USA > Rhode Island > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Rhode Island > Part 4
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In 1873 his brother, George W. Thayer, was taken seriously ill and he yielded to the request of Ellis Thayer to return to his old position as foreman of the brush factory at Pawtucket. Soon after his return he bought George Thayer's interest in the business and as Thayer Brothers the factory was operated until 1880. In that year he bought Ellis Thayer's interest and became sole owner, operating the works under the firm name P. E. Thayer & Company, brush manufacturers. He conducted a very prosperous busi- ness under that name until 1907 when he incorporated as the P. E. Thayer Company, P. E. Thayer, president. He was also interested in a brush factory in Woonsocket, but in 1893 sold his holdings in that enterprise to a nephew, Walter S. Thayer. He was also a director of the Pawtucket Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the Isaac Shove Insurance Company, the Oneonta Electric Light & Power Company, also serving the last named as a member of the executive committee.
Well known and highly regarded as he was as a business man, Mr. Thayer's activity in the city service and his public-spirited interest in all that pertained to the welfare of his adopted city brought him into closer touch with his fellow-citizens. His devotion to city interests and his ability to plan and execute was amply proven in Common Council as representative of the Third Ward, during six terms, as president of the Board of Aldermen for four years and as member of the General Assembly six years. To his legislative service in city and State bodies, he added valuable public service on committee and commission. On May 24, 1897, he was appointed a
CALICES
FOECUNDI
THAYER (THAYDOM, CO.ESSEX, ENG.)
Ars. Philo C. Chager
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Philo Elisha Chaper
member of the new State line commission; was chairman of the Pawtucket commission to abolish grade crossings; was a member of the special com- mittee appointed by the City Council in charge of the "Cotton Centennial" in 1890 and chairman of the sub-committee on manufactures. One feature of the work of this sub-committee on manufactures was an exhibit under their supervision, showing in one building cotton in its raw state, through every phase of manufacture to the finished cloth, an exhibit widely com- mented upon. He was an ardent Republican in his political faith, a leader of the party in his section.
Diligent in business and devoted to his official responsibilities as he was, there was a social side to Mr. Thayer's nature which found expression in fraternal and club life. He held all degrees of the York and Scottish Rites in Free Masonry up to and including the thirty-second degree, belong- ing to Morning Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Union Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pawtucket Council, Royal and Select Masters ; Woon- socket Commandery, Knights Templar; Palestine Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and all Consistory bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was also an Odd Fellow; member of the Royal Arcanum of which he was treasurer twelve years and a past regent, and a Knight of Honor. He affiliated with High Street Universalist Church, serving on the board of trustees. He also belonged to the Pawtucket Business Men's Association, the West Side Club of Pawtucket and the Central Club of Providence.
This record of activity and prominence does little more than touch the chief incidents of a remarkable man, remarkable in his energy, his devotion to high ideals and to whatever he conceived to be his duty. Broad-minded and liberal, he held closely to his own standards while conceding to every man the same liberty of thought and action. Warm-hearted and genial he made many friends, his upright, manly character holding them to him when once acquaintance was formed. He was a valuable addition to the city of his. adoption and an honor to the name he bore.
Mr. Thayer married, March 7, 1866, Georgianna F., a daughter of Ira . W. and Harriet (Snell) Arnold, her parents formerly of Plainfield, Con- necticut, later of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thayer: Annie Louise, married Dr. Frank R. Jenks; Mrs. Hattie Miranda Church, who has a son, Ralph Fletcher, by a former mar- riage; and a daughter who died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Thayer was a very devoted husband and father, ever thoughtful and considerate of his family. Mrs. Thayer survives her husband, residing at No. 58 Olive street, Pawtucket.
Isaac Milbour
SAAC WILBOUR, Acting Governor of Rhode Island (1806- 07), was born at Little Compton, Rhode Island, April 25, 1783, died October 4, 1837. Samuel Wilbour, the pioneer ancestor of the family, emigrated to this country in early colonial days, settling in Boston, Massachusetts, December I, 1633, joined the party headed by Mr. Hutchinson, and with William Coddington and others purchased the Island of Aquidneck (Rhode Island), and settled at Portsmouth in the year 1638. He became the owner of considerable land in Portsmouth and Taunton, and was also the owner of an estate in Boston, to which he returned late in life, and where he passed the remainder of his days. His grandson, William Wilbour, was one of the original settlers of Seaconnet, now Little Compton, in which city and vicinity are found many of his descendants at the present time.
Isaac Wilbour was a man of character and integrity, and in early life, before attaining years of manhood, was chosen to fill public office. He was made a member of the General Assembly in 1801, when only eighteen years of age, and at the expiration of four years he was returned to the same office, and then served as speaker of the House. During that year (1805) the residents of the north part of Gloucester petitioned to be set off in a separate town, but the political rivalries existing between the commercial parts of the State and the agricultural districts revived, and a tie resulted, whereupon Speaker Wilbour cast his vote in favor of the bill. The action of the Senate was adverse, and the next year (1806) when the bill again came up, there was a tie in that body, but Mr. Wilbour was then a member of the Senate, and gave the decisive vote. The petitioners, realizing that he had been an active factor in securing for them the object they desired, wished to honor him by giving the town his name, but this he declined, and it was given the name of Burrillville, in honor of Hon. James Burrill. In 1806 Isaac Wilbour was acting in the capacity of Lieutenant-Governor, and as there was no election that year he became Governor ex-officio, and served until the spring of 1807, when he was chosen to serve as a member of Congress, and filled that office for the following two years. In 1809, upon the death of Francis Malbone, Senator from Rhode Island, Governor Fenner appointed Isaac Wilbour to fill the vacancy, but he declined on account of the ill health of his wife. The next public office he filled was in 1818, when he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, for which high position he was thoroughly qualified, possessing a thorough knowledge of the principles of law, although he never pursued a course of study in that particular line. Shortly afterward, through the retirement from office of Hon. James Fenner, he was advanced to the position of Chief Justice, and was reelected from 1819 to 1826, resigning from the office in 1827. "After his retirement to private life," says one of his biographers, "he was much devoted to the interests of religion, and his voice, so often heard in courts of law and halls
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of legislation, was now often heard in prayer and exhortation in the Friends' meeting-house in Little Compton." He had been carefully trained in the principles of that sect, his parents having been prominent members of the society. Governor Wilbour was married, May 17, 1786, to Hannah, daugh- ter of Deacon Philip Tabor, of Westport, Massachusetts, and they were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters.
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Philip Allen
PHILIP ALLEN, nineteenth and twentieth Governor of Rhode Island (1851-53), and a leading manufacturer, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, September 1, 1785, eldest son of Zachariah and Anne (Crawford) Allen.
He attended the local schools, studied under the accom- plished Jeremiah Chaplin, and entered the Rhode Island College (now Brown University), from which he was graduated in 1803. He then engaged in the importation of goods from the West Indies, but the War of 1812 hindered that business, and he engaged in the pursuit which brought him distinction and wealth. This was the manufacture of cotton goods at Smithfield, Rhode Island, in which he gradually acquired a foremost position. In the same year he built a mill on the Woonasquatucket river, about eight miles from Providence, and around this grew up the village of Allenville ( named for him), later known as Enfield. Mr. Allen was noted for introducing valuable improvements into his mills, and the "Allen Prints," manufactured at the works which he established at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1831, made his name familiar to every house- wife in the country. From 1827 until IS36 he was president of the Rhode Island branch of the United States Bank.
His entrance upon public life dates from 1819, when he was elected to the Rhode Island Legislature, and was reelected to succeed himself in 1820 and 1821. During this period he served on the committee for the settle- ment of the State debt-a most important position. As a Democrat he was elected Governor of Rhode Island in 1851, and was reelected to the same office in 1852 and 1853, but resigned before completing his third term, having been elected May 4, 1853, to the United States Senate. In the latter body he served until 1859, being a most influential member of the committees on commerce and naval affairs, his personal business experience giving his advice great weight in matters relating to manufactures.
Governor Allen was married, in 1814, to Phoebe, daughter of Benjamin Aborn, of Providence, who bore him eleven children. He died at his home in Providence, December 16, 1865.
Samuel THard King
SAMUEL WARD KING, thirteenth Governor of Rhode Island (1839-43), and occupying that station during the historic "Dorr's Rebellion," was born at Johnston, Providence county, Rhode Island, May 23, 1786, son of William Borden and Welthian (Walton) King, grandson of Josiah and Mary (King) King and of John and Mercy (Greene) Walton, the latter the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Coggeshall) Greene, of Warwick, and a great-grandson of Maxey and Meribah ( Borden) King. Samuel W. King was also a descendant of Brigadier-General Na- thaniel Greene, and through the marriage of a cousin, Zilpha King, to Samuel Cranston, he was connected with a family which gave Rhode Island two of her colonial governors.
Samuel Ward King was a student at Brown University, but did not remain to graduate. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Peter Ballou, of Smithfield, there being no accessible medical college at that date, and on August 5, 1807, received a medical diploma at Providence. He practiced his profession in Johnston, Rhode Island, and also served as cashier of the Agricultural Bank at Olneyville, Rhode Island. He was surgeon on a schooner that sailed from Providence to destroy British commerce in 1812, about two months after war with Great Britain was declared, and on August 20th, was captured by a British vessel and taken to Barbadoes, but was paroled, as were also the captain and first lieutenant, and returned to Provi- dence. He is said to have served on the "Wasp." and on the "Hornet" when she captured the "Frolic," October 18, 1812. He was also surgeon on the "Chesapeake," and witnessed the fight between that vessel and the "Shan- non" in June, 1813, and attended Captain James Lawrence when he died, having been called on board to assist the acting surgeon. In memory of that event and in honor of the gallant American commander, he named his first-born son James Lawrence. After the war he again took up the prac- tice of his profession at Johnston (Olneyville). He was elected town clerk of Johnston in 1820, and held that office until 1843, when he declined a re- election. He served as assistant to Governor Sprague in 1838-39, and as first assistant, when the people failed to elect a Governor and Lieutenant- Governor in 1839, he became Governor ex-officio. He was elected to the office in 1840-41-42, serving in that high position from 1839 to 1843. At that time suffrage in Rhode Island, still based on the charter of Charles II., was limited to possessors of a certain amount of real estate and to their eldest sons, and thereby two-thirds of the citizens were debarred from voting. Thomas Wilson Dorr, a member of the Legislature, who, as a second son, was one of the disfranchised, after attempting in vain to secure the adoption of a more liberal constitution, organized a suffrage party in 1840, and two years later was chosen Governor by the disaffected element of the people. Governor King, who was reelected to office that same year under the old
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Samuel Miaro King
charter, was an advocate of reform, but, when Dorr's supporters took up arms, he construed this as rebellion against the lawful government, pro- claimed martial law, and called out the State troops. Dorr attempted to seize the State Arsenal at Providence, but was prevented, and then, as the excitement increased, Governor King appealed to the national government, which recognized him as the lawful magistrate. A last attempt at armed re- sistance was made by the suffragists at Chepachet, near Providence, June 25, 1842, but, realizing the hopelessness of his course, Dorr ordered his friends to disperse, and left the State, a large reward for his apprehension being offered by Governor King. The course of Governor King during Dorr's rebellion was wise and conciliatory, and went far toward allaying party strife.
Governor King was married, at Johnston, May 20, 1813, to Catherine Latham, born July 6, 1795, only child of Olney and Mary (Waterman) Angell, granddaughter of Daniel and Phebe (Olney) Angell, and great- granddaughter of Stephen and Martha (Olney) Angell. They were the parents of ten daughters and four sons. Mrs. King died May 4, 1841, and Governor King died at Providence, Rhode Island, January 20, 1851, and their remains were laid side by side in the private burial ground of the King family at Johnston. "Few men," says the writer of an obituary, "have enjoyed in their day to a greater degree the confidence of the public, and few men in their private lives have exhibited greater amiability and genuine kindness of heart."
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Forest Arcene.
Forrest Greene 1742356
F OR THREE-QUARTERS of a century Allen Greene, carriage builder, and Allen Greene & Sons, carriage builders, made Providence famous as the city of fine carriage building. The business was founded in 1838 and continued after the death of Allen Greene by his sons until disposed of by Forrest Grecne a few ycars prior to his death. An interesting incident in connection with the life of Allen Greene was the building of a carriage for the Khedive of Egypt in 1859. That potentate ordered a carriage from each of the nations of Europe and desired also a representative American vehicle. Allen Greene, as the leading carriage builder of this country, was selected as the American to best compete. There was no limit as to price and the design was left to his judgment. He chose the New England chaise as the most truly American type, the result being a splendidly constructed, elegantly fitted carriage truly representa- tive of the style of that period.
(I) This branch of the Greene family of Rhode Island was founded by John Grecne, surgeon, Forrest Greene, of Providence, being a repre- sentative of the ninth generation in America. John Grcene, surgeon, was the son of Richard and Mary (Hooker) Greene, and was born on his father's estate at Bowbridge Hill, parish of Gillingham, Dorset, England, about 1590. His father, Richard Greene, his grandfather, Richard Greene, and his great-grandfather, Robert Greene, had for nearly one hundred years before him resided at Bowbridge Hill. His mother, Mary (Hooker) Greene, was the daughter of John Hooker, born at Exeter, England, about 1524, son of John Hooker, mayor of Exeter in 1520. .
The marriage of John Greene and the baptisms of all his seven children are recorded in the parish register of St. Thomas' Church at Salisbury, England, and may yet be seen. He is therein styled "Mr." and "Gent.," a mark of some distinction at that date. He left England with his wife and six children, April 6, 1635, in the ship "James" and arrived at Boston, Massa- chusetts, June 3 following. He settled first at Salem, Massachusetts, there became associated with Roger Williams and soon after the latter's flight in 1636 joined him in Providence, Rhode Island. He was one of the eleven men baptized by Roger Williams and one of the twelve original members of the first Baptist church on this continent. He was also the first professional medical man in Providence Plantations. He moved to Warwick and was prominent in colony affairs until his death. The line of descent is through his eldest son, Major John Greene.
(II) Major John Greene came to America with his parents in 1635 and remained with them in Providence until the removal to Warwick. He after- ward settled on the Occupasuetuxet farm, a fine estate inherited from his father and then known as "Greene's Hold" which remained in possession of the family one hundred and forty years from October I, 1642, when pur- chased from the Indian chief Miantonomi until October 6, 1782, when it
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Forrest Greene
was sold by the grandchildren of Major John Greene to John Brown, of Providence. Major John Greene, for nearly fifty years, filled the highest offices in the colony and several times was sent as agent for the colony to England. He was a member of the Colonial Assemblies, deputy, assistant, and deputy governor under both charters, was one of the twenty-four named in the permanent charter obtained from King Charles II. in 1663, was cap- tain of militia for eight years and "Major for the Main" for seven years, commanding all the train bands on the mainland in Rhode Island, the highest military rank in the colony. He retired from public life in 1700, at the age of eighty years, having then been deputy governor continuously for eleven years. The tombstones of Major Greene and his wife in the old farm cemetery are thus inscribed :
Here lyeth the body of John Greene Esq. and late deptie governr he departed this life in ye 89 year of his age November ye 27, 1708.
Here lyeth the body of Ann ye wife of Major John Greene. She deceased in the
82nd year of her age May ye 6th, 1709.
(III) Captain Samuel Greene, youngest of the eleven children of Major, John Greene, was born at Occupasuetuxet, January 30, 1670-71, died Sep- tember 18, 1720. He married Mary, daughter of Captain Benjamin and Sarah (Carder) Gorton, and granddaughter of Samuel Gorton, the famous pioneer of Warwick. Captain Samuel Greene was a farmer, proprietor of a fulling mill, cornet of a troop of horse, captain of the train band, deputy and justice of the peace. He was buried on his Wequochaconet farm where an altar tomb was built over his grave that was substantially rebuilt and covered with a granite slab by his great-great-grandsons. Captain Samuel Greene was the father of Governor William Greene, grandfather of Gov- ernor William Greene, Jr., great-grandfather of United States Senator Ray Greene, and great-great-grandfather of Lieutenant-Governor William Greene.
(IV) Samuel (2) Greene, second son of Captain Samuel Greene, was born at Apponaug, town of Warwick, Rhode Island, October 22, 1700, died September 15, 1780, and was buried beside his wife, Sarah (Coggeshall) Greene, in the family burial ground at Apponaug. He inherited the farm and mill property at Apponaug and continued their operation. He carried out his father's uncompleted plans for the house on the southwest corner of the Apponaug cross road and there resided as did his descendants for three generations. He was cornet of a troop of horse, his commission yet being preserved.
(V) Joshua Greene, second son of Samuel (2) Greene, was born at Apponaug, February 24, 1730, died at Johnston, Rhode Island, in 1795. He was lieutenant of a troop of horse. His wife Mehitable was a daughter of John Manton, of Johnston.
(VI) Samuel (3) Greene, eldest son of Joshua and Mehitable ( Manton) Greene, was born February 26, 1758, died in April. 1822. He inherited from his father "the lands in Johnston" and there lived, following agricultural
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Forrest Greene
pursuits during his active years. His wife Mehitable was a daughter of Daniel Thornton, of Johnston.
(VII) Samuel (4) Greene, eldest son of Samuel (3) and Mehitable (Thornton) Greene, was born June 3, 1787, died July 13, 1838. His first wife Phoebe was a daughter of Gideon Brown, of Johnston.
(VIII) Allen Greene, youngest son of Samuel (4) Greene and his first wife, Pheobe (Brown) Greene, was born at Gloucester, Rhode Island, May 21, 1818, died at Providence, October 3, 1888. His mother died when he was an infant and at the age of fifteen he was taken to Providence and appren- ticed to Charles Smith, a carriage maker, with whom he served five years and three months. Before entering upon his apprenticeship he resolved to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors, the adoption of that resolution being an important turning point in his life, as the temptations to which he was subjected were very great. Having acquired a thorough knowledge of his trade, he bought a small shop on Benefit street, Providence, and in 1838 commenced the business of carriage making on his own account, a business which he carried on successfully until his death. He early established a reputation for good work which he ever maintained, and built up a large and profitable business.
An able, efficient and successful business man, Mr. Greene was equally prominent and efficient as a public official. He was a member of the Com- mon Council of Providence from 1863 to x864, 1866 to 1867, from 1873 to 1875 and again in 1879. In that branch of the city government he served on the committees, education, police, highways, claims and water. While on the committee of education, the school houses on Jackson avenue, Messer street, and Summer street were built. He was also a member of the joint special committee to build the Doyle avenue school house, and was chiefly instrumental in its successful and economical completion. All of these buildings are models in their construction. He was elected to the General Assembly of Rhode Island in 1872, 1875, 1876, 1877. While a member of that body he served on numerous important committees, and was chairman of the joint special committee to revise the laws of the State relating to charities and corrections. These laws were all changed and the management placed under the direction of one board instead of two, as formerly. Feb- ruary 28, 1877, he was appointed by Governor Lippitt to fill a vacancy on the Board of Commissioners to build the new Rhode Island State Prison at Cranston and was selected by the board as agent to manage the entire financial department, including the payment of workmen (the pay-roll then amounting to nearly six thousand dollars per month) and was entrusted with the purchasing of material and given a general oversight.
Mr. Greene was a member of the Westminster Unitarian Society. Soon after his arrival in Providence, in early life, he joined the Young Men's Lyceum. This society resolved itself into the Franklin Lyceum, of which he was a member for more than twenty-five years, and to which he was largely indebted for his education, as it afforded very superior means for intellectual improvement. Mr. Greene was a man of strong convictions, and an earnest advocate of righteousness, public and private. In July, 1844, Mr. Greene
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Forrest Greene
married Maria B. Cook, of Boston. Their children are: Louis A., Forrest, Emma R., and Josephine.
(IX) From such an ancestry sprang Forrest Greene, son of Allen and Maria B. (Cook) Greene. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in December, 1847, died at his residence. 134 Lloyd avenue, in his native city, April 10, 1912. He was educated in the public schools and after finishing his high school studies became his father's associate in the carriage manu- facturing business, established by Allen Greene in 1838 and the oldest car- riage manufacturing business in the country. After the death of their father in 1888, Forrest Greene and his brother, Louis Allen Greene, who had been partners with him under the firm name of Allen Greene & Sons, con- tinued the business until the death of Louis Allen Greene, February 15, 1896.
After the death of his brother, Forrest Greene continued alone until 1902 when he sold the plant and good will to a former employe of the firm, James Dawson, and retired. During the remaining years of his life he devoted himself to the management of his private estate. He was a business man of ability, upright, honorable, energetic and public-spirited, interested in public affairs but never sought or accepted public office. He was most kindly-hearted and friendly, devoted to his home, very hospitable and pos- sessed a host of warm friends. He was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church, his father a Unitarian, his grandfather a Quaker.
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