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 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
He has twice been elected to the general assembly from New- port, has been chairman of the Newport school board, member of the state board of education, and called to other public po-
594
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
sitions, most of which he has declined. Though interested in politics, he has shown no desire for office. He may be termed an independent republican, and is outspoken in his abhorrence of politicians who seek merely the loaves and fishes as the chief end of their so-called patriotic action. He continues his inter- est in the church of his early choice, has served in various po- sitions assigned him, and was in 1876 chosen a lay delegate, representing the New England Southern Conference to the gen- eral conference which met in Baltimore and continued in ses- sion four weeks. Mr. Davis gives considerable attention to agriculture and stock raising, and has written a work, entitled, "Improving the Farm," besides contributing to agricultural papers. In March, 1846, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of Elnathan Bennet of Buffalo, New York. They have had four children, three of whom are living. One of them is well known as an authoress, under the nom de plume of " Margery Deane," and another is the wife of Fred. Perry Powers of Washington.
THE DE BLOIS FAMILY was originally of French extraction, but emigrated to England about 1135 A. D. Stephen, the founder of the family in this conntry, came from Oxford, England, (where he was educated), on account of ill health, under the care and charge of Lord Howe about 1750, being then only fifteen years of age. He refused to return to the old country on account of the sickness experienced during his voyage, and finished his education under the care of his uncle at Boston. Arriving at the age of manhood, he came to Newport, where he married and engaged in the importing business from 1777 to 1783, being a partner in a company of five of his own name, viz .: Gilbert and Lewis, of London, England; George C. and George J. of New York. The firm was obliged to dissolve on account of heavy losses, each partner thereafter conducting the business independently. Ile died February 15th, 1805, leaving two sons, Stephen J. and John, who were natives of Newport. The former was born in the year 1784, and married Sarah Ellis, daughter of Silas Deane. Ile followed his father's business for a num- ber of years, but during the latter part of his life was engaged in manufacturing and wharfage business. He was the father of fourteen children and died March 17th, 1853.
GEORGE T. DOWNING was born in New York city, December 30th, 1819, and was educated in the common and private schools
Dans
ARTOTTYE, E BERSTA T N Y
595
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
of that city. His father, Thomas Downing, was engaged in the oyster business on Broad street, where the Drexel building now stands, from 1819 to 1865, both in a wholesale and retail way, making shipments to various parts of Europe. George T. married Serena, daughter of Count George de Grasse, who was the adopted son of the French count of that name. Alter his marriage he removed to Newport, engaging in the confec- tionery and catering business, which he followed till 1884. He was sent to Washington, D. C., in 1865, by a convention of the colored people of the New England States to protect their interest during the reconstruction period of Johnson's adminis- tration, and during the sessions of Congress for the succeeding twelve years had charge of the restaurant of the house of repre- sentatives. He was induced to change his residence from New York to Rhode Island to secure superior educational advan- tages for his children, but found proscription in regard to pub- lic instruction, which he combatted, his efforts finally being crowned with success. He is a large real estate owner in New- port, owning the Downing block on Bellevne avenne, and there is a street in that city named in his honor. He was a large donator to the fund to secure Touro park to the city. He has a family of seven children, three of whom are sons. His pride is centered in increasing the architectural and material beauty and prosperity of Newport, and above all that the efforts of justice and equality in freeing the statute book of Rhode Island from all proscription to race, not stopping at the colored, but including the adopted United States citizen.
WILLIAM FINDLAY established his green house business in this city in 1875. He was born in Scotland and came here in 1851. His establishment consists of two rose honses, 80 feet by 26; one peach house, 65 by 26; one plant house, 126 by 12; two rose honses, 126 by 26; and the grape house, 205 by 20, on Bliss road. Mr. Findlay was gardener for sixteen years for the Peru- vian minister, F. L. Barreda, when he owned the place now known as the J. J. Astor place on Bellevue avenue.
WILLIAM FLUDDER, the founder of the Fludder family in Newport, was born in Metcham, county of Surrey, England, May 2d, 1804, being the second child of John and Jane (Bignall , Fludder. He emigrated from his native country on the ship "Brighton" in 1829, and landed in New York, but came to New- port in 1831, where on January 26th of the following year he 38
596
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
married Catharine Sherman Jack. Having served his appren- ticeship as a mason in the old country, he engaged in that busi- ness and in 1872 established the present firm of William Flud- der & Co., which in connection with masonry deals in all kinds of drainage supplies. He had a family of nine children, the fol- lowing of whom are at present residents of Newport: William II., who married a daughter of Joseph HI. Record and has one daughter; George M., Alexander J., Edward V., Sarah J., wife of George H. Vaughan; James, and Rebecca J., wife of David Braman.
THOMAS GALVIN was born on the 23d of February, 1826, near Westminster Bridge, county of Surrey, London, England, where his childhood until his eighth year was spent. He then re- moved to county Rosseommon, Ireland. His education was such as could be obtained at the schools near his home and from the necessities of the situation, of a limited character. In 1842, in company with his father, he emigrated to America, a part of the family having already preceded him thither. Father and son remained in the city of New York until 1845, when Mr. Galvin removed to Newport and became the pioneer in a busi- ness which has since reached large proportions, that of florist.
Ilis son Thomas, on the death of his father in 1864, succeeded to the business of which he had previously become master, and which under his successful management has been greatly ex- tended. He makes a specialty of landscape gardening, in which his excellent taste is readily made available, and has the exchi- sive charge of many of the most attractive summer residences in Newport. Mr. Galvin was on the 27th of Angust, 1851, mar- ried to Catharine Mary, daughter of William Kelly of Dublin, Ireland. Their children are: Thomas, James, Patrick, William, Mary Catherine, Catherine Mary, Margaret and Anne. Mrs. Gal- vin died on the 17th of April, 1871, and he was a second time married on the 3d of February, 1883, to Mary Ann, daughter of John Nicholson, of New York. Their children are: John, Joseph and Anne. Mr. Galvin has been thoroughly engrossed by the demands of an increasing business and found no leisure to devote to other enterprises. He is in politics an ardent republican, though formerly a war demoerat. In his religions belief a Romanist, he is a member and one of the trustees of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Newport.
Mr. Galvin is of both English and Irish extraction. IIis
٦٠ VI31. 3 -32110189
ESTABLISHED 1842.
GALVIN'S GARDEN, NEWPORT
-
NATHAN HAMMETT.
ARTOTYPE, E BIERSTALI * *
Joseph Mr. Hammett
597
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
paternal grandfather, William Galvin, resided in County Ross- common, Ireland, where he married Mary Kelly. Their chil- dren were four sons and five daughters, of whom Thomas, the . father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Mt. Talbot, County Rosscommon. He married Maria, danghter of Jonas Hall, of London, England. Their children are: John, William, Thomas and a daughter, Mary Ann, of whom John and Thomas are the only survivors.
GEORGE HALL was the son of George and Elizabeth (Peck- ham) Hall, and was born in Newport in 1781, and died March 5th, 1862. He was engaged in the tanning business in his early life. He had a family of nine children.
NATHAN HAMMETT AND JOSEPH M. HAMMETT. - Nathan Ham- mett, the father and grandfather respectively of the subjects of this biography, resided in Newport until his death, which oc- curred July 18th, 1816. He married Catherine Yates of Providence, R. I., who died on the 17th of February, 1837. Their children are: Edward, Nathan, Benjamin (who died in youth), Mary and. Mrs. Gould. Nathan, of this number, was born in Newport in 1786, and died on the 14th of March, 1867. He learned the trade of a carpenter and pursued it with snecess in his native town during the greater part of his active life. He was one of Newport's most enterprising citizens, and identified with many leading business schemes. For forty years he was either presi- dent or director of the Newport Exchange Bank. Though not connected by membership with any religions denomination, he was a regular attendant upon divine service, and a willing con- tributor to many worthy objects. Mr. Hammett married Eliza- beth Mumford, who died December 29th, 1854. Their children are: Joseph M., Frank, Maria M., Susan E., Stephen, Thomas and one who died in infancy. The only survivors of this num- ber are Susan E. (Mrs. D. B. Fitts of Newport), and Joseph M.
Joseph M. was born October 3d, 1817, in Newport, and in youth received a common school education, after which he served for four years in the capacity of clerk. Desiring to ac- quire a trade, he chose that of a tailor and spent four years as an apprentice in Providence. On returning to Newport he es- tablished himself in business, and continued thus employed until his retirement in 1867. He then spent a period of five years with his brother in New Jersey, but returned again to Newport, which has since been his residence. Mr. Hammett
598
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
has led a quiet and uneventful life. He has declined frequently proffers of municipal office, and never participated actively in · the political combats of his day. He was formerly a director of the National Exchange Bank of Newport, but has for some years given little attention to matters aside from his private business, and for that reason is not identified with the public interests of Newport.
BENJAMIN HAZARD, the son of Thomas G. and Patience (Bor- den) Hazard was born in Newport, November 15th, 1819. He followed his father's occupation of farming.
CARL JURGENS came from New York to Newport in 1873 and established his greenhouse business. The first year he produced about 200,000 lillies of the valley and 50,000 hyacinths and tulips. That year he erected four houses on Mill street, 100 by 12 feet each. He has since built three large houses 200 by 23 feet each, understood to be the largest in the state. His build- ings are all heated by the steam system. He visits Enrope each year to select stock. In 1887 he produced 900,000 lillies of the valley, which makes him the largest producer in America. He also grew a half million tulips, hyacinths and narcisses.
JOHN D. JOHNSTON was born July 27th, 1849. He enjoyed thorough advantages of education, and when a youth removed to Portland, Maine, where he became a student of architecture and building, and also mastered the carpenter's trade. He pursued his vocation in Boston until 1876, when Newport be- came his home. Establishing himself as an architect and builder, the taste and knowledge displayed by Mr. Johnston soon gave him a commanding position and brought him an ex- tended patronage. His efforts are not confined to Newport, his skill being sought in other important cities and popular places of resort. He is also frequently called upon for drawings and designs, and in decorating and designing has an enviable repu- tation. Mr. Johnston as a republican has manifested much in- terest in the success of his party, but is not a politician nor an aspirant for office. He is not a member of any organizations or societies other than that known as the Johnston Relief Fund established by him in the interest of his workmen, now num- bering more than one hundred.
DANIEL LE ROY, fourth son of the late Herman Le Roy, was born in New York city, June 28th, 1799. His youth of great promise and personal attractions matured into a dignified and
coupe
ANT6-7Ft, È BIERSTADT A T
Daniel LeRoy
599
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
courteous manhood, rendering him a type of a class now fast fading from view, significantly styled "gentlemen of the old school." He entered Hamilton College at the early age of four- teen, and was graduated with honors, receiving the degree of " Bachelor of Arts" in 1817. In 1826 he married the eldest daughter of the late Colonel Nicholas Fish. In 1849 he was appointed consul at Geneva, where he remained the term, after which he returned to New York, where he continued to live till 1856, when he again received an appointment as consul, this time to Rome. He was there for several years, and after his return home lived a quiet and domestic life, spending his sum- mers (while in this country) since 1849 at Newport, where he purchased in 1866. He numbered among her most distinguished summer residents, and always took a deep interest in her wel- fare. The last two years of his life he continued living there through the winters, and died there August 19th, 1885. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and contin- ved faithful until the end.
His widow, one son, Stuyvesant Le Roy, and a dangh- ter, Mrs. Edward King, survive him; his other daughter, Mrs. George Warren Dresser, having died two years before, leaving five children. He was a man of sterling integ- rity and his life showed that the testimonials received while in college were written by men who knew his high sense of honor, probity of character, and his eminent fitness for the high testimonials he received; and in every relation of life his unsullied purity, open hand, genial humor, kind hospitality and his tender, loving endearments. enriched the home circle, crowning it with a halo of domestic purity and peace. The in- terment was in the family vault at St. Mark's, in the Bowerie.
JOSIAH O. Low .- The father of Josiah O. Low was Seth Low, a native of Gloucester West Parish, Massachusetts. His mother, Mary Porter, was descended from John Porter, one of the original settlers of Salem village, now known as Peabody, and was a daughter of Thomas Porter of Topfield, a town adjacent to Pea- body on the north. The Porters have been a numerous and in- fluential race in that part of Massachusetts for more than two hundred years. Mary Porter, born in Topfield in 1786, was a lady of superior character, refined, and adorned with the influ- ences and graces of the Christian faith. She lived to be eighty- six years of age and was an object of much veneration to all
600
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
who knew her to the end of her nseful life. Her husband, Seth Low, was a man of high intelligence, of strong, clear and sedate mind, and of conrteons and dignified demeanor. He was held in great respect by his fellow citizens of Salem. In 1829 he be- came a resident of Brooklyn and embarked in business as a drug merchant. A devont, public-spirited and upright man, he was one of the foremost citizens of that metropolis and rendered it important service in many ways in its municipal history.
Josiah O. Low, one of twelve children of Seth and Mary P. Low, was born in Salem, Essex county, Massachusetts, in March, 1821, and with the exception of a few years of early childhood, has since resided in Brooklyn. His brother, Abiel A. Low, the founder of the house of A. A. Low & Brothers, in which he was a partner, went to China as a clerk and in 1837 became a part- ner in the house of Russell & Co., the largest American firm in Canton, China. Returning in 1840 he laid the foundation for the house of A. A. Low & Brothers, the leading one in America in the China and East India trade. In 1845 Mr. Josiah O. Low became a partner in this house which, as large importers and ship owners, has enjoyed a career of continuous prosperity for nearly half a century. The older partners having retired, the business has now fallen into younger hands. Mr. Low pur- chased his Newport residence in 1881 from the estate of the late Edward King, since which date he has enlarged the grounds and otherwise added to the property. Here, with his family, he is accustomed to retire for relaxation during the summer months.
SETH W. MACY, was born in Nantucket, Mass., December 5th, 1803, being the second son of Job and Anna (Way) Macy. He spent his early life in whaling and the merchant service, and came to Newport to live in 1821, where he died May 18th, 1884. He married Mehitable, daughter of Restcomb Potter, who was a native of Newport. Thir only child, John C., is a prominent attorney in Des Moines, Iowa.
FELIX PECKHAM was born in Middletown June 9th, 1800, being the third son of Felix and Typhena (Stockman) Peck- ham. He lived in the town of his nativity until 1846, when he removed to Newport. About 1855, in connection with Caswell, Hazard & Co., he built the Narragansett block in that city, and engaged in the book business, which he continued until the winter of 1878-9. He was twice married, first to Esther, daughter of Augustus Peckham, by whom he had two children, viz., Felix
SISTUFFIT
4
WOL-ME. RESIDENCE OF JOSIAH O. LOW. Newport.
ARTOTYPE, E BIERSTADT N. Y.
SUNSET RIDGE. RESIDENCE OF A. A. LOW Newport
There D Beckham
601
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Augustus, who was an artist by profession, and died at the age of thirty-eight, and Esther P., who married Levi Johnson of New Haven; afterward he married Mary J. Young, by whom he had three children, viz., Annette S., Edward S. and Harold A. Mr. Peckham died July 12th, 1879.
THOMAS P. PECKHAM is descended from New England stock, his grandfather having been Clement Peckham, who resided in Newport, where he married Mary Pinneger. Their children were: Rebecca, Benjamin. David and William. The last-named son was born in Newport in 1815, and in his native city has for years followed the trade of a carpenter and builder. He married Lucy M. Chase of Fall River, and by her had two children: William G. and John P. His second wife, Sarah, daughter of Nicholas White of Newport, was a descendant of the first white child born in New England. The children by this union were: Thomas P., Lucy M. and Ella L.
Thomas P. Peckham was born on the 22d of November, 1846, in Newport, and received his education mainly at private schools in the city, after which he became, in 1866, a student of East- man's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York. Mr. Peckham had already enjoyed a limited business experience as clerk and assistant in one of the Newport banks, and on his return from Ponghkeepsie resumed his vocation as clerk. In 1867 he entered the National Bank of Rhode Island, the oldest bank in the city, as a clerk, and on attaining his ma- jority was made its cashier, which position he still holds. In this, as in every other business relation, his capacity, integrity and uniform courtesy have placed him in the front rank in com- mercial circles, and caused his services to be much in demand as trustee and administrator.
He until recently filled the position of treasurer of the Red- wood library, as also that of trustee of the Long Wharf fund. Mr. Peckham has been and is still an active and influential member of the Masonic order. He was formerly treasurer of St. John's Lodge, and from its organization was secretary of St. Paul's Lodge until he became its master. He is also a mem- ber of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. He was treasurer, and later regent of Coronet Council, Royal Arcanum. He has been since its organization secretary of Touro Council, Legion of Honor.
Mr. Peckham has, as a republican, actively identified himsel
602
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
with local politics, was a member of the school board in 1873, 1874 and 1875, and served in the Newport city council in 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884, and in the board of aldermen in 1886 and 1887, being now chairman of the finance committee. He is identified with the First Methodist Episcopal church of Newport, of which he has been for many years both treasurer and steward. Mr. Peckham was married November 20th, 1872, to Martha, daughter of Weeden T. Underwood of Newport. Their children are : Bertha, Etta M. and Andley Clarke.
JOHN HARE POWEL, born in Paris, France, on the 3d of July, 1837, was educated principally by an English tutor, after which he read law under Mr. Henry J. Williams, of Philadelphia. His early life, varied by occasional travel in this country and Europe, was passed between his father's inherited estate, Powel- ton, now part of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Newport, the summer resort of his family since the earliest years of this century. By the death of his father at Newport in 1856 he be- came possessed of a house in Bowery street, adjoining that of his eldest brother. His fondness for field sports and outdoor exercise of all kinds induced him to give up his residence in Philadelphia, and on the occasion of his marriage in June, 1860, he became identified with Newport, removing thither with his wife, Miss Annie Emlen. Hutchinson, a daughter of Mr. I. P. Hutchinson, a well known merchant of Philadelphia. Mrs. Powel died on the 23d of April, 1872, having been pre-deceased by her oldest son, John Hare Powel. A younger son, Pember- ton Hare Powel, born on the 7th of January, 1869, survives.
Having been captain in the Newport company of the National Guard of Rhode Island since its organization, in response to the call for troops in May, 1862, Mr. Powel volunteered with his company, which became Company L, 9th Regiment, R. I. Volunteers, and received from Governor Sprague commissions as captain on the 26th of May, 1862, major on the 9th of June, 1862, and lieutenant colonel on the 3d of July, 1862. By a cur- ions oversight this regiment was not formally mustered out of the service (2d of September, 1862) until November, 1884. In the autumn of 1862 he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 5th Regiment, R. I. Volunteers, and later frequently and urg- ently offered the colonelcy of either of the nine months regi- ments then being raised in Rhode Island, and many other posi- tions, all of which he was compelled to decline. He was elected
603
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
a member of the Newport Artillery Company on the 27th of February, 1863; lieutenant colonel on the 28th of April follow- ing, and became colonel of that " Ancient and Honorable " body on the 3d of December, 1864; to which post he was annually re- elected until his resignation on the 24th of August, 1877. While interested in various local societies, and for two years a member of the board of health, he invariably refused all political office until 1886, when he was induced to become an independent can- didate for the mayoralty, and now holds that office.
John Hare Powel is the youngest son of the late Colonel John llare Powel. Through his father, who assumed by act of legis- Jature in 1806 the additional surname of Powel, he is descended from Edward Shippen, Charles Willing and Robert Hare, three Englishmen, who settled in Philadelphia between 1693 and 1773; and on the maternal side from the Verplanck, Beekman, Van Cortlandt, Schnyler, Provoost and other Dutch families of New Netherlands, by the marriage of his grandfather, Colonel An- drew de Veaux, of the South Carolina French Huguenot family of that name.
OLIVER READ .- Eleazer Read, the grandfather of Oliver, was born July 22d, 1728. Among his children was a son, Eleazer, whose birth occurred August 20th, 1774, and who married Eliz- abeth Murphy, born December 17th, 1780. Their children were eleven in number, among whom was Oliver, born July 14th, 1801, in Newport. In early life he formed business connections in the Sonth and for twenty-one years spent the winter and spring months at Georgetown, Sonth Carolina, first as clerk and later as proprietor of a profitable business enterprise.
He then returned to Newport, the business of the city being at that time at its lowest ebb. There were still renmants of a former commerce with the West Indies and a few whaling ships went out from year to year. The people had become dispirited by reverses and but for a few energetic spirits would have given up in despair. Among those who were not disposed to yield to the adverse influences was Oliver Read, who grappled with the problem of the day and sought to restore to the town its former prosperity. Mr. Read became early identified with the whaling business and followed it with a good degree of snecess. He did business also as a broker and operator in real estate and often acted as administrator, for which, by his careful and methodical habits, he was eminently fitted. In whatever he engaged, clear-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.