The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 1

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978

USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV > Part 1

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GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 8890

Nelona. Hedinch

THE HISTORY

OF THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

AND

PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

BIOGRAPHICAL

HOPE

NEW YORK THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

1920

1136713

BIOGRAPHICAL

RHODE ISLAND FAMILIES

HON. DANIEL RUSSELL BROWN-When the history of Rhode Island and her public men shall have been written, its pages will bear no more illustrions name, and record no more distinguished career than that of the Hon. D. Russell Brown. If "Biography is the home aspect of history," as Wilmott has expressed it, it is certainly within the province of true history to commemorate the lives of those men whose careers have been of signal usefulness and honor to the State, and in this connection it is not only compatible but absolutely imperative that mention be made of Ex- Governor D. Russell Brown, who was one of the fore- most figures in the public and business life of Rhode Island.

Hon. Daniel Russell Brown was the thirty-ninth gov- ernor of Rhode Island, president and treasurer of the Brown Brothers Company of Providence, and one of the most influential citizens of this State. He was a native of Bolton, Tolland county, Conn., where his birth occurred March 28, 1848, a son of Arba Harrison and Harriet M. (Dart) Brown. On both sides of the house Mr. Brown was descended from old and dis- tinguished families, many of whose members have become conspicuous in different callings throughout the southern portion of the New England States. The Brown family was founded here in early Colonial days and three of Mr. Brown's ancestors came over in the famous band of Pilgrims who landed from the "May- flower" on Plymouth Rock, in 1620. The Dart family was founded by Richard Dart, who settled at New London, Conn., and purchased land there in 1664. His son, Daniel Dart, removed to Bolton, Conn., in 1716, and was the founder of the branch which has resided at that place ever since.

The paternal great-grandfather of ex-Governor Brown was John Brown, whose son, also John Brown, married a Miss Perkins, whose ancestry goes back to the "Mayflower." Among their children was Arba Harrison Brown, father of ex-Governor Brown, who resided at Bolton, Conn., most of his life, and there successfully followed the occupation of farming. His death occurred at Manchester, Conn., in 1887, where the latter part of his life was spent. He married Har- riet Marrilla Dart, who was a woman of unusual intel- ligence and character and was one of those prominently connected with the Abolitionist movement in Connec- ticut. Her death occurred in 1864 while the Civil War was still in progress, so that her material eyes never looked upon the complete fruition of her hopes. Her faith in the eventual outcome, however, was sure, and frequently during her last years she made with the utmost assurance to her friends the statement that "the war will not end until slavery has been abolished." Arba H. Brown was a Baptist in religion, and his wife Congregationalist; the former joined the Republican party at the time of its organization, and he continued staunch advocate of its principles to the end of his

life. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom Daniel Russell Brown was one.

The childhood of Daniel Russell Brown was passed among the healthful surroundings of his father's farm, and as a lad he attended the public schools of his native Bolton. From there he went to the Academy at Man- chester, and still later studied at Hartford, Conn. Dur- ing his early youth he assisted his father with the work on the latter's farm, and there gained, besides a strong taste for the beauties of nature and a rural type of life, the splendid health which had stood him so well during his arduous career subsequently. Upon completing his studies at the Hartford School, he secured a position as clerk with the firm of Trumbull & Newcomb, large hardware dealers at Rockville, Conn. During his em- ployment by this concern he showed unusual ability, and two years later was offered the position of head salesman for the hardware firm of Francis & Company of Hartford. He remained with this concern until 1870, and in the month of January in that year came to Providence, with which place his career has ever since been identified. Although but twenty-one years of age at the time, he had been offered a position as head of the supply store connected with the mills of Cyrus White. It was his desire, however, to become independent in business, and in less than three months after reaching Providence had formed an association with William Butler & Son, who had purchased Mr. White's business, and the firm became known as Butler, Brown & Company. In the year 1877 Mr. Brown and his brother purchased the interest of the other partners and organized the well-known firm of Brown Brothers & Company, which not long afterwards became the largest establishment of its kind in the United States. This business was incorporated in the year 1893 as the Brown Brothers Company, and is still in active oper- ation to-day, ex-Governor Daniel Russell Brown's son, Milton Barrows Brown, being is secretary. In addition to his management of this great concern, Mr. Brown was also associated with a number of other important financial and business institutions here, and became president of the Old Colony Cooperative Bank, vice- president of the City Savings Bank, a director of the old National Bank, and of many other concerns.

Mr. Brown had become even better known in his con- nection with the public affairs of Rhode Island than as a merchant and business man, and was one of the fore- most figures in the political life of the community. From his earliest youth he was keenly interested in public affairs, and followed his father in his strong adherence to the principles and policies of the Repub- lican party. While still a very young man he began to take an active part in politics, and in the year 1880, when but twenty-four years old, was elected to the Providence Common Council. In this body he again displayed his marked ability in dealing with practical affairs and served thereon for four years. In the year

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

1885 the Republican party nominated him as its candi- date for mayor of Providence, but this honor he de- clined in order to continue in control of his private interests. He became one of the presidential electors for Rhode Island in 1888, and four years later was the successful Republican candidate for governor of the State. The campaign of that year was a very interest- ing one and out of the total vote of fifty-four thousand six hundred and seventy-nine, the largest ever cast in the history of the State up to that time, he received twenty-seven thousand four hundred and sixty-one ballots as against twenty-five thousand four hundred and thirty-three cast for W. T. C. Wardwell, the Demo- cratic candidate. In the next campaign, that of 1893, he was again the Republican candidate, being opposed by David S. Baker, Jr., of the Democrats, and Henry B. Metcalf, of the Prohibitionists. Once more there was a closely contested campaign, and once more Mr. Brown was the successful candidate, receiving twenty- two thousand and fifteen votes, as against twenty-one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and three thousand two hundred and sixty-five for the other two candi- dates respectively. The election laws of Rhode Island, however, require a majority of the total vote cast in order to elect, and accordingly, there being no legal choice, the election devolved upon the General Assem- bly of the State. An exceedingly close and hard-fought political battle followed, in which great corruption was charged against the Democratic members of the As- sembly. It appears that at the opening of the May session the Democrats were in a majority in the House, and proceeded to unseat two Republican members in order to gain control of the grand committee which had the election of the governor. The House then passed a resolution inviting the Senate to join the House in grand committee to count the ballots and proclaim the result. The latter body, however, recognized at once that this project was an innovation of a distinctly illegal character, and promptly declined the invitation. They followed this up by a resolution of adjournment until January, 1894, which was not concurred with in the House, the resolution being laid on the table. The upper body at once communicated with Governor Brown to the effect that a difference of opinion existed between the two branches of the Legislature as to the date of ad- journment. Governor Brown's action was characteristic of him in its courage and promptness, and the Assembly was adjourned at once by his order until the following January. This, the Democrats of the Lower House declared to be illegal, and they continued to hold rump sessions until the Assembly was reconvened in January, 1894. At once they resorted to every device and plan in order to entrap the governor, but Governor Brown was as shrewd as he was fair-minded, and in every case avoided the trap. The Democrats, as a last resort, laid their case before the Supreme Court of the State, which, however, unanimously sustained Governor Brown, with the result that the unwarrantable procedure of the House was brought to naught, and the matter went back to the people. Intense interest had been awakened throughout the State by the long political controversy, and in April, 1894, an election was held which brought out the largest vote ever cast in Rhode Island. The result was never in doubt, however, and

Governor Brown was returned to office with a plur- ality of six thousand two hundred and fifty-five votes, his total vote being twenty-nine thousand one hundred and seventy-nine, as against Mr. Baker's twenty-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-four. Mr. Brown, perceiving the evils necessarily attendant upon the old system, had been very active in the meantime to alter the constitution of the State so as to insure elections by plurality. This he was successful in accomplishing, and he also exerted strong influence in favor of bien- nial elections, as against the former one year term. Among other valuable services performed by him for the State was the securing of the passage of what was known as the free text book law and of measures pro- viding for the improvement of highways and other re- forms, including those regulating the business of surety companies and building and loan associations, and the factory inspector's law. Governor Brown, during the three years of his administration, proved himself to be a most capable and disinterested executive, and gained the approval not only of his own political followers, but also of all right-thinking men in the State. This approval was expressed before the Republican National Convention in 1896 by making him the State's candidate for the vice-presidency.

Ex-Governor Brown had for many years been prom- inent in fraternal and club circles in Providence, and especially so in the Masonic order, having taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry. He was a member of Adelphoi Lodge, Ancient Free. and Accepted Masons ; the Royal Arch Masons; the Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery, Knights Templar ; and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Brown was also prominently affiliated with the Young Men's Christian Association in this State; the Art Advance; the Talma, West Side and Squantum clubs; the Providence Press Club, the Rhode Island Press club, the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Society Sons of the American Rev- olution, the Rhode Island Art Institute, the Provi- dence Board of Trade, the Providence Business Men's Association, and many other social, benevolent and literary organizations. He was also president of the Pine Ridge Camp for Consumptives. Mr. Brown was eligible to membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Society of Mayflower Descendants. In his religious belief Mr. Brown was a Congregationalist, and had for many years attended the Beneficent Church of that denomination at Providence.

Daniel Russell Brown was united in marriage, Oc- tober 14, 1874, at Providence, with Isabel Barrows, daughter of Milton and Mary (Guild) Barrows. Three children have been born of this union, as follows: Mil- ton Barrows, who is mentioned above as secretary of the Brown Brothers Company; Isabel Russell and Hope Caroline. Daniel Russell Brown died at his home in Providence, February 28, 1919.

FREDERICK S. PECK-On May 22, 1639, the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony met at Boston, electing John Winthrop governor, and other Colonial officers. The name of Mr. Joseph Peck, of Hingham, stands at the head of the list of deputies, twenty-eight in number, who met to make Puritan laws

BIOGRAPHICAL

for a Puritan Colony. In that historic assembly of legislators were John Endicott, Richard Bellingham, Simon Bradstreet, Israel Stoughton and Richard Salton- stall, while Humphrey Atherton, noted in Rhode Island history, Robert Keayne, Thomas Mayhew, Simon Wil- lard, Edward Rawson, William Hawthorne, and others, were of the legislative group that were destined to win high honors in civil life in the Bay Colony. On May 13, 1640, the Great and General Court met at Boston and again the name of Mr. Joseph Peck leads the dep- uties, now thirty-one in number. Of this number twenty-three bear the title "Mr.," four are captains, one lieutenant, one ensign, and two carry no title. In 1641 the General Court of Elections met at Boston, on January 2, and Mr. Joseph Peck is still a deputy from Hingham, with distinguished associates, over whom Richard Bellingham was chosen as governor. Among them are William Carpenter, Henry Smith, William Cheesbrough, Alexander Winchester, Stephen Paine, and others, who, in 1641, through the agency of Captain Myles Standish and Mr. John Browne, purchased a township of land, eight miles square, of Massassoit, and later called it Rehoboth.

(I) Mr. Joseph Peck, who, with his brother, Rev. Robert Peck, Jr., were the founders of the Peck family in America, was the son of Robert Peck, a resident of Suffolk county, England. The son Joseph was baptized in Beccles, Suffolk county, April 30, 1587. Robert Peck, Jr., received his Master's degree at Cambridge University in 1603; was a Puritan minister in Hingham, England, and, with his brother, Joseph, came to New England in 1638, settling at Hingham, in the Bay Col- ony, where English settlers of Norfolk county had founded a new Hingham on the Bay coast. Robert and Joseph took the freeman's oath, March 13, 1638-39, and Robert was ordained teacher of the church at Hingham, Mass., 1639. On October 27, 1641, Robert, his wife and son, Joseph, embarked from Boston for his native land, having been invited, says Cotton Mather, to renew his pastoral office over the Puritan Church in Hingham, England, "where he was greatly serviceable for the good of the Church." He died in 1656, in the midst of a loved and beloved people. Concerning Mr. Joseph Peck and his family, Mr. David Cushing, town clerk of Hingham, Mass., has this record: "Mr. Joseph Peck and his wife and three sons and daughter, and two men servants, and three maid servants, came from old Hingham and settled at New Hingham."

Joseph Peck married Rebecca Clark, at Hingham, England, May 21, 1617. After being the mother of five children, she died October 24, 1637, when Mr. Peck married who gave him three sons. The baptismal names and dates of the children were: Anna, March 12, 1617-18, died July, 1636; Rebecca, May 25, 1620; Joseph, Aug. 23, 1623; John, about 1626; Nich- olas, April 9, 1630; Samuel, Feb. 3, 1638-39; Nathaniel, Oct. 31, 1641 ; Israel, March 4, 1644.

Mr. Joseph Peck was nearly fifty-two years of age when he settled, with others of his old town, as a co- founder, in New Hingham, New England. He was in the full maturity of physical and mental power, was well-to-do in worldly possessions, and belonged to the superior class of English settlers in America. Whether

aware of his lineage or not, he really had the blood of an early Saxon and Norman nobility in his veins, the proof of which was manifest in his own excellent and well-ordered life, and in the long lines of good men and women who gladly trace their ancestry to Joseph Peck of Hingham and Rehoboth. The election of Mr. Peck as a deputy to the General Court of the Bay Col- ony from Hingham, only a few days after taking the freeman's oath, and his repeated elections to the same office, are proof of his social and political standing, while the other offices of trust and honor from town and colony confirm the record; he was a trusted man in the Bay Colony.

Mr. Peck was a pioneer as well as a founder. Reports came to him of unoccupied lands in the Narragansett Bay country. Boston had just sent a ship-load of three hundred people to found towns and a colony on Aquidneck. Miles Standish had preempted Sowams (Barrington). At Mt. Hope (Bristol) were Indian lands, the home of King Philip. Men of vision saw in the field attractive territory for new settlement, and "in the year of our Lord 1641, Governor Bradford of Plymouth granted to Joseph Peck, Stephen Paine, Henry Smith, Alexander Winchester, Thomas Cooper, gent., and others with them, and such others as they should associate to themselves, a tract of land for a plantation or township formerly called by the natives Secunke, for which the purchasers paid Massassoit ten fathoms of beads and a coat." Most of the settlers were from Hingham and Weymouth, and as lands were apportioned according to estates, we have in the Reho- both Proprietors' Records, Vol. I., p. I, the estimated estates of the founders of ancient Rehoboth, in 1645. Richard Wright stands first with £834; John Browne second with £600; and Joseph Peck and Stephen Paine next with £535 each. Mr. Joseph Peck and family moved from Hingham to Rehoboth in 1645, thereby entering the new plantation as purchasers and founders. The first Peck home was in "the Ring of the Town," and was located not far from the railroad station at Rumford, in East Providence. Here Mr. Peck lived an active, useful and honored citizen until his death, December 23, 1663, in his seventy-seventh year.

(II) Joseph (2) Peck, first son of Joseph (1) Peck, baptized in 1623, settled near his father at Seekonk Plain, but, about 1660, removed to Palmer's river sec- tion of Rehoboth. He died about 1701.

(II) John Peck, second son of Joseph (1) Peck, settled near Luther's Corners, on the east side of Bowen's river. He was a representative from Rehoboth to the General Court of Massachusetts in 1700. He died in 1713.

(II) Nicholas Peck, third son of Joseph (1) Peck, settled in the southern part of Rehoboth, near Munroe's Tavern. He represented the town of Reho- both as deputy to the General Court at Plymouth for the years 1669-78-85-98, a period of nine years. He rose to the rank of captain in the Colonial militia. He died May 27, 1720.

(II) Samuel Peck, fourth son of Joseph (I) Peck, remained at the homestead on Seekonk Plain. He was a deputy from Rehoboth to Plymouth for two years, and one of the first representatives of the town to the

HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND

Massachusetts Colony, after the union with Plymouth. He was also a deacon of the Newman Congregational Church. He died in 1708.

(II) Nathaniel Peck, fifth son of Joseph (1) Peck, is the ancestor of Frederick S. Peck, the subject of this sketch. Nathaniel and his brother, Israel, settled in Barrington, then Swansea, Mass., on lands, a part of which are now owned by Frederick S. Peck, and are styled the Ousamequin Farm. This farm is a part of ancient Sowams (Barrington), which was purchased of Massassoit (Ousamequin), in 1653, by Governor Brad- ford, Governor Prince, Miles Standish, and others of old settlers of Plymouth, in 1653, for £35 sterling. A proprietary was formed by the purchasers, the territory was surveyed and plotted, roads laid out, and the lands were sold to the dwellers in the towns of Rehoboth and Swansea. As early as 1655, Joseph (1) Peck had secured an interest in the Sowams proprietary by a purchase of certain lands of the original Sowams pro- prietors. These proprietary lands, with certain salt meadows, Mr. Joseph (1) Peck gave, by his will, to his sons Nathaniel and Israel. After their marriage these the two brothers settled in Barrington, building houses and rearing families, the land remaining undivided as one farm, until after Nathaniel, of the third generation, was married. Nathaniel Peck, father of Nathaniel and Israel Peck above mentioned, died in 1676, at the age of thirty-five, and his wife, Deliverance, in 1678, leaving one son, Nathaniel, as heir to all his father's estate.

(III) Nathaniel (2) Peck, son of Nathaniel (1) Peck, born July 26, 1670, married (first) Christian Allen, of Swansea, March 8, 1695-96. Three children were born of this marriage: Ebenezer, Nathaniel and Thomas. Nathaniel Peck married (second) Judith Smith, of Rehoboth, July 18, 1705, of whom were born seven children : Daniel, David, Abigail, Bathsheba, Sol- omon, of further mention; John, John. Nathaniel Peck was a prominent citizen of Barrington, holding various public offices; was an officer in the Colonial militia and a deacon of the Congregational church. He died August 5, 1751, in his eighty-second year.

(IV) Solomon Peck, son of Nathaniel (2) Peck, was born November 1I, 1712, married Keziah Barnes, De- cember 29, 1737, and settled upon a part of his father's estate. Eleven children were the fruit of their mar- riage. Mr. Peck was a useful and respected citizen, and Mrs. Peck a devoted wife and mother. On his tombstone are the lines :

My flesh shall rest in hope to rise Waked by His powerful Voice.

On hers :

A faithful Wife and Mother dear, Such she was who now iies here.

(V) Solomon (2) Peck, son of Solomon (1) Peck, was born October 29, 1738; married Mrs. Abigail Bar- ney (born Peck), his cousin, December 8, 1763. He lived in the house which is now known as the Ousame- quin farmhouse, where six children were born: Abi- gail, Keziah, Solomon, Darius, Ellis, of further men- tion; and Beebe. Solomon Peck died August 22, 1814; his widow, June 16, 1821.

(VI) Ellis Peck, son of Solomon (2) Peck, was born in Barrington, August 2, 1774, and died July 27,

1854. He married Sarah Hill, daughter of David Hill, who gave him seven children : Sarah, Abigail, Ellis (2), Hannah, Asa, of further mention; Hannah and Wil- liam. No children were born by a second marriage to Lucy Bliss, in 1818. Ellis Peck and family lived at the homestead of his father, Solomon (2) Peck.

(VII) Asa Peck, son of Ellis and Sarah (Hill) Peck, was born in Barrington, April 7, 1812, and mar- ried Lucretia S. Remington, daughter of Enoch and Phebe (Short) Remington, March 4, 1839. Mr. Peck inherited a part of the ancestral acres bought of the Pilgrim proprietors of Sowams by Joseph (1) Peck, and was born and spent his life in the house occupied by his father, Ellis Peck, and his grandfather, Solomon Peck. It is probable that the house of Nathaniel (2) Peck stood on or near this site, as a stone garrison house stood in front of the Peck house, in the center of the eight-rod way that ran from the north end of the middle eight-rod highway to the Barrington river. Asa Peck was a farmer by home occupation, but an energetic body, a resolute spirit and an acquisitive nature led him into other fields, at first as a market drover and trader, and later as a dealer in wool-waste, establishing, with his son, Leander R. Peck, a success- ful business on Canal street, in Providence, under the name of Asa Peck & Company, into which he later introduced his son Walter A. Peck. Mr. Peck's busi- ness enterprises, honorable dealing and strict integrity won success and a comfortable fortune, which he trans- mitted to a family of children worthy to receive a rich family heritage and the foundation for a larger fortune.

Six children were born to Asa and Lucretia S. (Rem- ington) Peck: Adelaide E., Leander R., of further mention; George A., Juliette L., Walter A., and Ida E. Mrs. Peck was a woman of unusual mental and physical powers, with a moral and spiritual quality that constituted her a leader in Barrington society. Har- mony, cordiality, generosity and hospitality character- ized the Asa Peck home and family. Mr. Peck took a deep interest in town affairs, and his voice was always on the side of economy in town expenditures. Although a member of the minority party in the town, he was chosen to fill important offices, and was a member of the Committee of Twenty at the Barrington Centennial Celebration in 1870. There were two traits in the character of Asa Peck which must be emphasized, his in- dustry and his honesty. Of this latter trait, his grandson says: "Grandfather would go as far to pay a debt as to collect one, and while he expected a payment to the last cent in any debt due him, he was equally insistent in the payment of the last cent where he owed another." Other characteristics were his unostentatious charity, his unfailing cheerfulness and his love of home. The virtues inherited from his Puritan ancestors were trans- mitted to his children, and he passed to his reward honored and respected.

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The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, V. IV, Part 1

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn Publication date: 1920 Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 978

Author: Bicknell, Thomas Williams, 1834-1925. cn
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 978