USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. III > Part 5
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GEORGE H. CORLISS For forty-four years George H. Corliss was a resident of Provi- dence, where he invented and developed the steam engine that today is known throughout the civil- ized world by the name of its creator. He has been named as the man who did more for the development of the steam engine than any other individual in the history of the country. His fame was world-wide and his activities throughout his life were devoted to this one purpose. His loss to the commercial world was irreparable and language unequal to expressing the void that was created in inventive circles when he passed. He was of the seventh generation from the first of missioners to that exposition and reported to his
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government on the Corliss engine: "A mecha- nism as beautiful as the human hand. . . . The American engine of Corliss everywhere tells of wise forethought, judicious proportions and execu- tion and exquisite contrivance." The Rumford medals were awarded Mr. Corliss January II, 1870, at which time Dr. Asa Gray, president of the Academy, paid a great tribute to the inven- tor, saying, among other things, that "the Acad- emy rejoices when, as now, it can signalize an invention which unequivocally tends to promote that which the founder had most at heart, the material good of mankind. The inventor has shown conspicuously his mastery of the resources of mechanism." This was just a century after Watt had presented his improvements on the then existing steam engine. The award of the Grand Diploma of Honor from the Vienna Ex- hibition in 1873 was another triumph for the inventor of this engine. Foreign builders had followed his designs and sent their engines to the exhibition with their names upon them and he was without representation of any sort. Hence, the jurors awarded the Diploma of Honor as "a' particular distinction for eminent merits in the domain of science, its application to the education of the people and its conducement to the ad- vancement of intellectual, moral and material welfare of man." He was the only person to receive a diploma without being an exhibitor. The Institute of France, by public proclamation, bestowed on Mr. Corliss, March 10, 1879, the Montyon prize for the year 1878, this being the highest prize of the Old World for mechanical achievement.
In 1872 he was appointed a commissioner from the State of Rhode Island to take charge of the exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in Phila- delphia, held in 1876, and was chosen one of the executive committee of seven entrusted with the preliminary work. It was at his suggestion that the Centennial Board of Finance was organized, which was a most important feature of insuring the financial success of the undertaking. The great Corliss engine was one of the wonders of the exhibition, developing 1,400 horse-power for the operating of Machinery Hall. This great machine was installed at a personal cost to Mr. Corliss of more than one hundred thousand dol- lars. After viewing it at work, Professor Rad- inger, of the Polytechnic School of Vienna, said of it: "Systematical in greatness, beautiful in form and without fault-in every detail a master- piece." The machine was afterward used in oper-
ating the Pullman car works at Pullman, Illi- nois. During the Civil War the Corliss works furnished machinery for the government and later Mr. Corliss developed his engine and adapted it for pumping water supplies for towns and cities. He also made improvements in boiler condens- ing apparatus for marine and pumping engines and invented a machine for cutting cogs of bev- elled wheels. In politics he was a Republican and served in 1868-69 and 1870 as representative from North Providence to the Rhode Island General Assembly. In 1876 he was elected a Presidential elector from this State and cast his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church and was liberal in his gifts to many religious organizations. His death took place February 21, 1888.
George H. Corliss married (first), in January, 1839, Phebe F. Frost, born in Canterbury, Con- necticut, died in Providence, Rhode Island, March 5, 1859. He married (second), in December, 1866, Emily A. Shaw, born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. His two children born of the first marriage, were: I. Maria Louisa, born De- cember 13, 1839, died June 13, 1929. 2. George Frost, born in October, 1841, died September 7, 1927.
Among the great geniuses of American produc- tion, George H. Corliss will have high rank. Benefits to humanity that arise from invention and development mark their originator as deserv- ing of the undying gratitude of civilization and this is the position in which he stood during his useful life and which he will hold forever in the pages of American history, while his fame will be equally deathless wherever man toils and uses mechanical appliances in his labors.
REV. JOSEPH BOEHR, C. S. Sp .- From 1923 to the present writing (1930) the Rev. Joseph Boehr has been the able and devoted pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost at North Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Holy Ghost parish was formerly a mission of St. Anthony's Church of Portsmouth, which, in turn, was a mission of St. Joseph's Church of Newport. The original St. Joseph's parish in Newport has been called the "Cradle of New- port's Catholicity," for on August 20, 1837, Bishop Fenwick, of Boston, dedicated the first Catholic church in Newport and placed it under the patron- age of St. Joseph. Ten years later plans were
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made for a new stone church on Spring Street and when the new church was completed it was called St. Mary's instead of St. Joseph's, and the old church building was sold and removed. When, however, conditions favored the formation of a new parish in Newport, a new St. Joseph's was set off from St. Mary's, January 15, 1885, with the Rev. James Coyle as pastor. During the second pastorate, that of the Rev. Louis J. Deady, it became apparent that a church was needed in the eastern section of the town of Portsmouth, and in 1901 Father Deady began the construction of the present St. Anthony's Church. After the building was finished a priest of St. Joseph's went there for Mass on Sundays and Holy days, and this was continued until St. Anthony's of Portsmouth was made a separate parish, May 1, 1908. Six years later, in 1914, St. Anthony's parish built at North Tiverton a church which it served as a mission until 1923, when the Church of the Holy Ghost at North Tiverton was made the center of a new parish and placed in charge of the Rev. Joseph Boehr, its present pastor, who had already been attending the mission from St. Anthony's.
Rev. Joseph Boehr was born in Alsace-Lorraine, received his education there, and was ordained in Paris on October 28, 1894. In 1895 he went to a section of Africa south of the equator and there for fourteen years he was engaged in arduous but most interesting and successful missionary work among the natives. As the language spoken among the Europeans there and by some of the natives was Portuguese, Father Boehr found his perfect command of that language a great help to him in his work, and he also learned several of the dialects spoken by the natives. While still in Africa he was appointed to Little Compton, Rhode Island, then a mission of St. Anthony's. He came to America in September, 1909, and served at Little Compton until November, 1910, when he was trans- ferred to St. Christopher's Church at Tiverton, Rhode Island. There he served ably until Jan- uary, 1918. Though residing at Portsmouth, he had charge of the mission at North Tiverton, where the Holy Ghost Church had been built in 1914, and when that district was set off as a sep- arate parish in 1923, Father Boehr was made first pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost.
Holy Ghost Parish numbers about eight hun- dred souls. The church, which seats about five hundred people, is well built, and is furnished with seats of polished walnut. It has the usual three altars, a main central one and two side altars, all of very neat design, and all its appointments
and furnishings are well chosen and well adapted to the needs of the parish. The basement seats about four hundred. A hall for social and reli- gious purposes was built in 1917 and this forms a center for the social activities of the parish. In 1924 Father Boehr built a fine new rectory con- taining sixteen rooms and equipped and furnished with every possible convenience and comfort. He also purchased four lots, each containing forty square rods, on Judson Street, on which the church and hall are located. He has also purchased three lots on Hooper Street and on one of these there is a cottage. The parish in 1930 had a Sunday school with an enrollment of about two hundred and fifty pupils. In Holy Ghost Parish three lan- guages are spoken-English, French, and Portu- guese, and sermons are delivered in all three lan- guages. Both Father Boehr and his assistant, the Rev. Joseph V. Sabaniec, speak all three languages fluently. The church societies include the usual Holy Name Society, Children of Mary, St. Anne's Society, and an Altar Society, and all are pros- perous.
Father Boehr is one of the most energetic and hard-working pastors in Providence Diocese and no labor which can benefit his parish is too large or too small for him to undertake. He is beloved by his people, and his varied and unusual experiences make him a most interesting and entertaining asso- ciate and have given him a breadth of vision which is invaluable in his work.
REV. FRANCIS J. WILK-Since June 8, 1928, Rev. Francis J. Wilk has been actively build- ing up the resources of St. Hedwig's Church of Providence, Rhode Island.
St. Hedwig's parish, which has a Polish mem- bership of about one thousand souls, was organ- ized in 1916. In that year the old Church of the Redeemer, located on North Main Street, was purchased as a place of worship for the newly- formed parish and Father Dutkiewicz was made the first pastor. The task of organizing and lay- ing firm foundations for the future growth and development of St. Hedwig's was vigorously undertaken and splendidly carried to completion by the energy and devotion of Father Dutkie- wicz. He practically rebuilt the church inside and out, and refurnished and redecorated the interior, putting in new seats to provide for about four hundred people, new windows to admit an abun- dance of light, installing three new altars, a large
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central one and two side altars, and building a choir loft, fitted with a fine-toned organ and pro- viding seating for some one hundred singers. A side chapel which seats two hundred and fifty, was so arranged that it could be thrown open to form part of the main body of the church, rais- ing the seating capacity to six hundred. The exterior of the building was painted and the interior thoroughly and artistically redecorated. More important still, the religious life of the parish was strengthened and developed, its various societies organized and well-started in the way of growth and service, and the membership in- creased. Father Dutkiewicz continued to serve St. Hedwig's until May, 1928, when he was trans- ferred to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and Rev. Francis J. Wilk was appointed pastor of St. Hed- wig's.
Rev. Francis J. Wilk was born in West Warren, Massachusetts, and attended the schools of his birthplace and of Three Rivers, Massachusetts, until he had completed the grammar school courses. After graduating from the eighth grade, he went to Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he entered high school, and was graduated therefrom in 1916. As he had decided to devote his life to the serv- ice of the church he then began his special prepara- tion for his high calling, spending two years in the study of philosophy and four years in theo- logical training. He was ordained in the Cathe- dral in Providence, Rhode Island, by Bishop Hickey, March 1I, 1922, and appointed to serve as assistant to Father Malecki in St. Joseph's Church at Central Falls. For a period of six years Father Wilk served ably in that parish, remaining until May 9, 1928, when he was made administrator of St. Stanislaus' Church of Woonsocket. Soon after going to Woonsocket he was made a pastor and on June 8, 1928, assigned to his present charge as pastor of St. Hedwig's Church of Providence. From that time to the time of writing (1930), Father Wilk has been active in the work of im- proving and enlarging the church property and in building up the spiritual life of his people. The interior of the home-like nine-room rectory he has had remodelled, papered, and painted, and put in excellent condition throughout. The member- ship of the parish has increased to about one hun- dred and sixty-five families, aggregating one thou- sand souls; and there is a Sunday school with an enrollment of about three hundred pupils, who are taught by Father Wilk for nine months of the year. During July, August, and September, when the average attendance is only about one hundred
and fifty, the children are taught by the Bernardine Sisters. The various church societies are pros- perous and active, and every department of the parish work is going steadily forward. For the benefit of the church a dramatic circle has been organized for producing plays.
Father Wilk is held in very high regard, not only by his Polish congregation but also by the community in general, regardless of religious af- filiation. St. Hedwig's is fortunate in having so able and so devoted a pastor.
THOMAS D. GOLDRICK-A native and, with the exception of several years of his youth spent in Woonsocket, a life-long resident of the town of Burrillville, Mr. Goldrick as a young man, served as assistant postmaster and since 1924 has been postmaster of Pascoag, Burrillville Town- ship. A veteran of the World War, he is a mem- ber of several military organizations and he also takes an active interest in fraternal and religious affairs.
Thomas D. Goldrick was born in the town of Burrillville, Providence County, March 30, 1895, a son of Dennis and Catherine (Pendergast) Goldrick. Both his parents were natives of Rhode Island, his father, now deceased, having been for many years connected with the textile mills. Mr. Goldrick received his early education in the pub- lic grammar and high schools of his native town and then attended a commercial college at Woon- socket. He then found employment in the mills at Woonsocket. Later, he returned to Pascoag and Burrillville Township and became connected with the business interests of Frank Fagan. Mr. Fagan was one of the well-known business men of this section, the owner of a coal business, and the postmaster of Pascoag. After the United States entered the World War, Mr. Goldrick, in August, 1917, enlisted in the 6th Engineers, 3d Division. He served until August 30, 1919, when he re- ceived his honorable discharge, having spent twenty- one months overseas. In 1924, President Coolidge appointed him postmaster of Pascoag, Burrillville Township, a position he has held since. He is assisted in the work by an assistant postmaster, one rural carrier and two village carriers. His religious affiliation is with the Roman Catholic Church, while his politics is that of the Republican party.
Mr. Goldrick married Doris Ballou, a native of Pascoag, Burrillville Township, and a daughter of
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J. O. Ballou, a lumberman of Pascoag. Mr. and Mrs. Goldrick are the parents of two sons : Thomas D., Jr., and Robert.
JOSEPH CLEVELAND SWEENEY-Be- coming connected with the public school system of the town of Burrillville, Providence County, al- most immediately after he had completed his edu- cation in the schools and colleges of his native State, Maine, Mr. Sweeney served as the princi- pal of Burrillville High School for five years, and has been superintendent of schools since 1910. In this capacity he has proven himself a very able teacher and educational administrator, and has gained, to a remarkable degree, the respect and good-will of pupils, teachers, and parents. Natu- rally, he is regarded as one of the useful and representative members of the community, to the progress and welfare of which he has made many and important contributions during the quarter century he has been a resident of Burrillville.
Joseph Cleveland Sweeney was born at Sabat- tus, Maine, March II, 1883, a son of Patrick and Cora (Perkins) Sweeney. His father was for many years paymaster and assistant treasurer of the Webster Woolen Company. Mr. Sweeney re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Sabattus and, after graduating from the local high schools in 1900, entered Bates College, Lewis- ton, Maine, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1904. During the first year after leaving college he was a member of Bates College faculty, being an instructor in the department of physics. In 1905 he came to Burrillville, Providence County, as principal of the local high school, a position he filled with ability for five years. In September, 1910, he was ap- pointed superintendent of public schools of the town of Burrillville, having ten schools under his survey. How capably he has filled this position, is proven by the fact that he has been repeatedly reappointed to it. After coming to Burrillville, Mr. Sweeney took a course at the Rhode Island College of Education. He is a member of the Woonsocket Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is an Independent. His religious affiliation is with the Roman Cath- olic Church.
Mr. Sweeney married Clotilda J. Clavin, a native of Harrisville, Township of Burrillville, and a daughter of Frank and Mary (Cunningham) Clavin. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney are the parents of two sons: Edward J., and George F.
NEIL D. MACKENZIE-A native of Nova Scotia, Mr. Mackenzie has been a resident of Rhode Island for many years, having come here as a young man in 1885.
Neil D. Mackenzie was born in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 27, 1863, a son of Neil and Margaret (Martin) Mackenzie. Both his parents were born in Scotland, from which coun- try they came to Nova Scotia during their early youth. Here they were married and spent the balance of their lives engaged in farming. Neil D. Mackenzie came to the United States as pre- viously mentioned, in 1885, and for a short time was located in Boston. From there he came to Diamond Hill, Cumberland Township, Rhode Is- land, while the Pawtucket reservoir was being built. He was employed on this construction and then worked at his trade of blacksmith, which he had learned in Nova Scotia, before coming to the United States, and which he followed successfully until about 1904. In that year he purchased the gristmill at Arnold Mills, near Valley Falls, which he operated very successfully until 1912; he then rented it until 1917 and then sold it. Mr. Mac- kenzie, however, remained active in his trade of blacksmith and carriage maker until 1923, when he retired. Since then he has made his home at Arnold Mills. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, having been a member of the executive board of the latter organization for several years. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church of which he is a trustee and in the work of which he takes an active part. In politics he is an independent.
Mr. Mackenzie married Lillian G. Whipple, a daughter of Welcome and Julia (Thomas) Whipple, and a member of an old family, settled for many generations in the northeastern part of Rhode Island. Mrs. Mackenzie, like her husband, is active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie are the par- ents of two daughters : Ella F .; and Alice M., who married William Codding, a sales manager, who is a resident of North Attleboro, Massachu- setts.
SAMUEL E. HUDSON, editor and publisher of "The Woonsocket Call," Woonsocket, Rhode Island, who is well known in the newspaper fra- ternity in New England, was born at Coventry, Rhode Island, March 12, 1870, and is a son of Mrs. Elizabeth (Austin) Hudson and the late
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Marinus Willett Hudson. Marinus W. Hudson, who died in 1919, was in early life a mill superinten- dent and later was associated with the business department of "The Evening Call," now "The Woonsocket Call."
After finishing his studies at the Woonsocket High School, Mr. Hudson, in 1887, started to work at the stationery store, in Woonsocket, of Hon. Leroy L. Chilson, a former State Senator of Rhode Island. In the fall of 1889, Mr. Hudson left the stationery store and became connected with the Providence Journal Company as its Woonsocket correspondent, a position which he held for about thirty-six years, relinquishing his duties with the latter newspaper organization on December 31, 1925.
Soon after Mr. Hudson entered the employ of the Providence Journal Company, he was engaged by "The Evening Reporter," on the city staff.
In 1895, Mr. Hudson left the "Reporter" force and joined with the late Andrew J. McConnell in the controlling ownership of the Evening Call Publishing Company, publishers of "The Evening Call," later "The Woonsocket Call." At that time Mr. McConnell was "The Call's" managing editor. He and Mr. Hudson managed that paper together until 1919, when Mr. McConnell died. His place in the paper's management and control was assumed by Charles W. Palmer, his stepson, and the paper, which had been founded in 1892, continued to progress until, at present, it has a circulation of over 16,000 copies nightly.
In 1908, the Evening Call Publishing Company purchased "The Evening Reporter," which was founded by the late Leroy B. Pease, and which was the oldest penny daily in New England. This purchase was on November 13, 1908, and resulted in the immediate merger of the two papers under the name of "The Woonsocket Call and Evening Reporter."
"The Woonsocket Call," whose plant at No. 75 Main Street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was de- stroyed by fire in 1922, now occupies new and modern quarters with a four-story office building in the front and a large mechanical plant in the rear, which is equipped with up-to-date machinery in all departments.
Mr. Palmer, Mr. Hudson's business associate, is president and business manager of "The Woon- socket Call," and the former's son, Andrew P. Palmer, is the corporation's vice-president, assistant treasurer, and mechanical superintendent. Mr. Hudson retains the positions of treasurer, editor and publisher, and his son, Buell W. Hudson, is
the corporation's national advertising manager and also holds the positions of vice-president, secretary, and assistant treasurer.
The newspaper is now wholly owned by the Hudson and Palmer families, who also own the Buell Realty Company, owners of the Buell Build- ing in which "The Woonsocket Call" is housed. This building and company were named in honor of Captain Thomas A. Buell, of Woonsocket, Mrs. Hudson's father.
The officers and directors of the real estate corporation, as well as those of the newspaper company, are all members of the Hudson and Palmer families.
Mr. Hudson has been active in public affairs. His first office was that of clerk of the Common Council of Woonsocket, which he held during the years 1894-95. In 1910, he was appointed by the late Governor Aram J. Pothier as a member of the Commission to divide the State of Rhode Island into One Hundred Representative Districts.
When the Public Utilities Commission of Rhode Island was created in 1912, Mr. Hudson was ap- pointed by Governor Pothier one of the three mem- bers of that commission. He was re-appointed by Governors Beeckman and SanSouci and was again named, for a six-year term, by Governor Pothier, in January, 1928.
He is a member of Charles F. Gordon Camp, No. 10, Sons of Union Veterans of Woonsocket. He belongs to all of the local Masonic bodies and is also a member of Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Providence, and of the Rhode Island Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons.
He is a member of the Turks Head Club and of the Palestine Shrine Club, both of Providence.
Mr. Hudson is a member of the New England Daily Newspaper Association and has served as its president and as a member of its board of gover- nors. He is also a member of the American News- paper Publishers' Association and of The Asso- ciated Press.
For some years Mr. Hudson was a director of the National Globe Bank, and a trustee of the Mechanics' Savings Bank, both of Woonsocket; and, later, he became a member of the board of managers of the Woonsocket office of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company, when the two former banks were acquired by the large bank- ing institution named.
In religious preference, Mr. Hudson has long been a member of the First Baptist Church and is a member of its finance committee.
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