USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. III > Part 49
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ALBERT W. BRADLEY-A native of New York State, but since his early childhood a resi- dent of Rhode Island, Mr. Bradley was during the earlier part of his career identified in various re- sponsible positions with several of the leading man- ufacturing companies of Kent County. Eventually, he became a member of one of the leading insur- ance firms of Kent County, becoming the secre- tary and treasurer. He enjoys not only a high repu- tation in business and financial circles, but has been exceptionally prominent and active in fra- ternal affairs. Effectively active in church work, Mr. Bradley, by the extent and variety of his numerous interests, typifies a useful and public- spirited citizenship.
Albert W. Bradley was born in Buffalo, New York, April 25, 1896, a son of Andrew William and Carrie (Johnson) Bradley. His father, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was successfully en- gaged in the hotel business until his death. Mr. Bradley's mother is a native of Sweden. Educated in the public grammar and high schools of West Warwick, Mr. Bradley, after leaving school, be- came associated with the Crompton Company, of
Crompton, Kent County, of which well known industrial establishment he remained an employee for eight years, holding various positions of steadily increasing importance. Next, he became office manager for the Quidnick-Windham Manu- facturing Company, with which firm he likewise continued for eight years. In 1927 he entered the insurance business, becoming a partner in the firm of Clarke & Kendall, the firm name being changed at that time to Clarke, Kendall & Bradley. This partnership continued until 1927, when the firm was incorporated, and since then Mr. Bradley has been both the secretary and the treasurer, with Nathan E. Kendall (q. v.), one of its founders, president. The headquarters of the firm are located in the Curson Building, Arctic, West Warwick.
Mr. Bradley is also the branch manager of the Arctic branch of the Old Colony Cooperative Bank. For many years prominently active in Ma- sonic affairs, he is a member of numerous Masonic bodies, including the following : Manchester Lodge, No. 12, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a Past Master; Landmark Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is Past High Priest; Nar- ragansett Council, No. 16, Royal and Select Mas- ters, of which he is now the principal conductor of work; St. John's Commandery, No. I, Knights Templar ; Rhode Island Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite; Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Ruth Chapter, No. 15, Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is a Past Patron. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his reli- gious affiliation is with the Centreville Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is treasurer of its board of trustees. He is fond of amateur sports and is especially fond of baseball.
Mr. Bradley married, in 1928, Laura J. Dewell, a native of Centerville.
HENRY MANCHESTER BOSS, JR., United States District Attorney for the district of Rhode Island and a member of the law firm of Boss, Shepard & McMahon, leading attorneys of Provi- dence, has made an enviable reputation in his profession since he was admitted to practice before the Rhode Island bar in 1900. He has served efficiently in the public office to which he was appointed April 24, 1929, prosecuting offend- ers against the law of the State with fearless- ness and forcefulness, but the public has watched his work with complacency rather than surprise,
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for it was already assured of his exceptional abilities. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Boss has business interests in various mercantile concerns. He takes an active part in organiza- tion affairs of his fellow-barristers and is also a well-known figure in the best club circles of the State capital.
Mr. Boss was born September 13, 1875, in Prov- idence, the son of Henry Manchester Boss, also a' native of the city and for many years promi- nently identified with the insurance interests of Providence. His mother was, before her mar- riage, Emma J. Wilbur. Following his gradua- tion from the Providence High School, Mr. Boss entered Brown University where he studied for two years before going to Yale University to take up the study of law. He was accorded his degree, Bachelor of Laws, with the class of 1899, and the following year was admitted to the Rhode Island bar. When he first began his law practice Mr. Boss was associated with Walter B. Vincent, and in 1904 entered the firm which thereafter was known as Vincent, Boss and Barnefield, with offices in Providence. Mr. Vin- cent was made an associate justice of the Su- preme Court in 1912 with the result that his affiliation with his former co-workers was severed and the firm of Boss and Barnefield carried on in its place. Again, in 1918, there was a change and Mr. Boss allied himself with the firm of Lee, Boss and McCanna, which continued its operations until the year 1922, when he helped to form the firm of Curtis, Matteson, Boss and Letts. This latter was not dissolved until, in 1927, Ira Lloyd Letts was named to occupy a seat on the Federal bench. Thereupon the firm which has since continued to work together was organ- ized, Boss, Shepard and McMahan, with offices in the Hospital Trust Building. Mr. Boss was appointed to his office as United States District Attorney on April 24, 1929, a signal recognition of his abilities, and in this position he has since served ably.
As a director and secretary of the board of directors, Mr. Boss is interested in the Rhode Island Lace Works, Incorporated, and he is also secretary and director of the Saddleback Lumber Company of Maine. He is a member of both the American Bar Association and the Rhode Is- land Bar Association, and of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Boss is president of the Rhode Island Medico-Legal Society, and the clubs which carry his name on their rosters include: the Agawam Hunt Club,
the Duxbury Yacht Club, and Zeta Psi Frater- nity. With his family he worships at St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
Mr. Boss married, on October 20, 1906, Louise Gifford, daughter of William H. and Norah B. (Gardner) Gifford. To this union two children have been born: I. Betsey, who was educated in the Mary C. Wheeler School of Providence and St. Agnes School of Albany, New York. She was married, on November 30, 1929, to Herbert Carpenter Brownell, of Providence, a graduate of Colgate in 1928. 2. Mary Louise.
J. ROBERT ABRAMSON-Cashier of the Centreville National and Savings Bank at Centre- ville, Rhode Island, J. Robert Abramson has risen to this position through the merit of his services in the institution with which he is connected. Though still a young man he is well known in financial circles of this section.
Mr. Abramson was born on June 8, 1897, at Warwick, Rhode Island, a son of Charles A. Abramson, a carpenter, and of Ida J. (Johnson) Abramson. Both his parents were natives of Sweden. The son, J. Robert Abramson, received his education in the public schools of the town of Warwick, and following graduation from high school, attended the Bryant and Stratton Business College at Boston, undertaking courses in cost accounting and business administration. Begin- ning his active career at the completion of his educational training, Mr. Abramson entered the employ of the Centreville National and Savings Bank in 1915, serving at first as a clerk. His obvi- ous ability and strict attention to the duties which came to hand, brought him gradual but merited advancement to positions of responsibility and trust. In 1924 he was appointed cashier of the bank, and has served in this important office since that time. Mr. Abramson is thoroughly acquainted with all phases of banking operations and his services have been of genuine value to the Centre- ville National and Savings Bank.
After the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Abramson enlisted in the United States Army, in July, 1918, and was assigned to Company K, 31st Division, serving overseas in France with the American Expeditionary Forces for a period of eleven months. He was discharged in August, 1919, with the rank of private, first class. Mr. Abramson is a Republican in politics
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and is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, being a member in this great order of Warwick Lodge, No. 16; Landmark Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Narragansett Council, of Royal and Select Masters. Mr. Abram- son is also a member of West Warwick Post of the American Legion, a member of the Pawtuxet Valley Board of Trade, and of the Rhode Island Bankers Association. He is fond of outdoor sports and athletics, and worships in the Lutheran faith, being a deacon of the church of this denomination at Natick.
REV. CORNELIUS J. HOLLAND-Since 1920 Rev. Cornelius J. Holland has been the able pastor of St. Charles' Church of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
St. Charles' parish is the oldest Catholic parish in northern Rhode Island. As early as 1828 Rev. Robert D. Woodley visited Woonsocket and said mass in the house of Walter Allen, a generous Protestant, for the ten Irish Catholics who were then living in the town. That house, a two-story Colonial structure in Great Road, known as the Osborne House, is still standing (1930). Father Woodley's ministry to this district ceased in 1831. During the next ten or fifteen years the successive priests who had charge of Providence or Paw- tucket occasionally visited Woonsocket, which was then a small mill town. By 1834, when the first Catholic census was taken, there were thirty Catho- lics in Woonsocket, and mass was said for them by Rev. James Fitton. From 1834 to 1846 Woonsocket was under the jurisdiction of Father Fitton, who also ministered to Pawtucket, Newport, and Crompton, under appointment by Rt. Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, bishop of Boston diocese, which then included all of New England. Up to 1841 mass was said in private houses, but in 1841 Mr. Ruel Smith opened to the Catholics the hall attached to the old Woonsocket Hotel. On October 10, 1842, the sum of $1,300 having been collected, "a lot of land near Social Village, on the Mendon road and Daniels Street," was purchased through Michael Reddy for $185, and the first little wooden church, sixty by forty feet, was completed at a cost of $2,000 in 1844. In November, 1846, Father Fitton was appointed pastor of Newport as a separate parish, and Rev. Charles O'Reilly became pastor of St. Charles' Church in Woonsocket. Father O'Reilly remained in charge from 1846 to 1852, and during that time he established a cemetery,
which was later transferred to Blackstone and is now known as St. Paul's. He also, in 1848, en- larged the church by an addition eighty by one hundred and twenty feet, twice the size of the original building, at a cost of $6,000. In February, 1852, Father O'Reilly was succeeded by Rev. Hugh Carmody, who served until March, 1854. Next came Rev. Thomas F. Hendrigan, but a week later he was succeeded by Rev. John Brady, who in March, 1855, resigned and left the diocese.
During that same month, March, 1855, Rev. Michael McCabe took charge. From that time until December, 1893, with the exception of an interval of three years, from 1866 to February, 1869, Father McCabe worked at the task of moulding and fash- ioning St. Charles' parish into a model organiza- tion. The parish then numbered about 1,600 souls, almost all Irish immigrants, scattered over a wide territory. Father McCabe at once began to plan for a new church, but he first cleared the parish of its debt of $2,233, built a vestry at a cost of $600; purchased land on which the present rectory stands, moved the rectory to the new site, and en- larged and improved it; built on Daniels Street a school, one of the first Catholic schools in the diocese, at a cost of $3,100; and secured land for a cemetery at East Blackstone. Along with these activities he accumulated for the erection of a new church $10,300, which he left in the treasury when he went to St. Patrick's Church in Providence, in 1866. His successor, Rev. Francis Lenihan, con- tinued Father McCabe's plans and removed the old church to leased land. On June 16, 1867, the cor- ner-stone of the new church was laid by Bishop McFarland. Soon afterward, Father Lenihan died, but during his short pastorate he had recognized the need of the French-speaking people of his par- ish and Rev. Lawrence Walsh had been appointed to take special charge of them. Different priests took care of these French-speaking people until 1873, when Precious Blood parish was formed for them with Rev. Antoine Bernard as the first pastor.
Rev. Bernard O'Reilly succeeded Father Leni- han in August, 1867, and pushed forward the work of building the church with great vigor. In May, 1868, long before the new church was completed, the old one was destroyed by fire, and for a time mass was said in various halls. Late in the fall of 1868 services were held in the new church for the first time, and soon afterward Father O'Reilly left the diocese and Father McCabe returned, in Feb- ruary, 1869. His marvelous energy soon achieved the completion of the church which was dedicated
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October 15, 1871. From that time to the time of his death, December 14, 1893, Father McCabe de- voted his great energy to the development of the parish he loved so well. The new St. Michael's School on River Street, the gift of Father McCabe, was put into operation; the convent which is still used by the Sisters of Mercy was built on Earle Street; the present rectory was erected; and the new church, entirely freed from debt, was con- secrated August 10, 1893. Along with all this a large sum was gathered for the building of a new school. In recognition of the great achievement of the parish under Father McCabe's leadership St. Charles' was made a permanent rectorship and the pastor was elevated to the position of vicar- general of the diocese, in which capacity he served from August, 1879, to the time of his death.
The next pastor was Rev. George T. Mahoney, who took charge in February, 1897. Early in his pastorate the parish of the Sacred Heart was set off from St. Charles'. He erected a fine parish school at a cost of $60,000, begun in May, 1897, and dedicated July 4, 1898. He also established, under Bishop Harkins, the St. Vincent de Paul Home on Pond Street, opened in November, 1905, and since that time under the direction of the Sisters of the Order of St. Francis. Father Ma- honey died December 10, 1907, and was succeeded by Rev. M. P. Cassidy, February 26, 1908. Father Cassidy renovated and greatly improved the in- terior of the church and beautified the grounds sur- rounding the church and school. He also pur- chased property on the opposite side of Daniel Street.
St. Charles' Church is an imposing granite struc- ture in Gothic style, designed by the architect Keeley, and, with the exception of the top of the tower, which was the gift of Father McCabe, re- mains as it was sixty years ago. The interior, however, has been greatly changed. Father Ma- honey replaced the wooden altar rail of the sanc- tuary with the present delicately carved marble one, which was moved three feet further out to enlarge the sanctuary. He also cut away the gal- lery on either side, from the sanctuary wall to the second column; put in new pictorial windows, rich in color and beautiful in design; put in new Sta- tions of the Cross; and entirely redecorated the walls. Under Father Cassidy, the transformation of the church went on from, 1914 to the time of Father Cassidy's death in 1920. Father Cassidy, with the aid of the architect, Fontaine, created the present beautiful narthex, or vestibule, by building a glass and oak partition entirely across
the church, ten feet from the rear wall; replaced the narrow old pews with large quartered-oak ones ; constructed a complete marble sanctuary ; built a wainscoting of marble, rising four feet from the floor, entirely around the church; and laid marble tiles in all the open spaces of the auditorium and narthex. A new gallery was built where the old choir-loft stood, making the total seating capacity 1,300; and a new organ was in- stalled. The pulpit was removed from its middle position, which gave a crowded appearance to the interior, and placed by the column by the side of the arch. Running entirely around the sanctuary walls a richly carved oak wainscoting rises to a height of fifteen feet and above this, to a height of ten feet more, the sanctuary walls are covered with taffeta in old rose, old gold, and blue. Five panels, five by fifteen feet, the work of Rudolph Schmalz of Munich, fill the Gothic spaces under the groining of the ceiling. The carved oak se- dilia and the sanctuary lamp add greatly to the beauty of the sanctuary, the latter of hand-wrought bronze, in heart design formed by two peacocks who face each other, plumage drooping to unite at the base and eyes fixed on the ruby lamp. In contrast with the richness of the sanctuary are the subdued tints of old ivory and caenstone of the body of the church. The effect of spaciousness has been increased by the removal of the old confes- sionals, which stood out from the side walls. Two were removed to the vestibule partition in the rear and the third to the space formerly leading to the side door. The Baptistry, a chapel-like en- closure, a gem in miniature Gothic, replaces one of the old stairways formerly leading to the choir- loft.
Thus the old interior has been transformed into spaciousness and into the beauty of harmony and peace, and the devout worshipper at St. Charles' finds his spirit lifted by the atmosphere of the place to the God in whose name all this symbolic loveliness has been created.
After the death of Father Cassidy, July 6, 1920, he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Cor- nelius J. Holland, who took charge August 13, 1920. Father Holland is assisted by Rev. F. A. Baker, who came September 4, 1920, and by Rev. William J. Tierney, who came in September, 1926. Under the leadership of Father Holland and these two assistants St. Charles' parish has steadily de- veloped, and although it is not one of the very large parishes of the diocese it has been notable for its devotion, its generosity, and its loyalty. No call for aid in the erection of schools, in works of
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charity, or in missionary endeavor fails to bring generous response from St. Charles', and Bishop Hickey has more than once cited St. Charles' as an example for emulation.
REV. B. MARENCHINO-Five years of active work as pastor of St. Rocco's Church of Thornton, Rhode Island, have served to win for Rev. B. Marenchino the deep regard and the hearty cooperation of his people.
St. Rocco's parish was organized in 1905, with Rev. Belliotti Dominic as its first pastor. Father Belliotti Dominic labored a year organizing and starting the parish on the road of progress, build- ing the church and establishing its societies, and then was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Gotti, who remained in charge from 1903 to 1918, for fifteen years. During that time Father Joseph Gotti ac- complished a great work, developing the material and spiritual resources of the parish and con- firming and enlarging the beginnings made by the first pastor. He built the attractive twelve-room rectory and substantially increased the member- ship of the parish. He was succeeded by Francis Berti, who gave three years of able service to St. Rocco's, and at the end of that time was followed by David Angeli. The next pastor was Rev. Father Slvio Sarvori, who served until 1925, when the present pastor, Rev. B. Marenchino, took charge.
Rev. B. Marenchino was born in Italy and re- ceived his early education in the public and private schools of his native province. When his prepara- tory training was completed he entered Piacenza Seminary, where he completed his theological studies and was ordained in 1895. After his ordina- tion he came to this country and was assigned as an assistant to St. Joachim's parish in New York, where he served for five years. He was then made a pastor and placed in charge of St. Michael's Church of New Haven, Connecticut, a parish of a membership of ten thousand souls, and during the first four years of his pastorate there Father Marenchino built a beautiful church, which is said to be one of the finest in the State. The last year of his pastorate this church was destroyed by fire and Father Marenchino built another one that seated eighteen hundred people. He had nearly finished this when he was transferred to St. An- thony's Church. This was a new parish, and for twenty-one years he continued as pastor, accom- plishing a great work and winning the enthusiastic
devotion of his people. His splendid qualities of leadership and his sincere Christian character en- abled him to direct his people in the paths of prog- ress and achievement, and when, in 1925, he was transferred to his present charge as pastor of St. Rocco's Church in Thornton, he left behind him a regretful parish.
Since coming to St. Rocco's, Father Marenchino has amply justified the faith placed in him. He has enlarged the seating capacity of the church by the addition of about one hundred and fifty seats, has redecorated the interior of the church, has redec- orated the rectory, and has put the entire church property in excellent condition. The various par- ish societies, including a Holy Name Society for men, a Junior Holy Name Society for the young men, a Holy Rosary Society for women, a Children of Mary Society for the children, are all vigorous and active and steadily growing. Among young and old alike, Father Marenchino is popular and beloved, and in every parish activity which he un- dertakes he has the full cooperation of his people. In Thornton he is also respected and admired by those not of his own religious faith, who recognize the high quality of the service he is rendering.
JOSEPH S. LAWTON-Connected for some thirty-three years with the Newport Fire Depart- ment, Mr. Lawton has been its chief since 1927. Under his very able and efficient direction the Newport Fire Department has been maintained on a very high plane of preparedness and efficiency, and Mr. Lawton ranks high among the city's public officials.
Joseph S. Lawton was born in Newport, Feb- ruary 22, 1871, a son of Edward N. and Frances (Wilson) Lawton. His father, likewise a native of Newport, was successfully engaged in the fish- ing industry. He is now living retired. He was a veteran of the Civil War, during which he served wth one of the Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiments. After the war he was for many years a popular member of Newport Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Lawton's mother, still a resident of Newport, is a native of England. Mr. Lawton received his education in the public schools of his native city and, after leaving school, worked for two years in a local butcher shop. He then learned the trade of brick layer and plasterer, which he followed successfully until 1914. In that year he was appointed deputy fire chief for the city of Newport Fire Department,
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a position he continued to hold until 1927, when he was made chief. His offices are located in Fire Station No. 5, at the corner of Touro and Mary streets. Chief Lawton is equally popular with the men in his department and with the citizens of Newport in general and he has given his depart- ment an exceptionally able and faithful admin- istration. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Engineers, of which he is State vice-president; the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs' Club, and the New England Fire Chiefs' Associa- tion, of which he is first vice-president. He also belongs to Excelsior Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Newport Lodge, No. 104, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and the Improved Order of Red Men; as well as the Newport Horti- cultural Society. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party. His religious affiliation is with the Society of Friends. Throughout his entire life Chief Lawton has always been greatly inter- ested in all athletics sports.
Chief Lawton married, in 1895, Eunice M. Albro, like himself a native of Newport. Chief and Mrs. Lawton have one daughter, Mildred E., who mar- ried Theodore M. Stenholm, machinist, and a native of Newport, and one grandson, Joseph Lawton Stenholm. The Lawtons make their home in New- port.
CLARENCE E. SHERMAN-As a result of his decision to devote his life to library work, Mr. Sherman, after graduating from college, took a special course in the New York State Library School. After having spent some ten years as librarian of a well-known college and later of a large public library, both in Massachusetts, he came to Providence some eight years ago and since then has been continuously connected with the Provi- dence Public Library, of which he is now the librarian. In this capacity he has done work of lasting value to the community and he is regarded as one of the most successful librarians in this part of the country and as an authority on library man- agement.
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