USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 50
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During the latter year he was married to Miss Rachel F. Harris, daughter of Edward Harris, and to them were born two children: Mabel, wife of Chester B. Smith, and Edward Harris. The death of Mrs. Rathbun, which occurred in 1872, was the occasion of deep grief to her family. She was an earnest member of the Protestant Episcopal
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church, not only exerting a religious influence on those around her, but exercising charity and performing many kind and loving acts to people of less ample means. After his marriage, Mr. Rathbun, who had been a member of the corporation of the Universalist church, severed his connection with that body, and became a constant attend- ant upon the services of the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he has since been a vestryman.
In 1860 Mr. Rathbun completed negotiations begun the previous year, for the purchase of the Jenckesville Cotton Mills, which he con- ducted until 1872, when the property was sold, he retaining a half interest. On the organization of the Harris Woolen Company he was made secretary, and on the death of Edward Harris in 1872, became president of the corporation, which office he still holds. He is in addi- tion to this identified with other interests as president of the House- hold Sewing Machine Company, of the Citizens' National Bank, of the Woonsocket Street Railway, and director in the following organiza- tions: The Providence & Worcester railroad, the Mercantile Insurance Company, the Equitable Fire & Marine Insurance Company, the Franklin National Bank, the American Wood Paper Company, the Ray Woolen Company, the Woonsocket Gas Company, and the Rhode Island Tool Company. He is also a trustee of the Harris Institute, and of the William J. King estate. Mr. Rathbun has led an active business life and found neither leisure nor opportunity for an ex- tended political career. He has, however, been for two terms repre- sentative in the state legislature, and was lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island from 1882 to 1884.
George S. Read, son of Elisha T. and Harriet A. (Stockbridge) Read, was born in 1842 in Woonsocket, and was educated in the pub- lic schools and high school, Woonsocket, and Friends' School, Provi- dence. He served in the Third R. I. Heavy Artillery as private, cor- poral, sergeant and lieutenant. He served part of the time with Bat- tery M, U. S. Troops. He was postmaster of Woonsocket from 1879 to 1888. He was in the house of representatives in 1888. He married Lavilla A., daughter of Amos and Eliza C. Allen, of Franklin, Mass., in 1867.
James S. Read, son of Elisha T. and Harriet A. (Stockbridge) Read, was born in 1835 in Woonsocket, and was educated in the pub- lic schools, and at Worcester Academy. He was married to Laura A., daughter of Abner Aldrich, of Woonsocket, in 1861. He was a mem- ber of the last town council, and is member of school board, and treas- urer of the Globe school district. Since his father's death in March, 1878, he has been cashier of the Union National Bank, his father hav- ing been cashier of the same bank for 31 years. His grandfather, George Read, was an old settler of Woonsocket. His grandfather, on his mother's side, Horatio Stockbridge, was a native of Massachusetts, but an early settler of Woonsocket.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
James H. Rickard, son of George and Sarah C. (Helme) Rickard, was born in 1838 in Pomfret, Conn. He came to Woonsocket in 1866 and established himself in the grocery business, having previously been in the business in Pomfret. He was educated in the public schools and a private academy at Abington, Conn. He has for the past fifteen years been in the contracting and real estate business. He served with the 18th Connecticut Regiment about two years as private, and was with the 19th U. S. Colored Troops, serving with them about two years. He is commander of Smith Post, No. 9. He was married in 1874 to Abby S., daughter of Seth Welld, of Woon- socket.
A. C. Sibley, son of Ira and Sophronia (Shumway) Sibley, was born in Oxford, Mass., in 1855. He came to Woonsocket in 1877, working first for C. B. Aldrich, and upon the death of Mr. Aldrich he continued the business, establishing himself first on North Main street in 1879, afterward moving to River street, and to his present place in 1885.
.Albert A. Smith, son of Clark and Phelenia (Clark) Smith, was born in Woonsocket in 1834, and was educated in the district schools. He was elected representative once on the republican ticket, and twice on the democratic ticket, served one year in the town council. was a member of school committee when the town was organized and at the time the city government was formed. He served in the 1st R. I. Cavalry, and after a year's service was transferred to the Veteran Corps. He was married in 1852 to Eveline M .. daughter of Elisha Sherman, of Bellingham, Mass.
George Smith, son of Richard and Eliza (Hopkins) Smith, was born in 1815 in Portsmouth, Va., and came with his parents to Burrillville, R. I., when four years old. He had charge of mills for the Valley Falls Company, at Valley Falls, for 31 years before coming to Woonsocket. He came to Woonsocket in 1875, being at the time proprietor of a yarn mill at East Blackstone. He was subsequently superintendent of Har- ris Number 5 Cotton Mill, head of the Woonsocket Yarn Company, superintendent for a year of the cotton mill at Farnumsville, Mass., and since April, 1886, superintendent of the Bernon Cotton Mill, now operated by the Valley Falls Company. He married Lavina C., daughter of Meldier White, of Central Falls, in 1836. He was mem- ber of town council of Cumberland one year, and was elected council- man from the First ward upon the formation of the city government.
Charles W. Talcott, son of James Tudor and Sarah (Hutchings) Talcott, was born in 1844 in Manchester, Conn., and was educated in the public schools. He came to Woonsocket in 1867, and first ran a steam engine for the Bailey Wringing Machine Company for about six years. He ran an engine for N. Elliott's wood working establish- ment about two years, then at the Privilege Mill two years, and at the Globe Mill one year. In 1874 he established himself in the steam,
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gas and water pipe business and contracting. He laid all the mains for the Woonsocket water works when they were put in, and was one of the prime movers in the water works. He is a director in the Woonsocket Opera House. He served in Company K, 20th Connecti- cut Infantry. He married Alma E., daughter of David Jewell, of Hebron, N. H.
Ariel C. Thomas, son of Edwin R. and Ann Eliza (Cook) Thomas, was born in 1857 in Woonsocket, and was educated in the public schools. and high school, Woonsocket, and at the Friends' School, Providence. He has occupied various positions in the Clinton Mill, having been connected with it for 13 years, and has been superintendent and agent for the past two years. His father was agent for the same company for 33 years. He married Nellie M., daughter of Alvin Parker, of Blackstone, Mass., in 1880. He was elected councilman for the Fourth ward upon the formation of the city government.
CHARLES E. THOMAS .-- The grandparents of Mr. Thomas were Philip and Amy (Jenks) Thomas. His parents were Edwin R. and Ann E. (Cook) Thomas, to whom were born children: Ella, Charles E., Mary A. (widow of Theodore M. Cook), Cora E. (wife of Samuel R. Harris), Ariel C., John D. (deceased), Fred A., and two who died in infancy. Charles E. Thomas was born in Manville, Providence county, December 17th, 1850, and came to Woonsocket with his parents in 1854. On attaining a suitable age he entered the public schools, and concluded his studies at the Friends' Academy. He in 1869 became an employé of the Clinton Manufacturing Company of Woonsocket, first as an accountant and later as superintendent of the mills, with the various departments of which he had previously become familiar. After a business connection with this company extending over a period of 18 years, his services were transferred to the Globe Mills of Woonsocket, of which he is now the efficient superintendent. A de- tailed description of these mills and their workings having been given elsewhere in this volume, need not be repeated here.
Mr. Thomas is identified with various important business organi- zations in the city of his residence. He is president and a member of the board of direction of the Producers' National Bank, a trustee and member of the board of investment of the Producers' Savings Bank, trustee of the Woonsocket Institution for Savings, and director of the Woonsocket Electric Machine and Power Company. A republican in politics, he has been a member of the school committee and for sev- eral years clerk of the consolidated school district, but has found little time to devote to a more extended political career. His religious be- lief is that of the Universalist church, in which he is a deacon. He is past commander of Woonsocket Commandery, No. 23, Knights Tem- plar, and high priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter, No. 5.
Mr. Thomas was, on the 28th of October, 1885, married to Annie L., daughter of the late Reverend B. S. Sharpe. They have one son, Edwin R.
C
ARTOTYPE, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Hervey S. Turner, son of Samuel and Nancy (Howe) Turner, was born in 1849, in Holden, Mass., and was educated at the high school and academy, Worcester, Mass. He came from Providence to Woon- socket in 1877 and engaged in the business of buying and selling horses until he started the livery business in 1882. In 1884 he was married to Abby L., daughter of Nathaniel Devereux, of Woonsocket.
ALONZO DARWIN VOSE .- Amariah Vose, the grandfather of Alonzo D. Vose, was born April 19th, 1768, in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and married Rejoice Cook, of the same town, December 29th, 1791. The first of their nine children was a son, Willing Vose, born January 15th, 1793, in Wrentham, who resided during the greater part of his life in Cumberland and Woonsocket, where he was engaged in the triple pursuits of millwright, carpenter, and machinist. He married Mercy Jillson, of Richmond, New Hampshire, on the 19th of August, 1814. Their children were: Albert C., Mariamne, Alanson C., and Alonzo D., all of whom, with the exception of the last named, are deceased. Mr. Vose was married a second and third time, leaving one daughter by the second union, now deceased.
Alonzo D. Vose, the youngest son, was born October 4th, 1823, in that portion of Cumberland now embraced in Woonsocket, where his life has mainly been spent. After a common English education his attention was given to the work of the farm. In the spring of 1842 he embarked in a journalistic enterprise, in connection with a partner, as proprietors and publishers of the Woonsocket Sentinel and Thompso- nian Advocate, devoted to temperance and the then new theory of medi- cine, which paper had a brief existence of but one year, owing to the poor health of Mr. Vose and the decease of his partner. In 1843 he en- tered the employ of the Woonsocket Furnace Company, and was for five years the custodian of their patterns and castings. From 1848 to 1851 he was at work on the farm, and spent the succeeding three years as salesman in the grocery business. Mr. Vose then invested his capi- tal in a bakery and was for nearly 20 years a partner in and financial manager of the Woonsocket Baking Company, from which he retired in 1873 with a fair competency. His time has since been chiefly given to the care of his property and a few acres of land.
Mr. Vose was formerly a republican in his political faith, and is now a staunch advocate of prohibition principles. He was, in 1874, elected by the republican party a member of the lower house of the general assembly on the temperance issue; not receiving a second nomination on account of his rigid adherence to principle rather than party policy. He has served the town as assessor of taxes and pay- master of soldiers' families residing in his town during the late war. He is a director and member of the board of investment of the Pro- ducers' Savings Bank of Woonsocket. Mr. Vose has been a member and an active officer of Fountain Division, No. 4, Sons of Temperance of Woonsocket since March, 1858. Since 1871 he has been treasurer
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of the Grand Division of Rhode Island, with an interval of one year, when he was the chief officer. He is a member of the Universalist church of Woonsocket, and has for many years officiated as one of its deacons.
Mr. Vose was, November 4th, 1844, married to Martha Daniels, daughter of John Mayo and Nancy (Wight) Cook, of Bellingham, Mas- sachusetts, who died February 11th, 1883, leaving no children.
Henry T. Wales, son of Mason and Elector M. (Adams) Wales, was born in 1842 in Woonsocket, and was educated at the public schools. He had charge of farming and teaming for the Social Manu- facturing Company for fourteen years, and in 1882 established the teaming business for himself under the firm name of H. T. Wales & Co., buying from William Elliott the business that was established first in Woonsocket by Andrew Green 36 years ago. He was connected with the fire department for twelve years, first as second assistant, then as first assistant, and afterward chief engineer for three years. He also served as highway commissioner. He married first Alvira D., daughter of John L. Eddy of Bellingham, Mass. His present wife is Harriet, daughter of John Cartwright of Coventry, R. I. He mar- ried her in 1877. Mr. Wales served in the 2d R. I. infantry. His father was for several years employed by Edward Harris as head farmer.
Aaron B. Warfield, son of Preston and Hannah Warfield, was born in 1844, in Blackstone, Mass., and was educated in the public schools and Walpole high school. He came to Woonsocket in 1862 and was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Horace Cook. In 1868 he established himself in the business with Moses Aldrich as a partner in the same store, and in 1871 bought out Mr. Aldrich and has since carried on the business alone, moving to his present store next door in August, 1888. He served with the 7th R. I. Volunteers, going out in August, 1862, was wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg and at North Anna River. Upon his return from the war he went into the cotton yarn manufacturing business with E. Jenckes at South Wal- pole, which he continued for two years. He married Adelaide, daughter of Nathan Chilson of Bellingham, Mass., in 1865. He is a director in the Mechanics' Savings Bank and the First National Bank, and a director in the Bailey Wringing Machine Company.
George P. Warfield, son of Preston and Hannah Warfield, was born in 1849 in Brooklyn, N. Y., and came to Woonsocket about 1874. He learned the carpenter's trade with William L. Read, in Millville, and started business for himself in Woonsocket in 1876. He carried on that business until 1883, and then with L. L. Chilson, bought the River street lumber yard from B. Hawkins & Co., running it about three years, since which time he has been in the contracting business. In 1880 he married Georgianna, daughter of George B. Lapham of Woonsocket.
Alongo ovose
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Francis S. Weeks, Jr., son of F. S .. and Susan E. (Brown) Weeks, was born in 1857 in Woonsocket, and was educated at the Woonsocket High School. He has always been identified with the furniture busi- ness, and established business for himself in 1877. In 1875 he was married to Mary E., daughter of E. B. Miller of Woonsocket.
George M. Welles, son of Aaron D. and Martha (Bull) Welles, was born in Plymouth, Conn., in 1845, and was educated in the schools of that place, in New Britain, Conn., and in a business college at Phila- delphia. He came to Woonsocket in 1865 and entered the employ of his uncle, Isaac M. Bull, in the office of the Hamlet Mills; was super- intendent of those mills from 1881 to 1885; subsequently in the em- ploy of the executor in settling the large Bull estate, and for some time past has been of the livery firm of Turner & Welles, and inter- ested in other business enterprises. He was a member of the town council two years and assessor of taxes six years. He was elected alderman of the First ward upon the formation of the city government. He is is a director in the Woonsocket Gas Company, and director in the People's and Woonsocket Savings Banks. Since June 1st, 1889, he has been connected with the City Lumber Compny. He was mar- ried in 1870, to Eleanor, daughter of John O. Ives, of Plymouth, Conn.
Henry A. Whitney, son of Reuben P. and Hannah W. (Wilson) Whitney, was born in 1856 in Southbridge, Mass., and was educated in the public schools. He came to Woonsocket in 1875 and was first employed as clerk in Jackson's drug store, and in 1878 started busi- ness for himself. In 1880 he married Jennie F., daughter of Henry S. Arnold of Woonsocket.
John A. C. Wightman, son of Henry and Emily (Chadsey) Wight- man, was born in 1847 in North Kingstown, R. I., and was brought up on his father's farm. He was educated in the public schools and came to Woonsocket in 1869. He was first employed as clerk in the grocery store of Canfield & Son, and soon after went with Standish & Wight- man in same business, and afterward carried on the business for him- self for twelve years, then sold out and established the wholesale and retail hay and grain business, running the first steam grist mill in Woonsocket. He continued that business until 1884, when he started in the undertaking business that was originally established by I. B. Phillips. He has served four years in town council and one year as president, was one of the board of school trustees, is a trustee in the Producers' Savings Bank, president of the Woonsocket Baptist Society and treasurer of the same, has been president for six years and treas- urer for sixteen years, was for three years highway commissioner and one year in the general assembly. He married Clara E. Pierce.
Stephen Wilcox, son of Lyman and Sylvia A. (Wilcox) Wilcox, was born in 1840 in what was then Cumberland, now Woonsocket. He was brought up on a farm until fourteen years of age, then learned the carpenter trade, and afterward the wheelwright trade, and left the
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wheelwright business for farming and milk peddling. While at that business he bought the Olney Mason farm and then turned his whole attention to farming and milk business, having now a farm of 85 acres. He put in a machine for steaming fodder, which he will enlarge to twenty-five horse power, to saw shingles and grind grain and corn. He is the owner of the Hawley Mineral Springs. He married Caroline S., daughter of Albert P. Hawley, of Woonsocket, in 1864.
CHAPTER X.
THE TOWN OF LINCOLN.
Division of the Old Town of Smithfield .- Interesting Localities .- First Officers .- Town Poor .- Town House .- Internal Improvements .- Town Debt .- Schools .- Valley of the Moshassuck .- Police Department .- Societies .- Central Falls .- Valley Falls .- Lonsdale .- Manville .- Secret and Social Societies .- Biographical Sketches.
T HE territory embraced within the limits of this town was the scene of some of the earliest settlements in the state, and one of the hardest fought battles of King Philip's war was finished, if not commenced, within these borders. Up to March 8th, 1871, the territory now comprised within the town of Lincoln had formed part of Smithfield ever since the incorporation of that town, February 20th, 1730-1. Before its division the old town of Smithfield was the largest town in the state, with a population of over 13,000. A large section of it was agricultural; another section had most of its interests point- ing toward the manufacturing establishments along Branch river at the north end of the town. Another seemed bound by business and social ties to the then new town of Woonsocket, while a fourth, which now forms the town of Lincoln, had most of its business and trade along the lines of the Blackstone and Moshassuck rivers.
Owing to this diversity of occupations and interests, there had been, for many years, more or less discussion as to the advisability of a division of the town, but it was deemed rather a matter for discus- sion than for action till the year 1871, when, on the 21st day of Jan- uary, at a special town meeting called for that purpose, a vote was passed in favor of dividing the town into three towns, according to a proposed act of the legislature then on the moderator's table. A com- mittee on division of the town was appointed, consisting of Charles Moies, George Kilburn, Thomas A. Paine and Job Shaw. This com- mittee introduced the subject to the legislature at the January session, 1871.
As soon as it became apparent that a division was probable, the question of a name for this town became one of importance. There was much division on this subject, and the names of "Smithfield," "South Smithfield," " Lonsdale," "Moshassuck " and others were sug- gested and had their advocates, but it was finally deemed best by those having the matter in charge to name the town "Lincoln," in com- memoration of the late martyred president of the United States.
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On the 8th of March, 1871, the legislature passed an act authorizing the division of the town of Smithfield, incorporating the new towns thereby formed and fixing the boundaries of the several towns therein interested. Those of Lincoln were as follows: "Commencing at a point on the north line of North Providence, where the Douglas pike (so called) crosses said line, then (bounding the town on the south) running easterly along said line till it reaches the centre of the Black- stone river; thence running with the centre of the Blackstone river (bounding the town on the east) to a point in the centre of said Black- stone river, opposite the centre of the mouth of the Crookfall river; thence (bounding the town on the west) running by and with the cen- tre of the Crookfall river to a point where the road leading from the Providence and Worcester road (so called) past the house of Ephraim Sayles, crosses it; thence southerly in a straight line to the place of beginning." Charles Moies, Job Shaw, Arlon Mowry and Cyrus Ar- nold were appointed a committee to run lines and set stone bounds between the several new towns.
The boundaries have remained ever since, and now are those of the town (although a portion of the then town of North Providence has since been incorporated into the town of Pawtucket, so that this town now bounds on the south in part by North Providence and in part by Pawtucket). This gave Lincoln a territory of a triangular shape, covering about 15 square miles, with a population of 7,889 persons, and a valuation for state tax of $4,406,107.
The principal places of interest in the town are the following :- Villages: Central Falls, Lonsdale Old Village, Valley Falls (Lincoln side), Prospect Hill, Saylesville, Manville (Lincoln side, formerly Union Forge), Lime Rock, Albion, Moshassuck Valley (formerly Arnold's Print Works), Dexter Lime Rock, Ashton (Lincoln side), Louisquisset. Rivers: Blackstone, Moshassuck, Crookfall, or Ten Mile. Brooks: Aldrich, Olney, Louisquisset, Mussey (the first man11- facture of nails by machinery in this country was begun on the banks of this brook). Ponds: Valley Falls, Olney's, Scot's, Albion, Manville, Ashton (formerly Sinking Fund), Spectacle, Bleachery, Print Works, Butterfly, Lonsdale Mill, Cranberry, Moffatt's, Grist Mill, Lime Rock, Saw Mill, Quinsnicket, Lonsdale New Reservoir, Sayles Reservoir. Swamps: Absolute, Stump Hill, Lampecock Spring, Ash, Cold Spring (mostly reclaimed). Hills: Quinsnicket, Reservoir, Sayles, Jerry Smith, Jenckes, Prospect, The Mountain, Prime's, Seth Sprague's, Wilkinson. Plains: Prospect Hill, Valley Falls (site of Indian massa- cre March 16th, 1676). Rocks: Goat, Quinsnicket, Haunted, Lime Rock Quarries.
One of the most remarkable historic relics in the state is the bell on the Butterfly factory. Around the bell three or four inches below the crown is the following inscription : " PETER . SEEST . AMSTELODAME. ANNO . 1263. ME . FECIT." We thus learn that Peter Seest made this
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bell at Amsterdam in the year 1263. It is a noteworthy fact that the old Dutch town Amstelodame took its present name (Amsterdam) after this bell was cast. Figures carved on the bell and authentic facts lead to the belief that this bell, cast in Amsterdam, was long used on a convent in England, was sequestrated during the reforma- tion, was used in the English navy, and was on the ship "Guerriere " when she was captured by the "Constitution," August 19th, 1812. The bell was subsequently sold by the United States with a lot of captured naval stores, and thus came through the hands of the late Stephen H. Smith to its present resting place.
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