USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 12
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Rev. J. R. Clark, O. P., was born in Kentucky and received his early education in a private school of his native district. He entered Gethsemane Col- lege, Kentucky, and when his preparatory course was finished matriculated in St. Rose's College at Springfield, Kentucky, where he continued his studies for three and a half years. His theological training was secured in St. Joseph's Seminary, at Somerset, Ohio, where he was ordained October 10, 1901. After his ordination he was assigned to a church in Columbus, Ohio. In September, 1904, he was transferred to St. Louis Bertraud's Church, Louisville, Kentucky, where he served as assistant
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INTERIOR OF ST. PIUS CHURCH, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
ST. PIUS CHURCH, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
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from 1904 to 1908, when he was appointed prior of this convent and pastor of the adjoining church. In 1911 he was appointed novice master in Wash- ington, District of Columbia, where he served for three years from 1911 to 1914; he was engaged in mission work in the South and Middle West from 1914 to 1922, and in April, 1922, he was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, to the parish of the Blessed Sacrament, where he established and built a church and school. There he remained until September, 1929, when he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Pius Church in Providence.
St. Pius parish now has a membership of about six hundred families, aggregating about 2,000 souls, and the enrollment of the school which started in September, 1929, has grown to one hundred and fifty. The church seats about seven hundred per- sons. The societies of the parish which include a Holy Name Society, Holy Rosary Confraternity, Blessed Virgin Sodality, and a St. Thomas' So- ciety, are all vigorous and flourishing, and growing in membership. In addition to the religious in- structions given in the school, Father Clark also gives religious instruction on Tuesday and Fri- day evenings. Six masses are celebrated each Sun- day, and the spiritual life of the parish has been greatly stimulated by Father Clark, who takes a keen personal interest in every phase of the work. He is aided by one assistant.
Though he has been in charge of St. Pius parish for only about a year, Father Clark has already won the confidence and esteem of his people and the high regard of the community in which his parish is located.
WALTER V. BARNES-After a long and successful career as a druggist in Providence, Walter V. Barnes purchased a business of his own in Bristol which he operates under the firm name of the Hope Drug Company.
Walter V. Barnes was born in North Provi- dence, March 13, 1876, son of Jonathan V. and Ann Eliza (Matthewson) Barnes. The father, now living in retirement, formerly a dairyman, was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and the mother, now deceased, was born in Johnston, Rhode Island. The son was educated in the Johnston public schools, and as soon as he completed his educa- tion, entered the employ of the J. Fred Gibson Drug Company of Providence. For a quarter of a century Mr. Barnes remained in this association, mastering every detail of the pharmaceutical busi- ness and learning as well the practical aspects of
drug store operation. It was in 1920 that he moved to Bristol and associated himself with a drug store there. Six years later, in 1926, he purchased the Hope Drug Company, which was established twenty-five years ago, and which he has since conducted ably and successfully. He be- longs to the National Association of Retail Drug- gists and is interested in the larger aspects of his field and in general progress. His fraternal affilia- tions are with Mt. Vernon Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Providence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Providence Council, Royal and Select Masters; Calvary Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a communicant of the Baptist Church. His hobbies are motoring and attendance at baseball games.
Walter V. Barnes married (first), in 1904, Stella L. Tyas, born in Providence, who died in 1913. He married (second), in 1926, Emma L. Dickin- son, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts.
JOHN R. BERNARDO, M. D .- In medical, civic and fraternal circles of Bristol, Rhode Island, Dr. John R. Bernardo is prominent and popular. He is an able and thoroughly trained physician, successful as a general practitioner, with offices at No. 118 Bradford Street.
John R. Bernardo was born in Wilmington, December 8, 1895, son of Ralph and Alphonsina (Villani) Bernardo, both natives of Caserta, Italy. The father, deceased, was engaged in construction work until his death, and the mother is still hale and hearty. The son was educated in the public and high schools of Wilmington and attended Delaware College. He then studied medicine at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1921 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and he rounded out his preparation for a professional career by two years of practice as interne at St. Joseph's Hospital in Providence. In 1923 he settled in Bristol, where he took up the practice of medi- cine and surgery which he has followed for six years with growing popularity.
His fraternal affiliations are with Providence Lodge, No. 14, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Bristol Council, Knights of Columbus; Kearney Post, American Legion; Sons of Italy; and the Neo-Sicilia Society, of which he is an honorary member. During the World War Mr. Bernardo was a member of the Student Officers' Reserve Corps. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and his services to the
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city as a member of the Bristol School Board, to which he was appointed in 1928, and as medical examiner for the county in Bristol District No. 2. He is a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation, the Rhode Island State Medical Society, and the Providence Medical Society. Dr. Bernardo also serves on the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church, Mt. Carmel.
John R. Bernardo married, in 1923, Emily Rug- giero, a native of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of three children: Ralph J., John R., and Antonio.
JOHN G. DES LAURIERS-In Bristol the foremost automotive industry is conceded to be the Franklin Street Garage, conducted since 1924 under the sole proprietorship of John G. Des Lauriers, whose industry and business ability has achieved for it this distinction. Mr. Des Lauriers is one of those enterprising citizens whose inter- est is not confined to his individual business, but who seeks at all times to promote the general wel- fare of the community by entering into any civic affairs that are meritorious in their relation to public progress. He is an active man in all things and in his moments of recreation is fond of hunt- ing and fishing.
Born in St. Raphael's, Quebec, Canada, Feb- ruary 4, 1878, he is a son of the late Alexander Des Lauriers, a contractor, and Helen (Fournier) Des Lauriers, both natives of Canada. who came to the United States in their youth. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts, and after completing the high school course worked for a time in dry goods and gar- ment houses, coming to Bristol in 1918. Here he formed an association with his brother, Arthur, in an automobile enterprise known as the Frank- lin Street Garage, and continued in that relation- ship until the death of Arthur Des Lauriers, in 1924, when he assumed the management of the business. This plant which formerly dealt in a number of high-grade standard cars and trucks and maintained a fine service accessory shop, was disposed of in 1926.
Mr. Des Lauriers is a Republican in politics and a Roman Catholic in religion, being a communicant of St. Mary's Church. He is a member of Bris- tol Council, Knights of Columbus, and has served as Grand Knight. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and of the Order of Eagles.
John G. Des Lauriers married, in 1900, Eva A. Des Lauriers, of Southbridge, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of: Norman A., and Claire A.
HOWARD W. CHURCH-The name of Dr. Howard W. Church stands high on the roster of able and experienced dental surgeons in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he has practiced dentistry for more than a quarter of a century. His offices are at No. 471 Hope Street.
Howard W. Church was born in Bristol, Octo- ber 19, 1879, son of James C. and Mary Thomas (Wardwell) Church. The father, a native of Bris- tol, was for forty years engaged in the banking business in Providence and is now living in retire- ment. The mother, also born in Bristol, is now deceased. The son was educated in the public schools of his native town and attended the famous Mowry & Goff School in Providence, after which he pursued his professional studies at Tufts Dental College, graduating in 1901 with the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine. His professional ca- reer had its start in Boston, where Dr. Church practiced for a year. In 1902 he returned to Bris- tol and established the dental practice he has since maintained. He has been popular and successful and is highly esteemed in Bristol.
A Republican in politics, Dr. Church served for seventeen years as member of the Bristol School Board, of which he has been president for the past five years. Since 1902 he has been a member of the Rhode Island State Militia and during the World War was on the Bristol draft board. He is now dental adviser to the Veterans' Bureau for his district. His hobby is the raising of pure- bred dogs, and his interest in the subject has led to his being licensed as a judge, and to his mem- bership in the Rhode Island Kennel and the Amer- ican Kennel clubs. His fraternity is the Psi Omega; and his professional affiliations are with the Rhode Island Dental Society, the New Eng- land Dental Society, and the American Dental As- sociation. He is a trustee of the First Congrega- tional Church.
Howard W. Church married, in 1909, Sarah B. Paull, who was born in Bristol.
CHARLES A. WILSON-In the history of Rhode Island, there is no name of eminence whose owner began life's work under less fortuitous cir-
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cumstances than that of Charles A. Wilson, of Providence, who served for years as United States District Attorney for this State and made that office distinguished for its results and the care with which it was conducted. It was approxi- mately ten years following his admission to the bar before he came into his own, but when he did, he found himself established high in the esteem of the people, with a clientele that grew through- out the succeeding years. Mr. Wilson was always one of the hardest of workers, one of the most meticulous technicians in the practice of the law and a convincing advocate. His high position in his profession is recognized by both bench and bar.
Born in the town of Mexico, Oxford County, State of Maine, he is a son of Philander Salisbury and Janette Ayers ; (Fairbanks) Wilson. His father was a farmer with a large family, and the son acquired his education in the rural schools as best he could. His school record was one of dis- tinction, and he graduated from the high school in Dixfield, Maine, high in his class. For several years, he taught school. It was in that town that he began to study law in the office of Isaac Ran- dall. In fact, he substantially completed his legal studies in the office of Mr. Randall. After a brief stay in Vermont with relatives of his mother, he came to Rhode Island in 1875 and located in this State.
In coming to Providence, he was a practical stranger, poor in pocket, with few friends. His library was a scanty one but with few books and real diligence, he attracted the attention of James Ripley, one of Rhode Island's most distinguished lawyers. Mr. Wilson classifies Mr. Ripley as the most helpful friend of his early business strug- gles. Mr. Ripley's attention had been attracted to young Wilson by the manner in which he con- ducted a number of minor cases and he engaged him in the preparation of a most important will case. He prepared the case and appeared with Thurston and Ripley in its trial. The case was won and his associates gave him great credit for the manner in which he prepared a complicated case. For this service, he received his first sub- stantial fee. The success in winning this case made him friends and clients and he rapidly rose in public esteem and he soon found himself estab- lished in a large practice, both in State and Fed- eral courts. He is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Later on, he associated with the late Thomas A. Jenckes, under the firm name of Wilson and Jenckes, and for several years, this partnership
was engaged in much important litigation and con- tinued until 1898 when Mr. Wilson was appointed United States District Attorney for the District of Rhode Island.
His practice was almost entirely of a civil nature, law and equity. He was not a criminal lawyer, however, it is unlikely that any lawyer in this State, up to the time Mr. Wilson became United States District Attorney, had been engaged in a greater number of capital causes. These in- cluded the State vs. Brown, an indictment for murder ; State vs. Goyette, an indictment for mur- der; the defense of Dora Avery, charged with poisoning the inmates of a house of prostitution ; State vs. Skuse, a Civil War veteran, indicted for murder; and the defense of Amos D. Palmer, in- dicted for murder of his wife. This case was heard while Mr. Wilson was United States Dis- trict Attorney. Mr. Rathbone Gardiner was an associate in this case. The last-named case was a notable one, and up to the time of its trial, with one or two exceptions, no capital cases attracted so much attention in New England and adjacent States. Not one of these defendants suffered punishment. He appeared in many cases as senior counsel during the years of his greatest activ- ities, and the Rhode Island Reports from Volume 12 to 25, in which appear many cases argued by him, attest to some extent the character of his business.
He is a Republican in politics and takes a keen interest in the success of his party. For several years, he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and as well counsel for the Republican organization and argued before the Supreme Court the greater part of the cases grow- ing out of election disputes and controversies over election laws. Important constitutional questions were frequently involved, notably the case brought to test the constitutionality of Newport Police Commission Act. He has the distinction of having been appointed United States District Attorney by Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft, and the original signatures of these three distinguished statesmen, which appear on his commissions, are highly prized by himself and family.
Among his other activities, he served as a mem- ber of the City Council of Providence 1888-90 and as a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly. To this last-named office, he was elected from the city of Providence 1892-93 and has the distinction of being the only Republican elected from the city of Providence in that year. He declined reelection and a judgeship on the Superior
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Court Bench. He was appointed a colonel on the staff of Governor George Peabody Wetmore, serv- ing two terms, and for eleven years was elected Judge Advocate General of the State. The Rhode Island Commissioners for the Pan-American Ex- position held at Buffalo in 1901 selected Mr. Wil- son to preside and make the opening address at the ceremonies on Rhode Island Day. This was a memorable occasion and made doubly so by the · assassination of President Mckinley a few days before Rhode Island Day.
For the last eighteen years, he has been asso- ciated with Mr. Alexander L. Churchill and Mr. Harold R. Curtis, deceased. To Mr. Churchill, his distinguished associate, he gives credit for the recent success of the firm of Wilson, Churchill & Curtis. Mr. Churchill has recently been elected to the position of Associate Justice of the Superior Court for the State of Rhode Island, terminating a long and successful practice at the bar.
He is married, has no children, and at present lives at No. 18 Medway Street, Providence, Rhode Island. His wife is the daughter of the late D. Brainard Blake of Providence. He is a Mason, affiliated with Doric Lodge, Auburn, Rhode Island.
Mr. Wilson is a life member of the Corporation "The Fairbanks Family of America" and a direct descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, who settled in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1636, and there built a house, now standing and perfectly preserved, a shrine to which each year the descendants of Jonathan Fairbanks come to perpetuate his memory.
HORACE E. BURDICK-Achievement in business and in a host of offices of all sorts hav- ing to do with the public life of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and this vicinity of the State, has characterized the life of Horace E. Burdick, and has caused him to be widely and favorably known in this Rhode Island community. There is prac- tically no matter of civic import in which he is not interested, while his constant willingness to take part in all worthy movements and enter- prises undertaken here has given him a deserved reputation for public-spiritedness and for useful- ness in Watch Hill life. Wide as is his acquain- tance here, and busy as he is with his different duties, public and private, he always has or takes time for a pleasant word with everyone whom he knows, so that his host of friends is growing in number as the years roll by.
Mr. Burdick was born at Westerly, Rhode Is-
land, on September 4, 1856, son of Amos A. and Thankful A. (Gavitt) Burdick. His father, in early life, was a sailor who worked on the packet boats, but later he became associated with his son, Horace E., in the painting and decorating busi- ness in Watch Hill, in which he remained engaged until his death in 1906; and the mother, Thank- ful A. (Gavitt) Burdick, was a well-beloved woman in this Rhode Island community, where she lived until her ninety-seventh year, the last of a family of thirteen to leave this earth, having passed away in June, 1929. Horace E. Burdick received his early education in the schools of Westerly, and then went to Providence, where he learned the painter's trade. After a time, he established a painting and decorating business of his own that continues to occupy his attention throughout life. He removed to Bristol, Rhode Island, where he remained for a time, then sold his business and established the enterprise that he today operates in Watch Hill.
Along with his painting and decorating business, which really has taken up a comparatively small amount of his time, compared with his vaster achievements, Mr. Burdick has been for over twenty-five years actually engaged in real estate in Westerly and Watch Hill. He is also a foremost figure in political and civic life. A steadfast sup- porter of the Republican party and its policies and principles, he held, for a time, a number of minor town offices, and later took a more and more important part in town affairs, until at length he became president of the town council, in which position he was serving, in 1929, his second term. Prior to this, he served for a period of four years as a councilman. He was for four years chairman of the Police Commission, while for sixteen years he was deputy bird commissioner. From 1907 onward he was treasurer of the Watch Hill fire district, and in this capacity rendered valuable service to his fellowmen and the people of his community. For ten years he served as a mem- ber of the park commission, while at different times he held numerous other minor offices. Mean- while, he has continued the painting and decorat- ing business in connection with which he has long been known, and in which he has been eminently successful from the outset. In all of his activities, business or otherwise, the same sterling integrity and fair-mindedness that have characterized his work in this enterprise have been the dominant traits of his achievements. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he belongs to the Blue Lodge; he holds the thirty-second
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degree of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and is also affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter; the Commandery, Knights Templar; and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Masonic Club and the Tall Cedars Club. His religious faith, like that of his family, is the Baptist.
Horace E. Burdick married, September 8, 1879, at Providence, Rhode Island, Abbie Packer, a native of Massachusetts, daughter of Henry and Mary (Bullock) Packer. To this union there have been born the following children: I. Elsie, a grad- uate nurse, who took her professional studies at the Children's Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, and is now the wife of Dr. Louis Scheller, who has just been retired from the United States Army; his practice is mostly in Brockton and Boston; he and his wife have one son, Louis Scheller. 2. Carl A., who was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is now employed by the American Telephone and Tele- graph Company at East Orange, New Jersey ; he is a veteran of the World War, and a thirty- second degree Mason; he married Gladys Holbur- ton.
HENRY CHARLES GAGNON-A career remarkably full of promise was that of the late Henry Charles Gagnon, who during an all too brief lifetime met with success and popularity and proved himself a loyal and progressive citizen of Warren, Rhode Island. He had a large and pros- perous garage on Market Street and held impor- tant political offices in the local government.
Henry Charles Gagnon was born in Barrington, Rhode Island, in 1885, son of Pierre and Marie Gagnon. In childhood he moved to Warren and received his education in the schools of that vil- lage. Machinery early captured his interest and led to his apprenticeship to the trade of machinist, at which he was so skillful that he was made boss machinist at the Warren Manufacturing Company's plant. He then turned his attention to the automobile and garage business, maintaining his own establishment on Market Street, noted for the skill and care exercised in repair work and the general care of motor machinery.
At the same time, Mr. Gagnon found opportunity for active and forward-looking citizenship. He was a leader in the Republican party, a genial and generous man with a host of friends. He was a member of the town council at Warren and, from 1916 to 1926, representative from Warren at the
Rhode Island General Assembly. Thus for a dec- ade he contributed to the progress of his State. He was a member of the Providence Lodge, Be- nievolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Henry Charles Gagnon married Flora L. Vachon, daughter of Elzear Vachon, a grocer of Warren. Four children were born of the union: Andrew P., Henry Charles, Jr., Florence M., and Eileen P.
The death of Mr. Gagnon at the early age of forty-one, June 14, 1926, deprived family, friends, and community of a well-loved and loving man. His enthusiasm for his town and its welfare, his kindliness and liking for his friends, his happy home life, radiated from his wholesome and inspir- ing countenance and influenced for the better all with whom he came in contact. Warren could ill spare this faithful and progressive leader.
ARTHUR ABBOT THOMAS-For almost a quarter of a century his native city, Providence, has been the scene of Mr. Thomas' successful pro- fessional activity as an attorney. He has been con- sidered for many years one of the most able and resourceful members of the Providence bar and enjoys a large and important practice. Always in- terested in public affairs and in politics, he has served for twelve years as a member of the Prov- idence City Council and in this capacity has ren- dered valuable services to his fellow-citizens. He is also active in benevolent work, being a trustee of one of the Providence hospitals, and is a mem- ber of several fraternal, social and patriotic organ- izations.
Arthur Abbot Thomas was born in Providence, June 13, 1878, a son of Charles Lloyd and Sarah Sophia (Barstow) Thomas. On his father's side he is of Welsh origin, his early ancestors in this country having first lived in Pennsylvania. On his mother's side he is of English descent, his ances- tors on that side of the family having come to this country from Bairstow, near York, England. They settled at Hanover, Massachusetts, and came from there to Rhode Island. Mr. Thomas' father was born at Galena, Illinois, and was educated in the public schools of his native city and later at Hopkins Grammar School and at Yale University, from the latter of which he was graduated with the famous class of 1853. The next three years he taught school in Louisiana and then took up the study of law in Chicago, where he was admitted to the bar and where he became a partner in the law firm of Smith, Farwell & Thomas. He came
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