USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > Part 55
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Officers of the Veteran Association .- Colonel John Hare Powel, president; Colonel Augustus P. Sherman, first vice-pres- ident: Colonel William A. Stedman, second vice-president; Col- onel Thomas S. Nason, third vice-president; Sergeant William S. Slocum, secretary; Lieutenant B. B. H. Sherman, treasurer.
Present Roster .- Colonel, J. W. Horton; lieutenant colonel, G. A. Brown; major, A. A. Barker; captain, G. C. Shaw; quar- termaster, H. C. Stevens, Jr .; adjutant, JJ. H. Wetherell; sur- geon, Dr. S. H. Sears; commissary, W. T. Stevens; paymaster, E. T. Bosworth: chaplain, Rev. T. Thayer, D. D .; assistant surgeon, Dr. N. R. Chace; assistant commissary, J. L. Nason; assistant paymaster, J. H. Stacy; sergeant major, G. W. Thompson; quartermaster-sergeant, M. Muenchinger; sergeant
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
of ordnance, T. H. Lawton; ensign sergeant. P. B. Dawley; first sergeant, E. II. Tilley; second sergeant, G. A. Tilley; third sergeant, H. Bliss; fourth sergeant, J. D. Richardson, Jr .; fifth sergeant. A. A. Stacy: color sergeant, B. W. H. Peckham; cor- porals, T. S. Holm. Il. C. Christian, A. J. De Blois, W. II. Schwarz; right general guide. C. T. Bliss: left general guide, G. Davis; markers, O. E. Peabody, M. W. Wetherell: buglers. G. S. Bowen. S. H. Lawton, F. S. Patterson, J. P. Leonard, F. J. Eckhart.
Privates .- W. H. Allen, W. R. Allen, M. Bull, A. G. Bur- dick, S. C. Bailey, 2d. C. Biesel, W. M. Borden, H. A. Boole, C. Crandall, Jr., Charles E. Clarke, W. IL. Crowell, F. T. Carr, Clarence E. Clarke, J. T. Durfee. J. R. Duckworth, H. T. Eas- ton. (". E. Eldridge, W. H. Easton, C. E. French. J. H. Glynn, A. N. Gray, H. Greene, W. F. Gratrix, M. W. Hall, F. II. Holt, J. E. Kesson, W. H. King, F. P. King, F. Langley, E. P. Landers, P. T. Leonard, R. P. Manchester, R. W. Mitchell, W. McDonald, J. C. Peckham. I. R. Peabody, G. H. Proud, C. A. Palmer, F. E. Rowell, C. J. H. Schwarz, G. T. Swan, F. M. Stevens, E. Spooner, O. M, Smith, W. T. Stevens, W. D. Sayer, G. W. Tilley, C. O. Titcomb, G. H. Vanghan, W. A. Ward, E. Wilbur, D. Wetherell, Jr.
CHAPTER XI.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES .- NEWPORT.
Benjamin Anthony .- George A. Armstrong .- Seth Bateman .- Luther Bateman. -Henry Bedlow .- Robert P. Berry .- Joshua C. Brown .- John Bull .- George W. Carr, Jr .- William A. Clarke .- Henry Clews .- George S. Coe .- William King Covell .- The Cranston Family .- Lucius D. Davis .- The De Blois Family .- George T. Downing .- William Findlay .- The Fludder Family .- Thomas Galvin .- George Hall .- Nathan Hammett and Joseph M. Hammett. -Benjamin Hazard .- Carl Jurgens .- Daniel Le Roy .- Josiah O. Low .- John D. Johnston .- Seth W. Macy .- Felix Peckham .- Thomas P. Peckham .- John Hare Powel .- Oliver Read .- James T. Rhodes .- John Page Sanborn .- William Paine Sheffield .- John W. Sherman .- William H. Thurston .- Wil- liam J. Underwood .- John G. Weaver .- George Peabody Wetmore .- Cath- arine Lorillard Wolfe.
BENJAMIN N. ANTHONY was born in Sonth Kingstown, An- gust 27th, 1821, being the youngest child of Peleg C. and Abby G. (Tillinghast) Anthony. His father removed to Newport about 1824 and engaged in farming, which occupation has been followed by his son. Peleg C. died January 14th, 1882, in his ninety-first year. Benjamin M. married Elizabeth, daughter of Josiah and Eliza Peckham, and they had twelve children, of whom seven are living: Abram Tilley Anthony, born Angust 14th, 1845, and married Marian R. Ball; Joseph Smith, born April 1st, 1847, married Abby Cook Hudson; William Clark, born May 8th, 1852, married Mary Jane Sullivan; Charles Green, born Jannary 17th, 1854, married Francis Mary Hardwick; Eliza Abby: James Edward, born March 17th, 1859, married Elizabeth Parker Congdon; and Mary Alice.
GEORGE A. ARMSTRONG was born in Newport, September 1809, being the son of George and Esther (Williams) Arm- strong. His early life was spent on his father's farm, which was located where Narragansett avenne now is. lle married Ilarriet H., daughter of George and Content (Wilbour) Hazard, who was also a native of Newport. They had two children, one of whom is living, viz., William A., born in October, 1834, and married Carrie, daughter of William Lewis.
Luther Bateman
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
SETH BATEMAN .- The members of the Bateman family resi- dent in Rhode Island are descended from English ancestry, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch having been Lord William Henry Bateman of Castle Hill, Herfordshire, England, and his grandfather Hector Bateman, who probably emigrated and settled in Coventry, Rhode Island. Among his children was William, who married Susannah Spencer, daughter of Jeremiah Spencer, who, on his emigration from England, settled in Con- necticut. The Spencer family are descended from the second Duke of Marlborough, and resided upon their estates in Eng- land, Jeremiah above named being the first to leave his native heath for a home in the new world. The children of William and Susannah Bateman are: Julia Ann, Joseph, Seth, Mary, Snsan, Luther, Ira, Alice A., Harriet, Sidney, Jane and William Pitt, of whom six survive.
Seth Bateman, of this number, was born Angust 26th, 1802, on the homestead then considered as suburban ground, but now a part of the city of Newport. He availed himself of snel advantages of education as the country schools afforded, after which he became a farmer and for a cousiderable time assisted his father in that capacity. The latter for many years leased a portion of the Brenton estate, then embracing two thousand acres, including the tract now owned by Mr. Bateman. In 1837 the first movement was made which resulted in the establish- ment of the very popular summer resort at Bateman's point owned by Seth Bateman. The enterprise was begun amid many discouragements and only through the perseverance and ad- mirable management of its projector brought to a successful result. As the attractions of the spot became known, patrons from New York, Boston and other cities increased in numbers, and the capacity of the building proved far too limited for the demand. In this emergency extensive apartments were added which also were very speedily found inadequate to the wants of the increasing number of guests. Mr. Bateman, having pur- chased the property, continued to enlarge and make improve- ments until the spacious and complete establishment over which he presides is the result. While giving his personal supervision to this extensive enterprise, he still finds time to devote to other business interests and fills the office of president of the Merchants' Bank of Newport. While eminently successful in all his financial undertakings, he has not forgotten to share
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his means with others and has dispensed his charities with an mostentations, though liberal hand. His benefactions lay chiefly in the direction of aid to worthy young men seeking an education. Mr. Bateman in 1857 married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Peckham, of Newport, a lady of many estimable quali- ties, whose death occurred in the spring of 1887.
LUTHER BATEMAN, the second son of William and Susannah Bateman, previously mentioned, was born June 16th, 1807, at Brenton's point, where his parents then resided. Here his boy- hood was passed in the varied occupations peculiar to a farmer's son, the neighboring school meanwhile affording opportunities for a thorough training in the English branches. After some years spent upon the farm he decided to acquire a trade, and chose that of a tanner and currier, removing to East Green- wich for his apprenticeship. HIe devoted two years to this pur- snit and returned to the farm, which he managed in conjunction with his brother Seth for five years, when his interest was dis- posed of to the latter. Locating elsewhere, he for some years engaged in farming and also embarked in the milk business and in butchering. He has recently retired from active em- ployment, and now devotes his time to the management of. his varied interests. Mr. Bateman is not specially concerned in politics, though he has been a member of the city council, and was some years since appointed commissioner to superintend the agricultural department of the asylum for the poor, where he did excellent service. He was married April 2d, 1838, to Ruth, daughter of Thomas G. Hazard, of Newport. Their chil- dren are: William H., of Kingston, R. I., who married Cora M. Allen and has two sons; and Henry B., of Washington terri- tory, who married Jennie M. Mason and has two sons and one daughter. Mr. Bateman was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends and still worships with the Friends' meeting.
HENRY BEDLOW .- The progenitor of the Bedlow family in America, one of the oldest, if not the oldest Knickerbocker family in New York, was Isaac Bedlow, son of Godfrey Bedlow, physician to William, Prince of Orange, who emigrated from Leyden, Holland, and settled in New Amsterdam, now New York, in 1639. He speedily became identified with the interests of his adopted city, and was for a period of five years one of its aldermen. He acquired by purchase in 1668 the historic Bedlow's Island, afterward deeded to the state of New York.
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Very cordially yours Jemy Jedlowo
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MALBONE. RESIDENCE OF HON. HENRY BEDLOW. Newport.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
One son in each generation has since represented the family, who have always made New York their residence. William Bedlow, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was appointed by the government one of the commis- sioners to make the survey and establish the military school at West Point. He married Catharine, daughter of Colonel Henry Rutgers, and had one son, Henry, who married Julia Halsey of Newark, New Jersey.
Their second son, Henry, was born on the 21st of December, 1821, in New York, studied under private tutors at the Yale University, and was gradnated at the Harvard Law School. After a thorough study of the practice of law he was admitted to the bar of New York state and subsequently studied medi- cine both in this country and in France. Mr. Bedlow in early life became an attaché of the American legation at Naples. Though this is a position of no special importance in American foreign representation, yet in this instance, from his familiarity with the court language and a knowledge of etiquette, he was enabled to render Mr. Polk, the chargée and brother of Presi- dent James K. Polk, considerable service in his intercourse with what was at the time considered the most formal court in Europe. He was likewise a member-acting officially-of the United States Dead Sea expedition, under the command of F. W. Lynch, who, in his published report, has not failed to bear most complimentary testimony to the efficient aid rendered by him in the exploration and survey of the Jordan valley and river and the lake of Sodom and Gomorrah. For many years Mr. Bedlow has, with his family, spent the summer and antnmn in Newport, and meanwhile become closely identified with the interests of the city. He was elected mayor for the years 1875, 1876 and 1877, and during his candidacy won from the local press the most landatory notices for his varied capabilities and social accomplishments. His record during the war of the re- bellion proclaimed him a sincere lover of his country, and his thorough loyalty showed itself in word and speech. Mr. Bed- low was married March 2d, 1850, to Miss Josephine De Wolf Homer, daughter of Fitzhenry Homer of Boston, Massachu- setts. Their children are Harriet Hall, widow of Lientenant- commander Francis Morris, and Alice Prescott, wife of William Henry Mayer.
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IHISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
ROBERT P. BERRY was the son of Joshua and Olive Berry, of Falmouth, Maine, where his birth occurred on the 14th of Jan- mary, 1814. In early youth he removed to Windham in the same state and received his academic education at the Gorham Academy in Gorham, Maine, afterward entering upon the study of dentistry in Providence, R. I. Later removing to Bristol, R. I., he engaged in active professional labor and about 1842 be- came a resident of Newport where much of his subsequent life was passed. In 1859 Doctor Berry established an office in New York, returning to Newport for the summer months, where the few days of leisure stolen from an arduons professional career were spent in recreation. In 1868 he made Newport his per- manent home and there continued actively employed until his death, which occurred February 9th, 1873.
Doctor Berry's thorough knowledge of dental science enabled him to take high rank in his profession and made his name a familiar one, not only in this country but in Europe. He was especially fond of the study of chemistry and in pursuance of his natural bent spent much time in his laboratory. These ex- periments, while gratifying a peculiar taste, served also to broaden his knowledge of a profession of which he was already an acknowledged master. A lover of books and an intelligent reader of sound literature, his well-stored library contained the best productions of English anthors. Doctor Berry was a lover of field sports and accustomed to devote a portion of each au- tnmn to the gratification of this pleasure, from which he derived much benefit and greatly needed rest. A republican in his po- litical affiliations, he was in no sense a politician, and with the exception of his membership in the school board of Newport never held office. His religions associations were with Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, Newport, of which Mrs. Berry was a member and he a vestryman. Doctor Berry was, on the 18th of July, 1848, married to Mary Ann, daughter of William and Ruth Thurston of Newport, and she survives him.
JOSHUA C. BROWN, though a native of Newport county, and at present one of its enterprising citizens, has spent much of his active life in California. His grandfather, Peleg Brown, resided in Narragansett, though he was born in Newport county. Among his children was Pardon Brown, who early removed to Middletown township, where he spent much of his life as a farmer. Ile married Lucy, daughter of Captain Nathaniel
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Joshua D. Brown
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Armstrong, of Narragansett, and had children: George A., Joshua C., Mary A. (Mrs. George Coggeshall) and Nathaniel A. He contracted a second marriage with Sarah, daughter of Cap- tain Peleg Sanford, their children being: Lucy (Mrs. James Brown), Peleg, Lydia (Mrs. John Sanford) and Pardon.
Joshua C. was born February 27th, 1828, in Middletown, Newport county, R. I., and from early youth until the age of eighteen assisted in the farm his father owned, meanwhile pur- suing the English branches at the neighboring public school. He determined to acquire a trade and chose that of a wheel- wright, establishing himself in connection with his brother in his native township. At a later date, varying somewhat his occupation, he devoted his skill to the work of a honse car- penter. Mr. Brown, like many ambitious spirits of that day, followed the tide of emigration to California in the year 1850. His business, that of a cattle dealer, necessitated many trips across the plains, no less than ten long and wearisome journeys being made in succession with droves and herds. At a later day the superior facilities offered by railroads rendered the shipment of cattle an easy task. Mr. Brown was for several years located in Nevada, and subsequently purchased from the government a ranch in Northern California. Here he engaged in the raising of blooded stock, shipping from Kentucky short- horn Durhams and from Rhode Island Southdown sheep. In 1883 he returned to his native county, located in Newport, and has since devoted his time to building and improving the prop- erty he owns in the city.
Mr. Brown was married on the 14th of January, 1853, to Jane, daughter of Captain William Smith, of Middletown. Their children are: Nebraska, wife of A. A. Tilley; California, wife of Daniel Chase; Nevada, married to Herbert Tilley; Esmeralda, Pardon and Joshua C. Mr. Brown was a second time married May 2d, 1872, to Elizabeth A. Ward of Newport, a descendant of Governor Ward of Rhode Island, and daughter of Henry Ward of Middletown. Mr. Brown is a member of the First Baptist church of Newport, which he joined at the age of four- teen. He, with others, organized a Sabbath school in Modoc county, California, and was until his departure one of its most active supporters and workers. This school formed the nucleus around which grew a prosperous church, of which he was an exemplary member. Mr. Brown is an avowed prohibitionist. 37
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
and earnest in the cause of temperance as in all Christian work.
JOHN BULL, the youngest son and child of Henry Bull, was born in Newport July 11th, 1822. He was connected during his life with the Newport Gas Company, holding the position of treasurer. He married Clarissa, daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth Peckham. They had three children: Daniel P., Evan M. and Phebe C. He died June 22d, 1863.
GEORGE W. CARR, JR .- The Carr family are of Scotch descent, the progenitor of the family in America, of which the subject of this sketch is a representative, having been Caleb Carr, who emigrated from London in the year 1635, sailing for Boston in the ship " Elizabeth and Ann" when but eleven years of age. Three years later he settled in Carr's lane, Newport, and sub- sequently became the owner of much land. He was three times married, and left to his son, Nicholas, an extensive tract on Conanient island, which is still owned and occupied by repre- sentatives of the family. Another son, John, great-grandfather of George Washington Carr, Jr., married Waite, daughter of Peter Easton. Among their children was John Carr, who won distinction as a captain at the battle of Trenton during the war of the revolution, and at the close of the conflict settled in New port. He married Mary Arnold and had children: John, Mary, Sarah, Samuel, Caleb A., Richard, Abagail, Waite, Ebenezer, George Washington and Hannah. Of this number George Washington was born July 12th, 1777, and married Margaret, daughter of William and Mary Thurston, born April 11th, 1779. Their children are: Dolly T., Abby, Margaret, George W., Jr., Mary Ann, Caleb A., Thomas T., Sarah R., John and Amelia, of whom seven survive.
George W, Carr, Jr., was born in Newport on the 22d of April, 1808, where he now resides. He enjoyed snch advantages of education as that early day afforded, his tutor being Levi Tower, a teacher of repute at the time, and was aprenticed to the trade of a tailor. On completing the allotted time he re- moved to New Bedford, and was for twenty years the successful manager of a merchant tailoring business for other parties. Returning to Newport he opened a dry goods store, chiefly as a congenial means of occupying his leisure time, and to this he still gives his personal attention. Devoted to books, an un- tiring reader of current literature, and a collector of old and
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
rare manuscripts, Mr. Carr enjoys ample opportunity for the gratification of his taste in this direction. Always either a whig or republican in politics, he has often been urged to accept office, but invariably declined. He is an active member of the Newport Historical Society, in which he is much interested, and was formerly a working member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was educated in the religions faith of the Society of Friends with which he worships.
WILLIAM A. CLARKE, late president of the National Bank of Rhode Island, Newport, was born in that city March 22d, 1803. His father, Audley Clarke, was connected with that bank from its organization in 1795 until his death in 1844, a period of forty- nine years, and was its president for the last twenty-nine years of his life. Mrs. Mary Clarke, the mother of William A., was the daughter of Caleb Gardner, a prominent and successful bus- iness man of Newport. The son began his business career in the bank with his father in 1818 and worked his way through all the grades of that time-honored institution, the second of its kind established in Rhode Island. He was its cashier for twenty-four years and its respected president from 1862 until his death, which occurred on the 26th of March, 1887.
Mr. Clarke was the oldest bank officer in the country, having served in the institution with which he was connected for nearly seventy years. Meanwhile, all the patrons of the bank when he entered it, had passed away, and Newport during his lifetime had undergone important changes. But few persons of his ad- vanced age are able to assume the oversight of so extensive a business. Mr. Clarke was much interested in the growth and prosperity of Newport, was the first president of the company that introduced the telegraph into that city, and gave encourage- ment to every worthy enterprise. He in politics adhered to the principles of the Jeffersonian school of democrats and manifest- ed a lively interest in the public questions of the day, while avoiding active participation in the struggle for ascendeney and power. His integrity and business capacity cansed him to be made the recipient of many offers to fill positions of trust, which were usually gratefully declined. He led a quiet, unobtrusive life, spent much of his leisure in reading the best current lit- erature of the day, and in his nnostentations manner did much to advance the interests of the community. In religion he was a firm believer in the Unitarian faith.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
HENRY CLEWS .- Among the successful men of Wall street few have by their own efforts and by strictly legitimate means raised themselves to so prominent a position in the financial world as Mr. Henry Clews. Many have risen and subsided, but he has maintained both his position and his integrity. Mr. Clews is an Englishman by birth and the youngest of four sons, his family having resided in Staffordshire, where they held a large landed estate. He began at an early age a course of study designed to fit him for admission to Cambridge, to qualify him for the church. He came to America on a pleasure trip and determined to remain and engage in commercial pursuits. His first essay was as a clerk in the well known dry goods house of Wilson G. Hunt & Co., and the careful training he received there proved of inestimable value in after life. The panic of 1857 had come, and while all around could be seen the fearful havoc made by this financial storm, in the shape of wrecked corporations, stoppage of industry and ruin of private fortunes, there was still a growing feeling in business circles that the worst had come and improvement must follow. Mr. Clews, sharing this belief, left the mercantile house, came to Wall street, and embarked as a broker and banker, establishing in 1858 the house of Stont, Clews & Mason, afterward changed to Livermore, Clews & Co. By hard labor Mr. Clews succeeded in doing a fair business, and was being constantly trained for the more active and exciting career which was soon to follow.
On his first attempt to gain admittance to the Stock Exchange he had many difficulties to contend with. The Exchange was then a close corporation and managed by old fogies, who were afraid of the admission of young blood and consequent inno- vations. About this time one hundred dollars a day and some- times more was freely offered for the privilege of listening at the keyhole during the calls, and holes were made in the build- ing adjacent to the exchange, which were let at a high rate by the hour. Mr. Clews directed his efforts toward the breaking of the monopoly by doing business on more liberal methods than the regular members, who were ultimately obliged to admit him in self defense. Prosperity smiled on his efforts, and the " success of Clews " became an accepted adage in Wall street.
On the breaking out of the civil war he threw himself with all his force into every project that might tend to assist the gov- ernment in its negotiations for raising money to carry on the ex-
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VIEWS AT THE ROCKS SUMMER RESIDENCE OF MR. HENRY CLEWS, NEWFORT. R. 1.
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HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
penses of the great conflict, and no individual, from the open- ing of the war to Lee's surrender, did more than the young banker Clews to forward the interests of the North. Secretary Chase, speaking in terms of commendation of the New York bankers who had assisted him in his efforts to sustain the credit of the government, stated that the house of Clews & Co. had placed more government bonds than any other firm. By his marvellous foresight in the beginning of the war Mr. Clews was the means of saving his firm, as well as many of its cus- tomers, from collapse. He visited Washington and had an interview with Secretary Chase. In opposition to the general opinion then prevalent, he foresaw that the war would be a lengthy and a desperate one. He immediately telegraphed to his partners to sell out at once all the mercantile paper which his firm held, and this was an immense quantity. His orders were executed, and the losses of the firm only exceeded a few thousand dollars. When the collapse came a few days after- ward, on the firing on Fort Sumter, the panic which occurred in Wall street shattered some of the best financial institutions of the country.
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