USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. III > Part 13
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(III) John (3) Watson, son of John (2) and Hannah (Champlin) Watson, was born March 13, 1710, and died in South Kingstown in 1791, hav- ing resided there all his life. He married, June 2, 1736, Isabel Sherman, daughter of Job Sher- man, granddaughter of Samson, and great-grand- daughter of Philip Sherman, who came from Eng- land to Massachusetts in 1633. He became a resident of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, as early as 1638. Mrs. Watson died May 22, 1753.
(IV) Job Watson, son of John (3) and Isabel (Sherman) Watson, was born August 7, 1744, and died at Jamestown, where he had made his home, October 12, 1812. He married, February 12, 1766, Sarah Hazard, born June 27, 1734, daughter of Robert Hazard of South Kingstown, and of the fifth generation from Thomas Hazard, founder of the notable Rhode Island family of that name. He was born in 1610, was a resident of Boston in 1635, and was one of the original proprietors of Newport. He was admitted freeman in New- port in 1639.
(V) Robert Hazard Watson, son of Job and Sarah (Hazard) Watson, was born February 28, 1769, and died October 13, 1840, in Jamestown. He married, December 30, 1790, Catherine Wee- den, born September 1, 1770, died March 14, 1816, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Hull) Weeden, of Jamestown. She was descended from James Weeden, who came to Boston in 1638 in the ship "Martin," and later became a resident of New- port.
(VI) Robert Hazard (2) Watson, son of Rob- ert Hazard (1) and Catherine (Weeden) Watson, was born in Jamestown, March 4, 1806. He was a successful farmer on a large scale and was recognized as one of the most able citizens of the town. He served many terms as a member of
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the General Assembly and was also a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1842. He mar- ried Catherine Congdon Carr, born in April, 1809, daughter of John and Mary (Cross) Carr, a de- scendant of Governor Caleb Carr.
In England the Carr family dates back to the Norman Conquest. A charter in Battle Abbey shows the name of a follower of William as Karre. Like most ancient patronymics this name has been, and still is, spelled in various ways: Carre, Carr, Care, Car, and similar spellings us- ing K as the initial letter.
(1) The progenitor of this branch of the fam- ily in America was Governor Caleb Carr, a native of London, England. His tombstone inscription states that he "departed this life ye 17th day of December, 1695, in ye 73rd (79) year of his age." From this, the Carr family historian figures the year of his birth as 1691, and the day December 9th; but Austin, the Rhode Island genealogist, states that Caleb Carr was aged eleven when he came to America with his brother Robert in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann" in 1635. This would place the year of Caleb's birth as 1624. Caleb and Robert Carr settled in Newport about 1640. Caleb was commissioner in 1654, and 1658-62 in- clusive. He was general treasurer, 1661-62; deputy, 1664, 1665, 1667-72, 1674, 1678, 1679, 1690; assistant, 1679-86, 1690, 1691; justice of General Quarter Sessions and Inferior Court of Common Pleas, 1687-88. He was admitted freeman in 1655, and was elected governor in 1695, but was drowned on December 17th of that year. He also served on a number of committees. Caleb Carr owned considerable land in Conanicut. His first wife's Christian name was Mercy. She was born in 1631, and died September 21, 1675. The Carr family historian gives her surname as Vaughan; but in "Banker's Long Island Genealogies" it appears as Easton.
(2) Nicholas Carr, the next ancestor in this lineage, was born in Newport, October 22, 1654. From his father he received by will the "farm in Conanicut, 140 acres, which I formerly leased him for about twenty years, with dwelling house &c., and right in Dutch Island, and 40 acres on west side of highway, over against my brother Robert Carr, his land in said Conanicut, and a quarter share in Gould Island, and 25 foot in length of land, west side of my warehouse upon breadth, and my great Bible, seal ring and little cabinet, he paying my now wife Sarah, yearly, 20 s." Nicholas Carr married Rebecca Nichol- son, born February 1, 1656, died May 13, 1703,
daughter of Joseph and Jane Nicholson of Ports- mouth. Carr and his wife resided in Jamestown. He was the first representative of that town to the General Assembly and served his fellow-citi- zens in many other public capacities. He was made freeman in 1679; ensign in 1680; deputy, 1680, 1685, 1696, 1699; overseer of the poor and grandjuryman, 1687; deputy warden, 1690; lieu- tenant, 1692; warden, 1704. He died, February 17, 1709.
(3) Thomas Carr, the next in line of descent, was born January 25, 1696, the eleventh of a fam- ily of twelve children. He married, February 23, 1720, Hannah Weeden, born April 14, 1699, daughter of John and Jane (Underwood) Weeden, and granddaughter of James and Mary Weeden. (4) Nicholas Carr, son of Thomas and Han- nah (Weeden) Carr, was born in Jamestown, December 25, 1732. An interesting incident oc- curred during the Revolutionary War which shows the spirit of the man. One day while he was plowing on his Conanicut farm, the cap- tain of an English man-of-war, which was blockading Narragansett Bay, commanded him to stop his team. The command was ignored, and this so enraged the captain that he up with his cane and struck Carr upon the head. It is re- corded that the pompous representative of John Bull "was a sight to behold after he had been rolled in the mud until he cried for quarter." The captain returned to his ship in great fury and sent ashore a file of marines who took Carr back to their ship, where he was kept a prisoner in irons for three days. Every day a rope was placed around his neck, and he was given the choice of getting down on his knees and kissing the captain's hand, thus gaining his liberty, or taking the alternative of being hanged at the yardarm. Finding that the fear of hanging had no effect upon the old patriot, the captain liber- ated him and sent him ashore. Nicholas Carr was afterwards appointed a judge of the Court of Newport County, which office he held for a num- ber of years. He married, November 10, 1768, Mary Eldred, daughter of John Eldred, rep- resentative of another old Rhode Island family. She died, June 13, 1800. He died March 3, 1813.
(5) John Carr, son of Nicholas and Mary (Eldred) Carr, was born May 5, 1774. He mar- ried, December 21, 1805, Mary Cross, daughter of Peleg Cross of Charlestown, Rhode Island. She died in Jamestown, December 24, 1822. He died there July 27, 1823.
(6) Catherine Congdon Carr, their daughter,
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was born April 23, 1809, and died May 1, 1890. She married Robert Hazard (2) Watson, and they were the parents of John Jay Watson, Sr.
(VII) John Jay Watson, Sr., was born in Jamestown, this State, March 17, 1841. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at East Greenwich Academy. Then fol- lowed several years of work upon the homestead farm. In 1874, or '75 he removed to the farm on Narragansett Avenue, which he named "Thorn Croft," and which he made one of the most beau- tiful spots in that section of the State. As an agriculturalist he belonged in that classification known as "gentlemen farmers." But Mr. Watson was a socially-minded man. Everything that con- cerned the welfare of his community and State found an important place in his interests. He was always affiliated with the Republican party. In 1866 and 1867 he represented Jamestown in the State Legislature. He was elected State Senator in 1902 and 1903, and served on the committees on charities and corrections. He also held the following offices: town auditor from 1884 to 1890; town clerk from 1883 to 1884; collector of taxes in 1883; president of the Town Council; first warden of the peace; moderator of the town of Jamestown in 1882. He always took an active interest in educational affairs. He served for years on the school committee in Jamestown. He was a director of the Union National Bank of Newport, and he was senior warden of St. Mat- thews Episcopal Church in Jamestown.
John Jay Watson, Sr., married, December 23, 1870, Gertrude T. Stanhope, born in Newport, daughter of George T. Stanhope. The following children were born from this union: I. Elizabeth S., born April 15, 1872; married Alfred R. Cory. 2. John Jay, Jr., of whom further. 3. Mabel Cath- erine Gertrude, born December 26, 1883. She be- came a musician. She married Allerton A. Chand- ler. 4. Mary Helen, who died in 1897 at the age of eleven.
(VIII) John Jay Watson, Jr., was born in Jamestown, Rhode Island, November 12, 1874. His education was begun in the country school of his native town, was continued at the Rogers High School of Newport, after which he pursued a course in the famous old Bryant and Stratton Business College in Providence. His first em- ployment was with the Industrial Trust Company of that city, where he remained until 1899, when he was elected a director and treasurer of the Joseph Bannigan Rubber Company, which was closely affiliated with the United States Rubber
Company of New York. As a result of this rela- tionship, Mr. Watson was soon made treasurer of the latter company also. He became very active in the development of that company's busi- ness. He became a member of its board of direc- tors, of its executive committee, and president of the Rubber Goods Manufacturing Company and of the General Rubber Company, two of the most important subsidiary organizations of the United States Rubber Company. He organized its European branch, and his was the leading influence in starting the rubber plantation for the company in the Federated Malay States, Java and Sumatra.
In 1910 Mr. Watson retired from the manu- facturing business to engage again in the bank- ing business, becoming senior partner in the firm of Watson and Pressprich, investment bankers, New York City. In 1913 he was elected vice- president and treasurer of the International Agri- cultural Corporation, one of the important agri- cultural chemical companies, owning potash mines in Germany and is the largest miner and producer of phosphate rock in America. At about the same time he organized the Lee Tire and Rubber Corporation. A few years later he organized the Martin-Parry Corporation. In 1923 he was in- strumental in the reorganization of the Inter- national Agricultural Corporation and was elected president and chairman of its board of directors. He still holds those offices. In addition to these interests and responsibilities, Mr. Watson is chairman of the board of directors of the Martin- Parry Corporation; president of the Lee Rubber and Tire Corporation; president of the Prairie Pebble Phosphate Company, and a director of the Fidelity-Phenix Fire Insurance Company, Lawyers' Trust Company, Lawyers' Title and Guaranty Company, and the Phosphate Recovery Corporation.
During his residence in this State Mr. Watson wrote his name indelibly in its political and legis- lative history. He was elected to the Legisla- ture on the Republican ticket in 1899 and served continuously until 1904. During that period he was prominently identified with a number of im- portant legislative measures. Among the commit- tees of which he was a member were those on corporations and finance. In 1904 he served as an alternate delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, which nominated Theo- dore Roosevelt for the Presidency. Mr. Watson later served a seven-year membership on the State Board of Charities and Corrections of
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Rhode Island and helped to work out a series of reforms and general improvements.
During the World War Mr. Watson acted as assistant to the Alien Property Custodian and also served as comptroller of the Second Liberty Loan in the Second Federal Reserve District.
Mr. Watson is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons; Providence Chapter, No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; and St. John's Commandery, No. I, Knights Templar, all of Providence. Among other organizations of which he is a member may be mentioned: Metro- politan Club, Union League Club, Riding Club, New York Yacht Club, Nassau Country Club, Congressional Club of Washington, District of Columbia, Chamber of Commerce of New York, Chamber of Commerce of the United States, So- ciety of American Wars, Society of Colonial Wars, Sons of the Revolution, New England Society of New York, the famous Squadron A, Cavalry, New York State National Guard, Por- cupine Club of Nassau, Bermuda Island, and the Union Interalliee of Paris. In 1926 Mr. Watson was decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor.
On November 14, 1900, Mr. Watson married Eliza J. Ralph, daughter of John Ralph, of Providence.
JAMES V. MURRAY-Becoming associated in business with his father, immediately after grad- uation from high school, Mr. Murray, since the latter's death in 1927, has carried on the business himself. Bearing the family name it is one of the most successful and best known granite and marble works in Woonsocket.
James V. Murray was born in Woonsocket, Feb- ruary 14, 1887, a son of Thomas P. and Elizabeth (McCabe) Murray. His father was born in West- erly, Rhode Island, and throughout his entire life was a resident of that State. He learned the trade of stone-cutter in his native town and as a young man came to Woonsocket, where he became associ- ated with the Woonsocket Granite & Marble Works, eventually becoming the sole owner. Thomas P. Murray continued active in this business until his death December 12, 1927. His wife was a native of New York State, but lived the greater part of her life in Rhode Island. James V. Murray received his early education in St. Charles' Pa- rochial School, Woonsocket, and then attended the Woonsocket High School, from which he was graduated in 1906. He then took a special course
in the Rhode Island School of Design and asso- ciated himself with his father in the Woonsocket Granite & Marble Works. At that time the name of the firm was changed to Thomas P. Murray & Son, under which name the business is still car- ried on, Mr. Murray having retained the name. Besides his marble business he is extensively en- gaged in general tile work and in the laying of tile and rubber floors. His standing in the financial circles of Woonsocket is indicated by the fact that he is a member of the board of directors of the Woonsocket Trust Company. He is also a member of the Woonsocket Chamber of Com- merce, the Knights of Columbus, and the Woon- socket City Club. In politics he is independent. His religious affiliation is with St. Charles' Ro- man Catholic Church of Woonsocket.
Mr. Murray married Mary E. Long, a native of Framingham, Massachusetts, but throughout the greater part of her life a resident of Woonsocket. Mrs. Murray is a daughter of John J. and Bridget (Devine) Long. Like her husband, she is a grad- uate of St. Charles' Parochial School and the Woonsocket High School, graduating from the former in 1903 and from the latter in 1907. She is also a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Education, 1910. Having completed her education she took up teaching in the public schools of Woonsocket, continuing in that profession until her marriage to Mr. Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Mur- ray are the parents of four children: Phyllis B., Elizabeth M., Mary E., and James V., Jr. The family home is located at No. 506 Prospect Street, Woonsocket, while Mr. Murray's business offices are at No. 205 Railroad Street.
HAROLD Q. MOORE-Having delayed his entrance into the business world in order to serve with the armed forces of the United States dur- ing the World War, Mr. Moore, after some two years' distinguished overseas service, became con- nected, in 1920, with the George C. Moore Elastic Webbing Company, of Westerly, one of the lead- ing industrial establishments of this town, founded by his father. He quickly showed that he had in- herited his father's well known business and ex- ecutive ability and for a number of years has been one of the executive officers of the company. Nat- urally his position in the business world is of prominence. Mr. Moore is a member of several fraternal and patriotic organizations, takes an active interest in civic and religious affairs, and
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in every respect is regarded as one of the repre- sentative and substantial of the younger genera- tion of Westerly's business men.
Harold Q. Moore was born in Rochester, Mas- sachusetts, January 16, 1895, a son of George C. and Elizabeth (Fahey) Moore. His father, who was born at Congleton, England, has been en- gaged successfully in the textile business through- out his entire active business career and is the founder of the George C. Moore Company, of Westerly. Mr. Moore's mother is a native of Easthampton, Massachusetts. Having received his early education in the public grammar and high schools of Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. Moore became a student at the Rhode Island State Col- lege, where he was a member of the class of 1918. However, before he had concluded his studies at this institution, in 1917, he entered the military service of the United States. In August of that year he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve Corps, and in October, 1917, he received a provisional commis- sion for the same rank in the United States Reg- ular Army. He sailed for France in March, 1918, and continued to serve with the American Ex- peditionary Forces in France until November, 1919. During this period he participated in all of the leading battles, in which American troops were engaged, including the fighting in the Cham- pagne, the Marne-Ainse and the Meuse-Argonne campaigns, the battle of St. Mihiel and the battle of Chateau-Thierry. He was wounded twice in action and was cited by General Pershing for bravery in action. When he received his honor- able discharge, in November, 1919, he held the rank of first lieutenant, United States Army, In- fantry Corps. Soon after his return to this coun- try, in 1920, he became associated with the George C. Moore Company of Westerly. In order to gain a thorough knowledge of all branches of this business, he spent some time in its various de- partments. Since 1922 he has been vice-president of the company and has taken a very active and effective part in its management. He is also a member of the board of managers of the Westerly Branch of the Industrial Trust Company. Ever since his college days he has been a member of Rho Iota Kappa Fraternity and he is also a mem- ber of the Rock of Marne Camp, No. 138, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, and of the Westerly Post, American Legion. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affili- ation is with the Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of Westerly. His prin- cipal hobby is gardening.
Mr. Moore married, in 1920, Dorothy Elizabeth West, a native of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the parents of one daughter, Dorothy Marie.
ALBERT ZUNLINDEN-Among those for- eign-born Americans who have been of conspicuous service to the communities in the New World in which they have settled, a leading business man is Albert Zunlinden, proprietor of a drug store at No. 50, Spring Street, Manville, Rhode Island.
Albert Zunlinden was born in France, October 30, 1885, son of Jacques and Madeline (Hirtz) Zunlinden, the father being a native of Alsace- Lorraine, the mother of Germany. The parents came to this country in 1902 with their son, who was educated in France. He was seventeen when he landed in this country on September 28, 1902. He studied in the Rhode Island College of Phar- macy, from which he holds the degrees of Graduate in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemist. His business is a prosperous one, and his drug store is one whose prescriptions can be relied on. He established his enterprise in 1912 and has so ably administered it during the intervening seventeen years that it has come to be regarded as one of the solid and established houses of the town. He has two clerks and a large stock of wares. He is also president of the Manville Credit Union.
Business has not absorbed all Mr. Zunlinden's energies. The year he took out his citizenship papers, he entered politics. In 1913 he was elected to office, and from 1913 to 1921 he represented his district in the State Legislature. During the World War he performed yeoman service as a member of committees dedicated to furthering the war, and he was chairman of most of these committees. After the war, he served as chairman of a com- mittee organized to collect funds and build a monu- ment to World War veterans from his section, and the resulting monument was the first of its kind to be erected in the United States. What- ever he undertakes, Mr. Zunlinden can be relied on to push through with tact and force.
Albert Zunlinden married Harriet Vose, born in Manville, daughter of Everett W. Vose, and a graduate of Wellesley and Columbia colleges. Be- fore her marriage, she taught history in Putnam, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Zunlinden have a son, Albert Zunlinden, Jr.
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EDWIN GERALD DUNLOP -- Proprietor of nurseries which are widely and favorably known throughout Rhode Island, Edwin Gerald Dunlop operates what is known as the establishment of "Dunlop the Florist," and has twenty thousand square feet of space under glass. Specializing in carnations, he employs three hands here, and is the owner and proprietor of the business which he has developed. The Dunlop greenhouses are some of the most beautiful in this part of New England, and Mr. Dunlop labors tirelessly in de- veloping new and rare floral objects of beauty, with the result that he is recognized as not only a florist but a student of flowers.
Edwin Gerald Dunlop was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on March 1, 1888, son of William and Emma (Nicholson) Dunlop. He came to the United States when he was eighteen years old, having learned his trade in Ireland, where he re- ceived his formal schooling and acquired his early business experience. He first settled in this coun- try in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was employed as a salesman. Looking always for an opportunity to become established in his own trade, that of the florist, he, with his brother, bought a small place in Springfield. In 1920, however, he came to the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, where he saw possibilities for developing his busi- ness on a large scale; and here he bought the property which he now owns and operates inde- pendently. A man of business vision, sound in his judgments, Mr. Dunlop, by careful planning and foresight, has worked his way upward to his pres- ent position as proprietor of florist's properties which are so extensive as to be the cause of envy on the part of many of his competitors.
In addition to his work in this connection, Mr. Dunlop is active in social and civic affairs. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he belongs to the Mount Moriah Lodge at Lime Rock, Rhode Island, and also the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs also to the Eureka Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Rebekahs of Woonsocket. In Woon- socket, Rhode Island, he is a member of the Ma- sonic Club. His religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal Church, to which both he and his wife belong.
Edwin Gerald Dunlop married, December 28, 1909, Anna Symington, a native of County Armagh, Ireland. By this union there have been three chil- dren : I. Edwin Vincent. 2. Woodrow William. 3. Winslow Joseph.
HENRY SCHWAB-Since 1928 Henry Schwab has been postmaster of the town of Washington, Rhode Island, discharging the duties of this office with complete efficiency and success. He was born at Providence, Rhode Island, on May 27, 1894, a son of Bernard and Anna (Stark) Schwab, both natives of Germany, and both now deceased. The father was engaged in the grocery business until the time of his death.
Henry Schwab was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and then attended the Technical High School there for two years. Af- ter the completion of his educational training, he entered the wholesale grocery business at Prov- idence in which he continued until his appoint- ment as postmaster of Washington, in 1928. In his independent business career he demonstrated his capacity for the direction of affairs and effi- cient management. These same characteristics have marked his administration of the duties of postmaster. In a period of two years, Mr. Schwab has become an important member of the com- munity at Washington, widely known and very well liked.
After the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Schwab enlisted in his country's cause on July 15, 1918. He was assigned to Head- quarters Company of the 78th Regiment, Field Artillery, 6th Division, and served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces for some months. He was discharged in July, 1919, with the rank of corporal. Mr. Schwab is a member of Robert T. Johnson Post, No. 183, of the Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, and is past commander of the post. With his wife he worships in the Roman Catholic faith, attending St. James Church of this denomination at West Warwick. He is fond of the outdoor life, and interested in all kinds of sports.
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