USA > Rhode Island > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Rhode Island > Part 10
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On April 16, 1861, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Susan Almy, a native of Providence and a daughter of Samson and Eliza (Talbot) Almy, old and honored residents of the place. Mrs. Smith was a granddaughter on the maternal side of Captain Ephraim and Sally (Whipple) Talbot. She was one of four children, her brothers and sisters being: William Charles, Mary Anna and Nellie, the latter the wife of Le Grand Cramer, of Troy, New York.
To the more basic virtues of essential honesty and courage, Mr. Smith added a delightful personality with those graces of bearing and manner. those amenities of social intercourse, in themselves no inconsiderable vir-
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amos Dennison Smith
tues. Springing as they do from a broad tolerance and sympathy for one's fellows, they are closely related to that Christian charity without which, we are told, the other virtues are vain. And charitable Mr. Smith certainly was in a more technical sense, giving liberally to all worthy philanthropic move- ments and being responsible for many private benevolences. He was a man who many men found congenial owing to the broad understanding which he had of human nature, and he won and kept many warm friends. He was devoted to his family and home and there were few men who loved better to spend their time by their own hearthstones than he. His death has left a gap impossible to fill and difficult to forget.
Theodore Frelinghuysen Derter
R `OR twenty-five years Mr. Dexter held intimate relations with the business interests of Central Falls, Rhode Island, and as a successful contractor and builder built not only structures "of perishable quality, but a character for uprightness, integ- rity and reliability that shall outlast them. He served with honor in public position, was prominent in fraternal and Grand Army circles and socially was highly esteemed. He came from distinguished Rhode Island families, the Dexters and Slocums, tracing to early Colonial days. The Dexters of Rhode Island descend from Rev. Gregory Dexter, conspicuous in the early Colonial history of Provi- dence, a man of fine talents and intellectual force, traits that he transmitted to his descendants. He came from England to America with Roger Wil- liams in 1644 and had printed for Mr. Williams in London in 1643 the lat- ter's dictionary of the Indian language. He was the first accomplished printer to come to the Colonies, and although he did not pursue that busi- ness here he printed with his own hands the first almanac for the meridian of Rhode Island. He was pastor of the Providence church in 1699 and of him it was written: "Mr. Dexter by all accounts was not only a well bred man, but remarkably pious. He was never observed to laugh, seldom to smile, and so earnest was he in his ministry that he could hardly forbear preaching when he came into a house or met with a concourse of people out of doors." The Slocums descend from Giles Slocum, who came to Ports- mouth, Rhode Island, two and three-quarter centuries ago, son of Anthony Slocum, one of the founders of Taunton, Massachusetts. The early family were.members of the Society of Friends and successive generations in some of the lines yet retain that faith.
Theodore Frelinghuysen Dexter was born in the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, October 28, 1844, died at his home, No. 46 Washington street, Central Falls, Rhode Island, April 17, 1905, son of John A. and Mar- garet Greene (Slocum) Dexter, his mother a daughter of Major Slocum. He was educated in the public schools, finishing at high school, and early in life began learning the carpenter's trade. He was but eighteen years of age when he first enlisted in the Union Army, serving in Company F, Twelfth Regiment ("The Fighting Twelfth") Rhode Island Infantry, serving for thirteen months, participating in the hard-fought battle of Fredericksburg and other battles fought by the Army of the Potomac, but later was with the Army of the Cumberland. After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, he returned home and after completing his trade and becoming an expert workman he located in Central Falls and as a contractor and builder established a high reputation.
Mr. Dexter from earliest manhood was identified with the Republican party and held many important offices. While living in the old town of Lincoln he served as assessor of taxes and in other offices, first elected in
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Cheobore Frelinghuysen Derter
1891, serving until 1897. In Central Falls he was elected common council- man in 1897, reelected in 1898, 1899 and 1900. In 1901 he was elected alder- man from the third ward, was reelected in 1902, and in both years was chosen president of that body. In 1901 he was chosen to represent his dis- trict in the General Assembly, was renominated and at the ensuing election ran far ahead of his ticket. He was a man sincere and honest in his convic- tions, and in the different offices he held strove to advance what he felt to be the best interests of the people. Time and again he refused to follow the lead of a political leader in the advocacy of measures he felt were not meant to conserve the public good. In the House of Assembly he frequently opposed measures endorsed by the leaders of his party which his judgment did not approve, and he did all that one man could do to stem the tide of partisan or class legislation.
He was past commander of Ballou Post, No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, and for several terms served as aide on the staff of the commander of the Rhode Island Department and on the staff of the National Depart- ment. A few years prior to his death he was a delegate from the Rhode Island Department to the National Encampment held at San Francisco. His fraternal affiliation was with the Masonic order, in which he held all degrees up to and including the thirty-second. He was past master of Jenks Lodge, No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons, member of the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, member of Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters, past commander of Holy Sepulchre Commandery, Knights Templar, and a thirty-second degree member of Rhode Island Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was held in high esteem by his brethren of the order and in his daily life exemplified the best tenets of the institution, Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love.
Mr. Dexter married, February 6, 1868, Harriet Emma Tingley, daugh- ter of Lyman L. and Berthia Baker (Baxter) Tingley, of Pawtucket, de- scendant of a distinguished Colonial family, an ancestor of Mrs. Dexter, named Benjamin Tingley, serving in the Colonial war, also in the Revolu- tionary army. Seven children were born to Theodore F. and Harriet Emma (Tingley) Dexter: Henry Clinton, now holding a responsible position with the Fales & Jenks Manufacturing Company; Hattie Berthia, deceased; Theodore Everett, now an instructor in Providence High School; Roscoe Morton, a prominent lawyer of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Herbert Blaine, deceased ; Myrtle T .; Ruth Augusta, married Ronald Blake Clarke, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, and has two children, Ronald Alden and Theodore Dexter Clarke.
James Cucher
F ROM boyhood until his retirement James Tucker was con- nected with the business interests of Providence, his native city, and as a clerk, merchant and banker the active years of his long life were spent. From birth until his death, seventy-eight years later, Providence was his residence and he bore a full share in the development of his city during that period. His father, also James Tucker, was of the Pawtuxet branch of the Tucker family, both he and his father born in that town. James Tucker, Sr., was a merchant tailor but later became a ship- ping merchant, owning with his brother several vessels engaged in trade with South America and the West Indies. He married Amy A. Bosworth and had two sons, James, Jr., and William, both deceased, a daughter Amy, widow of Dr. Spencer, of Providence, the only survivor of her family.
James Tucker, son of James and Amy A. (Bosworth) Tucker, was born in Providence at the family home on Chestnut street, March 19, 1837, died at his residence, No. 51 Waterman street, in his native city, March 22, 1915. He obtained a good public school education in Providence and began busi- ness life as a clerk with the Rumford Chemical Company. He later trans- ferred his allegiance to Cahoone & Hail, crockery dealers, continuing with them until about 1867, when he began business under his own name. He opened a retail crockery store on Westininster street, there built up a very large trade and continued in successful business until 1890, when he retired. He was a wise, energetic man of affairs, pursued a strictly honorable course of dealing and made his business a leader for fine goods in all its varied lines. After retiring from mercantile life he became interested in the Fourth National Bank of Providence, was a large shareholder and for many years its honored president. He attained as high a reputation as a financier as he had previously won as a merchant, and when he finally retired from all active participation in the business affairs of the city he carried with him the unbounded respect of his business associates.
He took an active part in the operation of the Providence Board of Trade, and was a member of the Squantum and Central clubs. He was a Unitarian in religious faith, and a Democrat in politics. He was not a club man in the sense usually understood, and never accepted public office. While he was kindly and social in nature, having a wide circle of warm friends, there was no interest in life that appealed to him as did the peaceful quiet and comfort of his own home. There his happiest hours were spent and there his warm hospitable disposition shone brightest. He was a fine example of the self-made American and as he had worked his own way upward, so he ever had a helping hand for others. He was in a large degree self-educated, but when his own son arrived at suitable age there was no educational advantage denied him.
Mr. Tucker married, April 7, 1868, Isabella Phetteplace, born in Provi- dence, daughter of James Smith and Louisa (Appleby) Phetteplace, both
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James Tucker
born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and a granddaughter of Asa Phetteplace and of John S. Appleby, both of old and honorable New England families.
James Smith Phetteplace was of the sixth generation of his family founded by Philip Phetteplace, who is first of record in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, July 30, 1681. The Phetteplace family of Rhode Island is said to descend through Sir John Fetteplace, of Oxfordshire, England, from Fette- place the Norman who came into England with William the Conqueror. James S. Phetteplace was a son of Asahel Phetteplace, a farmer of Smith- field, and spent his youth at the home farm. At the age of sixteen he be- came clerk in a Providence store, later became a partner with Daniel Angell, his employer. Later he was senior partner of the wholesale grocery firm, Phetteplace & Seagrave. In 1872 the partners sold their business and engaged in woolen manufacture at Burrville, Rhode Island, also becoming proprietors of the Central Falls Woolen Mill, of which Mr. Phetteplace was president. He was also president of the Rhode Island Safe Deposit Com- pany, president of the Merchants' Savings Bank, both of Providence; direc- tor of the Atlantic Insurance Company, director of the American Screw Company, director of the Merchants' Insurance Company, president of the American Insurance Company, retaining these important connections until weight of years demanded he give some of them up. He was a member of the Westminster Congregational (Unitarian) Society.
On August 25, 1840, Mr. Phetteplace married Louisa, daughter of John S. and Patience (Harris) Appleby, of Smithfield, and for sixty years they trod life's pathway together. He died December 6, 1900, at the age of eighty-six years, she surviving him until January 7, 1908. Children: Isa- bella, who is the widow of James Tucker; Louisa J., widow of Robert E. Northam; Georgina H., widow of Benjamin F. Chace; Jessie C .; Frances H., who is the widow of Charles B. Fry; Gertrude; and James Foster Phetteplace, all now residing in Proivdence.
James Tucker, Jr., son of James and Isabella (Phetteplace) Tucker, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and died in Lupare, Egypt, in 1900, aged twenty-five years. After finishing the public school course and graduating from high school, he entered Brown University, whence he was graduated, class of 1897. He specialized in languages, took high honors in Greek, Latin and French, also speaking German and Italian fluently. After leaving the university he traveled abroad extensively, spent a year in Sicily, visited Egypt, and there died of heart failure while in bathing at Lupare. He was a young man of brilliant talents and had already attained high standing as an authority on ancient Greek language and history, he having chosen Greek as a special study. Mrs. Tucker survives her son and hier husband, residing at No. 51 Waterman street, Providence.
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Joseph Davol.
Joseph Dabol
I N this age of manufactured rubber goods in every conceivable line, it is hard to realize that half a century ago the chemis- try of rubber was but little understood and the articles manu- factured from rubber were few. Years of experiment and countless sums of money were employed in causing raw rub- ber to give up its secrets and some of the most valuable of these were discovered while experimenting for an entirely different result. Among the men who devoted years of their lives to investi- gating in and experimenting with rubber and its manufacturing possibilities was Joseph Davol, founder in 1874 of the Davol Rubber Company, now the largest rubber manufacturing plant in the world, devoted exclusively to the manufacture of druggists' sundries and hospital and surgical supplies. But in 1874, when Joseph Davol felt that he was warranted in the beginning of a manufacturing plant, it was a very small and a very feeble one, strong only in the genius, courage and faith of its founder. The history of all the men who have devoted themselves to the subjugation of raw rubber is a story of hard work, disappointment, privation and often signal failure. But it is a history also of success, fame and recompense. Goodyear but paved the way with his immortal discovery that the sticky, refractory, unmanageable stuff could be tempered, vulcanized and made into water-resisting articles. Those who have followed him with their discoveries of the countless ways of wash- ing, breaking, combining with other materials, rolling, pressing, molding and reducing it to any required thickness, shape or size, and to employ it in the thousands of ways in which rubber as a base is now employed, are equally deserving of undying remembrance, as it is to these persevering, unconquerable, investigating, inquisitive men, that the world owes perhaps its greatest industry.
Joseph Davol was born in Warren, Rhode Island, in 1837, and died at his home, No. 48 Parkis avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, July 5, 1909, a son of Joseph B. and Mary L. (Saunders) Davol, of Rhode Island birth and parentage. He was graduated from the high school in Warren, Rhode Island, and later attended the high school in Brooklyn, New York, his par- ents moving to that city when he was a boy. At the age of sixteen years he entered the employ of a wholesale dry goods house, one of the largest in New York City at that time. During this period of his life he continued his residence in Brooklyn. He developed decided business talent and worked his way to a good position with this house. With his family he moved to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1871, and shortly afterward he became inter- ested in the rubber industry, and his quick mind suggested the idea that there were great possibilities in the manufacture of goods from rubber, a business then but in its early stages. It was not, however, until he had attained the age of thirty-seven years that he deemed the time opportune to make a beginning for himself. In the meantime he had discovered formulas for combining the raw gum with other materials, and perfected inventions
الجميع
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Joseph Dabol
that would enable him to successfully operate, and had taken all precautions as to patent and copyright that were available. He had well-matured plans of operation ready and in 1874 he established the business which has steadily advanced to its present proportions. He began business in a small plant not far from the present large plant of the Davol Rubber Company on Point street, Providence. His enterprise was a success from the first and soon the manufactured goods were coming through, perfect in shape and quality. There was little fear of a market and soon orders were multiplying. Ex- pansion began and as the plant grew in size the list of articles made was increased. This called for improved machinery, presses and moulds, but Mr. Davol met all emergencies, and as the years progressed placed his name in the front ranks of rubber manufacturers, making it a household word in the United States and a standard of excellence. The plant he began so modestly in 1874 has grown to be the largest of its kind in the world, and its products are sold in all the markets of the world.
When the Davol Rubber Company was incorporated, Joseph Davol became its president and until his last illness was president and treasurer and its active head. His son, Charles J. Davol, long associated with his father in the business, succeeded his father as the head of this large plant and is now president and treasurer of the Davol Rubber Company.
Joseph Davol confined his activity almost entirely to his own business, but was affiliated with many corporations and other large interests and held official relation with them, including the Industrial Trust Company and the Phoenix National Bank of Providence, serving as a director in both. For thirty-five years he was connected thus intimately with the rubber manu- facturing industry, ranking with the pioneers and with its most prominent captains. The city of Providence has profited by his connection with her business interests, and the reputation and standing of the city as a com- mercial and manufacturing center has been greatly enhanced by the opera- tion of the Davol Rubber Company. While Mr. Davol was a member of the Hope and other leading clubs, he passed but little time at them, as he much preferred the quiet of his home life.
Mr. Davol married, in 1862, Mary E. Turner, a daughter of Captain Joseph and Mary A. (Simmons) Turner, and a descendant of Joshua and Freelove (Westcott) Turner, who were married in old Warwick, Rhode Island, in 1725. Mrs. Davol survives her husband and resides at No. 48 Parkis avenue, Providence. Joseph and Mary E. (Turner) Davol were the parents of two sons, George A. Davol, the eldest, died in 1913, leaving one son, Walter L. Davol. Charles J. Davol, the surviving son of Joseph and Mary E. Davol, is now the president and treasurer and active head of the Davol Rubber Company.
The Davol coat-of-arms is ancient, dating back to the year 1400, and is thus described: Gules, a fesse between four fleurs de lis or, in chief a trefoil argent.
Edwin Peleg Damley, A. B.
A S a eivil engineer, specializing as an expert on railroad and municipal engineering, Mr. Dawley was widely known throughout New England. His greatest professional monu- ment is the tunnel under the East Side Hill. That project was first suggested in 1894 by Mr. Dawley as the best plan for bringing Warren, Bristol and Fall River cars to the Providence station. Although impressed with the merit of the tunnel plan, President Clark, of the New Haven, did not press it upon his board of directors as the road was in the midst of many other expensive improvements. In 1904 Mr. Dawley presented his plan to President Mellen and the tunnel was ordered built. Mr. Dawley was appointed construction engineer and under his direet supervision the tunnel was completed. Born and edueated in Providence, it was fitting that his greatest work should be done in that city, which he loved and for whose improvement he did so much.
Edwin Peleg Dawley, son of Peleg and Lucinda W. (Barney) Dawley, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 1, 1853, died in his native city, October 7, 1910. He prepared in the grammar and high sehools of Providence, then entered Brown University, but did not complete his eourse. During his university course, he became interested in eivil engineering, and in 1872 left the University and adopted it as his profession. He obtained his first practical experience in the office of the eity engineer of the eity of Providence in the water and sewer departments, following that experienee with a term of service as engineer and superintendent of the Interstate Tele- phone Company, the forerunner of the present Long Distance Bell line be- tween New York and Boston. As engineer for the Interstate, he made the acquaintance of officials of the railroads now grouped in the system con- trolled by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and impressed them as an engineer of unusual promise. He was selected by E. S. Mat- thews, chief engineer of the New York, Providenee & Boston Railroad, as his assistant and beeame so expert and efficient that upon the death of Mr. Matthews, Mr. Dawley was appointed his sueeessor as chief engineer. Shortly after assuming the duties of chief engineer he was brought into conflict with the consulting engineers of the road over the construction of a drawbridge aeross the Thames river at New London, Connectieut. The plans for the bridge ealled for material sufficiently strong for the then needs of the road, but Mr. Dawley, with the clear foresight and broad vision which ever distinguished him, argued in favor of using a great deal heavier metal and building a bridge sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the heavier equipment he foresaw would be needed in later years. Then he brought his views before the officials and strongly argued the wis- dom of building for the future, not for the present needs of the year 1889. He was over-ruled and his plans rejected but later years proved their wis- dom and a new bridge was planned before his death, the old one proving inadequate to handle the inereased weight of traffic.
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Gowin Prleg Dawley
After the absorption of the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, in 1892, the General Assembly of Rhode Island showed its appreciation of his wisdom in plan- ning the Providence Union Station by requiring the "New Haven" to carry to completion the plans prepared by Mr. Dawley and his assistants. That they should do this was one of the main conditions imposed by the Legis- lature when they ratified the extension of the New Haven system from New London to Providence. Mr. Dawley was continued by the New Haven as division engineer and won wide reputation as a designer of heavy bridges and by his skill in solving problems arising from the effort to abolish grade crossings. Assisted by George B. Francis, he conducted the negotiations with the city of Providence and the railroads at the time the old Cove basin was filled in which resulted in the transfer of that terminal property to the railroads by the city. Later he was appointed assistant to the chief engi- neer with office in Boston. After his retirement as construction engineer on March 30, 1909, he made soundings and preliminary plans for the new drawbridge across the Thames which is to replace the one built under his direction as engineer in 1889. He also designed and superintended the con- struction of a large dam in the Woonasquatucket Valley and was consulting engineer. for the city of Pawtucket in the city's dealings with the. railroad relative to the elimination of grade crossings on the main line through Pawtucket. The East Side hill tunnel has been alluded to as his most im- portant work. He was also consulted by the city of Providence and by pri- vate firms as an expert in their operations requiring the opinion of an engi- neer. It is an interesting fact that the first day's work Mr. Dawley per- formed as an engineer was for the city of Providence and his last day's work as an engineer, thirty-eight years later, was also for his native city. In 1907 Brown University conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
He was a member of several professional and fraternal societies and held all Masonic degrees in both York and Scottish Rite Masonry, including the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge, Providence, and held his Knight Templar membership with Calvary Commandery.
Mr. Dawley married (first) Mary H. Bliss, September 11, 1880, who bore him two children: Howard E., married Della E. Little and has a son, Edwin Porter Dawley; Edna Jessie, married Lewis S. Ford and has chil- dren, George Edwin and Marian Dawley Ford. He married (second) Flor- ence N. French, June 12, 1888, who bore him a son, Earl Philip Dawley. He married (third) December 8, 1906, Mrs. Maud C. Freeman, widow of Wil- liam C. Freeman, and daughter of Samuel T. and Melinda M. Cleveland, of an early Maine family. By her first marriage Mrs. Dawley has five chil- dren: William B. Freeman, married Hope A. Fletcher; May C., married Edwin F. Morgan and has a son, Edwin F. Morgan, Jr .; Harold B .; Albert M .; and Maud E.
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