples,  14  barrels  of  cider,  16  bushels  of 
French  turnips,  3  bushels  of  beets,  153  pounds  of  cheese,  257  pounds 
of  butter,  1,675  pounds  of  pork,  491  pounds  of  beef,  230  heads  of  cab- 
bage, 2  loads  of  pumpkins.  Stock  on  the  farm,  5  cows,  2  bulls  two 
years  old,  2  heifers  two  years  old,  1  horse,  4  shoats,  82  hens.  Expenses 
for  the  year  1888,  $413.61. 

John  Westcott  was  the  first  town    clerk  of  Foster,  and  held  the 
office  from  1781  to  1796.     He  was  succeeded  by  Nehemiah  Angell  in 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  629 

1796,  and  after  him  came  Daniel  Howard  in  1803;  Daniel  Howard,  Jr., 
1827;  Raymond  G.  Place,  1852;  William  G.  Stone,  1854;  George  W. 
Phillips,  1856;  Ethan  A.  Jenks,  1868;  George  W.  Phillips,  1869;  Lester 
Howard,  1882,  and  Daniel  Howard  in  1888.  Daniel  Howard,  St.,  and 
his  son  Daniel  held  the  office  49  years. 

The  principal  town  officers  elected  in  1890  are:  town  clerk,  Emory 
D.  Lyon;  town  council,  James  W.  Phillips,  B.  O.  Angell,  William  R. 
Hopkins,  Job  D.  Place,  and  John  W.  Round:  town  treasurer,  Ray 
Howard;  town  sergeant,  S.  A.  Winsor;  overseer  of  poor,  Leonard 
Cole. 

Mount  Hygeia  was  first  settled  by  two  of  the  most  learned  and  dis- 
tinguished men  in  the  state.  Theodore  Foster  and  vSolomon  Drowne 
are  names  not  only  intimately  connected  with  the  history  of  the  town 
of  Foster,  but  bear  honorable  place  in  the  historical  record  of  their  na- 
tive state.  Senator  Theodore  Foster  came  from  Brookfield,  Mass., 
while  yet  in  his  teens,  and  graduated  at  Rhode  Island  College  in  1770. 
He  married  a  sister  of  the  late  Governor  James  Fenner.  He  was  town 
clerk  12  years,  was  drawn  into  the  exciting  life  of  a  politician,  studied 
and  practiced  law  in  Providence,  and  in  1790  was  made  United  States 
senator,  which  office  he  held  till  1803.  In  1800  Mr.  Foster,  who  had 
great  interest  in  the  town  which  had  taken  his  name,  proposed  to  his 
friend,  Doctor  Drowne,  to  purchase  a  farm  then  for  sale  adjoining  his 
estate,  and  carry  into  practice  certain  cherished  ideas  of  their  3^outhful 
days.  Doctor  Drowne,  who  had  had  enough  of  the  West,  lent  a  willing 
ear.  The  farm  was  surveyed,  its  soil  v/as  pronounced  good,  its  situa- 
tion elevated  and  eligible,  its  sylvan  scenery  charming,  and  its  title 
was  secured.  Doctor  Drowne  called  it  Mount  Hygeia,  after  the  Greek 
goddess  of  health,  and  wrote  a  letter  composing  some  verses  invoking 
the  favor  of  that  cherished  divinity  of  heathen  mythology,  and  sent  it 
to  Mr.  Foster  at  Washington.  Mr.  Foster  caught  up  the  glowing 
strain  of  his  friend  and  penned  the  following  poem: 

THE    ANTICIPATION    OF    iMOUNl'    HVOF.IA,    IN    THK    TOWN    OF    FOSTER. 

Hail  Hj^geia  !  Rhode  Island's  fairest  seat ! 

Famed  Fosteria's  highest  hill ! 
Where  beauty,  love  and  friendship  meet 

And  rapture's  sweetest  joys  distil  I 

The  noblest  boast  of  Narragansett's  groves, 

In  great  Miantinomi's  day. 
Where  native  chieftains  told  their  softest  loves, 

And  cheerful  passed  their  time  away  ! 

Raptured  here  we  see  this  wide  spreading  plain, 

Far  south  o'er  beauteous  towns  extend, 
To  where  Atlantic  joins  its  vast  domain. 

And  where  our  views  in  sweet  confusion  blend. 

Cheered  by  rich  Ponaganset's  pleasant  stream. 

We  here  behold  the  Muses'  haunt ; 
Where  Fosteria's  matchless  rock  is  seen, 

Sequestered  far  from  meagre  want. 


630  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Winding  up  towards  Hygeia's  healthful  height, 

See  good  Browne's  rich  orchards  smile, — 
Browne,  well  informed  and  wise,  here  finds  delight. 

Cultivating  the  fertile  soil. 

Worthy  Browne!  known  on  Europe's  distant  shore, 

Where  he  was  taught  the  healing  art. 
Is  famed  for  greatness  here,  nor  wishes  more, — 

Wish  supreme  of  an  honest  heart'. 

Browne  and  Foster,  blest  friendship  here  enjoy, 

Like  Castor  and  Pollux  of  old ; 
Their  families,  too,  in  like  sweet  employ. 

Live  in  bliss  in  Ganymede  told. 

Millard,*  prudent  and  good,  also  dwells  nigh, 

To  both  the  agreeable  friend ; 
His  family,  worth  and  goodness  supply. 

Partaking  the  friendship  they  blend. 

Thus  good  from  each  is  here  each  from  each  acquired. 

Each  studies  the  other  to  bless ; 
Each  always  helping  each,  yet  never  tired, 

Nor  grows  their  love  of  goodness  less. 

Doctor  Solomon  Drowne,  the  eminent  botanist,  was  a  warm  per- 
sonal friend  of  Senator  Foster.  He  graduated  three  years  later  from 
the  Rhode  Island  College,  but  they  roomed  together  in  the  old  Drowne 
mansion  on  Cheapside,  Providence,  worshipped  together  in  the  old 
First  Baptist  church,  and  sustained  the  most  friendly  and  intimate  re- 
lations to  each  other  all  through  life.  Science,  philosophy  and  belles- 
lettres  were  their  delight,  and  in  order  to  indulge  their  tastes,  they 
agreed  to  withdraw,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  from 
places  frequented  by  the  multitude,  and  take  up  their  abode  on  ad- 
joining farms,  where  they  could  have  each  other's  society  and  pass 
their  days  in  rural  retirement.  This  led  to  the  settlement  of  Mount 
Hygeia  by  these  two  distinguished  men.  Doctor  Drowne  took  up  his 
residence  there  in  1801,  and  Mr.  Foster  at  the  close  of  his  senatorial 
career  in  1803. 

While  Doctor  Drowne  was  a  successful  and  popular  physician,  he 
cared  less  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  than  for  his  scientific  pur- 
suits, especially  for  botany,  which  he  taught  successfully  for  many 
years  in  Brown  University.  Mr.  Foster  was  more  inclined  to  history, 
statistics  and  general  literature.  They  remained  together  till  1820, 
when  Mr.  Foster,  apparently  satiated  with  rural  pleasure,  and  craving 
more  social  intercourse,  left  Mount  Hygeia  for  a  house  in  Providence, 
where  he  died  in  1828,  leaving  as  the  fruit  of  his  industry  a  volumi- 
nous collection  of  manuscripts,  now  in  the  archives  of  the  State  His- 
torical Society. 

*  The  Millard  referred  to  in  the  last  stanza  but  one  was  the  father  of  Senator  Foster's 
second  wife. 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  631 

Doctor  Drowne  was  content  to  pass  his  life  in  the  quiet  of  his  study 
and  the  circuit  of  his  garden.  Surrounded  by  affectionate  and  devoted 
members  of  his  family,  he  continued  his  residence  at  Mount  Hygeia 
until  his  death  in  1834.  A  portion  of  his  time  was  taken  up  with  his 
professional  duties  in  Brown  University.  Doctor  Drowne  also  left 
considerable  unpublished  manuscript,  which  some  day,  together  with 
that  of  his  esteemed  friend,  may  appear  in  book  form. 

The  honor  of  establishing  and  superintending  the  first  Sunday 
school  in  the  town  belongs  to  the  late  William  Drowne,  eldest  son  of 
Doctor  Solomon  Drowme.  William  Drowne,  aided  by  his  three  sisters, 
afterward  carried  on  three  Sunday  schools  at  the  same  time  in  differ- 
ent neighborhoods.  Senator  Foster  also  took  part  in  the  first  Sunday 
school,  and  has  left  somewhere  statistics  in  reference  to  it. 

Largely  through  the  influence  of  Senator  Foster  a  turnpike  was 
projected  and  built  from  Providence  to  Hartford.  The  part  that  passes 
through  his  farm  was  made  of  great  width  and  is  called  the  "  Appian 
Way." 

The  Calvinistic  Baptists  organized  the  first  church  in  the  town  of 
Foster.  The  meeting  house  was  built  on  an  elevated  acre  lot  which 
was  given  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Barnard  Haile,  and  is  now  called 
the '•  Meeting  House  Land,"  near  Hopkins'  Mills.  This  church  was 
soon  divided  and  a  Six  Principle  Baptist  church  was  formed. 

In  dividing  the  towns  a  mistake  was  made  setting  off  Foster  with- 
out a  share  of  the  town's  water  privilege  and  putting  it  under  those 
peculiar  disadvantages  for  communication  with  Providence.  This 
isolation  and  deprivation  of  the  natural  sources  of  wealth  has  resulted 
in  a  lack  of  public  and  individual  enterprise.  At  one  time,  however, 
the  town  exhibited  a  good  deal  of  thrift  and  bid  fair  to  become  an  im- 
portant commercial  center.  A  bank  was  established  and  a  few  ener- 
getic and  active  citizens  attempted  to  infuse  new  life  into  the  business 
interests,  but  the  township  was  purely  agricultural  and  but  little  was 
accomplished  either  in  manufacturing  or  other  pursuits. 

Foster  Centre  is  the  most  central  village  in  the  town.  It  contains 
a  church  and  a  store,  is  the  seat  of  the  town  house,  and  is  one  of  the 
historic  localities  of  Foster.  Probably  one  of  the  most  noted  men  in 
the  place  was  the  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  Doctor  Mowry  P. 
Arnold,  who  practiced  medicine  in  this  village  and  town  for  60  years. 
He  was  school  commissioner  for  46  years  and  town  treasurer  for  23 
years.     Doctor  Arnold  died  April  26th,  1890. 

Nathaniel  vStone  came  from  Cranston  and  settled  in  this  vicinity  in 

1786.     His  daughter,  Marcy,  mother  of  George  W.  Phillips,  was  about 

three  years  old  when  they  came  to  Foster.     Her  brothers  and  sisters 

were:  Samuel,   Nathaniel,  Sallie,   Lydia,  William  G.,   Mary,   Daniel, 

'  Liza  and  Charles,  all  of  whom,  save  Samuel,  settled  in  the  town. 

Angell  Sweet  came  from  Glocester  to  Foster  in  1781.  He  settled 
in  the  southwestern  part  of    the  town,  near  the  line,  where  Cyrus 


632  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Sweet  now  lives.  Angell  Sweet  bought  the  land  of  David  Knight, 
and  the  deed  is  the  second  one  recorded  in  the  town  books  of  Foster. 
He  married  Marcy  Fields,  Her  father  lived  in  the  city  of  Providence, 
where  the  Arcade  now  is,  but  he  was  lost  at  sea,  having  been  knocked 
off  a  vessel.  The  children  of  Angell  and  Marcy  Sweet  were:  Marcy, 
who  married  Peter  Harrington;  Lydia,  who  married  Benjamin  Har- 
rington; Salome,  who  married  Dean  Burgess,  and  Augustus,  who  in 
1802  married  Mary  Weaver,  and  subsequently  married  Nabby  Weaver, 
her  twin  sister.  By  his  first  wife,  Mary  Weaver,  he  had  14  children, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  be  married,  Mary  Ann  Phillips,  the  wife  of  George 
W.  Phillips,  being  one  of  his  daughters  and  the  twelfth  child.  The 
names  of  the  children  were:  Arnold  W.,  Waite,  Marcy  F.,  John,  Angell, 
Reuben,  Matthew,  Hannah  B.,  Abijah  B.,  Cyrus  S.,  who  lives  on  the 
homestead,  Emery,  Mary  A.,  Augustus  J.  and  Darius  A. 

George  W.  Phillips,  above  mentioned,  and  who  was  for  25  years 
town  clerk  of  Foster,  lives  in  this  village  also.  His  grandfather, 
Abram  Phillips,  who  died  some  60  years  ago,  settled  north  of  Foster 
Centre.  His  sons  were:  Nathaniel,  Lemuel  and  George  A.,  the  last 
of  whom  died  November  28th,  1858,  78  years  old.  George  A.  Phillips 
married  Marcy  Stone.  Their  son,  George  W.,  married  Mary  A. 
Sweet,  January  19th,  1843. 

Among  other  old  settlers  may  be  mentioned  Nehemiah  Angell, 
who  was  town  clerk  from  1796  to  1803  and  who  kept  an  early  tavern 
in  the  village;  Ephraim  Phillips,  father  of  Thomas  C.  Phillips:  Edward 
Cole,  g;randfather  of  George  I.  Cole;  Elder  John  Hammond,  the  father 
of  Colonel  Reuben  and  Henry  R.  Hammond,  whose  descendants  still 
live  on  the  same  farm;  Abram  Walker,  and  his  sons  Stephen  and 
Abram;  Colonel  Edwin  Walker,  whose  son  Pardon  owns  the  Walker 
farm  now,  and  the  Howard  family  before  mentioned.  These  settled 
mostly  in  and  around  the  village  of  Foster  Centre. 

Welcome  Rood  built  a  tavern  at  Foster  Centre  in  1824.  The  lower 
part  of  this  building  is  now  used  for  a  store,  and  the  upper  part  years 
ago  was  used  as  a  Lodge  room,  but  of  late  years  it  has  been  occupied 
as  the  town  clerk's  office.  In  former  times  there  was  more  business 
done  in  the  place  owing  to  the  greater  population  and  other  causes. 
The  rum  traffic  was  also  better  then  than  now,  and  the  place  was 
more  of  a  center  for  those  having  bibulous  appetites.  Other  taverns 
were  kept  in  the  place.  Nehemiah  Angell  built  one  in  an  early  day. 
Eli  Aylsworth,  now  president  of  one  of  the  banks  in  Providence,  used 
to  keep  it.  Colonel  Reuben  Hammond,  son  of  Elder  John  Hammond, 
was  an  early  tavern  keeper.  John  Williams  was  also  engaged  in  the 
business  at  one  time.  The  old  tavern  stand  was  finally  occupied  by 
Jeremiah  Sheldon  and  others,  but  has  gone  into  disuse  as  a  public 
house. 

Probably  the  first  store  kept  in  the  village  was  owned  by  Welcome 
Rood.      Trading  has  been  carried  on  in  the  place  for  many  years.  The 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  633 

store  with  the  tavern  finally  passed  into  the  hands  of  Jeremiah  vShel- 
don,  and  succeeding-  him  came  Thomas  A.  Hopkins,  Horace  Howard, 
Andrew  Essex,  and  Thomas  Applebee,  who  sold  the  property  to 
George  W.  Phillips  in  1874.  Francis  Bennett  owns  the  store  business 
at  the  present  time,  and  Henry  W.  Bennett  is  postmaster. 

One  of  the  most  needed  industries  of  former  times  was  that  carried 
on  by  blacksmiths  and  wheelwrights.  Then  these  artisans  were  of 
absolute  necessity  in  every  village.  The  business  of  wagon  making 
now,  the  same  as  much  other  work  done  in  iron,  is  accomplished  by 
machiner}^  and  on  the  wholesale  plan,  reducing  the  financial  feature 
of  the  old  scheme  to  a  precarious  living.  In  an  early  day  Colonel 
Reuben  Hammond  had  a  blacksmith  shop  and  made  plows,  wagons, 
etc.  Abram  Angell  had  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shop  where 
Ray  Howard  is  now.  John  T.  Randall  was  owner  of  the  premises  and 
owned  a  furnace.  He  went  away  in  1868.  George  W.  Phillips  oper- 
ated the  furnace  and  the  foundry,  carrying  on  blacksmithing  and  car- 
riage making,  giving  employment  to  seven  or  eight  hands  from  1867 
to  1873.  Succeeding  him  came  Orrin  T.  Kinne,  W.  A.  Stone  and  Isaac 
Yaw,  who  sold  to  Ray  Howard,  the  present  owner. 

Foster  Centre  is  one  of  the  oldest  religious  centers  in  the  town. 
Elder  John  Hammond,  of  the  old  school  of  Baptists,  gathered  a 
few  of  his  religious  followers  together  and  established  the  Ham- 
mond church  in  the  earlier  history  of  the  town.  He  was  an  able  and 
zealous -teacher  and  impressed  his  spirituality  upon  this  people,  which 
produced  a  lasting  and  salutary  effect.  Elder  Hammond  was  suc- 
ceeded after  several  years  of  a  remarkable  ministry  by  Elder  James 
Burlingame,  another  remarkable  minister,  who  went  to  his  reward 
over  60  years  ago.  Elder  Burlingame,  when  a  young  man,  officiated 
in  Pennsylvania  as  missionary  among  the  Indians,  by  whom  he  was 
greatly  beloved.  In  his  labors  at  Foster  Centre  and  at  iVshland  he 
gathered  quite  a  church,  and  during  his  ministry  baptized  hundreds 
of  converts.  He  died  at  90  years  of  age,  at  which  time  his  hair  was 
jet  black.  Following  Elder  Burlingame  came-  Mason  B.  Hopkins,  one 
of  his  converts,  who  labored  for  this  society  40  years  ago.  A  few  of 
the  succeeding  ministers  were  John  A.  Perry,  William  O.  Sweet,  Elder 
Luther  and  Lester  Howard,  who  was  recently  succeeded  by  Elder 
Bessemer,  the  present  pastor.  The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  about  90.  The  deacons  are  Thomas  Phillips  and  Edson  P.  How- 
ard. Walter  I.  Stone  is  clerk  and  Daniel  N.  Paine  Sabbath  school 
superintendent. 

The  old  town  house  was  originally  the  old  church  building  erected 
by  the  Baptists  over  a  hundred  years  ago.  It  was  sold  to  the  town  in 
1824,  but  used  by  the  society  until  the  new  organization  in  1883  was 
instituted  and  the  present  house  of  worship  was  built. 

Hopkins'  Mills  is  a  small  hamlet,  situated  on  the  Providence  and 
Danielsonville  pike,  and  contains  a  store,  church,  saw  and  grist  mill, 


634  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

and  a  creamery.  The  place  was  first  settled  by  Jonathan  Hopkins^ 
who  located  here  over  a  hundred  years  ago  and  began  a  clearing  in 
the  wilderness.  The  saw  mill  and  the  grist  mill  were  built  by  Mr. 
Hopkins,  who  operated  both  a  number  of  years.  The  property  was 
then  sold  to  Esquire  William  Potter,  who  ran  the  mills  a  few  years. 
He  also  owned  and  operated  a  fulling  mill.  He  was  the  father  of  Wil- 
liam Potter,  Jr.,  the  grandfather  of  Herbert  A.  Potter,  who  died  in 
1882,  60  years  of  age,  and  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Bax- 
ter, of  Hopkins'  Mills.  The  mills  next  passed  into  the  hands  of  Ira 
Winsor,  and  are  now  owned  by  his  son,  Stanton  A.  Winsor. 

The  store  now  occupied  by  the  Messrs.  Curtis  at  Hopkins'  Mills 
was  built  b.y  Henry  A.  Davis  about  the  time  of  the  Dorr  war,  in  1842. 
He  kept  the  place  a  number  of  years,  and  was  also  postmaster.  It  was 
then  sold  to  Alvin  H.  Shippee,  and  from  him  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Albert  and  Philip  Curtis,  the  present  owners,  in  1883.  There  are 
two  mails  a  day  by  stage  from  Danielsonville  and  Providence  opened 
here,  making  this  point  a  central  one  for  the  surrounding  farmers,  who 
furnish  a  good  patronage  to  the  store. 

Pabodie  Cole  settled  in  the  town  before  the  revolutionary  war.  He 
located  in  the  vicinity  of  Hopkins'  Mills.  His  children  were:  Ebene- 
zer,  Samuel,  James,  William  and  Daniel  Cole.  Daniel  Cole  died  in 
1877,  aged  73  years.  He  lived  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  Leander 
Cole.  He  married  Mary  Simmons,  and  their  children  were:  Horace 
S.,  Julia,  George,  Asa,  Olney  and  Mary  Ann,  nearly  all  of  whom  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Foster.  Horace  S.  Cole  located  at  his  present 
abode,  near  Hopkins'  Mills,  48  years  ago,  and  has  carried  on  his  black- 
smithing  and  wheelwright  shop  since  1842. 

Thomas  Simmons  was  the  next  neighbor  to  Daniel  Cole.  His  place 
is  now  owned  by  Lawton  Blackmar.  Royal  Hopkins,  Doctors  Jona- 
than Anthony,  Jonathan  Anthony,  2d,  and  Mowry  P.  Arnold  all  lived 
a  little  south  of  the  present  residence  of  Horace  S.  Cole.  Zabin  Hop- 
kins lived  on  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Ora  Clemence, 
while  still  further  north,  on  the  same  road,  resided  Stephen  Winsor,. 
another  early  and  prominent  settler. 

Doctor  Jonathan  Anthony  and  his  son,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  were  very 
prominent  physicians  in  the  town.  The  elder  Doctor  Anthony  has 
been  dead  for  over  60  years.  Doctor  Jonathan  Anthony,  Jr.,  practiced 
medicine  in  the  town  also  40  or  50  years. 

The  citizens  of  Hopkins'  Mills  and  vicinity,  feeling  the  need  of 
a  suitable  place  to  worship  God,  joined  together  (friends  of  all  denom- 
inations contributing)  and  erected  a  house  in  1871.  Since  that  time 
ministers  of  the  various  creeds  have  held  services  in  the  chapel,  and 
religious  meetings  have  been  enjoyed  every  Sunday.  In  common  with 
other  places,  a  good  Sabbath  school  is  maintained  here  regularly,  Mr. 
Allen  W.  Arnold  being  the  present  superintendent.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion  of  the  house,  Reverend   H.   L.   Hastings,  of    Boston,  Ma.ss.,. 


HISTORY    OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 


635. 


preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  At  the  present  time  Reverends  Nel- 
son Luther,  of  Rockland,  Christian  Baptist;  Henry  C.  Hopkins,  Ad- 
ventist,  of  Foster;  Joshua  F.  Hill,  of  Glocester,  Adventist;  Jonathan 
Eldndge,  of  Glocester,  Adventist;  also  William  F.  Durfee,  preach 
here  at  regular  stated  intervals. 

The  Ponaganset  Creamery  is  a  new  enterprise  at  Hopkins'  Mills, 
built  in  1888,  and  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  all  the  modern  appli- 
ances for  butter  making.  Austin  C.  Ball  is  butter  maker.  The  com- 
pany began  business  April  1st,  1889.  They  had  nineteen  patrons,  hav- 
ing 100  cows,  to  begin  with,  and  without  difficulty  found  a  ready  mar- 
ket for  their  butter,  which  proves  to  be  of  a  very  excellent  quality. 
The  new  enterprise  is  meeting  with  favorable  success,  and  good  re- 
sults are  expected. 

There  is  also  a  creamery  at  Moosup  Valley.  The  business  was  es- 
tablished in  1888.  The  officers  of  this  company  are  as  follows:  Clarke 
H.Johnson,  president;  Curtis  H.  Foster,  manager;  William  O.  Har-  • 
rington,  vice-president;  Silas  Griffiths,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Charles 
Bassett,  butter  maker.  The  company  have  erected  a  building  and 
furnished  it  with  every  needed  machinery  for  the  successful  carrying 
on  of  the  enterprise,  and  are  meeting  with  good  success.  They  have 
a  patronage  from  about  300  cows,  and  manufacture  about  47,000  pounds 
of  butter  annually. 

There  has  been  trading  at  Moosup  Valley  for  many  years.  John 
Tyler,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  place,  built  the  store  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  for  a  long  time.  Casey  B.  Tyler  then  ran  it  for 
a  long  time.  About  this  time  John  O.  Potter  opened  up  a  trade  about 
a  hal?  mile  below  and  carried  on  business  there  for  awhile.  But  the 
Tyler  store  continued  to  be  the  center,  and  to  such  an  extent  the  place 
was  known  by  the  travelling  public  as  "Tyler"  instead  of  Moosup- 
Valley.  George  K.  Tyler  next  took  the  property  and  owns  the  house 
now.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  leased  to  various  parties.  Mr. 
Wheaton  Harrington  runs  the  business  now. 

The  Christian  church  at  Moosup  Valley  was  regularly  organized  in. 
1888.  The  house  was  built,  however,  about  the  year  1860.  The  society 
at  this  place  formerly  worshipped  at  Rice  city,  in  the  town  of  Coven- 
try, and  very  frequently  held  meetings  in  their  own  neighborhood. 
Many  years  before  any  organization  took  place.  Elder  Mason  B.  Hop- 
kins and  Elder  Kennedy,  the  present  pastor,  and  several  others 
officiated  for  them  at  stated  times.  Ira  S.  Brown,  one  of  the  pillars  of 
the  church,  George  S.  Tillinghast,  a  deacon  for  a  long  time,  and  Deacon 
S.  K.  Fo.ster  were  among  the  original  promoters  of  the  new  society. 
The  present  officers  are:  Reverend  G.  W.  Kennedy,  pastor;  J.  W . 
Phillips,  clerk;  Deacon  Tillinghast,  treasurer;  A.  B.  Dexter,  Sabbath 
school  superintendent.     The  society  is  flourishing. 

The  hamlet  of  Foster,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  has  a  post 
office,  of  which  Mr.  James  Clarke  was  postmaster  from  1832  or  1837  to. 


636  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

1883,  a  period  of  time  covering  about  half  a  century.  In  1883  Cyrus 
F.  Cook  took  the  office  and  held  the  position  till  1888,  when  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Paine. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Harley  P.  Barden  was  born  in  Scituate,  R.  I.,  April  20th,  1820.  His 
grandparents  were  John  Barden  and  Elizabeth  Cowell,  and  his  parents 
Isaac  C.  Barden  and  Susanna  Eldridge.  He  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  was  a  manufacturer  at  Scituate  three  and  a  half 
years,  spinning  yarn  and  weaving.  He  has  held  the  office  of  overseer 
of  the  poor.  He  was  married  October  7th,  1847.  Mr.  Barden  is  a 
democrat. 

Samuel  Bennett,  born  in  Foster,  March  14th,  1823,  is  a  son  of 
Arnold  and  Portia  Bennett.  He  was  a  miner  in  California  from  1851 
to  1857.  He  married  first  Olive  L.  Crossman,  January  1st,  1857,  and 
second  Fidelia  Pearce,  March  26th,  1881.  His  children  are:  Walter 
M.,  Barnard  M,,  Warren  M.,  Ezra  A.  W.,  Dewitt,  Portia  and  Jane  H. 

William  P.  Blanchard,  born  in  Foster,  October  11th,  1805,  is  a  son 
of  William  B.  Blanchard  and  Martha  Hall.  He  was  married  to  Sarah 
B.  Simmons,  October  11th,  1830.  They  have  had  six  sons  and  two 
daughters:  John  J.,  Matthew,  Reverend  Albert  D.  (Prohibitionist, 
Christian  Minister),  Ira  L.  (lost  at  sea),  Sarah  A.,  Asenath  P.  (deceased), 
Sheldon  L.  (deceased),  and  Chester  (deceased).  Mr.  Blanchard  is  a 
republican. 

Iri  Brown  (deceased)  was  born  in  Foster,  near  Ponaganset,  Septem- 
ber 4th,  1785,  and  was  a  son  of  Esek  and  Patience  (Hill)  Brown.  He 
was  a  school  teacher  in  Foster  and  later  a  farmer.  He  was  a  director 
in  the  bank  at  Mount  Vernon.  He  married  Rhoda  Adams,  of  Sterling, 
Conn.,  in  1820.  They  had  one  daughter,  Ann  Eliza,  died  August  30th, 
1871.  She  married  Sterry  K.  Foster  in  1845.  Curtis  H.  Foster  is  the 
son  of  Sterry  K.  Foster  and  was  born  in  December,  1861.  Iri  Brown 
was  a  whig  and  afterward  a  republican.  The  second  wife  of  Sterry  K. 
Foster  is  Mary  C.  Crook,  born  May  17th,  1831. 

Vincent  Brown,  son  of  Stephen  B.  and  Mary  Brown,  was  born  in 
North  Kingstown,  R.  I.,  March  12th,  1810,  and  was  educated  at  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  married  in  1830  Susan  Gardner,  and  in  1873  he 
married  for  the  second  wife  Mary  Pearce.  He  has  seven  children  liv- 
ing.    Mr.  Brown  is  a  democrat. 

Horace  Burgess  was  born  in  the  town  of  Killingly,  Conn.,  Novem- 
ber 8th,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Burgess  and  Esther  Williams.  He 
was  married  in  1852  to  Olive  L.  Gibson.  Their  children  are:  Maria 
M.  and  Lillie  E.     Mr.  Burgess  is  a  republican. 

James  Greene  Cooke  was  born  in  Killingly,  Conn.,  August  10th, 
1807.  He  was  the  son  of  William  and  Betsey  (Burgess)  Cooke,  and 
the  oldest  of  the  family  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  lived  to  grow 
up,  and  three  are  yet  living.     The  parents  soon  after  his  birth  moved 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  637 

to  Rhode  Island,  locating  first  at  Pascoag,  and  then  at  Chepachet,  and 
afterward  purchasing  a  farm  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  of  Glo- 
cester,  which  was  the  established  home  for  many  years,  and  where  the 
children  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  Here  he  acquired  the 
love  of  nature  which  was  always  a  strong  characteristic  of  later  years, 
and  which  prevented,  in  some  degree,  his  entering  into  business  in 
the  city,  where  his  integrity,  good  judgment  and  sound  common  sense 
might  have  yielded  him  much  more  financial  success;  he  had  a  good 
common  school  education,  and  was  enabled  to  teach  for  several  terms. 
After  the  age  of  22  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  working  at  it  in 
various  places  until  he  was  27,  when  he  married,  February  9th,  1834, 
Eleanor  Fisher,  of  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and  soon  after  went  to  Foster  to 
live  in  the  house  which  was  in  1803  occupied  by  Theodore  Foster  as  a 
law  office.  This  house,  said  to  have  been  built  in  1780,  is  still  stand- 
ing, and  is  a  well  known  landmark  in  the  surrounding  country.  The 
first  summer  after  moving  here  he  worked  in  Pawtucket,  walking 
home  every  Saturday  night  and  back  Monday  morning,  a  distance  of 
25  m.iles.  The  next  year  he  bought  of  his  younger  brother  the  store 
(which  was  kept  in  the  west  part  of  the  house)  and  entered  into  busi- 
ness for  himself,  having  previously  bought  70  acres  of  land,  which 
comprised  the  farm.  In  1837  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  held 
the  office  until  his  death,  a  period  of  46  years.  In  politics  he  was  a 
strong  republican,  never  caring  for,  or  holding  any  office,  excepting 
that  of  postmaster,  yet  taking  always  a  keen  interest  in  town  affairs. 
A  strong  anti-slavery  man,  fearless  in  his  opinions,  and  his  own  pecu- 
liar way  of  uttering  them  giving  them  added  force;  during  the  war 
he  gave  freely  of  his  sympathy  and  means  to  help  the  soldiers.  In 
times  of  sickness  and  death  he  was  the  valued  friend  and  counselor  in 
many  a  household.  Said  one:  "  I  remember  the  kindly  grip  of  his 
hand  as  something  better  than  I  can  say."  His  cheering  words  and 
courage,  even  when  his  own  strength  was  waning,  and  at  times  when 
it  seemed  as  if  he  would  be  justified  in  giving  up  care  for  others, 
never  failed.  By  working  early  and  late,  by  perseverance  and  econ- 
omy, aided  and  helped  at  all  times  by  a  loving,  faithful  wife,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  acquiring  a  moderate  competence,  so  that  his  later  years 
were  blessed  with  plenty.  His  death,  in  July,  1883,  left  a  vacant  place 
in  the  community  that  will  never  be  filled,  and  it  is  to  such  lives  of 
energy  and  enterprise  that  the  country  towns  owed  their  prosperity  in 
the  years  that  are  past  and  gone. 

Thomas  Fuller,  son  of  Thomas  Fuller  and  Annie  Potter,  was  born 
in  Foster  March  13th,  1815.  He  has  been  a  farmer  and  a  manufact- 
urer of  brooms  in  Providence.  He  was  a  miner  in  California  in  1851. 
His  first  wife  was  Mary  Eliza  Burlingame.  He  married  Chloe  M. 
Randall  May  24th,  1849.  His  children  are:  Marcy  E.,  Clarinda  A., 
Caroline  J.,  Ella  M.,  Angeline  L.,  John  H.  and  Byron  T. 


638  HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY. 

Charles  R.  Green  was  born  in  Foster  January  30th,  1829,  and  is  a 
son  of  Nathaniel  Green  and  Sally  Richardson.  He  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  Foster,  Coventry  and  Johnston.  He  is  a  road 
surveyor.  He  married  his  first  wife,  Charlotte  Burrows,  in  1859,  and 
his  second  wife,  Emilie  E.  Padd,  in  1871.  His  children  are:  Charles 
R.,  Mary  E.,  Ida  A.,  Annie  E.  and  Hattie  M. 

William  B.  Hopkins,  son  of  Mathewson  Hopkins  and  Mahla  Ben- 
nett, was  born  in  Foster  May  8th,  1823,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  has  held 
the  offices  of  assessor  of  taxes  and  constable.  He  was  married  April 
28th,  1844,  to  Cyfantus  Taylor.  Their  children  are:  Ira  A.,  Eliza  M. 
and  Lucy  I. 

Dwight  R.  Jenks,  son  of  Joseph  Jenks  and  Esther  Tyler,  was  born 
in  Foster  March  27th,  1813,  and  married  Nancy  Johnson,  in  March, 
1847.  Their  children  are:  Orceley,  Henrietta,  Mary  Esther  and  Oscar. 
Mr.  Jenks  is  a  democrat. 

John  T.  Lawton,  son  of  James  E.  Lawton  and  Sarah  Tilley,  was 
born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  August  19th,  1833.  His  father  was  a  sea  cap- 
tain. John  T.  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Newport  and  Scituate. 
He  married  Harriet  E.  Wood  October  20th,  1861,  and  their  children 
are  James  E.  and  Charles  E. 

Daniel  N.  Paine  was  born  in  Foster  March  17th,  1811.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  Paine  and  Polley  Wade,  and  is  of  Welsh  descent.  He  has 
held  the  offices  of  justice  of  peace,  trial  justice,  captain  of  a  military 
company,  and  senator  in  the  general  assembly.  He  was  married  in 
1833  to  Electa  B.  Hopkins.  They  have  had  four  children:  Cordelia  E., 
William  H.,  Horace  D.  and  Emma  B.  One  daughter,  Cordelia  E. 
Ford,  born  at  Woonsocket,  July  11th,  1837,  is  now  living.  Mr.  Paine 
is  a  democrat,  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 

Aaron  B.  Place,  son  of  Job  W.  Place  and  Asenath  Pierce,  was  born 
in  Foster  December  15th,  1822.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town 
council.  He  was  married  to  Hannah  L.  Wood  October  8th,  1847. 
Their  children  are:  Mary  Sweet,  Job  D.,  Myron  P.  and  Flora  B.  Young. 
Mr.  Place  is  a  republican. 

Nehemiah  K.  Potter,  son  of  Moses  Potter  and  vSusan  Angell,  was 
born  in  Scituate  March  22d,  1818,  and  married  Nancy  E.  Phillips. 
Their  children  are:  William  H.,  Susan,  Annie  E.  and  Pardon  J.  P. 

Pardon  P.  Pray,  born  in  Glocester  December  16th,  1834,  is  a  son  of 
William  Pray  and  Rebekah  Spencer.  His  ancestor,  Hugh  Pray',  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  removing  to  Foster  in 
1742.  He  had  three  sons,  of  whom  Hugh''  had  five  sons,  one  of  whom, 
Hugh',  was  born  in  Foster  and  settled  in  Glocester.  He  had  five 
sons,  one  of  whom,  William,  was  the  father  of  Pardon  P.  The  latter 
married  Hannah  M.  Jenks,  December  16th,  1868.  Their  children  are: 
Grace  M.,  Lottie  Peora,  Evelyn  Adeline  and  Emily  Josephine. 

James  B.  Preston,  born  in  Foster  March  14th,  1809,  is  a  son  of 
■  Sampson    Preston    and    Olive    Baker.      He    was   married    to    PoUina 


HISTORY   OF   PROVIDENCE   COUNTY.  639 

Walker,  September  3d,  1833.     Their  children  are:  Henry  O.,  Martha, 
Ruth,  Charles  A.  and  Emogene.     He  is  a  republican. 

Aldin  Round,  born  in  Foster  July  3d,  1810,  is  a  son  of  Parley 
Round  and  Lizzie  Phillips.  He  was  married  November  25th,  1849,  to 
Hannah  Chaippell.  Their  children  are:  Mary  Ann,  Sarah  E.  and  Cyn- 
thia M.     He  is  a  republican. 

Lewis  A.  Round,  son  of  George  Round  and  Hannah  A.  Phillips, 
was  born  in  Foster,  February  13th,  1825,  and  married  Celinda  Round 
February  12th,  1846.  Their  children  are:  John  A.,  William  L.,  Sal- 
vania  P.,  George  P.  and  Sessimon  B.  Lewis  A.  Round  died  March 
26th,  1890. 

Miss  Mary  C.  Slater,  born  in  Foster,  August  11th,  1821,  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Silas  Slater  and  Polly  Randall. 

Wheaton  Sweet,  born  January  19th,  1840,  is  a  son  of  John  Sweet 
and  Hannah  Weaver.  He  was  married  to  Abbie  Griffin,  December 
3d,  1868.     He  is  a  republican. 

Henry  D.  Williams,  born  in  the  town  of  Scituate,  April  3d,  1813,  is 
a  son  of  Xer-xes  and  Dorcas  (Bickford)  Williams.  He  was  married  to 
Lavina  Simmons  in  February,  1841.  Their  children  are:  Harley, 
Betsey  Almina,  William  Henry  and  Almeda.  Mr.  Williams  subse- 
quently married  Lydia  Alexander.  They  had  one  child,  Ella  Isabel. 
Mr.  Williams  is  a  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  from  Roger 
Williams. 

Pardon  Williams,  born  in  Foster,  May  11th,  1815,  is  a  son  of  Shel- 
don Williams,  and  a  descendant,  in  the  sixth  generation,  from  Roger 
Williams.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  was  married  to  Lydia  S.  Bishop  December  2d,  1842. 
Their  children  are:  vSarah  M.,  deceased;  Stephen  S.,  deceased;  Mary  E., 
Warren  B.,  Ann  E.,  deceased;  Martha,  deceased;  Almira,  Lydia  M., 
and  Estella,  deceased. 

Ira  Winsor,  son  of  Stephen  Winsor,  was  born  in  Foster,  March  7th, 
1812,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town  council. 
He  has  been  married  three  times:  first  to  Luraneh  C.  Round,  May  7th, 
1832;  second  to  Sarah  Smith,  September  27th,  1840;  and  third  to  Susan 
Sweet,  January  26th,  1860.  He  has  one  son,  vStanton  A.  Winsor,  who 
has  been  elected  several  times  to  the  legislature. 

George  A.  Wood,  born  in  Foster,  July  23d,  1826,  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
Wood  and  Mary  Johnson.  He  was  married  to  Hannah  Bennett  in 
1849.     Their  children  are:  Clayton,  Daniel.  Burrell  and  Melvin. 


HECKMAN 

BINDERY  INC. 


JULY  88 

N.  MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA  46962