USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 22
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Galen Pierce, son of Jeremiah and Candis (Wheeler) Pierce, was born in 1824 in Rehoboth, Mass., and was educated in the district schools. He was first employed as clerk in a grocery store for C. C. Godfrey in Providence, where he remained two years, and was for four years clerk for I. T. Tillinghast in same business, whom he after- ward bought out and carried on the business for himself for 37 years at India Point. He came to East Providence about 1878, and was for a few years interested in the grocery business under the firm name of
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Pierce & Rich. After giving up the grocery business he was in the dry goods and shoe business three years, then retired and gave the business to his son, W. B. Pierce, who still carries it on. He has served in the town council. He married first Phebe Barney, of Providence. His present wife is Emily F., daughter of Samuel Wilmouth, of East Providence. His father was a carpenter by trade and carried on a large business for a number of years.
David S. Ray, son of Robert and Mary P. (Graham) Ray, was born in 1840 in Gilford, Ireland, came to America with his parents (who located in Providence, R. I.) when about six months old, and to East Providence about 1860. He was in the First R. I. Cavalry during the rebellion, going out as a private and returning as a quartermaster sergeant. He was first lieutenant of Company A, of the First Bat- talion of Cavalry in 1877, and in 1879-80 succeeded to command as captain. He was four years commissary on Major George N. Bliss' staff, First Battalion Cavalry, R. I. Militia. He served with rank of colonel in the department of Rhode Island G. A. R., and served with the same rank on the national commander-in-chief's staff. He was the original commander of Bucklin Post, G. A. R., and is now the de- partment quartermaster general of the state of Rhode Island for the second term. He was three times elected commander of Bucklin Post. He was elected to the state senate in 1888, refusing to accept the nomination in 1889. He married Mary H., daughter of Miles B. Lawson of Providence, formerly of Newport, R. I.
Thomas H. Ray, son of Robert and Mary P. (Graham) Ray, was born in 1842, in Providence. He was educated in the public schools of Providence and Swansea, Mass. He was brought up on a farm and afterward learned the carpenter trade. He followed the contracting business for about six years, but of late years has turned his attention more to the real estate business, doing considerable building. He came to East Providence about 1866. He has served on the board of assessors and is one of the building committee of the new town hall. He was delegate to the republican convention in New York in 1887, also delegate to the state convention from East Providence in 1888. He served in Battery L, Rhode Island Light Artillery. He married Jennie, adopted daughter of Abel Sherman, of Middletown, R. I.
S. S. Rich, son of Thomas and Sarah (Sherman) Rich, was born in 1846 in Millville, Mass., and came to Providence when two years old. He was educated in public and high school, and graduated in the class of '66. He was first engaged as clerk in the grocery business for one year. He then established for himself under the firm name of Bal- com & Rich, continuing for one year, then with his father went into the wholesale grain business under the firm name of Thomas Rich & Son for one year, and in 1870 came to East Providence, starting in the grocery business under the firm name of Pierce & Rich, which con- tinued about five years, and since 1878 he has carried on the business
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alone. Hemarried Eugenia, daughter of Galen Pierce of East Provi- dence.
William E. Ripley, son of Charles B. and Mary I. (Medbery) Rip- ley, was born in 1843 in Pawtucket, and was educated in the public schools of Pawtucket and at Bryant & Stratton's commercial college, Providence. He left school when 16 years of age, and went into a grocery store as clerk, remaining four years. He then entered col- lege, and in 1864 entered the employ of the Brown & Sharpe Manufac- turing Company of Providence, where he has remained ever since. He married Alice S., daughter of Henry T. Cheetham of Providence.
Edwin S. Straight, son of William P. and Sarah T. (Gardiner) Straight, was born in 1838 in West Greenwich, R. I., and was edu- cated in the public schools. He was brought up on a farm, afterward worked for about seven years in a mill, and then at the sash and blind business, and afterward the carpenter's trade. He has been in the ·contracting and building business since 1867. He came to East Prov- idence in 1862, the year the town was organized. He married Lu- cinda, daughter of Benjamin West of Rehoboth, Mass. He was once overseer of the poor.
Albert F. Sutton, son of Captain William and Elizabeth (Mathews) Sutton, was born in 1839 in Seekonk, now East Providence, and was educated at Seekonk academy and Scholfield's commercial school, Providence. He built his present house about 1873. He has followed the gardening business, and has also turned his attention considerably to real estate. He followed the sea about ten years. He married first Phebe, daughter of George Rice of North Providence. His present wife is Elizabeth, daughter of William L. Williams of Providence. His father was a sea captain. His grandfather, Robert Sutton, was one of the twelve men who, disguised as Indians, helped to burn the "Gaspee," at Gaspee Point. His grandmother on his mother's side was a Lawrence, of a family of tories, located at Rehoboth, Mass.
Thomas A. Sweetland, son of Daniel and Mary (Arnold) Sweet- land, was born in 1829 in Providence, and was educated in the public schools. He first engaged in the dry goods business as clerk in Prov- idence, and afterward established himself in the retail business, and then in the wholesale business under the firm name of Dudley, Park- hurst & Co., from 1869 to 1879. He was elected town clerk in April, 1888, and was for nine years previous town treasurer. He was re- ·elected town clerk in April, 1889. He married Charlotte C., daughter of Elisha C. Wells of Providence.
George W. Whelden, son of Samuel and Lavina (Burgess) Whel- den, was born in 1837 in Providence, was educated in the public schools, came to East Providence about 1882 and established himself in the general merchandise business. He was previously in the business in Providence. His trade was machinist, which he worked at for about six years. He was elected to the town council in 1888
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and 1889. He served in the Tenth R. I. Infantry. He married Ella A., daughter of Amos Clark of Cumberland.
Benjamin Wilson, son of Benjamin and Elona (Carpenter) Wilson, was born in 1833 in East Douglass, Mass., was educated in public and high school, came to East Providence in 1864, and since that time has been superintendent of the Rumford Chemical Works. 'He has served as probate judge, was president of the town council nearly ten years, and at present is a member of the board.
GEORGE FRANCIS WILSON, founder of the Rumford Chemical Works, was a man whose life proved a blessing to the country in which he lived. It was well for the greater prosperity of the country that he did live, and no greater eulogy than this can be passed upon any man. He was a man of strong physique, tremendous energy and inflexible purpose, and not more distinguished as a successful manufacturer than for general culture and energetic discharge of duty in business and official life. He was born in Uxbridge, Mass., December 7th, 1818, and was the oldest son of Benjamin and Mercy Wilson, and a lineal descendant of Roger Wilson of Scrooby, England, who in 1608 fled with the Puritans from religious persecution, and settled in Leyden. Roger Wilson undoubtedly transmitted much of his sterling intelligence and force of character to his descendants, Mr. George F. Wilson bearing in his person the evidences of a robust and unconquerable stock. Roger Wilson was a silk and linen draper, a man of wealth, and was the bondsman of the only men among the Puritans who ever obtained the freedom of the city of Leyden -- Gover- nor Bradford, Isaac Allerton, and Deggory Priest; and it is recorded that the fitting out of the "Mayflower" was greatly due to his liber- ality and enterprise. He was one of the joint stock company which equipped and started for the new world that famous vessel, though he did not make the voyage in her as he intended. His son John came to America in 1651, from whom George F. Wilson was descended.
George lived upon a farm, attending district school winters, until at the age of 17, he injured his hip while at the plow so as to affect his gait for life, and was apprenticed to Welcome & Darius Farnum, of Waterford, Mass., to learn the trade of wool sorting. The reason he gave for selecting this trade was characteristic of the man. "That kind of work cannot be done in the night, and I shall have all my evenings for study." At the end of three years he had mastered his trade and also had made drawings of every machine in the mill, and fully understood the entire business. Frederick M. Ballou and John W. Wheelock were apprentices with Mr. Wilson, and they fitted up a room, where they passed their evenings together in study. He re- ceived flattering credentials from his employers and a valuable testi- monial, but he wished for a better education before commencing in earnest the work of his life, and having added to previous savings by a year of bookkeeping for Squire Bezaleel Taft, of Uxbridge, he
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entered the academy, at Shelburne Falls, Mass., as a pupil, and after- ward became a teacher there.
In 1844 he went with his newly-married wife to Chicago, traveling by canal to Buffalo and by schooner through the lakes. Here they opened the Chicago Academy, in the Methodist Episcopal church, at the corner of Clark and Washington streets, commencing with three scholars, and ending in 1848, when they decided to return East, with 225 pupils, among whom were many who have largely contributed to the wonderful progress of that city. While thus engaged he made several important discoveries in illumination, and concerning the effect of heat upon oils susceptible of use for that purpose, particu- larly as applied to lighthouse illumination, and also patented appara- tus in connection therewith, and a lens of refracting power much superior to those then in use by the government. He was not un- mindful of the probable future of Chicago, and did much by his col- lection of statistics, by his writings, and by personal effort toward securing the commencement of her first railroad. Considering it time to engage in business pursuits he sold out his school and turned his face eastward to the field of manufactures.
From 1848 to 1854, he was successively in the employ of the late Governor Jackson at Jackson, the elder Spragues at Quidnick, and the Atlantic Delaine Company at Olneyville. In January, 1855, his studies having led him to a love for chemistry, he entered into a part- nership with Professor E. N. Horsford, of Cambridge, Mass., who then held the Rumford professorship at Harvard, for a purpose which is best expressed, perhaps, in one clause of their agreement made at that time, somewhat quaint for these modern days, and well worthy of record. This clause declares their purpose to be that of " building up a chemical manufacturing establishment of respectability and per- manency, such as shall be an honor to ourselves and our children, and a credit to the community in which it is located, and which shall afford us a means of reasonable support."
How well their intentions were realized all know who are familiar with the manufacturing interests of this vicinity. In 1856 or '57, the business was moved from Providence to what was then Seekonk, but which, by change of the state line, has since become East Providence, and the firm of George F. Wilson & Co. became, and has since con- tinued to be, the Rumford Chemical Works, and the names of its pro- ductions are now household words in this country from one ocean to the other. Of Professor Horsford's profound knowledge and research as a chemist, were born the preparations which bear his name, while to Mr. Wilson's genius and indomitable energy are due the credit of inventing the unique apparatus and machinery for their practical production, the creation of a demand for articles hitherto unknown, and the building up of a successful business in their manufacture.
Suo. + Wilsons
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How much this means is comprehended by few. The man who decides to enter upon the manufacture of cotton or woolen goods, iron or steel, or the countless articles into which they are wrought, leather goods, or any of the many staples with which our markets teem, finds ready to his hand the necessary tools and machinery, and has for his product a market among a people already educated to its use. With Mr. Wilson none of these conditions existed. He started out to make an article hitherto unknown, and every piece of appar- atus or machinery necessary for its production, from the furnaces that received the raw material, to the machines which filled the finished packages, including even the mill that ground the product, were the results of his marvelous ingenuity, his intelligent thought and patient experiment. And while he struggled with and conquered these problems, hampered by insufficient capital, he had to find time to make known to consumers a new article, and to create among them a demand for it that would warrant the dealer in adding it to his stock. One has only to call to mind the countless names of articles and preparations, many, if not most, of them of undoubted merit, that have from time to time stared from advertising pages and dead walls and are now seen no more, to begin to appreciate the effort and out- lay necessary to establish public confidence in new goods. Mr. Wil- son succeeded where many fail, and lived to see the works which he founded give support to more than 1,200 people, and the land in the vicinity of their location increase in market value twenty fold in consequence thereof.
In the earlier days of his business career, Mr. Wilson manufactured a general line of chemicals for the use of calico printers and paper makers, in addition to the specialty for which the works have since become famous, but the production of these articles was discontinued after a few years, and the business of the works became the manu- facture of pulverulent acid phosphate, commonly known as Hors- ford's Cream of Tartar. This is sold under that name in bulk in large quantities, but the greater portion of this article which the works produce is put up by them in the form of Horsford's Baking Powder and Rumford Yeast Powder. A little later they commenced the manufacture of the medicinal preparation known as Horsford's Acid Phosphate, one of the very few proprietary preparations of which the formula is published, and which receive the endorsement of physicians, and to-day these articles are household necessities throughout this country, while the Acid Phosphate is sold all over the civilized world.
Mr. Wilson's thorough knowledge of mechanical principles and appliances was well known, and was practically exemplified in his own business. His opinion was constantly sought upon new inven- tions, and his advice by inventors struggling with mechanical diffi- culties in their road to success, many of whom left him with substan- tial assistance in addition to advice. His own inventions both of
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processes and appliances were numerous, as the files of the patent office will show. Outside of the business of the works, some of the most important are an improvement in the manufacture of steel, a revolving boiler for paper manufacturers, and important discoveries in illuminating apparatus for lighthouse use, before mentioned. Mr. Wilson resided in Providence from 1852 to 1861, during which time he was for many years a very prominent member of the school com- mittee, and for two terms served the city in the house of represent- atives, in 1860 and 1861. In 1861 he removed to East Providence, where he resided until his death on the 19th of January, 1883. He was four times elected a member of the school committee, and was also one of the town council of 1873.
In 1872 the honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred on him by Brown University. He was a member of the R. I. Historical Society, the Franklin Lyceum, the Franklin Society and the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and for many years actively participated in the proceedings of all of them. His interest in agricultural matters was always great, and the con- tributions of the works under his direction, to the fairs of the latter society, both of stock and farm products, were remarkable for excel- lence and quantity. He was an extensive reader, a deep thinker, pos- sessed of a mind and memory of no common order, and his universal and thorough acquaintance with all current and scientific subjects and with literature, astonished all who knew what a busy life he led. Mr. Wilson was married in 1844 to Clarissa Bartlett, daughter of Prescott and Narcissa Bartlett of Conway, Mass., a lady of fine culture and in- telligence and of lovely character. To her is attributed a large meas- ure of the success of the academy at Chicago, in which they were both teachers, and she was indeed a helpmeet to him in the days of his early struggles as a manufacturer. Her memory is held in loving reverence by many of the employees of her husband, among whom she went with open hand, and to whose necessities in sickness and trouble she so often ministered. Her death occurred in 1880.
In his will Mr. Wilson bequeathed to Dartmouth College the sum of $50,000 for the erection of a library building, and to Brown University the sum of $100,000 for the erection and equipment of the Physical Laboratory known as Wilson Hall. He left two sons: Ellery Hol- brook Wilson and George Francis Wilson; and three daughters: Clara Frances Penny, Mary Augusta Wilson and Alice Louise Wilson.
Ellery H. Wilson, son of George F. and Clarissa (Bartlett) Wilson, was born in 1848 in New Britain, Conn., and was educated in the public schools. He was a delegate to the national republican convention of 1880. He was representative from 1883 to 1887, and speaker of the house from 1885. He was again elected representative in 1889. He is a member of board of state charities and corrections.
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Levi S. Winchester, son of Monroe and Nancy (Flagg) Winches- ter, was born in 1847 in Lancaster, Mass. He was educated in public school, and was brought up on his father's farm. He came to East Providence in 1872, and established himself in the grocery business. He was burnt out February 17th, 1877. The building was immediately rebuilt, and he continued to carry on the business until he sold out in 1887. Since that time he has turned his attention to the insurance business. He was the first postmaster appointed at Riverside, and has continued to serve ever since. He was a member of the town council a number of years at different times, and one year assessor. He was elected foreman of the Narragansett Fire Company, No. 2, in 1878, to succeed Samuel English, and served as foreman until March, 1889. He married Lizzie S. Walcott, of Grafton, Mass.
John A. Wood, youngest son of Seth and Lois (Luther) Wood, was born in 1824, in Swansea, Mass. When he was one year old his father moved to Seekonk, Mass., now East Providence. He has served on town council, and on board of assessors. He married Cynthia E., daughter of Seril Reed, of Seekonk.
Seth Wood, son of Daniel H. and Martha H. (Bliss) Wood, was born in 1859 in Seekonk, Mass., now East Providence, R. I., and was educated at public school and University grammar school, Providence. He has always followed farming. He married Clara E., daughter of William Brown, of Providence.
CHAPTER V.
THE TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE.
General Description .- Settlements and Physical Features .- The Original Town .- Its Growth and Population .- Representatives in the General Assembly .- Organization of the Present Town .- Town Officers since that time .- Highways and Turnpikes. Woodville .- Its Manufactures .- Graystone .- Centredale .- Its Cotton Factory .- Union Library .- Roger Williams Lodge .- Allendale and its Mills .- The Baptist Church .- Zachariah Allen Lodge .- Lymansville and its Mills .- Roman Catholic Church .- Fruit Hill .- Valuation and Taxes .- Biographical Sketches.
T HE township of North Providence, the smallest both in territory and in population, of all the towns of the county, lies on the northern border of the city, within whose expanding limits it will doubtless ere long be included. Its greatest width, at the west end is about two and a quarter miles; its narrowest part, near the east end, one mile: its mean length, from east to west, three and a half miles. It contains a little more than five square miles. This territory is occupied by an agricultural and rural community. The ever undu- lating hills afford beautiful landscapes. As one wanders over these rural roads he is compelled to pause here and there to drink in the inspiration of the delightful scenery with which he is surrounded. From an elevation amid rocks and brambles which hint the primeval condition of the country he looks across a smiling valley that lies below, to the opposite hillside, checkered with field walls and dotted here and there with farm buildings, while just beyond he catches the smoke of a factory, and away in the hazy distance he knows that the pulsations of a busy city are filling the surroundings with the life of ten thousand activities.
The principal part of the population is upon the western border, where the beautiful and romantic Woonasquatucket gracefully winds its way in a hundred curves among the rugged hills, and offers fre- quent sites for mills, which have been mainly utilized in the manufac- ture of textile fabrics. These industries have furnished the founda- tion for four small factory villages-Graystone, Centredale, Allendale and Lymansville. In the southwest part of the town, but a mile or more from the river, is a small and ancient settlement known as Fruit Hill. Another similar hamlet is that of Woodville, in the center of the town. At the latter place the two principal thoroughfares inter- sect each other. These are the Douglass Turnpike, running from
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Providence to Douglass, Mass., and the Mineral Spring Turnpike, run- ning through the town from east to west. Through this central sec- tion a series of ponds and swamps extends across the town, having their outlet through West river into the Moshassuck. Wenscott res- ervoir is a large body of water, accumulated by a number of small feeders, and discharging through the channel indicated. It lies at the series referred to, on the northern border of the town. The Geneva Mill, belonging to the Narragansett Worsted Company, is located on the Providence city line, and receives power from this source.
The name North Providence has been in use for a long time, but its significance has been various, owing to radical changes in its boundaries. The town was formed from the original town of Provi- dence June 13th, 1765. Owing to dissatisfaction in the boundary line a portion was reunited to Providence June 29th, 1767. Again, another part was added to Providence March 28th, 1873. As the town was then formed it extended easterly to the Seekonk or Pawtucket river, and included so much of the village of Pawtucket as lay on the west side of that river. It also extended southwardly from its present limits far enough to reach a line following the Woonasquatucket river down from Manton to the Upper cove, thence running across northerly to the North Burial Ground, which it bisected, and thence, making sev- eral angles, along North street and Swan Point road and across Swan Point Cemetery to the river. The territory of the township was then more than double what it is at present, and the population and busi- ness interests, as well as its wealth, many times greater than those of the present town. In the course of time the growth of Providence continuing to encroach upon North Providence, the population be- came so dense on the sides of the town adjoining Providence and Pawtucket that a division seemed necessary. Such a division as was deemed expedient was made March 27th, 1874. A portion was an- nexed to the city, making the Tenth ward, and a portion was annexed to Pawtucket, being about two miles of the easterly end of the former town. The act went into effect May 1st, 1874.
The boundaries of the town as it is now constituted are thus de- scribed: On the north by Smithfield and Lincoln, on the east by Paw- tucket, on the south by Providence and on the west by Johnston. The former growth of the town, as well as the effect of this change on its population, is shown by the following figures of the population of North Providence at different dates: 1774, 830; 1776, 813; 1782, 698; 1790, 1,071; 1800, 1,067; 1810, 1,758; 1820, 2,420; 1830, 3,503; 1840, 4,207; 1850, 7,680; 1860, 11,818; 1865, 14,553; 1870, 20,495; 1875, 1,303; 1880, . 1,467; 1885, 1,478. It is thus probable that not more than one- twentieth of the population remained after the reorganization in 1874. The records, as well as the principal part of the town, went with the part set off to Pawtucket. Hence the history of North Provi- dence as it exists to-day is of recent origin, and may be briefly told.
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