USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 89
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enterprise he has contributed much to the commercial activity of Providence.
In June, 1863, he married Miss Harriet A. Fiske, of Lincoln, R. I.
HENRY B. WINSHIP .- Among the representative business men of the city of Providence whose sturdy characters alone have advanced them to prominent positions is Henry Bruce Winship. He was born in that city. September 14th, 1843, being the youngest son of the late Augustus J. Winship. The public schools of his birthplace furnished his educational opportunities. The family resources were not large, so at the age of nine years Henry left school to assist his father at harness making, and thus his business career began. After five years he sought other occupation, and during his youth filled various positions, and filled them all well. Even at this early period of his life he exhibited the sterling qualities destined some day to enable him to achieve success. Conscious of his educational deficiencies, he de- termined to supply them to the best of his ability, and to this end he obtained a situation, where, by working evenings, he could be released days to attend school. He realized that he had no one to rely on but himself, and he knew that if he would attain success he must hew his own path to it. Nature had endowed him for the struggle of life with a sunny, cheerful disposition, with indomitable energy, unfailing en- terprise, and unstinted self-reliance. Thus admirably equipped to push his own way, he was always ready to avail himself of whatever offered, and to grasp any opportunity that came within his reach. In 1860 he was clerk at Rocky Point under Captain Winslow, the founder of that famous shore resort. Later he was employed in a market, and for about three years he was in business in that line for himself.
In 1868 the What Cheer Bank, in which he was then a clerk, retired from business, so he was thrown out of employment. How often seem- ing adversity hovers round the threshold of fortune! So it was with Mr. Winship. Mr. J. B. Barnaby, the most successful clothier in Rhode Island, had then laid the foundation of a growing business, and when he found Mr. Winship unemployed he offered him a situation. A leading trait in Mr. Barnaby's character, and a prime element of his great success, was his wonderful perception in choosing subor- dinates, and the combination of Mr. Barnaby and Mr. Winship was fortunate alike for both, and was the means of developing a promis- ing beginning into a concern so prosperous that it is unsurpassed in its line in Rhode Island; and its fame and its business extend into many states, both through its main house in Providence and its branches in Boston, Fall River, New Haven and Kansas City. So sat- isfactory did Mr. Winship prove to his employer, that, after serving as clerk for a year, Mr. Barnaby received him as a partner. So cordially did the partners co-operate, and so valuable an accession did Mr. Win- ship prove to be, that the greatest confidence and the kindliest rela- tions existed between them through life; and when advancing disease
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admonished the senior that he must arrange his worldly affairs for leaving them, and the concern was incorporated under the name of the J. B. Barnaby Company, Mr. Winship was, as a matter of course, elected vice-president and general manager; and upon Mr. Barnaby's death in September, 1889, was advanced to the presidency, a position he now holds. Though Mr. Winship excelled both as a buyer and as a salesman, yet he possessed in a superlative degree one trait that pre- eminently fitted him for his business. He had an absolute genius for advertising, and few knew as well as he how to attract public atten- tion. Among the other prominent business relations held by Mr. Winship, is that of a director in the Industrial Trust Company, one of the leading financial institutions of Rhode Island.
Colonel Winship-for in April, 1878, the subject of this sketch was elected colonel of the United Train of Artillery, one of the most fa- mous military organizations in the Union-is very fond of the country and of out-door sports, and has held official positions in many societies relating thereto. Although not politically ambitious, he has filled various offices in his native city, having faithfully served upon the school committee, and for a number of years as a member of the re- publican city committee, and now representing his ward in the city government upon the board of aldermen. His natural taste and his executive ability have enabled him in this latter capacity to render exceptionally good service to his fellow citizens as a member of the committee on parks, and upon the recent formation of the park com- mission he was elected a member thereof.
In 1866 Colonel Winship married Emma T., daughter of the late Captain Colin C. Baker.
No sketch of Colonel Winship would be adequate that omitted to mention his sympathy for suffering and his warm-hearted gener- osity; for many a stricken spirit, less fortunate in life's struggle than he, has been cheered by his considerate and unostentatious assistance. His success affords a good illustration of what faithful endeavor, coupled with push and pluck, can accomplish even in conservative New England.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE TOWN OF CRANSTON.
Description .--- Organization .- Town Meetings .- Officers, etc .- Settlement and Settlers .- Militia .- Industries .- Cranston Print Works .- Knightsville .- Pawtuxet Village .- Oak Lawn .- Fiskeville .- Arlington .- Auburn .- Howard Station .- Corliss Safe Com- pany .- Education .- State Farm .- Early Fairs and Cattle Shows .- Biographical Sketches.
T THIS town formerly belonged to Providence, and was settled by Roger Williams and his associates, many of whose descendants are now living in the town. As soon as this territory began to be extensively peopled, the inhabitants commenced to experience many difficulties in attending courts, town meetings, etc., it being a source of annoyance as well as great inconvenience for those living on the outskirts of the town to go such great distances. As early as 1660 petitions began to be circulated for a division of the town, and several times afterward the people petitioned for a division, but the project as often failed. Those desirous of a division of the town formerly wanted the new town called Mashapaug. Others wanted to take part of Warwick and name the new town Pawtuxet. For a series of years this proposition was discussed earnestly, the idea having a number of supporters. Another party wanted the new town called Meshanticut, and thus the matter of an appropriate name became the theme for earnest discussion for many years.
In 1732 the friends of a division came very near to success. The old difficulty again arose in the way of appropriately naming the town, or the project would have been satisfactorily consummated. But the names of Meshanticut, Pocasset, Mashapaug and Pawtuxet were too much for them, and their wishes were destined to remain unsatisfied. Those who opposed the measure could easily thwart the designs of the party wishing to divide, upon the question of a name.
The subject was again renewed in 1752, and the question of a division and an appropriate name for the new town was laid by a pe- tition before the general assembly. In 1753-4 the idea of adopting an Indian name was abandoned, and that of Cranston substituted. The name was given in honor of Samuel Cranston, who held the office of governor from 1698 to 1727; a fact unparalleled in the history of any other of the New England colonies. The Gordian knot being severed, the division was made, the new town being bounded as fol-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
lows: on the north by Johnston and the city of Providence, on the west by Scituate, on the south by Warwick and the Pawtuxet river, and on the east by Providence river.
The town is largely an agricultural one, the products being chiefly hay, corn, rye, oats, some barley, potatoes and some other products. Considerable attention is paid to the cultivation of the smaller vege- tables, owing to its close proximity to Providence city and the ready markets found there for these products. The soil throughout the town is generally good. In the western section the surface is rather uneven, but in the eastern section it is generally level. The soil in the former is a moist loam, and that in the latter is generally of a rich and fertile quality. The Pawtuxet river forms part of its southern boundary, and is the principal stream in the town. The Pocasset river runs through the town and discharges its waters into the Paw- tuxet about two miles above the falls.
The places of historic interest are as follows: Villages .- Cranston Print Works, Auburn, Pawtuxet (Cranston side), Arlington, Belle- fonte. Edgewood, Knightsville, Fiskeville (Cranston side), Oak Lawn, Franklin, Wayland, Howard (formerly Sockanosset), Pocasset, Ark- wright (Cranston side). Hills .- Lawton, Applehouse, Dugway, Rocky,. Furnace, Sockanosset, Stafford. Ponds .- Cunliff, Whitmore, Black- more, Ralph, Spectacle, Randall, Burlingame, Jordan, Dyers, Print Works. Reservoirs .- Sockanosset (Providence Water Works), Pocasset, Franklin, Bellefonte, Furnace. Rivers .-- Mashapaug. Pocasset, Mish- antatuck (i.c. well wooded), Furnace. Brooks .- Herod, Nettlegrace, Sockanosset, Silver Hook, Turner, Church, Potter, Baker, Knight, Congdon, Lippitt, Tanyard or Warner. Miscellaneous .- The Big Rock, Fenner (slate) Ledge, State Farm, Narragansett Driving Park. His- toric .- Iron mine opened by Governor Hopkins in 1762, and worked till 1780; site of the great pippin orchard. The garrison house or cas- tle of Captain Arthur Fenner, who was born in England in 1622, and died in this house in 1703, was erected about 1668, and has been used as a dwelling within the memory of many persons. The town of Masha- paug, which was probably the name of an Indian village.
In several towns of the state of Rhode Island natural curiosities exist in the shape of large boulders weighing several tons each, nicely poised on flattened stones, so that a person can easily roll one from side to side but cannot displace it. By standing on one of these boulders, and throwing the weight on one foot then on the other, the. stone can be made to roll, producing a rumbling noise that in some instances has been heard for miles. On the road leading to Joytown, near its junction with the road leading from Cranston Furnace to Knightsville, is one of these natural curiosities. Once upon a time a party attempted to roll the monster down the hill, but after a fruitless attempt, abandoned the project.
The beautiful water works for furnishing the city of Providence.
·
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
are embraced in part in the town of Cranston, and the reservoir is without doubt one of the finest pieces of engineering in the state. The city of Providence voted four times adversely upon the question of water supplies. First in 1853, again in 1856, again in 1864, and lastly on May 9th, 1866. July 9th, 1866, the city council appointed a committee once more to report on the subject. This committee selected J. Herbert Shedd, of Boston, to make the preliminary surveys and report. An exhaustive and thorough report was made to the council in October, 1868. It presented four plans, with the estimated cost of each. The city taxpayers voted to introduce water by the Pawtuxet plan, the estimated cost being $3,966,932.07. On October 27th the council elected for three years Moses B. Lockwood, Charles E. Carpenter and Joseph Cook, water commissioners.
Upon this organization surveys were made and lands were pur- chased. In 1870 the construction of the Sockanosset reservoir, the laying of pipes, and the construction of the temporary pumping works were commenced. On November 9th, 1871, water was flowing into the city, and the event was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies November 30th. The water for the supply of the city of Providence is taken six miles from the center of the city, and is of uncommon purity. The pumping engine is located just above the junction of the Pocasset and Pawtuxet rivers. The first engine was a " Worth- ington Duplex." The engine house is built of brick and stone, with a slated roof.
June 14th, 1754, the town of Cranston was incorporated by an act of the general assembly, and Cranston was recognized as a town in the state. June 10th, 1868, a portion of the town was annexed to Providence, and another portion was annexed on March 28th, 1873. William Burton was recognized as the first justice of the peace, and was ordered to issue his warrant for the assembling of the freemen. At the town meeting for the purpose of electing town officers. August 7th. 1754, the following councilmen were chosen: John Burton, presi- dent; Laureal Waterman, John Gorton, Jonathan Randall, William Stone and Benjamin Potter, Jr. In the following April Joseph Harris and John Burton were elected to the assembly.
The first entry in the town records is the inventory of John Weaver, amounting to £174, 3d., and bears date August 25th, 1754. October 21st, 1754, is recorded the determination of the selectmen to look after the dangerous classes and provide for their apprehension and punishment. Robert Grey was ordered to appear before the council to answer for some misdemeanor or else to leave the town. October 21st the first letter of administration was granted to Charles Atwood on his brother's estate. The first will recorded is that of Richard Knight, and bears date November 7th, 1754. Jeremiah Field and John Foyle were appointed guardians to Margaret Dunbar Feb- ruary 14th, 1756. May 4th, 1756, John Atwood was bound out to
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Charles Atwood to serve until the expiration of his minority. In Oc- tober, 1754, the first tax was assessed against the town, and amounted to £1,400 old tenor, worth in lawful money about $125.
In 1767 a company was formed and commenced digging iron ore , at a place known as the " ore bed." This business proved very suc- cessful, and was carried on for a number of years. Large quantities of this ore were carted to Hope Furnace, to Ponaganset and other places. At Hope Furnace a number of cannon were cast for use in the revolutionary war. The mine has been abandoned for a long time, owing to its being filled with water.
On the 22d of August, 1767, the town obtained a bill of sale of a negro called Jack from a man by the name of John Lyon. Jack was an industrious negro, bearing a good character, and as there was every probability of his being able to earn his own living in the fu- ture, the town council, to their everlasting credit, gave him his free- dom, August 29th, 1767.
The records of the town show that every means were resorted to for the protection of the people during the revolutionary struggle. Great demands were made upon the town, and the people were strained to the utmost. When money failed they supplied wood to the army encamped at Pawtuxet and Providence. During the winter of 1779-80 the town's quota was 16 cords per week. Opposite John Brown's name on the records we find 7c. 4ft. 6in., this being his wood tax for that winter, the said Brown being obliged to deliver the wood himself at the camp.
The town clerks of Cranston have been as follows, with dates of election: William Burton, June 25th, 1754; Joseph Harris, June 2d. 1755; William Burton, June 6th, 1763; Nehemiah Knight, June 7th, 1773; Jeremiah Knight, Jr., 1800; Jesse Howard, June 4th, 1821; James Aldrich, June 5th, 1843; William H. A. Aldrich, June 1st, 1846; Joseph G. Johnson, June 7th, 1847: Willard Barber, June 4th, 1855; Henry A. Potter, June 2d, 1856; D. L. Daboll, August 18th, 1862; Jonathan M. Wheeler, April 16th, 1866; Daniel D. Waterman, April 16th, 1888.
The first permanent settlement in the town was probably made by William Arnold, who settled on the north side of Pawtuxet river, and on the east side of the old road now called Eddy street. It was about a half mile from Pawtuxet falls, midway between the road and bay. He took up a very extensive tract of land running back several miles into the country, including all that portion on which Pawtuxet now stands. The settlement was made in 1640 and embraced several thou- sand acres. Mr. Arnold was born in Cheselbourne, Dorset county, England, June 24th, 1587. He arrived in New England June 24th, 1635, and was for a short time an inhabitant of Hingham, Mass. In 1636 he and his two sons, Benedict and Stephen, came to Providence, and he was undoubtedly the wealthiest man of the company. His son, Benedict, became the first governor of the state under the royal
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
charter. The Arnolds were very popular with the Indians and their influence with them was very great.
Jacob Clarke settled here about the time the Arnolds did. He located about a mile south of Cranston Print Works, a short distance west of the Pocasset river. This tract was afterward taken up by A. , & W. Sprague. The old house is still standing, although it has been remodelled and enlarged. Mr. Clarke was buried on the farm and a neat memorial marks his last resting place.
William Harris, born 1610, died 1681, settled on lands a little south of the above and erected a saw mill, probably the first in the town. The old homestead is still standing and was bought by A. & W. Sprague, for a boarding house. Probably one of the most beautiful elm trees in Rhode Island stands in the yard of this house. It was planted by Benoni Harris 75 years ago. The mill estate was also bought by the Spragues, who turned it into a box factory. It was burned about the year 1880. Toleration Harris was killed at his mill by the Indians during King Philip's war. He was a son of William Harris.
A portion of the Rivulet farm, now owned by the Union Horse Railroad Company, was originally taken up by the Potter family, from whom sprung the celebrated bishops of that name. Three brothers were bishops of the three largest episcopal dioceses in the United States, all holding office at the same time. The house upon this farm was the family homestead and there the bishops were born.
Nicholas Sheldon was a large landowner in an early day and took up about 3,000 acres in the north central part of the town. Mr. Knight took up a large tract of land in the extreme northwestern part of the town. The Knights were a very numerous family and a very im- portant one in the history of the town and state. Nehemiah Knight, an ancestor of William H. A. Aldrich, now of Knightsville, died in 1780. He was the father of Nehemiah R. Knight, governor of the state and afterward member of congress two terms. The records of the town give the name of Nehemiah Knight as town clerk for the years 1773 to 1800. Jeremiah Knight, Jr., was town clerk from 1800 to 1821, and was succeeded in that office by Jesse Howard, who held the office 22 years. Jonathan Wheeler also held this office 22 years. The Aldrich family have also been numerous in the town.
The land about the " ore bed" was taken up by John Herod. His tract probably joined that of William Harris, for the latter sted Herod for trespass. The suit went against Harris, it being proven that he himself was the party that trespassed. The Randalls, Spragues, and Dyers settled about Cranston Print Works. The south western portion of the town was settled by numerous families, and became a prosper- ous and wealthy settlement. It, however, went into decay during the last century.
Mary Cranston, born 1641, died April 7th, 1711, daughter of Jere-
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
miah Clarke and the wife of Governor John Cranston and afterward of John Stanton, was a settler here. She was married to the former in 1658. Her children were: Samuel, Caleb, James, Jeremiah, Mary, Ben- jamin, John, Elizabeth, Peleg and William by the first husband; and Benjamin and Henry by the second husband.
Hope Corp, born November 8th, 1681, died 1765, son of John Corp of Bristol, was married to a Miss Rhodes and settled in the town of Cranston. Their children were: John, Jeremiah, William, Joseph, Daughter and Phebe. Hope Corp was the first English child born in Bristol.
The descendants of Roger Williams settled in all the towns near Providence. Roger Williams was the son of James and Alice (Pem- berton) Williams. He was born about 1599 and died in 1683. He marred Mary Warnard and had six children: Mary, born in Plymouth, Mass., in August, 1633; Freeborn, in Salem, Mass., in October, 1635; Providence, born in the latter part of September, 1638 (he was the first white child born in the town of Providence); Mercy, born in Providence about the 15th of July, 1640 (she married first Resolved Waterman, second Samuel Winsor, and John Rhodes of Pawtucket married his daughter); Daniel, born the 15th of February 1642 (mar- ried Rebecca, daughter of Zachary Rhodes of Pawtuxet and widow of Nicholas Power, who was killed in the Indian war) and Joseph.
Joseph, the sixth and last child of Roger Williams, was born December 12th, 1643. He was a settler of Cranston and built his house opposite Roger Williams Park. He married Lydia, daughter of Reverend Thomas Olney. His children were: Joseph (died young), Thomas, Joseph, Jr., Mary, James and Lydia. James was born in 1680, and died June 25th, 1757. He married Elizabeth, daughter of James and Mary Blackmar. She died in March, 1761, in her 80th year. Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Williams, was born December 4th, 1707, and died August 4th, 1733.
Jeremiah, son of Joseph Williams, settled at Auburn. He was born in 1685 or 1686, and built the house there used as a hotel during the revolutionary war. One of his daughters was married in that hotel to a revolutionary soldier. The house was taken down some years ago. Jeremiah Williams was married to Abigail Mathewson. His children were: Jeremiah, Jr., Andrew, Huldah, Joseph, Zacha- riah, Nathan. Mathewson, Sarah, Benjamin and Freelove. The last named was the youngest child, and was born April 10th, 1760. The above were settlers in Cranston except Jeremiah, Jr., who moved to Johnston.
Joseph Williams, son of Roger Williams, and several others settled about Mashapaug. Joseph Williams' farm comprised in its extent the part given by one of his descendants to the city of Providence for a park. Joseph Williams was buried upon his farm. An elegant monument has been erected on the grounds donated to the city of
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Providence for a park, in commemoration of the illustrious founder of the state.
The Old Fenner House is of historic interest. The older part of this house was built, tradition asserts, about 1650 or soon after, and a solid edifice of oak and stone it was. In King Philip's terrible war of 1675 6 it was one of the 13 garrison houses in the colony of Rhode Is- land, into which the settlers fled for shelter from the arrows and tom- ahawks of the infuriated Indians. The castle was surrounded by a heavy log fort, and the garrison quartered with the escaped settlers in the building. Arthur Fenner, it is probable, built the fort. The windows of the edifice had metal sash and diamond shaped glass, which were imported from England, as were also the nails and hinges. It is believed that cannon were mounted in the old fort, as cannon balls have been plowed up near it.
Arthur Fenner was born in England in 1622, and appearing in Providence as early as 1645, was a compeer of Roger Williams, and commanded one of the garrisons in this part of the colony in 1676. He had a brother William, who appeared in Providence in 1645. He also had a son Thomas, who " staid and went not away " in Philip's war. The Fenner stock, directly and indirectly, has furnished five governors for the state of Rhode Island, three of them bearing the name of Fenner: Arthur, 1790-1805; James, 1807-11; and James, 1824-31, and 1843-45. Major Thomas Fenner died February 27th, 1718. Arthur, the builder of the castle, died in 1703. The castle was burned down in 1676 and 40 years afterward rebuilt. and torn down in 1887.
The celebrated Indian fighter. Colonel Benjamin Church, halted at this castle in his Rhode Island campaign to inspect and instruct the garrison, and afterward Major Fenner here entertained with due form and ceremony his associate officers; and here also both Washington and Lafayette were received and refreshed at sumptuous tables as they marched through the state. All the Fenners of Rhode Island boast of this castle as their ancestral home, and it was deemed both an augury and an honor to be born under its roof. The last occu- pants of the castle were Samuel, Benjamin and Polly, all of whom ad- hered to the policy of celibacy. Samuel was lame and had a little shop near the mansion, where he operated a man power lathe. Ben- jamin was a Quaker, and it is said Polly had no trouble or difficulty in caring for and keeping her jewels. She died in 1861, 98 years old.
The inhabitants of this town were generally attached to the cause of the colonies in the revolutionary struggle. In 1774 the general assembly granted a charter to a military company to be called the Pawtuxet Rangers. This company was sufficient to show their patriotism to the cause of liberty, and fully vindicated the people in the struggle which afterward ensued. It continued to flourish until the decline of the training days, and is yet remembered by the last
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