USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. III > Part 47
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He was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, October 25, 1863, a son of Hugh, a native of Ireland, who was engaged here in the mason's trade until his death; and Mary (Quinn) Brady, also a native of Ireland, now deceased. He was educated in the public schools and by private tutors, and upon com- pleting his studies he became associated with the
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National Rubber Company here, for which corpo- ration he worked twelve years. For several years following, he engaged in the grocery business in Bristol, and while thus engaged was the local correspondent of the "Providence Telegram." This led to his association with the "Bristol Phoenix," with which he was affiliated until 1904, after which he was elected to the position of secretary of the Bristol School Committee, a post he filled until 1913. He then became local correspondent of the "Providence Tribune" and continued so for four years, resigning in order to accept the post of probation officer, in which he served until 1927, afterward returning to his association with the "Phoenix," with which publication he still remains. He also contributes articles to a number of yacht- ing magazines and does considerable feature and personal writing. Mr. Brady is a baseball en- thusiast when seeking recreation. He is inde- pendent in his political views and has held a num- ber of town and State public offices, among them being : truant officer for seven years, overseer of the poor from 1900 to 1911, and two years, 1910- 19II, he served as president of the Overseers of the Poor of the State of Rhode Island. Since 1906 he has been secretary of the Bristol Vet- eran Firemen's Association; has served as tax assessor and as clerk of the Tax Board; president of the Rhode Island Tax Officials' Association; justice of the peace for the fifth district since 1914; bail commissioner for the Superior Court since 1916. He was unanimously elected by the Rhode Island State Legislature as Clerk of the Superior Court for Bristol County in March, 1930. On the occasion of his election to this office the "Providence Evening Bulletin" printed the follow- ing favorable comment :
When the General Assembly filled the post of Assistant Clerk of the Providence and Bristol Counties Superior Court this week unanimously elected Philip Brady of Bristol, it didn't exactly make history but it did do an unusual thing.
For it is rarely indeed when a State office is to be filled that a man elected is the choice of both parties and that not a single vote is cast against him.
The Assembly's action is a tribute to Mr. Brady's popularity-a popularity, incidentally, that is not based upon back-slapping or glad- handing, but upon the much sounder foundation of confidence and respect. Mr. Brady has filled a variety of State and town offices in Bristol in the course of his long career and has shown himself always a courteous, conscientious and intelligent public servant. His record merits the honor the Assembly has paid him.
From 1896 to 1899 Philip Brady held the com- mission of a first lieutenant in the 2d Regiment, Rhode Island National Guard, serving as regi- mental quartermaster on the staff of the command- ing officer. He is a Roman Catholic in religion. He married, in 1914, Ellen F. Cronan, of Providence.
HARTZELL R. BIRCH-Postmaster of Kingston, Rhode Island, since 1918, Hartzell R. Birch has discharged the duties of this position with proper efficiency and entire satisfaction to the community. He was born at Orange, Massachu- setts, on November 21, 1876, a son of Sylvanus J. and Emma J. (Vosbergh) Birch, both parents be- ing natives of New York State, and both now deceased. The father, who was born at Rensselaer, New York, was a physician and surgeon until his death.
Hartzell R. Birch was educated in the public schools of his birthplace, and at Providence and Johnson, Rhode Island, being graduated from high school in the latter city. Thereafter he entered Brown University, which he attended for three and a half years. After completing his education, Mr. Birch was connected for six years with the Brown and Sharp Manufacturing Company, but in 1908 he turned his attention to other fields. In that year he came to Kingston, where he has since made his home, and purchased a farm which he operated for two years. In 1910 he established an automobile sales and taxi enterprise at Kingston which became under his guidance a very profitable venture. In 1918 Mr. Birch was appointed post- master at Kingston by President Wilson, and has continued in that capacity ever since, under the administration of four Presidents. His service has been of value to the community and reflects the greatest personal credit upon his ability and loyalty to the public interest.
Mr. Birch is affiliated fraternally with Nestle Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member in this order of Providence Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons. He is a Republican in politics, is interested in all kinds of sports, and worships with his family in the faith of the Con- gregational Church.
In 1909, Hartzell R. Birch married Ethel G. Pratt, who was born at Providence, Rhode Island, and has been a lifelong resident of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Birch are the parents of several children,
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as follows: I. Alida G. 2. Hartzell R., Jr. 3. Eleanor H. The residence of the family is main- tained at Kingston.
Mr. Birch is a member of the Tavern Hall Club of Kingston, and of the National Postmasters' League of the district. He is one of the best known men in this community.
JAMES MONROE PENDLETON-A dis- tinguished family, of financial and social promi- nence, and an enviable civic career characterize James Monroe Pendleton and make him a signifi- cant factor in the development of Westerly, Rhode Island, where he makes his home. He is manager and director of what was formerly known as the National Niantic Bank and is now the Westerly branch of the Industrial Trust Company. His active and significant business career has not pre- cluded his holding many important town offices and assuming the leadership in every progressive move- ment.
The American progenitor of the Pendleton fam- ily was Major Brian Pendleton, of English birth, a freeman of Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1634. Seventh in direct line of descent was the father of the subject of this record, Enoch B. Pendleton, born in North Stonington, Connecticut, September 5, 1808, who died November II, 1875. He was a prosperous merchant, a partner in the firm of Pendleton & Company, a Republican who served the State as State Senator from Westerly in 1856. He was a delegate to the first convention of the Republican party in Rhode Island, and later he was assistant United States assessor, and still later postmaster of Westerly. A charter member of the Calvary Baptist Church, he also belonged to the First Baptist. Enoch B. Pendleton married, October 30, 1843, Mary E. Chapman, daughter of Andrew and Welthy (Palmer) Chapman, and they were the parents of nine children, of whom the eighth was the subject of this record, James Mon- roe Pendleton.
James Monroe Pendleton, son of Enoch B. and Mary E. (Chapman) Pendleton, was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he attended the public schools. After graduating from high school in 1880, he entered Brown University, from which he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Phi- losophy in 1885 and Master of Arts in 1890. His scholarship was of so high an order that he was made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, while his social fraternity was the Delta Kappa
Epsilon. He served three terms as a member of the corporation of Brown University.
His business career began with his employment as clerk in the National Niantic Bank of Westerly, of which in 1887 he became assistant cashier. Within two years he had so proven his ability that he was advanced to the office of secretary and treasurer of the Niantic Savings Bank, remaining in that capacity until 1904. He was then appointed manager of the institution which was reorganized as a branch of the Industrial Company, and in 1912 was elected a director. His financial reputation is sound and widespread. Meantime, his business activities have been paralleled by his participation in civic affairs. Since 1892, except for one year, Mr. Pendleton has been town treasurer of West- erly ; was for three years on the school committee ; for one year superintendent of health ; was a mem- ber of the building committee for the public li- brary, the high school, the town hall and court- house, and served as trustee and treasurer of the library from its organization in 1892 to the time of the present writing. His church is Calvary Baptist, of which he is a trustee and president of the board of corporation. He has been president of the Westerly Board of Trade and identified with civic improvement in the town. His cooperation has been granted to every enterprise looking toward municipal development in every line, and in most local public affairs he has taken a leading part. Particularly during the World War was his public spirit manifest, when he worked in season and out of season in the government financial and humani- tarian drives. He was chairman of the Rhode Island "four-minute men" for the Westerly dis- trict, a member of the Executive Committee of the United War Work drive in Westerly, and treas- urer of the local chapter of the Red Cross, serving as chairman of the fund campaigns. In 1919 he was a member of the State Committee appointed to welcome home-returning service men. His clubs are the University, of Providence, the Misquami- cut Golf, of which he was president for many years, and the Colonial of Westerly.
James Monroe Pendleton married, May 21, 1901, Beatrice N. Nicol of Newark, New Jersey. Chil- dren: I. James Monroe, Jr., born April II, 1902, died July 26, 1916. 2. Stuart Nicol, born September 24, 1905.
JONATHAN BATEMAN, postmaster at Man- ville, Rhode Island, is a man of ability and takes a keen interest in the welfare of the town and of his
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fellowmen. In addition to his duties as postmaster, he also operates a store in Manville.
Jonathan Bateman was born in Pontiac, Rhode Island, April 19, 1875, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Reilly) Bateman, both natives of England. The father was a millworker. The son was educated in the grammar schools and the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of Providence. He then clerked in various stores and proved himself hardworking, dependable, and quick to learn and assume re- sponsibility. He finally was able to launch himself in his own mercantile enterprise, which he has successfully conducted for many years.
At the same time, Mr. Bateman has been lending his services to the postal service. For twelve years from 1903 to 1915, he was postmaster at Manville. In 1922 he resumed office on his appointment as a third-class postmaster, with one assistant and two carriers on the one rural route he controls. He was census-taker in 1900. His fraternal affiliations are with the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith, a com- municant of the Episcopal Church.
Jonathan Bateman married Sarah J. Sunderland, born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, daughter of Thompson and Betty (Eastwood) Sunderland. Mr. and Mrs. Bateman are the parents of the follow- ing children : Gertrude, assistant postmaster ; Car- lisle, a mail carrier at Manville; married Helen F. Mccullough by whom he has a child, Carlisle, Jr .; Florence, wife of Leroy Boyd, resides at Danville ; George, who married Ruth Fields, has charge of the variety store of his father.
OSCAR ELMOND BARBER-Town clerk at Carolina, Rhode Island, for almost a quarter of a century, Oscar Elmond Barber has given most of his active career to the service of the people of the community. He has filled this and other important offices with the greatest efficiency, to the complete satisfaction of the electorate and his own great credit.
Mr. Barber was born on April 10, 1865, in Caro- lina Village, Richmond Township, a son of Eason and Rachel (Pollard) Barber, old and highly respected residents of this place. On the maternal side he is a grandson of James and Mary Pollard, natives of England.
Oscar Elmond Barber received his educational training in the public schools of his birthplace, and
at Perry's Commercial College, in Providence. At the completion of this course he began the business of life in the employ of the Carolina Mill Company. But it has been Mr. Barber's services in the public interest rather than his activities as a business man which have won him his place in the community at Carolina. Since early youth he has been extremely active in local affairs. In the year 1890 he was elected to the town council of Richmond and served continuously in that body for six years. Then, fol- lowing an interval of several years, he was again elected to the Council, and on this occasion served consecutively for twelve years. During this period Mr. Barber also held the position of tax assessor and was moderator of the town. In 1908 he was proposed as a candidate for the office of town clerk, to succeed the incumbent who was resigning after many years of service because of increasing age. Mr. Barber's candidacy won ready support, and many fine tributes were paid to him, indicating the high place which was his in the community esteem. The following lines are typical of many endorsements received.
He must be a competent man, careful and reli- able, and one who has had experience in public affairs, and has some knowledge of legal matters. He must be a man in his prime, one with many years before him, for we trust he may hold the office as long and as successfully as his prede- cessor. To be able to discharge the duties of the office with fairness and without partiality is one of the utmost importance.
It is with no small degree of pleasure that we are able to point to one who would make an ideal successor to Mr. Clark and that gentleman is none other than Oscar E. Barber, of Carolina. He is a young man who has had experience in town af- fairs, having served as moderator and councilman for a number of years. He has the confidence and respect of the community and is one in whom the taxpayers could make no mistake in selecting for the position. Mr. Barber has been approached by his friends and asked to accept the trust and he has signified his willingness to serve the towns- people to the best of his ability, and we bespeak for him the endorsenient of each and every voter in the town.
Mr. Barber was elected to this important office on June 2, 1908, and has continued to serve therein continuously ever since. He has amply measured up to the best standards of the public service, and has discharged the duties of his office with the greatest efficiency, disinterestedness and success. In addition to this connection Mr. Barber has also served for more than ten years as trustee of the Carolina District Schools, Nos. 2 and 8, and for an equal period as clerk of the Board of Assessors.
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For many years he has held the position of justice of the peace, and since 1913 has been authorized to issue warrants and accept bail. Mr. Barber has also been entrusted in recent years with the settle- ment of a large number of valuable estates.
In the support of worthy civic and benevolent causes Mr. Barber has been equally active. Since its organization he has been treasurer of the Paw- catuck branch of the Westerly Chapter, American Red Cross, and during the period of the World War he rendered valuable aid to his country's cause as chairman of the Fourth Liberty Loan and cap- tain of team No. 8 for the War Fund Drive in Richmond. He was also a member of the Legal Advisory Selective Draft Board. Since 1913 he has served as agent of the American Surety Company. Mr. Barber is a member of the representative com- mittee from Richmond, on the building of the Pawcatuck steel bridge at Shannock, and was a member, with the late Ellison Tinkham, on the committee for the construction of the steel bridge over the Pawcatuck River at Carolina. He is also connected with a number of important organiza- tions at Carolina and elsewhere, including the Paw- catuck Council of American Mechanics, and the Carolina Business Men's Club.
On August 2, 1902, Oscar Elmond Barber mar- ried Edna Winnifred Bates, daughter of the late Albert E. and Mary H. (Perry) Bates, old and respected residents at Carolina, and the father a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Barber now reside in the old homestead formerly in the possession of his grandfather, from whom it passed into the hands of Mrs. Barber's grandmother, the late Mary A. Perry, and eventually reverted to her.
JOTHAM H. WHIPPLE-Proprietor of a general store and ice cream factory at Diamond Hill, Rhode Island, Jotham H. Whipple plays an important part in the business affairs of the com- munity in which he lives and works. A native of this region of New England and a lifelong resident here, he is naturally very well acquainted with the people and their characteristics and peculiar needs, so that he is enabled to render even better public service through the work that he does than would otherwise be possible.
Mr. Whipple was born in the town of Cumber- land, Rhode Island, on May 24, 1882, son of Henry and Lavina (Hixon) Whipple. His father was also a native of Cumberland, although the mother was
born in Ashland, Massachusetts. They were en- gaged in farming, and had three children, two of whom are now living, Jotham H. and Gertrude. Jotham H. Whipple received his early education in the Cumberland grammar and high schools, and then became a hired hand on a farm. At this work he continued for two years, at the end of which he started to work on a farm near the city of Pawtucket. There he stayed for one year. Fol- lowing that period he was for two and one-half years a coachman and gardener, after which he began his work as clerk in a grocery store. For two and one-half years he served in this capacity until, in 1922, he started a business of his own at Diamond Hill, which he still conducts, and which, with the passing years, is becoming more and more successful and profitable.
Mr. Whipple, along with his work in this con- nection, takes time to participate in community affairs. Deeply interested in politics, he has aligned himself consistently with the Republican party, whose policies and candidates he regularly sup- ports. He is also active in church affairs, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which also claims his wife as a communicant.
Jotham H. Whipple married Florence Whipple, who is unrelated to him except by marriage, daugh- ter of George and Jessie (Minot) Whipple. Her father also is a merchant in Diamond Hill, and is a native of the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, while the mother is of Blackstone, Massa- chusetts.
WILLIAM F. O'NEIL-Having become con- nected with the Providence Police Department some forty years ago, Chief O'Neil has continued to serve with it since then. His ability, honesty and faithfulness have gained him various promo- tions to positions of ever-increasing importance and responsibility, and since 1922 he has been superin- tendent and chief of police of Providence. In this office he has proven himself a very capable, effi- cient, and conscientious public official, gaining for himself to the fullest possible extent the liking, respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Under his administration the Police Department of Rhode Island's capital has become consistently maintained on a very high plane of efficiency, and Chief O'Neil ranks as one of the most successful and ablest police chiefs in this country.
William F. O'Neil was born in Providence, January 29, 1867, a son of the late Thomas E. and
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Margaret (Grant) O'Neil. His father, a native of County Cork, Ireland, was for many years engaged as head farmer for Joseph E. Cook, well known Providence resident. Chief O'Neil's mother was a native of County Roscommon, Ireland. Educated in the public schools of his native city, Chief O'Neil, after leaving school, worked for four years in the local grocery store and then was con- nected for three years with the Providence Street Railway Company. On March 6, 1890, he entered the Providence Police Department as a patrolman. Eleven years later, March 8, 1901, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and in the following year, March 9, 1902, he became a lieutenant. After serv- ing in that capacity for some eleven years, he was made a captain on August 7, 1913, chief inspector on May 9, 1915, and deputy superintendent of police on February 3, 1918. Since December 3, 1922, he has been chief and superintendent of the Providence Police Department. During all these years Chief O'Neil has had an admirable record as an able and honest police officer, a fact which is indicated by his steady rise. He is a member of the International Police Chiefs' Association; the New England Police Chiefs' Association, of which he is a director ; and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association, of which he was elected the first president. He is also a member of Providence Lodge, No. 14, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is independent, and his reli- gious affiliation is with St. Michael's Roman Cath- olic Church of Providence.
Chief O'Neil married, on June 7, 1899, Eliza- beth Donovan, a native of Sandwich, Massachu- setts, now deceased.
FARRAND STEWART STRANAHAN, SR.
-For more than two decades the firm of Strana- han and Company has been prominent in financial circles of Providence, Rhode Island. As its ex- ecutive head, Farrand Stewart Stranahan, Sr., guided it with sure hand along the pathway of success. He was a leader in both economic and social progress in this city, supporting all move- ments which promised to benefit the public and willingly assuming his share in the burdens of ยท community life.
Through his mother, Mr. Stranahan was a dircct descendant of Roger Williams, founder of Providence and of the colony of Rhode Island. He was born, however, in St. Albans, Vermont, on May 20, 1869, a son of Farrand Stewart and
Miranda Aldis (Brainerd) Stranahan, and of excellent New England stock.
Farrand Stewart Stranahan, the son, was edu- cated in public and private schools, and later entered Harvard, where he took up the study of law for a time. He found, however, that he preferred business to a legal career and entered the field of finance as a clerk in the Welden National Bank of St. Albans, which had been in part controlled by his family for some time. The apprenticeship in finance thus provided pre- pared Mr. Stranahan for the next economic field in which he labored-the sale of bonds for a' New York investment house. This proved a pre- liminary experience to the establishment of a business of his own in partnership with Joseph Balch. The two men set up a New England branch of the firm of O'Connor and Kahler, and, in 1906, began as partners to operate independ- ently in stocks and bonds. Two years later, in 1908, Mr. Stranahan and his former partner dis- solved their association and Mr. Stranahan con- tinued the business alone under the corporate title of Stranahan and Company. His energetic direction so widened the activities of the firm that branches were established in New York, Boston, and Worcester. The company during the twenty-one years of its existence has grown into the confidence of a numerous clientele of high standing, confidence gained and justified by the adherence of Mr. Stranahan and his associates to the fairest principles of strict business deal- ings. In addition to his connection with this company, Mr. Stranahan had large private inter- ests. He was treasurer of the Metal Textile Cor- poration of Orange, New Jersey, and of the Useful Products Company of Orange, a director of the Fiscal Bond and Share Company of New York, and vice-president and secretary of the Kendall Manufacturing Company of this city.
With all these major responsibilities, Mr. Strana- han found time for diversified participation in public affairs. While a resident of Vermont, from 1898 to 1900, he was a member of the staff of Governor E. C. Smith, with the rank of colonel. During the World War he was a leader in the drives for government loans and for the Red Cross. He was chairman of the Speakers' Bureau for Rhode Island in all the Liberty Loan and War Savings Stamps drives, a post for which he was eminently fitted through his long financial experience and his wide acquaintance among men versed in the sale of securities. His con- tribution in no small degree influenced the splen-
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did showing made by Rhode Island in subscrip- tions to each issue. Although long a distin- guished figure in Rhode Island life, Mr. Strana- han lost none of his fondness for his native Ver- mont. In 1927, following the disastrous floods in that State, he served as chairman of the Ver- mont Relief Fund Committee of Rhode Island, and rendered much important service in this ca- pacity for the rehabilitation of the State.
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