USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > North Providence > Annals of Centerdale : in the town of North Providence, Rhode Island : its past and present, 1636-1909 > Part 9
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Soon after the death of Luther Carpenter the store was sold to George T. Batchelder, who had long been in Carpenter's employ. In 1855, George T. Batchelder, then a lad of nineteen years, entered the employ of Mr.
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THE FIRST STORE.
Carpenter, as clerk or salesman, and remained with him until 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers during the Civil War. After he returned from the war, in 1865, he agian entered the employ of Carpenter and remained with him until the death of Mr. Carpenter, in 1886, when he became his successor in business.
It will now be necessary to go back a few years in the history of the stores in Centerdale. In 1848 a man by the name of Richard Briggs re-opened the store at the place vacated by Luther Carpenter when he moved into his new store on Mineral Spring avenue, undoubtedly supposing that the old stand would hold a large part of the trade; but Carpenter proved to be a too formidable competitor, and the Briggs store was compelled to close in 1854.
The following year it was re-opened by Benjamin Sher- man, who continued the business about a year, when the doors was again closed. The store remained closed about a year, when the doors were again opened by a Mr. Whit- taker; but Carpenter's shrewdness and business tact compelled him to abandon the field before the year had expired. This was the last effort made to maintain a store at the old stand. Three or four other attempts were made, at different times and places, to establish a grocery store in opposition to Luther Carpenter, but all met with indifferent success.
Eventually the increasing population and the business interests of the village demanded a competing store and January 12th, 1886, Albert H. Clark established a grocery store in a building known as Masonic Hall building, No. 2001-2003 Smith street. On account of failing health
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he retired from business, March 1, 1891, selling out to Charles J. Hawkins & Co., who was succeeded, April 18, 1892, by Charles H. Keilty and Patrick H. McAleer, under the firm name of C. H. Keilty & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Keilty, March 18th, 1894, his interest was pur- chased by P. H. McAleer.
From time to time, as the needs of the village seemed to require, other stores have been opened. Some have been successful, while others have not; but without doubt some of these will become firmly established.
POST-OFFICE.
Early in the year 1840 the United States government established a post-office at the village of Fruit Hill, and February 25, 1840, appointed Stanton Belden, postmaster. The office was kept at the residence of Mr. Belden, at the northerly corner of Fruit Hill avenue and Smith street. he at that time being proprietor and principal of The Fruit Hill Classical Institute, a school in its day standing high in the esteem of the people, and receiving the patronage of many of the wealthy and influential people not only of this State but elsewhere.
The post-office remained at Fruit Hill until July 18. 1849, when it was removed to Centerdale, and Richard Briggs was appointed postmaster to succeed Stanton Belden.
Mr. Briggs at that time was proprietor of a country store at the junction of Waterman avenue and Smith street, the place formerly occupied by Luther Carpenter. And it was at this place where the Centerdale post-office was first located. The building was torn down in 1892.
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POST OFFICE.
The office remained at this place until 1854, when James Halsey Angell succeeded Richard Briggs as postmaster and moved the office a few hundred yards down Smith street to the Centerdale Hotel, in rooms especially fitted up to receive it.
In 1858, when Mr. Angell moved from the hotel, the office was transferred to the store of Luther Carpenter, on Mineral Spring avenue, and Luther Carpenter was appointed clerk, or assistant postmaster. Mr. Carpenter continued to act in that capacity until 1883, when George T. Batchelder, who had long been in the employ of Luther Carpenter as clerk, was appointed postmaster.
The office remained at Carpenter's store until Novem- ber, 1893, when Charles H. Keilty succeeded George T. Batchelder as postmaster, and the office was moved to his store in the Masonic Hall building, No. 2001 Smith street.
Postmaster Keilty died March 18, 1894, and the follow- ing year his brother, M. M. Keilty, was appointed his successor. The office remained at the same place, but was under the care of Mr. Keilty's sister, Miss Jennie E. Keilty, who, July 3d, 1905, was appointed his successor.
The office at Centerdale is rated by the government as a fourth-class office. For many years it received but one mail each day and sent out but one; the outgoing one leaving about eight o'clock in the morning, the incoming mail arriving about five o'clock in the afternoon. The number of mails gradually increased, until now there are two incoming and four outgoing mails each day.
In July, 1893, the office was made a money-order office, which proved a great convenience to the people who de- sired to send moderate sums through the mails. In July,
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ANNALS OF CENTERDALE.
1903, the government established the Centerdale post- office a separating office, requiring all mail matter sent to and from Providence to Centerdale, Greenville, and Harmony to be sent to the Centerdale office and there assorted and forwarded to its proper destination.
It will be interesting to note that in the early days of the post-office in Centerdale, and as late as 1856, but few letters were enclosed in envelopes, for they at that time had not come into general use. Most of the letters were folded together and the back edges sealed with a red wafer or a bit of sealing-wax.
Postage need not be prepaid by the sender unless he choose to do so; and failing of prepayment, the postage would be collected from the receiver, who would be charged double rates.
In the early days of the post-office in this country the rates varied according to the distance the letter was carried, and were excessively high in comparison with the rates charged to-day, as will be seen by the following: An ordinary letter carried thirty miles or less, the charge was 64 cents; from thirty to eighty miles, 10 cents; letters carried one hundred and fifty miles, 122 cents; from one hundred and fifty up to four hundred miles, 182 cents; and for all over four hundred miles, 25 cents was charged. But comparatively few domestic letters were carried more than four hundred miles, for the middle or far west had been but little settled at that time.
Postage stamps were not required to be affixed to letters in those days, as the United States government did not issue postage stamps until 1847, and even then left it optional with the sender to use them; their object then being to enable the public to mail letters at hours when the
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POST OFFICE.
post-office was closed, and it was some ten years later before the government required all letters to be prepaid and stamps affixed before the letter could be started on its journey.
The time required in carrying the mails from place to place in the early days of post-offices is in strong contrast with the lightning-like speed now demanded in the mail service. Then the mails were carried on horseback or by stage-coaches, and required several days to carry the mails from Boston to New York city. They at that time were carried by way of Worcester and Springfield, and most of the time only two mails a week could be depended upon.
In 1786 a man by the name of Levi Pease advertised to undertake to make the trip from Boston to New York with stage-coaches in four days by way of Worcester and Springfield, and to deliver two mails a week in the winter and three in the summer time, as can be seen by an ad- vertisement in the Worcester Gazette of January 5, 1786. In order to make this, what in those days was called quick time, the passengers carried were limited to four, and the line was known as the limited U. S. mail line; and an extra charge was made for the privilege of riding on the limited line much the same as now is the case with the limited fast trains of to-day; the coaches which followed the mail-coach would carry as many as could be com- fortably or uncomfortably crowded on.
The advent of the steam cars brought about a radical change in the time of transporting the mails to distant points. Instead of two mails a week the number has doubled many times that each day; while a couple of sacks or bags were once sufficient to hold the Boston and
10
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ANNALS OF CENTERDALL.
New York mails twice a week it now requires cars sufficient to transport many tons of mail matter several times each day.
Wonderful, and almost beyond the comprehension of the layman, has been the advancement of mail service of the country. It has, nevertheless, all been accomplished within the memory of man.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE WAR RECORD.
T HE firing upon Fort Sumter by the confederates, April 12, 1861, was the signal for the stars and stripes to be flung to the breeze from every housetop throughout the loyal States. The assault upon the Amer- ican flag caused the most intense excitement to prevail, and the patriotic enthusiasm which burst forth on all sides completely annihilated all party lines and political differences.
In response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 vol- unteers to defend Washington, which seemed to be in emergent danger, William Sprague, then Governor of Rhode Island, offered the services of the State militia, and immediately set to work making hasty preparations for the departure of a regiment of infantry and a battery of light artillery to the nation's capital.
The office of the merchant was closed, the mechanics laid down their tools, and the farmers left their plows in the field, all striving to be the first to offer their services and, if need be, their lives for the defence of their country.
The first to be called upon was the Rhode Island De- tached Militia, who immediately responded, and Sat- urday, April 20, the first detachment of the regiment, under the command of Governor Sprague, left Providence amidst the greatest enthusiasm of the immense throng that crowded the streets of the city to witness their de- parture. The church bells were rung, the cannon belched
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forth its thunder, and the cheers of men rent the air, while the prayers and the tears of women who bid them god- speed and a safe return consecrated the hour that the steamer on which the command had embarked left its moorings.
Among those who were first to respond to the call for volunteers from Centerdale was James E. Bailey. At the time of the opening of hostilities James E. Bailey was the village harnessmaker, and was a member of one of the independent military companies in Providence, which com- posed a part of the First Regiment of Volunteers, holding the position of second lieutenant in Company B. After reaching Washington he was promoted to first lieutenant of the same company, June 4, 1861. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, and served with honor during his three months' service, and returned with the regiment, July 28, and was mustered out August 2d, 1861.
He immediately re-enlisted in the Third Regiment. Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, which was then being organized. He was given command of Company E, re- ceiving his commission as captain, August 27, and was promoted to major, January 1, 1863. He accompanied the regiment on their southern campaign, taking active part in the capture of Fort Pulaski, a fort which he afterwards commanded. He also was actively engaged in the siege of Charlestown, S. C.
Major Bailey was given command of the left in the terrible siege and capture of Fort Wagner. To give a complete military record of Major Bailey it would be nec- essary to give a review of the entire campaign of the Third Regiment of Rhode Island Heavy Artillery with which he was actively connected. He was a brave and
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THE WAR RECORD.
efficient soldier, and popular with his command. He served with honor throughout the war and received an honorable discharge upon his arrival home after the close of the war.
WILLIAM F. ALLISON.
William F. Allison enlisted as a private, June 6th, 1861, in Company B, Second Regiment, Rhode Island Vol- unteers, and July 16 was promoted to corporal. He took part in all of the battles in which his regiment was en- gaged until March 20, 1862, when he was transferred to Company B, Second Regiment of United States Cavalry. He followed the fortunes of the regiment until his term of enlistment expired, June 6, 1864, when he returned home and received an honorable discharge.
He was twice taken prisoner while on picket duty, but in both cases was recaptured by the Union forces. He took part in nearly all of the great battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, including the battle of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Cedar Mountain, Malvern Hill, and the seven days' fight at the battle of the Wilderness, and many others. He has an honorable record as a soldier, and was always held in high esteem as a citizen.
After his return from the war he resumed work at his trade as a carpenter and contractor. In 1871 he joined Prescott Post, G. A. R., Providence, and in 1905 was elected Junior Vice Commander, and in 1906 elected Senior Vice Commander.
He took active part in organizing The Centerdale Veteran Association, and held the office of commander for four years. He was one of the charter members of Roger
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Williams Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., and is Past Master of the lodge.
ZALMON AUGUSTUS OLNEY.
Augustus Olney, as he was generally called, enlisted in Company H, Seventh Regiment, Rhode Island Infantry, August 16, 1862, and was mustered in September 4, and left Providence with the regiment, September 10. He followed the fortunes of the regiment throughout the fall campaign, and was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, while crossing the Rappahannock river with the regiment upon pontoon bridges. Although his services occupied but a few months, his conduct in the camp and upon the battlefield was exemplary.
GEORGE T. BATCHELDER.
George T. Batchelder enlisted in Company C, Seventh Regiment, Rhode Island Infantry, August 6, 1862, and soon after was appointed sergeant. He participated in many of the big battles of the war, and was twice wounded, once at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, and at the battle of Spottsylvania, May 18th, 1864. He remained with the regiment until its return at the end of the war, and was mustered out June 9th, 1865. After he returned from the war he re-entered the employ of Luther Carpenter as clerk, a position he had filled for seven years before going into the army. After the death of Luther Carpenter, in 1886, he became his successor in business.
GEORGE COLWELL.
George Colwell enlisted August 8, 1862, as a private in Company K, Seventh Regiment, Rhode Island Infantry.
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THE WAR RECORD.
He served with honor throughout the war. After being mustered out he again entered the employ of Nathaniel Angell. He afterwards removed to Watchemoket, East Providence, and served upon the police force for many years.
RANDALL H. TALLMAN.
Randall H. Tallman enlisted as a private, First Rhode Island Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, in 1861. He fought with the regiment at the battle of Bull Run, and returned with the regiment at the expiration of the three months' service for which they were enlisted. He shortly after re-entered the army as a private or special scout to General Burnside and remained with him throughout the war, and served with honor and credit to himself and his country. He was a brave and fearless man, and his rugged constitution well fitted him physically to withstand the exposure and hardships he was often called upon to endure in the discharge of his duties as a scout and spy. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Center- dale and was appointed upon the police force of the town, and was promoted to town sergeant, a position he held for several years. He died, September 2, 1883, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
ROBERT F. SIMMONS.
Robert Fitz Simmons enlisted as a private in Company E, Third Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, August 2Ist, 1861. He was promoted to sergeant, and was with the regiment on their Port Royal campaign and took part in the siege and capture of Fort Pulaski, Ga. November 7th, 1863, he was discharged by reason of promotion to
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second lieutenant in the Fourteenth Regiment of Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. He, however, resigned his com- mission as second lieutenant before he entered upon active duty, as he preferred returning to his old regiment, the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. After he returned from the war he went to Attleboro, Mass., and engaged in the manufacture of jewelry, and met with a good degree of success, and was held in high esteem by his townsmen.
ALMANZO S. STONE.
He enlisted as a private in Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, March 7th, 1864, and was transferred to Battery B of the same regiment, August 12, 1864. He served with credit to himself and his country until the close of the war, and was mustered out June 12, 1865.
WASHINGTON IRVING TALLMAN.
Irving Tallman, as he was generally known, enlisted, March 7, 1864, as a private in Battery B, First Regiment, Rhode Island Light Artillery. While engaged in the battle of Reams Station, August 25, 1864, he was taken prisoner by the Rebels; he was afterward paroled by them, September 25, 1864. He remained with his battery until the end of the war, and was mustered out June 12, 1865.
WALTER ROURKE.
Walter Rourke enlisted as a musician (fifer) in Com- pany A, Fourth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, October 30, 1861. After serving three years, the term of
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THE WAR RECORD.
his enlistment, he re-enlisted in the same regiment, as a veteran volunteer, in August, 1864. After his re-enlist- ment he served as a nurse in the hospital to October, 1864, when he was put on detached service at City Point, Va., in the General Hospital, and remained there until Feb- ruary, 1865, when he was transferred to Company G, Seventh Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, and was mustered out July 13, 1865.
GEORGE H. REMINGTON.
George H. Remington enlisted as a private in Company I, Eleventh Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, Sep- tember 23d, 1862, serving nine months, the term for which the regiment was enlisted, and was mustered out July 13, 1863.
COMPANY A, FIFTH REGIMENT, R. I. M.
As a precautionary measure against an invasion of the northern States by the Confederate army, the enrollment and organizing of the State militia was ordered; and in pursuance of that order a company of infantry was organ- ized in Centerdale in May, 1863. There being no suitable place in the village for an armory or drill hall, Mr. James Halsey Angell purchased the old church building, which had for many years been closed for public worship, and remodeled the interior to meet the requirements of the company for an armory. The company numbered eighty members, and was designated as Company A, Fifth Regi- ment of Infantry, in the Fourth Brigade of Rhode Island Militia. They held weekly meetings for drill and practice in the manual of arms. At the general muster of the regiment, held at Pawtucket, December 1, 1863, the
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ANNALS OF CENTERDALE.
company had the right of the line and received many compliments for their soldierly appearance and proficiency in manœuvers. The following is a roster and list of the members of the company:
ROLL OF THE COMPANY.
Captain
Charles E. Hall.
First Lieutenant
Benjamin Sweet.
Second Lieutenant
. James A. Mathewson.
Sergeants.
George F. Angell
Ist Sergeant.
William Brayman
2d Sergeant.
Jarvis Smith . 3d Sergeant.
Edwin W. White 4th Sergeant.
Samuel N. Budlong
5th Sergeant.
Corporals.
Philip Salisbury . . Ist Corporal.
Joel Corbin
2d Corporal. 3d Corporal.
George H. Higgins
George F. Stollard 4th Corporal.
William Phetteplace
5th Corporal.
Frederick M. Aldrich 6th Corporal.
Willard Pearce 7th Corporal.
Henry Pearce
Sth Corporal.
Wagoner.
Cornelius M. Capron.
Privates.
Angell, Sayles H.
Adams, John Q.
Angell, William,
Billington, James R.
Angell, Andrew J.
Bicknell, William A.
Angell, Amasa W. Brown, Henry F.
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THE WAR RECORD.
Barnes, Jonathan,
Lapham, J. H. P.
Britton, Sylvester O.
Mathewson, Henry N.
Brown, Henry M.
Mathewson, Jerome,
Barnes, John W.
Mathewson, Daniel W.
Capron, Edwin A.
Mathewson, Martin,
Capron, George W.
McCavert, James,
Cozzens, John R.
Olney, Barton J.
Collins, James C.
Potter, Albert H.
Collins, Henry,
Robertson, Argraves,
Collins, Daniel S.
Sweet, Ephraim A.
Dawley, James V., Jr.
Sweet, William M.
Dawley, Benjamin G.
Sweet, Seriel A.
Davis, Jonathan,
Stone, Almanzo S.
Eldridge, Thaddeus S.
Sweet, Albert F.
Gazlay, William,
Sweet, Andrew B.
Gardner, Joseph O.
Sweet, Joseph W.
Greene, Charles E.
Sweet, Emor W.
Gould, Sullivan W.
Stone, George W.
Gould, Lewis,
Searle, Edwin P.
Harrington, Alexander W.
Sweet, Welcome,
Higgins, Joseph,
Sweet, Edwin A.
Hall, Henry J.
Tallman, Irving W.
Hunt, Horace,
Turner, Harrison J.
Jencks, George N.
Waldren, Lewis,
James, Peleg A.
Walker, Charles P.
King, Stephen,
Whipple, Benonia,
Kinnecom, William,
Wilbur, Charles.
Kinnecom, Edward,
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
The destruction of the U. S. Battleship " Maine," Feb- ruary 15, 1898, in Havana harbor, was followed by events which ultimately caused President Mckinley to issue his proclamation declaring that war did really exist between the United States and Spain, and calling for 125,000 volunteers to defend the honor of the country and the cause of justice and humanity in Cuba.
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ANNALS OF CENTERDALE.
The call for volunteers met with a hearty response from all sections of the country. Among those who responded from Centerdale were:
JOHN P. GEELIN,
Who enlisted as a private in Company I, Twelfth Regi- ment, United States Volunteers, and accompanied the regiment on their campaign in Cuba. He was slightly wounded in the battle of Santiago. After the end of hostilities in Cuba he returned with the regiment and re-enlisted in Company L, Twenty-sixth Regiment, United States Volunteers, and proceeded with the regiment to the Philippine Islands. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his home in Centerdale. He was a brave and fearless soldier; and while serving in the Philippines it frequently became necessary to call for volunteers to go upon some especially dangerous recon- noissance, and upon these occasions John P. Geelin was always among the first to volunteer to go, regardless of how dangerous the expedition might be.
LEWIS E. FOSTER.
In response to a call for volunteers, Lewis E. Foster enlisted as a private in Company A, Forty-sixth Regiment, United States Volunteers, in 1899. He accompanied the regiment to the Philippine Islands, and saw considerable active service while there. Here he remained until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and returned home and was mustered out in 1901. After remaining home for about three months he again enlisted in Company C, Fifty-sixth Regiment of United States Infantry, and went
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THE WAR RECORD.
with his regiment to the Island of Puerto Rico, and else- where, and after serving three years with the Fifty-sixth he returned home and was mustered out in the summer of 1904.
After a three months' visit to his home he again enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first United States Infantry, and was stationed at Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Minn. Here he was transferred to Company C, First United States In- fantry, September 20, 1906, he preferring to go to Manila, P. I., where the First Regiment had been ordered, than to remain with the Twenty-first, who were ordered to Colorado; this being his second trip to the Philippine Islands. He remained until his third term of enlistment expired, in October, 1907. That he is a brave and honor- able soldier is fully attested by his nine years of continued service in the United States army.
JOHN W. WALLACE.
John W. Wallace enlisted as a landsman in the United States Navy, February 2, 1900, and was assigned to the U. S. Cruiser "Newark." He remained on the "New- ark" about eight months, when he was transferred to the first-class cruiser "Brooklyn," and was ordered to the Philippine Islands. After cruising around the islands eight months, the "Brooklyn" was ordered to China during the "Boxer" uprising. Here he remained about two years, calling at many of the ports of China. While he was at Shanghai he was transferred to the gunboat "Wilmington," January 11th, 1902. He remained upon the "Wilmington" until the term of his enlistment ex- pired, and returned home by way of San Francisco, and was honorably discharged March 22d, 1904. Although
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ANNALS OF CENTERDALE.
he was in no naval engagement during his time of service. he holds an honorable record as a marksman with small arms, ranking very good to excellent; conduct and sobriety receiving a mark of five, or excellent, the highest point obtainable.
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