USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Historical addresses, poem, and other exercises at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Rehoboth, Mass., held October 3, 1894 > Part 10
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The Bureau of Education, now in charge of Dr. Hiram Orcutt, was established by Mr. Bicknell in 1876.
Mr. Bicknell's highest ability is seen in the organiza- tion and unifying of educational forces and work, and this has been recognized in the presidencies he has held in secular and religious educational organizations. As presi- dent of the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, he awakened it to new activity and success.
While president of the American Institute of In- struction, 1876-7-8, the largest meeting ever held in New England was gathered at Fabyan's, at the White Mountains, and as one of the results, of the net income one thousand dollars was set apart as the Bicknell Fund.
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
In 1880, Mr. Bicknell was chiefly instrumental in the organization of the National Council of Education, and was its first president until 1884.
In 1884, Mr. Bicknell, as president of the National Teachers' Association of the United States, organized the plans and gathered at Madison, Wis., the largest and most noted educational meeting ever held, at that date, in this country.
Mr. Bicknell represented Massachusetts in the Inter- state Congress held at Louisville, in 1883, and was presi- dent of the Interstate Commission on Federal Aid.
He was a member of the International Congress of Education, held at New Orleans, in 1886, and read two papers before that body, one on " A Plan for Federal Aid in Education," and another on "School Journalism," both of which have been published by the National Bureau of Education.
Mr. Bicknell has delivered more than six hundred lectures and addresses on educational topies, several of which have been published in current educational litera. ture, and has spoken on education in nearly every State in the country. His addresses on "School Supervision," before the American Institute of Instruction, in 1874, and on "Civil Service Reform in Education," have been published by the American Institute.
Mr. Bicknell has travelled extensively throughout the United States ; has visited the South several times, and addressed the people and teachers on education ; and has visited Europe three times, to make himself familiar with the educational systems, life, character, and history of the people, He was a Commissioner from Rhode Island to the
147
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
World's Exposition at Vienna in 1873. He was elected president of the International Sunday School Conven- tion, held at Louisville in 1884, and was a Massachusetts delegate to the Raikes S. S. Centennial in London in 1880. He was selected by Dr. J. H. Vincent to organize the Chautauqua Teachers' Reading Union, in 1886.
Mr. Bicknell was elected from the largest Republican ward in Boston to the House of Representatives of Massa- chusetts in November, 1888, and in 1889, was Chairman of the Committee on Education and Woman's Suffrage, an honor which the Boston Herald says was most appro- priately bestowed.
Mr. Bicknell married in 1860 Miss Amelia D. Blanding, daughter of Christopher Blanding, of Rehoboth. He has taken a great interest in the affairs of the town, and may be considered as one of its truest friends.
His wife, Mrs. Amelia D., gave five hundred dollars for the foundation of the Blanding Library, of Rehoboth, to be named in honor of her parents, Christopher and Chloe (Carpenter) Blanding, of Rehoboth.
Mr. Bieknell is now (1896) a resident of Providence, R. I., taking an active part in the business, political and educational interests of the city and his native State.
148
250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
Brief Sketches of Some Distinguished Settlers and Sons of Rehoboth.
JOHN BROWN, one of the original proprietors and founders of Rehoboth, was born in England ; in his youth travelled in Holland where he became acquainted with the Pilgrims; came to Plymouth in the early days of the Colony ; was made a freeman in 1634; was elected to the office of Assistant in Plymouth Colony in 1636, and held the place for seventeen years ; was one of the Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England from 1644 to 1655; was the owner of large estates in Rehoboth and Wannamoisett, now Barrington and East Providence ; and was captain of the Swansea militia; built the house in which he lived till his death, on the Main Road, near River- side, East Providence ; died April 10, 1662, and was buried at the Little Neck Burial Ground, near Bullock's Cove. Mr. Brown was liberal in religion and was the first magistrate who opposed compelling the people to support the ministry, offering to pay the taxes of those who should refuse. He was an able, conscientious, noble, Godfearing man, and his life was a blessing to the town and colony.
THOMAS WILLETT was one of the founders of Rehoboth, as well as one of the most distinguished men of Old Plymouth Colony. Born in England, he spent his early years, as did Mr. Brown, in Holland, where he learned the Dutch language, manners and customs, and became acquainted with the Pilgrims. He was about nineteen years
.
GUSTAVUS B. PECK.
149
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
old when he landed at Plymouth in 1629. He had charge of the English trading port at Ken- nebec, Maine. Mr. Willett married Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown, July 6, 1636, by whom he had eight children. In 1647, he succeeded Myles Standish as Captain of the Plymouth militia. In 1651, he was elected one of the Governor's Assistants and held the office till 1665, when he was succeeded by his brother-in- law, James Brown, of Swansea. He was appointed as Agent of the Colony in organizing the govern- ment at New York and reducing affairs to En- glish Customs and as a result was chosen to be the first governor or Mayor of the town and was re- elected to the position. The Dutch also had so much confidence in Mr. Willett that they chose him to arbitrate on the disputed boundary be- tween New York and New Haven. In February, 1660, Mr. Willett became a free holder in Reho- both, residing at Wannamoisett, then a part of the wardship of Rehoboth, but within the territory of Sowams or Sowamsett. The chimney of his house is now standing on the main road, near Riverside, R. I., and not far from the home of his father-in-law, Honorable John Brown.
Mr. Willett cultivated friendly relations with the Indians and made Purchase of Rehoboth North Purchase, (now the Attleboro and Cum- berland) Taunton North Purchase (Norton and Mansfield) and other large tracts. For his ser- vices to Rehoboth, the town, on the 21st of February 1660, voted " that Mr. Willett should have liberty to take five hundred or six hundred
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
acres of land northward or eastward, beyond the bounds of our town, where he shall think it most convenient for himself." With John Myles and John Brown, he was influential in the grant and settlement of the town of Swansea, and the foundation of the Baptist Church in that town, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Myles, the ancestor of Major General Nelson A. Myles, U. S. A.
After a few years residence in New York, Mr. Willett returned to his home in Wanna- moisett, where he closed a useful and honored life, August 4, 1674, aged 63 years. A rough stone in the Little Neck Burial Ground at the head of Bullock's Cove, bear this inscription :
1674.
Here lyeth the body of the worthy Thomas Willett, Esq., Who died August ye 4th, in the 64th year of his age. Anno -.
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF NEW YORK, AND TWICE DID SUSTAIN. THE PLACE.
His wife, Mary, died in 1669, and is buried by his side. REV. SAMUEL NEWMAN, the founder and first pastor of the Congregational Church, which now bears his name, was the most distinguished of the Rehoboth founders and one of the most noted of the early ministers of New England. His Concordance, a work of great learning and vast labor, testifies to the intellectual and spiritual quality of the man.
151
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Ilis life and labors have been so frequently written and are so familiar to all the sons of Rehoboth that it is not necessary to repeat the story.
BENJAMIN WEST, L.L. D. This noted mathematician, philosopher and patriot was born in Rehoboth, in the year 1730. His grandfather came from En- gland and settled in the south part of the town, near the Swansea line. He was an astronomer and occupied a professorship in Boston University from 1788 to 1798. He was postmaster of Provi- dence in 1802, and filled the office until his death, in 1813, in the 83rd year of his age.
REV. JOSEPHUS WHEATON, A.M., was a native of Reho- both, the son of Capt. Joseph and Mrs. Sarah A. Wheaton. He graduated at Brown University, 1812; was a tutor for two years; was pastor of Congregational Church in Holliston, Mass., till his death in 1825, at the age of thirty-seven.
HORATIO G. WHEATON, M. D., brother of Josephus, gra- duated at Brown University in 1820, and died at Charleston, S. C., a victim of yellow fever, 1824. " He was a scholar of fine talents and a young man of high promise."
NATHAN SMITH, M. D., professor in the medical schools of Dartmouth, Yale and Bowdoin Colleges, was born at Rehoboth 1762. An account of his life will be found in Bliss' History of Rehoboth.
SAMUEL METCALF FOWLER, for some years the able editor of the Pawtucket Chronicle, was a son of
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
Dr. Isaac Fowler, of Rehoboth. He was editor and proprietor of the Chronicle until his death, in 1832, at the age of 27 years.
PETER BROWN HUNT, EsQ., was born in Rehoboth, now Seekonk, February 1, 1794, graduated at Brown University in 1816; was admitted to Massachu- setts and Rhode Island bars ; commenced practice 1819; died 1831.
HON. JAMES ELLIS, son of Rev. John Ellis, graduated at Brown University 1791, commenced practice of law in Rehoboth ; removed to Taunton, and held the office of County Attorney.
JAMES BLISS, M. D., born in Rehoboth, 1757. Studied medicine with Drs. Brownson and Blackinton ; was a successful practitioner in Rehoboth for many years. He married Hannah Guild, of Attleboro, by whom he had twelve children. At the age of 19, he was surgeon's mate in Col. Carpenter's Regiment, in the war of the Revolu- tion. "He was a man of sound judgment, strict integrity and great industry and economy." Ile died in 1834.
GEORGE W. BLISS, M. D., son of Capt. Asa and Mrs. Polly Bliss, received a medical diploma at Brown University in 1822, and died in 1829, aged 39 years.
DARIUS CARPENTER, M. D., born at Rehoboth, 1785, studied medicine with Dr. Bolton ; commenced practice in 1816, died 1833.
153
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
ROYAL CARPENTER, M. D., born at Rehoboth, studied medicine with Dr. Isaac Fowler; commenced practice in 1808 ; married in 1834.
DRAPER CARPENTER, M. D., son of Daniel Carpenter, born in Rehoboth, 1791, graduated Brown Univer sity, 1821 ; commenced practice in 1827.
BENONI CARPENTER, M. D., born at Rehoboth, 1805; graduated Brown University, 1829; received degree M. D. at University of Pennsylvania, commenced practice in Pawtucket, 1832.
COL. ABRAHAM BLANDING, born at Rehoboth, 1775, graduated Brown University and studied law with Judge Brevord, of Camden, S. C., where he commenced the practice of law ; removed to Columbia, S. C .; married first wife Miss Betsy Martin, of Camden, and for his second wife Mary Caroline Desaussure, of Columbia.
WILLIAM BLANDING, M. D., born at Rehoboth, 1773, graduated at Brown University, 1801; studied medicine, and practiced at Attleboro and Cam- den, S. C. Married Susan Carpenter, of Roho- both, who died 1809, afterwards Rachel Wellett, of Philadelphia. His estate at Rehoboth is now owned by William W. Blanding.
DR. ABRAM BLANDING, son of James Blanding, Esq., born in Rehoboth 1823, graduated from the Homeopathic Medical College in Philadelphia, 1850. Began practice of his profession in the West in 1856; was a surgeon in the army from 1861 to 1865; went to Florida and resided at Palmer until his death in 1892, in his 70th year. He joined the Congregational Church, Rehoboth, in 1843.
V
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTHI.
REV. SYLVESTER S. BUCKLIN, was a Congregational minister.
REV. AUGUSTUS B. REED, son of Dea. Augustus Reed, was a Congregational minister.
THOMAS KINNICUTT, ESQ., was a lawer at Worcester, Mass.
GEORGE A. BUCKLIN, M. D., graduated Brown Univer- sity 1824 ; first read law and then studied medi- cine with Dr. Wells, of Columbia, S. C .; died 1829, on his journey from New Orleans to Texas.
SHUBAL PECK, graduated Brown University ; died soon after graduation.
JOHNSON GARDNER, M. D., son of James Gardner, of Rehoboth, born 1799; a student at Brown University ; studied medicine with Dr. Lewis Wheaton, of Providence, and received degrees of M. D., 1824; married Phebe L. Sisson, 1829, was a practicing physician in Pawtucket, R. I.
ZENAS BLISS, A. M., son of Jonathan Bliss, read law but became a manufacturer and lived in Johnson, R. I. His son, Zenas Bliss, is a graduate of West Point Military School and is now a Brigadier General in the United States Army, 1895.
WILLIAM BLANDING CARPENTER, M. D., born 1810, graduated Brown University, 1829, with salu- tatory addresses, studied medicine with Dr. Parsons, Providence : died 1830. Was a student of great promise.
EDWARD P. BROWN, the son of Dea. E. A. Brown, of Rehoboth, was born about the year 1848, prepared for college at the Rehoboth High School, then under the charge of Thomas W. Bicknell ; at
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Thetford Academy, Thetford, Vt., and at the University Grammar School, Providence, R. I .; entered Brown University in 1859; enlisted as private in a Rhode Island Regiment in 1862, returned in 1865, with the rank of Major by brevet ; graduated from the University in class of 1867, from Harvard Law School in 1869; entered on practice of law at North Attleboro, Mass., and removed to Boston in 1870; built up a valuable business and was a member of the General Court from Boston for three years ; conducted the celebrated case of General and Governor Benj. F. Butler, vs. the managers of the Tewksbury Alms House, in behalf of that institution and won the verdict of acquittal of the charges made by the Governor; is now con- ducting a general law business in the City of New York. (1895)
HON. JEREMIAH W. HORTON, of Newport, R. I., is one of Rehoboth's most promising and successful sons. Ile is the son of Tamerlane Horton and obtained his education in the schools of Rehoboth including several terms at the High School. He is now (1895) a successful merchant in Newport; has been honored by an election to the mayoralty of the city, (1893) declining a re-election ; he has also been colonel of the Newport Artillery and is now a representative to the General Assembly from that city. He is a publie spirited citizen and his character and attainments reflect honor upon his family and native town.
EDGAR PERRY, EsQ., is one of the brightest and ablest of the younger sons of Rehoboth. He has had the
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250TH ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH.
education and training of a journalist, graduating from an Attleboro paper to the Cleveland Press, and thence advancing to the Boston Herald. He is Boston correspondent of the New York Tribune and other papers, and his future is full of hope and success. He was one of the main movers in the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the town and as a member of the Committee of Arrangements was most efficient in making it a successful occasion.
THE GOFFS AS MANUFACTURERS. The biographical notice of Mr. Darius Goff gives an account of his relation to the manufacturing interets of Rehoboth, but fails to state the work of his ancestors in utilizing the water power of the village tributary to Palmer's River. The fact is that Joseph Goff, of Rehoboth, used the water- power of this stream, at or near the village, for sawing lumber and other mill purposes prior to the year 1764. His son, Richard Goff, used the power of the same stream for running a fulling mill prior to January 1776. His sons, Nelson and Darius, succeeded their father, Richard, in the use of the same stream, in operating the mill of the Rehoboth Union Manufacturing Company, and still further in the erection of a mill prior to 1840 for the manufacture of batting and wadding which was one of the first of its class in the country. Lyman and Darius Goff, of Pawtucket, the sons of Darius, are the fourth generation of manufacturers from Joseph, who harnessed the runaway waters of Palmer's River to practical uses, one hundred and thirty-one years ago.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
OTHER IMPORTANT MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. The men who first formed the Rehoboth Union Manu- facturing Company were Dexter Wheeler, Richard Goff, Steplien Carpenter, Thomas Car- penter, James Carpenter and Peter Carpenter. The building was erected at Rehoboth Village in 1809, and the machinery was introduced for manufacturing yarns. The number of spindles was 360, run by 14 hands, making 550 pounds of yarn a week. James Carpenter was first agent, succeeded by David Anthony, William Marvel and Dea. E. A. Brown.
This mill was afterwards owned and oper- ated by Nelson and Darius Goff and Stephen Carpenter.
The Cotton factory, at Orleans Village, Rehoboth, was built in the year 1811, the prin- cipal stockholders being Asa Bullock, Bernard Wheeler, Capt. Israel Nichols, of Rehoboth, Thomas Church, John Howe and Capt. Benjamin Norris, of Bristol, and Richmond Bullock, of Providence. In 1825, David Wilkinson bought the property and put in new machinery consisting of 48 looms with spindles and preparations to supply them. This is said to be the first success- ful attempt to used spindles called mules for warp as well as woof in the manufacture of fine cloths for calico printing. It is a matter of interesting record that Dexter Wheeler and David Anthony, of Rehoboth, were among the first founders of the manufacturing interests of the City of Fall River, Mass., and that they were part owners of the first cotton factory erected in that city.
INDEX.
East Providence, Educational Progress, Ellis, James
51
8
152
Fowler, Samuel M.
151
Gardner, Johnson, M. D.
154
Goff, Darius
129
Goff, George N.
2, 138
Goff's, as manufacturers,
156
Hawes, Bradford
28
Horton, Nathaniel B.
2, 136
Horton, Jeremiah W.
53, 155
Hunt, Peter Brown
152
History, Religious
9
Indiau Conffiets,
7
Introduction,
2
Kinnicutt, Thomas
154
Manufacturing Enterprises,
11, 156, 157
Men Notable,
13
Mason, Albert
78
Newman, Samuel
1, 9, 13, 150
Newport, R. I.
53
Notable Men,
13
Patriotism,
10
Peck, Gustavus B.
2,140
Shubael
154
Pierce, Edward C.
109
Esek H.
2, 135
Perry, Edgar
2, 15, 155
Poem, Thomas W. Bieknell,
113
Pawtucket,
50
Rehoboth, brief review by Edgar Perry,
3-14
Rehoboth, 250th Celebration,
2
Reed, Augustus B. Rev.
151
Review, Brief Historie
3-15
Sehools, Free
8,18
Seekonk,
45
Smith, Nathan, M. D.
151
Swansea,
32
Tiepke, Henry E.
51
Thurston, Edward M.
32
Willett, Thomas
4, 13, 69, 148
West, Benjamin
151
Wheaton, Rev. Josephus
151
Wheaton, Horatio G., M. D.
151
Weymouthi,
28
Whitehill, Rev. John
39
.
F 844755.09
6114 1
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