USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 53
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The Friends' Meeting House, situated one half mile north of Saylesville, was erected prior to 1708. On October 2d, 1708, Eleazer Arnold deeded to Thomas Smith and others a tract of land near the dwelling house of said Eleazer Arnold, seven rods by twelve, “ on which stands a certain meeting house of the people called Quakers." This has been known for many years as "Lower Smithfield meeting house." It still stands in a good state of preservation, and is still oc- cupied by the Friends, although not so regularly as formerly.
Valley Falls is a flourishing village situated on both sides of the Blackstone river, partly in Cumberland and partly in Lincoln. Among the early settlers of Valley Falls should be mentioned Joseph Jenks, the grandfather of Mrs. Christopher Bray, now of that place. He resided in a house now owned by the Valley Falls Manufacturing Company, and used as a tenement house. He was a farmer, and died about 1820, 81 years of age. He had three sons. Ephraim, who settled here, died 50 years ago. Ephraim Jenks married Rachel Cole. Their children were: Joseph, Hosea, Sarah Jane, Mary Ann, Daniel W., Emily and George W., all of whom settled in Valley Falls. Emily Jenks married Christopher Bray, who came here when a youth. He is now over 80 years of age.
In April of the year 1812 Joseph Jenks, of Smithfield, for the sum of $2,500, sold to Abraham, Isaac and David Wilkinson 16 acres of land, including the water privilege of Valley Falls, and gave a right of way through his land to Central Falls. In November of the same year David Wilkinson sold his interest to Abraham and Isaac, who constructed the turnpike from Pawtucket to Lonsdale, at the old oak which stands in the center of the road leading west to the village of Lonsdale.
Isaac Wilkinson was an excellent mechanic, and at the age of 17 had charge of the Cupola, now Franklin Foundry, in Providence. During the war of 1812 he cast cannon 60 days in succession, two heats per day. Abraham and Isaac Wilkinson built, about the year 1820, a stone mill, which some years ago was demolished. In 1830 Henry Marchant purchased one-fourth part of the privilege. William Harris owned one-twelfth, and Crawford Allen the remainder. Wil- liam Harris built, about 1820, a mill, which was burned in 1830. In 1833 Crawford Allen erected the stone mill on the Cumberland side of the river. This mill, as originally built, was 44 by 112, and four stories in height. To it was added, by the Valley Falls Company, in 1868, an addition, of brick, two stories high, 40 by 90; one, also of brick, 40 by 90, three stories, and a picker house, of stone, two stories; 54 by 40.
On the Lincoln side a wooden mill, 125 by 44, four stories, was
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
erected in 1844, and a brick mill, four stories, 156 by 44, in 1849. The first self-acting mules, operated on the Blackstone river, were started at Valley Falls. When the Messrs. Chace applied to Brown & Pitcher, Pawtucket, to build them, Mr. Pitcher refused to have anything to do about it; afterward, Mr. James Brown built them. In 1868 this priv- ilege became the property of Samuel B. Chace, and thereafter of the Valley Falls Company, of which Mr. Chace was the principal member. Since that year, improvements have been made on a large scale about the mills, and to a considerable extent in the village. In the years 1852-3, the Messrs. Chace constructed a stone dam of the most sub- stantial kind; although not so high as that at Manville, it is one of the finest and perhaps the handsomest dam on the river, it being built upon a curve, of hewn stone, with abutments which are remarkable for their solidity. Arnold B. Chace is the present treasurer of the company, and operates the mills on both sides of the stream, in which there are employed a large force of hands constantly. Their new brick store in Cumberland was erected in 1883.
In 1870 Messrs. Grey & Fish leased rooms from the Valley Falls Company and commenced the manufacture of weavers' reeds and har- ness. From January 1st, 1873, to January 1st, 1877, Myron Fish con- ducted the business alone, after which he admitted John A. Carter as. a partner. In 1875 Mr. Fish erected a building 40 by 80 feet, into which he removed his machinery, and where he still remains. In 1883 The American Supply Company was incorporated; Myron Fish, treasurer; George W. Holt, president, and John A. Carter, secretary. They now employ 40 hands.
In 1854 William J. Hood began the manufacture of jewelry in Pawtucket, and moved to Central Falls in 1858, where he carried on a thriving business.
William Harris was one of the earlier store keepers in the village of Valley Falls on the Lincoln side. He kept a variety store as early as 1830, carrying on that business in connection with a little factory he operated on the Cumberland side. In due time he went the way of all unsuccessful merchants and made an assignment. Olney Cooke, T. D. Elsbree and others followed, trading for a time and then giving way to others. A. D. Shaw, now engaged on the other side of the stream, began business here in a store in 1861, and ran it till 1883 before he changed his location. In 1874 Henry Lawton, now the old- est trader on this side of the stream, began keeping a store. He erected his present building in 1888.
Lonsdale is owned by the Lonsdale Company, and is situated seven miles from Providence, on the Blackstone river. Manufacturing was begun here in 1829 and the first mill was started in 1832, the second one in the same year. The bleaching department was put in opera- tion in 1844, and in 1852 the Goddard Brothers, the present owners, took possession. The main mill (of which there are four), called the
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Ann and Hope, stands on lands originally occupied by William Black- stone, the first settler of Rhode Island. It was built in 1886, and is one of the largest of its kind in New England. The number of hands em- ployed in the mills on this side of the river averages about 1,000, and the product of sheetings and other goods is from one to two million yards annually. The horse power here is: Water, 550; engine in bleachery, 180; engine supplementary to water power in summer, 250. Over 3,000 tons of coal are consumed annually at the bleachery.
A fine brick school house, large enough for the several departments of the public school, has been erected by the company and the rent given to the district; also a library, 62 by 111, was erected in 1881. Edward Kilburn began here in 1847 as one of the supervisors of the establishments and was here many years. He was succeeded by George W. Pratt, the present superintendent of the mills, in 1878. Among the prominent merchants of the place should be mentioned the names of Preston Clarke, of long ago, Baylis Bourne, who traded 30 years or more, S. D. Angell and James Howat.
Episcopal services were first held in Lonsdale, in the old school house, in the spring of 1833. During the same year a room was fitted up in factory No. 3, capable of seating 400 persons, by the Lonsdale Company, who offered to contribute one-third of the cost of a church edifice. Reverend George Taft, of Pawtucket, officiated as pastor during the summer of that year. Reverend George W. Cooke re- organized the Sunday school. The name of Christ church was given in December. In the autumn of 1834 the corner stone of the church edifice was laid by Bishop Griswold and the building was completed the next year. Ministers succeeding have been: Reverends Louis Jameson, G. T. Slater, Charles C. Taylor, E. M. Porter, C. H. Cunning- ham and W. S. Lott, who is now rector. The church under the rector- ship of Mr. Lott is in a flourishing condition. S. S. Learned is senior warden, and Addison Kinsman is junior warden.
Lonsdale Baptist church was organized April 15th, 1840, at the house of Isaac Smith. The original members were 37 in number, all of whom came by letter from the church in Valley Falls. The services of recognition occurred April 21st in the public school house, and con- sisted of invocation and reading the Scriptures by Reverend E. K. Fuller of Pawtucket, prayer by Reverend M. M. Dean of Providence, sermon by Reverend William Hague of Providence, prayer of recog- nition by Reverend Silas Spaulding of Pawtucket, hand of fellowship by Reverend B. P. Byram of Valley Falls, charge by Reverend John Dowling of Providence. July 8th, Alfred Arnold, David Clarke and Isaac Smith were appointed to make arrangements for building a meeting house, which was finished and dedicated July 21st, 1842. In 1840 the church was received into the Warren Association and in 1844 · withdrew with others to form the Providence Association. The present membership is over 150. Reverend Norman B. Wilson, the
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present pastor, took charge on the first Sunday of October, 1886. The deacons are Hazen Magoon, John Colwell and W. R. Estin. John Colwell is the Sabbath school superintendent.
Albion is a hamlet mostly of tenement houses occupied by the operatives of the mills. It contains one store, a post office and a church for the free use of all religious denominations. The store was kept by Isaac Wilkinson when Mason Freeman came to the place in 1828. George Wilkinson subsequently had it. In 1860 George Car- penter sold the property to Mason Freeman and he has conducted the business ever since. He has also been postmaster since the year 1860.
Manville is four miles south of Woonsocket, and lies on both sides of the Blackstone river." The land on which the village is built was owned by David Wilkinson and included the site on both sides. In 1740 he deeded it to Samuel Wilkinson, who in 1747 re-deeded it to David Wilkinson. The Farmer's Company erected a mill 35 by 118 feet, three stories high, on the site of the present company's office. In 1826 Jenkins & Man erected mill No. 2, 40 by 300 feet, five stories high, with basement. In 1859 it was sold to Harvey Chace. In 1863 the Manville charter was granted and in 1872 they built the new mill, 97 by 100 feet, five stories.
The mercantile business was carried on in Manville in the time of Samuel F. Man. There are now several stores in the place. Harkness & Stead succeeded Mr. Man in the mill and ran the store till 1857, when they failed. After them came the Chaces, and others succeeding in the mill property. Alanson Vose, father of Carlisle Vose, the present merchant, came here from Massachusetts in about 1825, and soon after ran a store which he bought of Cornelius Hendricks. He ran it till 1873, and died in 1880. Carlisle Vose has been trading at his father's old stand from the date above mentioned. Alonzo D. Vose is post- master.
Emanuel (Protestant Episcopal) church of Manville was established by S. F. Man. Hermeon Lillienthal is the present rector, and Wil- liam Waterman the senior warden.
The Contrexeville Manufacturing Company is located at Manville and was incorporated in 1887, under the state laws of Rhode Island. They manufacture cotton, jute and flax plushes by a process on which they hold the patents, and they are the only manufacturers of the kind in the United States. Their driving power is steam, but they have a water dam for their bleaching and dyeing. Employment is given to about 50 hands, and their factory is run night and day, the products being in such great demand. The officers of the company are: E. K. Handy, president; T. H. Handy, treasurer; Edwin R. Handy, agent. Russell Handy, the originator and patentee of the process and ma- chinery used by the above company, was the son of Stephen and Deborah (Ballou) Handy and was born in Burrillville, R. I., February
* See Chapter VII for account of the Manville Mills.
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25th, 1830. At the age of nine years he entered the Manville Com- pany mills and learned the trade of weaving. He commenced business for himself at Lyman, R. I., but owing to the financial depression of 1857 was forced to give it up. He again was engaged by the Man- ville Company and occupied the position of superintendent of their works for about 30 years. He married Euphemia Ketchum and their children were: Edwin K., Thomas H., Russell, died aged 11 years, and Ruth Louisa, died aged 4 years. Mr. Handy died November 22d, 1887.
The population of the village of Manville is largely composed of French Canadians, most of whom are operatives in the mills: but a large number of the business. men of the village are of that nativity. Among those who have been identified with the interests of Manville for a number of years the following are worthy of mention.
Joseph T. Richard was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, November 9th, 1852, and early learned the trade of carpenter. He came to Manville in 1871 and commenced to take contracts for build- ing all descriptions of houses, and since that time has been actively engaged in that business, having built the majority of the dwellings in Manville. His business is conducted under the firm name of A. Richard & Son, and besides being builders and contractors they carry on a store for the sale of lumber, hardware and glass. Mr. Richard married Lizzie Dislow and has a family of four children: Cora, Frederick, Arthur and Lenora.
Louis Girouard is a native of the Province of Quebec, and was born May 2d, 1844. In 1869 he came to Woonsocket and engaged in the mercantile business. Removing in 1873 to Manville, he opened a general store at the same location where he now carries on business. He married Hermoine Cormier and has a family of six boys and six girls: F. Louis, Joseph A., Mary, Hermoine, Isabella, Arthur, Angelina, Adaline, Bernadette, Napoleon, Leonidas, and Rudolph.
Joseph Thoen was born at St. Mary's, Province of Quebec, Novem- ber 19th, 1842, and was the eldest son of Joseph Thoen. He came with his father to Putnam, Conn., where he remained till 1855, when he removed to Wauregan, Conn., and resided there till 1873, when he came to Manville. He was employed in the mills, but on removing to Manville engaged in the livery, coal and wood business, He mar- ried Emile Woisard and has seven children: Lydia, Walter, Hector, Annis, Oliva, Alma and Ollier.
Fernando J. Landry was born in Joliette, Province of Quebec, No- vember 1st, 1854. He engaged in the mercantile business, but on coming to Manville in 1876 learned the trade of weaving and worked in the mills till 1887, when he opened a bakery. He married Donaldo B. Berard and has had seven children, of whom but two are living: Zulema and Romero.
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Louis Lussier, born in Sorel, Province of Quebec, October 11th, 1849, came to Rhode Island in 1866 and located in Manville in 1871. He has one son.
Jenks Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., was constituted May 1st, 1866. This Lodge was the offspring of Union Lodge, Pawtucket. There were 37 names enrolled on the charter, but only 25 signed the by-laws. The first master was Horace Daniels.
Central Falls Assembly, No. 49, R. S. of G. F., was instituted De- cember 23d, 1886. Officers for 1890 were: Ruler, James T. Smith; sec- retary, Charles H. Schofield; financial secretary, John H. Pilling; treas- urer, David McComb.
Lincoln Lodge, No. 360, Knights of Honor, was organized Septem- ber 7th, 1876; Dictator, A. P. Carpenter.
Twilight Temple of Honor, No. 21, was instituted March 25th, 1871, by Grand Templar G. M. Kimball, with 32 members. In 1872 the new hall in Fales' Block was dedicated. Officers for the year 1890 . were: W. C. T., Augustus Lapham; W. R., Henry G. Duby.
The Mountain Lily Social Temple of Honor, No. 5, was organized in 1872. The S. P. T. at that time was Sophia Ambrose.
Blackstone Division, No. 30, S. of T., was chartered May 4th, 1866, with 19 charter members.
Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M., of Lime Rock, was char- tered July 28th, 1804, with 23 charter members. The first worship- ful master was Moses Aldrich.
Superior Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 24th, 1874, in Fales' Block, on Central street. The first noble grand was Albert P. Carpenter.
Washington Lodge, No. 4, K. of P., of Central Falls, was instituted January 19th, 1871. Its first chancellor commander was Edward A .. Browne. It is a strong Lodge numerically and financially, and among its members are many prominent business men. Its chancellor com- mander in 1889 was Orlando E. Hill; and its keeper of records and seal was Loring W. Brinton.
Rainbow Division, No. 1, S. of T., was chartered February 6th, 1871, with 20 charter members; W. P., C. W. Arnold. The principal officers in 1890 were: W. P., Gilbert M. Hill; R. S., Frederick G. Hawkins.
Ionic Lodge, No. 65, I. O. G. T., was chartered October 23d, 1876, with 12 members; W. C. T., C. D. Robinson.
Ancient Order of Foresters, No. 6287, was organized October 7th, 1876. Meetings are held in Oak Hall, Lonsdale. The Order is of English origin, and its Courts are held by virtue of dispensation granted by the High Court of England through the subsidiary High Court of the United States. The object of the Order is to provide a weekly allowance to its members in case of sickness.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN A. ADAMS .- Among those whose success and social standing are the result of unaided labor and self-reliance through life, we class Honorable John A. Adams, a self-made man in every respect. He was born at North Kingstown, R. I., June 20th, 1815. His father, Ezra Adams, died on the Island of Trinidad, while following the occu- pation of seaman, leaving behind, almost destitute, his wife, Susan (Ailsworth) Adams, and son John, then a lad seven years of age. At the age of 12 Mr. Adams commenced working on a farm, pursuing, meanwhile, his studies. Five years later he removed to Franklin, Mass., and was employed in a factory store as clerk. When 18 years of age he obtained a situation as laborer in a factory, and subsequently as overseer, being employed upward of eight years. In 1837 he removed to Central Falls, where he exhibited such sagacity and skill that he attracted the attention of a capitalist, who proposed to accept him as partner in a business venture. Accordingly, in 1842, a firm was or- ganized under the name of Willard & Adams, manufacturers of yarns and thread. Continuing in this business for three years, the partner- ship was then dissolved, and Mr. Adams became associated with Mr. Joseph Wood and others, in the manufacture of cotton goods. This partnership lasted until 1848, when two of the firm died, and the busi- ness was continued under the firm style of Wood & Adams. In 1863 these gentlemen sold their mill and privilege to the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Company. They afterward succeeded to the business prev- iously carried on by Rufus J. Stafford, and in conjunction with new partners, took the name of the Stafford Manufacturing Company. During Mr. Wood's life Mr. Adams acted as agent for the corporation, and part of the time as president. On Mr. Wood's death, in 1873, Mr. Adams being the only active partner, assumed with his other duties that of treasurer, and has since held the offices named.
Mr. Adams has also been interested in other establishments, and intimately associated in business undertakings with prominent mer- chants and manufacturers of Providence. For many years he has been a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank, and a director of the Slater National Bank. He served six years as a member of the town coun- cil of Lincoln, and has been its representative, in both branches of the general assembly, at numerous times. He has also filled the po- sition of school trustee.
Mr. Adams has done much to promote the public improvements which have benefitted and beautified Central Falls. Since 1848 he has been a member of the Congregational church, and has given lib- erally for the furtherance of the enterprises of that denomination, and for the general good of society.
He married, in 1836, Sally M. Crowell, daughter of Nathan and Annie Crowell. They have had eight children, only two of whom
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
(John F. and Stephen L.) are living. Their son, Albert E., was in the Union army during the late war, and after escaping its perils, came home to die from disease contracted in the service.
THE ALDRICH FAMILY .- Among the oldest families of Providence is the Aldrich family, who are descended from Joseph Aldrich, who in an early day came from England. Simon, the son of Solomon Aldrich, was born in 1743 and died January 26th, 1834. He married Mary Matteson, and had the following children: Winsor, George, James (left no male issue), Anna (married Nathaniel Sayles and lived to be 100 years, 1 month and 4 days old), Susie and Mary, both died young. George, son of Simon, was born April 9th, 1776, and died August 19th, 1844. He married Abigail Steere and their children were: Susan Ann, died aged 22 years; Rachel, died aged 23 years; Thomas Steere, left no male issue; Stephen G. and Francis H., both died at sea; Abby Ann, a maiden lady, resides in Lincoln, and Elisha Steere, born April 13th, 1826, married Caroline F. Lincoln. The children of this marriage were as follows: Charles Edward, married Julia E. Angell; Olive Lin- coln, wife of Darwin Holley of Lincoln; Anna Sayles, died aged 24 years; Elisha Francis, died single; Caroline F .; Abby Almy, wife of George Ray of Cumberland, and William Steere. Mr. Aldrich has. been a member of the town council and was a member of the assembly in 1875-6.
STEPHEN BENEDICT was born in Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., January 15th, 1801. He was the son of Thomas and Zelota (Sprague) Benedict, and a descendant of Thomas Benedict, who came to this country in 1638. He settled first in Massachusetts, then removed to Long Island, and subsequently lived in Connec- ticut, where he became a man of influence. Stephen's father, Thomas Benedict, was a soldier in the revolution and was an enter- prising farmer. In 1833 he removed from Otsego county, N. Y., to Central Falls, where he died. Stephen was employed on his father's farm, attending school in the winter until near his majority, receiving the best of home training and religious instruction. In 1821, as his half brother, Reverend David Benedict, D.D., the Baptist historian, had settled as pastor of the First Baptist church in Pawtucket, he went to that place and engaged to work in a machine shop and after- ward in a cotton mill. In 1828 he formed a co-partnership with Honorable Joseph Wood and removed to Bellingham, Mass., where they operated a cotton mill for Jabal Ingraham. In 1829 they removed to Albion Village, R. I., where they operated the mills belonging to Mr. George Wilkinson. In 1831 they removed to Central Falls and purchased of Dwight Ingraham an interest in the mills of the thread company and commenced the manufacture of cotton print cloths, their mill being known as the Benedict & Wood Mill. Their business was managed with remarkable regularity and conscientiousness for 37 years, during which time they were greatly prospered. In 1865 the
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
firm was dissolved and Deacon Benedict succeeded to the entire charge of the old business, which he conducted with his usual ability and success till his death.
He early united with the First Baptist church in Pawtucket, and filled the office of deacon for about 25 years. He was a quiet, thought- ful, prudent man, faithful and thorough in the discharge of all the duties required of him. He was president of the People's Bank and also of the First National Bank of Pawtucket and director in different institutions. In the anti-slavery movement he was a pioneer, and during the civil war, though exempt from service by age, he was particularly active by counsel and contributions in sustaining the nation. Industrious and far seeing, he acquired a handsome estate, while his kindness, benevolence and integrity gained for him the highest regard of his fellow citizens.
He married August 9th, 1830, Bathsheba A. Barber, of Bellingham, Mass., who since his death has brought special honor upon the Bene- dict name by her benefactions. The Benedict Institute, of Columbia, S. C., is really all her own work. It has become virtually a college, and its influence for good among the colored people of the country generally is already recognized. At the commencement exercises of the year 1889 23 more students of the institute graduated, with the various degrees of classical honors conferred on such occasions, and the numbers from year to year are increasing. Mr. Benedict died December 25th, 1868. In his will he left $2,000 to the American Baptist Home Mission Society for general purposes. Mrs. Benedict added to this contribution $1,000, and when the educational needs of the freedmen were laid before her added to the above sum $10,000, making $13,000 in all, which sum was used in purchasing this school property. Since the first purchase Mrs. Benedict added at one time $10,000 more, and since then has made yearly donations of about $1,000, until she has now given about $35,000 in all. Various buildings have been erected from time to time until now the Institute has assumed proportions commendable in size, and worthy of the rank and name of a college. The buildings are located in a beautiful park of 80 acres, and number some half dozen in all. The number of students is now about 200.
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