History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 96

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036

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" The eleventh and twelfth days of April, 1840, were remarkable for the vast amount of rain that fell. Continuously, for more than 24 hours, rain came down in torrents. It seemed as though the heavens had opened and solid sheets of rain allowed to fall. The consequence of this was, the surface drainage running into the upper dam was more than the structure could withstand, and in the early morning on the thirteenth the whole of the earthen embankment gave way and the waters rushed down to the lower dam in a column upwards of ten feet high, carrying everything with it. The lower dam being a much weaker structure could no more withstand the force of the rush than a reed can stand before the wind without bending. What happened then is best told by Major William A. Pirce, whose father had charge of the mill in the lower village at that time, now Thornton. Major Pirce says:

"Our family lived on the Plainfield road, over the store, near the mill in the lower village. The Saturday night and Sunday previous it had been raining in torrents, and on Monday morning, between 5 and 6 o'clock, about the time for the people to get ready for their work, the alarm was given. I was awakened from sleep by hearing shouts of 'The dam's burst ! the dam's burst !' and I at once jumped up and looked through the window looking out into the road, and there I saw a man called Steve Baker, on a white horse, driving up the road at a fearful rate shouting the warning cry. Instinctively I then ran to the other window which overlooked the stream, and I was just in time to see the first of the flood. It looked like a great solid,

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

but movable wall. I was just in time to see the column strike the first of the buildings after its destructive course in the upper village. This was a slaughter house on the opposite side of the stream from our house. It caught the building so pat that it went over as grace- fully as any one could wish to see, and sailed down the stream. Every- body quitted their houses, not realizing what was coming, but fortu- nately no further harm was down in the lower village, except the carrying away the underpinning of what was then known as the · Cidar House.' The upper dam was first to give way, and then the lower one. Two houses which stood in the plat between Mr. Sim- mons's house and the mill were found to have disappeared, they hav- ing been taken clear off their foundations. On the opposite side of the stream there stood only a short time before a large store, a block printing shop, a shoemaker's shop, a storehouse and several houses, all of which were carried clear away. In the houses several families lived, many of the members of which perished. The lower mill of the upper village was known as the 'Sucker Head,' and that mill was almost entirely destroyed. Immense rocks and trees and vast quan- tities of gravel were carried down by the impetuous torrent, and de- posited from a mile to two miles down the course of the stream.

"Among the families who suffered through this awful affair was one named Whittemore, who had removed into the house but 13 days previous. Eight out of this family were drowned. Six out of an- other family named Angell were also among the dead; a Scotchman, whose name I do not at this moment remember, and John Hoel and his wife were among the drowned, and one more, making 18 in all. The body of one of the victims of the flood was not found until about the middle of the following June. A woman named Mrs. Addy was carried down the stream in one-half of her house. She was in bed an invalid and could not help herself. Her bed caught against an ob- struction, and she was saved and lived to tell the story of her narrow escape for more than a third of a century afterward. The dead were taken to the school house in Simmonsville. Mr. Simmons had a fine horse in the barn when it was carried away, and strange to say, that horse succeeded in getting out of the flood alive, after being carried about a mile, and although it was covered with bruises, it recovered and lived to die of old age. This event was the death blow to the manufacturing business in the upper village. Mr. Simmons's losses were very great when measured by the standard of those days, and he could get no insurance on his property. He tried hard to fight against the loss, but he had to succumb to it."

Graniteville is a small village in the northeastern portion of the town, lying partly in North Providence. Daniel Angell settled here in colonial times and built the gambrel roof house still standing. His son, Olney Angell, who was 84 years of age when he died in 1856, was born in that house. Emor J. Angell, his grandson, built the

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

house where he now resides in 1846 or 1847. Another house was built by Mr. Angell, about the time the Angell homestead was erected. It was occupied by Daniel Mowry and is now the residence of Larned Dean, his son-in-law. Nelson Barnes erected his homestead in this place, where John W. Barnes now resides, in 1844. The house now occupied by Doctor Charles A. Barnard was erected by Doctor Isaac WV. Sawin, who lived there and practiced medicine 15 years in the place. It was next occupied by Doctor John Budlong, who prac- ticed medicine 17 years in the place, and finally by Doctor Barnard, who moved into it in 1878. Samuel Sweet, the founder of the Baptist church here, was of an old family and a prominent settler in the place. His daughter, Mrs. Mary Burrows, occupied the old homestead. Elisha Angell and Daniel Sweet built the house now occupied by Ed- win H. Farnham.

The principal business in the place is carried on in the mills on the opposite side of the stream. They were erected by James An- thony, Joseph Westcott and Mr. Whipple, and burned in 1875. They were rebuilt and are now owned by the Campbells. There is one small store in the place, the business being carried on by Reuben Wyans. Paris Whitman had a store there in 1843. The building was burned a number of years ago.

The Baptist church in this place was erected in 1849 by Daniel Sweet and others. Daniel Sweet preached here a number of years. Follow- ing various other supplies, Reverend S. S. Barney supplied the pul- pit six or seven years, but no settled pastor was engaged till Reverend N. H. Farr took charge in 1884. He remained till 1888, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Reverend C. W. Griffin. The deacons are Philip Sweet and Daniel O. Mathewson. George E. Olney is church clerk. Deacon Daniel O. Mathewson is Sabbath school superinten- dent. The church has a membership of about 60.

Centredale lies on both sides of the river, principally in North Providence, where most of the business is done. A station was erected there in 1874, and in 1876 a company of men consisting of Philip Ald- rich, Frederick Aldrich and Henry Arnold, erected the store build- ing which Arthur A. Lee has occupied since 1883 for the Centredale Mineral Water Company's place of business. The building was used for a store by Philip Aldrich. The Centredale Mineral Water Com- pany manufacture all kinds of summer drinks, such as ginger ale, etc., and give employment to six hands.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EMOR JACKSON ANGELL, a representative citizen of Johnston, R. I., was born in that town, March 9th, 1821. Daniel Angell, his grand- father, lived on lands now owned in part by him, and built his house there, which is still standing, years before the revolution. The farm, consisting in all of about 200 acres, was divided between two

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

sons, Olney and Daniel Angell. Olney Angell, the father of Emor J., built an addition to the house before the year 1800, and used it for a time as a hotel. He died in 1856, at the advanced age of 84 years. A few years after his decease, his wife died at the age of about 80 years. Her name was Abby Cozens. She was the daughter of John Cozens. Mr. Emor J. Angell attended the common district school until 13 years of age, when he went into the store of Paris Whitman as clerk at $30 a year, with the privilege of going to school three months each year. He remained here and in a store in Providence till 17 years old, his wages increasing in the meanwhile to $108 a year. He next became employed on the farm as a common hand for his half-brother, Philip Angell, and subsequently for his two half-brothers, Philip and Olney Angell, beginning at $11 a month, but finally receiving $16. In 1843, having decided to learn the trade of a stone cutter, he became apprenticed to his half-brother, Elijah Angell, at one dollar a day, continuing in his employ for one year. He continued as a stone cutter for different parties, working for Nathaniel Sweet two years and for Daniel Sweet seven years, the latter of whom he bought out and continued the business himself from 1854 to 1875. During those years of apprenticeship and of labor as a common hand, he would work in the quarry in the summer season and spend the more inclement portions of the year cutting timber in the woods. Mr. Angell carried on an extensive trade for 20 years, employing most of the time 20 hands and more. He supplied many cities with stone for various purposes, shipping as far as New York and Baltimore. He began operations in Bear Rock Ledge in 1861, and during the winter of 1867 and 1868 quarried 6,000 feet of curbstone, from that locality alone. The columns in the Arcade at Providence were quarried from this ledge.

Mr. Angell is a democrat. He was elected in 1862 as a member of town council, and served in that capacity for about ten years. In 1864 he was elected representative to the general assembly of Rhode Island, and filled that office in all, five years, being elected five differ- ent times. He is a popular citizen of his town, and was never de- feated while running for office.

June 30th, 1842, he was married to Prucia Ann Mowry. She was a daughter of Abial and Lydia Mowry of Smithfield. Their children are: Emor H., the successor of his father; Lyvonia A., Amos J. and Lydia F. Emor H. married Almira Briggs, and has seven children living. Lyvonia married Alexander W. Harrington, who resides on the old homestead, but is doing business in New York. They have six children living. Amos J. married a Ballard and has three chil- dren living. He is a stone cutter in the town of Smithfield. Lydia F. is dead.

Mr. Angell is a remarkable man physically. During his whole life, he has never been sick, requiring the services of a physician. He is a prohibition democrat, and has never drank anything but water

(Pomor J.

Angell

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

during the past five years, and now at 70 years of age, is able to com- pete with the most agile and supple among youthful men in running, jumping or leaping, or in other healthful sports.

Ethan B. Arnold was born in Johnston in 1823, and was a son of James, and grandson of Philip Arnold, all born in Johnston. He married in 1849 Laura M., daughter of Asahel Paine. She survives him.

Mrs. Clarissa Atwood, widow of Hiram Atwood, was born in Prov- idence in 1832. Hiram Atwood was born in Johnston in 1819, and was twice married, his first wife being Mercy A. Mann, by whom he had five children. She died in 1857. He was married in 1863 to Clar- issa, daughter of John M. Cargill. They had three children: John C., Edmond C. and William W. Hiram Atwood died in 1876. He was at one time state senator from Johnston.

Robert K. Atwood was born in Boston, Mass., January 9th, 1837, and came to Johnston in 1845 with his uncle, William L. Latham. He first started in business in the firm of Davis & Atwood, in the meat and vegetable trade in Johnston. This firm continued business until 1881, when Mr. Atwood sold out, and in 1882 became a member of the firm of R. S. Rouse & Co. After two years trade, then he again sold out and engaged in business by himself in June, 1884, in the meat and vegetable trade. He was married in 1860 to Frances Knight, of Providence. Mr. Atwood was one of the first policemen under the new system. He served as representative from Johnston in 1879.

GEORGE F. A. BEANE, a prominent business man of Johnston, was born in Scituate, R. I., October 24th, 1849. He received the bringing up of a farmer lad, attending school in the winter, and in summer as- sisting his father with the many duties connected with the sowing and the reaping of harvests. In 1862 he entered the Lapham Institute, and occupied his spare time assisting the local farmers with their work. In 1865 he came to Johnston, and was for a time in the grocery store and counting room in the village of Merino, then in the employ of Taft & Aldrich, in a store now occupied by Nathan B. Harris on Olneyville Square. In 1872 he entered the real estate business in con- nection with Mr. Pierce, but in the year following obtained employ- ment in a wholesale grocery on Broad street. In 1877 he engaged in the coal, wood and livery business on Plainfield street. In 1887 his business had so increased that he was under the necessity of enlarg- ing his facilities, when he erected a large building 200 feet long, which extends from street to street, and where an annual business of $50,000 is now carried on.

Mr. Beane's public life has been one of constant activity. He is a republican, and has been chairman of the republican town committee for 12 years, and is a member of the state central committee, for some years highway commissioner for district No. 1, and he is now serving the second year as a member of the town council. He belongs to the

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

I. O. O. F .. is grand high priest of the Grand Encampment of the state, and a member of the Patriarch Militant; past chancellor com- mander of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 19, K. P .; member of Nestill Lodge, No. 37. A. F. & A. M .; president of the Fruit Hill Detective Society: treasurer of the Olneyville Business Men's Association; foreman of the Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire Company; one of the building committee of the Odd Fellows Hall in Olneyville, and chairman of the building committee of the first engine house now in process of erec- tion in the town of Johnston.

Mr. Beane is a son of Constant and Olive L. (Aldrich) Beane. She is a descendant of Thomas Angell, who came to this country in the " Mayflower," and is a cousin of Doctor Thomas Angell, president of Ann Arbor University. June 14th, 1873, Mr. Beane was married to Miss Abby L. Angell, daughter of the late Stephen and Phebe L. (Winsor) Angell. She died August 14th, 1888. Their children are: Louisa A., Josephine A., William H. and G. Fred. January 1st, 1891, Mr. Beane was married to his second wife, Mrs. Ida L. McAlister, daughter of Captain W. F. Marshall of Bear River, Nova Scotia.

Job Belknap, born January 20th, 1837, is a son of Emor, born in 1793, and grandson of Abraham. Job married Anna Waterman in 1863. They have three children: Frederick W., Abby E. and Emery P. Mr. Belknap has been a surveyor of the highways 22 years. He commenced farming when he was 15 years of age. His son Frederick runs a milk cart, and for the past eight years has not missed a trip.

Daniel Bishop, born in Johnston in 1820, is a son of Zepheniah and Mary Bishop. Zepheniah was a son of William. Daniel Bishop married Laura A. Phillips, of Smithfield. They had five children and thirteen grandchildren. Mr. Bishop has lived on the farm he now occupies in Johnston 42 years.

John A. Brayton, son of Boylston and Freelove Brayton, was born in Smithfield in 1836. He commenced the manufacture of shoddy in Smithfield, and worked at it five years, then ran the mill for wool scouring and picking waste wool up to 1887, when he retired from business. He married Ella G., daughter of Ira Winsor, of Johnston, in 1878, and has two children: Mary A. and Florence A.

Charles A. Brown, born in Johnston, R. I., in 1821, is a son of Nathan Brown, Jr., whose father, Nathan, was a son of Gideon. Charles A. has been a successful business man, was a millwright 30 years, and then a farmer. He now holds the office of councilman in Johnston. He is unmarried. His sister, Ann F. Brown, keeps house for him.

Elisha W. Brown, born in Johnston October 23d, 1819, is a son of Augustus and Mary W. Brown. The father of Augustus was Elisha Williams, of the fifth generation from Roger Williams. Elisha W. Brown was married in 1842 to Mary A. Davis. She died in 1885.

GostoA. B.cane

ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

Gideon Brown, born April 9th, 1833, is a son of Cyrus and Sarah Brown, the former born in 1791. They had seven sons and four daugh- ters. Cyrus was a son of Gideon, Sr. They were all born in Johnston, R. I. Cyrus Brown, soon after the war of 1812 was colonel of state militia, and in 1843 was state senator. Gideon, Jr., was married in 1862 to Ada E., daughter of Benedict Aldrich. They have one daughter, Sarah A., born in 1867. The father of Mrs. Brown, Benedict Aldrich, is living with his son-in-law, Gideon Brown. He is 97 years old, and the oldest Mason in New England. He was made a Mason in 1814, in Friendship Lodge, No. 7, of Chepachet, and has taken the past mas- ter degree.

Phebe Brown, born in 1809 in Johnston. is a daughter of Nathan and Susan Brown, who had ten children. Phebe was the youngest daughter. Nathan Brown died in 1831, and Phebe has since lived on the farm she now occupies.

William M. V. B. Brown, born in 1834, is a son of Cyrus and Sarah Brown. He was married to Ellen M. Davol in 1877, and they have four children.

Walter S. Brownell, born in Little Compton, R. I., in 1820, was a ' son of Jonathan and grandson of Sylvester, he a son of Jonathan, he a son of George, he a son of Thomas, who came over with his father, Thomas, from Derbyshire, England, to this country not far from 1660. Thomas, Jr., was a deputy to the general assembly under the royal charter in 1664. The mother of Walter S. was Elizabeth Hall Sim- mons, sister of the Honorable James F. Simmons, of Johnston, R. I. The grandmother of Walter S. was Mercy Church, who was great- granddaughter of Captain Benjamin Church. Walter S. Brownell married Delana A. Pirce in 1846. They had ten children, seven of whom are living: Walter S., Jr., Willie P., Samuel F. M., Della, Abbie E., Hattie L., and Harry. Walter S. came to Johnston in 1837. He was appointed the first postmaster of Johnston, at Simmonsville, in 1847, and held the office two years; was elected town clerk in 1861, served two months, and then went to Washington and was clerk in the Interior Department two years, and in the War Department a part of a year, under Quartermaster General Meigs, then returned to Johnston and was appointed assistant assessor in the internal revenue of the 2d District, R. I., and served ten years. He was appointed postmaster at Olneyville by President Arthur and served four years .. He was elected town clerk about six years, and was elected president of the town council for about 13 or 14 years, and also was elected an assessor of taxes for many years in the town of Johnston, and held many other offices, such as justice of the peace, notary public, trustee of school district No. 15, and treasurer for many years of the First Free Baptist Society of Olneyville. He is now deputy sheriff of Prov- idence county, and assessor of town taxes for Johnston.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

GEORGE CLINTON CALEF, senior member of the firm of Calef Brothers, is a native of Vermont, and was born in Washington, that state, June 19th, 1837. He was the son of Cutting S. and Martha Paine Calef, and was brought up on a farm. His father wasale a ding business man, but died at the age of 47, when George C. was seven years old. His wife, Martha H., belonged to one of the first families of Barre, Vt. She was born in 1801, and died in 1885. Their children were: Ezra P., Warren H., Alden D., Ira C., Quincy O., Miraette A., Elmer Norton, Cutting S., George C., Martha, Lucy A. and John F. Ezra went to Illinois, Alden to Boston, Ira to Providence, Elmer N. to Oregon, Cutting S. and George C. to Providence. Martha died when young. The others settled in Washington. Elmer N. died in Oregon, in December, 1890, leaving a wife and 12 children. Cutting S. died in Washington, Vt., but had always resided in Providence.

George C. Calef remained on the farm until he was 21 years old, receiving in the meantime a common school education, with a few terms at an academy. In 1858 he came to Providence and began working for Abner Gay, Jr., in the market business on the corner of North Main and Thomas streets, and in 1859 Ira C., Cutting S. and George C. Calef became successors to Gay, and the business has con- tinted at the old stand, and under the same name (Calef Brothers) ever since. In connection with this enterprise in Providence, which is the largest family market now in the city, the house has also done much western business with Chicago. They also have a branch store at Lonsdale, and employ in all from 20 to 25 hands, in a business which amounts to $200,000 annually. Mr. Ira Calef in time retired from the firm, and was succeeded by Charles H. Jefferds. After the death of Cutting S. Calef and the retirement of Charles H. Jefferds, Clarence Kingsbury and Louis A. Gladding were admitted into the firm. Mr. Calef also owns a large livery stable on Battey street, Providence, in which over 50 horses are kept.

Mr. Calef has taken great interest in educational work, and has been trustee of the Manton school district for ten years, and still holds that office. Through his efforts, largely, the first high school was established in Johnston. He has been a member of the town council, is a member of the executive committee of the Butchers and Marketmen's Association, an active member, and one of the executive committee of the Sons of Vermont, president of the Manton Building and Improvement Association, president of the Olneyville Free Li- brary Association, and chairman of the building committee, and has taken great interest in securing the elegant and costly building now in process of erection, to be devoted to library and other uses. The improvements at Manton are largely due to his influence and enter- prise in securing Pawtuxet water, street lights, telephone communica- tion, curbed and graded streets and horse cars. Mr. Calef has always had a good opinion of real estate, and has invested largely in that

Jorge & Calif.

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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.

kind of property. He built his commodious residence in 1874. Mr. Calef is a keen observer, and with his wife has traveled considerably, they having visited 45 of the 58 cities in the United States, having a population of 50,000 and over.

In September, 1855, he was married to Emma Sanders, daughter of Richard and Almira Sanders, of Providence, and sister of Cutting S. Calef's wife, and is the father of seven children, six now living, viz .: Irene L., Herbert C., Mabel S., Frank T., Edith and Helen B. Richard Sanders was a successful business man, highly respected by the citi- zens of Providence, and was a member of the legislature at the time of his death in 1868. Mr. Calef and his family attend the First Uni- versalist church of Providence, and he is a man who finds his chief pleasure in his home and family and in extending hospitality.

William A. Carroll was born in Vermont in 1837, and came to Johnston in 1853. He is a son of Thomas and Mary Carroll of Ver- mont. He was married to Mary J. Chamberlin, and has one son and one daughter. Mr. Carroll was elected chief of police in 1886. He had been patrolman since 1865. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias.

Stephen H. Clemence, born in Glocester, January 13th, 1834, is a son of Richard R. and Mary Clemence. Richard R. was born in 1791 and had ten children. Stephen H., the youngest son, came to John- ston in 1864. He married Elsie A., daughter of Mathewson W. and Fidelia Paine. They have four children: Mary A., born 1862; Ida M., born 1864; Stephen H., Jr., born 1867, and Richard R., born 1870.

Harley Colwell, born in Glocester in 1818, is a son of Uriah and Deborah Colwell. Uriah was a son of Stephen, he a son of Joseph, all born in Glocester, R. I. Uriah had ten children. Harley, the eldest son, married Eliza Brown for his first wife. They had ten chil- dren. She died in 1869. In 1872 Mr. Colwell married Catharine H. Bickford, of Maine. They have one son, Leon S., born in 1873. Harley Colwell came to Johnston in 1845. He has held several town offices and was a member of school committee 16 years.

William B. Colwell, born January 4th, 1857, in Johnston, is a son of Harley and Eliza Colwell. He married in 1879 Betsey A., daughter of George W. Bliss of Massachusetts. They have one son, Elmer W .. born October 24th, 1882. Mr. Colwell is a farmer, has been in the town council three terms, is a democrat and takes an active part in the councils of his party.

John A. Cram, son of Abner A. Cram, was born in New Hampshire in 1829, and came to Johnston in 1849. He is a veterinary surgeon (Homeopathic). He commenced study and practice in 1859 and has followed it since. He is very successful and has a large practice in the towns of Johnston, Smithfield and Cranston. He married Lydia W. Thornton in 1849. She was the daughter of Benjamin Thornton. They have seven children.

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History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I, Part 96

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather), ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: New York, W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1036